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| Hailie (6), Cindy, Larry and Aiden (4) Thanksgiving 2014 |
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
Moving Forward
Week Two of class is under our belts. We're expanding on sits, downs and recalls. Larry worked very well with a barky? aggressive? larger dog next to us. The class started the first week with solid barriers marking each dog's work area, and this week was regular ring gating except for the one next to us who isn't ready to see the other dogs yet. I was happy that Larry, although aware when the other dog would react to him, would quickly return to working with me.
I'm happy to say we are developing a training rhythm at home! I have been years out of practice of working at home and it was harder to restart than I expected, but we seem to be on the right path now. Let's hope I can keep it up through the holidays - that will be the test.
We're still working on the weavepoles. I finally managed to get a charged video camera down to the building with me and get someone to hold it. We have closed the poles down to about 2" - this is his second session on them and there were many, many distractions happening, so he's not driving ahead like he has been, but he is working
I've gotten out my jump at home and as long as the class homework keeps going well, we're going to work some single jump drills in the living room (my hubby is less than pleased) to hopefully improve our communication skills and keep cabin fever to a minimum!
I'm happy to say we are developing a training rhythm at home! I have been years out of practice of working at home and it was harder to restart than I expected, but we seem to be on the right path now. Let's hope I can keep it up through the holidays - that will be the test.
We're still working on the weavepoles. I finally managed to get a charged video camera down to the building with me and get someone to hold it. We have closed the poles down to about 2" - this is his second session on them and there were many, many distractions happening, so he's not driving ahead like he has been, but he is working
I've gotten out my jump at home and as long as the class homework keeps going well, we're going to work some single jump drills in the living room (my hubby is less than pleased) to hopefully improve our communication skills and keep cabin fever to a minimum!
Friday, November 14, 2014
And Now With Class
Larry and I started a class this week. Fido FUNdamentals. It's a clicker-training class for basic behaviors and a few simple "tricks." Of course, they're all tricks if you want to look at it that way.
There's 8-9 dogs in the class, including Teddy B and Malachi. The first week we worked on sit, down, staying, recall and walking nicely on leash. Larry had quite the good time, but by the end was a little over the top and nipping at my fingers when taking treats - a very unusual behavior for him.
I was very happy with how he did, especially how quickly he got over all the distractions available. Very nice for his first formal class setting. And it already looks like a new environment and some outside encouragement has given us the kick that might actually lead to a stay!
The instructors suggested that I bring the treats in faster and lower (oh, my aching back!) to try to keep the leaping to a minimum, and it seems to be helping. (They were all quite impressed with the height of his vertical leap.) The help and advice on my clicking/treat delivery may make the class a success no matter what else happens!
And although I didn't write up another chart to track our progress this week, with clear goals in mind and knowing that we want to go back next week showing improvement has made me more focused on what we want to accomplish and more consistent in what we're working on.
In the agility front, the weavepoles went down to a two inch channel, and he's still driving ahead of me. I really had to stop myself from closing them down further. Baby steps, baby steps. I don't want to push too hard and wind up back at square one.
There's 8-9 dogs in the class, including Teddy B and Malachi. The first week we worked on sit, down, staying, recall and walking nicely on leash. Larry had quite the good time, but by the end was a little over the top and nipping at my fingers when taking treats - a very unusual behavior for him.
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| It's very exciting to learn stuff! |
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| You mean I don't have to bounce off Mom to remind her to give me a cookie?? |
And although I didn't write up another chart to track our progress this week, with clear goals in mind and knowing that we want to go back next week showing improvement has made me more focused on what we want to accomplish and more consistent in what we're working on.
In the agility front, the weavepoles went down to a two inch channel, and he's still driving ahead of me. I really had to stop myself from closing them down further. Baby steps, baby steps. I don't want to push too hard and wind up back at square one.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
I call "Do Over"
Sigh ...
This blog is supposed to help me keep track of Larry's progress in training. So far it has shown me how lackadaisical I am in keeping to a training routine! I guess that's something, but it really wasn't what I was aiming for.
This is one of the motivational signs I have hanging on the frig. It's to remind me to work on the little details and be happy with small steps of progress. I've decided that daily notes on a blog aren't enough, since I've been getting to the end of the day with nothing concrete to note. So ...
This blog is supposed to help me keep track of Larry's progress in training. So far it has shown me how lackadaisical I am in keeping to a training routine! I guess that's something, but it really wasn't what I was aiming for.
This is one of the motivational signs I have hanging on the frig. It's to remind me to work on the little details and be happy with small steps of progress. I've decided that daily notes on a blog aren't enough, since I've been getting to the end of the day with nothing concrete to note. So ...
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| No - not really my handwriting |
Now I have something else to post on the frig. It will stare me in the face, breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snack. Hopefully next week, I will be able to post it again with marks, notes and progress. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
To translate: We will be working on heeling. Mom showed me an interesting behavior chain suggested by Susan Ailsbey that looks good, so we're going to try it for a couple weeks and see how it works. We're still working on the three finishes from Denise Fenzi's blog - I have a terrible time getting the cookie out of my hand. It's probably my worst transition point. Weavepoles are on-going entertainment and will be for a while, but we are going to start closing them down this week, but the tire looks to be trouble. "Someone" figured out that he can go under it, so back down to the floor it goes. Stays are actually up to an occasional 5 seconds (trust me, that's a lot! He's just so excited every time we're doing something structured I wasn't sure we'd ever get this far!). I'd like to get it to 10 so I can back down and add movement (mine) into the mix.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Week 2: Looking for a little more effort (from me!)
Saturday - Conformation show in Wauseon. Larry showed well, less bouncing than class, and took best of winners for the point he needed to finish his championship. Yay! Much driving and crate time, but no training - boo!
Sunday - Practice agility trial. Left dogs at home. Did work some random sits in the evening, but that was all I had the energy for.
Monday - read Denise Fenzi's blog post about finishes and decided to try her method. Only one short session, but I'm liking it already.
Tuesday -
Totally lost track this week. My efforts to turn it up could not stand against the craziness that real life threw at me this week. <sigh> On to week 3 ...
Sunday - Practice agility trial. Left dogs at home. Did work some random sits in the evening, but that was all I had the energy for.
Monday - read Denise Fenzi's blog post about finishes and decided to try her method. Only one short session, but I'm liking it already.
Tuesday -
Totally lost track this week. My efforts to turn it up could not stand against the craziness that real life threw at me this week. <sigh> On to week 3 ...
Friday, October 3, 2014
Week One (oh how generic!)
Saturday and Sunday - Larry and I spent our mornings at the Medina Swarm WCR Rally Trial. Larry played on three Puppy level courses - and I mean played! Much bouncing (almost shoulder high. Lots of people commented on his vertical leap) and tail wagging, but very little heeling or paying attention. Obviously we haven't been training consistently, and I'm thinking there may be some adolescent brain freeze going on, since there were more than a few looks of "What ever are you talking about? I've never heard the word sit before in my life!" When he did sit, he would come around in front of me, so we've been doing a few too many of those recently. Due to the trial and other RL commitments, we didn't do any training either day.
To work on: sit and down at my side (right and left), finding heel position :-)
Monday - worked sitting on my left and on my right sides. No acknowledgment for a sit in front. I turned after each sit about 90° so he was behind me and lured with food. Also worked on brushing. Got a little further back before he turned, managed 15 strokes.
Tuesday - Conformation class. Very excited, bouncy, couldn't hold still for the first 20 minutes. Once he settled down, free stacked nicely.
To work on: stacking on table, making sure rear left foot stays back
Wednesday - Bath-a-thon with Patricia took up most of the evening. Larry thought the water was acid ... added to the "things to work on" list.
Thursday - rough day at work, too sore to even throw a toy
Friday - worked stack on table. Improvement? I don't know, it's not any worse at least ;)
To work on: sit and down at my side (right and left), finding heel position :-)
Monday - worked sitting on my left and on my right sides. No acknowledgment for a sit in front. I turned after each sit about 90° so he was behind me and lured with food. Also worked on brushing. Got a little further back before he turned, managed 15 strokes.
Tuesday - Conformation class. Very excited, bouncy, couldn't hold still for the first 20 minutes. Once he settled down, free stacked nicely.
To work on: stacking on table, making sure rear left foot stays back
Wednesday - Bath-a-thon with Patricia took up most of the evening. Larry thought the water was acid ... added to the "things to work on" list.
Thursday - rough day at work, too sore to even throw a toy
Friday - worked stack on table. Improvement? I don't know, it's not any worse at least ;)
Friday, September 26, 2014
Getting With the Program
So a couple friends convinced me to start a blog. I love to read them, but it turns out that when I write, I am obnoxiously opinionated, and no one is interested in that! So the poor lonely blog has sat empty as I've written and discarded many entries before they went public.
I've decided to try a new tactic and focus on the ups and downs of training my young dog. It can serve as a record of what we're doing, and a motivation to keep me moving. See, my little dog is just so darn cute it can be a little difficult to be serious about the whole training "thing" when most everything he does is just adorable.
Through circumstances mostly beyond my control, I've been sitting on the sidelines instead of competing for the last several years (years? how did it become yearS?), so I have high hopes for my little Larry. I hope we can do everything! Obedience, rally, agility and maybe even herding.
Here's where we're at. Larry is 11 months old. He knows sit and down and (sort of) stand. Has a recall with mild distractions. Will usually walk on a loose lead. Can (but doesn't always) perform all agility obstacles with the exception of the weavepoles and teeter, and is showing signs of footwork in the open weaves.
What we're working on:
My goal is to practice at least 10 minutes per day and post once a week on our progress. Maybe not the most exciting read, but hopefully it will keep us on track. And there may be the occasional non-training post just because.
Oh, and here's Larry:
I've decided to try a new tactic and focus on the ups and downs of training my young dog. It can serve as a record of what we're doing, and a motivation to keep me moving. See, my little dog is just so darn cute it can be a little difficult to be serious about the whole training "thing" when most everything he does is just adorable.
Here's where we're at. Larry is 11 months old. He knows sit and down and (sort of) stand. Has a recall with mild distractions. Will usually walk on a loose lead. Can (but doesn't always) perform all agility obstacles with the exception of the weavepoles and teeter, and is showing signs of footwork in the open weaves.
What we're working on:
- Obedience - Stay - he has springs in his butt that set off as soon as I move my feet
- Obedience - learning heel position
- Grooming - holding still for longer than 10 seconds
- Manners - keeping his feet off the table
- Agility - weavepole practice, distance tunnels and sequencing jumps
My goal is to practice at least 10 minutes per day and post once a week on our progress. Maybe not the most exciting read, but hopefully it will keep us on track. And there may be the occasional non-training post just because.
Oh, and here's Larry:
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| Isn't being this cute challenge enough without having to learn stuff too? |
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Monday Moan
Does your town have Monday Moans? They are a time to air those little grips that are momentarily irritating, and then forgotten until the next time. I'm not sure what's going to happen with it here, now that John Lannigan is retiring this weekend, but I'll share mine with you - I'm not really the type to call the radio station anyways.
I went to grocery store, at a non-busy time, but no one could park in the first few parking spaces due to abandoned shopping carts.
Really? We're so lazy now we can't even push the carts back to the store or into the cart corral?
Back in the stone age when I was a kid, my sisters and I fought over who would get to push the cart back into the store. Possibly from the back 40 of the parking lot (cart corrals would have been laughed at then). Of course, nowadays, we're too busy texting at 30 mph down the parking lot lanes to allow children the small responsibility of putting something back where it belongs.
Today's attitudes of It's Not My Job / I Don't Feel Like It / Let Someone Else Deal With It just gets under my skin. Yes a shopping cart isn't a big deal, but the big deals in the world are made up of a bunch of little deals and how we handle those colors everything.
I went to grocery store, at a non-busy time, but no one could park in the first few parking spaces due to abandoned shopping carts.
Really? We're so lazy now we can't even push the carts back to the store or into the cart corral?
Back in the stone age when I was a kid, my sisters and I fought over who would get to push the cart back into the store. Possibly from the back 40 of the parking lot (cart corrals would have been laughed at then). Of course, nowadays, we're too busy texting at 30 mph down the parking lot lanes to allow children the small responsibility of putting something back where it belongs.
Today's attitudes of It's Not My Job / I Don't Feel Like It / Let Someone Else Deal With It just gets under my skin. Yes a shopping cart isn't a big deal, but the big deals in the world are made up of a bunch of little deals and how we handle those colors everything.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Once Upon a Time ...
I used to hike ... a lot. Nothing too hardcore, backpacked a few times, picked up a few items here and there that are only useful for hiking, but nothing too over the top. I just liked walking in the woods, or fields or anywhere "away" from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, enjoying whatever nature chose to present me with that day.
I hiked a lot with my mother. We used to make an annual trip to the Smoky Mountains National Park every year, usually in the spring. It started with a photo on a calendar of a burbling stream flowing over smooth, moss-covered stones. I showed it to my mother and told her that I would really like to see that in person, and she asked, when did I want to go? Just like that, we started planning a long weekend in Tennessee that turned into an annual trek. The caption on the photograph was just Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, so our excuse for going back every year was that we hadn't found the place in the photo yet.
My father once asked why we kept going back to the same place. With over 850 miles of established hiking trails, it wasn't necessary to set our feet down in the same place twice, but we often did. Either way was enjoyable - discovering new things, rediscovering things we had forgotten, finding new things in old places. I like waterfalls and my mother enjoys big rocks and since these two things are usually found in the same general area, we didn't disagree much about which trails to follow.
Twelve straight years we made the trip, until life got a little too complicated. Which is a bit ironic, considering that the point of hiking is to get away ...
I hiked a lot with my mother. We used to make an annual trip to the Smoky Mountains National Park every year, usually in the spring. It started with a photo on a calendar of a burbling stream flowing over smooth, moss-covered stones. I showed it to my mother and told her that I would really like to see that in person, and she asked, when did I want to go? Just like that, we started planning a long weekend in Tennessee that turned into an annual trek. The caption on the photograph was just Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, so our excuse for going back every year was that we hadn't found the place in the photo yet.
My father once asked why we kept going back to the same place. With over 850 miles of established hiking trails, it wasn't necessary to set our feet down in the same place twice, but we often did. Either way was enjoyable - discovering new things, rediscovering things we had forgotten, finding new things in old places. I like waterfalls and my mother enjoys big rocks and since these two things are usually found in the same general area, we didn't disagree much about which trails to follow.
Twelve straight years we made the trip, until life got a little too complicated. Which is a bit ironic, considering that the point of hiking is to get away ...
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
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