Today was Elliots last training session before his first competition at Stockbridge next weekend. I can't say he did great, his boxes were all over the place, when he does full runs he doesn't really think about what he is doing and just puts two feet on the box!! I have brought home a jump to get him doing swimmers turns over it without the box again, just to remind him what he needs to do and to try and stop him being lazy!! My main worry with him for the competition next week is that with all the excitement he will completely forget his turn on the box or that he will find the other dogs all highly exciting and run over to the otherside when he has finished.
Jemma did lovely turns on the box and ran ok, she really steams back to me but we are still aving a few issues with her going out. We found she is better if I stand with the other dogs so she can see them, rather than right near the start gate (she tends to run round me to go bark at them if I do this) but on one of her runs she decided to have a go at Luna when I let her go so she got shut in the car for the next two runs and when she came out again Carol stood further to the side with Luna and so she only had Fraggle to run past and he doesn't bark or anything and she did a couple of really nice runs. My main worry with her for the competition next week is releasing her at the right time because it depends on how much she looks at the other dogs as to how long she takes to get to the line so judging when to let her go is going to be tricky!!
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Bits & Bobs
I have mainly been working on being able to clicker training both dogs!!! Even my little Jem has managed to get over her fear of clickers thanks to a lot of persistence from me and I can even use it now to actually train her!!
I went to the downs today to do some obedience with them. I trained Jem using her ball and instead of looking confused like normal she was super excitable and kept jumping about and not really concentrating, I perservered with her though and got some nice bits out of her. I did a retrieve with her and she was really naughty, she just ran off sniffing and then didn't really want to work but I pulled her through it and I then put the ball in my pocket (rather than in my hand) and did some heelwork with her and she worked really nicely. She really is and odd little dog bless her, it is really hard to judge when I need to "tell her off" and when i need to encourage her more because sometimes one will work and sometimes the other and there seems to be no real correlation as to when it is which of them that will work!! bless her!!
With elliot I literally just stood on the downs and clicked him everytime he chose to look at me and not at the cars/people/bikes and occasionally I got a few steps of nice heelwork out of him but with him at the moment the main issue when outside is getting his attention so that is all i need to work on when outside for now.
I then did a stay with them and put elliot really close to keri (one of my friends dogs) and he did it until i went back and then he got up so i put him back and left them again, this worried jem and although she had done her stay to this point she then lay down!! They both did the down, again though elliot sat up when i returned - something i really need to work on. He did stay down even though two bikes went past though!!!
On thursday I went agility training at Blaise with Nat and we did lots of one jump work with Asher and Jem to get them really understanding change of arm=change direction, and Jem did quite well at this, I was pleased with her. We then did a few bits with 4 jumps and the weaves, Jemma's weaves were okish i guess, i just need to do lots of work now on her doing them with me moving, I think I need to take myself and just have a weave session with her one day, don't know when though!! With elliot I just did jump focus work with him, sending him over the jump from different angles and throwing the tuggy, he loved it although I still think I need to find a better way of rewarding his jumping and building up the value as he still occasionally ran round the wing. Nat helped me do some 6inch channel weaves with him, he was brilliant on the recalls and then I managed to do "the walk" from the second pole from the end (of 6) no worries, he struggled when I pushed it to the 3rd so I jsut went back to the 2nd :)
Thats it for today, a flyball update after training tomorrow!! :)
I went to the downs today to do some obedience with them. I trained Jem using her ball and instead of looking confused like normal she was super excitable and kept jumping about and not really concentrating, I perservered with her though and got some nice bits out of her. I did a retrieve with her and she was really naughty, she just ran off sniffing and then didn't really want to work but I pulled her through it and I then put the ball in my pocket (rather than in my hand) and did some heelwork with her and she worked really nicely. She really is and odd little dog bless her, it is really hard to judge when I need to "tell her off" and when i need to encourage her more because sometimes one will work and sometimes the other and there seems to be no real correlation as to when it is which of them that will work!! bless her!!
With elliot I literally just stood on the downs and clicked him everytime he chose to look at me and not at the cars/people/bikes and occasionally I got a few steps of nice heelwork out of him but with him at the moment the main issue when outside is getting his attention so that is all i need to work on when outside for now.
I then did a stay with them and put elliot really close to keri (one of my friends dogs) and he did it until i went back and then he got up so i put him back and left them again, this worried jem and although she had done her stay to this point she then lay down!! They both did the down, again though elliot sat up when i returned - something i really need to work on. He did stay down even though two bikes went past though!!!
On thursday I went agility training at Blaise with Nat and we did lots of one jump work with Asher and Jem to get them really understanding change of arm=change direction, and Jem did quite well at this, I was pleased with her. We then did a few bits with 4 jumps and the weaves, Jemma's weaves were okish i guess, i just need to do lots of work now on her doing them with me moving, I think I need to take myself and just have a weave session with her one day, don't know when though!! With elliot I just did jump focus work with him, sending him over the jump from different angles and throwing the tuggy, he loved it although I still think I need to find a better way of rewarding his jumping and building up the value as he still occasionally ran round the wing. Nat helped me do some 6inch channel weaves with him, he was brilliant on the recalls and then I managed to do "the walk" from the second pole from the end (of 6) no worries, he struggled when I pushed it to the 3rd so I jsut went back to the 2nd :)
Thats it for today, a flyball update after training tomorrow!! :)
Sunday, 19 April 2009
SBDTC Companionship Show
Starters - heel on lead, recall, 30s sit/1min down stay
Stays - Jem did her sit stay!!! and her down. Elliot lasted 15seconds then went to say hello to the dog next to him then went wondering out the ring with it and then back in again until someone from outside the ring got hold of him. I then got them to hang on to him and didn't bother with his down
I didn't feel Jem did her best heelwork, when I asked her for a left turn she just carried on walking straight past me and then looked at me gormlously, she lost 3.5 marks. She was crooked on her present but straight on her finish. However she ended up being in a runoff between three dogs for 1st place but sadly I was working in another ring at the time so didn't get to do it and she finished 3rd.
I trained Elliots heelwork so just did little bits and rewarded him. It was good for him, especially as the judge made me do that little bit more at the end to push him and make sure we finished on a good bit and when I wanted and not him!! He was just very distracted with working outside, and has been ever since the first competition where he worked so nicely. On his recall he came in to me but sat next to me in heelwork position so I did it again but used his toy to guide him in and he did it better. He seems to have regressed and got more interested in everything else rather than working but we will get there.
Triers - 1 min sit, 1 min down
Jem broke her sit after 11s, I did a sit again in the down and she broke it as soon as I walked away.
I didn't do the heelwork round in this one, decided it was too hot and would have been too much for her.
Goers - 1min sit/2min down stay, heel on lead, recall, heel free, retrieve
Jem went down after 10s on her sit, I again did a sit the second time down and she went down after about 20s.
I did the round with her ball in my pocket so I could reward her after each section and she worked the best I have ever seen her work. She had some really nice tight about turns, lovely left turns, did a very straight present in her recall and finish. She even did a very nice second bit of heelwork and with her retireve she didn't chomp on it at all (despite holding it at a funny angle) and sat straight with it and finished straight. It was a good insight into what I need to do to get the best from her and where to take our training from now.
Good Citizens - Bronze
Jemma already has hers so this was just elliot. He struggled a bit in the heel work bit as he wanted to wonder off and say hello to all the dogs/people but she let us do it again and second time round he did half of it really nicely. He then tried walking round the gate and didn't go through it but did on the second time!! He was brilliant about me brushing him, didn't flinch or move at all. He was good when we had to walk between the dogs too bless him. For his recall I had to get the judge to hold him as there was a pushchair that he was very focussed on, however once I asked him if he wanted his bally he came straight to me bless him!! Then for his stay, luckily I was able to talk to him and remind him to stay as much as I liked and despite the fact there was another dog in the ring and a car drove past he stayed down for his minute.
So all in all it was quite a good day, just a shame about Jemma's stays but I am sure we will get there, at least she no longer does it in the recall *touch wood*.
Stays - Jem did her sit stay!!! and her down. Elliot lasted 15seconds then went to say hello to the dog next to him then went wondering out the ring with it and then back in again until someone from outside the ring got hold of him. I then got them to hang on to him and didn't bother with his down
I didn't feel Jem did her best heelwork, when I asked her for a left turn she just carried on walking straight past me and then looked at me gormlously, she lost 3.5 marks. She was crooked on her present but straight on her finish. However she ended up being in a runoff between three dogs for 1st place but sadly I was working in another ring at the time so didn't get to do it and she finished 3rd.
I trained Elliots heelwork so just did little bits and rewarded him. It was good for him, especially as the judge made me do that little bit more at the end to push him and make sure we finished on a good bit and when I wanted and not him!! He was just very distracted with working outside, and has been ever since the first competition where he worked so nicely. On his recall he came in to me but sat next to me in heelwork position so I did it again but used his toy to guide him in and he did it better. He seems to have regressed and got more interested in everything else rather than working but we will get there.
Triers - 1 min sit, 1 min down
Jem broke her sit after 11s, I did a sit again in the down and she broke it as soon as I walked away.
I didn't do the heelwork round in this one, decided it was too hot and would have been too much for her.
Goers - 1min sit/2min down stay, heel on lead, recall, heel free, retrieve
Jem went down after 10s on her sit, I again did a sit the second time down and she went down after about 20s.
I did the round with her ball in my pocket so I could reward her after each section and she worked the best I have ever seen her work. She had some really nice tight about turns, lovely left turns, did a very straight present in her recall and finish. She even did a very nice second bit of heelwork and with her retireve she didn't chomp on it at all (despite holding it at a funny angle) and sat straight with it and finished straight. It was a good insight into what I need to do to get the best from her and where to take our training from now.
Good Citizens - Bronze
Jemma already has hers so this was just elliot. He struggled a bit in the heel work bit as he wanted to wonder off and say hello to all the dogs/people but she let us do it again and second time round he did half of it really nicely. He then tried walking round the gate and didn't go through it but did on the second time!! He was brilliant about me brushing him, didn't flinch or move at all. He was good when we had to walk between the dogs too bless him. For his recall I had to get the judge to hold him as there was a pushchair that he was very focussed on, however once I asked him if he wanted his bally he came straight to me bless him!! Then for his stay, luckily I was able to talk to him and remind him to stay as much as I liked and despite the fact there was another dog in the ring and a car drove past he stayed down for his minute.
So all in all it was quite a good day, just a shame about Jemma's stays but I am sure we will get there, at least she no longer does it in the recall *touch wood*.
Monday, 13 April 2009
Agiliy Nuts 12/04/09
Jumping:
This course started jump jump 6 weaves and for the first time ever my little Jem got the weaves right FIRST TIME!!!! I remembered to hold back and let her do them herself but this then meant I was slightly in the wrong place when she needed to turn so she turned too tightly and knocked a pole, later on in the course I tripped which made her knock another pole and then loose her striding for the next one so all in all she had three poles down. However on her time she would have been 2nd, 0.136 s between her and the winner!!!
A-frame gamble:
This also started jump jump 6 weaves but there was a much bigger gap than in the jumping and it took Jem three attempts to do the weaves, she go the entrance everytime, just missed one out in the middle, apart from that she did very well, I made up a course rather than doing the a-frame over and over again though so she didn't come very high up but that for me wasn't the point of the course :)
Agility:
This had the same start as the gamble but she only took two attempts at the weaves this time (again getting the entrance but missing one in the middle) and did the rest of the course brilliantly so finished 5th, would have been 2nd on her time, probably first if we hadn't had to do the weaves twice as there was only 1.535 s between our time and the winners!!
Helter Skelter:
She ran past a wing because I took my eye off her and she dropped a pole (cant remember why), 3.736 seconds slower than the winner and she would have been 4th if she had gone clear!
Pairs Jumping:
I completely forgot where I was going and Jem knocked a pole.
Power & Speed:
I stopped & held Jem on the end of her contacts and she did this very nicely, sadly the power bit also had a spread in it which she has only seen once before and she tried to walk on it bless her. She went clear in the speed bit though :)
All in all I good day i feel!! :)
Jemma is 10th in the league (out of 32) despite missing a day so far :)
This course started jump jump 6 weaves and for the first time ever my little Jem got the weaves right FIRST TIME!!!! I remembered to hold back and let her do them herself but this then meant I was slightly in the wrong place when she needed to turn so she turned too tightly and knocked a pole, later on in the course I tripped which made her knock another pole and then loose her striding for the next one so all in all she had three poles down. However on her time she would have been 2nd, 0.136 s between her and the winner!!!
A-frame gamble:
This also started jump jump 6 weaves but there was a much bigger gap than in the jumping and it took Jem three attempts to do the weaves, she go the entrance everytime, just missed one out in the middle, apart from that she did very well, I made up a course rather than doing the a-frame over and over again though so she didn't come very high up but that for me wasn't the point of the course :)
Agility:
This had the same start as the gamble but she only took two attempts at the weaves this time (again getting the entrance but missing one in the middle) and did the rest of the course brilliantly so finished 5th, would have been 2nd on her time, probably first if we hadn't had to do the weaves twice as there was only 1.535 s between our time and the winners!!
Helter Skelter:
She ran past a wing because I took my eye off her and she dropped a pole (cant remember why), 3.736 seconds slower than the winner and she would have been 4th if she had gone clear!
Pairs Jumping:
I completely forgot where I was going and Jem knocked a pole.
Power & Speed:
I stopped & held Jem on the end of her contacts and she did this very nicely, sadly the power bit also had a spread in it which she has only seen once before and she tried to walk on it bless her. She went clear in the speed bit though :)
All in all I good day i feel!! :)
Jemma is 10th in the league (out of 32) despite missing a day so far :)
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Agiliy Nuts 11/04/09
Jemma:
Jumping
This was a good round for little Jem, it did have 6 weaves in it, first time - good entry but missed one out, second time - went in the second gap but did the rest of them, third time - got it right!!! She came in 12th in the end bless her - 14.872s slower than the winner, 8th place if no faults!!!
Snakes and Ladders
She went on the dog walk but for some reason came off at the bottom, then got really confused what I wanted, saw the tunnel that was under the dog walk and went through that so then we opted to just do the jumps round the edge and she saw a random tunnel and opted to do that so we just went to the end as I had no idea where I was supposed to go after that!!
Agility
There was a very bad angle on to the 6 weaves and she got the entrance again but I carried on running so she missed one half way down, next time I stood back and let her do the weaves before I moved and she did :) She did the rest of the course very nicely.
Up and Under
Just one refusal, I crossed behind her quite tightly and the next jump was quite wide out so she just missed it, but did the rest very nicely bless her - finished 10th, 5.562 s slower than winner, 4th place if no faults.
Its a knock out
She won her first race but then knocked a pole on her second round bless her :(
Jumping
This was a good round for little Jem, it did have 6 weaves in it, first time - good entry but missed one out, second time - went in the second gap but did the rest of them, third time - got it right!!! She came in 12th in the end bless her - 14.872s slower than the winner, 8th place if no faults!!!
Snakes and Ladders
She went on the dog walk but for some reason came off at the bottom, then got really confused what I wanted, saw the tunnel that was under the dog walk and went through that so then we opted to just do the jumps round the edge and she saw a random tunnel and opted to do that so we just went to the end as I had no idea where I was supposed to go after that!!
Agility
There was a very bad angle on to the 6 weaves and she got the entrance again but I carried on running so she missed one half way down, next time I stood back and let her do the weaves before I moved and she did :) She did the rest of the course very nicely.
Up and Under
Just one refusal, I crossed behind her quite tightly and the next jump was quite wide out so she just missed it, but did the rest very nicely bless her - finished 10th, 5.562 s slower than winner, 4th place if no faults.
Its a knock out
She won her first race but then knocked a pole on her second round bless her :(
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