Yes, I am back. I can't believe it has been about a month since I posted last. I have been just too busy to think about blogging and frankly just not in the mood so thought I would allow myself to take a little break.
I am cooking a steak for Reese's treats for agility class tomorrow, hotdogs are just not cutting it anymore, well, frankly (no pun intended) I'm not sure they ever cut it. So tonight I bought some steak and chicken breasts to cook up for Ms. Reese's pieces.
More tomorrow, I have lots to update you on. But it will have to wait one more day.....
Monday, May 17, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
My Girl Continues to Amaze Me!
We have had, I think, three agility lessons outside with no fence and Reese has continued to amaze me. At our last lesson the trainer had her dog out to work on dog distractions for Reese which has been a big problem for her. She wants to play with them or chase them when they run. Reese did great, she looked concerned once when the other dog barked the first time we went through a sequence but after that she kept her focus.
We worked on staying calm while the other dog ran through jumps, tunnels all while barking. She even stayed much calmer when the other dog ran right by us at the end. I was so pleased - I couldn't believe it. I was told that I am staying much calmer from the moment we get out of the car too, which I know has a huge impact on how Reese feels and behaves.
I really believe that we will be trialing by the end of this year. She is making progress with the things we have struggled with for so long in leaps and bounds. I think my trainer thinks that I have been lying to her about some of the struggles facing Reese and I. Of course I have an amazing trainer who not only gets dogs, she really gets border collies, and she is great working with people too. I am so lucky to be able to work with her.
Today was a gorgeous Spring day and we spent it playing in the yard with her Frisbees....
We worked on staying calm while the other dog ran through jumps, tunnels all while barking. She even stayed much calmer when the other dog ran right by us at the end. I was so pleased - I couldn't believe it. I was told that I am staying much calmer from the moment we get out of the car too, which I know has a huge impact on how Reese feels and behaves.
I really believe that we will be trialing by the end of this year. She is making progress with the things we have struggled with for so long in leaps and bounds. I think my trainer thinks that I have been lying to her about some of the struggles facing Reese and I. Of course I have an amazing trainer who not only gets dogs, she really gets border collies, and she is great working with people too. I am so lucky to be able to work with her.
Today was a gorgeous Spring day and we spent it playing in the yard with her Frisbees....
Then because Reese has been doing so well with her agility training she got a new toy...
a tunnel - woo hoo
She was so in awe of her tunnel that she couldn't take her eyes off of it.
Posing with her Frisbees.
Reese you are supposed to go through it, not under it, silly girl!
Chillin' with her Frisbees.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Learning to Trust
Tonight we had our second agility lesson outside in a non-fenced ring. And there were sheep on the premises. Yes, you read that right. Sheep and no fence, well the sheep were in a fence but the agility equipment is not.
Last week we started by taking a little walk in a field off leash and then moved back to the agility yard. Then Reese saw the sheep and as she started to run up to the fence she was turned away by my trainer. A few more of those and I was able to call her off the fence away from the sheep.
All by using pressure. Timing is critical and I am still learning the timing. But the pressure definitely works. Works like magic in fact. Worked at home to teach Reese to stay out of the litter box. Works to get her to lie down or to come to me, when she would rather not. Apply the pressure and release and wa'la you have your dog. It really is quite amazing.
After calling her away from the sheep we went to the other side of the yard and did some agility. I was dumbfounded. I really thought it would be the end of June or July before we would be able to work agility off leash with no fence.
So we arrived for today's lesson and I didn't know what was in store for us. Today we just started right in on the agility equipment. No walk in the field first just went right to work. Reese did lovely, really worked hard, I couldn't be more proud of her. She knew the sheep were there but she stayed on task. She did some really nice sequences with 7-8 obstacles. Bobbled the dogwalk a bit to put it mildly once or twice but got right back on and did it again.
I am still learning to relax. Last summer I learned how my tension effects us when we work stock and the difference it makes if I relax. I had to learn to relax when we worked agility in the barn. Now I am learning to relax in the great outdoors.
At some point you have to trust your dog. Trust that you have built a strong relationship with your dog and trust that your dog will do the right thing. At some point you have to give your dog a chance to try. You might be amazed at the results.
Last week we started by taking a little walk in a field off leash and then moved back to the agility yard. Then Reese saw the sheep and as she started to run up to the fence she was turned away by my trainer. A few more of those and I was able to call her off the fence away from the sheep.
All by using pressure. Timing is critical and I am still learning the timing. But the pressure definitely works. Works like magic in fact. Worked at home to teach Reese to stay out of the litter box. Works to get her to lie down or to come to me, when she would rather not. Apply the pressure and release and wa'la you have your dog. It really is quite amazing.
After calling her away from the sheep we went to the other side of the yard and did some agility. I was dumbfounded. I really thought it would be the end of June or July before we would be able to work agility off leash with no fence.
So we arrived for today's lesson and I didn't know what was in store for us. Today we just started right in on the agility equipment. No walk in the field first just went right to work. Reese did lovely, really worked hard, I couldn't be more proud of her. She knew the sheep were there but she stayed on task. She did some really nice sequences with 7-8 obstacles. Bobbled the dogwalk a bit to put it mildly once or twice but got right back on and did it again.
I am still learning to relax. Last summer I learned how my tension effects us when we work stock and the difference it makes if I relax. I had to learn to relax when we worked agility in the barn. Now I am learning to relax in the great outdoors.
At some point you have to trust your dog. Trust that you have built a strong relationship with your dog and trust that your dog will do the right thing. At some point you have to give your dog a chance to try. You might be amazed at the results.
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