Dog Community

New BH

Posted : 6/26/2010 7:09:29 PM

Nikon passed the BH today! By my standards he did passably horrid, the worst he's ever done in training or the "mock" BHs we've setup, but I'm told that I'm my own worse critic. Before we went out, someone else was saying she doesn't get nervous anymore because no matter how much you prepare the dog will usually do something he's never done before. That was Nikon today! I think it was a combination of the heat/humidity, it being a totally new field (we traveled for a trial), possibly my nerves though I did not feel nervous at all, and him just not wanting to work hard today. Despite his laggy-ness I rewarded him like he was High in Trial SchH3 because I've worked him so hard lately in all three phases plus agility. His long down was perfect so I'm proud of that. Also the "traffic test" was absolutely no problem (you have to heel back and forth with the other dogs butt-to-nose, had to heel with a jogger, biker, and honking van passing by within 5 feet, then had to tie the dogs to trees, go hide, and another dog heeled past plus a couple walked closely by each dog). The judge spoke German to us all whether we knew it or not and apparently I was the only one that understood the guy so I ended up barking out his orders to everyone and he liked that. This summer we'll focus more on agility and do some rally-obedience and agility trials to get Nikon used to performing in new environments and having to work when I say it's time to work.

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 6/26/2010 7:39:05 PM

WAY TO GO!!!!!!

Lies, even though it wasn't great by your standards, I suspect that it was amazing to watch. You should be so proud of what you have accomplished with Nikon to this point. I have no doubt that you & Nikon are destined for great things.

Liesje

Posted : 6/26/2010 7:58:06 PM

Thanks! I can assure you it was not amazing, but after watching the others, they didn't fare much better. We had a lot of young and/or inexperienced dogs and it was SO hot and humid. All the dogs lagged, most of them downed at every opportunity (long downs were not an issue, most of the sits out of motion slowly became downs, lol), one dog ran off the field and would not go to the handler but ran all the way back to its van, everyone's sits and downs were slow, etc). All the dogs were looking like, "Wait, we have to do that whole heeling pattern AGAIN?!" when it came to the offleash. My friend who went in my flight (I downed first) did great though and got high BH with an envious score. I am excited for her, this is her first dog and FIRST trial of any sort (and she didn't know anything about SchH, her DH picked out the dog but of course bailed when he realized how much work it is and she has worked the dog since he was six months). I changed up how I am training *and* rewarding heeling just a few weeks ago so we'll keep up with this new technique (starting tomorrow we're back at club training) and polish for the real deal this fall.

miranadobe

Posted : 6/26/2010 8:41:06 PM

Shoot, our first BH (judged by Ulrich Rottenburg) was on a field with what seemed like a hundred bees... and one stung Gracie about 7 feet out from the start. She's allergic. I completely understand that sentiment that your dog could do the routine frontward and back, but on trial day, you never know what comes up. I've seen your videos, you guys have made a great working team. Nice job, no matter what you think - you passed, you earned your title. If this was a WDA event, you can go through the application process to have it added to your dog's AKC record.

Liesje
I can assure you it was not amazing, but after watching the others, they didn't fare much better.

I bet you were better than you thought. Lucky you - they didn't let us competitors watch anyone's BH's. I was so busy holding myself like a statue, keeping myself from swatting the bees around my face during the long down, that I don't even remember who was on the field with me. lol

jennie_c_d

Posted : 6/26/2010 9:01:53 PM

Congratulations!!!!

Liesje

Posted : 6/26/2010 9:02:26 PM

Cool, it was a WDA event.

When I saw the judge and trial chairman go to the field I realized there was no group, so we ended up staying to help be the group. Then the judge kept grabbing me to tell someone something that he didn't know the English for. I think today was a better day as far as me keeping up on my German than Nikon and his training, lol!

I got asked to photograph their club show in Sept but can't do it! I'm bummed b/c I offered to do their last show but they'd hired someone else and ended up not liking her.

miranadobe

Posted : 6/26/2010 9:59:20 PM

Liesje
Cool, it was a WDA event.

This has instructions in one link, and the application itself below it - both are on the left: http://www.akc.org/events/working_dog_sport/index.cfm

Liesje
Then the judge kept grabbing me to tell someone something that he didn't know the English for. I think today was a better day as far as me keeping up on my German than Nikon and his training, lol!
I got asked to photograph their club show in Sept but can't do it! I'm bummed b/c I offered to do their last show but they'd hired someone else and ended up not liking her.

That sounds like you made a great impression! What a bummer that you can't do their show in Sept. Those are valuable photographs, and it's too bad the last photog didn't work out. I found this site last night giving tips about how to capture the flip finish and FCI turn in photographs- something that a lot of photographers miss at these SchH events.