Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
2013 Regionals Warm-up!
With Indie, the fast line of jumps before the 180 to the weaves put us wicked close to getting an off course. I never imagined that Indie would have kept going and head for the backside of the jump! Eeeks! I'd like to say I am proud of that call off, but in reality it shouldn't have happened - but, whatever! This course too only had a 34% Q rate.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
2013 WAO - Results for Canada!!
300 Division
39th - Agility Games – Snooker
400 Division
Nicki Gurr and Ninja, (Shetland Sheepdog)
45th Individual Biathlon OVERALL
Jessica Martin and Dice, (Shetland Sheepdog)
525 Division
Kim Cullen and Recess, (Border Collie)
Kayl McCann and Slyce, (Border Collie)
6th - Agility Games – Snooker
Meaghan O'Neill and Wynd, (Border Collie)
6th - Agility Biathlon – Jumping
Teri O'Neill and Tylt, (Border Collie)
4th - Agility Biathlon – Jumping
Tiffany Salmon and Chill, (Border Collie)
650 Division
Susan Garrett and Feature, (Border Collie)
12th – Individual Biathlon OVERALL
Stephan Henry and Bullitt, (Border Collie)
Mark Herfert and Fynn, (Belgian Shepherd Dog, Malinois)
Anji McKelvie and Ketcher, (Golden Retriever)
20th - Agility Games – Snooker
Podium Wildcard
Lynda Orton-Hill and Favor (Shetland Sheepdog)
43rd - Agility Games – Snooker
45th - Agility Games – Gamblers
48th Individual Games OVERALL
WAO 2013 - Day 3 (AM)
Saturday, May 18, 2013
WAO 2013 - Day 2 (PM)
WAO 2013 - Day 2 (AM)
Friday, May 17, 2013
WAO 2013 - Day 1 (PM)
WAO 2013 - Day 1 (AM)
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Hit-it Board by NoseTouch.com
I ordered a hit-it board last week because I want to train my two dogs to do a running contact in addition to a stopped contact.
I'm a logical thinking person, and after much research the box method by Rachel Sanders seemed like the most logical choice.
However the "problem" with her method is that it relies on a large target that needs to be faded and it relies on accurat "clicks" when the dog performs correctly. I'm not afraid to admit that accuracy is not one of my top 100 abilities.
So I needed a tool thay was accurate, in comes the "Hit-it Board" by NoseTouch.com (a division of PetMinders Inc).
Since I live in Canada, finding agility products locally is tough at best. More often then not I order fron US based companies because they have better prices and cheaper shipping - even when taking in to account any duty I will have to pay.
Both NoseTouch.com and Clean Run carry the product at the same price. However Clean Runs shipping was significantly cheaper, so I went with them.
It took only 6 days for my package to arrive.
At first glance the quality and design impressed me. However, the battery box rattles so I am assuming the battery is loose in there but I have yet to open it up to check (too many screws).
Regardless the unit works. It came with some basic instrictions on how to train the dog to use it and how to build up to getting performance on the contacts. I had to read the instructions a few times to understand some of the steps as the wording isn't the best.
As I have two sound reative dogs and this unit sounds remarkably like my fire alarm I had to counter condition the beep before we could start any training.
I will start training a foot target tonight and post a video of our progress soon.
So, in summay, I am initially impressed with the unit but time will tell if it holds up with wear-and-tear.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Master Jumper @ AARF
Master Standard @ AARF
Master Gamblers @ AARF
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Master Standard @ AARF
Advanced Standard @ AARF
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Back in the Swing of Things
Indie and I are in advanced obedience classes. The hope is not to crash and burn during our first rally-o trial that we are attending in 4 very short weeks. Travis is entered too, but I just train him at home because Indie needs the stranger danger factor added to his training.
I'm teaching a few group agility classes. I find teaching a lot of fun but I am struggling a little with keeping the keener students in check. Perhaps this is normal but its stressing me out none the less. Someone is always raising their jump bars too high or twisting the flex tunnel into a pretzle and pushing their dog in to it.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Jessica Martin Seminar at The Summit
I signed up for Jessicas second seminar months ago because I enjoyed the first one so much. I really enjoy her approach to teaching handlers and her personality is one that meshes well with mine - something of a rarity.
To everyone's surprise Jessica, a devout follower of the Derrett handling system,switched to the European handling style just 4 weeks ago. I don't think about handlers at the seminar were prepared for that shock.
None the less I am open to new learning opportunities and will embrace them if they work for both me and my dogs.
Jessica showed us her take on European handling which really isn't all that different from the Derrett system - it is more of a blend between the two. There is no crazy running backwards - seeing as I can't run well forwards that's a good thing - and still lots of body motion and position to get dogs around the course, the changes are more in the fluidity of the handling and timing is less important.
There are 4 key verbal cues - supported by body motion and/or position - that the dog must learn to be successful around the course:
1) a verbal cue to take a jump but turn back towards the handler,
2) a verbal cue to take the backside of a jump,
3) a verbal cue to come in to the handler, and not taking an obvious obstacle,
4) a verbal cue to threadle an obstacle.
These are all things that the Derret system uses body position in relation to the dog and obstacle to get the dog around the course. Jessicas new style relies more on those verbal cues to get the handler ahead of the dog. This way agility becomes a game of chase that the dogs are playing with the handler. This means more speed from the dog and easier handling for the handlers - especially the slower ones.
I have already had success with both dogs and am getting amazingly tight turns and incredible speed - especially out of Travis!
I know there are many local handlers and trainers out there against the European handling style. All I can say is that we should all do what works for us and works for our dogs. One is not better than the other and there is simply no denying that both work.
Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt
New Years Resolutions
I decided to make some resolutions this year. The boys decided to follow suit as well. So here they are...
Mine:
1) No more caffeine. I've broken this one already, but I swear it is the last one!
2) No more artificial sweeteners. I've read loss of nasty stuff about them and I vow to keep them out of my diet as much as humanly possible. Again I have already broken this one but I swear it is the last!
3) Exercise, purposefully, at least 3 days a week. Gym membership will finally come in handy for something other than making it easily to locate my car keys.
4) Keep active during the evenings instead of "relaxing". By "relaxing" I mean parking my very round rear end on the couch for an inexcusable amount of time each night.
5) Asleep by 10:30 each night. Should make mornings easier and help avoid snoozing the alarm clock 25 times before rolling out of bed 20 minutes before having to leave for work. Will also eliminate bad hair days.
6) Train my dogs more often and with purpose. They can now change and take out the garbage but they can't heel worth a darn.
7) "Cure" Indie's fear of people. We know we can't really cure this, I'm not sure I really want to as it keeps people away. Indie and I are not people people/dog.
8) Learn how to use my new sowing machine. I wanted one and I got one and now it must earn its keep... or at least I do.
9) Use my new sowing machine for good, not evil.
Travis:
1) Eat less snow.
2) If I fail at #1, then I will make a better effort not to barf afterwards.
3) I will bring the ball back after Mom or Dad throws it, instead of just chasing it.
4) I'll make a better effort to hold my contacts during trials instead of making Mom look like a fool.
5) I will stop hoovering treats out of people's hands. It's rude and a little frightening.
6) Eat less cat poop.
7) If I fail at #6, then at least be less obvious about it.
Indie:
1) Bark less at things that aren't even there. I know they aren't there but I like the treats that Mom and Dad offer afterwards. Can we saw "whiped".
2) Really bark less at things that are there. Intruder alert! Intruder alert!
3) Stop encouraging Travis to eat cat poop. It's just so funny!
4) Make nice with weave poles #10 and #11. They do not bite!
5) Acknowledge that heeling is not a foot race with Mom. You snooze you lose.
6) Stop chasing the cats.
7) When I fail at #6, at least stop putting their heads in my mouth. No one likes to pet a wet kitty.
8) Stop trying to jump into the car crates when the door is still closed. This just makes everyone look dumb.
9) Acknowledge that only getting in to my own crate - not just the closest one - gets me a cookie. Being in the same crate as Travis, at the same time, does not earn bonus cookies for style.
10) Stop overreacting to the following things/actions: the gas stove, the hood fan, the oven, the dish washer, the breadmaker, the Magic Bullet, burning candles, doorbells, doorbells on TV, imaginary doorbells, doors opening, doors closing, imaginary doors opening and closing, children I can hear but not see, joggers, garbage trucks, the wind, vacuum cleaner, dust rags, tin foil, hair dryer, car exhaust, motor cyclists following behind our car, white dogs that resemble sheep...