I took Flash with me last night for my classes. We had agility sessions so I thought I could add a few minutes with Flash... and so we did. Flash did very well and I also managed to get him to do quite a few full hight jumps! What a fab boy he is!
He was also not too bad when I was teaching and was only noisy really when people and dogs were running around. Other than that, he just settled and watched things.
Tuesday night went rather well too. We practiced the full height jumps, which went very well. We also practiced the long jump.
We started on the bell ringing (which he picked up very quickly) and practiced the other bits and pieces. I am a little worried about the party trick as I still have to give a lot more cues than I would like to, but hey... we have got another almost two weeks to practice...
7 August 2007
5 August 2007
Agility Training and fun day at Underdogs
Yesterday, Flash and I went to see Linda again for a training session. Unfortunately it was so hot (28 degrees) that Flash found it hard to concentrate and he didn't have much energy.
Today, Underdogs, which is Linda's flyball and agility training club, had a fun day. There was an agility competition and a sausage game. Linda kindly invited me to go along.
I took Flash (of course) and Jesse with me. They had a great day. Flash won his heat in the sausage game, which I was very pleased about. The training I did so far is obviously working. Unfortunately he got distracted by Jesse slipping his collar in the final, so he only made fourth place... but when set up again he did it beautifully. He got a lovely rosette too.
Flash also did a great agility round... and if it hadn't been for the sheep where he ran off to and for Jesse barking at the end where he got distracted too, he would have been in with a chance for a place. As it was he got a special rosette anyway! I was happy with the round though as he was doing very well tying all the jumps etc together.
It was a great day! The dogs loved running with all the other dogs and saying hello to people, eventhough it was very hot! But there was shade available and plenty of water.
Picture taken by professional animal photographer Malcolm Severs
(http://www.animalimages.org.uk)
Today, Underdogs, which is Linda's flyball and agility training club, had a fun day. There was an agility competition and a sausage game. Linda kindly invited me to go along.
I took Flash (of course) and Jesse with me. They had a great day. Flash won his heat in the sausage game, which I was very pleased about. The training I did so far is obviously working. Unfortunately he got distracted by Jesse slipping his collar in the final, so he only made fourth place... but when set up again he did it beautifully. He got a lovely rosette too.
Flash also did a great agility round... and if it hadn't been for the sheep where he ran off to and for Jesse barking at the end where he got distracted too, he would have been in with a chance for a place. As it was he got a special rosette anyway! I was happy with the round though as he was doing very well tying all the jumps etc together.
It was a great day! The dogs loved running with all the other dogs and saying hello to people, eventhough it was very hot! But there was shade available and plenty of water.
Picture taken by professional animal photographer Malcolm Severs
(http://www.animalimages.org.uk)
1 August 2007
Tuesday evening training
Party Trick
Trainings yesterday went well! Karen and David came along, which was great as I could do my party trick in front of a (small) audience, which made quite a difference to me. I also used the proper pine trick prop for the first time yesterday and it didn't make any difference to Flash as to what the send away marker was. Great. Have to work to approach it from different angles though as well as increase the distance.
I have shortened my party trick now as it was too long and would have been edited to just 1 minute anyway! So now we just do the first part (travellers rescue). All that's left to teach now is ringing the bell, everything else is working... needs more work, but Flash knows what he is doing.
**********************
Bullseye
We have also been working on the bullseye, which was pretty good considering that we can only work on the actual sheet once a week. But Flash is definitely getting the hang of it.
*********************
Temptation
The temptation alley working fine too, will now start practicing with whole sausages.
*********************
Doggie Detective
I got the new rope balls for Flash which he only gets for this exercise, so this should keep it separate from everyday playing balls.
He is very good now at getting it and bringing it back. I have also added a few more toys for him to pick it out from, which worked well too. I have started hiding it now, which he finds a bit more difficult, but we'll get there. He is a smart cookie and will work it out.
**********************
Agility
And last but not least, we worked on the weave a bit. That went very well and Flash is definitely understanding the concept of that. I mananged to bring the weave poles up quite a bit and Flash still did it well - when I got my body language right, which is of course the main thing.
Overall I am happy... though the 19th August is approaching fast and I am pretty worried about what Flash is going to do on the day... not so much whether he will or not (though that's a question too), but whether I can get my act together enough so Flash knows what he needs to do.
Next steps to do now is another agility training session this Saturday, on Sunday I was invited to a small interclub event with Linda's club. That'll be fun to see how things go in a competition environment (it'll be fun after just two session of training... LOL).
And hopefully next Monday, I will bring Flash along to my training class to practice some stuff with the distraction of the other dogs.
Today, I sent off the exact details of the party trick, which helped me sort things out in my head too. I am now happy with it and confident that Flash can do it on the day.
Trainings yesterday went well! Karen and David came along, which was great as I could do my party trick in front of a (small) audience, which made quite a difference to me. I also used the proper pine trick prop for the first time yesterday and it didn't make any difference to Flash as to what the send away marker was. Great. Have to work to approach it from different angles though as well as increase the distance.
I have shortened my party trick now as it was too long and would have been edited to just 1 minute anyway! So now we just do the first part (travellers rescue). All that's left to teach now is ringing the bell, everything else is working... needs more work, but Flash knows what he is doing.
**********************
Bullseye
We have also been working on the bullseye, which was pretty good considering that we can only work on the actual sheet once a week. But Flash is definitely getting the hang of it.
*********************
Temptation
The temptation alley working fine too, will now start practicing with whole sausages.
*********************
Doggie Detective
I got the new rope balls for Flash which he only gets for this exercise, so this should keep it separate from everyday playing balls.
He is very good now at getting it and bringing it back. I have also added a few more toys for him to pick it out from, which worked well too. I have started hiding it now, which he finds a bit more difficult, but we'll get there. He is a smart cookie and will work it out.
**********************
Agility
And last but not least, we worked on the weave a bit. That went very well and Flash is definitely understanding the concept of that. I mananged to bring the weave poles up quite a bit and Flash still did it well - when I got my body language right, which is of course the main thing.
Overall I am happy... though the 19th August is approaching fast and I am pretty worried about what Flash is going to do on the day... not so much whether he will or not (though that's a question too), but whether I can get my act together enough so Flash knows what he needs to do.
Next steps to do now is another agility training session this Saturday, on Sunday I was invited to a small interclub event with Linda's club. That'll be fun to see how things go in a competition environment (it'll be fun after just two session of training... LOL).
And hopefully next Monday, I will bring Flash along to my training class to practice some stuff with the distraction of the other dogs.
Today, I sent off the exact details of the party trick, which helped me sort things out in my head too. I am now happy with it and confident that Flash can do it on the day.
29 July 2007
Agility Training
Flash and I went to see Linda Crammond for the first time today. Poor Flash had to endure my novice driving style and promptly threw up... So sorry Flash! (He was ok on the way back though, where things were a bit calmer... ).
When we got there, Flash was able to have a good run on the field which was fully fenced. Then we got started with the different jumps etc.
Flash did very well... much better than me for sure. Once I started using the clicker on certain things, the progress was even faster. Apart from the jumps, tunnel and weave (which he already knew a little), he also learnt the full size A-frame, the dog walk, the soft tunnel (clicker was great for that), the sea-saw (again, clicker very useful) and the tyre.
Both Flash and I are totally shattered... but we loved it. Lots of fitness training for both of us.
We can't wait to see Linda again next Saturday for another session.
I is knackered...
When we got there, Flash was able to have a good run on the field which was fully fenced. Then we got started with the different jumps etc.
Flash did very well... much better than me for sure. Once I started using the clicker on certain things, the progress was even faster. Apart from the jumps, tunnel and weave (which he already knew a little), he also learnt the full size A-frame, the dog walk, the soft tunnel (clicker was great for that), the sea-saw (again, clicker very useful) and the tyre.
Both Flash and I are totally shattered... but we loved it. Lots of fitness training for both of us.
We can't wait to see Linda again next Saturday for another session.
I is knackered...
25 July 2007
Training is coming along nicely...
Bullseye
Went to the hall again last night. I took the bullseye blanket with me. Flash was quite uneasy about it for a good while. I got him (and Jesse) to run around on it though with toys and treats, which made it a bit better. In the end, I got him to actually target the bullseye (which is black) with his back legs (as the bum needs to be on the bullseye) as he kept walking around it (which was very strange... but hey, I am sure he had his valid reasons... LOL).
The slow recall is fab now, even at long distances. He comes back in a nice walking pace, not even trot! Great. The emergency down is pretty good too, though a little more work is needed.
**********************
Party Trick
We also worked on the crawling again and for the first time he did quite a distance actually doing it properly without me having to lure him! Great!
We also continued to work on the send away (AHEAD) and down, which is pretty good now - even with various kinds of markers (I haven't been able to put the Christmas tree up yet). Started to work on the speak when in the down... that's coming along too.
Now all I need him to learn for the party trick is to ring a bell and to carry the doll! Oh, and I still need a volunteer for the actual trick on the day!
*********************
Temptation
Have worked on this again too to get Flash run past treats and toys. He still avoids them rather than ignore them, but I hope in time this will improve. And on the day, as long as he doesn't grab anything, I don't really mind if he avoids or ignores. The only thing with the avoiding is that it looks like he has been punished for taking the treats/toys, which is not the case... it's just his way of completing the task without taking the stuff...
**********************
Doggie Detective
We have done some work during the week to find treats and then a ball under flower pots. Flash finds this a bit difficult, I think it is because my scent is all over them. So might have to work a bit with Karen on that one next Tuesday!
I also need to do loads more work to get Flash to bring the ball back. I have ordered special rope balls which I want to use, as this will carry my scent better than for example rubber. I hope I get them this week.
**********************
Agility
I have also finally managed to find an agility trainer that is going to help me with Flash. Linda Crammond is near Sevenoaks, so quite a bit away, but it'll be fine. Flash and I will have three 1-2-1 sessions with her before the show. I think that should be fine considering how quickly Flash picked stuff up when I did a bit of agility with him for an hour before the audition. I am really looking forward to the agility training, and I am sure Flash will love it too!
Went to the hall again last night. I took the bullseye blanket with me. Flash was quite uneasy about it for a good while. I got him (and Jesse) to run around on it though with toys and treats, which made it a bit better. In the end, I got him to actually target the bullseye (which is black) with his back legs (as the bum needs to be on the bullseye) as he kept walking around it (which was very strange... but hey, I am sure he had his valid reasons... LOL).
The slow recall is fab now, even at long distances. He comes back in a nice walking pace, not even trot! Great. The emergency down is pretty good too, though a little more work is needed.
**********************
Party Trick
We also worked on the crawling again and for the first time he did quite a distance actually doing it properly without me having to lure him! Great!
We also continued to work on the send away (AHEAD) and down, which is pretty good now - even with various kinds of markers (I haven't been able to put the Christmas tree up yet). Started to work on the speak when in the down... that's coming along too.
Now all I need him to learn for the party trick is to ring a bell and to carry the doll! Oh, and I still need a volunteer for the actual trick on the day!
*********************
Temptation
Have worked on this again too to get Flash run past treats and toys. He still avoids them rather than ignore them, but I hope in time this will improve. And on the day, as long as he doesn't grab anything, I don't really mind if he avoids or ignores. The only thing with the avoiding is that it looks like he has been punished for taking the treats/toys, which is not the case... it's just his way of completing the task without taking the stuff...
**********************
Doggie Detective
We have done some work during the week to find treats and then a ball under flower pots. Flash finds this a bit difficult, I think it is because my scent is all over them. So might have to work a bit with Karen on that one next Tuesday!
I also need to do loads more work to get Flash to bring the ball back. I have ordered special rope balls which I want to use, as this will carry my scent better than for example rubber. I hope I get them this week.
**********************
Agility
I have also finally managed to find an agility trainer that is going to help me with Flash. Linda Crammond is near Sevenoaks, so quite a bit away, but it'll be fine. Flash and I will have three 1-2-1 sessions with her before the show. I think that should be fine considering how quickly Flash picked stuff up when I did a bit of agility with him for an hour before the audition. I am really looking forward to the agility training, and I am sure Flash will love it too!
18 July 2007
More training
Flash is absolutely loving his training for Top Dog. His face lights up when he can learn something new, and he loves to rehearse older stuff.
Last night, we practiced the running to and lying down by the marker and started to introduce the barking when lying down. Then we did the crawling bit. We also started with looking for a ball under a pot. The slow recall with an emergency down is coming along very nicely and the recall across distractions (food and toys) went really well too without a sideward glance (and also without actually avoiding getting near the distractions).
All in all... Flash is making good progress and seeing the joy and enjoyment in his face is priceless and worth all the effort. It's great to have a happy dog.
Last night, we practiced the running to and lying down by the marker and started to introduce the barking when lying down. Then we did the crawling bit. We also started with looking for a ball under a pot. The slow recall with an emergency down is coming along very nicely and the recall across distractions (food and toys) went really well too without a sideward glance (and also without actually avoiding getting near the distractions).
All in all... Flash is making good progress and seeing the joy and enjoyment in his face is priceless and worth all the effort. It's great to have a happy dog.
9 July 2007
Top Dog Training
On Friday, 6th July, I received the information regarding possible games for Top Dog. Wow, there's a lot... However, we will know soon which ones exactely are being actually done in our heat.
Whatever is chosen, we definitely have to do agility (will ask Jacky tomorrow whether I can join their agility class) and our party trick (which I have already started with training). The rest is temptations, scent work and obedience...
It scared the life out of me when I saw the letter and read it all. But now I have put it all down on paper, it looks only half as scary...
Also, Karen, Dawn and I went to see Ian Dunbar on his last ever UK tour on Saturday and Sunday and I managed to pick up a few bits and pieces there for my training for Top Dog.
It'll all be fun!
Whatever is chosen, we definitely have to do agility (will ask Jacky tomorrow whether I can join their agility class) and our party trick (which I have already started with training). The rest is temptations, scent work and obedience...
It scared the life out of me when I saw the letter and read it all. But now I have put it all down on paper, it looks only half as scary...
Also, Karen, Dawn and I went to see Ian Dunbar on his last ever UK tour on Saturday and Sunday and I managed to pick up a few bits and pieces there for my training for Top Dog.
It'll all be fun!
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