RobAndMaggie

Agility Nuts KC Show

2011-09-12T09:55:00.002+01:00

I enjoyed this show. It seemed well run and friendly. I didn't see the computers in the score tents like you do at the other agiltiy nuts shows. I guess maybe they are incompatible with KC or people used to KC ways. The rest was pretty much as normal, with a few oddities thrown in by the venue. The venue was on the whole good, and easy to find.

Spike and I got a 3rd in jumping, which was the only result of the weekend for us. We just don't seem to be communicating as well as we were. I have also let his basics slip, distance weaves and good contact stops used to be the order of the day, but if I run past he releases, and sometimes he doesn't seem to understand which obstacle I want him to take. Also we often see things in competitions that we do not see in training.

Much of this is due to having limited time to train two dog either of which would really be enough for most people. I am hoping that over the winter I can put the training in place to emerge next year with two dogs running to their potential, which is huge. I am also hoping to have a job to fund lots of shows.

West Lakes show

2011-08-22T14:42:00.004+01:00

Back at this great venue again. This year staying on for a few days of holiday (punctuated by job interviews).

Spike got a 3rd in jumping a 10th in the amazing clock face/ black hole course (agility), and 2nd in 3-4 combined agility. Just happened to have a tunnel in the same place (under the dogwalk) as I set for club training last week.

Instructing blog

2011-06-07T13:36:00.005+01:00

http://robatfidos.blogspot.com/

Instructorship!

2011-06-06T14:03:00.004+01:00

I am now instructing at FIDOS. I am mainly doing the beginners class which suits me as I am a stickler for getting contacts right, and foundation work. One or two of the class look like they will go far, as the dogs (and perhaps more importantly the owners) are interested. Everyone in the class is fine, and they should all enjoy it.

I was hoping to do some more short exercises off lead this week and get people doing front crosses (or at least understanding what the point is). However we have a KC outbreak in the beginners class with 2 going down with it. We don't think it came from FIDOS, but it is hard to know as it does not show up instantly. So we are having at least this week off, and will review the situation.

Dog Vegas 21-23rd May

2011-05-24T17:23:00.002+01:00

Three days, no clear rounds at all. Spike was strange to run, going off over wrong courses and then not doing all 12 weaves. I need to do more with him. Also weave spacing might be different at home training and comps.

Ben was wayward on contacts, but settling into competitions. We got a 5f (A-frame contact) and a "bad luck" from the judge. So close. But dangerous, we could go G4 by mistake if he goes clear in agility. Universally acknowledged as being a very fast dog. Sadly on the first couple of days he got over excited and I even carried him out on Saturday. I have to grab him quick or he bounces all over the place and knocks stuff over. Hopefully we are past that now and can just concentrate on the job at hand. He absolutely loves it, just not totally clear on what he is supposed to do.

h&h Easter

2011-04-26T16:18:00.002+01:00

A bit hit and miss. Spike popped his weaves 5 times (and then got them with me standing over him a bit more). Ben decided stopping for contacts was so boring he would just blast around. So I had to re-introduce the "touch" word. It worked, but I am trying to phase it out so this is a step backwards.

Spike got a 3rd in agility, and Ben would have been clear in a quite complicated jumping round, if I had not gone the wrong way (he was really flying and doing all his lefts and rights perfectly).

Scunthorpe

2011-04-10T09:29:00.003+01:00

A good start to the outside KC season. Could have got some good places with Spike, but just had the odd pole here and there. He's running well though and much happier in the queues this year too. Just as excitingly Ben had a couple of very good rounds and will be challenging immediately that he starts going clear. He's only 2 so this year could be a good one for us.

DD 2nd April

2011-04-02T18:45:00.002+01:00

Ben got another clear round this time in agility, and once again won the class. Ben now has a 100% record of 1st places where he has gone clear. Rosie the springer came quite a close second, nice to see a fast springer.

Spike also won his agility class, by about 5 seconds.

We got nowhere in the jumping, Ben's first I took a wrong course, but Ben worked really well, second one he had 2 poles. Spike's course just didn't seem to sink into my brain. Still it was a very interesting course and fun (thanks Jackie).

So a good day. Ben was also very sociable and amused us with his antics.

Rob.

instructing

2011-03-31T08:59:00.006+01:00

At our club we don't exactly do instructing any more. We all understand the safety issues and get on very well so we just set courses and all make suggestions for each other. It works pretty well, although I suppose we might want experts in from outside from time to time.

I had the job of setting some courses last lesson, so in the age old tradition I nicked some ideas from the internet and the last competition I had been on.

The top diagram shows some exercises. The top part is nicked from NAWS on Sunday, and people got on well with it, finding it flowed nicely. I had particular problems with the weaves, but the dogs were just out of practice.

The bottom bit confused people a bit. It was supposed to teach positioning, and it did. It's just that there was a huge variety of ways people found to run it which worked in varying degrees.

The bottom diagram was a quick alteration to create a course. The a-frame part of it is much simplified, but they get onto it at speed from slightly off centre. Still the people that ran it found it OK.

Last NAWS

2011-03-28T10:53:00.002+01:00

We managed a record breaking 8 Es in NAWS! Spectacular! Some understandable stuff, and some laziness on my part. However, I think we are set up for a good year, with Ben stopping on his contacts and really trying hard. Still goes into a spinning flap from time to time, but I just down him for a second to calm down and things pick up after that. Spike blew a contact or two, and nailed the rest with me running.

They both popped out at 10 weaves continually. I think we have failed to practice it and need a bit of repetition, we are normally fine on weaves. Judge suggested maybe I turned in and put them off, but last run I was perfect on shoulder direction and Spike still popped out. We just need a session or two with lots of weaves. I have been meaning to proof their weaves with me running diagonals and behind and in front, as well as teaching them 2x2 entries, but have not got round to it. There's a lot of work there and I don't want to flatten them too much.

Instructor training

2011-03-23T10:12:00.002Z

Last weekend I went to an instructor training course. It was very well run and I learned loads from it. I would love to run an agility basics course because I have benefited from other people running them and I believe that Spike's good performance is due in the main to covering the foundation thoroughly before trying to run segments of courses. The course covered from basic foundation up to some simple straight line jump exercises, contacts and weaves.

A couple of issues came up, these are things that occurred to me, not from the course as such:

1/ People expect a lot from their first agility classes. They come in expecting to show how their dog has some intrinsic ability to do agility, and to get it doing everything on the first lesson. The trainer wants to leave it 4 months before they even go over the contacts. There is a tension here, and I think if I were running a solid basics class I would have to find answers for people as to why this is.

2/ Any instructor is going to have to stick to their own comfort zone as far as methods go. For example, I train a stop and back chain it to complete the contacts. The course got us teaching something similar but with a touch to a target and continuous touching until the release command. Neither uses a touch command, and there is an emphasis on not doing the whole piece of equipment too early. Very similar you would think, but even that difference caused me some difficulties as I could not answer much concerning the targeting part of it.

Similar with the weaves, we were taught to use channels (which I don't like) and always to use 12 weaves (I would start with 3). However the methods were less technical and this presented less problems than the contacts method.

I really liked all the basics, circle work, rear end awareness etc and would love to teach this as a semi-trick class, come agility foundation.

I'm still mulling over what we learned, and I expect I will put other stuff up here later.

Great training

2011-03-16T17:02:00.002Z

Ben seems to understand contacts (A-frame and dog walk anyway, the seesaw did not come out last training). He is sticking them and tolerates a certain amount of movement from me. Great! I'm still pulling him inside jumps sometimes (my fault). The new surface at training is good, and the poles are not being dropped so much by either dog. We had a very hard weave entry, which I have been working on, but have only just started.

4th Height

2011-02-19T16:45:00.003Z

I cannot believe the arguments on the agility forum about this. Two immovable objects banging heads like stags at rutting season. It is annoying because it obscures the debate. And a "global moderator" involved too, taking sides. Not right surely. However since the forum is only lightly moderated I suppose it is tolerable.

What do I think? Well, Willow would have benefited because although she was always very fit something about repeatedly jumping large was making her unhappy. She could jump much bigger things if they got in the way of her walkies, and smaller heights repeatedly. So the question is does that mean that competitions should be changed to accommodate her or that I needed to get a different dog? Lots of collies her size could jump large just fine, but we have many other breeds in agility. Even if springers were accommodated, there would be other breeds that were not (very little dogs for example). Is the sport meant to be totally inclusive or a showcase for well suited breeds?

Leaving aside the rights and wrongs and technicalities, what about the decision making process? I've never been to a KC meeting, and turning up just to argue the corner of one issue seems a bit disingenuous. However I have been involved with some of the forum discussions. The KC process has come out against the 4th height proposals and with some rather strange reasons. Reading between the lines my impression is that people can't be bothered because it's better than it was and there must be some cut off point for fitness (for agility) in dogs. The voters almost certainly do not represent the wider agility population. The "nasty" forum is just not a nice place to discuss this as both sides have people who fail to remember that the forum is populated by people and not hypothetical devils advocates, and some people cannot stop themselves being hurtful. I am not getting involved this time, although I do feel I could contribute. The "nice" forum is much nicer about it but still there is no consensus. I would be genuinely interested in an investigation about what people think on this issue (all attempts on the forum have been invalidate by arguments about the methodology). So all you vet and animal related students an interesting dissertation for you.

So what can be done? Well I have to admit I am waiting for the independents to develop. I hear that they had a big fight to gain acceptance in the early days because people who entered them were banned from entering KC events. Karma demands that the KC should be forced into second place for this :) Personally I will probably keep on with the KC shows, they have the biggest entries and are therefore the most meaningful in terms of competition. However I would switch if this changed. I will probably do some of the larger independents this year just for the experience, and who knows I might switch. I don't currently have any small larges competing, if I did I would switch straight away.

NAWS January

2011-01-31T10:32:00.002Z

A nicer day today, no snow but still quite cold. Driving a courtesy car as my van is having £500 worth of work done. Ford Focus, might get one when I have a job.

Ben was too excitable again, we need to proof everything against this and do more jumping.

Spike was OK. Probably mishandled, but made some errors of his own. We are just a bit rusty with lack of practice I think. We got a 3rd in Agility in the end. Was a nice course except for the entry onto the dog walk which was bordering on unsafe (tunnel, offset 90 degree bend onto up plank with a need to run it for handling at the end). Ben nearly skidded off the wrong side first time, second time I shaped him onto it. Spike refused it first time, probably realising he might hurt himself as I had not set him up well for it. Spike is 2nd in the league for C which is nice.

NAWS

2010-11-28T17:06:00.002Z

Not a good start to the day as the van would not start. However, maggie has gone off to Canada leaving behind a perfectly servicable car. So cages into it and dogs loaded up, flask and the other stuff transferred we set off 1/2 hour late. Then her racing tyres could not get me up the centre car park. However from there it was a good day.

Ben still way too bouncy, but no silly contacts again, so we are getting there. I think I might still not be running past the jumps enough and he pulled off a couple. I think I run him right in training, but not in shows. Also the level I have put him in at is too hard for him, we would have done better on G1/G2 courses. Min you we would probably win out quite quick 'cos he is fast. His wait was rubbish, and then he skipped round the first jump, and under it on the second run.

Spike was good, we did a good round but somehow got the last pole down, then got 2 down in the 2nd run. Agility with Spike was faulty, and he pinged his contacts, so we need to do more proofing. He even got faulted on a contact, BAD! Spike got 5th place with 5 faults for the jumping and none of the other rounds got anywhere. He had the 2nd fastest time (to the 4th place which was also 5f).

We had fun though, and at least we got out on a not too promising day. With the snow and reduced attendance the show was finished quickly and we got back in time to do our local walk, which is always nice.

Wilmslow

2010-11-24T14:57:00.003Z

We went to the Wilmslow show at Myerscough last weekend.

Spike got a 12th in jumping, and we got 5 eliminations to go with it.

Ben is really trying his hardest, but too eager and needs better, more careful handling from me really. E.g, jumps one and two straight up the A-frame. I could have stopped him and got him over jump 3 instead just by calling his name. Of course with Spike I would have had a longer lead out and it would not have happened.

Ben is grade 3 and Spike grade 4. They only shared one class, and that got split due to numbers. So I have 6 different courses between the two of them. Spike blew his weaves twice which was unexpected, but in each case the weaves were set very close to the netting. I really thought he got them on the second failure and would have been a good run, but talking to someone who was watching it sounds like he came out of the wrong side (RHS), so must have gone wrong somewhere.

Ben did not do any silly flying contacts, and got them all, albeit some he ran just off the end of. He also had weavie trouble, but then he has not seen 12 weaves much in competition (or at all in fact). The others were only 6 and he ran down the side of them, schoolboy error due to the excitement I think.

The unsnuggleable, snuggling(ish)

2010-10-11T17:49:00.002+01:00

Willow has become amazingly tolerant of Ben. Amazing for anyone who saw what she was like with Adam. She is pretty tolerant of Spike too, which is also great, but I think seeing Ben grow up has made her kinder towards him.

Ben's getting there

2010-09-06T10:31:00.002+01:00

Ben is getting quite good.

Contacts are pretty solid now with very little running off the end (barely none). See saw is ok, but less good that the other two, will have to watch he does not fly this as its the most dangerous contact.

Weavies are good. Can do 12 now. Not the fastest, but that will come I think. I sent him into 6 and ran off perpendicular to the first pole, and he carried on so with a bit more proofing I think he will have independent weaves.

Jumping directions. A bit squiffy at times, not being picked up properly etc. front crossing OK, and working ahead and rear crossing on courses (but not in my training drills!). Pull through/ flick flack not quite great, but improving. He jumps the jumps ok now in most configurations, but goes under the odd one. If he goes wrong he bounces over a couple of random ones trying to make up for it. getting the hang of verbal directionals. has a very tight turn. the odd back jump though.

calm

2010-08-10T10:45:00.001+01:00

I'm going to be calm at the next training. Any problems are my fault and not the dogs, either in lack of training, or bad handling. Ommmmmm!

frustration

2010-08-04T11:24:00.002+01:00

I had a not so good show last weekend. Spike appeared to be trying quite hard, but failed to go clear in all but one round. Strange things happened like knocking one pole (we had a period of fivefaultalitis earlier, but thought it had cleared up), or not sending out (Spike not sending out!!!). but thinking about it maybe it was me. Further confirmation arrived last night at training, I am getting him too hyper and he is not thinking. Ben provided even more proof by behaving like a hooligan, not waiting, bounding over things that just happened to be there and charging up the dog walk only to run straight off the end. I think I need to go back to basics again, in fact I wonder if the best training for a handler and dogs at my level is all basics.

post holiday

2010-07-20T15:55:00.003+01:00

We went to Canada over the last 2 weeks, very nice too. Met a nice collie called Pippin (rough collie).

The dogs were in kennels over that time, which I hate doing. However, they seem fine; certainly healthy, but maybe a bit clingy.

Spike has developed eye problems again, not to do with kennelling. Going off to the v e t later. May be an overreaction, but last time I didn't take him and it got worse quite quickly (overnight). He has to wear his collar until we go. So no agility tonight, might be able to take Benny though.

Spike now g4

2010-06-14T18:30:00.004+01:00

Spike won an agility class at the weekend, putting him up to grade 4 in 25 days time.

They called to the end of the class when I though they had quite a while to go (their board said they were calling to 220 and I was 204, but with 240 in the class I thought they would change the board). They must have announced the calling to the end, but I didn't hear it.

Anyway rushed about and got him to the line having done his ablutions. The ring party did not seem quite sure if the class was closed, but there was a dog on the line when I got there, so I don't think it can have been. Anyway they let me run and we had a great round. Maybe because I didn't over analyse, or because we did not have to queue, no idea.

They told me straight away I had won, knocking one of the ring party down to third (oops).

We also got 8th in a 3-5 combined and a 14th in jumping. I got lost in a few classes, need to be more careful walking them I think. It was the relatively straightforward ones I got lost in which points towards overconfidence I reckon.

Ben's progress

2010-05-05T10:06:00.003+01:00

I have been steadily training Ben.

Contacts

I have been training a 2o2o on my little trainer. Seems good except he either over runs and does a lovely 4o, he does not get rewarded for it, but he still keeps doing it. I'll just keep b*****ing on with that. the alternative is he creeps into the stop position, thus is very slow. I doubt this is the version I will see in shows, so not worried at the moment.

We saw our first seesaw last night, and it did not bother him, though his stops are not very good on it.

Weaves

good. trained by just keeping on trying and going in a big happy circle back to the start if it goes wrong. There are enough successes to keep it happy. thrown ball is the reward, and for Ben there is nothing better. We started with three poles and jump wings (and a hedge to start with) blocking the exits. He looks at me for confirmation a bit, but not too much. This faded with Spike, and hoping for same with Ben.

jumpies

Now able to cross a bit, front cross looks OK. still runs out/in and misses from time to time, but it's early days. He seems to understand the tyre jump now, though still goes under sometimes (50%). Have not got much space in the garden for this, but if I am careful about setup I can teach the basics of stuff, and a box or star is possible.

Wait

Getting much better. Quite hard for him as he is very keen. I can wait him three jumps back and hold up my hand most of the time. He only comes forward on his name. Hoping for a wait similar to Spike's which is very good.

Speed

Someone said last night that he looks faster than Spike, which is exciting and worrying in equal measure. He will turn much tighter for jump wraps I think, so I had better get the distance work sorted for him, or start sprint training (maybe both).

Ben excited

2010-03-24T10:55:00.002Z

Ben gets very excited at agility with others. We had a different instructor last time, and she got us all to do a bit of obedience for control. Seemed quite good timing for Ben, as he is a bit scatty due to over-excitedness. I'm sure he will settle, but this will help transfer the KC GC calmness (relatively) over to the agility arena. He jumps what I direct him over now, though only one jump at a time. I hope he will work well at a distance, like Spike does.

Spike was running nicely, but knocking poles. I stopped when he knocked them, and his success rate has improved. I noticed he knocked one that was at small height, so it not physical, just a misunderstanding about the relative importance of speed and accuracy. He worked away nicely, doing a reasonably complex course of 10 jumps without me moving. He pinged a couple of contacts (running off them, not missing them). So I went back to basics for some good stops, which he did without complaint.

Springers

2010-03-22T16:31:00.003Z

A fun show in a nice location. Interesting route there due to GPS being on scenic setting!

Willow got 1st in biddy agility and 2nd in buddy jumping. We got a nice glass photo frame for the 1st, so I got a nice photo from the photo people of her starting the jumping course.

Spike got a 3rd on an agility course I had not walked. I got in his way once which probably cost the win. Second run I didn't get in the way and found a faster handling route, but it didn't count 'cos he knocked the first pole. Probably due to me setting him up wrong, but maybe we will do some practice so that he is more tolerant to my rubbish handlerness. I also want to try giving him directions while he is jumping to get him used to it, since I am rubbish at eliminating my own bad habits.

training ben

2010-03-20T18:31:00.002Z

I'e been training Ben a little each day this week. I thought it was time Sparky stopped making him look silly.

He has been doing well. He is obviously very keen, but has learnt nothing happen if he just launches off on his own, the foundation of a good wait if you ask me.

He will happily do two jump, tunnel, two jumps. OK so sometimes he goes in the wrong end, and sometimes he goes round the jumps, but much less as the week progressed.

He goes on the a-frame for his own entertainment, and stops cos he seems to get rewarded for that, he just doesn't stop at the right place. He will though, cos he's trying to work it out.

He goes through the first two weavies if you keep trying and have a big pile of jump wings and a hedge to stop him running round. He is getting the idea that the ball only appears if he goes through. Lots of time needs spending on this, but he looks up for it.

All in all the chap is doing well.

Rob.

Ben progressing

2010-03-15T09:56:00.002Z

I've already forgotten about getting Ben to jump a single jump and we are doing bits of courses. I'm finding it hard to judge what he can and can't do, so we are progressing slowly with lots of me not realising that he will run round the back of me barking or whatever, and him having a whale of a time, but not really knowing what he should be doing. One or two really nice bits when he does it right, and gets lots of praise for it, and a few laughs as something fails to sink in and he tries various different things. We're behind Sparky, but that's not a problem to me.

Willow had a nice little plod round and will be in good shape for running vets at Springers and NAWS.

Spike's weavy problem seemed to have gone away yesterday, with him driving through them from both sides and making lots of nice weaves entries. long may it continue. He was also really nice when waiting his go and reasonably tolerant of all sort of shenanigans from others.

Spike gets a rest from obedience for a little bit now, as he got his silver GC last week. Ben is next to move up I think, also for his Silver test. Perhaps sometime in the early summer. And maybe Willow to try for Gold.

Looking forward to the clocks changing and evening walks and training.

training all three

2010-03-10T09:15:00.002Z

I've been successfully training all three in weekend agility, and midweek obedience. I keep swapping about and leaving the non working dogs in various places (either in my vehicle or in a cage). Ben is taking to being in his cage quite well though he still makes a fuss if I am working Spike at agility.

Ben is starting to get quite interested in agility, and I can already see he will be very fast. He will also be highly manoeuvrable, he seems to be able to accelerate from nothing and come to a stop quicker almost than I can see. He can also "turn on a sixpence". Right now he does not wait very well, but if I can get Spike to have a good wait then I guess I will manage with Benny too.

Spike got his silver KC award earlier this week, which is great. It took 6 weeks to even get him into the room when I first took him. He even played with one of the collieish dogs there and was quite nice in the breaks where lots of dogs are gambolling randomly. Spike continues to be an agility star.

Willow is not taking retirement lying down. she had a couple of runs round at agility training and was running very nicely. I might investigate rally-o for her at some point, she could be quite good at it and she loves obedience.

Training

2010-02-15T09:03:00.002Z

Took all three to training. Willow went round steady. Then she started barking at me as we waited for the next go, so I did a bit of obedience stuff with her. Anyway second go she went round like a demon, given that she is a run-along-side dog I had to really push myself when I saw what mood she was in and she had a lovely couple of training runs. So I put her in the van and got the sproglet out.

He was in a contrary mood, dancing away with his bally and pulling towards other dogs a lot. He did a good couple of things though including the tyre for the first time. He is getting a bit more confident with the tunnel. He has a bad habit of cutting across me on straight lines of jumps, so worked him on by throwing the bally. He had a good run about with the other dogs there after training.

Spike was good, hampered by me as usual. He now has a 11 weave problem on LH weaves. He was getting the message though, with lots of praise for staying in them. E&M wondered if I do something different of LH weaves, I said not, but knowing me I probably do. A bit of a disappointment because I like to think Spike's weaves are independent (at least to a large degree), but they can't be. I found a similar thing last week when he would not send on to the A-frame without swivelling right round to look at me. I'll have to work on this, I'm sure we used to be better.

Contact speed

2010-02-03T10:05:00.003Z

Spike had a great training session last time. We went on to more of a free training session where we can each work on what we want to. We had a couple of short 7 jump courses, and the contacts out in a separate section. I noticed Spike is not super fast over contacts, I might have to look at speeding him up over them. On the other hand maybe at shows he goes a bit faster. His weavies were great though.

Benny and the crate

2010-02-01T23:03:00.003Z

We went to obedience, just me and ben and a crate. He got rewarded for sitting when I opened the door. And for not barking when I did loopy things near the cage. Seems to have had quite a good effect so far.

NAWS January

2010-02-01T11:56:00.002Z

I've never really understood it when people say they got faults, but they had a really good run. Well maybe I understand it a bit now. Spike did two really good runs in the agility, but got 5f in each. They were still really good runs though. He did even better in the jumping, and got 4th. I am still not sure that his agility runs might have been better, Oh well, welcome to the world of muddled thinking Rob.

We picked up the rosette for Spike's win last time, which was nice. We also picked up two for Willow as she had good clear rounds last time. We got a clear in agility and jumping this time, but no placings. We appear to be in the lead in the veteran league, though in this case it may be owing to my willingness to go to Harrogate in the snow last time! We'll see how well Willow goes in the next shows, she goes well over medium, and could certainly get placed again. Howard is one point behind us.

Sadly I made a mess of walking the agility course. I ran willow over the wrong course simply because on my first walk round I did not read the numbers and missed a couple of jumps. Willow fell into a trap DW (very rare for her) on our first run, so we were already eliminated when I made the error. It was only when I watching competitors from the queue whilst waiting with Spike that I noticed my error, and I ran the correct course from then. It was not the cause of him rolling poles though.

Spike has knocked a few poles recently, not huge numbers, but one or two. I will have to work out what causes it (me probably). Still can't complain he does so much else automatically that it is not too hard to run him (so long as you run fast that is). He was a bit distracted on the last jumping run, and popped out of the weaves at 10, did them fine on a repeat, but started boinging off over all the wrong jumps. Still you can't fault his enthusiasm.

Ben behaved reasonably. Not recalling every time, but OK off lead. Met lots of dogs, and was friendly with everyone. Everyone said how much he had grown. We could not spectate, which is a pity as that would be very good for him, but I suppose it can cause chaos for the show. We did sneak in for a bit (don't tell Brenda), and he was a little barky, but could be brought back to focus with his name. Just about right really, interested but under control.

I helped for about an hour despite my name not being on the list. It's probably the best way to spectate actually, and the pole picking seat was right next to an interesting section for the D class.

More calm Spike

2010-01-20T22:48:00.002Z

Just a couple of barks in our obedience this time. Lots of good heel work, even with a dog barking and whining a little bit. He is 4 this year, maybe he is maturing. Ben also had a good 1/2 hour, but I am coming to expect that because he is a good boy (apart from when he isn't).

crate games

2010-01-20T09:26:00.002Z

I got the crate games dvd yesterday, and watched it last night. Garrett's accent may have put paid to my vague ideas of moving to Canada, but I think on the whole the dvd is good. The principles seem simple, but probably hide a lot of thinking and work on creating a consistent system. Greg Derrett has a similarly simple seeming system for agility handling which I loosely follow, and I think there is definitely something to be said for this approach as it stops you over analysing and getting paralysed when you need to be acting.

It would be extremely useful to get Benny trained to chill out in his crate while I work Spike, it may even be possible to do it the other way round. Who knows. I will post on how it goes.

Spike reasonably calm in obedience

2010-01-15T15:44:00.002Z

I took Spike to obedience last class, rather than taking the other two which is what I normally do. He had a few little grumbles at first, but after that I worked him through 4 15 minute classes off lead. OK he went up to the trainer a couple of times, but also worked very well. This was going past lots of dogs, most of whom looked at him. A couple barked during the classes, but he stayed focused. After the class I left him off lead and him milled and mixed with all the others really well. Great!

NAWS December

2009-12-20T20:12:00.002Z

We were out of action for November due to suspected kennel cough. Out of quarantine with no coughs of any sort since just before the Nov NAWS, we were ready to go for December. We nearly got snowed off, but a fair few of us made it. Turn out seemed to be about 1/2 normal.

Spike ran really nicely, won the agility and was clear on both runs. His fastest run was about 4 seconds faster than the second. Wow!

Willow won the veteran agility and jumping! We night have been the only veterans there though! We did do 3 lovely clear rounds, I took my eye off her in one run, and she tried to go the wrong side of me. She was up for it and ran nicely.

Had a reasonable run home until quite close to home. Lots of numpty drivers decided they would drive at 15 mph when conditions did not warrant it. Then a bit of a struggle up the hill to home, second gear, spinning like mad seemed to work.

We're all laying about chewing bones now (well the canines anyway).

Nice training

2009-11-15T16:16:00.002Z

The training classes seem to have swelled in size a bit, nice new people and a few new dogs for Spike to get used to. Spike was good in that respect and trained well in the box work, let down as usual by his human.

Spike developed a bit of a 12 weaves brainstorm at the indoor training. My fault, he ran on to the next obstacle and I told him off, and he kept doing it and I kept telling him. Eventually he stopped part way through and I realised he was shutting down. He did the same thing at home, even lying down in the weaves! Anyway he was OK today, popping out but not shutting down, I'm going to have to build his confidence. He did manage 12 a couple of times, I'll probably put 6 out in the garden and make it fun, and then keep adding 2.

Ben had a go. Just playing ball around equipment really, but that's a good way to start I think.

Sparky has grown so much I did not recognise him, I thought they had got a new "racing labrador". He is a fine dog.

control unleashed

2009-10-30T14:33:00.003Z

My copy of control unleashed arrived. One of the dogs bit the corner off the packaging. Must have been in their hurry to learn about it. A quick skim reveals exercises in getting your dog to look at the things that make it blow its tiny mind, but to relax at the same time. I've been saying this to people who get me to turn Spike away for ages. Will give it a good read through when possible (PhD getting in the way right now).

scary blouse

2009-10-26T13:38:00.002Z

While Maggie is away I had a funny thing happen.

I rescued Maggies blouse from a bowl where it was probably going from black and white to grey. It''s fine and I put it very carefully on a towel rack in the bath to dry.

Funny thing is I was reading about "fear periods" when dogs get scared of things for no reason last night. Benny is now in the corridor barking furiously at the blouse in the bath, obviously out of his tiny mind! Funny dog. The only thing that is even slightly frightening is that is vaguely like an animal print.

NAWS

2009-10-26T08:28:00.001Z

We won class c jumping! I knew Spike was going well, but didn't realise how fast he was going. Actually the best thing was that I handled it mostly from the middle. I had worried that the grade C would be a bit harder than the B that I was in last year. As it turns out it was a helter skelter, and we like those.

Rupert was back with his mum which is great news for all who have spent the last week wondering where he was and worrying about him. He looked really well despite his ordeal and he won his class too!

A lot of the people I know, train with or see at shows all the time did really well too. I won't even think about listing them, in case I miss anyone!

Rob.

New caravan

2009-10-26T08:27:00.001Z

I have recovered enough from the trauma of getting it home now describe what happened.

I got a good price for a nice, but quite old caravan at an agility show. We agreed we would pick it up at some later date. Maggie had to go to Liverpool airport so since that made a trip to pick it up shorter we rang and arranged that I would pick it up after going to liverpool.

I set off about 4 ish on the day after having worked from early morning. Got there paid for it had a nice cup of tea and a chat, and then went out to set up. I got hitched up reasonably quickly and put all the cables on, everything worked. Off I set. There was a bit of a clonking noise, but we have a trailer that does that so I didn't worry. Anyway after a couple of hundred yards a big clonk and I look in the mirror to see the caravan receding! Turns out I had forgotten to hitch it on, and had just put the hitch on the ball.

Anyway got it back on with minmal damage, and drove for about 4 hours. got all the way home, and cut into the drive. unfortunately I was too tired to think, and did not slow down and check we fitted. The van moved inwards as I turned tight to avoid vehicles opposite the drive and hit the heighbours wall, scraping the heater outlet and wheel trim off the caravan in the process. Ooops! So I put it in our turning circle and went in to sleep.

Next morning I had to move it onto the drive. So there I am reversing it about and I hit the front of the house. Slight dent to van, no damage to house. eventually got it sorted and stable.

I have a new heater outlet and it is all shipshape again, but I have to say we will not be caravanners very long if I keep this up!

Good training

2009-10-26T08:26:00.000Z

Spike has been doing really well at training. So fast, and often accurate. Any accuracy problems might well be my fault, but don't tell him. Competition soon, now in grade b. Should be fun.

Another "arty" dog

2009-10-17T10:07:00.003+01:00

Not quite such nice work, but he's only young.

Put it on a lead

2009-10-15T19:31:00.003+01:00

So I was out walking with Spike ad Willow offlead and Ben on until we passed his geronimo wall. Spike was running about and having fun and went off round the corner. I called him back and realised there was a person walking their dog on a lead. Spike focused and would not recall or down. Then he ran in round the back of them. She was upset and waved her stick at him, I think she might have hit him with it. Any way he does his usual and recovers and looks to me. She walked past and said "perhaps you could try putting it on a lead". So I told "it's a he and when I want training advice off someone who hits my dog with a stick i'll ask for it".

Trouble is of course, she was not to know that if I put him on a lead he is worse, and that he hardly ever runs up to dogs anymore. Nor that he has never bitten. I'm not even sure he was running up to the dog actually, he mostly mugs the people they are with for treats, or runs straight past. Anyway I'm a bit annoyed; at me for reacting, at her for thinking she has an instant fix for the dog I have had for 2 years, and at Spike for regressing. It's always frustrating when they ignore you I guess. I think I will be mostly training Spike for the next couple of weeks!

farm training

2009-10-09T20:14:00.002+01:00

Felt pretty bad all day before the last farm training session.

Strangely once we got there after a few blips Spikey worked very well. I did lots of obedience with him between runs and he approached calm at some points! He was knocking poles, so I got the timing just right after one pole down and stopped him so he knew I didn't want him doing it. Guess what no more poles down for the rest of the evening. He really does try! I left feeling much better than when I started.

Ben was Ben, and met everybody in his usual relentless way. He is now registered with the KC as Billabong Ben. Pretty pleased to get that name. Oddly someone told me on Tuesday it would be a good name. They claimed not to know I had applied for that about 3 weeks before. Life's strange sometimes.

2009-10-04T16:49:00.001+01:00

Went to Rother Valley Dog Agility today. normally it is obedience with a couple of agility courses set up. I do the agility with Spike (if they set it up safe, which they don't always) and obedience with Ben. Willow comes sometimes to chase pebble splashes in the lake.

Today it was their party day. Kids party games, and silly dog games. Spent an hour setting up and could not get an answer to whether there was any training. So I just went home again. Not my scene at all kids parties!

Dashing Dogs

2009-09-28T09:49:00.002+01:00

Spike and I were struggling with the higher standard set for grade 3 dogs. Most of the runs were grade 3 upwards, rather than say G1-3. We did a nice round in the G1-3 jumping though, going clear and getting 8th.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oVREtrs46c

Watch

2009-09-23T13:02:00.002+01:00

I quite like the black casio watches you used to get from garages. I like them enough to buy them from ebay from America if needs be.

Sadly Ben likes them too; he finds the straps are perfect for chewing!

Benny

2009-09-16T15:21:00.002+01:00

Ben will be getting his registration through soon. Good to get it done although at 6 months he is still too young to do any jumping.

I have been taking him out for the morning walk together with the other two, he is behaving much better. He still has not much recall, and he still barks at the other 2 and herds them. He will follow if I run off though,and if I wait the others and charge up to him he allows himself to be put on the lead. The charging is getting less and less forceful, and he sometimes allows himself to go on lead with very running off etc.

He has finished his puppy classes and will be onto bronze soon. Still does not concentrate all that well, but improving.

There were no more incidences of the leg thing, and he is running about during his walkies, so touch wood that problem is behind us.

A couple more clear rounds

2009-08-11T12:25:00.002+01:00

And a win! We won G2 agility and came 6th in C1-3 agility at Scunthorpe. So we now go to grade 3. It does not make a huge difference, but at some shows we will be in 3,4,5 or similar rather than 1,2. Should be interesting.

Spike gets some clear rounds

2009-08-05T17:13:00.002+01:00

Well actually we got 5th in agility C1-3, 4th in G1,2 jumping and 3rd and 7th in some C1-3 jumping classes. All this with being a bit rushed due to helping when I should have been preparing myself and dogs. We didn't walk the J C 1-3 that we came third in! The agility 5th was with held contacts, so next time I may let rip and see what he can do!

Not bad for my grade 2 boy who has until now been a bit random at shows.

Ben walking separately

2009-08-05T17:10:00.003+01:00

I am now taking the puppy out separately. Doing so I realised why trying to take them all is so stressful; I only got about 1/10 th of the way with Ben as with the other when walking properly without allowing him to pull. He is continuing to be very freindly and is trying very hard to do it all right! He was lovely over the weekend at JDA agility show.

2009-07-24T09:52:00.002+01:00

Ben has been fine, but I let him off lead with sparky lst night and he started being cautious with his leg again. he is still using it, just a bit gingerly. The vet has given me anti inflams for 2 weeks, now at only 1/2 a pill per dose. He also had to give me anti-biotics because Willow has bitten him again. He is wary of Willow again, but still bold and friendly with anyone else.

Spike has had more medication for his eyes, which are still a bit pink.

We continue to have minor problems, all of which come in under the £50 that triggers he insurance. I do wonder if saving up money each month would be a better way to do this, and then I hear about the dog with HD where they either pay £7k per leg or have it PTS...

hopping Ben

2009-07-20T09:59:00.002+01:00

Ben wouldn't put his hind right paw down on Friday. It being Friday and he being a pup I got him to the vets quickly. He had a jab, and some anti-inflam pills. He's putting it down now and looks fine, but not going out on walks or doing anything exciting. He is in his crate and havig lead visits to the garden. He is taking it quite well.

Spooky spike, not so spooky

2009-07-20T09:58:00.002+01:00

Looks like if I don't bring Ben with me Spike is much happier to run about. Ben reacts to movement, and Spike moves alot, so perhaps not a great combination whilst Ben is a pup.

Splogy eye

2009-06-24T16:44:00.001+01:00

Spike has a splogy eye, and has to have eye drops for a couple of weeks. Not sure what the problem is, but I think Ben had it for a while and has shaken it off.

gala

2009-06-20T22:50:00.002+01:00

We have some sort of gala thing in our village annually. A plant stall and bouncy castle and cakes for sale. I took Ben and socialised him a bit, he was bomb-proof. He didn't even give the silver band more than a curious glance and we were sat right under the bandstand.

good training

2009-06-19T10:07:00.003+01:00

More good training last night. If we learn by our mistakes, then we are learning loads!

Ben is not very settled in his cage whilst watching. I got him to be quiet and gave him treats for it, but he makes the most noise when uncle spike is running. He does not want to be left out and finds the cage frustrating. Was better with a jumper over the activity side. Oh, and I left the cage there and had to go back for it (doh).

Spike unspooky

2009-06-18T08:25:00.003+01:00

No ball, no naughty puppy. Just me, Willow and Spike. He seems much happier. I did trim his front paw hair, but I suspect that was not the problem. I wonder if he has picked up the wrong (inconsistent) message from our woods games? "No" sounds a lot like "go" sometimes, and I said no to him yesterday when he was harrassing Willow and he went flat as a pancake for a couple of hundred yard, maybe more.

obedience

2009-06-18T08:20:00.002+01:00

Ben was good at obedience. You can get his attention quite quickly. He played nicely (though in kelpie style). He will be a star at this, and I might try to take him further in obedience as well as the agility.

2009-06-17T09:44:00.001+01:00

Been out without the ball and without Ben. Spike was much better. He even got quite animated when we went in a bit of the woods where we don't often go. Maybe there is something about our regular route?

Spooky Spike

2009-06-16T19:16:00.000+01:00

He's still spooky. If anything it's got worse.

Proper playing

2009-06-11T12:49:00.003+01:00

Spike and Ben have just had 15 minutes of proper playing in the living room whilst I was on lunch. They looked like they were having real fun. Willow thought it looked a bit scary, but stayed in the room.

Spooky Spike

2009-06-08T14:23:00.002+01:00

I phoned my mum last Wednesday while out for a walk. She said something so annoying I argued and shouted down the phone. When I got off the phone Spike had disappeared, I called him and he had sat down back down the track. He was a bit spooked for the whole walk, but ok everywhere else. Problem is he is scared of our walk now, and sits or lies down rather than running about fetching his ball like he normally does. I have just realised that I am getting frustrated with him about it, which is making it worse. I'm going to have to be patient. Oh, and he does it to my other half too, she even reckons he looked at the ball wanger a bit warily.

North Derbyshire

2009-06-08T14:18:00.005+01:00

They did very well to run the show and keep people's spirits up. It was pretty wet.

Willow go 3rd in agility and 6th in jumping. I had not walked the jumping, so that was not bad. Shows the advantage of a steady dog. Spike did well in the jumping which I ran with him first, but I could not keep cool enough to give good directions with not having walked it. Spike's other runs were wrong courses, but not too much trouble with the contacts (all excellent in fact). Weaves was another story, and I think I might have to get some proper weaves for the garden. Or do I just need more practice with them in courses?

I helped on Saturday. I was down to help Sunday, but had not entered!

2009-05-26T18:26:00.003+01:00

Benny boy has had his second jab. He will be allowed out next tuesday evening. In the meantime, he is going to agility training tonight for more socialisation, and he can be touched by people, so the vet says. He also had a chip installed, and has wormer/flea treatment for 4 months.

He barely fits in the cat crate we got him in, and had put on about 25% of his weight since 2 weeks ago!

2009-05-21T14:38:00.002+01:00

The three of them are mixing much better now. I'm sure we will continue to have our moments, especially as he gets bigger and stronger. He follows Spike about like a long lost uncle, which is quite sweet.

Any house training issues at present are purely my fault, and the long nights. I think it is better to have him go in his wee tray than to give in to a middle of the night expedition; he might come to expect it.

2009-05-19T14:24:00.002+01:00

The previous photos already seem to have a much smaller puppy in them than the one I have now! I took him to agility to watch last night, he seems to be fine with that. Was telling everyone they can't touch him, which they didn't all take well, but it seems to me that people putting thier fingers in his mouth is one of the riskiest things. I'll be glad when everyone can play with him though, he needs the socialisation. They said he could come training pretty much once his jabs are done. He needs his little noddle occupying, because he is already bored.

Grrrrr!

2009-05-12T15:28:00.001+01:00

2009-05-12T13:28:00.002+01:00

Ben continues to settle in. First jabs done, second due in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to get him out and about, first with training dogs (they have their jabs etc up to date), and then in the woods!

2009-05-05T13:37:00.002+01:00

I can say goodbye to any semblance of normality in my life!

Here's Ben

2009-04-24T10:15:00.002+01:00

Am trying to decide whether to take on a puppy. A friend has a litter of kelpies. It would work out brilliantly right now, but in 9 months I will be looking for a job. That means leaving a springer, a wsd and a kelpie in the house for most of the day. Sometimes they would be accompanied by my OH, but not all the time.

I have to decide really soon, they are 6 weeks today!

2009-04-20T07:28:00.002+01:00

We had a good time at agility nuts. Willow got 10 clear rounds out of 12, one other run was an E due to my incompetence(missed out an obstacle). The other one I missed the class altogether. The let us run on large and she went clear, bless her.

Spike and I were a more random combination, managing to get E'ed from most classes. We went clear in the helter skelter, and won it. We seem to be good at these.

Handling

2009-04-20T07:26:00.001+01:00

Was impressed and slightly depressed when my trainer ran Spike a couple of times yesterday. He ran really well for her and it became clear what his big problems is - me!

To be slightly more upbeat we had some pretty good runs and bits of what we did were really nice. I think if we ever go wrong though, it is most likely my fault!

NAWS run

2009-04-08T22:45:00.000+01:00

NAWS on Youtube

2009-04-08T22:24:00.001+01:00

Doing clicker training in the pet obedience class. Wow! Getting very good attention, and walking by ODs, no problem.

Billy is back next week, so let's see how we cope!

2009-04-04T20:27:00.002+01:00

Nomore clear rounds at Scunthorpe Show with Spike. He was a bit giddy. nice contacts, nice wait, missed tyre placed 2nd in line of 5 jumps, weaves poor (out at 11th and going in too fast), nice weave entries, bit lacking in control (straight off dw missing jump and in tunnel). He didn't really concentrate like he can. Good in the queues though relatively speaking.

Willow got 3 clears out of three rounds (spiffing!). She was just inside the course times, but was not exactly in overdrive today. I have not rested her leading up to comp and she loves running about in the woods.

2009-03-29T19:35:00.002+01:00

NAWS

Spike got his forst clear rounds in the form of a second in jumping and fifth in agility. Cool! The second was quite close in time to the winner. The fifth was 3 seconds off, but I stopped him on all his contacts.

Willow got two good clear rounds, though she uncharacteristically knocked a couple of poles. She has not been training for about 3 months, so we might need to just do a bit of practice to keep her confident.

2009-03-25T22:36:00.002Z

Worked a bit on getting tighter turns. Tried sending him over a jump and giving left or right command, then throwing the toy in the line of a tight turn. Seems to work.

Also took a weave pole off and got him to do them a couple of times. Didin't seem to have a problem with the odd weaves. as well as that I put the weaves at the edge and put just one jump ahead so he was speeding into them, he slowed himself down and got them right. There must be a difference with the ones at training. I'll take a tape measure next week! I might even be able to borrow them for a week.

I let Willow have a bit of a run about, still fine on full height, and weaving nicely. She stops on her contacts now too.

Roll on NAWS!

training

2009-03-24T22:40:00.003Z

He's getting there, much calmer and needs many less treats to keep his attention.

Today's problems:
cutting in and missing last jump in a line.
9 weaves, missed the last one.
weave entry went in nicely then missed no 2. I may need to change my home weaves to give him more idea of what some weaves are like.
a little bit distracted, probably me needing to work him harder.
the usual big wide turns, but I have a plan re: this.

Today's positive:
good wait.
good contacts.
good weaves when he got them.
nice first run on the complex course (clear but withsome huge wide turns).
pulled in nicely when I didn;t get in place for fc.

Willow was glad to see me when I got home. I feel a bit mean not taking her to training, she misses it.

2009-03-17T09:51:00.002Z

The during the week training was good, but not due to Spike's agility. He was well behaved and did a lot less lunging and barking while dogs were running.

The agility went OK, but Spike was a bit excitable, and I may have been a bit slow with the commands etc. I had to put him back over his contact a couple of times. His weaves were good (12). Once again I let him jump something I did not even think he would, because he works away so well. I must watch that and work him through each obstacle so we both know where he is meant to go.

2009-03-09T08:25:00.002Z

Every now and then I sneak off from my usual training and drive miles to another class. It is very complementary with the more regular stuff and makes me think about other things in my performance. It helps to have as many pairs of eyes looking for areas for improvement as possible.

Spike seems to take it in his stride and works really nicely. As this is all done in an equestrian centre with lighting so I am really please about how he behaves.

So what did we learn?
1/ Pushing Spike over a jump can be done by standing quite close to it, and making the hand signal quite late. works better than standing off and "just pointing at the jump".
2/ I got him to sit and stay at the side of the arena, and he did it very well. Perhaps he behaves better when I am not right beside him!
3/ "steady" command, to slow them down for tight turns. We did this from in front of the dog with opposite hand, while moving back reasonably slowly.
4/I need to keep moving to commit spike to "go-on" sometimes I stop and wait for him to come back and it calls him off (which might be useful at some point).
5/ I should use left right not here all the time. Good point, otherwise why did I bother teaching them to him!
6/ I could use a close or heel and similar for rhs to call him in here is a bit too vague. (Does anyone know should it be close (static, sitting) or heel (moving), or is it a completely different behaviour really?).
7/ Spike is great! He can even be relatively quiet for a bit of last weeks pork roast!

2009-02-26T08:43:00.002Z

Took the boy training again. Still a bit bonkers, but settling. I'm sure it must be doing him good, and I look forward to a bit more focus. He failed to do a couple of things I know he can do, but he also did lots right. So essentially we are in a position where we are training inside, under the bright lights. He was quite sociable outside the training rings too.

Towards the end we were right by the end of a course, and he was doing his "look at me" very well.

Just one moment which I was not happy with where I turned my back on him, and he ran off and herded another dog that was running. Just shows I will have to be careful about that. He didn't do much other than try to get the other dog to play, and he recalled straight back to me.

2009-02-23T16:33:00.002Z

We had a good show at NAWS. Didn't win anything, but given that Willow was (very slightly) lame 4 days before and that Spike is as mad as a turnip, we did OK.

Willow got a clear in each jumping round and jumed nicely. She ran round the first jump in the first agility, I must have set her up wrong, she was clear after that (but it still does not count as clear). I'm not quite sure what happened in the second agility, maybe we missed the DW contact. I have a memory of missing one at some point, so that must be it.

Spike got 5F in the jumping, he knocked a pole. He did it in a very quick time and we might have got a good placing apart from that. The first clear in NAWS still evades us. The second jumping was amusing, jumped a couple then ran the full length of the course and went in the tunnel; he does love them! then a few other little errors. I gave up on that round.

He did OK in the agility. I know a couple of the things we got wrong, and will work on them. The good stuff was, Good waits, good contacts, good directional stuff and call offs, good focus and attitude. We got a special rosette (I think this is for good potential or best improver or such-like, it was like being back at school). He is, of course, special; I have always thought that might not be obvious to anyone other than his owner(and MIF of course).

Oh yes, and the courses were really nice in the B grade, and the show was run efficiently and cheerfully.

2009-02-20T14:22:00.001Z

Willow seems to have damaged the bottom of her biggest pad. She is doubtful for the next competition sadly. Still Spike will have a go. I am going to learn how to scribe, basically writing down the judge's descisions.

2009-02-18T10:09:00.002Z

Willow got a minor toe problems (looks like she injured one on something). So no training for her. So I took Spike. His behaviour was much better than it used to be and, of course, he did his agility very well. He is really shaping up. The contacts were really nice, he stopped nicely even with me running on a little. The only one that is not great yet is the seesaw, but he seems to be finding a method that suits him. We seem to be settling on 2o2o. I was told I am racing him a bit over the jumps, so I need to look at that, because I can't win!

Snow stops play

2009-02-11T20:17:00.002Z

Training has been off for the last couple of weeks. Outdoors fields are covered in snow, and indoor venues are not safe due to ice and snow in the yard. I was lucky enough to be able to attend a session with someone north of Leeds. So although I could not train 3 miles up the road, I was OK 40 miles away! I took Spike and was one of 6 BC/WSD teams training for 3 hours. Did some relatively complex stuff for Spike and me, it went well. Some things to work on, but we did OK.

2009-02-01T16:45:00.002Z

We had a nice time training. Spike was very well behaved, he had a play wih some other dogs and watched agility without finding it over exciting. He was focused during the training.

We did some weaves, he misses the entry sometimes especially when we arrive from an unusual angle, or at speed. I have to shape him into the entry, but that is not too bad because he really seems to respond to being steered. I time I want to be able to stand like a lemon and give a weave command, and for him to do them independently. He still does them fast!

We also did some work with a tunnel and he was a little slow to respond to commands when he popped out of the straight tunnel, he just went straight over the jump in front of him rather than going left and "down the line". Then he made something else up across some other jumps. We worked on earlier commands, talking to him to keep contact, and repeating commands. I found that if I run further in towards him and gave the left command he responded better (it may have just been the surprise of me not being where I was on the last run). I also made sure he did not enjoy his made up extra bit too much; I've seen enough of people with dogs that do that and find it hard to get control back.

We were in a competition recently and Spike did a couple of things that needed work:
1/ running round the outside of jumps. We will get better at this, but today there was an oportunity to train him a bit on this. He was also layering a set of 12 weaves today, which is good.
2/ Seesaw. He nadn't really seen one in training much. I told him steady on the first round and he was cautious, so I didn't bother on the second. He launched off the end of at speed, and we lucky not to get injured.
3/ Running off the end of contacts. Even though he stopped at the end he did it four off standing rather than 2o2o. He was better in training today. Partly it is judging the speed, and partly over excitement. I generally train on a "toy" a frame, so when we hit full size equipment in a spacious ring he can go much faster. Anyway he was solid in training, so I need to eforce it a bit in the competition ring.
4/ He was distracted by the sodium lights. Not much I can do about this except train where there are similar lights.

2009-01-27T15:48:00.002Z

I obviously have not updated this for a while.

Adam died about a year ago, he was really struggling for a while, but was a lovely dog to the last.

We now have a new dog, Spike. The two get on much better than Willow and Adam did. Spike is cheeky enough not to get bullied by Willow, Willow tries to snap him, but can't and has decided it is a game. She also now chases tennis balls which she used to ignore completely. Willow has done well in agility, still not very fast. She was fast enough early last year to win an agility class, which means she is now grade 2. This means that Spike is also grade 2.

Spike is fast, and my handling is going to have to step up a gear! He is easily distracted and in competitions indoors gets distracted by the powerful lights. Outside he is better, and trains up at Delinquent Dogz.

More agility than you can shake a stick at!

2007-07-25T12:12:00.000+01:00

We have persevered with the agility sometimes doing up to 4 sessions of club training a week and a bit of practice at home in the garden too. Willow does it very nicely, not the fastest, but we have a whole bunch of rosettes for her steady but accurate runs.

Her temprament has been fantastic, and we have settled into being a happy house.

Willow is going to be measured to classify her for height for KC shows soon. I don't really understand why since she is obviously in the large category and this is the largest and thus hardest category. You have to pay for measuring, and it has to be done twice!

We still go running fairly regularly and that is all fine. She is quite controllable when out and only really refused to do what is asked if it involves going near another dog.

She got bitten by an English Bull Terrier in April, 8 stitches needed and a bit of convalescence. She is OK now. You have to be careful of Bull breed owners, there are a few out there who do not train their dog to have a good "leave" command and then let the dog run about unmuzzled. Give the sensible ones a bad name. The owner of this one claimed his poor dog had been atttacked four times, I think he might have got it the wrong way round. Watch out if this happens to you, your insurance will go up.

Finish

2006-10-02T22:43:00.000+01:00

I can get her to go round the back of me and sit to my right. she does it reliable in the house and on a lead on way to woods. Nearly does it reliably in the woods following a recall from a distance. Who is this obedient dog.

She will heel nicely for short distances at running speed and when returning from woods on daily walks.

Still mardy in the evenings, probably best avoided. she needs to rest on her own sometimes.

Agility

2006-10-02T22:40:00.000+01:00

We have been going to agility this summer. Willow is quite good at it. More details to follow.

We have also been running regularly, which is a great way to tire a dog like this out; maybe too much sometimes.

More Gnashing!!!

2006-04-17T17:50:00.000+01:00

I bought a book by "AGGRESSION IN DOGS: PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT, PREVENTION & BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION - Brenda Aloff". Some funny language in it but seems like a realy good source of sensible ideas. And good explanation of what is going on in the first place.

logs!, willow, logs!

2006-03-02T21:44:00.000Z

I have set up more jumps in the woods. Willow loves to jump over them. She goes over then back without a second command, but will stop in a down and then jump back if you catch her first. She really seems to enjoy this activity and will come from a fair distance if you go near one of the known jumps and shout logs! or similar. If I can stop her just bouncing over every object in the area in a random order she could be a fantastic agility dog. I saw some videos on the web the other day that showed a dog doing an obstacle then stopping right on the end of it (they must put thier paws on the end part to score). They were like statues until the handler called them on. Will Willow ever be like this? I doubt it but maybe.

Another thing I do is hide behind trees, they don't have to be big enough to hide me, but Willow find this a bit distressing and barks at me to follow her and stop messing about. If I persist she comes to me, which I think means she accepts my behaviour, and has given up thinking she can influence it. We have a good old game from time to time with me running between trees in the opposite direction to where she wants me to go!

Running - mixed results

2006-03-02T21:38:00.000Z

Willow can run with me and can heel beautifully most of the time (off lead). I can make her down and go and wait and heel. The only thing is if you loose concentration too long she can dissapear off for minutes. This worries me because there are sheep in some of the fields near the woods I go in. I have tacken to making her heel with me near the sheep field, and go on after. She likes the game. When she does dissappear no end of shouting gets her back. Maybe she is not too far away in a down (her universal reaction to unknown shouted commands). I still need better recall from her, even when she is having fun. Unfortunately when she is in the woods she cannot see the point of eating, so although in classes she is a foodie, other times there is no reaction. She will come if you call and threaten to throw a stick. I am trying to teach her the touch command where in order to get something she has to come and put her nose to the palm of my hand. Hopefully if she does this at home she will still do it in the woods despite the non-interest in food.

More classes

2006-03-02T21:35:00.000Z

We went on holiday for a while after christmas, and Willw missed 4 or 5 weeks of classes. In the first class back it was clear that she had regressed a bit, not in her tricks etc but in her attitude. Last night (the second class back) was much better, she was attentive and enjoying herself. She could do some distance work, and her recall is getting stronger.

More Progress

2006-03-02T21:26:00.000Z

Willow can sit, down, find, come here (in most contexts but not all). She can do sit and down on hand signals. She still misinterprets sit as down when in the woods, and despite getting "up sit" right at times is very nervous of doing it either because she doesn't want to, or because she thinks the more we say things the more we want her to submit. She can "up sit" really nicely in training classes. She has lost a little of her "oh if I must" swagger about coming when called in class, but it takes enormous encouragement in the woods.
In the house she can fetch reasonably well, and we can enforce the right behavious if her can't be bother to get it, or goes back to the wrong place, or hides or whatever. she still hides every stick she gets in the woods, although Maggie tells me that this morning she got willow to return the same stick several times. Adam is so keen to do the right thing that he picked up a stick the other day to carry about when maggie was trying to get willow to "find" her stick.
The growling has reduced alot these last two weeks. Willow get sent away, or the lead put on and a few tricks performed if she growls. Maggie drys her outside because the enclosed utility room seemed to trigger more extreme reactions. We are both very observant of the growling and teeth showing. Generally growling is not dangerous, but leads to teeth showing which is not far from teeth showing with treatening noises which is one step from gnashing. We now do not tolerate any growling, we distract in the ways mentioned above if it happens.

More Gnashing

2006-03-02T21:22:00.001Z

Willow let herself down again the other day. She has been reasonably behaved since and we don't really know what to do. It's hard to trust her totally really.

Continued great progress

2006-02-06T19:58:00.000Z

Well we have been doing well. Willow reliable lies down and will run off like a whippet when you say so. People are amazed (are are we) at the speed. She continues to be high energy and the more walks the better. Her temprament is much improved since she spend two weeks in prison with other dogs. She barked herself hoarse. During her stay a friend with dalmations took Willow out walking and she was fine with the other dogs. We offered to reciprocate, which may be a lot to handle.

Adam went to a friend who adores him. She says he follows her around alot, which is what she does to Maggie. He went away just recovering from worm (long visible round worms - yuk) and came back slimmer and fitter with reports of having done several hikes of up to 6 miles up hill and down dale. We probably overfeed him, but he pesters so much we assume that we underfeed him. We also find he likes to stop very frequently to sniff things, so he is a slow walker. This is unlike Willow who probably run 10 miles for every one that I walk.

I took her running and walking (for Adam) today, and of course she still wants more. The agility class should be running again, so I will try to get in. The generic dog training classes actually worked out well, she got socialised and learnt one or two new tricks. She was bored though and her attention focused more on the door than on me. Treats helped with this and a fair few times she really wanted to work. The class was full of snappy, barky types and the dogs were occasionally agressive too!

I am teaching her to jump over things, as well as the heal on the way back from the walk; no chance on the way out. I am trying to make her look at me before I release her from a down, and teaching her to look when I say "look". so far so good. She might have a few agility abilities by the time we start. There is an agility class on Sunday morning in the summer at a place I like to go sailing and running, so that might form the basis of regular days out.

New dog club

2005-11-17T13:52:00.000Z

I have a new dog club a junction or two down the motorway. £5 per lesson for just an hour, but the trainer seems ok. No agility at this place or even proper obedience, so it may not do forever. Willow learns very well in these classes, much beter than me in fact, but it is getting her attention that is hardest. she knows where the door is and strains to get out at times. she generally sits with her back to me which is not supposed to be a great sign! Anyway at least I'm able to try that route again, it seemed to help before.