2 Things to remember

1. Drive to the target. Don't let the target do all the work. 2. Praise when she first takes the obstacle. Our last two practices haven't been good. Miley has been so focused on me that she cant even see the obstacle she is suppose to take. I think I wasn't using the targets enough. I wasn't driving to the target and I need to pet her more. Not just feed her. I tried to practice with just toys but I think that was part of her frustration over the last two days too. I also haven't been rewarding with my voice when she takes the obstacle. I'm praising when she is finishing the obstacle. So tomorrow I will work on both those things.

lessons learned

This morning I went to my puppy performance class. I didn't really think about this when I was there but the class is very handler focused. Everything we did made the dog look at you and need you to perform. So after class I went to the clubs agility field. It was a disaster to say the least. I couldn't figure out why she was so handler focused. She just kept looking at me after every jump and wouldn't go out to the tunnel. At first I thought I was giving the commands to late but after a while I knew that wasn't it. So I set up an all obstacle focused exercise. She ran it well the first time. So for the last run before going home I thought we would run it backwards. She was completely handler focused. She needed to go over a jump to the tunnel and pulled off the tunnel, then came around and bit me hard in the butt. ( That cute face wouldn't do that) It hurt!! I was so mad. I picked her up and put her in the car. I really don't know if she understood why I did that. But I didn't know what else to do. Then I went back and put the equipment back in the shed. So while I was doing that I was thinking about why today was such a disaster. That's when it occurred to me that the class was all handler focused exercises. Poor Miley, Poor me and my butt.

running contacts

Ive been working on Miley's running dogwalk contact for a long time now. I started with the dogwalk on the ground and a target plate 4-5 feet away from each end. Every week or so I raise the dogwalk a few inches. So far so good. It's not a full height yet but almost. This is the first time running it without a target plate.

chute training

Miley hasnt like the chute to much. But this weekend she seemed to be ok with it. She ran throught it with gusto. Next , you can see her taking a jump and then the head check. I must have late calls. Its funny the things that take her attention away from training. Cars going by made her run to try and go chase them. ( she cant, its fenced in). But other dogs that were training in the practice area didnt bother her. The horses running made her pull off and start chasing and barking. But the sheep being moved and handled by some border collies practicing herding , she didnt even pay attention to them. Maybe it has to do with how fast things are moving.

Miley hates the car

Miley has always hated riding in the car. Im not sure why. She was exposed to it at 4 weeks old and goes in the car almost everyday. She has never gotten sick so Im not sure if that is the problem. My very nice husband made me a platform for her cage. Im hoping that will help. She can see out the window now. The first time we went for a ride to the park she was happy when we got there. I havent gotten to use it much since then because Ive been sick for the last week. So we havent been doing much training. Last weekend I was suppose to go to Florida for a Mah agility camp. But I was to sick to go. Drats!!

Frustration

Well, Miley started barking at 3am. So I got up and took her out to go to the bathroom. After she went to the bathroom , she came back to the door. I open the door to let her in and she just stands there. I call her and call her, she would not come in. So I got a treat, that didnt work either. I tryed to grab her and she ran away. Needless to say I was beside myself. Its 3am and I just want to go to bed and she is playing games. Im sure I woke my whole family up cursing. Finally my husband said he would get her. He did, I dont know how. What I do know is that she wont go outside without a long line on for a while. Teenagers (kids and dogs!!!)

agility training and Rally

I have been trying to teach Miley an out command. First I tried using a cone. You have the dog walk beside you and then they have to go around the cone. When they go around the cone, you say "out" . Then you progress to getting farther and farther away from the cone. But it wasnt working . So then I tried using a bait bag. You throw the bait bag out and say "out" as the dog runs to the bag. ( that is how I taught Guiness) . But that wasnt working either. So I took a lesson the other day. The instructor told me to use a tunnel. Because most dogs really love the tunnel. You use both side and work farther and farther out. Adding the "out " command as you go farther and farther away. That is working well except that now she is curling into me as she is coming out of the tunnel. So I put a target at the end of the tunnel , which helped.
Im working on getting Miley more toy motivated. Food helps her learn but I have noticed that food makes her run slower. So this week I have decided to just play with toys with her and do no obstacle training. I am also working on a "wait" command. She does well until we get on the agility field. Then she breaks the wait. More training is needed there. And last but not least Im working on heeling work. She is running at my side, straight line and cirlces.
My daughter and I are taking a Rally class. Im working Guiness and Stephanie is working Miely. ( we tried Mickey but it was to much for him). Guiness does pretty well except his heeling isnt to good. About half way through the class I could tell he was getting tired of it. He wanted to run. Miely didnt do to well. She just kept jumping up and not following commands. It was hard because she just wants to come to see me. But Stephanie did well keeping her with her. Maybe next week will be better.