Well we're in serious training because in two weeks we make our ring debut! AHHH! I'm not ready!!!!!!! Anyways, we worked in the driveway today and he did wonderfully. We worked on coming front, taking steps backward, finishes, arounds, left about turns, steps forward, and he did really well with them. At this point we still have to tweak and really solidfy the walk arounds, but other than that he's doing pretty good. I'm very happy with the progress he's making and although I don't know how well he's going to do in the ring, I'm 100% positive that we're going to have FUN!
Casey
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Agility Week Two
Once again Savvy proved how awesome he is in class last night. We worked on new obstacles (although he has already seen jumps and tunnels, he has never seen the ladder before) and he went through everything with ease. Carolyn even called him a show-off. :-)
I'm so proud though because he got to do the demo for the rear cross. Carolyn was very adamant about how we were doing the flatwork because it is so important. So we practiced without the dogs and then she told us to try it with the dogs. I had already practiced the flatwork with him prior to starting class, so thankfully I had refreshed my memory, :-) I started trying the rear cross with him and Carolyn said how great I was doing, and then told everyone else to stop and watch me because I had some experience with this. At one point Savvy tricked me and didn't do a 180 like he was supposed to and I simply went back, lured a little lower and he did it perfectly. Carolyn pointed out what I did and complimented that as well. :-)
We worked on introducing some obstacles, the ladder, jumps, and the barrel of the chute (w/o the fabric on it). Savvy took all of it in stride. The only thing he was a little funny with is the ladder. He hadn't seen one before and that didn't bother him at all, but he is so uncoordinated that he just couldn't walk through it very easily. He did wonderfully, but would hop through half the time, or only put his front feet in part of the time, pretty typical of the first try with the ladder, but it was funny to watch. Of course he went running over to Carolyn while she was sitting on the floor to say hi and was licking and zooming around her like he does, and of course he peed on the floor, but it was funny to watch, and I'm just so happy to have a dog that is so happy all the time.
It was an awesome class and I'm so proud of my little Savvins. I really think that once he gets the drive for it and starts showing more interest in the obstacles and being challenged a little bit he's going to be awesome.
So our homework for this week is:
1) keep working on targeting from all angles
2) keep working on heeling on the right
3) start working on our flatwork (front and rear crosses on the flat)
4) walking through ladders
5) spinning on both sides
6) board work - click only back feet on board, if he offers 2 on 2 off click and feed in that position
I'm so proud though because he got to do the demo for the rear cross. Carolyn was very adamant about how we were doing the flatwork because it is so important. So we practiced without the dogs and then she told us to try it with the dogs. I had already practiced the flatwork with him prior to starting class, so thankfully I had refreshed my memory, :-) I started trying the rear cross with him and Carolyn said how great I was doing, and then told everyone else to stop and watch me because I had some experience with this. At one point Savvy tricked me and didn't do a 180 like he was supposed to and I simply went back, lured a little lower and he did it perfectly. Carolyn pointed out what I did and complimented that as well. :-)
We worked on introducing some obstacles, the ladder, jumps, and the barrel of the chute (w/o the fabric on it). Savvy took all of it in stride. The only thing he was a little funny with is the ladder. He hadn't seen one before and that didn't bother him at all, but he is so uncoordinated that he just couldn't walk through it very easily. He did wonderfully, but would hop through half the time, or only put his front feet in part of the time, pretty typical of the first try with the ladder, but it was funny to watch. Of course he went running over to Carolyn while she was sitting on the floor to say hi and was licking and zooming around her like he does, and of course he peed on the floor, but it was funny to watch, and I'm just so happy to have a dog that is so happy all the time.
It was an awesome class and I'm so proud of my little Savvins. I really think that once he gets the drive for it and starts showing more interest in the obstacles and being challenged a little bit he's going to be awesome.
So our homework for this week is:
1) keep working on targeting from all angles
2) keep working on heeling on the right
3) start working on our flatwork (front and rear crosses on the flat)
4) walking through ladders
5) spinning on both sides
6) board work - click only back feet on board, if he offers 2 on 2 off click and feed in that position
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Agility Class
Savvy and I enjoyed our first agility class tonight! My little goof ball was well...a little goof ball. He started out being a little antsy and barky, which is to be expected because he hasn't been to a formal class since October. However he settled in after a few minutes.
We started class with telling Carolyn our goals for class and long-term. So my long term goals for Savvy are to compete in agility because he has to live up to his Dad's reputation. My class goals, however, are to build our relationship as a team, and create a solid foundation to the future.
The first exercise we worked on was hand targeting, which usually Savvy is awesome at. Of course since this was a new place and we're a bit rusty he wasn't as enthusiastic as usual, but still did well.
Then we worked on lid targeting. He did well for the first few touches and then he decided that rolling over was much more fun, leading Carolyn to make comments about him being goofy. So we worked some more on lid targeting and Savvy decided that it was too much effort to bend down and touch the lid, so he laid down with it in between his front legs. This again led Carolyn to make a comment about "Mr. Lazy Bones".
Next we worked on spinning on both the right and left sides, and Savvy did well.
After that we worked on walking on our right side. He did well, he tried to scoot over to my left side a few times, but I was very impressed by how calm he was on my right side.
We ended class by shaping some board work. Savvy was at total ease walking all over it and sitting on it. I would like to see a little more enthusiasm with him though. I'm so used to Fly being so driven for agility, and Savvy just doesn't have it, yet. He will when Carolyn and I get done with him though! :-)
~C~
Homework:
1) lid targeting
2) working on right side
3) spinning on left and right
We started class with telling Carolyn our goals for class and long-term. So my long term goals for Savvy are to compete in agility because he has to live up to his Dad's reputation. My class goals, however, are to build our relationship as a team, and create a solid foundation to the future.
The first exercise we worked on was hand targeting, which usually Savvy is awesome at. Of course since this was a new place and we're a bit rusty he wasn't as enthusiastic as usual, but still did well.
Then we worked on lid targeting. He did well for the first few touches and then he decided that rolling over was much more fun, leading Carolyn to make comments about him being goofy. So we worked some more on lid targeting and Savvy decided that it was too much effort to bend down and touch the lid, so he laid down with it in between his front legs. This again led Carolyn to make a comment about "Mr. Lazy Bones".
Next we worked on spinning on both the right and left sides, and Savvy did well.
After that we worked on walking on our right side. He did well, he tried to scoot over to my left side a few times, but I was very impressed by how calm he was on my right side.
We ended class by shaping some board work. Savvy was at total ease walking all over it and sitting on it. I would like to see a little more enthusiasm with him though. I'm so used to Fly being so driven for agility, and Savvy just doesn't have it, yet. He will when Carolyn and I get done with him though! :-)
~C~
Homework:
1) lid targeting
2) working on right side
3) spinning on left and right
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