Apollo, Rampage and I went to a trial today. I haven't been taking Apollo to trails while Icon has been on his break because they are usually well over an hour away. But this one was only 20 minutes, so I couldn't resist!!!!
Apollo had a great day, getting a double q. I think he likes not having having Icon around :). We had our first official "no more stopping on contacts" standard run and he got them both (I won't be counting on this though!). In standard he hit the panel jump, but the top bar stayed up and the one below it fell, so the judge didn't call it. I had thought we had NQ'd until a friend ran up to us after the run to show us our scribe sheet :).
Rampage was a good boy, but he's definitely starting to show more interest in what's going on it the ring. I'm still always able to to get his attention and get him on a toy though, which is way better than Icon was at his age.
I think Rampage is officially taller than Icon. I was going to measure him at the trial today, but they didn't have the measuring wicket there. The judge was measuring by eye!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Taking turns
I'm having lots of fun with Rampage lately! I don't know if it's because he's matured a lot in the past few weeks or if it's because I'm spending more focused time with him. Probably both :). Don't get me wrong, he still annoys the crap out of me sometimes and I'm sure he'll continue to do so for a while (he is RED after all) but when we're working together I'm starting to feel like we're a team.
One thing I want to work on with him while Icon is on a break is to have him not be a maniac when I work with Icon. He's a huge brat when I work the other dogs (but especially Icon) and this is an issue because it makes Icon shut down. Even if I crate him inside, out of sight Rampage still throws a hissy-fit. The only way to keep him quiet is to crate him in the car while I work Icon.
I'm taking the easy way out and working on having Rampage quiet while he's not in a crate or x-pen. Funny how it works with border collies, but they always seem to be better behaved when they need to count on their own self control. We've made a lot of progress on this, but I'm not sure we'll make my timeline of him being able to stay while I'm actually doing agility with Icon in 2 weeks.
I'm training this 2 ways with him. One way is 'perimeter' work, where he isn't allowed to leave the table after I put him on. And the second way is teaching him to wait his turn while I play with Icon first and then him.
Here's a little video of Icon and Rampage taking turns tugging with me. Rampage was better than Icon at it, but I give Icon some slack since he's not taking to this whole "break from agility" thing very well. Poor guy.
Contact work is going well with him. I think I'm going to stick with the t&t for the dogwalk. I really need a 12' plank though. I wonder if I can find someone to lend me one...
One thing I want to work on with him while Icon is on a break is to have him not be a maniac when I work with Icon. He's a huge brat when I work the other dogs (but especially Icon) and this is an issue because it makes Icon shut down. Even if I crate him inside, out of sight Rampage still throws a hissy-fit. The only way to keep him quiet is to crate him in the car while I work Icon.
I'm taking the easy way out and working on having Rampage quiet while he's not in a crate or x-pen. Funny how it works with border collies, but they always seem to be better behaved when they need to count on their own self control. We've made a lot of progress on this, but I'm not sure we'll make my timeline of him being able to stay while I'm actually doing agility with Icon in 2 weeks.
I'm training this 2 ways with him. One way is 'perimeter' work, where he isn't allowed to leave the table after I put him on. And the second way is teaching him to wait his turn while I play with Icon first and then him.
Here's a little video of Icon and Rampage taking turns tugging with me. Rampage was better than Icon at it, but I give Icon some slack since he's not taking to this whole "break from agility" thing very well. Poor guy.
Taking turns from Agility Dogs on Vimeo.
Contact work is going well with him. I think I'm going to stick with the t&t for the dogwalk. I really need a 12' plank though. I wonder if I can find someone to lend me one...
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Running contacts
While I should have been doing some yard work (like trimming my hedges and cutting up the old branches from when I pruned the tree in the winter) I have started Rampage and the running contact foundation using Silvia Trkman's method and Rachel's box method. I'm continuing with his 2o/2o foundation as well, but that is nowhere as fun as the running stuff so we haven't done so much lately. I'm still pretty sure that I will ultimately be using the 2o/2o with a nose touch for the dogwalk, but I am also very sure that I want a running aframe. But I think the idea of training the running dogwalk is just too fun to pass up, even if it's just to see how far I can get with it.
So I'm in a bit of a dangerous situation with the running dogwalk. Since I don't believe I'm going to be ultimately using it I am really experimenting with him on it. I'm sending him, running with him, recalling him. I think it's important to do all of these, but maybe not in your first few days... I've also tried both toys and the treat&train for rewards. I think they each have their pros and cons when it comes to the training.
With a thrown toy, he is faster but more likely to leap over the contact or come off the side. He tends to look back at me for the toy instead of looking forward. His striding is often thrown off when I throw the toy.
With a placed toy he is pretty fast and his striding is better, but if I ever decide he didn't make the criteria then he still gets the toy unless I can call him off it, which I'd rather not do.
With the Treat&Train he is quite a bit slower (although he picked up speed closer to the end) but I really liked his striding with the t&t and if he missed the contact it's so easy not to reward.
We're also doing work with the pvc box from Rachel's running a-frame method. Rampage is a pretty big fan of the box and is hitting them very consistently (aside from the 2nd rep in the video). I'm only using a toy with him and it seems to be going ok. He's looking back at me less than he used to. The next stage with the box will be to have him start to seek it out instead of having it right in front of him. I'm not expecting him to have the "pounce" that Rachel talks about in her video. This might come back to haunt me later, but I'd rather have him stride down the a-frame rather than 'pounce' down.
So I'm in a bit of a dangerous situation with the running dogwalk. Since I don't believe I'm going to be ultimately using it I am really experimenting with him on it. I'm sending him, running with him, recalling him. I think it's important to do all of these, but maybe not in your first few days... I've also tried both toys and the treat&train for rewards. I think they each have their pros and cons when it comes to the training.
With a thrown toy, he is faster but more likely to leap over the contact or come off the side. He tends to look back at me for the toy instead of looking forward. His striding is often thrown off when I throw the toy.
With a placed toy he is pretty fast and his striding is better, but if I ever decide he didn't make the criteria then he still gets the toy unless I can call him off it, which I'd rather not do.
Rampage Running DW 053109 (toy) from Agility Dogs on Vimeo.
With the Treat&Train he is quite a bit slower (although he picked up speed closer to the end) but I really liked his striding with the t&t and if he missed the contact it's so easy not to reward.
Rampage Running DW 053109 (t&t) from Agility Dogs on Vimeo.
We're also doing work with the pvc box from Rachel's running a-frame method. Rampage is a pretty big fan of the box and is hitting them very consistently (aside from the 2nd rep in the video). I'm only using a toy with him and it seems to be going ok. He's looking back at me less than he used to. The next stage with the box will be to have him start to seek it out instead of having it right in front of him. I'm not expecting him to have the "pounce" that Rachel talks about in her video. This might come back to haunt me later, but I'd rather have him stride down the a-frame rather than 'pounce' down.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
On a break
Starting Monday after the trial, Icon is on an 3 week break from agility, which means no class, no training, no trialing. He can continue to do doggy stuff like running or swimming, but no actual agility. Nancy 'recommended' that I do it, and it really makes sense because we have trained a lot in the months leading up to nationals and tryouts. Icon kind of started his break after tryouts because aside from class and a few trials, I haven't done anything with him agility-wise. So I feel a bit better that he's ending his break SLIGHTLY before a full 3 weeks. It's because there is a trial in Scott's Valley where the judges are Dan and Lisa Miller and they're the best judges in the world! So I have him entered in that one.
Without Icon to train I've been more focused with my training for Rampage. It kind of hit me this past weekend that he is almost 7 months old now, and I haven't really done much for his contact foundation. I'm still up in the air somewhat about what I'm doing with contacts. I'm pretty sure I'll have a 2o/2o with a nose touch on the dogwalk and a running a-frame, but I still don't know how I'll teach the running a-frame and I'm not 100% ready to give up on the thought of a running dogwalk. So I'm starting to teach him the foundation of a bunch of different methods, which will buy me a bit more time to decide what to do with him before I put it together on the equipment.
Last weekend we were at a 4 day AKC trial and I had a lot of fun. On Friday Icon didn't qualify in either Std or JWW due to stupid mistakes on my part, but we managed to pull it together mostly on Saturday for a JWW (but I over handled slightly in Std to cause a refusal at a tunnel) but we did win the ISC Std course. On Sunday we got a qq and won ISC JWW for the ISC Combined (and $50!). On Monday he got another qq. We went into the weekend needed 3 qq's for MACH 2. We missed it by one which I thought was fine until I saw the BFRs (Big F*#&$ing Ribbons) they give out at this trial! Apollo did awesome all 4 days. He was moving nicely and even placed 2nd in one standard run, which is super at such a big trial. No double Q's for him, but it was pretty much all my fault. Lately I've been having a hard time running both Apollo and Icon since I have to handle them so differently. I will usually screw up a run with at least one of them!
Without Icon to train I've been more focused with my training for Rampage. It kind of hit me this past weekend that he is almost 7 months old now, and I haven't really done much for his contact foundation. I'm still up in the air somewhat about what I'm doing with contacts. I'm pretty sure I'll have a 2o/2o with a nose touch on the dogwalk and a running a-frame, but I still don't know how I'll teach the running a-frame and I'm not 100% ready to give up on the thought of a running dogwalk. So I'm starting to teach him the foundation of a bunch of different methods, which will buy me a bit more time to decide what to do with him before I put it together on the equipment.
Last weekend we were at a 4 day AKC trial and I had a lot of fun. On Friday Icon didn't qualify in either Std or JWW due to stupid mistakes on my part, but we managed to pull it together mostly on Saturday for a JWW (but I over handled slightly in Std to cause a refusal at a tunnel) but we did win the ISC Std course. On Sunday we got a qq and won ISC JWW for the ISC Combined (and $50!). On Monday he got another qq. We went into the weekend needed 3 qq's for MACH 2. We missed it by one which I thought was fine until I saw the BFRs (Big F*#&$ing Ribbons) they give out at this trial! Apollo did awesome all 4 days. He was moving nicely and even placed 2nd in one standard run, which is super at such a big trial. No double Q's for him, but it was pretty much all my fault. Lately I've been having a hard time running both Apollo and Icon since I have to handle them so differently. I will usually screw up a run with at least one of them!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
RIP Ike 01/15/1995-05/20/2009
My sister put her Min Pin, Ike, down today. He was over 14 years old and starting to not love life so much.
He lost his leg about 7 or 8 years ago after a run-in with a car. He was a high strung, barky, high strung, bad breath, separation anxiety, high strung dog and taught me that I will never ever ever get a Min Pin. But once you got passed all of that, he was a pretty cool dog. When I still lived at my parents house and dog-sat for him, he would crawl under the covers and snuggle up (Shhhh! Don't tell my dad the dog was on the bed!) and when Icon was around 7 months old and I took him on a trip to Canada, it was Ike that taught him how pee on one leg, not that Ike had a choice in the matter!
RIP Ike.
Photos from my visit home in July 2006
My three nephews
He lost his leg about 7 or 8 years ago after a run-in with a car. He was a high strung, barky, high strung, bad breath, separation anxiety, high strung dog and taught me that I will never ever ever get a Min Pin. But once you got passed all of that, he was a pretty cool dog. When I still lived at my parents house and dog-sat for him, he would crawl under the covers and snuggle up (Shhhh! Don't tell my dad the dog was on the bed!) and when Icon was around 7 months old and I took him on a trip to Canada, it was Ike that taught him how pee on one leg, not that Ike had a choice in the matter!
RIP Ike.
Photos from my visit home in July 2006
My three nephews
Monday, May 18, 2009
Rampage!
Couldn't post pictures without adding some new Rampage ones!
The little guy is starting to look like a real dog!
He pretty much always has something in his mouth.
Well, not here but that's just because he's waiting for me to throw it.
I think his hair is going to end up curlier than mine! The pool water really made it go crazy this weekend.
Oops, there's the toy in his mouth again
He is a little selfish. He has a toy in his mouth but sees a few on the ground that might be better!
Decisions!! Life is so hard for a puppy!
Showing off his curly coat
Did I mention he is a vicious beast?
Just kidding! He's really very innocent! And if you believe that I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you.
And finally one of Icon demonstrating what he does all night while the rest of us are sleeping. Must...Watch...Cat... He will often fall asleep while sitting up and watching the cats. Silly dog.
The little guy is starting to look like a real dog!
He pretty much always has something in his mouth.
Well, not here but that's just because he's waiting for me to throw it.
I think his hair is going to end up curlier than mine! The pool water really made it go crazy this weekend.
Oops, there's the toy in his mouth again
He is a little selfish. He has a toy in his mouth but sees a few on the ground that might be better!
Decisions!! Life is so hard for a puppy!
Showing off his curly coat
Did I mention he is a vicious beast?
Just kidding! He's really very innocent! And if you believe that I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you.
And finally one of Icon demonstrating what he does all night while the rest of us are sleeping. Must...Watch...Cat... He will often fall asleep while sitting up and watching the cats. Silly dog.
Swimmy swim swim swim-swim-swimming?
I put up my old portable pool this weekend for the doggies to play in!
It's definitely a toss-up between Icon and Foster on who likes to swim more. I think Icon wins by a hair.
I tormented the dogs as I filled the pool. They get all excited when I say the word SWIM. "Foster, swimmy swim swim swim-swim-swimming?" (note Rampage has no clue what the word SWIM means... Yet...
I think Icon watched every single drop get added to the pool.
"Icon, swimmy swim swim swim-swim-swimming?"
At last!
Apollo, who is not a big fan of swimming, felt a bit left out...
No photos of Rampage or Apollo swimming since they are very high-maintenance in the water. Rampage did not take well to it at first, but I went in with him on Sunday and he stopped flailing and started swimming (but still only to the side of the pool where he would cling for dear life). This morning he actually swam after the ball a few times, although he wasn't able to grab it in his mouth. For him it's only a matter of time (Apollo is a lost cause).
It's definitely a toss-up between Icon and Foster on who likes to swim more. I think Icon wins by a hair.
I tormented the dogs as I filled the pool. They get all excited when I say the word SWIM. "Foster, swimmy swim swim swim-swim-swimming?" (note Rampage has no clue what the word SWIM means... Yet...
I think Icon watched every single drop get added to the pool.
"Icon, swimmy swim swim swim-swim-swimming?"
At last!
Apollo, who is not a big fan of swimming, felt a bit left out...
No photos of Rampage or Apollo swimming since they are very high-maintenance in the water. Rampage did not take well to it at first, but I went in with him on Sunday and he stopped flailing and started swimming (but still only to the side of the pool where he would cling for dear life). This morning he actually swam after the ball a few times, although he wasn't able to grab it in his mouth. For him it's only a matter of time (Apollo is a lost cause).
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