The weekend

Its been a busy weekend. Nothing really great but busy. The weather has been wonderful. Warm 60's and sunny. Whoohoo! On Saturday our club had run throughs at the field. We had some real positives and some small negatives. Miley keeps self-releasing herself on the contacts. Then when I fixed it, she creeped down the side of the a-frame. Then I started worrying that it was to hard for her to stop. But she also self-released on the dogwalk. I began contemplating retraining the a-frame. But after thinking about it, Ive been inconsistent in my releases. In training, I make her hold them a few seconds before releasing. In trialing , I release quickly. Not really fair to my dog. You know the old saying, "train like you trial and trial like you train". Also, Meagan told me that when she watched my videos, Miley is releasing on my motion not my verbal "ok". So time to work on that. I will begin doing the "Bridging the gap" flat work stuff to fix the self releasing. The good stuff from the run throughs was she had great weaves. I put her mat down instead of the table and she had no problems going to the mat. (whoohoo) And she was very excited to be there and started the circling stuff when I stopped to fix the contacts but she was still able to run and get on the mat. Also there was a sequence that was several jumps that were in front of a chute and tunnel and she didnt go off course. The most telling thing that happened was we didnt run either run completely correct during the run thurs. But after we were done, I went out and ran it again. She was perfect. Hmmm, I must be handling differently when I feel people are watching , then when they aren't. Or what ever is stressing me. I didnt feel stressed there but it must be something.
Sunday we took the dogs hiking which was nice. Then I took a class in Charlotte and had a private lesson afterwards. Here was the course from the class. Its to the best of my memory and may not have correct distances.

The first time we ran 1-10 we were perfect. That doesn't happen often for us. Meagan made us run it again and I messed up. She didnt read the rear cross to the teeter. Also I swapped out the table for my mat. She got right on the mat. Then next time we were to run 8-20. Lots of dogs were coming out of the tunnel and going up the dogwalk. Not Miley, she got right in the weaves and was perfect. I decided to stop and reward. I tried to give miley the treat. She spit it out and kept going. So then I wasnt ready and she started circling. Ugh! I was just trying to reward my dog and everything back fired. LoL. So anyway , Miley was a little over the top last night. I think she finally settled down by the time we got to the private lesson. In the lesson we worked on the two excellent JWW coursers that I ran so badly a few weekends ago. What Im not doing is working the ground in between the obstacles. I dont know if that makes any sense and it will be hard to describe.

You see where that green line goes between 5 and 6? Thats where I wasnt going in and working. I was just staying out and expecting my dog to figure it out.
Also Meagan said I could start putting the mat on a flat to the ground table and starting working that. I really hope this works when its time to add it to a trial. Im worried it wont. But no need to worry about it right now.

I had today off and took the dogs for an extra long hike. I was beat when we were done. I dont think it phased the dogs.

Today's lesson

I took a lesson with Meagan today. These exercises are from this months Clean Run called "Skill of the Month" by Karen Holik.
I ran the dark circles. It was beautiful. Even Meagan said it was beautiful, except for the fact that I did a serpentine through #3-5 instead of the treadle which is how it was written. LoL Oops. Then I tried it as a treadle. I couldn't do it. So I need to remember to use my outside arm to pull her through and run backwards. It was difficult and I have some practice to do.

This is the same set up just different numbering. I think Meagan made this one out of her head because I couldnt find it. Once again I ran it beautiful except I left out #4 and #5 . Oops again. Once I added all the numbers in I had problems getting Miley's head coming out of the tunnel ( sorry the #5 is suppose to be on the other tunnel entrance). I needed to step back and get her head coming out of the tunnel. We also worked on not setting her up straight in front of the tunnel. Say there was another jump straight pass #2( above course). Setting your dog up this way, you will be able to make it pass #2 faster to cue your dog.

When I first walked this course (below) I was planning on post turning #4-5 and then rear crosses #6, then use an opposite arm cue to bring her in after #8 to get #9. But then I started thinking she might take an off course into the tunnel after #4, so I need a stronger turning cue. So I decided to front cross #4-5 and then, the opposite arm cue for #8 didn't seem right. So I decided to front cross #8-9. When we ran everything worked beautiful. She almost took the off course tunnel after #4, but I called her and she looked and came over jump #5. WhooHoo!!! The rest she ran great. Then Meagan wanted me to run it with rears. So I reared #4-5 and she read it nicely. I rear crossed in front of #6, this pushed her out when coming over #8 to the off course #11. So Meagan said I needed to rear cross after #6 (like below), then push her path a little wide after coming over #7. After that you will pull her in. This wideness will bring her back at a diagonal over #8 and it will be a straight path to #9, and #10. And of course it worked like a charm.

Lesson with Meagan

These are the set up Meagan had me work with Miley. They are from Clean Run Archives Nov. 09 http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=522

I don't know what was wrong with me last night , I just couldn't run a sequence. I dont think I ran one right the whole lesson. But Miley just kept working and I kept giving her treats. On the first set up I was to the right of the dog and post turned 3 to 4. I just couldn't get it right and she kept going off course to number 9. Ugh! So then I ran it with RC. I was to the left of her and after number 3 RC. But I think I was so far behind her that I couldn't cue the turn from 6 to 7. Then preceded to go off course and got lost. So I finally gave up the beginning and just worked the end. Started with 5 then thur 14. That seem to work better with a RC from 6 to 7 and 8 to 9 and then bring her around with an opposite hand cue over 9 to 10 and into the tunnel. Im not sure any of this is making sense.

The next sequence I didn't do much better. Im not sure what was wrong with me. I didn't feel tired but maybe I was. I woke up at 4:20am to Miley vomiting. So it really was a long day and I guess my brain just couldn't think anymore. I don't remember much about running this course except that she did get #9 to 10 without taking #3.

We also worked on the mat. I am now ready to start naming the mat. I can also start to use 2 mats and send her between the mats. Make sure my shoulders are facing the mat when sending her. Then start adding a jump to the mat. Have two jumps with the mat in the middle. Send her over the jump to the mat, then to the next jump , around back to the mat.

We also worked on post turns. Miley and I are terrible at this. Its just not a strong cue for Miley and she disconnects from me. Meagan said Miley feels like she isn't getting any info so then she goes off course. I need to practice decelerating coming into the post, use an opposite are cue and then accelerate out of the turn. But say I'm doing a post turn with an 180 of jumps, I need to use a word "around" and no opposite arm cue.

Miley was very calm during her lesson. Do you think its the mat work. I guess will see.

Private lesson and snooker class

On Saturday I drove up to North Carolina for a lesson and a snooker class. When I left Columbia is was blue sky and sunny. When I got to North Carolina is was overcast and cold. It looked like it was going to snow but the temp. was only 40 degrees. Poor "M" , she must have been freezing. I was running around so I wasn't cold but she wasn't running a dog. Luckily in the snooker class there were only 2 students. So our turn came around quickly and we didn't have to much time to be cold.





Private Lesson: First the weave poles. Miley had no problems. She did 12 poles several times without mistakes. Then we practiced entries with 6 poles. She didn't really have any problems and "M" showed me some drills to work on. Kinda like the round the clock stuff with and extra jump. So you have two jumps before the weaves with the second on about 4-5 feet in front of the poles. Then as you move around the clock , you move both poles. Next we worked on contacts. My problem is I didn't work her enough by being behind her and sending her to the contact. That is why she will stop right before doing a 2o/2o. I need to get the plank back out and work more on telling her "touch" while I work positions behind her. She is doing ok with it right now but she isn't driving as much as I want. So I think she is still trying to figure out what I want. And its sad to say I cant remember what else we worked on.


Snooker Class: First, I was terrible at this. I couldn't think fast on my feet. If Gamblers is anything like snookers , I'm not going to do well. In snooker your dog has to take a red jump and then an obstacle that you choose and then another red jump and another obstacle of your choosing. And finally the 3 rd red jump and another obstacle. Then you do the closing sequence. So I walked a course. I set Miley up and when she didn't take the free obstacle that I chose but took another obstacle , I couldn't think on my feet to keep going. Since she was allowed to take that obstacle ( even if I didn't want her to) she was still "in play" of the game. But this would throw me and I couldn't think fast enough to go on to the next red jump. Ugh. The other student who was there had a very nice boarder collie. She ran very well and her dog did what she told it to. ( Miley didn't do what I told her to because of my handling , not because she wasn't listening.)





All in all it was a learning experience and I'm glad I went. It makes me more upset that I didn't go to the gamblers class last week. Hmmmm. We will see what happens there. Next weekend we go to our first USDAA trial. I only entered standard and gamblers on Saturday and Jumpers and gamblers on Sunday. I'm nervous because Ive never done USDAA, so we will see. I also only put her in performance so she can jump a lower height. She not 2 yet, so I don't want her jumping 16 until she is older and has more experience.


Last , on my way home from North Carolina a bunch of lights came on my dashboard. The engine light, VSC, and the track off light all came on. I pulled over and looked up in the owners manual and it just said "take to Toyota dealer". That's not helpful. I called the dealer and the service department was still there. Luckily they said it was ok to drive the rest of the way home ( I still had over 2 hours to go) and to bring it in Monday. I took it in but they really couldn't find a reason for the lights coming on and reset them.



One thing I noticed from watching the video of Miley recently is she is circling me alot! If I hadn't watched the video I wouldn't of realized how much she was doing it. Especially since I watch some earlier video and she didn't circle much at all. Its enough to make you dizzy all the circling she is doing. I guess Ive been ignoring it. This weekend I tried very hard not to let her circle or chase cars. She didn't get to chase one car. With the circling, sometimes I had to walk over the the fence to get her to stop. Other times I was able to step out in front of her and lure her in with food. Why did I let this get so out of control. Now I have much work to do.

Dogs and kids will make you a liar

Yesterday I drove up to North Carolina to take some rescue shelties to their foster home in Winston - Salem. Because I was going so far I decided to take a lesson. I picked the shelties up from the kennel at 8am. Miley growled a couple of times when I put them in the crates but then settle down. We handed off the shelties at 10:30 and went to our lesson.

So first I showed "M" our board work for the 2o/2o. I told "M" that Miley was doing really well.( lie number one)
Well, Miley acted like she had never seen the board before. Didn't get into the 2o/2o position one time on her own. It looked like I hadn't practiced once since the last time she saw us. So "m" said I need to start taking the board other places and practice with it so Miley will start doing the board every where and not just at home.
Next I told "M" that she keeps popping out of the weave poles. ( lie number 2) So we ran the 12 poles three times. She didn't pop out once. So much for that. So then we worked on distance. Which was ok unless I pulled off to do a FC when she was 3 poles from the end. Then she would pop out of the weaves. So things to work on. Distance of me from the poles. Doing crosses at the poles. Getting her to wrap tight with a FC out of the last pole. Sending her into the poles with me standing still. And me slowing down while she is running the poles.
We worked on rear crosses and threadles. My timing is very late. I need to cue very early. Miley is looking 2 obstacles ahead and I need to cue very early. She said if my cue feels uncomfortably early, then its probably on time. I need to put markers on the ground where the dog is going to be when I give the cue. I will work on video taping and cuing and then go from there.
I thought this was interesting and I hope she doesn't mind me putting it on here. Many people have problems with their dogs breaking their start line stay. She said one of her dogs kept breaking their start line. Right before she was going to release her the dog would blow by. She said she watched hours of video trying to figure out what she was doing that was cuing her dog. She finally saw it. When she would walk out to lead out, right before she was going to say "ok" to release the dog , she would push her glasses up. The dog cued on that knowing that she was going to release him right after she pushed up her glasses. I thought that was fascinating that the dog picked that up. You just never know what little thing you are doing that the dog picks up on.

Oh yea, and kids will make you a liar: As soon as you say, "my kids never does that, or my kid would never do that" gues what? Ha!!

Private lesson for Miley

So yesterday was a great day. It finally stopped raining and drizzling and the sun came out. It had been rainy and over cast since Tuesday. I was Lucky enough that "M" would meet me in Charlotte to give me a private lesson. She was there at a trial and said that she could give me a lesson when she was done running her dog. So we met at someones house. I wanted her to help me with my training of my 2o/2o. She asked me to show her what I was doing. I'm sure she wanted to bust a gut when I showed her how I was training Miley. But she didn't say anything bad. She showed me what I should be doing. I want Miley to hop on the board, into the 2o/20 position from the side. I will need to lure her around and then onto the board. She made it look easy. But when I practiced tonight, it didn't flow easy. But its just the first day and Miley doesn't really understand what to do yet. Once I get Miley into the 2o/2o position , click and treat. The treat should be given to her low and press back into her a little so she puts her weight on her back legs. I should do this for the next to weeks. And once Miley gets it, start restraining her on the board so she wants to drive into position. Take the board to different places so the dog can do this position any where. She also told me to order the video, "Bridging the Gap" and practice the stuff on the flat. She showed me her dog doing is 2o/2o and how he held his contact as she ran by and said different words like banana and bingo. The dog didn't release until she said ok. He loved that contact . Every time we were just talking he would run over and get into position.

We also worked on the teeter. She showed me how to play the teeter game. You have your dog in a sit stay several yards from the teeter. You put yourself in front of the teeter right up next to the board facing the dog and have treats in your hand. Call your dog to you keeping your hand on the teeter so it cant drop until the dog gets to the edge of the board. When your dog gets all the way to the edge of the board you give the treat and drop the board. You can also lower the board with your hand under it if your dog isn't ready for the board just dropping.

We practiced this set up that she had used in her last class. I'm not sure its set up correctly but you get the gist of it. ( I hope she doesn't mind me posting this) So I did a lead out to the tunnel and Miley did a straight shot from #1 into the #3 tunnel. Then I backed up in front of jump # 4, stayed to the right of #5 and #6 then rear crossed after 7 and brought her in on 8 ect. We practice this course several different ways. Lead out to the inside of #2 and lead out to the outside of #2. We also tried front crossing after #5. I didnt do to well with that. I think there was another we tried but I cant remember what it was.

"M" spent a lot of time with me. I was very thankful that she did. She helped me alot. I was expecting an hour lesson but I think we were there almost 2 hours. I hope I gave her enough money. Ill have to ask her. After the lesson she brought out her 2 puppies. A jack Russell and a border collie. They were very happy and excited. Miley thought about playing but was to scared. She watched from every ones legs. Then she started getting growly when they tried to get her to play. Silly dog. She has no problem irritating the dogs at home to get them to play. Funny how things change when the shoe is on the other foot.

And.......... I came home today, let the dogs out and no fence fighting. Peace and quiet. (The dogs can bark outside. I have the birdhouse thing set on the lowest setting which is 15 feet. So the dog get to run and bark in the other parts of the yard just not next to the beagle. )

Lesson and class

First of all, I tried for the last 24 hours to try and download a video. But it just isn't happening. So now on to something else.
I finally got to a private lesson and and class. I figured if I was going all that way for a class, I might as well do a lesson. Miley has been dropping a lot of bars lately. "M" watched her her do some jump grids and she felt that Miley had good form over the jumps. She is using her back end to propel herself over the bar. She feels that Miley just wants to run fast and isn't realizing she is dropping bars. She set up a jump grid program for me to work on with Miley.

Then I had her watch me do serpentines because those weren't going well either. Well, I was standing to far back from the jumps and giving Miley to much room, which was giving Miley the wrong information about where to jump too. Plus I had her set up straight at the jump, instead of sideways.

Then she watched Miley weave. She felt that Miley's weaving was good. I need to work on entries more. When I'm moving the jumps around the clock into the weave poles, I'm moving them to much for a young dog. I need to only move them inches at a time.








Next she had me walk this course and run Miley. I don't know why but I did a come to heal from #1 to #2 , then when she came out of the tunnel I had her kinda come to heal againto jump #3 and then I rear crossed her going into the tunnel #4. So when she came out of the tunnel I was behind her and my call to the next tunnel was late. So she came straight out of the tunnel heading toward the a-frame. "M" told me to run it again, and this time use post turns. This got me ahead of Miley coming out of tunnel #4 ,so that I could direct her better to tunnel #5. It work so much better than what I did. But I still pushed her off her line a little going to tunnel # 5. This is a good reason why I need to go to classes. I never would have thought of that. It amazed me how much better that little change helped the dog. (I know Im easily amazed). That was the end of the private lesson. After the lesson, Miley kept going up to "M"'s 6 month old puppy that helps guard the sheep. Miley wanted to play. So "M" got her Jack Russell puppy out, but Miley wouldn't play. So "M" got out her boarder collie puppy. Miley almost played but didn't. I guess she felt is was safe to try to play with the dog behind the fence as long as they don't get to close. Funny dog.



Next was the class. Only one other person came to the class. We worked on the circle of death. Serpentines and threadles. Then we ran this little sequence.





we ran it a bunch of different ways. Miley did really well except for a few times while jumping over the broad jumps, half way across she would give herself some more lift by pushing off one of the middle planks. She wants to fly I think. The other thing I need to work on is having the dog come out of the tunnel, she crosses in front of me and then takes one of the side jumps. So a rear cross. I hope that makes sense. All in all it was a good class.