Seminar

I'm finally back in South Carolina. Driving the last two days was not fun. The ride down from Pa. to Va. was suppose to be 4 hours. Its took 6. Rain and 2 hours of Baltimore/Washington traffic is enough to make you crazy. Yesterday I left Northern Virginia and as soon as we got on the highway, traffic. It took 2 hours to go 20 miles. I guess everyone is going on vacation. So my 8 hour drive home took 10 hours. Ugh!! I logged over 1600 driving miles this past week.

The Elicia Calhoun Seminar was great! I really wish it was multiple days. I just got an email and Elicia is giving private lessons there. I wish I had know, I would have signed up. Shoot.

The group I was with was novice/open. My only complaint was that several of the dogs had focus issues. They would take a jump or two and they run away, then come back on course and run away again. I know that can happen to anyone but it kinda took time away from the seminar, which was about handling. So she worked with those people on getting their dogs to focus on them. I feel I'm in a in between spot right now. I'm not really a novice but I'm not masters either. They need an in between group for people at my level.

The seminar started off with us walking a short course and then she watched us run it. One little dog was really slow and seemed worried. After that dog ran she had the owner take the dog off to the side, far off. She was to click and treat every time the dog looked at the dog that was running the course. Then she moved her closer to the course. Again clicking and treating as the dog looked at the dog running the course. Moved closer one more time and repeat. Then she had her put the dog away. The next time the dog came out, she ran so much faster. I was amazed.

My turn with Miley was weird. We just didn't seem together. I sent her off course, twice, but we finished. Miley was speedy and didn't get the zoomies. She was so ready to run. Butt in the air at the start line. I know that's not good. It puts all their weight on their front but it got better the more we ran. She also kept creeping forward. Elicia really like Miley and asked where I got her from and about the kennel. So I guess that was a good sign.

After everyone ran the first time then we put the dogs away. She says you should walk the course 4 times. The first two times as the dog and the second two times for the handler. The second time you walk the dogs course, you should be looking at where the handler should be to help the dog. Like where turns are and mark in you mind where the best position the
handler should be to help the dog. She then put different people in the key spots ( see above). I was the dog and each person was to handle their area and then pass off the the next handler. Well that was an eye opener for me. No wonder my dog goes off course. Just the the placement of the shoulder or one step toward the dog and wham you dog is off course. I'm going to be a better handler for my dog. I wish she could run in slow motion so I had more time to get in the right place and practice. LoL. My shoulders are facing the wrong direction many times. Poor dog. I'm surprised she hasn't come around and bit me in the ass.

When I ran the course above I did a lead out come to heel. And that worked but she had me run it with a front cross in front of #2, her line was so much tighter. I need to work on getting my dogs eye. I see her but I'm not connecting with her and getting in her head. It really made a difference.

Here was the next course we ran. ( these courses are probably not exactly right distances and stuff) I had lots of trouble. She wanted me to front cross between #3 and #4. I was to go kinda backwards lateral and then cross. It was difficult. I kept crossing late and making Miley drop the bar. She said Miley was dropping bars because I'm turning when she is over the bar. I need to cross before she takes off. Then I was to slide laterally from #4 to #5 and front cross. I was late and she dropped the bar again. I did finally get it sorta right and Miley was awesome. Her lines were so much tigher when I ran her this way. I wish I could have practiced it more to really get the feel of it. I wanted to ask her if I could video tape her so I had a visual but I didn't.

We also worked on the 2 toy game and obstacle and handler focus. If you have a chance to work with her I really recommend it.