More Training & Fireworks

It's amazing how depressing the winter becomes once the clocks go back! I can't even rush to the paddock after work. I have thought about trying to make it before work but that really isn't possible so I will have to make do with Thursday nights at Chipping Norton with Maisy and weekends with Rupert, which to be fair is probably just enough to keep us ticking over. Maisy had a brilliant session last Thursday, the week before had been a bit of a shock to both of us as we now have a new trainer, but this week it seemed to come together again and I could see plenty of positives.
On Saturday I took Maisy to a training Day with Lee Gibson, I love Lee's training, he puts so much energy into it and makes things so clear you can't help but come away motivated that you are heading in the right direction, and unlike so many trainers he doesn't charge the earth, which just goes to prove he is passionate about what he does and not just in it to make money! we started off with some obstacle discrimination where he had placed the see saw next to the dog walk, and with just a tweak to our handling styles all the dogs managed easily, we then moved onto some tricky jumping sequences and contact training, Maisy was good with the jumping but extremely naughty with her contacts, probably the worst she has been outside competition! but it did give Lee a great opportunity to give me some great advice which I will be following to the T for the next few months. Finally we ran a course which had the weaves set in between two tunnels! and again once we had remembered the techniques we had learnt throughout the day our dogs found the weaves easily, just proving that our dogs are far more capable than we give them credit for.
Unfortunately I haven't managed to get to Jo's for a couple of weeks, but she has kindly given me some homework for Rupert to be going on with, so now he is able to do both left and right handed stars into a straight line and is more than happy to take the line of jumps so long as his toy is at the end! as far as contacts go, we are still on the very lowest height and reinforcing the two on two off position, I want him to think that the end position is what that piece of equipment is all about and that getting there is incidental, I think he is on the right path as he doest seem to be thinking about anything else and just happily races to the position, so fingers are well and truly crossed.
Amy and Summer have been accepted by Joy Costello for training and start next Saturday, Amy is all fired up to get started as it has become impossible for her to train at our paddock due to the close proximity of the ponies, Summer just hates them and sits by the car waiting to be let back in, this just puts the wrong slant on training so we won't force her to do it, its all about fun and I know she will have a ball away from home.
For the past 3 nights all the dogs have slept indoors, Rupert was not happy but due to the amount of Fireworks about I didn't feel it fair to leave them outside, but thankfully tonight they will be back in their routine, Summer even has new PJ's so they will all be snuggly and Rupert can stop looking at me with his grumpy face at bedtime.