And you know what they say about all work and no play.... Here's my dogs just having fun.
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One year on from our last visit to South Durham and what a lot has changed - both good and bad. The previous year I had nervously stepped into the ring with Nancy for the first time; a year on with a bit more experience under her belt she collected a 2nd and 3rd place in grade 3. Connie is now old enough to compete too and also managed to gain a 2nd place. Both Nancy and Connie narrowly missed out on winning by hundredths of a second but we're more than happy with that as both the young girls still have so much more to learn and work on for now and they both need to build up their confidence so the nice flowing courses that they "should" get in grade 3 are perfect for them.
Sadly Winnie was missing her partner in crime Whisky since his retirement, although he did come and queue with her just for old times sake. Winnie is my comfy pair of slippers when it comes to agility, we just seem to get each other and she makes me so proud. We managed 2 out of 3 clears including a 4th place, and I'm sure we'd have managed 3 out of 3 clears if Winnie's handler hadn't had a brain fart at obstacle number 17 and directed her over the wrong jump! Gertie was back on form after some time off with an injury and managed a 1st and 4th, it's great to have her back competing especially as she's nearly 9 years old now and I always worry that any injury might be an injury that she doesn't get over so I'm especially enjoying every mad, noisy run we have together. Glen and Rufus are probably our most difficult dogs to run, not that they both aren't talented or good at agility, but they both seem to be the most unpredictable - each of them have been known to like throwing you a curve ball every so often, still at least they keep us on our toes and if we do manage to get them round a course clear it always feels well deserved if we end up gaining a placing with them. Sadly neither of them managed any clear rounds but they did work fantastic and Rufus even managed a 7th place with 5 faults. I managed to leave the fitness app on my phone switched on all day while at the show and reached a new high as far as my daily step count was concerned, 22338 steps 16.02 km walked, no wonder I feel shattered when I get home from a show. So apologies to everyone in our classes on Sunday if we seemed a little weary. We're really trying to make sure that you and your dog have a really solid set of foundation skills as far as agility is concerned, so excuse the fact that we keep nagging at all of you to get your commands right - that commands are clear and are said in a nice voice; to make sure your contacts are solid; that you don't use your dogs name all the way round the course but only when you need their attention and most importantly that you build that relationship with your dog - your agility partner, so when you step on that start line of a course your dog is working with you. You won't go clear on every single course but if your dog is working with you and having fun, then at least you haven't got to worry about whether your dog will stay with you in the ring or will they go chasing the dog in the next ring; will they sniff the floor looking for rabbit poo or will they go and investigate that nice smelling catering van just on the edge of the field. Your foundation skills are so important, there will always other skills and techniques to learn but if your foundations are solid they're what you will fall back on time and time again, the nuts and bolts of your agility. Some of our previous agility dogs had gaps in their foundation skills and we are really trying to make sure that you all don't have to battle with those gaps in your foundation skills too. So, in a blink, our summer evening classes have ended and its back to our Sunday training again until spring.
We are still amazed at what we've created and achieved. It's been so hard work (you can tell by the lack of blogs and website updating!) but so rewarding, and of course, we couldn't have achieved what we have without our wonderful students, who are fast becoming our friends. And as we haven't been able to squeeze everyone in on a Sunday (as well as attempting to train our own dogs first), I'm now taking another class plus 1-2-1's during the week and its finally dawned on me that this is it! I now teach agility dogs for a living. How fantastic is that! As well as the ups though, there has been a down for me, which is having to retire Whisky early. He's only 7 and has degenerative disc disease in his lower spine, and as I want him to live a long and happy life, I want to keep him as fit as possible but not with the stresses and strains that agility would bring. So, as much as I grieve for our partnership and what we've achieved together - being able to stand on the start line of any course knowing that he and I could tackle anything that it had to offer - there was nothing quite as good as the feeling I got when I could finally let him off his lead after spending all summer on it, and see him run free with his happy, smiley, mad face, and letting him bound up and down the hills in Wales (although with a bit of a limp now) on our recent holiday. Besides, he and I have lots to do together - as well as our lovely long walks and all the tricks and clicker training we do, we are going to enter the brave new world of obedience! And believe me, with Whisky it is brave as he almost knocks me over with his enthusiasm just trying to get into the heel position! But on to the happy faces. We have people training with us now, who already compete and they've been reporting back how well their dogs are doing in competitions since they started training with us, which is wonderful. The first time we were all at the same show, all we could see was their smiles and we could feel how happy this group of people are. They were beaming, and so happy with what their dogs are achieving. We felt so proud of them and couldn't stop grinning all day too. And we know they will achieve much more with their dogs. And speaking of proud. The class I take on a Tuesday are nearlly all the students who have been with us the longest and are almost ready to compete. (In fact Caroline already has competed with Rex and has won an anysize class!) So, as usual, I didn't set anything easy up and they all had to work their way around a course getting shouted at by me (not really!) to encourage them to give the correct commands, play with their dogs, do the contacts properly etc. Both Julie and I want our students and their dogs to be the best they can, and we know the more thorough they learn the foundations now, the easier and more fun agility will be in the long run. So, after this class worked their way round small sections of the course, it was time to put it together and Caroline went first and she stood there on the start line and I could see her rehearsing all the commands and actions she would need to get her and Rex round the course, just like you would at a show. I could see how determined Caroline was to get it right and she did! She gave Rex all his lefts and rights, wing wraps etc and he listened and was fast but under control and I was stood there thinking 'wow, they are really looking like a team now, like proper agility handlers :-)' And it wasn't just Caroline - all that group - Karen, Maureen, Elaine and Jason did exactly the same. They stood on the startline, rehearsed how they were going to run, what commands they were going to give, and they all handled the whole course properly. They also dealt perfectly with any bits that didn't quite go to plan (we don't like to be negative and say 'wrong') and either quickly tried again if appropriate or just carried on running with their dogs - there just isn't anything to be gained by stopping our dogs flow and enthusiasm by repeating something when it was maybe our fault anyway for not being clear enough - much better to try again another time. I could see and feel a change in this group - among the laughing and joking, which there is a lot of! - there is a quiet determination to get things right and its paying off - they all looked like really good agility handlers, and were working their dogs. The dogs are changing too - because their handlers are more confident, the dogs are more confident and are working with their handlers, not against, and you can see partnerships developing. We are so looking forward to seeing them compete. So then I started thinking about the rest of our students, especially the ones that have been with us a long time from when their dogs were puppies, and there is also a subtle change there too. There is always loads of laughing and joking and making fun of ourselves (how can you not when you run around a field with daft squeaky voices getting dogs to chase and play with you and end up splattered with mud or covered in liver cake!), yet there is a determination coming through there as well. Sequences are getting longer and including more bits of equipment, there is less 'zoomies' from the puppies and again - you can see the students really beginning to understand how they need to handle and they try their very best to get it right. Even the talk is different eg going to watch at shows, getting dogs measured and - very very excitingly - entering shows!!!!!! Well it's been a long time since our last blog update; apologises but with classes becoming busier and busier; weekends away at competitions and that thing called "life" getting in the way there barely seemed any time for sleeping and eating let alone writing blog posts.
We are still absolutely loving teaching classes and I know we say it all the time but you are all doing fantastic, each week when we plan courses we wonder if we've been too ambitious in what we are asking you to do and then you make it look easy. It's so exciting watching you all progress and seeing handlers and dogs being bitten by the agility bug. Our puppy group are amazing and what a mix of breeds, I don't think I've met a Dutch Shepherd before but I could happily steal Effie ;-) We've been away at shows for several weekends recently. The youngsters Connie and Nancy are really settling into competition life now, still lots to work on with both of them but they are showing how much potential they both have. Sadly the last couple of shows Whisky hasn't been able to compete due to an injury that is under investigation by the vet and at the last show Gertie decided to join her best buddy in the invalid corner as she wasn't jumping properly (hopefully she's on the mend now). It hardly seems possible that we are approaching the club's first birthday, where has that time gone? We still have so many plans and ideas when time allows! We also think we should do something to celebrate our 1st birthday, so if you have any ideas let us know. As time marches on our dogs and us don't get any younger and sadly I had to say goodbye to the eldest member of my pack a few weeks ago. Stanley had been my constant shadow for the past 13 years, he was the kind of dog that thought you really needed his company in whatever you were doing which meant that actually going out and not taking Stan with you was similar to escaping from Alcatraz as every door had to be double bolted to foil his latest bid for freedom. So as me and my pack adjust to life without Stan around, give your hound(s) an extra big cuddle as they really are with us for far to short a time. Run free at Rainbow Bridge Stanley xx We've been going nearly a year now (where has that time gone!) and I've been thinking about the progression of our handlers and dogs.... and us, as trainers.
The first group of people we had last September seemed to be really good instantly, and looking back, its probably because as we were new to teaching, we tried to teach them everything all at once, but it must have worked as this group stood out in our minds for a long time afterwards. Not many of them stayed - they said they enjoyed it but had just come along to 'have a go'. We did get some lovely regulars who have stayed with us and stood out in that field getting snowed on, rained on and battered about by gale force winds all winter and they are lovely to teach and we have so much fun with them. At times over winter there seemed to be a bit of a lull, with quite a few newcomers who didn't seem to stay for long, so Julie and I were constantly training new dogs and at times found it hard especially with dogs that just weren't interested or owners who thought that agility could sort out all their dogs problem. I think we gave our hearts and souls to some of these dogs, becoming exhausted ourselves, before realising that we just can't help some dogs unless they had their problems sorted out elsewhere first. We were there to teach agility and we had to remember that. Then as spring came and we got more enquiries we decided to start a puppy class. We had loads of ideas - still to make it as fun as possible of course, but instead of giving just a general introduction to agility like we probably did initially, we took our time teaching all the basics as thoroughly as possible, in tiny stages. All the turns and wing wraps and chasing and playing, which arm to use, where to stand, when to move, etc. We knew it would work from all the years of training our own dogs to competition level, and by now we were believing in our own ability to be able to teach the same to others. We could see it in the improvement of the handlers and dogs, and from the lovely encouraging comments and also from the fact that they all kept coming back!!!! People seemed to believe in what we were telling them, we could see them trying really hard, going away and practising their turns and contacts, running and playing with their dogs at home and starting to use really good value treats, and before we knew it, this group of puppies seemed to be almost as advanced as our more experienced group. Instead of having to set up easier sequences for the puppies, slightly harder for the next group, and even harder for the next etc. they were all doing vitually the same things - although obviously with poles on the ground, no weaves etc. We just thought we had a marvellous group of dogs and people (which we did and still do of course!) Then, over the last few months, we've had several intakes of young dogs, who quickly seemed to be all at the same level and only 3 weeks ago we've had our latest intake of puppies and young dogs, and not only is this group already doing quite technical things they are basically doing the same sequences as the now, much-older puppies, who in turn are doing exactly the same as our most experienced handlers. For quite a few weeks if not months, I've heard myself telling these handlers that they can easily do it because the puppies already have! So that's when I started thinking. How can all these young dogs be getting better so much quicker, and that's when I realised that training others, is actually training us to become better trainers. Can't wait to learn more!! Otley show saw myself and Ann joined by Caroline, Philip, Owen and of course Rex. The weather forecast didn't look promising but it actually turned out drier than predicted so I only needed to wear half the number of waterproofs I'd packed!
Both Connie and Nancy managed to gain their first rosettes in Grade 3, plenty still to work on but they're both looking more confident in the ring. Lots of good runs from the more experienced dogs, including a 1st and 2nd for Gertie. But the star of the weekend had to be Rex and Caroline, who gained a 9th on the Saturday and after being talked into hanging around to run Rex's last class on Sunday only went and won the class!!!! Well done and thank you for the doughnuts at training in celebration of your win. Really looking forward to more of you being ready to compete. Well done Pauline with Tia and Harry who also managed two wins at the weekend. As more and more of you are getting close to making their agility debuts I thought it would be a good idea to note a few things down. First of all dogs cannot compete at Kennel Club licensed shows until they are 18 months old.
If your dog is not already registered with the Kennel Club, they will need to be registered on the Kennel Club activity register. http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/registration/how-to-register-your-dog/activity-register/?gclid=CJvissnlmMYCFSHkwgodWTYALA You will receive a regsitration certificate with your dog's unique Kennel Club number and registered name, you will then need to get your dog officially measured to determine whether they will jump small, medium or large jumps. We have a set of measuring hoops at training so we can practice getting your dog to stand for measuring, this will be important if you have a dog that is going to be on the borderline of jumping two different heights or if you have a nervous dog or a slippery eel!!!! http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/activities/agility/new-to-agility/agility-measuring/ Your dogs jump height, KC name and number will be recorded in their agility record book, which are available for the Kennel Club or can usually be purchased at the time of measuring. http://www.thekennelclubshop.org.uk/products/record-book-agility Once your dog is Kennel Club registered, measured and old enough to compete, your ready to start looking to enter your dogs first show. We will be starting Thursday evening training classes on the 28th May. Please get in touch to book a place.
On Friday we headed off for our first weekend show of the season. The weather on Friday was glorious I was merrily wondering if I'd packed enough vest tops and should I pack my shorts; I cheerfully flung my thermals back in my wardrobe and frantically searched the house for sun tan cream. Well the weather gods certainly had a good chuckle as we woke up Saturday morning to rain, high winds and generally freezing conditions.
As it's the start of the season we both felt a bit rusty but we both had some good runs and some not so good ones, pilot errors! All the dogs were looking really good from our older more experienced dogs who showed they still haven't lost any speed or enthusiasm to the younger ones who at times showed their inexperience but also showed how much potential they have with a bit more ring craft under their belts. Ruth and Morse competed on Sunday in the Anysize classes and did really well, they're nearly ready to make their Grade 1 debut! As expected when you take away three dogs that have never been camping before we had several garden breakouts. Although the prize for the best escape has to go to Grace, who not only escaped the garden fencing but then appeared to be struck by temporary ear failure and couldnt hear any recall commands as she merrily danced her way through the camping area. And then as Ann opened the gate to go and fetch Grace, Connie, Whisky and Glen made a bid for freedom too and headed off to the exercise area too :-D Sighthounds are the naughtiest creatures on this planet, as Rufus proved when he couldn't stay on the exercise area but had to find a small gap in the fence and take himself off for a few laps of the neighbouring field just because I wasn't paying 100% attention to his antics. Good luck to Caroline and Rex who had heading off to Lincoln this weekend for their first taste of competing. We weren't quite sure what we were wishing for when we began this journey - just a field full of agility equipment would have been nice, and hopefully a few people who wanted to tag along.
Well, we are almost speechless with what's happened. Not only have we our field full of agility equipment, but 3 full classes a week of like minded people, who have been there week in week out, sun, snow, hail or rain, and they're still with us! Not only that, they are now popping along to shows to see what its all about, getting their dogs registered and measured, and competing in fun classes and doing well. And not only that, we have a large and growing waiting list. We've just completed our first six months, had a short break over Easter and tomorrow we will be full steam ahead with our usual classes and some new puppies and young dogs which we are really looking forward to. We've had a good think about whether to increase the number of classes to try and accommodate everyone, but we can't for now - our own training and competing will start to suffer, so......... its on with the show and lets see what the next 6 months brings! |
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