I think I got it!
3 hours ago
Saturday, November 21, 2009
YAY!!!
I just got the news that Calliope has been adopted by her first raisers and is coming home to Utah next week! I am hoping to get to visit her sometime soon!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
No Sequence...well a little short one
Sorry guys! We didn't do a whole sequence this week in class. Instead we worked on serpentines, which Hobbs is apparently AWESOME at!!
First, we practiced the teeter, weaves, and the long jump. Hobbs did great on all of them and even went through 4 fixed upright poles! He only did it twice but he did it! Something that was weird about it though was that when I sent him from an angle (to the left of the first pole) he entered on the wrong side!! He has NEVER done that before in his life, so I wonder why he did now. I will be getting my poles out this week to see if he remembers to get his entry.
He got to sequence to the teeter for the first time ever. It was just a jump to the teeter, but he did it and was very excited about it.
I have done these in the back yard a couple of times by setting him up like the top one shows:
In class we set the dogs up looking over the first jump like the bottom one shows. We sent them over it, supported them over the second jump and signaled with our other hand as if we were going to do a front cross, then sent them over the third jump. Hopefully that makes sense. I want to get a video of Hobbs doing it on Saturday if the snow melts off....cross your fingers!
Hobbs did amazingly well on these serpentines, only messing up a couple times at first when I didn't know exactly how to handle them. I didn't want to work him too hard because he wasn't feeling good all week.
He had yet another overgrowth of bacteria in his intestines this week. He is now on pills, and I/D prescription canned food, and pepto. Usually when he gets diarrhea I just feed him rice and eggs for a day and he is back to normal. This time it didn't work and on Saturday I noticed that it was bloody. My first thought was PARVO!! But luckily I know what dogs with parvo smell like and he didn't stink like that. So off to the vet he went and after a $100 we didn't have, he came home with his meds. He still felt like crap and was moping most Monday too.
Anyways, back to agility class! I was glad that our instructor had an easy class planned for all of us. After we worked on the serpentines we did the short little sequence. Really it was just a jump to two tunnels, but it was fun anyways. Hobbs was really done by the time we got to it so he quit after the first tunnel, but the second time we ran it he did both.
I don't know if I will be going to the barn to work until our next class starts on the 14th, but I might. Hopefully I will remember to bring my camera to the barn next time.
First, we practiced the teeter, weaves, and the long jump. Hobbs did great on all of them and even went through 4 fixed upright poles! He only did it twice but he did it! Something that was weird about it though was that when I sent him from an angle (to the left of the first pole) he entered on the wrong side!! He has NEVER done that before in his life, so I wonder why he did now. I will be getting my poles out this week to see if he remembers to get his entry.
He got to sequence to the teeter for the first time ever. It was just a jump to the teeter, but he did it and was very excited about it.
I have done these in the back yard a couple of times by setting him up like the top one shows:
In class we set the dogs up looking over the first jump like the bottom one shows. We sent them over it, supported them over the second jump and signaled with our other hand as if we were going to do a front cross, then sent them over the third jump. Hopefully that makes sense. I want to get a video of Hobbs doing it on Saturday if the snow melts off....cross your fingers!
Hobbs did amazingly well on these serpentines, only messing up a couple times at first when I didn't know exactly how to handle them. I didn't want to work him too hard because he wasn't feeling good all week.
He had yet another overgrowth of bacteria in his intestines this week. He is now on pills, and I/D prescription canned food, and pepto. Usually when he gets diarrhea I just feed him rice and eggs for a day and he is back to normal. This time it didn't work and on Saturday I noticed that it was bloody. My first thought was PARVO!! But luckily I know what dogs with parvo smell like and he didn't stink like that. So off to the vet he went and after a $100 we didn't have, he came home with his meds. He still felt like crap and was moping most Monday too.
Anyways, back to agility class! I was glad that our instructor had an easy class planned for all of us. After we worked on the serpentines we did the short little sequence. Really it was just a jump to two tunnels, but it was fun anyways. Hobbs was really done by the time we got to it so he quit after the first tunnel, but the second time we ran it he did both.
I don't know if I will be going to the barn to work until our next class starts on the 14th, but I might. Hopefully I will remember to bring my camera to the barn next time.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Much Better
This week's class was better than last week's that's for sure!
We started off working on rear crosses into a straight tunnel, the broad jump, and the table. Hobbs had a little bit of a hard time with the broad jump because he was too focused on me. He would get to the jump and not know what to do with himself. So he stepped on it 3 or 4 times, but seemed to get it in the end. Rear crosses are also a bit of a challenge because he gets patterned doing it one way and then doesn't watch me and just continues to do it the same way. We will be working on that this week.
Then we started on the sequence.
This isn't the whole thing. The obstacles to the right got cut off. Click to enlarge and see the whole thing.
It was pretty straightforward until the last three obstacles. It was Jump, Jump, Table. The only problem was that the first jump in the ending sequence was the last jump in a straight line of jumps where the dogs couldn't pick up a lot of speed. When I first looked at it I figured it would be easiest to do a front cross, but then I realized how fast Hobbs could be going. So I thought about doing a rear cross, but his rear crosses are bad in tunnels and then are REALLY bad over jumps....like non existent over jumps.
Our instructor said she thought I would be able to do the front cross so we tried it! It would have been much better if Hobbs had a get out command for jump #4. Instead I had to get pretty close to it and then haul my tush to beat him to #7 so I could do the front cross. The Table was visible at the end of the line of jumps which was very tempting to Hobbs. He never went all the way to it though! We got to do it twice all the way through, and from jump 4 to the table about 7 times. I never did try the rear cross because all but 1 of the times I beat him to the 7th jump. Lol, the one time I didn't was pretty funny. I got to jump 5 about the time he got to jump 6 and when I realized I wasn't going to get there in time, I thought I had just mumbled "crap" but apparently I shouted it. The other two ladies in the class laughed and I tried to finish the sequence as I was laughing too.
We also did a little sequence:
It was pretty straight forward, and Hobbs didn't have any problems with it.
My home work for this week is to re-create that situation and get him watching me better so that I can get a smooth front cross after a line of jumps. And we are going to work on some rear cross exercises. As of right now we can't even get them right on the flat ground so I need to figure out why and how to fix the problem. Also I am going to work with him on his "get out" command.......it is not going to be easy. "Get Out" is the command we were working on in the spring with chairs, a trash can, and a tree and he thought it meant to jump on or try to climb all three. I am going to triple my effort and get him OUT!
Next week is the last week of class :( The other ladies in the class are going to keep going to the barn every week at the same time and I think we will join them. Then we are going to start another class on the 14th of December and just work around the holidays. I am starting to realize how fast March is approaching and how soon Hobbs and I could be competing in our first trial!
On the subject of Hobbs' fitness, I have been putting him on the treadmill every couple of days and we have worked up to 20 minutes of trotting at 4.2mph at a 1.5-2.0 incline. Today he seemed a little tired, but wasn't completely pooped after the workout. I have also been teaching him some stretches. I really want to teach him to do the big bowwing stretch that dogs do first thing in the morning. I will just have to keep a clicker by my bed and try to catch it.....lol I will be amazed if it works!
We started off working on rear crosses into a straight tunnel, the broad jump, and the table. Hobbs had a little bit of a hard time with the broad jump because he was too focused on me. He would get to the jump and not know what to do with himself. So he stepped on it 3 or 4 times, but seemed to get it in the end. Rear crosses are also a bit of a challenge because he gets patterned doing it one way and then doesn't watch me and just continues to do it the same way. We will be working on that this week.
Then we started on the sequence.
This isn't the whole thing. The obstacles to the right got cut off. Click to enlarge and see the whole thing.
It was pretty straightforward until the last three obstacles. It was Jump, Jump, Table. The only problem was that the first jump in the ending sequence was the last jump in a straight line of jumps where the dogs couldn't pick up a lot of speed. When I first looked at it I figured it would be easiest to do a front cross, but then I realized how fast Hobbs could be going. So I thought about doing a rear cross, but his rear crosses are bad in tunnels and then are REALLY bad over jumps....like non existent over jumps.
Our instructor said she thought I would be able to do the front cross so we tried it! It would have been much better if Hobbs had a get out command for jump #4. Instead I had to get pretty close to it and then haul my tush to beat him to #7 so I could do the front cross. The Table was visible at the end of the line of jumps which was very tempting to Hobbs. He never went all the way to it though! We got to do it twice all the way through, and from jump 4 to the table about 7 times. I never did try the rear cross because all but 1 of the times I beat him to the 7th jump. Lol, the one time I didn't was pretty funny. I got to jump 5 about the time he got to jump 6 and when I realized I wasn't going to get there in time, I thought I had just mumbled "crap" but apparently I shouted it. The other two ladies in the class laughed and I tried to finish the sequence as I was laughing too.
We also did a little sequence:
It was pretty straight forward, and Hobbs didn't have any problems with it.
My home work for this week is to re-create that situation and get him watching me better so that I can get a smooth front cross after a line of jumps. And we are going to work on some rear cross exercises. As of right now we can't even get them right on the flat ground so I need to figure out why and how to fix the problem. Also I am going to work with him on his "get out" command.......it is not going to be easy. "Get Out" is the command we were working on in the spring with chairs, a trash can, and a tree and he thought it meant to jump on or try to climb all three. I am going to triple my effort and get him OUT!
Next week is the last week of class :( The other ladies in the class are going to keep going to the barn every week at the same time and I think we will join them. Then we are going to start another class on the 14th of December and just work around the holidays. I am starting to realize how fast March is approaching and how soon Hobbs and I could be competing in our first trial!
On the subject of Hobbs' fitness, I have been putting him on the treadmill every couple of days and we have worked up to 20 minutes of trotting at 4.2mph at a 1.5-2.0 incline. Today he seemed a little tired, but wasn't completely pooped after the workout. I have also been teaching him some stretches. I really want to teach him to do the big bowwing stretch that dogs do first thing in the morning. I will just have to keep a clicker by my bed and try to catch it.....lol I will be amazed if it works!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
More information
I got a little more information about my little Calliope this morning.
She is being retired because her partner of almost 3 years passed away. It made me so sad to hear this! Now Calliope is in foster care in San Rafael and the report I got said she is a "nice dog but has issues with small dogs".
I had no idea that I missed her as much as I do!! This is probably because I didn't let myself think about her. I didn't hear much from her partner, and it hurt to not know how she was doing. So I didn't mention her much on here, or to anyone else. On the few occasions that I did talk about her, it was to say I missed her.
While I was raising her, we didn't click at first. I don't know why that was, but while I liked her, I wasn't in love with her. It may have been that I was really busy, and it may have been because she was a challenge. It may have also been that I was used to my independent Patriot, and didn't know what to think of a dog who wanted to be touching me at all times. It may have also been that I seemed to have things destroyed every time I left her at home. She could pull things through the bars of her crate and destroy them in minutes. She cost me a couple hundred dollars in stuff this way.
On the other hand, she was practically perfect in public! I can't think of more than a handfull of times that she caused a problem. She kept me safe one night walking from my car to the house when a strange man started to aproach us. She immediatly squared her body to him and growled, making it VERY clear that he was not to come any closer. He didn't, and walked the other way. That was the one and only time she ever did anything like that. She was always very inteligent and proved that shortly after she graduated. Sorry if that link doesn't work.
Gradually, I got more and more attached to her. By the time her recall date was assigned I didn't want to let her go. She is the only one of my two PIT's (who made it to recall) that I cried over. Funny enough, they were both recalled at Fun Day! With Patriot I was too excited for him to become a guide dog, so I didn't cry when I said goodbye to him.
With Calliope, her recall ruined Fun Day, which was my birthday, for me. I couldn't even be happy that my fiance was there to see me for the first time in over a month! It broke my heart to walk away from her in the kennels. I was very grateful that they let me put her in the kennel myself. Thinking back on it, I guess I could have walked around and looked at who else was in the kennels with her, but I practically ran out after shutting her kennel door.
She flew through training and was immediately matched with Flora. Graduation was amazing, but sad at the same time because I knew it would probably be the last time I saw her. The two times I got a letter from her partner, it made my day and I read them over and over. The last one I got was in April last year!
Now, I don't know what to do..... Every time I look at my boys I think how great it would be to have all three of my babies together. Patriot and Calliope got along when she was a PIT, and I am sure Hobbs would like her too. I feel like it would be easiest for her to come back to me rather than having to go to yet another new home. I am trying to get in touch with her first raiser as well. I know I have first choice technically, but that raiser had her for almost 10 months. If I had had a PIT that long and then had it transferred, I would hope that the second raiser would consider my feelings before adopting it.
I keep remembering all the little things about her that I loved. The way she licked the air like crazy when I blew on her face. The way she would stretch out on her belly and then wiggle to scratch her belly on the floor. The way she accidentally learned to back up because I gave her her food one day after she backed up. The way she was obsessed with chasing, biting, staring at, and licking her tail. The way she would do labbie scoots around the tennis courts and end up with pads so sore she didn't want to walk the rest of the day. Every few minutes I remember something else I miss about her, and it make it hard to think through this logically. I miss my little girl.
Sorry if this seems a little like I am rambling.....I am trying to get my thoughts about this sorted.
She is being retired because her partner of almost 3 years passed away. It made me so sad to hear this! Now Calliope is in foster care in San Rafael and the report I got said she is a "nice dog but has issues with small dogs".
I had no idea that I missed her as much as I do!! This is probably because I didn't let myself think about her. I didn't hear much from her partner, and it hurt to not know how she was doing. So I didn't mention her much on here, or to anyone else. On the few occasions that I did talk about her, it was to say I missed her.
While I was raising her, we didn't click at first. I don't know why that was, but while I liked her, I wasn't in love with her. It may have been that I was really busy, and it may have been because she was a challenge. It may have also been that I was used to my independent Patriot, and didn't know what to think of a dog who wanted to be touching me at all times. It may have also been that I seemed to have things destroyed every time I left her at home. She could pull things through the bars of her crate and destroy them in minutes. She cost me a couple hundred dollars in stuff this way.
On the other hand, she was practically perfect in public! I can't think of more than a handfull of times that she caused a problem. She kept me safe one night walking from my car to the house when a strange man started to aproach us. She immediatly squared her body to him and growled, making it VERY clear that he was not to come any closer. He didn't, and walked the other way. That was the one and only time she ever did anything like that. She was always very inteligent and proved that shortly after she graduated. Sorry if that link doesn't work.
Gradually, I got more and more attached to her. By the time her recall date was assigned I didn't want to let her go. She is the only one of my two PIT's (who made it to recall) that I cried over. Funny enough, they were both recalled at Fun Day! With Patriot I was too excited for him to become a guide dog, so I didn't cry when I said goodbye to him.
With Calliope, her recall ruined Fun Day, which was my birthday, for me. I couldn't even be happy that my fiance was there to see me for the first time in over a month! It broke my heart to walk away from her in the kennels. I was very grateful that they let me put her in the kennel myself. Thinking back on it, I guess I could have walked around and looked at who else was in the kennels with her, but I practically ran out after shutting her kennel door.
She flew through training and was immediately matched with Flora. Graduation was amazing, but sad at the same time because I knew it would probably be the last time I saw her. The two times I got a letter from her partner, it made my day and I read them over and over. The last one I got was in April last year!
Now, I don't know what to do..... Every time I look at my boys I think how great it would be to have all three of my babies together. Patriot and Calliope got along when she was a PIT, and I am sure Hobbs would like her too. I feel like it would be easiest for her to come back to me rather than having to go to yet another new home. I am trying to get in touch with her first raiser as well. I know I have first choice technically, but that raiser had her for almost 10 months. If I had had a PIT that long and then had it transferred, I would hope that the second raiser would consider my feelings before adopting it.
I keep remembering all the little things about her that I loved. The way she licked the air like crazy when I blew on her face. The way she would stretch out on her belly and then wiggle to scratch her belly on the floor. The way she accidentally learned to back up because I gave her her food one day after she backed up. The way she was obsessed with chasing, biting, staring at, and licking her tail. The way she would do labbie scoots around the tennis courts and end up with pads so sore she didn't want to walk the rest of the day. Every few minutes I remember something else I miss about her, and it make it hard to think through this logically. I miss my little girl.
Sorry if this seems a little like I am rambling.....I am trying to get my thoughts about this sorted.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Retired.....what to do.
I swear, if I keep looking at this picture it will convince me I can't live without her! I didn't realize how much I miss that little girl!
I just got the news that my little girl Calliope has been retired and is available for adoption. I got offered her back, which means her partner didn't choose to keep her.
I think I have written here that she and I didn't click until about the last week we were together, but when I think about getting her back my heart leaps with excitement. I can't stop the grin from stealing over my face when I think about my little girl who was such a challenge.
I didn't get any more information about why she is being retired (she is only 4 1/2) but I am hoping to get that information tomorrow. This is a HUGE decision, and I don't know if I should use my heart or head to make it. They are leaning in opposite directions......for now.
I just got the news that my little girl Calliope has been retired and is available for adoption. I got offered her back, which means her partner didn't choose to keep her.
I think I have written here that she and I didn't click until about the last week we were together, but when I think about getting her back my heart leaps with excitement. I can't stop the grin from stealing over my face when I think about my little girl who was such a challenge.
I didn't get any more information about why she is being retired (she is only 4 1/2) but I am hoping to get that information tomorrow. This is a HUGE decision, and I don't know if I should use my heart or head to make it. They are leaning in opposite directions......for now.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Back to 4 Days
Ugh....Patriot is having major issues again. Sense about two weeks ago he has been getting increasingly itchy. This week (sense Saturday-ish) he has been so itchy that two benadryl every 4-6 hours isn't even touching it. His bare patches are back on his shoulders, the red patches are back on his belly, and his chin is red and itchy again.
He has still been getting his shot every week-8 days, but I decided to go back to every 4 days. The only thing that makes me worry is that the day after his shot he seems to be extra itchy. Today both the boys got baths and I soaked Patriot's itchy spots with the medicated shampoo. I know I haven't been vaccuming as much as I was before, but that is just life right now.
One thing I did notice is that this flare-up seems to coinside with us needing to start using the wall heaters in the Family room. This is where we spend a great portion of the day so it makes me wonder if it has anything to do with it.
I have a question for everyone....When does the inability to help your dog's medical issue become cruel? Patriot is still happy and healthy in every other way besides the skin issues, but it breaks my heart every time I see the ouchie red patches on his body.
He has still been getting his shot every week-8 days, but I decided to go back to every 4 days. The only thing that makes me worry is that the day after his shot he seems to be extra itchy. Today both the boys got baths and I soaked Patriot's itchy spots with the medicated shampoo. I know I haven't been vaccuming as much as I was before, but that is just life right now.
One thing I did notice is that this flare-up seems to coinside with us needing to start using the wall heaters in the Family room. This is where we spend a great portion of the day so it makes me wonder if it has anything to do with it.
I have a question for everyone....When does the inability to help your dog's medical issue become cruel? Patriot is still happy and healthy in every other way besides the skin issues, but it breaks my heart every time I see the ouchie red patches on his body.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Feeling Mixed
Unfortunately this weeks class wasn't quite as wonderful as last week. I have been sick sense class last week, and Kaylee started getting sick on Sunday. Needless to say, I haven't been feeling like practicing agility. So Hobbs had ZERO practice between classes. I didn't think it would make that much of a difference, but I was SOOOO wrong.
I just couldn't seem to get things right. I don't know if it was because I am still sick or if my brain just wasn't used to thinking agility.
We started off practicing on the weaves, teeter, double and triple jumps, and a tunnel to table combo. Instead of using my weaves we pulled all but 3 poles off the fixed weave base. He got about 50-60% success on those so I added another one and he did it 3 times out of the 5 times I sent him! It was great to see him weaving confidently through fixed poles! I am very happy I finally glued mine. After the first time he went up the teeter, he had no problems with it. The first time, I think he thought it was the dog walk and didn't expect it to drop out from under him. He still stuck his landing though! There were no problems with the jumps or the tunnel/table.
One funny thing that happened was that Hobbs offered his 2o2o on the table. It was set at 8 inches for the smallest dog in class. I am to the point with the table that I tell him "Table" and then wait for him to lay down before rewarding him. Well, he went to the table and then stood there and instead of laying down he went to the edge and very thoughtfully placed his front paws on the ground in 2o2o. While I laughed, I walked into him until he was back on the table and then asked him to down. It wasn't as funny the next time when he did it again, so the last time I did it, I finally told him "down" after the "table" command.
Then came the sequence/course for the evening:
The opening sequence is something that I have actually practiced at home with different equipment. I started with Hobbs on my right and then at the end of the DW had him turn right and go straight into the tunnel. It is basically a rear cross, but I can see how it would be much more difficult with a dog who is running their DW. The closing part of this sequence (#5-#8) was the part that tripped everyone up. There were several ways to handle it. The first way I tried it (the first 5 times) was to have him on my left coming out of the tunnel, post turn over 5 and 6, front cross after 6, then another front cross (sort of) after 7. That would put him on my left going up the A-frame. I thought it would be easiest so that I would be able to block the tunnel opening. NOT!!
Time after time Hobbs went into the tunnel instead of over the A-frame! It was getting frustrating, but I was trying my hardest to not transfer that to Hobbs.
The second way I tried it was to post turn 5 and 6 and 7 with a front cross after 7 bringing him on my right between the two jumps. That didn't work at first either!! Finally I got Hobbs to go over the A-frame and the jumped the contact at the bottom.......just a little frustrating. Granted, it was at competition height and it was Hobbs' first time over it at that height. Then we went back to try it one more time just jump #7 and the frame. He went through the tunnel AGAIN the first time!! The second time he went over the A-frame, but my stupid self just went flying past the a-frame and to the last jump without waiting for him so he jumped the contact again.
Unfortunatly we ended with that because class was over and the next class was starting. I tried my best to fake being excited and happy for Hobbs, but really I was very frustrated and kind of upset. Not with Hobbs, with myself for messing up the end of it and ending on a not so great note.
I don't know if Hobbs was just picking up on that, or if he was tired and discoraged, but he was mopey after the end of the run. He acted tired, and just not happy and it made me feel even worse about the way we ended things. Hopefully next week is better
I am pretty sure part of the problem is that he is not getting enought exercise to be doing agility that hard. They very rarely get a walk anymore (maybe once a week), and we only get out to the dog park once or twice a week. I feel horrible about it, but having a new baby who hates the stroller, car seat, moby wrap, carrier, and sling kind of makes it difficult.
That being said, I would never forgive myself if Hobbs got injured playing agility because he wasn't physically up to it! Now that it is winter I know we will be getting out even less because we can't even go in the yard and practice/play.
Wow, this post turned into a bit of a whine-fest! Sorry! I am just feeling a little like I am letting my dogs down.
I just couldn't seem to get things right. I don't know if it was because I am still sick or if my brain just wasn't used to thinking agility.
We started off practicing on the weaves, teeter, double and triple jumps, and a tunnel to table combo. Instead of using my weaves we pulled all but 3 poles off the fixed weave base. He got about 50-60% success on those so I added another one and he did it 3 times out of the 5 times I sent him! It was great to see him weaving confidently through fixed poles! I am very happy I finally glued mine. After the first time he went up the teeter, he had no problems with it. The first time, I think he thought it was the dog walk and didn't expect it to drop out from under him. He still stuck his landing though! There were no problems with the jumps or the tunnel/table.
One funny thing that happened was that Hobbs offered his 2o2o on the table. It was set at 8 inches for the smallest dog in class. I am to the point with the table that I tell him "Table" and then wait for him to lay down before rewarding him. Well, he went to the table and then stood there and instead of laying down he went to the edge and very thoughtfully placed his front paws on the ground in 2o2o. While I laughed, I walked into him until he was back on the table and then asked him to down. It wasn't as funny the next time when he did it again, so the last time I did it, I finally told him "down" after the "table" command.
Then came the sequence/course for the evening:
The opening sequence is something that I have actually practiced at home with different equipment. I started with Hobbs on my right and then at the end of the DW had him turn right and go straight into the tunnel. It is basically a rear cross, but I can see how it would be much more difficult with a dog who is running their DW. The closing part of this sequence (#5-#8) was the part that tripped everyone up. There were several ways to handle it. The first way I tried it (the first 5 times) was to have him on my left coming out of the tunnel, post turn over 5 and 6, front cross after 6, then another front cross (sort of) after 7. That would put him on my left going up the A-frame. I thought it would be easiest so that I would be able to block the tunnel opening. NOT!!
Time after time Hobbs went into the tunnel instead of over the A-frame! It was getting frustrating, but I was trying my hardest to not transfer that to Hobbs.
The second way I tried it was to post turn 5 and 6 and 7 with a front cross after 7 bringing him on my right between the two jumps. That didn't work at first either!! Finally I got Hobbs to go over the A-frame and the jumped the contact at the bottom.......just a little frustrating. Granted, it was at competition height and it was Hobbs' first time over it at that height. Then we went back to try it one more time just jump #7 and the frame. He went through the tunnel AGAIN the first time!! The second time he went over the A-frame, but my stupid self just went flying past the a-frame and to the last jump without waiting for him so he jumped the contact again.
Unfortunatly we ended with that because class was over and the next class was starting. I tried my best to fake being excited and happy for Hobbs, but really I was very frustrated and kind of upset. Not with Hobbs, with myself for messing up the end of it and ending on a not so great note.
I don't know if Hobbs was just picking up on that, or if he was tired and discoraged, but he was mopey after the end of the run. He acted tired, and just not happy and it made me feel even worse about the way we ended things. Hopefully next week is better
I am pretty sure part of the problem is that he is not getting enought exercise to be doing agility that hard. They very rarely get a walk anymore (maybe once a week), and we only get out to the dog park once or twice a week. I feel horrible about it, but having a new baby who hates the stroller, car seat, moby wrap, carrier, and sling kind of makes it difficult.
That being said, I would never forgive myself if Hobbs got injured playing agility because he wasn't physically up to it! Now that it is winter I know we will be getting out even less because we can't even go in the yard and practice/play.
Wow, this post turned into a bit of a whine-fest! Sorry! I am just feeling a little like I am letting my dogs down.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Jumper's Only Class
Last night's agility class was great! There were just two dogs there; Hobbs and one other, and one of the handlers came without her dog. We started immediately with a course rather than practicing individual obstacles. This week we were only using jumps and tunnels not any contact stuff.
We all were allowed to walk the course and then talked about how to handle the opening sequence of the course. Here is what it looked like:
I was planning to start with him on my right and do a post turn and then a rear cross at the tunnel. Our instructor then showed us how she wanted us to handle it. The green square is where we were supposed to stand facing our dogs. Then we were to release them over the first two jumps with our left hand out to signal that they were supposed to wrap around the standard of the second jump. Then we would be in position to go with them on our left.
We spit off to practice the concept on a single jump and after two or three tries Hobbs had it down. Then it was time to walk the course one last time and then run it! My instructor wanted to try Hobbs at 20" sense that is probably what he is going to be jumping at in trials.
The rest of the course was pretty easy except for a front cross after a 180° turn...in between jumps 8 and 9. Here is the rest of the course. Click to enlarge it:
I was first to run the course and for the first time ever I got really nervous before a sequence/course. I had to try to calm myself down so I could concentrate on doing it right. After one failed attempt at the opening sequence, we got all the way to jump #7 where I forgot what I was doing. Hobbs started to go into the tunnel and then in my panic to get him back to me, I forgot that I was supposed to put in a front cross. I stopped (another mistake) and re started him in front of #7 and after 2 or 3 more tries we got it right. I don't know why it was so difficult, but I think it was because I let myself get so nervous.
I am happy to say that the other lady had just as many problems as I did. they got the opening sequence on the first try but the front cross after 180 messed them up too.
Then Hobbs and I got to try it again. This time we got all the way to jump #8 before I messed up. I just didn't get in place right that time and Hobbs missed #9. We ran it again from the first tunnel on and we got it right.
When that happened, I realized that when I get it right it seems to go slower than when I get it wrong. I don't know if that is because to get it right I have to slow down my thinking or if it is just because I start feeling frantic when I get it wrong. Interesting.
Then our instructor re numbered the course and we got to walk it again. Here it is:
This time it was the front cross before the 180, which I thought was going to be easier.....not. The first time, Hobbs thought we were doing the 180 at jump #4 again and that threw us off for jumps 6 and 7 and the front cross so he dropped a few bars. So we started over and this time we got all the way to the 180 and he got locked onto the DW so I used my OFF command and he did it!!! It was SO wonderful to see him pull off that contact obstacle and go back to the line of jumps. Hobbs' most favorite part of agility is contact obstacles. We tried it another time and this time I over pulled him at the 180 and he came to me rather than going down the line of jumps. Finally on the last one we got all of it right which felt really great!
Our instructor said that parts of these courses were at the excellent level which is great to hear. that means that if I can get comfortable doing these kinds of things a beginner jumper's course wont be that big of a deal.
I am thinking of trialing for the first time on March 15-16. It will be at a venue that allows training in the ring which will be good. Hopefully we wont need it, but it will be nice to have the option. Hopefully Hobbs and I will be ready by March!
We all were allowed to walk the course and then talked about how to handle the opening sequence of the course. Here is what it looked like:
I was planning to start with him on my right and do a post turn and then a rear cross at the tunnel. Our instructor then showed us how she wanted us to handle it. The green square is where we were supposed to stand facing our dogs. Then we were to release them over the first two jumps with our left hand out to signal that they were supposed to wrap around the standard of the second jump. Then we would be in position to go with them on our left.
We spit off to practice the concept on a single jump and after two or three tries Hobbs had it down. Then it was time to walk the course one last time and then run it! My instructor wanted to try Hobbs at 20" sense that is probably what he is going to be jumping at in trials.
The rest of the course was pretty easy except for a front cross after a 180° turn...in between jumps 8 and 9. Here is the rest of the course. Click to enlarge it:
I was first to run the course and for the first time ever I got really nervous before a sequence/course. I had to try to calm myself down so I could concentrate on doing it right. After one failed attempt at the opening sequence, we got all the way to jump #7 where I forgot what I was doing. Hobbs started to go into the tunnel and then in my panic to get him back to me, I forgot that I was supposed to put in a front cross. I stopped (another mistake) and re started him in front of #7 and after 2 or 3 more tries we got it right. I don't know why it was so difficult, but I think it was because I let myself get so nervous.
I am happy to say that the other lady had just as many problems as I did. they got the opening sequence on the first try but the front cross after 180 messed them up too.
Then Hobbs and I got to try it again. This time we got all the way to jump #8 before I messed up. I just didn't get in place right that time and Hobbs missed #9. We ran it again from the first tunnel on and we got it right.
When that happened, I realized that when I get it right it seems to go slower than when I get it wrong. I don't know if that is because to get it right I have to slow down my thinking or if it is just because I start feeling frantic when I get it wrong. Interesting.
Then our instructor re numbered the course and we got to walk it again. Here it is:
This time it was the front cross before the 180, which I thought was going to be easier.....not. The first time, Hobbs thought we were doing the 180 at jump #4 again and that threw us off for jumps 6 and 7 and the front cross so he dropped a few bars. So we started over and this time we got all the way to the 180 and he got locked onto the DW so I used my OFF command and he did it!!! It was SO wonderful to see him pull off that contact obstacle and go back to the line of jumps. Hobbs' most favorite part of agility is contact obstacles. We tried it another time and this time I over pulled him at the 180 and he came to me rather than going down the line of jumps. Finally on the last one we got all of it right which felt really great!
Our instructor said that parts of these courses were at the excellent level which is great to hear. that means that if I can get comfortable doing these kinds of things a beginner jumper's course wont be that big of a deal.
I am thinking of trialing for the first time on March 15-16. It will be at a venue that allows training in the ring which will be good. Hopefully we wont need it, but it will be nice to have the option. Hopefully Hobbs and I will be ready by March!
Friday, October 16, 2009
They're Permanent!
I finally glued Hobb's weave poles! Well I glued each set of two together, but not the whole line yet because I need to be able to take them to agility class with me.
First thing I did after they were good and solid was send Hobbs through them. HE GOT STUCK!! Actually he started to get stuck tried to hop out and his back leg got caught on the last pole bringing the whole thing up in the air and it came down on top of him. Good thing it is just PVC!
Now, if this had happened just over a year ago when he was first cc'd I would be working for the next month or two to get him over it. Instead I set them back up and sent him again and he went through them, slowly and carefully, but he did it! It just goes to show how much more confident he is now that he isn't a PIT. Agility is good for this boy!
I am so happy that he is still improving on his weaving. By calling him through them, he is learning what his job is and does it on his own. I can already tell that he understands better that he is supposed to go all the way through...granted it is only 4 poles so far but it is a start. I have been moving to the side of the last pole when I call him through so that he has to make the choice to go through the poles to me rather than just run straight to me. It will be interesting to see if he is better at the poles in class now that he is doing some solid poles at home.
Patriot is shedding like mad! It is coming out in huge clumps, and I am needing to sweep the floor at least once a day to stop it from piling up in the corners....not an easy task when you are taking care of a 3 month old baby. Other than that, he is doing ok with his allergies. He still gets weekly shots, and sometimes doesn't even make it to the 7th day without needing a couple benadryl.
I am truly dreading winter. It is hard enough to get out to walk the dogs now, let alone when it is snowing again.....I need to live somewhere where it doesn't snow.
First thing I did after they were good and solid was send Hobbs through them. HE GOT STUCK!! Actually he started to get stuck tried to hop out and his back leg got caught on the last pole bringing the whole thing up in the air and it came down on top of him. Good thing it is just PVC!
Now, if this had happened just over a year ago when he was first cc'd I would be working for the next month or two to get him over it. Instead I set them back up and sent him again and he went through them, slowly and carefully, but he did it! It just goes to show how much more confident he is now that he isn't a PIT. Agility is good for this boy!
I am so happy that he is still improving on his weaving. By calling him through them, he is learning what his job is and does it on his own. I can already tell that he understands better that he is supposed to go all the way through...granted it is only 4 poles so far but it is a start. I have been moving to the side of the last pole when I call him through so that he has to make the choice to go through the poles to me rather than just run straight to me. It will be interesting to see if he is better at the poles in class now that he is doing some solid poles at home.
Patriot is shedding like mad! It is coming out in huge clumps, and I am needing to sweep the floor at least once a day to stop it from piling up in the corners....not an easy task when you are taking care of a 3 month old baby. Other than that, he is doing ok with his allergies. He still gets weekly shots, and sometimes doesn't even make it to the 7th day without needing a couple benadryl.
I am truly dreading winter. It is hard enough to get out to walk the dogs now, let alone when it is snowing again.....I need to live somewhere where it doesn't snow.
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