I just finished reading Dogged Pursuit: My Year of Competing Dusty, the World's Least Likely Agility Dog.
It was entertaining, but nothing that special. I think it captured pretty much what every competitor goes through at the beginning. I could definitely relate to having a dog who is great in training but not so great in competition.
One thing that did ring true was his relationship with the other competitors. I definitely still feel like an outsider at trials, even though I have agility friends and have been trialling for a couple of years. Each time I go, I think "Are these people really enjoying this?" I love the challenge of competing, but I can't stand the hours and hours of waiting around between runs. Also, getting up at 5:30 am to drive 90 minutes to the trial site, get set up and be ready to go at 7:30 am is barbaric to me. Wouldn't everyone have more fun if the trial started at 10am and runs were more limited? If I enjoyed it more, I would go to more trials. As it is, I can only handle one day every 2-3 months.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Spot Making Progess in Agility
Spot's been back at agility class for 2 weeks. It's been going well.
Last Thursday we worked on a 10-obstacle sequence and he actually could do the whole thing! I don't know when that happened! And I can tell he knows what crosses mean, which I didn't think he totally got yet.
At the beginning of class we worked on weaves. We're still at 2 poles, but I had them strait and he did well. He totally understood that he needed to go between the poles for reward. We had a little trouble with the off side entry. He did fine at first but as we kept on, he stopped doing it correctly. So I got him to do one more correct one and then stopped.
Then we worked on our sequence. It was 3 jumps to a tunnel, then the dog walk, then the tunnel which was under the A frame, then the A frame, then 2 jumps, tunnel, and 3 jumps. For the opening, I started with Spot on my left and tried to run the tunnel on the left, but Spot ran into me on the way to the dog walk, so it wasn't great. So we practiced it with a front cross before and after the tunnel. I couldn't quite get the timing right. Spot did a good job with the obstacle discrimination, taking the tunnel no problem. Then we did the A frame, an handled the 2 jumps and tunnel like a serpenine. The end section was a little tough, because coming out of the tunnel, the next two jumps were parallel to the tunnel exit. I tried a post turn and then a rear cross, but Spot didn't understand. It could also be a serpentine, but still not exactly easy.
Overall, Spot did well and I'm happy with his progress.
Last Thursday we worked on a 10-obstacle sequence and he actually could do the whole thing! I don't know when that happened! And I can tell he knows what crosses mean, which I didn't think he totally got yet.
At the beginning of class we worked on weaves. We're still at 2 poles, but I had them strait and he did well. He totally understood that he needed to go between the poles for reward. We had a little trouble with the off side entry. He did fine at first but as we kept on, he stopped doing it correctly. So I got him to do one more correct one and then stopped.
Then we worked on our sequence. It was 3 jumps to a tunnel, then the dog walk, then the tunnel which was under the A frame, then the A frame, then 2 jumps, tunnel, and 3 jumps. For the opening, I started with Spot on my left and tried to run the tunnel on the left, but Spot ran into me on the way to the dog walk, so it wasn't great. So we practiced it with a front cross before and after the tunnel. I couldn't quite get the timing right. Spot did a good job with the obstacle discrimination, taking the tunnel no problem. Then we did the A frame, an handled the 2 jumps and tunnel like a serpenine. The end section was a little tough, because coming out of the tunnel, the next two jumps were parallel to the tunnel exit. I tried a post turn and then a rear cross, but Spot didn't understand. It could also be a serpentine, but still not exactly easy.
Overall, Spot did well and I'm happy with his progress.
Positive Small Dog Interactions
I've had a little bit of a challenge working on Shelby's sometimes agression towards small dogs. I always walk her on leash now at Willards Woods, because I want to be able to control any situation. Shelby doesn't seem to mind it, except sometimes when Spot runs off into the bushes.
Last time we went to WW, there were a lot of dogs there. There was a woman who came up behind us with a jack russell mix who was off leash. I told her right away that Shelby can be agressive, but she said her dog was very mellow and never had a problem with anyone, so I let Shelby say hello. I tried not to be stressed! The jack mix was friendly, but calm and confident. He and Shelby met and it was fine, and then he came back and they sniffed again, and it was totally fine.
Then we came across a rat terrier and another little dog, I think it maybe a schauzer mix. I was a little worried because the rat terrier was a little high strung and I thought Shelby would jump on it. But it went fine. Shelby greeted both dogs calmly, and then both groups parted ways. I was so proud of her.
However, it wasn't totally positive, because just after that we met a shitzu puppy, and they greeted, but the puppy was a little bit in Shelby's face, and she growled after a minute, so I pulled her away.
But overall, it was a step forward and I have hope that we can resolve her issues.
Last time we went to WW, there were a lot of dogs there. There was a woman who came up behind us with a jack russell mix who was off leash. I told her right away that Shelby can be agressive, but she said her dog was very mellow and never had a problem with anyone, so I let Shelby say hello. I tried not to be stressed! The jack mix was friendly, but calm and confident. He and Shelby met and it was fine, and then he came back and they sniffed again, and it was totally fine.
Then we came across a rat terrier and another little dog, I think it maybe a schauzer mix. I was a little worried because the rat terrier was a little high strung and I thought Shelby would jump on it. But it went fine. Shelby greeted both dogs calmly, and then both groups parted ways. I was so proud of her.
However, it wasn't totally positive, because just after that we met a shitzu puppy, and they greeted, but the puppy was a little bit in Shelby's face, and she growled after a minute, so I pulled her away.
But overall, it was a step forward and I have hope that we can resolve her issues.
Some Hunting Video
Here is the video I took at Willard's Woods last weekend. You can see that Shelby is really into it. She's sniffing and digging and really working. It's obvious she has the natural talent and inclination for earthdog, but hasn't yet gotten "turned on" in the artificial environment that earthdog provides. I love how in the video you can see Spot inside the hollow log.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
A-huntin' at Willard's Woods
We took advantage of the beautiful day (along with 100 other people) to take a walk to Willard's Woods on Saturday.
It was pretty busy-the parking lot was full. We ran into a lot of dogs and people. A few times I had to hang back and wait to let people get ahead of us, because their dogs were rambunctious and Shelby was on leash and I didn't want to frustrate her by not letting her run around with them. But I have to say, said people seemed oblivious to the fact that I was trying to avoid them! It's always the way.
Midway through the walk Spot and Shelby zeroed in on a fallen log and were doing some heavy sniffing and digging. At one point Spot went inside the fallen log and it was super cute. I took some video with my cell phone, to be posted later.
People were coming by and watching them work. Shelby was really into it. It was funny how people were transfixed by it.
One woman stopped and commented that she didn't think terriers could ever be off leash. I dont buy into those breed generalizations. You'll hear that sighthounds should never be off leash, beagles should never be off leash, etc. I think it depends on the dog. Every dog can be trained that coming back to you is the best thing in the world. Does that mean they will never take off? No. Have I ever thought I lost Spot in the woods? Yes. But it's 1 out of 100 times. And the joy they get out of running free is worth it if you're in a safe location.
It was pretty busy-the parking lot was full. We ran into a lot of dogs and people. A few times I had to hang back and wait to let people get ahead of us, because their dogs were rambunctious and Shelby was on leash and I didn't want to frustrate her by not letting her run around with them. But I have to say, said people seemed oblivious to the fact that I was trying to avoid them! It's always the way.
Midway through the walk Spot and Shelby zeroed in on a fallen log and were doing some heavy sniffing and digging. At one point Spot went inside the fallen log and it was super cute. I took some video with my cell phone, to be posted later.
People were coming by and watching them work. Shelby was really into it. It was funny how people were transfixed by it.
One woman stopped and commented that she didn't think terriers could ever be off leash. I dont buy into those breed generalizations. You'll hear that sighthounds should never be off leash, beagles should never be off leash, etc. I think it depends on the dog. Every dog can be trained that coming back to you is the best thing in the world. Does that mean they will never take off? No. Have I ever thought I lost Spot in the woods? Yes. But it's 1 out of 100 times. And the joy they get out of running free is worth it if you're in a safe location.
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