So, I have been asking around.
The annual conference for American Pet Dog Trainers is this weekend. (http://www.apdt.com). It's as close to home as it will get, about 45 miles one way.
From my local breed club, there's about 20 rabidly anxious folks going. We are so excited we have talked about little else since July.
From my local agility club, there's one person signed up as far as I know. Me.
Next time some agility person says something mean about "dog breeders" and how they only care for profit, points, and champions, I will remind them that I didn't see THEM at the conference. I will remind them that they would rather trial their dog every weekend than go and improve their clicker skilz training a chicken with Terri Ryan. That they were uninterested in hearing Sue Sternberg talk about rehabilitating shelter dogs using agility as a confidence builder. That they don't care to hear Turid Rugaas speak on becoming fluent in "dog". That unlike me, they are not beyond excited to get Bob Bailey to autograph that book, and Jean Donaldson of course, and Rugaas.....geez how many books can I carry?
I feel embarrassed and let down by the agility world right now. But, I am filled with pride for the show dog world.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Ki's training for 8/11
Tonight we went to the dog park/softball field for some heeling and focus work. We made it all the way up to the gate!! We haven't gone there in a while, opting instead to work around the perimeter of an agility class or match or trial. Nothing going tonight, so we went back to our old haunts.
I have been transitioning from the Gentle Leader to a pinch, working up to a martingale eventually for agility/obedience. He was able to focus really well, despite a few dogs racing around, and a Border Collie who wanted to meet him and waited by the fence. (There is a chain link fence around the park, and we were working outside it.) Several folks complimented us on our work.
Ki was NOT able to hold a stay for very long near the dog park. I know I have been pretty remiss in working the stay -- focus and play games just seemed so much more critical. He also was unwilling to down anywhere near the dog park -- not sure what was going on there, as when he wanted to meet a dog inside the park, he would make eye contact and then lie down and look down to get the dog to come over. He is remarkably good with other dogs and kids of all sizes and shapes. I am very very proud of my little Ki-Ki.
I have been transitioning from the Gentle Leader to a pinch, working up to a martingale eventually for agility/obedience. He was able to focus really well, despite a few dogs racing around, and a Border Collie who wanted to meet him and waited by the fence. (There is a chain link fence around the park, and we were working outside it.) Several folks complimented us on our work.
Ki was NOT able to hold a stay for very long near the dog park. I know I have been pretty remiss in working the stay -- focus and play games just seemed so much more critical. He also was unwilling to down anywhere near the dog park -- not sure what was going on there, as when he wanted to meet a dog inside the park, he would make eye contact and then lie down and look down to get the dog to come over. He is remarkably good with other dogs and kids of all sizes and shapes. I am very very proud of my little Ki-Ki.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Class notes for 7/29
(I have not been very good about writing this stuff down!)
What we did:
1) Restrained recalls. Just do a lead-out with these, i.e. don't run and yell like in flyball. The goal is to have a lead-out in the agility ring and the dog either comes to left or right side, or gets a "go-on". So, do two styles: one where the dog grabs the toy, and the other one you give the go-on command and throw the toy. Do on left and right sides.
2) Start working on pivots, 90 degrees. Use one hand to cue the turn, hold the tug in the other, when Ki moves with the cue hand, whip out that toy. Work up to a 270.
3) Continue working on focus heelwork, working up to a left and right, inside and outside circles at a run. Handler conditioning is a bonus here, I guess.
4) Continue working on finding position on left and right. I'm a little confused about this, actually, I tend to do the obedience style positioning and I'm not sure that is desired.
That was about it, the plank was set out at the beginning of class but we didn't get to it.
Notes to self:
Bring your notebook, a pen, and a freaking clicker. Every time.
Blog the class notes the NEXT DAY not the next week.
Clean out the training bag, it must weight 30 pounds with all the crap that has built up in it.
Don't worry so much. Ki is doing fine, he is only a baby, and no one really cares about us anyhow, so stop stressing out about this. Step back, go back to your obedience/trick training roots for a few weeks, and enjoy his puppyhood.
What we did:
1) Restrained recalls. Just do a lead-out with these, i.e. don't run and yell like in flyball. The goal is to have a lead-out in the agility ring and the dog either comes to left or right side, or gets a "go-on". So, do two styles: one where the dog grabs the toy, and the other one you give the go-on command and throw the toy. Do on left and right sides.
2) Start working on pivots, 90 degrees. Use one hand to cue the turn, hold the tug in the other, when Ki moves with the cue hand, whip out that toy. Work up to a 270.
3) Continue working on focus heelwork, working up to a left and right, inside and outside circles at a run. Handler conditioning is a bonus here, I guess.
4) Continue working on finding position on left and right. I'm a little confused about this, actually, I tend to do the obedience style positioning and I'm not sure that is desired.
That was about it, the plank was set out at the beginning of class but we didn't get to it.
Notes to self:
Bring your notebook, a pen, and a freaking clicker. Every time.
Blog the class notes the NEXT DAY not the next week.
Clean out the training bag, it must weight 30 pounds with all the crap that has built up in it.
Don't worry so much. Ki is doing fine, he is only a baby, and no one really cares about us anyhow, so stop stressing out about this. Step back, go back to your obedience/trick training roots for a few weeks, and enjoy his puppyhood.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
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