I got Scout from the Russell Rescue when he wasn't really one since the organization helps owners find homes for owners. The original owner went through a nasty divorce and she knew she could not provide the lifestyle for two JRTs. Yes, she also has his aunt. Well we got him in February after the second visit and I have been training him since then. Agility training wise, he is 6 months behind Chloe. Personality wise, they are entirely opposites. Chloe is a thinking dog so she is softer in doing things while Scout is a drivey go-getter dog. He is actually the 'definition' of the terrier from what owner and the breeder says. He will NOT back down to any dog, like he did today in class. More on that later.
Anyhow, I have been working him on and off in the agility environment because in the past, if he saw a dog running the course or any dog running, he would go bonkers just like a high drive BC as my agility instructor watched him. Today he had his instincts showing up... prey drive. As we were warming up, Lily, the minpin, was being worked on the AF while I was working the DW. Scout blew his 2o2o and ran for the little minpin and he caught up to it and started to put his head over its neck for which then he backed off when I called his name for the second time. That's one thing that concerns me with him because the breeder warned me ahead of time because his father killed a Chihuahua thinking it was prey. Both of this parents are working terriers in the JRTCA.
So...
We've been training just obstacles for the first 6-7 months and have finally started doing sequences in August. And since we use the AP system, I started him on Linda's book at the beginning of the summer. Since Denise has seen our training videos online, she figured to try Scout in the 'intermediate/excellent' class level. (Chloe is in the 'excellent' class level) and you know what? He kicked ass! Scout is so tuned into me that we were used as an example each time it was our turn. Sure we had one two bad altercations but he showed so much promise and he shows his is going to be fun in the ring because he doesn't stress like most terriers do. Our class consisted of a Lily - minpin 8", Lucy - pyreanan shep? 12", Scout - JRT 16", Connor - BC 20", and Kit - Boxer 26".
Now back to the encounter. We had lined up to do a handling work and once we were done, Scout got the scent of the boxer and he followed the scent. Denise told me that the boxer is 'intact'. Scout meets Kit and his owner. Scout gets in his stance, Kit moves and Scout growls and turns to face him. I grabbed him. Denise told me her male terrier always got into intact males regardless of size. Later on in class, Kit kept wanting to play with Scout and was starting to be a handful. I believe he is a 'barbie' dog first and agility dog second. I know he is a show winner.
Nevertheless, Scout did an awesome job! At the end of class, I worked on contact sends because I wanted independent contacts and our work ethic at home continued at the facility. He did them perfectly! I would send him 15' away from the DW or AF and he'd nail the contacts. I wasn't worried about this teeter, he loves the bloody thing! Both my dogs love the teeter and their weaves. I was messing around with the jump heights because there is another JRT, Scamp, that use to jump 16" and now jumps 20", yes, 20". Why? Because Scamp has major focus and control issues and the owner and Denise decided to try and move up the height and see what happens. Guess what? He was more controlled because he has to think. Trust me, the AKC judge was freaking out watching him run! Everyone was! He was floating over the bars. So after a year of trialing the Qs started to come more consistently from Scamp! I know in the past, we have accidentally left the bars up at 20" and Chloe was jumping them and she normally jumps 12". Well for Scout, we goofed around at 26" and he was already warmed up and stretched. He ran the whole course jumping at 26". I know it can be done but it would slow him down! It wouldn't be worth it as it would be too much wear and tear on his body but it is certainly neat to watch!
So now I am resting my feet for Chloe's class tomorrow morning.