December 24, 2011

Finally a training day for Zedd and Winston!!! Whoo Hoo and Yippee!
I set up a "crossing patterns" exercise from the May 2011 issue posted in Clean Run. The boys were both great. Zedd was jumping well and reading my pre-cues, and I was better with my Pre-cuing. I was really trying to pay attention to where Zedd was to start my my tuning cue, instead of trying to get myself into position and then cue a turn.

Winston did well also. He dropped a few bars, but I think he was trying to turn really tight. He also went around two jumps. One because I wasn't supporting it long enough , and two because I told him he was a "good boy" and he was coming into me for a cookie. I did finish up with healing Winston around equipment due to the fact that he likes to shoplift agility equipment. ;-)

I have noticed that I'm getting more handler focus from both dogs and I believe it is the result of the trick training I've been doing with them.

I just love working with my dogs. It's just getting started that's the hard part. Especially when it's cold outside.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dream Park September 11, 2011

I entered both Zedd and Winston, and much to my amazement, there were absolutely no conflicts. Yippee.
The first run of the day was EXC. JWW with the Z-man. He was such a good boy. We had one off course tunnel and it was my fault. He was suppose to go to the weaves, but I was facing and moving toward the tunnel. Of course saying, "WEAVE,"  but like we all know, motion trumps verbal!!! Into the tunnel he want.
Winston's STD Open run was next. I was very proud of him. Just one off course jump. He must have put on his big boy pants before we left the house. There was a 90 degree turn to a jump after the A-frame and he took the jump straight out from the A-frame. Young dog stuff, I knew it when it happened!

Next run was with Zeddicus in STD. I ran him aggressively and it paid off. I trusted him to do his job, and I cheered him all the way to the finish line. OMG, we Q'd. Our first Q in STD in months. Actually I gave up counting how long, because it just made me crazy. 4 more Q's to his MX.
The last run of the day was OPEN JWW with Winston. It was a great run with only one refusal at the weaves. We Q'd with a 3rd place. Our first Q in OPEN JWW.
Another fantastic weekend!

Yellowstone National Park and The Grand Tetons 9-1-11/9-8-11

    We had an outstanding time and it's a place I would recommend anyone to see! The sites are breathtaking, the air is cool, crisp, and clean. Elk, bison, and coyotes roam where ever they please.
    We Spent 4 days in Yellowstone and we saw everything we could see in 4 days. We were out the door by 9:00 AM, and we didn't return to our hotel till 9:00 PM. We saw Old Faithful, and many other geysers. We saw several beautiful water falls. We spent the day at Mammoth hot Springs. We hiked, and hiked, and hiked till we could barley move our legs anymore. I loved it, and I felt like I was getting great conditioning.

    We then drove down to the Grand Tetons, or as the natives day, "The Grand", and we spent 3 days exploring there. We took a scenic raft trip down the Snake river and saw several eagles. We hiked, and hiked, and did some more hiking till it was time to come home. Everything went well, the weather was gorgeous, and we truly enjoyed ourselves.
     Would we go back again.................ABSOLUTELY!

Puppy Winston

Westminster July 23 and 24

Saturday I ran Winston and we got our last Q needed for his NAJ! Whoo Hoo. We also managed to get a second Q in open STD. He's such a good boy. Our only "R" was at the weaves, baby dog lack of collecting stuff. His 2on2off dog walk was spot on!!! Click, treat.
Sunday was the Z-man's turn. We Q'd in STD!!! Hip hip hooray. He dropped a bar in JWW, but otherwise it was a great run!
Westminster has old, and very worn turf that for Zedd and Winston is very slippery.
My guess it was why Zedd dropped the bar and was very wide turning. I had used water to wet his pads, but that seemed to make things worse. I ordered some Firm Grip and the next time I'm entered at Westminster I'll try it and see if it helps. If it doesn't help then I'll need to make a decision if I want to continue to show at this site.
Well, on to the cheer leading. I started out every one's run quiet and thinking about being focused. Well, everyone started out slow. I began to panic. Then I thought, "Cheer lead, keep the connection." So I did and winston and Zedd both began to pick up speed. I especially need to remember to cheer lead Winston. He is just learning and needs to know when he is doing great, even when I'm training. I did realize that I need to do a better job at judging when to bring my dogs ringside. That is something I really need to pay attention to.
On Sunday I watched the T2B runs, and cheered all my friends on. What fun. It was an open flowing course. It was a balls-to-the-wall run with your dog kind of course. What a change from all the tight, her key jerky, call your dog off obstacles that seems to be the norm for AKC courses. My dogs , being that they compete in the 16" class may not "set the time to beat", but it still would be nice to just full out run and push myself and dogs for speed. What a confidence builder for both of us!
Some things that I would recommend for the T2B class; allow, and strongly encourage cheering from the crowd, have the "hot seat" outrageously decorated.
I would gladly volunteer to make the above suggestions happen.
Till next time, trust your handling and trust your dog!

Bucksmount-Winston

Well, what a good boy Winston was today. we started our day out with his first open STD run. He was happy and fast and eager to please. I was worried about the off course chute. Not a problem, I got him to check in and he didn't venture off into the chute. I was worried about the A-frame back to the tunnel. Not a problem, he nailed it. I caused a wrong course, because I stopped rotating out of my front cross which made me flat footed, and put me behind, which sent him over the wrong jump. He did what my motion told him to do! Good Boy!!! More dogwalk training is in our future. I told him to touch which means, 2 on 2 off. I gave the command I believe a little too harsh because he just stopped on the yellow and sat. I moved forward, but he came off the end. More training to reinforce the 2 on 2 off behavior and a little less of a harsh command. We Q'd with a second place. WHOO HOO!
Our Novice JWW was a smokin run. It was a fun, great course. We could full out run. He kept all the bars up, read my blind cross out of the chute, read my rear cross towards the weaves. I stopped him to look for the entrance which he needs some work on, but once he was in, he did all 12 and I even moved slightly laterally away from the polls. We Q'd with 1st place. He was a lot of fun to run.
I had a wonderful weekend and talked with some great people.

Bucksmount Zeddicus

I ran Zedd today in regular 16in class. We started the day out with a rockin JWW course. I decided before I went in the ring that I would do a little cheer leading only when I needed him to check in and when he did something very well. I was loud and happy, like a drunk, obnoxious sports fan!!!!! It worked beautifully. We stayed connected, he stayed focused and we ran the course in 30 seconds and that time put us in 5th place. YIPPEE!!! I'll take it. When I came out of the ring someone made fun of me for being so loud. I'm very sensitive, so I thought maybe I was being too loud and people thought I was stupid for acting that way. I let the comment affect me in our STD run. I was quieter and more rigid. The result........drum roll please, less connection with my border terrier. Surprise. He was still focused but I made a handling error that caused him to take an off course chute. My bad. The great parts of our run were that he hit all his contacts, a little wide when reading my turning cues, but I got him to go in the right direction, I lead out from the table and did a nice blended front cross to the A-frame.
My borders want a paycheck, whether it's happy praise, toy, treats, or just to be told what good dogs they are. Yes, sometimes I have to be stern with them, they are terriers and sometimes do very naughty terrier things. If I'm consistently too stern with them, they will go on strike and start picketing the agility ring. What a site that would be. Morale of this blog, do what works for my dogs, trust myself, and trust my dogs. In the end, a fun day was had by all.

Westminster 6-25-11 & 6-26-11 Zeddicus

Judges: Jacqueline O'Neil and Jill Roberts.
Great judges with nice courses!!!
My goals this weekend were; start line routine, cheer lead, and front crosses.
Well, the start lines were better. I hip started Zedd and quietly said, "ready". I did not do a regimented start and boy did that seem to work! I cheer leaded and Whoohooed and Zedd loved it. He was happier and it helped increase his speed. I loved doing it! Surprise, surprise, surprise!! Whoo Hoo, sorry couldn't help myself.
My front crosses were ok. My placements of my front crosses were better, but I need to keep moving when I'm rotating out of them. He just seemed so wide turning that I felt like I needed to wait so he didn't cut behind me. He was slipping A LOT so I believe that was why he was turning like a tank.
Saturday with double Q'd!!!!!!!!! Happy, happy, joy, joy!!! Sunday we did not Q, but I think he was slipping a lot more on Sunday then Saturday.
I was proud of the both of us. My goals were reached and the outcome was great.
The next time I go to Westminster I plan on shaving the hair between his pads and I will take a spry bottle and wet his feet before going into the ring.

Zeddicus

Well I've been thinking alot about Zedd and his back issues. I love this little guy, and he has taught me so much. He's a cool little dog, and a wonderful lap dog. I have many concerns about his ability to continue to do agility at 16ins. First, he has mild hip dysplasia. Second, he has now thrown his back out two times possibly three times. His jumping style is not the most effienent. (personally, I think he has ETS) I keep wondering/obessessing if his back problems aren't a result of his jumping style, and if his jumping style isn't compension for his mild hip dysplsia. I have made some decisions concerning my handling, regardless of what the "gurus" say. Foreinstant, I choose not to race him down a line of straight jumps, and where I can, I rear cross. I will not jam a front cross in anywhere on course. For Zedd that is an injury waiting to happen. As of now, he has 175 points, 1 QQ, his MXJ, and 3 Q's towards his MX. My delema is whether to keep him at 16in and continue till his MACH or drop him to 12in and start all over. (I'm hoping it wouldn't take us long to get to exc.) He could still be competive at 12in, he would still get titles, and he could even quilify for the nationals, and possibly invitationals. Lets face it, I run border terriers, not world team dogs, but I still want to do well within my breed, and I still have goals, just like many other agility competitors. The real question here is, who are the goals for and who are the titles for???? Zedd enjoys the games and he wants to "work". Being a couch potato would not make Zedd or me very happy. Oh the trouble he would get into!!!
12ins it may be for the overall health of my dog.
More to come on this topic I'm sure!
Today I am gratful I completed my "honey do" list. ;)

Changes Changes Chages

Well, we finally sold our house and have been living in my Mother's basement. At one time we were planning on moving to AZ but Mike and I came to the realization that it was just a dream. There is just too many risks involved in a move like that. Especially since neither one of us have jobs out there. It does look like we may be able to buy my Mother's house at a reasonable price. It's a nice house with a great backyard. The only draw back is that it's here in PA and not AZ where it's warm all the time and palm trees are everywhere!!!
Today I took the dogs out in the back yard and did some training. I trained Winston first because I knew he would stay with me and not run off. (we don't have a fence yet). We worked on weave polls. All twelve of them. He worked great on my left side, but struggled with the 10th pole on my right side. I finally just separated the two sets of 6 poles and he got it perfectly. My goal for the next week is to really work right side weaves, keep the two sets separated and then slowly move them back together. I really do not want to push too hard too fast with Winston. Small, short sessions. I love working him and I want to enjoy the journey together.
Zedd was great also. I kept him on a leash the first part of our training, but then I was able to take the leash off and he stayed with me. Koodos for Zedd.
I'm retraining the dogwalk to a 2 on 2 off, so today we worked the plank. just the end behavior. Once he figured out how to get a click and treat, he offered me the behavior immediately. He's a smart boy. This week will be spent on training the 2 on 2 off. And we will get it!!! I also did the "jump set" exercise. Again, he did very well. We will see what happens when I add motion. I may never be able to change his jumping style, but I believe I can improve it so he can be more efficient on course. Both Border terriers are now crashed on the bed. Tired dogs are happy dogs.
Tonight Mike and I are meeting friends for some country line dancing. should be a good time.