Games Trial Nov 24/07

Spree's first games trial, and her first try at Tunnelers and Weavers. First course was good but the second was perfect :) She had the fastest Novice time from all the dogs. I think her running 20 ft ahead of me to do the weave poles helped our time a bit!

11/24/2007 Weavers 1 20/Std/Novice P
Time/Faults : 33.68/0.00 Q-10/1 YPS: 4.36
11/24/2007 Weavers 2 20/Std/Novice P
Time/Faults : 27.40/0.00 Q-10/1 YPS: 5.44
11/24/2007 Tunnelers 1 20/Std/Novice P
Time/Faults : 19.72/0.00 Q-10/1 YPS: 6.09
11/24/2007 Tunnelers 2 20/Std/Novice P
Time/Faults : 21.62/30.00 NQ/3 YPS: 5.55
11/24/2007 TouchNGo 1 20/Std/Novice P
Time/Faults : 40.81/0.00 Q-10/1 YPS: 4.12
11/24/2007 TouchNGo 2 20/Std/Novice P
Time/Faults : 42.44/0.00 Q-10/1 YPS: 3.63

Her Touch n Go rounds were at the end of the day and I noticed her slowing a little. I'm also sure that she doesn't really like contacts :( I've run out of ideas on how to fix this!

Exam Courses

Can anybody help me with Clean Run measuring the total course distance?

Winter Training and Trialing

Looking back at the records I haven't been to many trials lately :( That must be why Spree is doing better - more time training!

She has gone from slinky and scared to fast with confidence... it seems many of her issues have packed up their things and left quietly in the night. One of her biggest issues (where is my TOY) has improved two fold. Between Kathy Keats' immeasurable Border Collie insight, and a simple "leave it" command - who would have thought!
Oct 7/8th Calgary Canine Centre - NADAC
We only entered four runs a day and it turned out well. She became obsessed after the first run with Randy, our judge for the weekend. By the third run it was no longer possible to keep her away, she just had to run over and get it all out of her system. Each run she became more confidant (and used to the rubber contacts). Missed a couple contacts which we turned back for, and he weave entries were great. Tripping over her and falling on RR4 is something I wish to forget... but people won't let me! Yes it was embarrassing and painful, but I learned my lesson :)
Overall she ended up with her NAC title and one each in Jumpers, Chances and TnG.

Chances 20/Std/Novice P Time/Faults : Gamble: N E/
Regular 1 20/Std/Novice P Time/Faults : 31.62/0.00 Q-10/2 YPS: 3.95
Regular 2 20/Std/Novice P Time/Faults : 33.00/0.00 Q-10/1 YPS: 3.79
TouchNGo 1 20/Std/Novice P Time/Faults : 42.09/0.00 Q-10/1 YPS: 4.04
Chances 20/Std/Novice P Time/Faults : 40.00 Gamble Type: Y Q-10/
Jumpers 20/Std/Novice P Time/Faults : 22.38/0.00 Q-10/1 YPS: 4.51
Regular 1 20/Std/Novice P Time/Faults : 25.59/0.00 Q-10/1 YPS: 4.61
Regular 2 20/Std/Novice P Time/Faults : / E/ YPS: 0.00
Oct 20/21st Training Troop - AAC
Her first full trial! She started the weekend just great with Advanced Gamblers and her first Starters Standard :D Our next Standard saw a missed a-frame contact (thought she would run through...Nope!) and an off course. We opted out of Masters Jumpers - didn't know how she would be running and it's just not fun to struggle through her first masters q.
Sunday we had Steeplechase first, she amazed me with this run! Very very fast including 12 poles :) At the very end sequence I rear crossed a tunnel to early and she ran off. Good try! Starters Standard 3 we were doing so great... until the damn table thanks for jumping off that! If there is anything I can say that I trained "wrong" it's the damn table! When we first started with it she would get on and I would throw the toy for her. Say hello to a dog that jumps on and off as fast as she can - not the point LOL. We worked hard on that tonight and it seems a lot better. Advanced Team saw our partner put in a terrific effort but a small refusal at a jump took us out of cleanville. Spree ran very smooth - showing off for the family mostly :)
Insert Cola's Retirement - I promise I'll get around to writing this, I'm just not in the mood to cry for hours tonight!
Last run was Advanced Snooker and I wasn't very good at planning a course. If it comes down to it I'll have to beg Chris Luce to visit a few trials and plan some courses for me ;)
She ended up blind crossing me (bad dog!) to take a jump and we started running on the fly with a new course - didn't last long! Overall I was of course pleased with her efforts (and mine!)

Cola & Trace's Retirement Part 1

Shannen Jorgenson was kind enough to post this on the AAC Bark list:

Hi all,
I just wanted to recognize a couple of agility handlers and their dogs in our area who had to make the tough decision of retirement for their dogs.

Last weekend at the Training Troop Trail, LeeAnn Carr retired her previous AAC National Champion dog "Cola". It was a very emotional event for us all and everyone there could feel the love and respect LeeAnn shares with her dog. It could have not been an easy decision, and LeeAnn once again showed her good sportsmanship in making the decision, and then sharing it with us all who were there.

Her team partner for the "retirement" run was Suzanne Bolt and her Border Collie Trace. Suzanne has had some incredible agility memories with this dog and you could see with every step they took together on a course, they both enjoyed working with one another so much.

It is never easy to make the decision to retire one of the greats in agility, and it comes all too soon. I retired one myself this year, and I know he hates it when the young ones come out to play on the equipment and he watches wishing I am sure it was him out there. If dogs could decide for themselves when to retire, mine would still be running I am sure! As would a lot of others! But since they are pets first, out friends, our companions and our partners, we make the decision for them based on what is best for them.

I know both LeeAnn and Suzanne have all the kindness and the compassion for their dogs and everyone can see just what good sports they are and how they made the best decisions based on their buddies!

We look forward to your next agility greats girls! See you at the trials!

Shannen

I HATE THE DOG WHISPERER

In the time that I have to write this post, I couldn't possibly cover all the ways I disagree with Cesar. But here are a few...

About Cesar:

"The celebrity clientele who entrust him with their pets confirm Millan's expertise. Movie star Will Smith, actress Denise Richards, movie star Scarlett Johansson, and singer Patti Labelle are just a few of Hollywood's elite attesting to Millan's rehabilitation abilities. "

So a few people involved in the movie business get Cesar to "rehabilitate" their dogs, and now the whole world should listen to him? Read on to see why any person who understands dog training as a science, hates this man.

From his website "Cesar's Tips!":
Before my dogs eat, I take them for a walk. In this way, I ask my dogs to work for food and water. This is a form of waiting, which is psychological exercise that helps nurture a balanced, happy dog.

Cesar's Tip cannot be applied to any theory on how dogs learn or live, which makes it in my mind, dis credible. Everything he says has no behavioral credibility behind it. I'm pretty sure this guy thinks the world is flat.

Lee-Ann's Tip!: Dog training through learning
My dogs also work for their food. Before I take my dogs for a walk, they are asked to preform a series of behaviours before we go. Sit nicely while the leash is put on. Wait for a release before running out the door. Wait for a release before running out the gate. If they don't (DEXTER), then they get put back in the house and left behind. (Negative Punishment) If they co-operate they are rewarded and get to see the great outdoors. (Positive Reinforcement)
It doesn't take much time for any dog to learn - I do what they want (behavior), I get what I want (reward).
Of course there are many many famous trainers who can explain in further detail:
http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/


If my dogs were to live by Cesar's rules, it would go a little something like this:
I get my dogs ready for a walk where they jump on my head and break down the door trying to get out... all the while I'm yelling TSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST!!!!!!
They get back from their walk anticipate the sit behavior, and get fed.
My dogs learned nothing all morning that I intentionally taught them. They learnt that the world revolves around them. What happy creatures we would all be if this was the case.

Oh, and he's going to solve the planet's problems as well:
"Your mission to teach the people in third-world countries to offer reciprocal fulfillment could, indeed, bring world peace. "

Who are these people that think what he has to say is relevant to any civilization???

Spreeism #792

Yes, Border Collies are "weird". But just as every BC owner has said to the common "dog" owner, you don't know how weird until you live it. This might be a "you had to be there" story, but I'll still share it anyways in hopes of a laugh.
Spree thinks very highly of the weave poles and this in itself makes me a very proud trainer. She is just learning the 12 set and has a good understanding of 6. Little did I know that in her head, weave poles in different denominations are not the same thing at all. In training the set of 6 and 12 are relatively close together with the 12 farther off from the rest of the equipment. We had been working on 6 in a course for the first half of training. With all that solid groundwork, we headed over to 12. She gives it a go, but like the novice she is skips a few poles. I bring her back and ask her to weave again, she wants to do the right thing but does not have confidence in the set of 12... so she tries to run back to the set of 6. No Spree, these weaves, right in front of your face, try again. She does better, but still skips. I ask her to weave again, and again the light goes on "weaves! I know where they are! I love the weaves!" as she runs to the set of 6 (again, completely in the wrong direction). She does this a few more times, all the while I'm not getting frustrated just laughing at her reasoning. Finally she finishes her 12 and we have a huge party... that'll do Spree, that'll do. We end at that cause I didn't want to risk her brain exploding.

The Last Stat

While I still hold out hope that Cola gets to run again, competition as we know it is done forever :( This will be our last post on the AAC yearly stats. Saaaaaaaaaaad face. As of her semi-retirement:

2007 Top Veteran Dog:
#8 in Canada
#2 in Alberta
#1 in 16" Division

AAC All Time History:
#103 in Canada
#8 in Alberta
#1 in Calgary

And a Spree update too!

I've finally started to train Spree contacts. Today at training she held every single one, I was so proud. Her aframe looks great, but her dog walk has a very inconsistent speed.
Her weave poles have finally come along, doing her first set of twelve poles last night :) I thought we'd never get there! It did happen to look like the weirdest thing Spree has ever pulled out thou... really slow thru the first 7... then what the heck blast thru the rest! Training this dog does make me laugh every day!
She's entered in Masters Jumpers on Thursday... along with Dexter - handled by Amie!

Cola is feeling better!

After her three week vacation from exercise, Cola was released back into the wild today. We took a visit to the pond for a swim in hopes to get her back into shape with little impact. She did great with no signs of a sore ACL. She even got to do the teeter... yeay Cola just might do agility again!

The sad tale of AB Regional Championships 2007

The weekend seemed to be off to a good start - our warm up run went very well, Steeplechase challenge we were one second out of the finals. I'd rather take the regional championship I thought, don't need the Steeplechase as well. Sunday had a brutal standard course to start the day. It was clean by my surprise (how did we pull it off I don't know). Gamblers was a really nice course, especially for Cola. She took first place with 46 opening points. Jumpers was clean but not fast, it was the end of warm day after all. Results were in, Cola was sitting in first ahead by 40 points. The dogs trailing her were slower, so the chances of them catching us were very slim.

Gamblers first Sunday morning. It was a tough course and one that I couldn't make my mind up about. When it came time to take Cola out, she was beyond wound up. I remembered that she gets like this in the morning when it's still cool out. Our turn is up only four dogs in, the grass still wet from the rain overnight. Between the first and second obstacle she slips just barely. We continue on, she continues to run without listening skills and taking any obstacle. Closing gamble was a train wreck, running around one of the obstacles, but still finishing the gamble a second over time.

She starts limping a few moments off the equipment in her front shoulder. I have the physiotherapist take a look at her and she finds that it's her right ACL that has been strained. Her advice is to pull and get her checked by a vet. Any quick movements could have the ACL torn and require surgery. And just like that Regional Championships were lost. Even more heartbreaking was the question if she'd heal properly. Would I be able to run her ever again? At 9 years our outlook does not look promising, but we will wait the 3 weeks to see if she will improve. After that, she'll start exercising again and possibly be allowed to do agility. If not, a retirement party, but a very sad one. Retire Cola?

When People Call Spree a Border Collie Mix

It really bothers me! Traditionally, when people think of a border collie they picure this:

Indeed, pretty. When they see my border collie, she has a unique blend of "unusual" physcial characteristics. This does not mean she is crossed with an austrailian cattle dog! Border collies can look different! Largely because in their breed standard, physical appearance is not specified, nor bred for in a true working line.

Spree pictured below:

Compared to a few pictures of extremely well bred border collies:

And a Australian Cattle Dog photo:

To everyone's "misjudged" credit... an ACD/BC could look somewhat similar to Spree, but they would have at least ONE ACD trait! Spree doesn't not have the structure, size, temperament, color or coat of any ACD I've seen. And that's why I get mad when people TELL me that she's a cross of a border collie and australian cattle dog.

Stats! Finally!

Oh those people at AAC why don't they do their jobs! /rant.

Kindly note that these numbers are COMPLETELY squed by the rich ass people who can afford to trial away to their hearts desire. I am not one of those people. Therefore Cola is still the best.

Top Veteran Dog of 2007: Currently #8 in Canada, #2 in Alberta, #1 in her division.
Top Veteran Gamblers Dog: #3 in Alberta, #1 in her division.
Top Veteran Snooker: #3 in Alberta, #2 in her division.
Top Veteran Steeplechase: #1 in Alberta in ALL divisons!!!

Overall Top AAC Dog: Moved up into the #8 spot in Alberta.

I heart stats.

The Truth About Rescue - From TDBCR

Why Rescue?
Rescuing A Dog Is A Lot Like Buying A Puppy. There are all sorts of reasons why people are reluctant to adopt a dog through rescue. And although some of these reasons may seem valid, they are almost always totally unfounded. You might be surprised.

MYTH A rescue dog will have trouble bonding to us, because it has already bonded to another family.
REALITY Puppies have to learn to bond too - before you buy your puppy he has already bonded to his mother, his littermates and his breeder. ANY dog you bring into your life will go through a period of adjustment that can be challenging for everyone.

MYTH Rescue dogs aren't trained. It will be a lot of work to train a rescue dog.
REALITY Puppies don't pop into this world fully trained. Any dog you bring home will need some basic obedience training at least - and an older dog may even learn more quickly, as he'll have a longer attention span than a puppy.

MYTH A rescue dog will have all sorts of behaviour problems learned from the previous owner.
REALITY Many rescue dogs end up homeless because when someone got a puppy, they weren't capable of training it properly and became frustrated. Most of the dogs have no major issues, they just need guidance. If you are confident you can raise a well behaved dog from puppyhood, then you are probably equally as capable of teaching a rescue dog a new set of rules and behaviors.

MYTH A breeder can tell me just what kind of puppy I am getting. They temperament test them and know each puppy very well.
REALITYBreeders, as far as we know, cannot predict the future. Every puppy has the potential to develop into something surprising. An older rescue dog has developed a personality already, so there are less surprises - and rescue dogs in foster homes are thoroughly evaluated by their foster "parents" and can tell you a great deal.

MYTH Rescue dogs are too big an "unknown" - we want the security of a puppy.
REALITY If turning a puppy into a 'perfect' adult were so easy, shelters would not be full of dogs that people found difficult. Puppies are just as big an unknown and any dog can be a challenge, develop strange behaviors or have problems ... even with the best trainers.

MYTH I don't want someone else's reject
REALITY Almost all dogs in a rescue situation are there through circumstance, and nothing else. The fault is almost always the previous owner's, in that they were were ill prepared for dog ownership, or unable to keep the dog any longer. Sometimes the very best treasures come to you when someone else doesn't or can't recognize them for what they are. A dog that wasn't a good fit for someone else's family might be your dream dog. It's foolish - and selfish - to reject a huge population of possible dogs for such a flimsy, self serving reason.

MYTH I want the pick of the litter.
REALITY Every dog is the pick of the litter when you're choosing a companion animal. Unless you are an experienced breeder selecting a dog for conformation and other qualities, you should only be concerned about whether or not the dog makes a good companion - and making him a good companion is largely up to you.

MYTH I might want to breed her some day, and rescue dogs are all neutered.
REALITY There is a very good reason why rescues neuter all dogs before placement. It's because there are too many dogs in the world as it is. Good breeders never start with their first dog - they develop an intense interest in a breed, and a sincere desire to produce the very best examples of that breed. They spend years researching and learning and mentoring under another experiences breeder and eventually purchase the foundation of their breeding line with a practiced eye, with the intention of producing quality puppies, from another breeder who is convinced of their sincerity and ability. Anything less - anything - and you are not an ethical or responsible breeder. All companion dogs should be sexually altered.

THANK YOU to http://www.bcbordercollies.com/bc/info.htm for this wonderful info!

DAL Trial - May 27, 2007

Cola had a good trial with three straight qualifiers. Her opening gamble was terrible, but the day got better. Seems like everything I've been training hasn't been working.
Spree had her first shot at Masters Jumpers. She had a great run considering all the factors that make her the way she is :) It was a new venue and she still ran great. She went off course and came back to keep running! And to top it all of she was running for her cuz toy and stayed focused :)

And we train.

Really the only time of year that I train Cola is a few months before a big event. I stress about gamblers every year before Regionals and Nationals. She has been qualifying consistently in this event for the past six months... but I still feel the need to push for competency above the most difficult gamble I have ever seen. I think Cola hates this about me ;) My favorite to test (not train) is distance contacts with a flip to the next obstacle. We've gotten good at that, so the new one is adding 30 ft between the contact and the next obstacle that she needs to "find". Mental note, work on handling instead of impossible gambler crap.



It's taken Spree over a year to realize that agility means reward (the green alien cuz God). Now she's got it thou. So much that she runs from my backyard to the park across the street (while I'm left in the dust on the front lawn) to go play on the equipment as fast as possible. Distance tests of 21 ft are something to laugh at when she's up to 100+ ft all on her own. Now to work on listening skills :) Her first Masters Jumpers course is T-minus 2 days. Yes, I'm excited to run with the big dogs :D I'll be praying tonight to the green alien cuz God that she doesn't loose her confidence in the ring... sigh.

Paws N' Effect Trial - April 27&28, 2007

Cola started the weekend very well with a 108 point Gamblers qualfier. One knocked bar in Standard (so much pressure!), also picked up Team and Steeplechase. The courses were very nice with tight technical challenges, which I find the most fun... seperating the handlers from people who run dogs :)

Sunday's courses had extremely spaced 270's in both Steeplechase and Standard rounds. We turned both of those into pull thru's. Oops. After that I was too tired to handle so I gave her over to Sarah Novak. She was able to grab a Snooker with her! Very fun to watch someone run your own dog :)

Spree had very nice practice in Gamblers and Snooker. It was great warm up for Jumpers which was very fast and clean! She took first place with the fastest time in the class :D

Dexter had a practice Standard round where he did his contacts very nice. Only small barks at strangers. His Snooker was a little downhill with the calling of points, he was barking more than running :( Jumpers had a nice startline - was able to get one jump. He had a few refusals and very little barking.

It was a great weekend to learn that Cola still needs training, Spree doesn't wait for me to get into position anymore, and Dexter doesn't have BC distance skills!

Training Troop Wee Wednesday - April 25, 2007

It was a Wednesday of first experiances ...

Dexter had his first qualifying run - he moves to Advanced Jumpers!

Spree had a flawless Advanced Jumpers run - best ever! 1st and Q

Cola took her time in Advanced Standard, still clean and taking first place. That's her 127th overall leg, taking the #1 spot in Calgary for all time dogs in AAC history.

Amie & Ousa also had a great showing in Jumpers - an off course and a very fast time!

2007 Stats and MAC Trial

Besides this past weekend, due to the crappiest running conditions possible... Cola continues to hold her own in 2007. She is the number one veteran dog in Alberta so far, and takes the number three spot in Canada... http://www.aactrialresults.com/stat/2007Y_TopDogStatsV.html
Beating who??? Kes! I like how that sounds... scratch that victory always sounds good lol.
Along with being the number one Alberta dog last year, this is the highest rank Cola has pulled in her little agility career. I'm very proud.
The last goals we would like to achieve (really, just me cause she doesn't care) is her Gold Award, and taking the number one All Canadian spot in Alberta of all time. A clean 50 to go on that front.

Spree tried hard... as usual. Good try Spree...

The LEAK

When I first started watching Susan Garrett's video, Success with One Jump, Amie and I got into a discussion about the lines of her famous border collie - Encore. For many reasons, Susan does not publish where/ what lines she is from. It's kind of a secret of sorts :P My best guess lead me to think she was related to Rival's Divot.
http://clickerdogs.com/susangarrett.htm (Encore in the middle)
http://www.rivalkennels.com/slide_show.php?gallery_name=offspring&image_sequence=18
(Divot head shot) Jute/Copper

I mean the odds of me figuring this out to the exact sire and dam... I deserve a Bo-Tyne border collie, no questions asked lol.
www.tntbordercollies.com/BCLines/Focus%20x%20Rio.htm
Bo-Tyne Focus is the littermate to Encore... the exact same breeding of Rival's Divot.

Moral of the story... Bo-Tyne dogs are the best kept secret in canadian border collie lines. This is because an insane majority of world team handlers - Susan Garrett (Encore), Kim Collins (Sierra & Bounce) and Kayl McCann (Jitter Bug & Slyce) all have border collies that trace back to Bo-Tyne.

Few new songs, few new happenings...

DJ Gemini's Birthday Bash @ The Warehouse
"Dancin' and feelin' fine, been so long and I dunno why, turn off the lights - this is my time"
Opening DJ's could have been missed by my standards, but of course Gemini made up for it. His set was one of the best I've ever heard him spin.

What I can't stop listening to:
Titus1 - Dreamer (Electro F*ck)
Timbaland - Give It To Me (S.T.A.Remix 2007)
Hook n' Sling vs. Kid Kenobi - The Bump
Secret Service - You're The Only One
TV Rock - Flaunt It (Juzzy's Supermodel Main Room Mix)
Ace of Base - Life Is A Flower 2007 (Discofreakz Remix) - Ace of Base is back??? Neat! lol

CAA Trial - Feb 17&18

As rough as the weekend started out to be, it wasn't all bad in the end ;)
Cola - despite her horrible excuse for a handler - picked up a Snooker, Standard, Steeplechase and Jumpers rounds.
Spree started the weekend with little confidence in the Gamblers ring. It was her first time working in this venue - or any different venue come to think of it. She came back for Advanced Snooker - and qualified with ... wait for it ... four 7's again. My God Child!!! You make me look like an agility trainer or something... :P
We also had a nice showing in Starters Jumpers - only one "bobble" with her running around a jump to sniff the fence. Sigh. (I thought this dog was going to come for free.... it was supposed to be so easssssy with a BC). Please no one yell at me it was a joke :) But my point is I was expecting to have "over the top" issues with her because she's a BC. Guess she proved me wrong again... I'm glad I took her into the ring when I did.

SAY YES TRAINING REMINDERS

2. POSITIVE does not equal PERMISSIVE. This is the guiding principle of Say Yes Dog Training. You must be consistent. If a behaviour is acceptable at home (example the dog choosing not to lie down when told) it is also acceptable during work. Approach training and home life with a patient disposition and a strict application of what is and isn’t acceptable. Training happens 24 hours a day 7 days a week; your dog is always learning regardless if you are actively training or not!
3. Behaviours are shaped by CONSEQUENCES. Be aware of what is reinforcing your dog. Review and alter your list of reinforcers as your dog grows up, especially the “activities that reinforce” section.
5. Be aware of what RESPONSE you are rewarding each time you give out a cookie or toy. What did you click—did you see eyes? Did you want to see eyes when your dog is performing that skill? What did you intend to reinforce? Does the dog know?
7. THINK, PLAN, DO, REVIEW (Bob Bailey). Plan your work and work your plan. Time your session or count reinforcements so you don’t train your dog to exhaustion. Do not begin to train until you have worked through your mechanical skills and planned where you will deliver your rewards. Keep your training session short! After each session, write in a journal recording your progress and plans for future sessions. Do what will assist you reaching your goals; do not get wrapped up in “finishing as sequence or exercise”. Do what is best for your dog!
8. MIX UP YOUR REINFORCEMENTS so that you are working with toys and food. Only offer a reward you know your dog will want. Once a reward is offered, do not accept your dog not taking it. You can use food to reinforce an attempt to play (or the other way around) but never use food to reinforce a dog that has declined the opportunity to play or decided to stop playing. What would you be rewarding? Of course you would have rewarded your dog for making the decision to NOT play with you (and remember work=play).
9. Whenever frustration sets in remind yourself that “YOUR DOG IS A MIRROR IMAGE OF YOUR ABILITIES AS A TRAINER”. Only when you take ownership of your dog’s shortcomings will you be able to turn them into attributes.
10. CLICK FOR ACTION REWARD FOR POSITION. (Bob Bailey) If your dog barks after each click and you feed them, what are your reinforcing? When initially shaping or re-training skills. it is important to deliver your rewards as soon as possible after the click (1-3 sec) – remember the reward reinforces everything the dog does between the time he hears the click and when receives his reward.
11. Train to IMPROVE YOUR WEAKNESSES. All of us tend to practice what we are good at, or the dog we find easiest to train, it is reinforcing for us. If there were exercises you felt uncomfortable with this weekend it could be a result of a weakness in your current training program. Be sure to work short sessions on the skills you are not as graceful at performing.
12. Bob Bailey attributes training problems to: timing, criteria or rate of reinforcement. Have someone observe your timing with your clicker, alter your criteria so your dog can succeed and keep your rate of reinforcement as close to 70% as possible.
13. Cheap responses once rewarded will always be lurking (Bob Bailey). Be aware of ‘what else’ your dog may be doing when you click him for a desired response (i.e., barking).
14. Are you a double L? (…a lurer & a lumper) Your dog’s lack of progress may be due to your not “splitting” the desired behaviour into small enough responses. Be certain you are returning the hand that delivers the treat back to starting position after each rewarded response. Work to create a “thinking” dog not a dog that needs to be prompted by you before he can begin his work.
15. YOU CAN’T HAVE SPEED WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING. Got D.A.S.H.? If you are working many new environments and you start each session with the maximum amount of “D”, the “S” will come once you have the “A” Do not try to make your dog be fast until he first understands how to be correct without prompts or lurers from you.
16. WHAT IS YOUR CRITERIA? Identify it, learn it, work it live it. Maintain criteria, ALWAYS. The easiest thing to do is to train a behaviour. It is a far, far more difficult thing to do to maintain your criteria for the life time of your dog. That is what makes a great trainer.
17. Don’t ever ignore your dog while training. If you are getting further direction or clarification from an instructor, tug with your dog or, hold his collar & stroke him or put him into a relaxed position or in his crate. What ever you do, do not finish an exercise and turn away from your dog to talk to an instructor; it shows a lack of respect for your canine partner. Your dog should always be recognized for his effort to work with you.

They wrote this song for me

DJ Gemini - Only (Track 1, Rachelle 2003)
"Just let me be when I'm crazy, at the end, your still my only"
Trying to describe the "free spirit bs" that is all the name of my game.

Nelly Furtado - What I Wanted (Loose)
Although a little sad, it's the way life goes no matter what side you end up on. "I never really got it, but it don't matter at all". It's remembering that life is good even when you don't get your way...

DJ Dramatik - Creatures of the Night (A 6 Pack)
I l-o-v-e the night and this song :D

Colin Stone - Addicted to Me (Infiniti)
It's not to often I feel a song from the moment I hear it... right time, right place I guess.

100% Reason to remember the name

I have the best dogs on earth. Cola went 7 for 8 this weekend, pulling in her Silver Award of Merit and Veteran Master Steeplechase Dog of Canada titles. Couldn't be more thrilled. The explosion side of the family has made her mark on agility... her first clean run couldn't have been more of a surprise to me. Now I have to live up to 4 - 7's in every Snooker round with her lol.

What I'm Listening To

In Your Loving Arms - Karen Overton
Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack (Paul Oakenfold Remix)
Miracle - Cascada
Tales from the Departure Lounge - Matthew Bellengham http://audio.area709.com
Take me back to your house - Basement Jaxx
Atlantis tracks - DJ Gemini
Things you say - Cicada
Run - Milk
What I Wanted - Nelly Furtado