New Dog

I often like to daydream about my next agility dog, what I'll get, where it will be from, how I train it..like lots of other agility people I suspect.
This time, I am seriously thinking about getting a small dog, for a few reasons. Firstly, because the challenges to train them are completely different. I would be looking at training running contacts for a start, and as I havent done this with any other dogs that would be an interesting challenge. The See Saw is a much harder obstacle for small dogs due to having less weight, and it can be harder to get them to work at a distance (although we seem to have small dogs in WA very proficient at distance work). Because we are competing nearly every trial in separate heights it makes it a lot fairer, and worthwhile putting the work in. And to be a top agility trainer and handler I think you need to be able to train all sorts of different dogs, not just border collies (even hard ones!). So, lots of good reasons to get a small dog. Dont know where I will get one from yet, and it wont be until we move house. Possibly a shelter, although havent ruled out getting a papillion from a breeder....

Test Video Terra AgCh Run..and others!

Training Last Night

Well, am pleased to repeat that we had another relatively good session last night. OK, there were good bits mixed in with the normal bunking off to see other people and dogs so much more interesting than me!

I was concerned about Secret's A Frame so had stopped doing it until I could get some stride regulators on to sort her out. Her version of the A Frame: run up, leap over the top, put one small stride in above the contact, leap the entire contact and then stop at the bottom in 2o2o. This didnt agree with my version, and I suspect might not agree with some judge's version of a faultless A Frame either! So, last night we put stride regulators on for her and had her striding into the A Frame contact zone before stopping in 2020. I dont think stride regulators always work that well for creepy or 'down' running dogs, of which we have quite a few in WA, but if the dog runs more 'up' then I think they can work quite well.

Her jumping sequence was pretty good as well. She could go faster, it feels like she is running at approx 3/4 speed at the moment, but she was responding to my body and verbal cues and turning nicely. Towards the end she also managed to do some A Frames with another dog sitting only 10m away which she could not have done 3 months ago. It feels like she is just starting to enjoy the game of agility..now all I have to do is train her how to jump, turn, weave, oh and stop running off I suppose...Ha

Baby Steps..and a New Collar!

A present arrived for Secret in the post the other day..a 'designer' dog collar. Now, personally, I'm not really that into 'designer' bits and pieces, however my partner is involved in the fashion industry, and is trying very hard to 'bling' me up. Apparently this now also applies to the dog! I came home last week to a very satisfied guy who informed me he had found 'the perfect' collar and for some large amount of money (too large!) said collar would be arriving shortly.
When it arrived, we were actually out so we came home to one of those 'sorry we missed you' notes on the front door by the postie. Mike found it hard to reign in his impatience until 4:30pm the following day when we could go and collect said collar. But, finally, the big moment arrived and THE collar was placed around Secret's neck. It is a nice collar, black leather with white patterns, some westie design, and it does suit her. Whether it comes with a brain transplant is yet to be seen..

The night THE collar arrived we went down to training. The lights were off again so we carried a few jumps up to train under the street lamps. I decided to get Secret out before anyone else had started and whether it was the collar or just a coincidence I actually felt like I had an agility dog! I started her on the advanced sequence, which was really too hard, and she flew round, taking pretty much any jump she felt like and shooting through miscellaneous tunnels. I started laughing because she was just going wherever she wanted, not reading my cues at all. Still a big improvement from running to chase other dogs though! So then we moved onto an easier sequences, a straight tunnel and 3 jumps and she flew through them all, having an absolute blast. She even ignored a young dog coming towards her to keep doing the course, which is a massive step for her.
Its definitely not going to be an easy process though, when she wasnt running she was screaming at the other dogs..but at least a small step in the right direction. Of course Mike thinks it is all due to the collar!
Baby Steps...

Terra's version of a dog walk (supposed to be 'stopped'!)

WA States 2009

The state titles were held the weekend after we got back from the farm, and this year, for the first time, I would only have one dog competing (Terra). Secret was in no way ready to go into the ring and Jess is pretty much retired now, only coming out to play on special events (and at training where she is enjoying running at the 400 height!)
Terra had a bit of a hit-and-miss states, on the friday night she went off course in masters agility and did something (cant remember what!) in open jumping and dropped a bar in masters jumping..she managed a clear in open agility for a win and a place in the finals but saturday came with everything to play for as she was only in one final. She managed a clear for another win in open jumping but did not go clear in either masters agility or jumping which meant my predominately masters dog was not in any masters class finals. Quiet state finals for me!
In the open agility finals she knocked a bar so we worked the contacts. Open jumping was our last chance and a small border collie jumping the low 400 height had already done a very fast round so I knew we were going to have to give it everything. Terra felt a little flat, so I got out her toy and tugged with her to get her up a bit higher. I pushed her for everything she had that round and she responded to the best of her ability. I was very proud of her, suspecting that she had been beaten still but she had given it her all. It was a very nice suprise at presentations to recieve the 2009 State Open Jumping title, having won by 0.02 of a second! (thank goodness for timing gates!)

Down at the farm!

Havent posted in a while, and have also decided to open this up for more people to read, to keep it interesting..

Over easter Jess, Secret Mike and I went down to a friends farm, to visit and to do some sheepwork with the dogs. Terra did not come down as her version of sheepwork does not match with mine (everything done at agility-speed) and I didnt want her injured with the states the following weekend.

The dogs had a great time, Jess especially, although it was sad to see that she really doesnt have the speed to get round the sheep if they decide to run in the big paddock. She still enjoyed herself though, with the help of Sam's well trained sheepdogs, pretending she was a 'serious working dog'. Secret also had fun, working well for Richard (Sam's other half), in particular. She also had a go working with Mike and did reasonably, she seems to be a mans' dog which doesnt bode well for me! Its always very fascinating watching the instinctive ability in your dog being brought out, without you having to do anything at all, its all genetically built into the dog from birth. Obviously it recquires training to bring that ability out and extend it but the basics are already there, unlike agility where everything has to be taught.

Here are some of the pictures my long suffering partner took ('PLEASE can you bring a camera down!'

(Mike Kelly Star Creations 2009)