Dog Community

Spring trialing season has begun!!

Posted : 4/3/2007 4:49:00 PM

Just had to share my excitement. [

] Dasher and I went to our first show of the spring season this past weekend. So glad spring is finally here and show season has begun around here!!

Ok, so here is my brag...Dasher got another much needed standard Q (and 1st place) and also his Snooker title (1st place) this past weekend at a USDAA show. We would have finished up our AD title this weekend if Dasher's handler wasn't such a doofus!. He was running really well and really listening to my body language. This is what we have been working on this winter which in theory is a good thing...except when the handler forgets to mover her body!![&:] So a messed him up a couple of times, but I was so pleased with our progress overall.

Wish I had pictures to share but I forgot my camera. Next weekend we are off again, so lets all keep our fingers crossed that Dasher's handler can use her brain or maybe borrow someone's who is competent. [

]

tashakota

Posted : 4/4/2007 7:45:29 AM

Yay congratulations!!! I can't wait for our first show on the 21st!

Kota's been doing really well in practice all winter long, but last night, the old, nose to the ground, sniffing Kota was back. The only difference is that last night, I decided to take his collar off in practice. I usually don't bother because it's practice. But I decided to try it last night for some reason. I was amazed at his lack of performance. [8|] His first run was slow, distracted and just awful. Even the instructor was perplexed! She knows he can run! But then the second and third runs, Kota was back.. Coincidence? I'm not sure. Was it the collar? Has he learned that the collar off means a stressful thing? I'm not sure but I'm definitely going to take if off more often!!

dasher

Posted : 4/4/2007 7:15:57 PM

I know what you mean about the collar, in my case it was a total mind thing with me, not Dasher. I knew I would be running mainly in USDAA venues but we started in AKC. When I started working Dasher "naked" I had trouble believing he wouldn't take off as soon as the leash came off. Even though he never ran off without a leash w/ collar [8|]

We haven't run with a collar in almost a year, if I ever run AKC again he will be naked. [

]

tashakota

Posted : 4/13/2007 2:26:12 PM

Ya know, after this past Tuesday, I don't think it was the collar after all. Last week, I had him out of his crate and sitting on my lap before our run. I don't usually do that or have the time (running multiple dogs), so this past week, I didn't do that and either kept him in his crate until it was close to our turn, or we went over to the other area and did some work for a bit before our turn. He did much better that way, especially since I had Pepper this week and I took her out to run. Talk about getting results from him watching me work with another dog!!! lol...