It's Winter

I am so much looking forward to spring. We have been working on small stuff. The weaves are dug out and a jump but with so much snow we don't have large working areas. The rain turned the snow to ice. Spring will come and I can finish the barn! 

The Rat is Always Right!

Fly and I mostly train by ourselves. Donna Gates who I have watched for a while opened Tonglen Lake Canine Resort with class and lots of stuff for dogs. I decided to try one of her group classes to see what it was like. We were the only ones there and I got to get so much help! What I really like is she teaches right along the way Susan Garrett does. We got straighten out and a lot of refocus for me. Donna train is science based too. One of her favorite sayings was "The rat is always right". From B.F. Skinner Your dog is a reflection of you and how you trained and what you are doing.

Summer's Coming

Fly and I with help from Starbuck seeded, fertilized, and water the agility lawn. We moved the dog walk and a-Frame to new locations since we won't be using them for a while. It was 70 today and hot. We continue to work on the Contact Success.

Our Agility yard

Building the 7" Stairs - The Movie

Here is a silly little movie of me and the dogs, with visits from my husband Steve, building the stairs. Building the stairs. This is not a how to movie.

7" Stairs for Contact Training

As part of the contacts class we needed to build some training equipment. Here are my stairs. These are the one with a 7" rise. Susan Garrett suggested a 5" or $" rise might be better so this weekend I will build those.

The Starting Point!

This is where I am starting with Fly and my contacts. We had been doing better than this but this is the way it was this morning. I hope in three months we are soooooo much better. Click on this link and see my movie. The starting point with my contacts

Getting it Together

I want to post where we are starting for this contact class. I am not going to post stuff all along but I will be putting up a before and after video. I may put a few more up show where I was and now where I am with behavors and the like. I know not many people even look at this so it is mostly for me. I may put funny stuff up too.

Say Yes to Contact Success

We are getting ready to improve (or really do them right) our contacts. Time is limited to sign up. This is one of many classes I have done with Susan Garrett. It is an online class. If you are interested jump in now. Check it out http://www.runorstop.com/

Shaping a Difference

Fly and I have been doing "Shaping a Difference" with Susan Garrett online. Man has this been fun and provided great steps forward in my training, relationship, and JOY! with Fly. All the classes and DVD's and books have been well worth it. It is also fun to have tons of classmates around the world. You don't have to be an agility dog person or even sport dog person to love all this and have a great dog. Best of all the joy you and your dog will share.

Visit to Susan Garrett's

Fly and I went to Susan Garrett's for 4 days of classes. I learned so much and we have so much homework to do.It has been about 4 weeks since we got back and some stuff is beginning to show. Having cold weather and a dog stuck inside (cold feet make stays out outside very short). Focus on me is still my biggest mountain to climb.

Recallers 3.0 Starts Today

Today is the official start of Recallers 3.0. We have been doing the Pre-Course games and logging our work. I am also going to Say Yes for four days of classes. We leave Tuesday night and have two days of traveling to get there. ~14 hours flying (Fly in the kennel the whole time and then a 10+ hour drive. The weather looks good right now. I am excited.

Ultimate Handling

The Ultimate Handing is going very well. Fly really seems to follow me. Acceleration and deceleration seem to be going smooth. This morning I tried something. When Fly has the frisbee in her mouth she come up and faces in front of me. If I step straight back she move with me and if I step forward straight she moves straight back. So I wanted to see what body positions would turn her. Wow what control dropping a shoulder and a turn and she followed. We did all sort of moves and I got Fly to go where I wanted.

Lesson 1 Jumping .m4v

Ok Here is the video from You Tube

Fly working on the Set point for Jumping

Here is a bit of a long video of Fly working on the set point for jumping. I am following Susan Salo's DVD.

Ultimate Handling Day 1

This lesson was easy and fun. I can't out run Fly but it is fun to try. It was snowing early this morning.

Now during the week all our training will be in the dark. Sunrise is about 9 am and sunset about 4 pm now with us loosing 7 minutes a day till December 21.

I also plan to keep up with Susan Salo's Jumping.

Fly and I signed up for Ultimate Handling at http://ultimateagility.com/ with Greg and Laura Derrett. Looking forward to understanding handling better.

Goal - Contacts Stop without command

Right now Fly knows to stop at the end of the contacts. We have been doing good with all four feet on vs 2 on 2 off. She will stop on my "Wait" command. She will stay until I release her about 90% with very temping distractions such as tennis ball or football.
My goal is to get her to stop and stay until I release her without me having to give the command. She sort of does it now but not well. My first contact will be with the teeter. She loves the teeter and has been know to play on it without me.

Long Gap

I wasn't home much this summer but Fly did learn a lot (good and some bad) this summer. We now have a yard full of equipment.

The Yard Needs Grass

Now that the snow is almost gone it will be time to get serious about the field and getting grass to grow after leveling it. The hill on the east side will have a terraced area for watching the action.