Day 2

Look, Java is 8 months old!
On day 2 of the seminar I audited. Java could have done the foundation stuff but I didnt know that. I was worried about doing a lot of jumping but they really didnt.  O,well.  First I was tired.  Driving 2 hours home after the seminar and then getting up and being back by 8am was rough. I got up and thought, "I cant do this".  But I did do it.     I decided to sit in a different spot on Saturday because I had a hard time hearing on Friday.  On Friday, I was seated to the side but sitting next to some people I knew. So Saturday I wanted to sit straight in front so I could hear better. But I was sitting next to this lady who had a bad attitude. She was in the puppy seminar and I dont remember her being like this but I wasnt sitting right next to her. She apparently was mad at this dog for not lying down on the table at agility trials.  When the instructor has to call you out on your attitude repeatedly, thats bad. You think she would have been embarrassed.  She didnt treat her dog very nice either. It made me sick!!! And you should have seen how people were trying to help her with her dog. I think the one girl, who was also auditing, was trying to help her because she felt bad for the dog. But it got me thinking. Was this lady doing this for attention?  Finally after she talked again about her dog not lying on the table at trials again, I told her "my dog hasnt gotten on the table at a trial in 2 year, at least your dog gets on the table". First she just looked at me like I was crazy. Then she said "And you are still trialing her?"  I said yes, its not the dogs fault. She didnt say anything else. But then she hurt her ankle. She was just standing there and took a step. She said she heard something pop. She  left the seminar. I know you think Im mean, but I was glad she left.  She was making things unpleasant.
The first half of the day was working on foundation stuff.   4 basic turns on the flat. Which this was good because Ive been teaching this in my class and they have been struggling. But so were all these people in this class. So I didnt feel to bad. I kept thinking it was how I was teaching it but it just must be hard to master. The one thing I liked is, she taught the "Front Cross" in a two step process. Ive been teaching it as one fluid motion. I think this will help my class. Then they worked on the 6 "Recall to heel" postions.  When you are teaching this, the most important part is your dog coming in straight. And you want them to be pefect with this. If they cant do it slow, they will never be able to do it at speed.  It doesnt sound like much but that took the first half of the day.
The second half of the day was Running Contacts. Now trying to learn running contacts in a half a day seminar , impossible.   But it gives you an idea of whats involved in the process. There are major differences in how she teaches it vs Sylvia T. ( at least in my opinion).  It was confusing and I started to wonder it I should have audit this half of the day.  Sylvia wants you dog running, as fast as they can,always.  Daisy, just wants them out of a trot and with good feet separation.  As long as their gait is right, even if they speed up, the gait will stay the same. (Ive been struggling getting Java to really run and not be airy) Daisy doesnt worry about the dog being airy either.  Daisy wants the dog running without you moving at all. Sylvia, what every it takes to keep the dog running.  But both methods must work because the dogs learn it. There are other small differences too. I like how she taught turns off the dog walk.  Im sad to say that I didnt stay to the end. I left an hour early. I was cold. It was 50 but the wind had really blowing all day and I was tired.  I know, Im a wimp. When I read about the temps that some people work in, I dont know how you guys do it! 
Please remember this is what I heard and took away from the seminar.  It may not all be correct.