For Jolene

Kort is having a holiday at my house while his Momma is away. He's settled in and having a good time playing with the girls.

Just Wicca

An Incredible Dog 24/52, originally uploaded by manymuddypaws.

:)

Final Regionals Results and Wrap Up

The regionals results were posted last night.

There was an adding error at the Awards ceremony- Wicca actually placed third, not second. I am still super stoked about the whole event though. Second place was great of course, but I'll take a Third.

I've emailed the real Second place winner and we will do a ribbon exchange. The difference is just a few points, but I know I'd want the correct ribbon!

Wicca's end score is 473.56 which is the highest we've ever had I think. I am still just so proud of us. It certainly proves that she *can* be as awesome as I think she is. :)

Pixel's score and placement is just like I thought. An awesome second place finish to a world team dog. I really shouldn't say it again but really I am so, so, so proud of Pixel. She is still so young and inexperienced. We have a lot to learn together still!



As I talked about a while ago on my blog we won't be going to Nationals this year. I am in money saving mode, and it is just so expensive!! Even the entry is expensive, nevermind the flights, the hotel, the vehicle rental.....Next year Nationals will be in BC, which is awesome as I have family there. We'll make a whole vacation out of it. :)

Teaching Brit

Brit is scary smart. I mean, she is just so operant that she catches on to things uber fast. It has been a test to my training ability for sure as I have already found that even if my timing is just a fraction wrong I end up with a whole different behaviour. She has been a very fun dog to train and I've succesfully taught Brit a whole load of fun behaviors already.
Sit
Stand
Down
Stay
Ok!
Fetch
Left
Right
Heel
Touch
Back
Paw
Stand on a board
Pivot on a stool
Sit Pretty
Stretch
Sad

All the while we've been working on making the above behaviours solid we've also been working on Tugging.

Tugging is something that I think is important for agility training. It's not 100% neccesary and lots of agility dogs don't like toys and tugging. But *I* want her to tug. I like to train my dogs when they are "high" and a tug is a great way to get that and reward "in action" so to speak. Besides, for me it's weird to only rely on food to reward. I don't like it. lol

As I've talked about before, Brit came to me with little interest in toys. We started teaching a fetch right away and she is 100% solid now- bringing whatever item I've thrown to hand. And she's excited about it too. It's not just a boring behaviour. We've made it into the most fun game so she is pretty amped up during the retrieve. She actually has taken a few detours to play by herself with the toy a few times. I was pretty happy about that. :)

The next step is the Tug. It's been a bit of a process but tonite we had a breakthrough!!! I started with fleece tug just in my hand. C/T for any interaction until she was grabbing it. Then I upped the ante. Only C/T when there is a solid grab. Tonite I made it even more difficult by withholding the reward until she pulled backwards in frustration. C/T JACKPOT!!!!! Woohooo!!!! Three times in a row I got a fierce tug and quit the session. I am super excited about the progress tonite.

I can't wait to try again tomorrow. :) Once I have drive and excitement for the tug then I will start more serious agility foundation training. Fun!

Video Time :)

Princess Perfect Pixel


and Wicca Naughty Pants. :)


Again, I am just so proud of them and of myself. I was confident with my dogs, and my own abilities. I didn't get caught up in self doubt, and managed to keep a positive attitude for the most part. I won't lie though- I was certainly more than a little annoyed at Wicca after Friday but I told myself it is what it is and no matter how mad I was at her it wasn't going to change things. After last years fiasco I have worked hard at never letting her get to me on course- once that happens the whole run goes to crap. I was proud that even after a bobble, or a glimpse of naughty wicca I kept it together. Yay for me. :)

Incredible

If I had to choose one word to describe the regionals weekend it would be incredible.

the site itself was gorgeous (minus the landfill on the left )

the weather was almost perfect (a little cold, a little sun, no extremes)

the courses were fun and challenging

the company was great (we stayed at our friends Jan and Dave's who are the most amazing people)

and the host club did a fantastic job.

Oh, and my dogs were awesome and I didn't have a freak out. :)

the go dog go gang at regionals- photo by Sarah Novak

I am so proud of all of the Go Dog Go students and friends. Our group is very tight knit and it showed. We supported one another all weekend and there was lots of encouragement and applause after a run. I am proud to be involved with such a fantastic group of people.

I am also so very proud of my dogs.

Pixel is all heart and I am so grateful to have such an amazing little dog. She may not be the speediest but she is accurate and steady. Two traits that I've never had in a dog before. She just blew me away this weekend. She only had two faults all weekend! One was mine (an off course in a standard), and one a refusal at the weave poles (which is just her inexperience). She got both gambles which just blows my mind. I went knowing that distance was not her strong point, and expected to get a few minis but as soon as I saw the main gamble I knew she could do it. And she did. Both days. That alone is pretty awesome for her. But to run clean in both jumpers, and a standard aswell is something I don't even know how to put into words. She earned 450 points this weekend. We needed 350 to qualify. She placed 2nd in the 10" Regular height category. A class full of speedy little papillons and itty bitty shelties. I am still trying to absorb this weekend. I love my little Pixel no matter the outcome but moments like this are just the icing on the cake.

Wicca started out in typical Wicca style. A little crazy, and very fast. The steeplechase Friday was a disaster. I actually picked her up and walked off the course. It was pretty upsetting.  I was feeling pretty nervous about the dog I would have to run regionals with. Saturday morning started with a gamble that quickly went south. She was out of control for the most of the run, and did not get the gamble. After a stern talking to the rest of our weekend was incredible. I am very grateful that we started with gamble on Saturday morning. lol.  The best moment of the whole weekend was running the Saturday Jumpers clean. Clean! Jumpers!!!!! I am so proud of us. She placed 2nd in the 6" Specials category. I was so surprised that it took a moment for it to sink in when our name was called. I don't remember how many points she got- I am going to be obsessively looking at the website until the results are posted. lol. I do know that it was one of those weekends where teamwork between Wicca and I was there for almost every run. She tried hard, and I worked my ass off to be in the right place for her. Some of the runs weren't perfect, but I am happy. Wicca is an incredible little dog. I love her even when she is naughty, but when she is good- well the feeling is indescribable.

I will have videos tonight or tomorrow. I took the day off work to catch up on housework, laundry, and to just hang with my awesome dogs. Oh, and to process all the video. lol

Regionals is Upon us...

This weekend is the AAC Alberta/NWT Regional Championships. The girls and I are pumped and ready. I am probably more comfortable than ever with Wicca, and am looking forward to the experience with Pixel. We are leaving tomorrow afternoon.

Friday is Steeplechase and the Warm Up Rings will be open. I have Wicca entered in both Steeplechase, and one warm up. Pixel will be conserving her energy. :)

Saturday and Sunday are the main events. Our group is starting with Gamblers on Saturday, and Jumpers on Sunday. It will be nice to have the Jumpers out of the way early in the morning. For me that is the most brain power. lol.

So wish us luck for...

no missed contacts...

a happy (speedy) Pixel

all 12 weave poles :)

Clean jumping

lots of tunnels

only a little craziness

and most of all a weekend full of fun, and teamwork!

The rain isn't so bad...

The only thing I hate about the rain is how muddy the dogs get. But the actual rain isn't all that bad. The dogs and I had a great walk this afternoon. I put on my rain gear, put a bag over my camera and away we went. All of us- even little Catch. :)



there were many puddles to play in, and run through...



lots of tall, tall grass for the short dogs to get lost in (can you see them all?)

lots of bossy pixel- THROW THE BALL NOW!

A stalking border collie...

a very happy puppy



who ran with all his might to keep up with everyone. (is he not the cutest thing?!)



a frolicking, peeing-on-everything, Vito



a puppy who is in love...



a loud, shreaking Boone...

and lots of rolling on gross stuff...

All in all a pretty awesome walk. I was smart and put them all in crates to dry off while I ran some errands. One of my brighter ideas today. :)

The Entertainer

Boone had a blast at the last two agility demonstrations we've done. He is happy, excited, and working through all sorts of distractions and normal stressors. It's amazing. And makes me very happy. We did some demos last year too, but I don't think I realised just how much he enjoyed himself.

For such a nervous dog I didn't really expect him to really enjoy demos. Often it is crowded, in strange places, and noisy. But he seems to be able to work past that. I am looking forward to the summer- we have quite a few demos planned and I think it may be a good way to bridge agility training, and trialing. He's been on a bit of a break for a few months- only playing in the yard. I was seeing lots of stress at training and at trials, and didn't want our relationship to suffer for the sake of agility.

We've been rebuilding fun into "hard" agility and I am hoping that soon we will be able to return to normal training and a few trials. I'd like to be able to get his confidence up at trials, and maintain a connection throughout a whole course....

In any case I think that demos will be a fun thing to do with him this summer. We've been working hard at some new tricks, and he is very cute and charming for the spectators. Demo's may just be his "thing."

Photo Favorites

Here are just a few of my favorite photos that Wendy took at the trial the other weekend. 

Thanks Wendy for the great photos!!!!

Catch

I can't believe I haven't blogged about the little visitor I've had for the last week! Catch is a Shetland Sheepdog pup that belongs to a friend of mine. She went on holidays (that were planned pre-puppy) and needed a sitter.

Catch is the toughest little Sheltie I've ever met. He has settled right in and gets along great with everyone. I have taken him everywhere, and he has met tons of people, cat, and dogs. So far nothing has bugged him much. He is a very confident little dude.

He has been fun to have around- but I am sure that Wicca will be glad to see him go home. He is a horrible pest. :)

He is super duper cute though and I have taken LOADS of photos of him...

see? Pest!

tiger killer

cute. :)

looking extra smart here...

mr.nosey, gets  into everything, doesn't want to miss a thing....

sheltie zoomies!!!

another example of pestiness. :)

small and tall (I know he's not in focus but still too cute not to post)

ears glued... (i.e torture)

C-R-A-Z-Y

Wendy from Paws on the Run Photography took a TON of fantastic photos of my dogs last weekend. I will have more to share over the weekend, but this one took my breath away when I first saw it.  If you look closely there are NO FEET touching- just her left toes. She's a crazy one that Wicca.

Are you a good sport?

As with any competitive sport agility has it's fair share of sore losers, and bad sports. This past weekend I thought about that a lot as I watched people treat their dog unfairly, other people poorly, or beat themselves up due to something on course.

We all need to try harder to be objective about agility and put some thought into our actions and our words at a trial. Agility is first a spectator sport. Never forget there is always someone watching. Being a good sport is expected. Unfortunately that is not always the case. I won't go into detail about who/what/when/where but I do think that it will be a good discussion. I know that my area is not the only one with these sort of problems!

Agility is something we do for fun. We like the challenge, we love our dogs. A trial is really a test of your training. If your dog doesn't perform properly it is likely your fault, not the dog. It is easier to blame the dog of course, and often people do that. I bet that everyone of us at one time or another has blamed the dog for our bad training/handling. No one is perfect. I understand frustration- having a dog that slams into bars sucks. At the beginning I blamed her exclusively. Now, I realize that most bars are my fault. I had to learn that lesson though. Hopefully we all learn to recognize errors for what they are. Mistakes caused by us, or things that our dogs don't really understand. There is no sense in blaming the dog, or getting mad or upset by off courses, or knocked bars. And there is never cause for being physically or verbally abusive to your dog. There was an instance of that this weekend. It is upsetting to watch, and hopefully the person who did it will be reprimanded, and embarrassed enough to act better in public at least.

There is also putting the blame on other people. Your job as a trainer is to not only train your dog to perform the equipment, and to get around a course, but also to proof for trial situations. People at ringside, children, other dogs. Those are all things that your dog will be around at a trial- it is important that you and your dog can work past those issues at home, and then bring them to a trial. Blaming people at ringside for your dogs lack of focus is going to get you know where. Train your dog. Things are generally easier when that happens. :)

The other thing that I think people are guilty of is beating themselves up. Blaming themselves, and feeling bad about a run. I know from experience that once you get into the mindset it is hard to get out. Positive thinking is very important in agility. Sure, take responsibility for the error, but then Move On!!! Forget about it. You should be focused on the next run, and your dog- not going on about how awful the last run was. It really does make a difference in your game, and you will likely have more friends if you aren't whining about a crappy run all day....

I think we all need a reminder once in a while that Agility is Fun. Training is fun. Socialising with dog people is fun. Trialing is fun. Agility is just a game we play with our dogs after all!!

Anyway, just my 2cents on a cloudy Thursday morning...

Yay for Smarty-Pants

Brit has conquered two big hurdles this week.

1) Fetch. She will fetch almost anything I throw and bring it to hand. Woohoo!!! I am so proud of her for figuring it out. This was not an easy thing for her. Now we are working on tugging, which is proving to be a challenge for me. lol. But I am confident we'll get it. :)

2) Running WITH me. She likes to run of course, but getting her to stay with me and not cut in front was a bit of a process. Baby steps really. But she's got it and rarely makes a mistake now. We've been doing LOTS of big loopy circles, and now that she is understanding where I want her we will start asking for smaller, tighter circles.

Yay for Smarty Pants! :)

p.s It is VERY hard to take photos and train the dog at the same time. But they were too cute not to share. :)

Because It's funny...

I posted this on Facebook the other day- but thought I'd post it here too. She totally cracks me up. 

thanks to Wendy for the photo. lol

FAIL

FAIL, originally uploaded by manymuddypaws.

ha ha