weekly training

This week I have started taking Maisy to Chipping Norton agility club for some more practice in a more exciting enviroment, it was only a small class and I thought Maisy worked quite well, the instructor Sarah made the lesson clear and fun and she noticed that when I train Maisy on a contact I give her a release comand but when I run a course I don't!! she was right so I'm giving Maisy mixed messages, the last run of the evening I made sure I got the release "OK" in and she ran much better so this is something to practice before next weeks lesson.

Rupert has started his agility training! - I can actually hear the gasps of "He's too young" but all I have been doing is the same controll exercise I do with his toy through wings with poles on the floor just to get him used to the wings, he was also playing at wing wraps left and right again chasing his toy and only 2 times each way - I have found with Rupert (and I think its a boy thing) if I keep all his training in the format of a game he just picks things up really quickly, I know he is a Darian and from experience they are very quick intelligent dogs, but I didn't think he would have the same stamina for knowledge that Summer had, I was wrong, he is exactly the same just in a slightly different way. I am really enjoying the time he and I spend together it's a real learning experience for both of us.

WBSDS

Amy & I took a leisurely drive to Newbury on Friday afternoon, the weather was glorious and we took our time to set everything up before enjoying a nice quiet cup of tea sitting in the sunshine with all the dogs. Saturday we woke up to another hard frost but the big awning was warm enough for the dogs especially as they all had their snuggly coats on, then the Sun came out and with a nice breeze it turned out to be a good agility day, all the dogs had some nice runs, Maisy is still only knocking the odd pole or just faulting on the weaves if she hits them too fast so we haven't gone backwards, and Summer managed 2 clears and Dylan 1 - Maisy also had a clear but due to me having a senior moment halfway round the course resulting in me standing still for about 5 seconds! was just outside the placings!!! Sunday we had Rain! but again the dogs seemed to be working consitently, Maisy was mental in her agility, but I think I go in with the attitude because it's agility it's going to go wrong!! although I did hear myself shouting at her on the contacts on Saturday and decided I wasn't going to do that again so it's more training for me thats required! but her jumping rounds were fantastic again only the odd pole or weave (not both) and a couple of handling errors so I was pleased with our progress. Summer was a little star and again managed 2 clears but this time resulting in her getting her very first places coming home with 2 x 13th places, considering only 12 months ago Amy didn't really even want to do agility the transformation in them both is brilliant and can only get better & better. Amy also managed a 12th place with Dylan so we managed to come home with 7 rosettes.

Rupert was again a little star, and his fans turned out in their hundreds again... I managed some obedience training by the rings, and he was thrilled to see his buddy Stig for a roll in the dust and at lunchtime spent 20 minutes in Jo's garden being mobbed by Mali's or was it the Mali's were being mobbed by Rupert!?! still he got home looking a bit beshevelled!

Rupert Training Part 2

I've learnt a lesson this week! I've been having to adjust my treats to get the best work but have learnt that a treat can be so good that is actually has the opposite effect, I was being lazy as this morning I wanted to train in the house as opposed to the run, all my treats etc are in the shed so I looked in the fridge for inspiration and found some Pate - Rupert was so into the treat he couldn't focus on anything else! I'm not suprised really, poor child. His day to day training is shaping up really nicely and he is getting more and more eager to please as the time goes on, at shows he walks around with little distraction and is happy to play tuggy through the crowds, and will practice nose touch happily, in fact he is a very happy chap alround. I'm still working on the off side heelwork and want to start him trotting through wings in the next few weeks so hopefully now spring has finally sprung we might have a chance to get down to the paddock which has a whole different set of distractions to cope with.

Wallingford Weekend

Good show this weekend only made better by the glorious weather, although we did have a hard frost on Friday night so decided that Rupert had better sleep in the caravan on Saturday! Maisy was running really nicely on Saturday anly getting 5 faults in each of her classes, a pole in one and just marginly missing the see saw contact in the agility, she and Ronny had a cracking pairs round taking 3 poles between them and Summer was really happy and motivated so everyone was happy. We started Sunday with the Team Dash which we had to go NFC as we only had 3 team members, again it wasn't the easiest course and all 3 dogs ran it nicely Summer even went clear. Maisy had a bit of a wait then for her agility round which didn't really go to plan! she was a bit hyped and didn't manage the dog walk contact and even took 3 attempts at the weaves!! so I was a bit dissapointed as I thought we were past all that! still she redeemed herself in the jumping only getting 5 faults for my silly handling. Summer was a little star and went clear in Agility leaving her in the placings right up until the last minute! but she came away with a lovely big clear round rosette for her hard work and only just popped out of her last weave in the jumping so a little bit of training this week and I'm sure she will be in contention.
Rupert has had a great weekend (again) I have started taking him to the ring when I walk the course and just tie him to the ring post, he waits very patiently for me even though he does keep getting interupted by another one of his fans coming to speak to him, I have to keep a close eye on him in case he is pupknapped! he also spent a lot of time playing with all the Mali's and now has another new best friend "Zippy" He was soooooo pleased last night when he saw Claire and jumped all over her squeaking with delight to which she was moaning to him to get off her laptop as she was trying to finish so Uni work, but the next time I looked he was upside down fast asleep on her lap and she had a big smile on her face, I can't wait to see what he says when Steve gets back from Belfast tonight, he hasn't seen him for 4 days!

Training Rupert Part 1

When I first realised I was actually getting Rupert I had decided that I really wanted to clicker train him because I feel that letting the dog work out the actions required would lead to a much deeper seated understanding of the command in the long run, I never set it in stone and have just let the training evolve into what suits us both, I was finding Rupert (maybe because he is a boy) soon got bored of having to work things out for himself resulting in a sort of role reversal making me work out how to keep his concentration throughout the training process, at his level I am talking about a few minutes at a time. I have started a routine whereby he is looking forward to his 1-1 time with me knowing that when I put the other dogs away and get the treat pot the fun will begin. I am slowly building his repetoir of skills by using games, key commands which are repeated throughout the session and making sure I keep things moving, so that he is not allowed to get bored and switch off. Today I began his stay training, he already knows sit and down and is quite happy to remain in the position while I madly run around throwing toys and will remain in his position until I say "Ready, Steady, GO" albeit about 10% of the time he might get over excited and jump up, but in those instances I just run back to him saying not yet and put him back into position and start again - after all he is only 15 weeks old! but today I decided there is no better training aid than an older dog who already has the skill, so Ben came out to help, I placed them both in the sit and walked around them, resting about 4 paces in front of Rupert sideways on, he probably sat for no more than 20 seconds, I then returned to them and released and then repeated this all over again in the down, making sure Rupert had rolled his hip to one side, the result was a confident stay in both positions, over the next few weeks I will slowly increase the time they are left and the distractions. below is a quick video of his recall thus far, plenty more work to do.

Shuttleworth Update

It was a good show and all the dogs really enjoy their weekend breaks, as soon as I hitch the caravan up they are all waiting by the door so we don't forget any of them! Saturday was a good start although no clear rounds neither were there any eliminations, Maisy held most of her contacts and even managed a couple of start line stays! with only poles in her jumping classes and some amazing weave entrances I went to bed really pleased with both of us. Summer was steady on Saturday and Amy just took her eye of the ball on the dogwalk contact (tut tut) and again a couple of poles here and there. Sunday was a different matter, Maisy started of a bit wild although still in control but was flying off all her contacts, I put her back on the see saw 3 times in one class and she still released herself so we will be concentrating on that this week in training. she did manage an amazing jumping round taking 2 poles, the first because I gave her the weave command and the second I think because I moved too far to the left but I'm not sure there is a video which I'll post later so if anyone can tell me I'd appreciate it. Summer was much better on Sunday and her speed came back, Amy used a different method on her dog walk which worked a treat and got a brilliant clear round in her jumping, not fast enough for the placings but a nice red clear round rosette to add to her collection.

Jo had a good result with Ronny this week winning grade 5 jumping, he and Maisy are in the pairs on Saturday so fingers crossed! Ellen had a dissapointing weekend quite a few naughty poles but she did get a lovely agility round to finish on, I looked at the jumping results before we left the show and saw they had got 5 faults in a very quick time which would have put them right in contention, I think the winning time was 20.2 secs and Hamish had 5 in about the same ( I can't remember the decimal place!) but then I saw Maisy got 10 faults in a time of 18.25 - blimey!

Rupert had a brilliant time meeting all his fans, I'm sure he thinks everyone has turned up just to see him! he's totally unfased by anything, he met some very large dogs and as we were at the home of the shuttleworth collection of planes he also saw some very low flying planes which he didn't even take a second glance at. He has some BEST friends who he gets very excited these include Clare's young GSD Hardy, Kathryn's BC pup Stig and his very bestest friend is Ronny the Mali, he just squeaks with delight whenever he sees him. Whilst we were away Steve and Lee put the fencing up around the run, we still have to make the gates but it's looking really good, the girls & Rupert have been sleeping in the kennels since Sunday without a peep all night.
Rupert's Obedience training is really starting to take shape, he has really suprised me with how keen he is, at first I thought he was going to take some persuading but he can't wait for his training sessions, all I'm doing is a few minutes twice a day, just recapping on what we have already gone over and then adding something new, I'll try to capture a few bits on video over the next few days if i get time.

Easter Weekend

WOW what an exhausting weekend, Amy & I took all the dogs to the Ashby showground on Good Friday, we weren't competing or helping so it gave us plenty of time to work out how our new awning went up! it was quite windy but we managed to errect the awning and the fence system in about an hour and a half just before the heavens opened! it was Ruperts first camping experience and he took to it like a proper little boy scout, I was in two minds wether to leave him in the awning overnight but I needn't have worried as on Saturday morning the awning was actually warmer than the caravan! and he had wriggled out of his coat.We ran the MBCC Utility day on Saturday, with lots of help from the committee and some of our friends, it seemed to go really well with the rain holding off, Rupert was in his element watching all the activities and getting lots of cuddles from his fans.

Sunday we were helping at the MBCC Open obedience show, we started early helping park the cars and Amy Stewarded for the Pre-beginner judge, one of Summers little brothers Body and his dad Bob won the class in style so a very well done to the two of you especially as we later found out they also came 3rd in beginner. then it was time to pack up the caravan ready for heading home, this didn't take long but it was nice to be back home and in our own beds.

Yesterday I took Maisy to Bretford agility show, I only did 2 rounds one agility and one jumping, Maisy worked really well, we are so much better than we have been for a long time, no clears but only the odd pole here and there, her confidence has grown so much and she is working really well away from me taking directional comands and watching my body language, and suddenly I am able to see how fast she really is - Dawn Weaver is right when she says that once your dog begins to understand what you are asking the speed follows, not that Maisy hasn't always run at Warp speed, but somehow she seems to be even faster now or is it that I have time to see it instead of just blindly trying to get from A to B?

A few notes of congratulations:

Jo & Kody - what a brilliant weekend you two have had, winning into grade 4 in style well done (perhaps he can stay a bit longer ;-))

Ellen & Hamish - 2nd & 3rd how frustrating I think it's time to let go of the apron strings and give those front crosses a try!

Sandy & Jess - what a little star she is, we were very pleased for you both.

Nest week we are at Spring at Shuttleworth agility show all weekend, Maisy and Summer have 14 classes between them so there'll be plenty to write about!