Went to play at the agility center. We work on roll back, getting more distance and improving our running contacts. The weaves are getting faster and the obstacle discrimination was pretty goood.

Harley also got to play fetch outside for the first time this year! We still have up to 2' of snow in most places but enough room to play. Harley had to use his brain, he could not run under the fence or jump over it because of the snow so straight lines were not always possible.

I played a bit with Dexter but the sun was a lot more fun then me. We tuged some then Dexter found a sunny spot to sleep, even his favorit cheese won't get him to move. And the water puddles just make it not fun for Dexter, he hate water! We have a lot of water.

The usual retrieve to the stand table (99%), drop ball to my hand (75% on the first try with 100% on second prompting and 'hot dog bribery'), position changes from a distance (getting better at staying in position on these) and retooling the hand target for heeling with no teeth (not so great at this this morning, but we were making progress). Worked on long sit at a distance, changed to a down, to a joyful front sit and ended right there.

Worked on the bombproof recall on a long line walk this weekend and it's in his head as a recall command already - a late morning walk with no offleash dogs, just some squirrels and semis to break up the monotony. And a 10 gallon bucket that had to be given the business as it clearly did not belong there.

Sounds like good recall work, Kristin!



Do you use it in the house too ..... for every good thing he is about to have or do?

I love to make that recall exactly what he wants most to hear.

River getting into shape after the winter weather means she expects to exercise every single day. Rain or shine. Two days of being indoors and she was nagging the hell out of me to take her out and throw the ball around so we went to the park and played fetch while working on different commands in no particular order - platz, down, sit, foos, speak, free. A lot of variety to keep her guessing but she especially enjoys focused heel work when I've got the ball thrower in my hand.
I beat her in the head pretty hard with the ball thrower by accident (bet she won't stick her head in my way ever again), she bit her tongue, bled all over and I mean it was running down her chin. She didn't stop playing fetch. 'Oh well, throw the ball!'
Went for a short stroll around Gas Light Village here in Grand Rapids (nice area) and she did really well with listening to the no pull command. She did amazingly well with holding a sit while a rottie passed by us with the leash completely slack. The rottie was straining and gasping and grunting at us and my PUPPY just sat there and watched. We had plenty of room if she made the wrong choice, but she didn't! It makes me so happy and proud to see our hard work on self control pay off. A month ago she would have hit the end of the leash screaming and whining like someone was killing her because she's an over excited greeter.
Now we need to work on holding a sit when a person walks really close to her. Just because they look at you doesn't mean you should spring up and act like an attention whore, River.

I work on it mostly outside, Connie, where my young myna bird can't pick it up and start randomly commanding the dog
This morning - I was feeling brave so I pulled out the puppy bite wedge - called in from long downs about 8 or 9 times. He hasn't gotten to have fun with this in a LONG while and was really on the dot - about knocked me on my butt the first 3 times. I kept the presentation low. Good outs, good pulling action, happy zoomies around the yard when he won, and the one time he broke a stay and I put the bite wedge behind my back, he didn't act like a complete butthead. I need to work on his focus while he's in a stay for this game since his attention was wandering a little bit on the last couple of stays.

Agility class, so much fun but I do get that a smaller, slower dog do help the handler learn. One person in the class commented that I was often late on my dog. The teacher told her that if she had to keep up to her dog and not wait for it to catch up she would also make mistake and look slow.

Our front cross need some work, the rear and blind cross are pretty good. Harley is getting faster on the waeves but he is also addicted to them, that and the tether.

Tonight I was very happy with my boys. As we were going to close the barn, in the pitch black night, a bunny ran right in between the dogs. Both of them blasted after the rabbit but came back as fast on first call. But some how I ended with a foot in a puddle and Harley sitting on it and Dexter doing the tippy toes in the water doing his best not to get wet.

Wow! sounds like you guys are doing great! slack leash and a strange dog trying to get at you, man that is wonderful! Agility practice and your pups running back on recall while chasing a bunny, amazing!
I miss reading everyone's training progress. I have been swamped and sick but have tired to keep up with training. Bindi- working on some cues for my dog trainer class. Cue's = yum for lick ( I think I have told you that before), wipe your paws, ring the bell, look right (she looks to the right) and a new one "ring the bell". she does well, and we have fun. Still going to Rally training and she is a great rally girl. Looking forward matches this summer. Plan to do as many as we can.
Cody- fears, he is doing wonderful on "pick it up" and now is starting to just pick things up for me without being asked. And when I am not home, he brings the dog's breakfast dishes to my husband without being asked. Starting to work on front. Getting ready to use the treadmill for building stamina.
Terra- she is doing well in her training class. we are working on heel and wait. She knows what they mean but doesn't really think they are necessary to her dog life. So, I am working on her realizing the fun in learning. She is very smart and gets board quickly.
THinking of working on nose work for Terra. Haven't started yet, just a plan.
Well, have a great weekend. Love hearing about your dogs. sharon and her pups, from left to right: Terra, Bindi, Cody.

We had icky weather today :P so I did a few short sessions inside...

Gambit has been working on a stupid (but cute!) trick called "Game Face"....he will pull one side of his lip back in a very scary (adorable) sneer if you scratch him on the cheek so I've been working on marking it.

Ryuk worked on trying to trip me every chance he got and ignoring all commands....he also played "more neutral" dog for my little foster pup (who's going home Friday )

Foster Rem learned to "twirl" and is starting to catch on to "weave" from various directions. She also worked on not nomming Ryuk's ears and bossing Gambit around. She's also working on fursploding all over my freshly swept floor (HOW IS THERE SO MUCH HAIR ON ONE DOG?!?!)

Videos from today!
Rem Alone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugicEPqN4po&feature=share&list=UUu3rygZGexpRh7Ww8FqwlWQ

Ryuk and Rem: http://youtu.be/f98Oypacgvo

 Quote: Jamie Craig

We had icky weather today :P so I did a few short sessions inside...

Gambit has been working on a stupid (but cute!) trick called "Game Face"....he will pull one side of his lip back in a very scary (adorable) sneer if you scratch him on the cheek so I've been working on marking it.

Ryuk worked on trying to trip me every chance he got and ignoring all commands....he also played "more neutral" dog for my little foster pup (who's going home Friday )

Foster Rem learned to "twirl" and is starting to catch on to "weave" from various directions. She also worked on not nomming Ryuk's ears and bossing Gambit around. She's also working on fursploding all over my freshly swept floor (HOW IS THERE SO MUCH HAIR ON ONE DOG?!?!)

Videos from today!
Rem Alone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugicEPqN4po&feature=share&list=UUu3rygZGexpRh7Ww8FqwlWQ

Ryuk and Rem: http://youtu.be/f98Oypacgvo

Bump

(to remind me about those video clips when I get near a bigger screen)

Work on basic ob with both dogs.
Dexter is very obedient but slow. Still I have difficulty, or it takes a very long time to teach him any new stuff. He is not yet getting that weave thing.

Harley worked on back ward heel, position changes at heel, front and between my leg. The back ward heel is getting some speed.

We spent most of the day hiding from the what ever winter had left in stock storm. I was more in the mood to curl in a ball under my bed and suck my thumb then play with the dogs or work my horses.

---

Lucifer!