It's hard to have busy schedules. I work 7:30-5 every day so my only chance to track is in the morning when it gets light, usually around 6:30.

At least your schedule isn't permanent. You'll be getting that focused heel in no time.

Today I took Kipp out for more sheep work. Working on slowing him down a bit.

Set up a search in the woods for Kenzi. Probably about 8 acres. She worked nice and alerted great! I also did some basic OB fun stuff with her.

Kipp was quite jealous when I was working the search with Kenzi so tomorrow I'm going to try and set up one for him.

Today was about handler error and recovering a loose dog. I managed, through my own fault, to pull Jethro's collar off, while he was on a long line. It didn't take him long to realize he was off lead and there was nothing I could do about it. He took off on a fresh deer scent and disappeared behind the neighbour's house across the road. He ignored my calls, so I gave up and went back to the cabin to get a less conspicuous leash and a big chunk of cooked liver.

He came back once, almost within reach, but then dashed off again. I was calling his name, so he knew where I was.

Finally, I saw him in the front yard of the neighbour's house. I held out this huge piece of liver and coaxed him in and he let me catch him. My shaking hands quickly snaked the leash around his neck and I walked him home.

The whole incident was so freaking awful and I was completely upset. I was worried he would do something absolutely terrible. He was so pleased when he came in. The whole thing probably took about 10 or 15 minutes.

The irony is that, as we headed out in the yard to play, I noticed that I only had him attached to his flat collar, I had no backup harness on him. Damn. If I had listened to myself, I would have avoided the whole incident.

I have no idea how much I have set him back with this little burst of freedom.

no to jump on the vet tech while she was trying to remove the staples

Then ignor the crazy yapper in the waiting room and ignor dirty look of the owner on my part for not leting my dog meet and play.

I'm going to copy and paste from my blog. Today was the best training day EVER.

Ahem:

Today was by far the best training day I have ever had with Danni. Her heeling was great without an ecollar, even in the dark (though I did find a park with some lighting, so it was better than our usual darkness.) Normally she loses focus really easily in the dark, and she did in the darker places, but for the most part her heeling was really nice.

I can now do a sit in motion and walk away not facing her. Her sit is slow as it was in the beginning when I walked away facing her, but tonight was the first night she would sit instead of stand. I could walk the 6ft leash length away and she would sit without moving forward.

Her recalls are amazing. Even with the bum yelling some very disturbing things at a fairly alarming volume (I didn't expect this, he started when I had already downed her and walked away, I wouldn't normally trust her to not approach him.) They are LIGHTNING fast. I love her recalls. With beautifully straight fronts at the perfect distance from me 99% of the time.

A note on the bum, I didn't expect Danni to keep her focus heeling while he was yelling but she did a lot better than expected.

Her tracking this morning was very good too.

I'm just SO PROUD OF HER!!

*Sigh*
I had a long talk with Lash today...about housebreaking.
I told him that there's no need to make his crate the Palace of Pee PP, the Mansion of Micturition, the House of Hosing, the Edifice of Expelling, the Abode of Ammonia....... and that he could stop tinkling on my shoes in excitement, also.

You may be proud of Danni Katie but I'm proud of you!

Will: When you told him what did he say? Ha!
My day did not go as I had planned. I worked on getting ready for Christmas and worked on the yard longer than I had anticipated. Darn! But maybe tonight I can play catch up with Bindi and Cody. Will review and practice sit, heel, come, wait, down, stand, wait while approaching me from a sit position. (stopping mid way) then going down into down, stand, and sit again. Then touching the retriever dumpbell. Bindi does not like to take it in her mouth so I am clicker training her to put it in her mouth.
Also, practice the finish, and the front.
Cody I will practice getting in his heel position from sitting in front of me. Down and sit from that position. Wait, touch, recall, jumping through his hula hoop, going to his mark.

So tonight we will reveiw.
Sharon

 Quote: Betty Waldron

You may be proud of Danni Katie but I'm proud of you!

Thank you, Betty. I've come a long way.

Did a Xmas pack walk with 20 other dogs. Saw plenty of houses with nice lights, lots of distractions, new dog and people to meet and socialize with.