Clever Jem, Rubbish Me

It was our last flyball training session today before the competition season starts.

It is safe to say Jem is ready to run in the pack in the blue lane - I did a couple of late changes and then pushed them up (to the point that I was about 3 foot early!!!!) and she didn't even bat an eyelid at Sonny (who she was changing to)!!! :D This does however mean I need to learn to do changeovers with her now too - damn it!! It is a shame we didn't have just one more session to try her in the red lane but I think she will get there in that lane pretty quickly now she can do it in the blue lane. I am so pleased we did this with her, not only because it will make life easier for Lou/Nat when they are deciding teams but also because it proved that she is not as naughty as I thought!!

Elliot was a good boy too, he did get tired quite quickly though - best get working on his fitness! He ran start in the first team as a replacement for Piper and it was great to be able to release him whilst he was standing upright and not at a 45 degree angle!! He is now putting in the extra stride between the box and first jump without the guttering in which is good and he even dropped his ball for the tuggy 3 (or 4) times straight away and then didnt stop playing tuggy when the ball rolled away (one of these times was after a few times of not playing tug, showing it is not JUST when he gets tired that he stops playing) :D The times he didnt drop the ball for the tug I just took hold of his collar and waited for him to drop the ball and then picked it up and let him go (not playing with him at all afterwards).

So all in all a good last training session for us, I am really looking forward to the few competitions we are going to be able to get too!!

Susan Garretts 5 minute formula for a brilliant recall

I have finally been proactive in trying to sort out Elliot's recall and have signed up to Susan Garrett's online course. It is a 5 week course with a new game to play each day and is all about not controlling the dog but controlling the consequences of their actions! Obviously I can't be too specific about the exercises we are doing but I shall keep you updated on how we get on and here is to getting a brilliant recall!!