The Luck of the Irish!

We tapped into some Irish luck today and got our first QQ at the York County Dog Training Club trial in Palmyra. Wow! This is huge!

We took third in standard, behind two superb, fast dogs. They have running contacts; I make Cosi stop and do 2o2o. Thus there was a four second difference in our times. Note the four--count 'em, four--serpentines in this course! Here's the YouTube link to our standard run: Click here.

In the jumpers run there was a broad jump. Rats. When was the last time we trained that? About a month ago!? We Q'd and took first place--beating the same two dogs that beat us in standard! Un-be-lieve-able! Here's the YouTube link to our jumpers run: Click here.

As I watched the videos, I see his start line stay deteriorated today. I will be dilligent in correcting that tomorrow. Gotta watch that boy!

What a fabulous day. Memorable, to be sure.

Triggers

Susan Garrett's newsletter and today's post talked--at length!-- about incorporating triggers into your dog training. What interesting stuff! I love foundation work, and I found this information completely fascinating. I'm going to take the time to examine what triggers I have been using with Cosi to transfer the value of toys and treats to his work. I need to observe what we both do in response to certain triggers. What a neat learning experience.

If Bad Things Come in 3's...

then I'm done.

#1 - I got home from work on Friday evening only to find that the kitchen phone decided to die. Some of numbers on the keypad wouldn't work. Tough to dial a number when you don't have 0-9.

#2 - My computer--which has been on it's last leg for about a year--decided to power down. I tried to boot it back up, and only through coaxing, praying, and computer CPR was I able to get it back.

#3 - I got an email today from a trial secretary saying I'm #89 on the wait list for a four-day trial I had entered in April. #89?! Really!? Might as well say, "Forgit it, kiddo. You ain't in."

I bought a new phone system with a base and two mobile handsets.

I ordered a new computer; it should be here next week.

I bought an external hard drive and backed up all my data.

I'm off to check the web sites of various agility venues to find a trial to replace the one in April.

...and it's only Saturday.

Trax!

A huge shout out to Heather and Trax on winning the 16" class in jumpers and getting a double Q at the trial in NJ this weekend. Wahoo!!

Knitting & Training Time

I've been taking some time to finish two knitting projects. First, I made some hats--one for a family member and others for a local charity. Once they were finished, I started on a pull-over sweater. Winter is when I love to knit as the days are short and it's dark by 5 p.m. We're having an early spring this year; it's been 60+ degrees F this week! It seems as though we skipped winter this year and went right to spring. No snow that stayed, just rain, rain, rain. And it always seemed to rain on agility class days. I lug Cosi's crate from the car to the building in the blasted rain every week.

I've been enjoying walking the dogs in the evening (it's starting to stay light even after 6 p.m.) wearing only a light jacket or sweatshirt. I had someone at work today ask me how much time in a week do I spend training my dogs. Other than the structured class time (1 hour) or practice time (2x a week for about 20 minutes a practice), I do a lot of "training" during our walks. It's a good time to teach directionals of left and right. Then I use the "out" command to get the dogs to move away from me if a car is coming towards us. I use "out" during FAST and Gamblers classes to get Cosi to move away from me and take obstacles.

How much time do *you* spend training your dog in a week?

Master FAST Title

Cosi and I got that last elusive Q in Excellent B FAST this weekend. That brings us to 10 Q's, which translates into a Master FAST title for RyLadd Spontaneous Combustion. Wahoo!

Saturday's standard course was very technical, so I looked at it as a training run. We had gorgeous contacts, and I was very proud that we only had one off course. I had a brain freeze during jumpers where I forgot to start my front cross. Cosi said, "While you're sleeping, I'm going to take this jump over here." No jumpers Q for us. Oh, well. We'll get 'em next time. I thoroughly enjoyed running with Cosi this weekend in the dirt. (Then when we got home today, guess which Shelties got baths and are now the most gorgeous dogs on the planet?)

Congrats to Trax on his Q's this weekend, turning in fabulous performances with Heather on the jumpers course on Saturday. You go, girl!

New Trial Season

After being completly disappointed by Westminster this year (we talked so much about it in agilty class last night!), I doubt I'll watch more conformation. I guess I just don't "get" it.

On to better things! Cosi and I are headed for our first trial this holiday weekend. I'm eager to get back into the swing of things, see friends, and run and jump and bark. Keep your paws crossed for us.