wisdom from our kitchen ...

fitting for agility too eh?

Worked on stay today with Sally - did she ever need it! Postively a quiver she could hard hold steady when a stick was thrown - she eventually settled and did some nice work.

last full holiday day ..

Did some agility  this am. Practised rear crosses with Sally (for me not her). Did some cross rail work with Thea to help her clue into jumping the middle of a fence. Played with start lines with Sally and Brody. Dad and Jean came for lunch. Lovely chat, quick meal relatively which was perfect as we immediately headed out into our newly found back fields.

another new to us view of the school house

Brody still has lots of energy - he ranged a little further away from me then usual but raced back to me every time I looked at him! I was pleased to see him booting it around as he's had five days of long walks and action.

On the way home Sampson decided (perhaps because his ball stayed home this walk?) that he should collect the tree to bring home. He was adamant and quite ferocious, and very very funny! Tom broke off a five foot section for him which Sampson proudly dragged/carried all the way home.

Thea fell into a puddle and got soaked - luckily we were nearly home.

Another lovely walk, on another lovely day. Given the choice of a week a year in Hawaii or the holidays we get at the school house I would pick the schoolhouse every time.

reflecting ..

There were other things about yesterday that were such givens for me I didn't even think to note them.

Sally waited for her release before leaving her start line - I didn't challenge her a great deal but lead out effectively to or just past the first jump
The gamblers class I chose to start with a mini which meant a long lateral lead out - she was rock solid that way too - amazing!

Thea zoomed off her start line - with enough speed I may need to put a start line stay on her!

Brody and I did our usual routine - there was no need for a start line stay with I'm anywhere.

Thea never crossed behind me - or thought about it - apparently I was getting her info about where and when she needed to be in a timely enough fashion for the Princess.

With Thea and Brody both running 6 inches I'd be horrified if they pulled a rail - neither ever have in class and Brody only did once in a trial and that was at 12 inches. (Given he isn't quite that high and the ground was deep I did eventually relax about it.

Sally also didn't drop a rail - she took some crazy angled approaches, she back jumped once but her bars stayed up. She knows her jumping stuff.*

All dogs behaved in the ring- didn't worry about ring crew, leash runners or the judge.

They were really truly excellent dogs.

As Stevie Wonder said "We all have ability. The difference is how we use it." The gang used it as well as they could with the information I could give them. Great dogs ~ shame about the handler ;)


* when she pulls a rail at home if it was a complex move she gets a "good girl" no food, marker or toy and a chance to repeat (which is rewarding to her - have no doubt of that). If it was a simple move and she's being a goof the jumping just stops for a bit. Neither happens often mind you.

WAIT Sally

poor Sally all she does is WAIT - she has to wait for breakfast, lunch, dinner, to go out of the door, to come in, to get a cookie, to get a toy, to get in the car, to get out of her crate, to get her leash on .... if she wants it she has to wait. Some things are WAYYYYYYYYYY harder to wait for then others tho - what a girl!

Practise makes perfect

well perfect practise does anyhow! Took it very slow and easy with Thea on the teeter tonight .. she looked ...I clicked... she touched ... I clicked- I sat on it and rewarded her for getting on it ... she was moving around on the bottom half of the board pretty well and we did tons of listen to the bang and treat her ... hopefully we'll have a break though soon! Brody was having fun running and on the teeter too. Sally was hilarious - like thats anything new! She bounded and bounced and raced through the 2 X 2s... she is too much! Sophie was a super star too :)