Okay, the honeymoon is over. Rested up for a few days after the trial, and waiting for the time to change so we can track in the a.m. before work. Was shooting for a week, but after three days, Sadie started begging to earn some treats.

Even though I tried not to think about training, I already knew that the next things I needed to do were improve the focus at heel and back-chain the dumbbell. She already has a "brrring", "hold-it", and "drop it"/"out" with a tennis ball, but her hold needs to quiet and I need to transition to a stick and then a dumbbell.

After I got home and changed, she was spinning and pacing, so I cut up some chicken jerky (most awesomest reward EVER) and we went ouside. We did about 5 mins of intensely focused heeling, then I released her for her run, and we did a long distance recall off of distraction and some directional cues.

After supper and her walk, she was begging again, so we did some retrieves with the tennis ball. I then sat her and worked on her holding the ball still. Eventually this will transition to holding a dowel, then retrieving the dowel, and then we'll start over with the dumbbell.

We finished up with some "paw"s. Now she's dead to the world.

Harley graduated from the agility class. We are the only ones who passed but two others have been given permission to go on as the handlers have more experience. Both won't get on the teether.

We start the next class in 2 weeks.

Arlane: glad to hear your dog passed agility. the teeter must be kinda scary to dogs. I will make sure when the time comes and I teach my pups the teeter (back yard agility) I will try and help them not be fearful.
Duane: looks like you are making progress with sadie, good work!

Camping was great! dogs were good. They sniffed themselves to death with all the new smells as we took them on long walks. They were exhausted when they got back. Gave me a chance to work on Cody's fear issues. There were lots of people (men) and lots of dogs barking at campsites. Cody did well. He has such a good little dog heart! Pranced in heel position and when told to leave it, did well. when frightened of a man walking toward him, I fed treats and he sat there and didn't bark, or cry under his breath like he used to.
Bindi- we walked and she sniffed and I worked on recall among distractions like a cat that ran out in front of us. She did pretty well. She could not understand why in the world I would not want her to chase that cat, the look on her face said it all, but she did come. (had her on long line)
Terra- she is the one who I may train for tracking. She always has her nose up in the air sniffing and on the ground running along a new scent. She did very well. Was in dog heaven as the new scents abounded.
There are lots of deer and jack rabbits and quail at the camp site. So those new scents were wonderful for all my dogs.
I am blessed to have such good pups.
Now I am getting back into the swing of things, got home monday afternoon. so need to get back at the training.
Still waiting for the schedule for the new class on rally o from this one trainer. I am starting to wonder if she is very reliable. Although I know it takes time to rearrange schedules and make new ones. Will be driving out this weekend or next week to see how far this other trainer is from my house. they have an indoor and outdoor facility.
Have talked with that trainer and he meets with my guidelines for the type of training I like to do.
So, while I wait, reviewing basics, working on tighter performances. will go back to my current pet obedience trainer on sunday while I wait to begin the rally classes. Plan on taking my other dogs to the pet obedience trainer for proofing.

So, that is it. Keep up the good work, really enjoying hearing what you are all working on. If there is anyone else in rally, would love to hear how your training is going.
Sharon

well that was a day... barn muck out, feed, turn out and in, more feeding and 7 hours of coaching, dog time none.

Well I played hours of laze ob fetch during lessons. I don't need to really focus on Harley and he get all the excersise he need, then he practice his lap command and sleep one full lesson and keep me very warm. Every one know that deep down inside he is a KING SIZE MINI PINCHER of 80#

Sharon, I've just started my girl in CARO Rally as we can't do CKC or AKC (her breed is not a recognized one).

We've got most of the Novice signs down pat. Right now the only two signs we have real troubles with are the left pivot and the right sidestep. We just started these two this week and that's when I realized I haven't taught the heel position very well.

For left pivot, I been trying to use the 'swing' command and luring into the proper position and it's to the stage where we won't lose points but that's not good enough for me.

For the right sidestep, I've been basically doing the same thing; getting her to stand and then swing her hind end to the right. Not great but enough that we won't lose points. Again not good enough for me.

My trainer wants us to try a competition on November 18th but I think we may do "for exhibition only - FEO". I've never competed before so I'm sure I'll be the nervous wreck. If I know is only FEO, that takes some of the pressure off. The judge still gives you a marking sheet and a score; it just doesn't count towards anything. I figure it will be a good way to see what we really need to work on.

I tryed to challange Harley in nosework. I hide the target in a 5 acres area, deep in a bush. Let it sit for over an hour.

I let him loose and told him to fint it. He ran one large circle then zoom in to the bush and digged in so his nose was right on the find. Less then one minute.

So I tryed other places, up high on a window and under a heavy bucket.

The window was harder as he could not reach so high and go a bit frustrated. He know it was up there but could not reach so he barked, sit, down, bark more jumped up. He could also have move the step ladder closer if I did not rewarded him as he was right in front of the find.

The bucket was not much of trouble for him. He even pushed it over just to make sure it was really it.

I use other person as often as I can to hide the target but that does not make it any more of a challange for Harley.

Maybe time to add a 3rd smell?

Dexter just gave up on moving, it is just around freezing point and way too cold for him. I had to drag him out for a walk.

excellent way to get your dog used to the sights and sounds of competition too! You want to make sure your dog is ready in every way, not just the skills level, emotionally too.
Did you know that you can get your CGC (canine good citizen) certificate and when passed turn in your passing info (where you took the test, instructor etc) and get an akc number even if your dog is not a purebreed, you can compete in akc activities. I think the name is Canine Companions. Anyway look up the good citizen certificate on AKC web page and learn about it. my dog bindi is registered with them, she has a registered name now and a number. So, you might want to go thru that way.

Great to hear how your training is going. Sadly I still do not have a rally trainer yet.
This week Jerry and I are going to drive down to this one trainer who has an inside and outside training area. He has titled and is still working his dogs. Talked with him, sounds good. The other lady I am waiting for is still trying to work on the schedule for the trainer and the training ground closer to my house.
So, we are working on all the positions and putting them together.

Today Bindi went to regular obedience class. We worked on, Stay (wait), Come, with distractions, many toys and treats spread on the ground that she had to walk by on the recall, fronts and finishes. Then we practiced different speeds of walking, and some weaves around cones, then the stand /stay (wait) Bindi did very well. I have to be very careful with my hand positions, or bindi will come into the Front crooked.
She had great engagement, her heel great! she ignored the treats and toys, but she does not like to eat treats that are store bought, and not interested in toys. So, that was not such a stretch for her. All in all she did very well, especially since she was not trained for about one week while I was sick.
Looking forward to learning the basics in rally as a handler too.
Anyway, that is it. Tomorrow Cody goes to the vet to get his b12 shot. I do some training there too. He now loves the girls there, and when its time to get weighed will run to the scale and wait to be released. And he obeys me while we wait for him to be taken back. If I ask for a behavior he does it. which is good for him, he is a very intense dog. Will be taking him to petsmart too to visit people and deal with his fear of men. So, that is what we will do tomorrow. sharon

Returned to tracking. First time in over a month. When the collar and flags came out, Sadie knew what was going on and lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree.

Started off with a very simple track to get back in the swing. Sadie breezed through it and got visibly upset when I said "We're done".

"Sadie breezed through it and got visibly upset when I said "We're done"."


My dog loves FST. I think it's because it's just us two .... the stupid small dogs can't come. LOL

I know he says neener neener under his breath on the way out the door.

Today was a Cody day. Took him to the vet. He is not a fan of the vet since he spent a week in the hospital.
I have been taking him to the vet once and awhile just to sit there and feed him treats and get him used to the place.
Well, he did outstanding today! Listened well, and was calm. I always ask him, going to visit your friends? When he saw the girls who come and take him back for his shot, he gets crazy excited. He loves the girls. (of course they feed him treats as they clip his nails and give him his shot. today cut up baked chicken.)
He trotted right over to the scale, got on, sat and waited to be released. Went in with them came out leaping and jumping and happy as a clam.
I was very blessed. He still has fears of noises, and men, but we are working on it. He now thinks everyone is just dying to see him.
That is what we did today.
Bindi was very sad I took cody to the vet and did not take her for a ride. We will do that tomorrow along with getting back into our training.
Sharon