Class and snakes.

I had two lessons with Meagan this week.  Its funny. I set stuff up and we have no problem running it. Then I go see Meagan and it takes me multiple times to get it right.  But I guess if I could do it, then I wouldnt need to go see her.
Both days we did stuff from Clean Run exercise articles posted on the web site . Kathy Keats March 2011.

I had Meagan video this one because of the off arm cue to turn the dog.  I think I  first tried just rear crossing everything but that didnt work. It was just to tight.

I need to work on cuing early so she knows ahead of time where she is going. I need to send her over a jump and trust her to do it, and then I need to get to my next position.  Send her and go. But also remember to work every jump.

I went to class on Thursday too. Well , two classes. The first one was novice. I was able to do those courses without a problem.  Good thing or I would just have to give up. LOL
In the Masters class we work some more on the same Kathy Keats set up just numbered differently.

 I ran this differently than everyone else. Of course my way didnt work. LOL  I think thats why I cant stay on course. I cant seem to see the correct way to run the sequence.  I  front crossed between 3 and 4.  Then ran to the left of my dog for #4-#6.  I felt like this gave her a direct line to number 6. But what happened was as I fell behind her , she curled in a slight bit after number 5. That caused her to miss number 6.  So when I ran on the right side of the 3-6, when she curled in after 5, because I was behind, it was ok.  That actually set her up nice for #6.  I need to work a little on sending her down a line of  angled jumps. So when I get behind, and I say "go on" she will drive to the next jump.

I had the same problem here on 5-8.  I got behind as she drove down the line and she wouldnt take the  #8 jump.    I had to really push an say "go on". 

I was beat as I drove home. The good thing was , I stopped at Chick Fil a. They now have ketcup that you can dunk in.  A little plastic tray. It worked great while driving.  Love it. But I hit traffic 3 times. They were working on the road.  I know they cant work on the road during the day but really. When its 10:30 at night, its soooo frustrating sitting and waiting.  I do remember sitting in traffic in D.C at 12:30 am , after getting off evening shift at the hospital. And just wanting to go home. Nope, just sitting going crazy.

Miley is doing much better at going to the park. Today so only lagged behind 3 times.  And she left the car area without a problem. So thats good. Look, she is crossing the river by herself.

The river is down a little . So I thought I would go to this huge rock and take some pictures.

I wanted both dogs to get to the top of the rock. 

 

But Miley wouldnt go to the top with just a verbal command.  I couldnt get around the rock because the water was deep there. The only thing to do was to climb up the rock a little to show her what I wanted.  When I got up on the rock and looked over the other side. This is what I saw.

So no pictures on the big rock.  These people came over toward me to go on the island, then out to the other side. I couldnt decide if I should tell them about the snake. I didnt tell them. No sense freaking them out.  They werent going toward the snake.

We left that area.

Of course Guiness needs to dry off. I mean he just gets soaked going thur the water. NOT!

Then  I tortured them by making the walk several times thur the larger river crossing.

I had them do this several times.  One for exercise.  The water had a pretty good  current going, not dangerous.  And two,  to cool them off. Its pretty hot out now and it was 3pm in the afternoon.  So even though Miley doesnt look happy, I think she was ok with it.  There were rewarded a lot.

And then right when we where leaving the park path  there was this.

This one was tiny.  Maybe  6inches long.  I cant believe I didnt step on it.

Wordless Wednesday

Do you see how wet I am? My mother put me in the river. This is unacceptable. Now I have to take matters into my own hands.

Ahhhh, Thats better!

The park and stress

So yesterday I thought Miley was getting sick. She wouldnt take any treats near the river at the park. The only time she spits out treats is when she feels sick.  So thats what I thought. Especially since Guiness was  having diarrhea.   When she was home, she was fine. Took treats, played and we did a little agility. Hmmmm. This morning, we went to a different park. The one with the hills.  I like the other park better right now because the river runs beside the path. The water is cold  there and it feels cooler when you walk.  But I wanted to do something different. We get out of the car and she wont walk.  She refuses to walk forward. What the heck?   I pull her and she walks a little ways. This is very weird. Its flat,  we havent even gotten to the big hill.  But now Im thinking maybe she is hurt.  We get to the big hill and she walks up just fine.  Hmmmmm.  We walk for a while and she seems fine. Then I hear something. Im not sure what it is and I call her. I guess I had panic in my voice.  She started to worry. She wouldnt take a treat for coming to me. Ugh.  I could see a complete change in her body. She was uncomfortable.  But we walk for a while and she is ok again. Until we pass the path to the car.  The path starts going up this hill, the wraps around, up and down. Back toward the car and then turns away from the car to go towards the river.  She wasnt happy at all that I wasnt going to the car.  She just kept hanging back.

Except to chase a squirrel. She jumped this log, no problem.  She could have gone under it. So I guess she isnt hurt.

 She continued to walk behind until we reached the river. She was fine out on the rocks.

 Oh yea, it was hot as heck! And Miley couldnt open her eyes in any of the pictures.

We got back on the path and something runs across my feet and freaks me out. But it was just this.

Then something was moving through the grass.

Do you see it?

Maybe I should get a little closer.

Oops, sorry turtles. LOL


This part of the park looks like a  jungle.

 Once we were on our way back to the car, Miley was fine. She was in the lead the whole time.  We didnt see anyone or any dogs.  Thank goodness.  I guess I have a lot of work to do to get her through this stress issue. 
As far as the table. Im going to a class 3.5 hours away.  There is a small one ring trial there in a few weeks. I figured if I could take a couple of classes there maybe that will help her feel more comfortable.  It may not help but its worth a try.

And this I think, just looks cool.

Sick animals

Im not really sure what to write about.  Ive havent done any agility all week.  Just busy doing other things. Friday was my last day at work, which I took off to go to Stephanie's graduation. So I had to go in this morning to grind up medications that werent pick up at the end of school. We grind them in a coffee grinder and then mix them in powder landry detergent. Then triple bag them and threw them away. I went in and did that this morning,so now Im finally done. WhooHoo!! 

My dogs arent feeling to good. Im not sure what is going on.  Last week Guiness had a bout of diarrhea, the vomited for 4 days. Not constantly. Just like twice a day.  So on the 4th day, I took him to the vet. He has lost a pound which is weird.  He eats a lot and doesnt do that much activity.  So they gave me Reglan and some ID food. He seemed better until today.  I walked him at the park and he had terrible diarrhea.  And now Miley isnt acting right. Yesterday, she let me sleep until 9am.  OMG, unheard of. She didnt ask to do anything either. I did walk her last night and she seemed ok. But this morning I walked her and she didnt want to go. Walked behind me the whole time.  The when I took her down to the river, she wouldnt take any treats.  Yesterday she did eat a tiny piece of a mink stole that was my grandmothers. I didnt even see her get it , until my husband told me.  She had the foot and must have swallowed some of it but I got the toes and nails back. I asked the Vets office and they thought it was ok. She isnt letheragic or anything. She is going to the bathroom. But my neighbor's dog died on Saturday. First story was they didnt know what happened. Then I head that they had left him in the car after delivering flyer's to peoples mailboxes.  He must have had a heat stroke. Now my other neighbor's cat was acting ill this morning. They took it to the vet and had to put it down. Im going to have to find out what that was about.  I hope people arent killing animals in the neighborhood.

I guess the Marina's sign makes a good place for a birds nest.

I dont think Miley was to happy about this.

Graduation

Stephanie graduated from high school yesterday.  We had a great day.  My mom and my sisters family came to town. My sister rented  a lake house not to far from my house.  So there  was plenty of room and they didnt have to live with all my dogs.  (well mostly)  Stephanie wanted some pictures taken before she went to graduation out at the lake. Its wasnt sunny, and the sun wasnt in the correct spot but I still go some nice shots.

Stephanie is to the left.

Dont worry, I did put on a dress for graduation.  I just wasnt ready yet and everyone kept saying to get in the picture. So thats what you get. LOL

We had nose bleed seat but thank goodness for telephoto lens.
Afterwards we went back to the lake house and had a cook out.

When I lit the charcoal, look a "K" showed up.  Kinda funny, huh?

We swam and went for a boat ride.

Sorry, I have to go. Ill post more later.

Wordless Wednesday