Guaranteed CONTACTS!!!

Thanks Marsha! 

I hope they come in ORANGE!!

Set Point Jumps, Grids and a Tire

It was SO nice outside today that the dogs

 went for a run in the pasture!

Seeker likes to let Nettle 'think'

she can outrun him....but it doesn't last.....

It was so windy, that Kruz did a

GREAT "Seeker" intimation!

Then Seeker and Nettle had a contest to 

see who had the longest TONGUE!

 

I think Nettle wins on 'style'.   

After a bit of a rest I took Nettle out to work her first ever

'Set Point Jumps'.   She's seen a straight jump grid with 

jump bumps, but never a jump with an actual bar. 

So, we started with a jump bump, perfect. 

Then 8", 12", 16" and 8" bar.  She was PERFECT!!

That is a WRAP!

Then we played with the jump grid of 4 jump bumps in

a row.  Her sits/holding position were PERFECT, she waited 

for her release!  Even when I ran as fast as I could to the other end! 

GOOD GIRL!  

We even had some MAJOR distractions!

Starring a couple cats, (thanks Chemi and Cougar!!)

and Poppa picking up sticks! 

Then we went to the tire, which she saw it for the first time yesterday. 

We started with it on the ground, then a 8",

 and today went to 12" then back down. 

With the tire, I'm using Linda M's jump training.  

Nettle was AWESOME!  

(You IS SMART!!!)

She never left her work, which is HUGE for her. 

Never ran off with the tug, another PLUS!

So.....tomorrow I'm tempted to drag that carpet

back out, and start working on those running contacts!

I've put that on hold, because if Nettle's not staying

engaged in the work, it's counter productive to try to 

train new things.   It's suppose to rain...but, maybe if 

we get it out first thing in the morning.  

I'll need to 'flip it'!

Am I Ready to Trial?

I get this questions quite often, as I'm sure most instructors do.  

It turns into a mini interview, with me being the interviewer.

The questions go something like this......

1. What are your goals and expectations? 

2. Has your dog been successful practicing at different locations. 

3. Will your dog stay with you, or run 'a muck'?

4. Does your dog hold a start line stay?

5. Does your dog fully understand your obstacle criteria?

6. Will you go back and reattempt an obstacle

if the dog should run by it? 

7. What are the consequences to the dog, if any, 

if things don't go according to plan?

8. Will you be able to stay calm, and be the handler

you are in practice for your dog? 

As you can imagine, the answers to these questions will vary for everyone.

I'm not sure if I've ever given someone a straight 'yes' or 

'no' answer to this question.  It becomes more of a discussion on 

what they can 'expect' or 'not' expect to happen, and how they 

will react.  Let's face it, your time on the agility course is short.  

With a green dog, it's extremely important you know in 

advance what you will, or won't do if something unexpected occurs.

Of course, the most important thing is to ....

HAVE FUN!

 

St Patrick's Day....YET - Another use for a Border Collie!!

Rounding up customer's for the Pub!

International Course - For your Viewing Pleasure!

I still haven't decided whether I'll go to the World Team Try-Outs in May.....

 

(Click To Enlarge)

But this looks like a fun one to set up in the building this weekend!

Okay, maybe it's just #7-#14 that looks like fun!  LOL

This is amazing!  

I love a good challenge! 

Slip Slidding Away - To Chalk - or - Not to Chalk?

That is the Question!!

HELP!!!

What do you do with your dog to help him remain upright on a surface that just doesn’t work well for him? On the first run on Friday his feet were ‘naked’ and he did a face plant after a pinwheel. It probably didn’t help that I’d tripped on a turf seam as he was taking off, but YIKES!!

This isn’t necessary uncommon for him to do at least once during a weekend on this particular turf.

If you look at the picture that’s posted, you just see a black and white smear, however, if you look closer…those little white dots on each side of his body, at the bottom are feet. In other words, he landed with his hind legs spread, so his abdomen was literally rubbing the turf. That couldn’t have been too pleasant. On this same run he also slipped on the way into the tunnel, and into the entry of the weave poles. He was able to hold onto the entry, and they duct tape them down, so it could have been either the turf or tape he slipped on, you just can’t tell.

Thankfully Sandy had brought some rock climbers chalk,

 no Seeker is NOT taking up rock climbing!

THANKS SANDY!!!

I’m not sure it this is really the answer,

so looking for others thoughts or ideas here!

Here’s a video clip with the Friday,

without chalk, and Sunday’s slip with chalk.

(Click on the box at the bottom right to make if full size)

The chalk is in a bag, and we patted, rubbed and patted it on some more. I think it helped. The down side of chalk is that you don’t want them to stick when they shouldn’t, and it dries out their pads.

Someone else was using water, I’m not sure that worked much better. The thought behind the water is that it creates traction by softening the pad. The analogy given was: ‘if you try to pick up a piece of paper with dry hands you can’t, but if you wet your finger you can.’ INTERESTING! Better yet, it would make the surface sticky, and wouldn’t dry out your dog’s pads.

Does anyone else have any ideas for helping a dog maintain traction on such surfaces?

Am I the only one that has this problem?

PS - I do shave the hair off the bottom of his pads the day prior to running on any surface. 
I also put off dremeling for week, so his nails are a bit longer.
He's been fine at Soccer Blast/Crystal Lake and Glen Carbon turf,
'bare naked', nothing on his feet.

Class Clarification - Skills/Full Course Work

I've had a number of questions regarding the early session of class.

To clarify what this class will involve: 

1/2 of your time will be spent with me, working one or two different skills each class.  These skills can be determined by you, or if no one has any ideas, I'll choose.  Skills will involve shorter sequences = mastering, front crosses, rear crosses, discriminations,  start lines, table, contacts, threadles, back sides, blind crosses...well.....I think you get the picture. 

It is not meant to be beginner training, more of a 'sharpening' skills set.

The other 1/2 of class will be spent with Bill running a full course, either Jumpers or Standard.

I will stitch off on rings, so one week I'll be on the Jumpers side, the next on the Standard side.  

If you have questions, please let me know! 

Thanks!!