We have some Rally trials in September to enter, so a couple of practices a week are dedicated to Rally. Here's Zane working on Rally for his dinner this evening.
Earlier this week there was a discussion of how to get straight fronts on the Aussie Board. To help others understand sidepasses and how to get them, I made this video of Otter learning the beginnings of a sidepass. All the base work for this is the brickwork.
Bella went herding on Sunday. She was a little wilder this week and her flanking wasn't as square. She also is way too well proofed for obedience. Put her in a down, and move towards her with the stick and she thinks you're proofing. She won't move. So this week I'm working on it at home with a clicker, mats, and a stick. Oh, and I'm teaching her "lie down" instead of just "down" for herding. So I ask her to "lie down" and when she does, click/treat. Then I move toward her with the stick, "shushing" her and click when she turns to the side and heads to a mat. I can send her from mat to mat getting square flanks, clicking that perfect turn. We'll see if it holds up on stock. (Yeah right - major distraction there!)
On Friday Bella and I head to San Diego for an ASCA obedience trial. Fingers crossed! We've got her halts back in place. Now the hard part is for me to remember to walk at her optimum pace - 120 bpm. Travis was a 140 bpm, and I keep wanting to go way too fast for Bella. Every time we heel I have a metronome going (app on my phone) to help me keep the right speed.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Carting Fun
Zane has had two lessons with his training wheels for carting. First lesson was just to get him comfortable with the contraption, walking between the shafts, and seeing the whole thing move while I pulled it. This morning he learned to accept the shafts moving and the whole thing moving as he walked between the shafts.
A group of us get together as many Friday evenings as possible to help each other prepare for the obedience ring. We do a lot of proofing and distraction work. Last night was great. While Bella did her retrieves, a friend threw a stick of string cheese just past the dumbbell. Could she bring the dumbbell back without grabbing the cheese? The first time I had to stop her from going to the cheese (a verbal stop). The second time she got the dumbbell, veered toward the cheese, but turned and came back. The third time, clean pickup and turn and return. Perfect!
We didn't get to that point overnight, nor is it something I would expect her to succeed at without foundation work to get her there. First we started with hand touches through distractions. I held food in one hand and asked for a touch to the other. So she had to turn away from the cheese to touch the other hand in order to get the cheese. Very Zen. Then I did the same thing with a dumbbell. The key is, she doesn't get food unless I release her to it. But "take it" always means retrieve something and bring it back. It does not mean get the food. So simple baby steps leading up to an impressive result.
A group of us get together as many Friday evenings as possible to help each other prepare for the obedience ring. We do a lot of proofing and distraction work. Last night was great. While Bella did her retrieves, a friend threw a stick of string cheese just past the dumbbell. Could she bring the dumbbell back without grabbing the cheese? The first time I had to stop her from going to the cheese (a verbal stop). The second time she got the dumbbell, veered toward the cheese, but turned and came back. The third time, clean pickup and turn and return. Perfect!
We didn't get to that point overnight, nor is it something I would expect her to succeed at without foundation work to get her there. First we started with hand touches through distractions. I held food in one hand and asked for a touch to the other. So she had to turn away from the cheese to touch the other hand in order to get the cheese. Very Zen. Then I did the same thing with a dumbbell. The key is, she doesn't get food unless I release her to it. But "take it" always means retrieve something and bring it back. It does not mean get the food. So simple baby steps leading up to an impressive result.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Agility, Obedience, and Neutering
I never have a set time for spaying or neutering a dog. It's kind of individual for each dog. Today, Otter went in for his neuter. I don't typically do it this early (7 months), but I had my reasons. Otter is one of those more independent dogs, and I didn't want testosterone adding to that independence. He's already starting to lift his leg, so the testosterone is at work. So off they came. The vet said he came out of anesthesia quickly. They took him off the table and he walked back the crate. He's not real happy right now wearing the cone of shame, but a dog's gotta' live with it.
I'm pleased with Zane's weave pole training so far. We typically work morning and evening for about 5 minutes - and most of that is the tugging. We're still on 2 poles, but working on calling through with him at various positions around the clock.
One note about Zane. He is STRONG! When tugging, I have to make sure I protect my elbows and shoulders. I've had many a sore shoulder after a tugging session. I think he could pull it right out of socket.
In looking at Bella's obedience work, her biggest loss of points is going to be on the halts. She sits too far forward - forging badly. Tonight we ran through Open. She would have NQed on the broad jump. Not only did she cut the corner enough for an NQ, but she ticked the jump too. Cutting the corner is an on-going problem for her. I'm still working on it. She doesn't care if there's chicken wire there; she lands right on it. Sometimes I step into the corner. But I need to solve the problem.
I'm pleased with Zane's weave pole training so far. We typically work morning and evening for about 5 minutes - and most of that is the tugging. We're still on 2 poles, but working on calling through with him at various positions around the clock.
One note about Zane. He is STRONG! When tugging, I have to make sure I protect my elbows and shoulders. I've had many a sore shoulder after a tugging session. I think he could pull it right out of socket.
In looking at Bella's obedience work, her biggest loss of points is going to be on the halts. She sits too far forward - forging badly. Tonight we ran through Open. She would have NQed on the broad jump. Not only did she cut the corner enough for an NQ, but she ticked the jump too. Cutting the corner is an on-going problem for her. I'm still working on it. She doesn't care if there's chicken wire there; she lands right on it. Sometimes I step into the corner. But I need to solve the problem.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Agility Drills
Zane has started his 2x2 weave pole training. I'm using Mary Ellen Barry's mods (found here: http://www.kineticdog.com/Files/2%20x%202%20PDF.pdf ) He's still on 2 poles, but they are gradually turning straighter and straighter.
He's also working on some agility drills in the evening. He does about 3 drills an evening (some have to be repeated so we figure them out). Here's tonight's runs:
He's also working on some agility drills in the evening. He does about 3 drills an evening (some have to be repeated so we figure them out). Here's tonight's runs:
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Catching Up
Yes, we are all still alive in Arizona. We do live in the area of the Monument Fire and did have to evacuate for about a week, but no damage to our house. It came darn close though.
There is so much to catch up on. Every morning I go for a walk and take one of the dogs with me. The last time it was Zane's turn, a lady was in her front yard with her fat, black Cocker Spaniel. The dog came running to us. The lady's standing there calling the dog, who completely ignores her. Zane does NOT like dogs running up on him, so I stepped between, body blocked, and the dog kept coming. I blocked again and the dog ran right into my leg. A couple of more blocks, and the dog finally gave up and headed home. Zane and I continued our walk.
That evening, we were at the park for obedience run-throughs with friends. We had a partial ring set up and I was running Bella through Open, so all off-leash. A woman walks right into the ring while we're working with her poodle on a flexi-lead pulling ahead of her. Bella also doesn't like strange dogs just coming up on her. I stepped between her and the dog and said, "Please leave the ring." The woman kept coming. "Please leave now." I had to ask three times before she would leave.
For these kind of dogs, it is so important that they see me taking charge and protecting them. That way they don't get defensive and protect themselves.
The dogs playing in the rain. It's the first real rain the boys have seen!
Bella and Otter in the rain
Otter in the rain
Zane says, "Mama. It's wet out there."
Zane practicing Freestyle moves:
Bella practicing fronts. I think she understands the concept!
Bella practicing stays with the ducks and geese:
There is so much to catch up on. Every morning I go for a walk and take one of the dogs with me. The last time it was Zane's turn, a lady was in her front yard with her fat, black Cocker Spaniel. The dog came running to us. The lady's standing there calling the dog, who completely ignores her. Zane does NOT like dogs running up on him, so I stepped between, body blocked, and the dog kept coming. I blocked again and the dog ran right into my leg. A couple of more blocks, and the dog finally gave up and headed home. Zane and I continued our walk.
That evening, we were at the park for obedience run-throughs with friends. We had a partial ring set up and I was running Bella through Open, so all off-leash. A woman walks right into the ring while we're working with her poodle on a flexi-lead pulling ahead of her. Bella also doesn't like strange dogs just coming up on her. I stepped between her and the dog and said, "Please leave the ring." The woman kept coming. "Please leave now." I had to ask three times before she would leave.
For these kind of dogs, it is so important that they see me taking charge and protecting them. That way they don't get defensive and protect themselves.
The dogs playing in the rain. It's the first real rain the boys have seen!
Bella and Otter in the rain
Otter in the rain
Zane says, "Mama. It's wet out there."
Zane practicing Freestyle moves:
Bella practicing fronts. I think she understands the concept!
Bella practicing stays with the ducks and geese:
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