Common Sense

Lori Bergman wrote the following (excerpted here)
"Three yards of black fabric enshroud my computer terminal. I am mourning the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense.

His obituary reads as follows:

Common Sense, aka C.S., lived a long life, but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was, his birth records were long ago entangled in miles and miles of bureaucratic red tape.
Known affectionately to close friends as Horse Sense and Sound Thinking, he selflessly devoted himself to a life of service in homes, schools, hospitals and offices, helping folks get jobs done without a lot of fanfare, whooping and hollering. Rules and regulations and petty, frivolous lawsuits held no power over C.S.

A most reliable sage, he was credited with cultivating the ability to know when to come in out of the rain, the discovery that the early bird gets the worm and how to take the bitter with the sweet. C.S. also developed sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adult is in charge, not the kid) and prudent dietary plans (offset eggs and bacon with a little fiber and orange juice)....

As the end neared, doctors say C.S. drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments regarding regulations on low-flow toilets and mandatory air bags. Finally, upon hearing about a government plan to ban inhalers from 14 million asthmatics due to a trace of a pollutant that may be harmful to the environment, C.S. breathed his last. Services will be at Whispering Pines Cemetery. C.S. was preceded in death by his wife, Discretion; one daughter, Responsibility; and one son, Reason. He is survived by two step-brothers, Half-Wit and Dim-Wit.

Memorial Contributions may be sent to the Institute for Rational Thought.

Farewell, Common Sense. May you rest in peace.

Often unattributed this has made the rounds with  variations since first published in 1998. I thought of it today as I browsed the newest edition of Clean Run. 

Many great articles and well worth the read but one that really me wonder was an interesting reflection from Susan Salo about being connected to other beings. Her explanation is much deeper than mine but ultimately she points out the way two animals run together often fall into a natural rhythm. When I was working with driving horses we always did our best to match a pair so this would be easy for them. They were going to move together so why not take advantage of it?  Knowing this in agility is important as well. People talk about driving  dogs around the course, and the benefits of having great distance skills, both important no doubt. That said there is nothing like running in a coordinated manner with your dog to both improve your running (I'm a lousy runner generally speaking) and to improve your dog's running and jumping. I pulled out 3 tiny clips from one trial compilation I had to show you what I mean. This is not done with any great forethought  it just is what happens when I run with the dogs. You can see how getting out of sync would  have a detrimental impact on jumping and running form.

Common sense? Apparently not as common as I thought.

Compilation Video ...

reducing 30 runs to 3 minutes was tricky ...the out take video will actually be shorter - that's got to be a good sign right?

three days of lawn agility in a row!

and I feel great!

It's been a long time since all the dogs worked on agility three days in a row. (Actually Thea missed yesterday - but she hasn't done any agility since June so I'm still pleased).

We did our usual 2-4 minutes a dog thing - amazing the difference 12 minutes can make.

Thea - just worked on forward and with me... she is one noisy little brown dog!

Thea is also a mistress of camo!

She slays me!

Brody - a little weaving and running - a tiny bit of selecting the right end of the tunnel

LOOK!!! You can see all four dogs in one shot!!

Sampson - short sequences, a little start line type work - wow ... what a good dog he was! Today was amazing - foot perfect in fact!

Even I think he's beautiful here ..

Sally -noisy, crazy Sally loves this work. We did start line, jump drills, weaves, what dog!

This is intense ... this is Sally

I taped all the dogs (first three on the first day and Sally on day two.) Educational no doubt at all, mostly about me and my issues rather than dog stuff - man, am I ever SLOW to reward the dogs in a concrete way. I'm pretty floppy and sloppy too. Always good to have stuff to work on.

Sally's turn....

Turned the camera on for Sally's lawn agility today .... lots of goof ups - and lots of fun (music is "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" by the Spin Doctors ~ we looked at a farm owned by one of them this summer ~ so it seems doubly fitting)

If you chose to watch this you'll see some mighty sloppy handling on my part .. SG would NOT be pleased I'm sure ;) bloopers are included - this is a fairly typical length of work out for me -perhaps even a little long

I worked Sampson a little too.. he was lots of fun!
Brody worked weave entries ... excellent work as always.

We also had a great work/play session at the farm... I'd better define what Sampson being a work in progress is as his recalls were fast, fabulous and 100% today.

The Learning Never Stops

Bullets of Thought

• Running hard induces deep sleep it seems
  
• Sally's start line is eroding methinks - or is it my faith in it?? hmm


• What should I do with Brody? Oh Oh I know wait til I get that last jumpers q and figure it out then


• My bumper got stuck in a tree. Good thing it was a multiday trial - eventually I got it down!


• Sally ran 4.6 yps and didn't feel fast - how fast can she run?


• Why was Brody so slow?


• How can I speed up his tunnels again?


• The snooker King never waivered - 2 more masters qs!


• Brody had fun on the gamblers courses - he would also have had fun chasing squirrels in the backyard


• Sally was amazing at gamblers


• both dogs ran better on the last day then the first (though both were good all runs)
  
• I ran 19 courses and didn't get lost once - 12 of them were masters levels


• none of the dogs I ran even looked at a decoy or off course


• I tried hard not to yak on course (not sure how I did)


• I found a good balance of working, running and playing with the dogs


• I ran a new dog in team and had a blast! Harley rocks! (and what a compliment to be asked)


• Sally and Brody both enjoyed massages
  
• Brody sped right up when people started hooting and hollering


• I liked running to music


• I still love this crazy game

another 600 kilometers and a whole lot of fun

Thea and Brody waiting patiently - the story of life with me - hurry up then wait your turn, hurry up some more then wait again

We took Nancy and Sophie to an outdoor agility practise yesterday. It added a bit of time to our trip but was great. It is good for Thea and Sally to have a dog working beside them and I always enjoy seeing my former foster puppies! Nancy and I talk training, agility, dogs and life non stop too so that makes the miles fly by.

Spot On is a lovely venue - a little shade, a nice breeze and cheerful company with two full rings - yesterday laid out in a starters jumpers course and a masters standard course. Brody, and am sure this shocks you, ran two tidy clear rounds. He wasn't blasting but he was foot perfect and enjoyed himself. I didn't repeat or drill anything- simply thanked him and let him snooze in the truck while the wild women worked.

Thea was FULL of beans - she blasted off the start line without any clue at all where she should be going. Hilarious but not exactly what I wanted. I reset her and she was most bemused so she actually paid a little more attention. She ran the masters jumpers course (minus the teeter) in a very competent manner. She NAILED the dog walk - no concerns at ALL. I was quite excited by that as she can be a little cautious on dog walks. Her aframe is a thing of beauty!
In the jumpers run she would NOT run through the puddle INSIDE the chute and I thought that was fair. Apart from that she was perfect and quick!!

Sally ran the jumpers course first. She added a jump on the way to the tunnel when I didn't give CLEAR directions. But otherwise she was SUPER too. She thought the puddle in the chute was GREAT. She would have spent the whole session running through that I think!
She was a bit restless and barky on the table but we worked through it. She did get a little sniffy at one too - but I think that was largely my issue - 5 runs had tired me out so I wasn't focused. None of my dogs focus when I don't.

We took a short break and I played judge for Sophie (and only got mauled briefly - good girlie!)
then we went into the masters field and broke it down into chunks. Sally did 3 aframes with her brain on. Three nice dog walks too except she released herself instead of waiting for me on the first two. Weaves were AWESOME! I was thrilled. New weaves, new location, 12 of them and no problem at ALL. BOOM BOOM through them and back to me. By the end of working our way slowly through that course Sally was walking jumps! Sally walks exactly NOWHERE. Certainly not in the presence of agility equipment. So I figured she was hot and let her rest for a minute. Went and "judged" Sophie again and she was PERFECT. A good note to end on.

So we moved onto what is often my favourite part of a practise at Spot On. A wander around the outside of the field. And Sally got her zoom back. She is a quick girl!

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.

what a HOT day .. luckily the gang was ON FIRE..

well relatively anyhow

I didn't stay for results as the trial was running way behind but I do know Brody q'd in master jumpers (his 3rd q in that class) and didn't in snookers - he either ran out of time in 6 or I put him in the wrong end of the number 6 tunnel - actually I did that - DOH two trials in a row picking the wrong tunnel - but I think he ran out of time - we would have had to do one jump afterwards anyhow and I'm positive we were that tight to the time that it wouldn't have happened. Handler error in the heat - that's what I'm calling it anyhow. He was remeasured and is certainly under 12 inches now. (Probably always has been but what can you do - seeing as how he can still jump 16 inches without much effort I would never have worried about it if not pushed by the masters judge clinic participants)

Sally had three runs - jumpers, standard and gamblers. Jumpers incuded an off course for team us- and a couple of time faults but given that the course was largely straight lines strung together with straight tunnels I think an off course was a miracle.

Standard by some standards (hahaha) was a train wreck - 45 faults. But they were honest faults if such a thing is possible. I wasn't where I should have been a couple of times so she went off course and did an extra tunnel. She did 12 weaves - not as confidently as at home or in class but she did them and with enthusiasm. The table came after the weaves and a LOT of the dogs struggled with the table. I knew the off course had already killed us so made the choice to put her up and if she did her automatic table to release her quickly. She freaking ACED it. So on the judge's 2 I called her off and raced off - the next bit of the course (spread, tunnel, tunnel, teeter) was PERFECT. Coming off the teeter I wasn't too sure which side to be on so she blew past a jump then came back and did it fine. A frame - PERFECT, flip away to a tunnel - PERFECT end tire - PERFECT. So you can see why what was really 2 off courses on her part don't upset me much at all. The scariest thing is that Sally would come third in that class if all heights were combined. Most dogs were eliminated. The "winner" had 5 faults; second place had 23 then us - crazy eh? It was a very challenging course for starters. Opening was a chute; then an offset line of 2 jumps to a tunnel under a dog walk then a flip up the dog walk then weaves and on to the rest. I counted 6 major challenges in the course. It was a fun course to run actually though. (and the weaves, the held contacts on all equipment, the table and the 2 places the flow was heavenly are what I will take away from that class!)

Sally's gamblers class was amazing. So glad I stuck it out in the heat to have that run. She got 3 mini's, 2 4s and a bunch of singles ... and the main gamble but she was 2 seconds overtime. She was so much fun to run. I couldn't be more pleased with her.

Thea was the queen of the day though. Her only class was starters jumpers and she NAILED IT, ROCKED the course, had a blast and easily happily and with great joy earned her first aac q!!

Way to go Princess Thea!!

looking to 2009

with some eagerness for agility and life..
but it will be a sad year as my aunt Ash died on Christmas Day and to be quite honest my world will never be the same. She was an aunt, a big sister and a dear friend - just 12 years older than me I always knew she'd have my back. She was my advocate and my defender. She encouraged me to do things that I might think crazy without her support.

I can start planning agility a little again though - after a long break of not being able to truly be certain I could be anywhere at any time to be able to plan will be great.
Sally is maturing into a wonderful dog. Maybe she'll more than 1 Q in 2009.
Thea needs some work on chutes and teeters - if I cna get that done I'd love to take her to regionals.
Looking forward to hopefully having Brody at regionals too, and maybe nationals as well if all goes well.
Sad not to be doing CPE this year but I'm going to finish the qualifications for the nationals then move him down a height level anyhow - hopefully he can qualify for 2010. I really enjoy CPE.
Fitz's new hme seems to be sticking so those are all the agility dogs I have to worry about for now! Plenty of work in each of them actually.

reflections on practise and training

I am not a dog trainer - no siree Bob not a training bone in my body
however it seems I spend a LOT of time dispensing training, and training advise

I think about behaviours and how to modify them for dogs and cats, occasionally parrots and rabbits and in my day job I get paid to "train" teenagers ..

and none of it feels like training to me - I facilitate, I demonstrate, I discuss, I rehearse and I apply knowledge and skills...

it's just as true in agility as anywhere

I need to know my audience even within the dogs I work regularly (or semi regularly as the week may unfold) they need different approaches and have since the day they began agility. All my dogs have been shaped to do the various obstacles - though one "trainer" tried to lure Thea on a dog walk - that still causes me issues some days ...
Brody would have been lured too if he had needed to be lured but he went with me from the first time he saw an obstacle - I guess he was sort of lured through weaves to start - and GEEZ no shock here - weaves can be our downfall some trials!

The degree of work each dog can take seems to vary an incedible amount too.

Brody just does stuff - even early on I was careful not to run back to back in class more than once (as we were often the smallest dog in class I'd do it once then be asked to repeat so we didn't have to change heights). If he had a blip with something I just kept going - had I stopped to "WORK" on the "problem" Brody would have checked out without a doubt. Now that he knows what he is doing I can try a line a bunch of times in a bunch of ways as long as there is no implication he got anything wrong.. He knows it's all my fault if things go south...

Thea needs to do things until she's confident .. if she does it once but not well and then goes away she'll worry about the error until it becomes HUGE .. but push her past her comfort point and she'll slip away to her crate
everything needs to be planned with her - winging it is not her style at all ...

Sally just goes and goes - she'll repeat something 50 times just because she can .. for example she did 12 weaves this fall (that were on the lawn for Brody to work) I laughed at her blasting through them so she turned around and did them again (and again) with no cue and no support. When we started working her as a little puppy I told my trainer that I was worried about nose touches - as there was no cue for her to lift her head off .. she laughed at me and said that would NOT be a problem .. that Christmas Sally STUCK to the nose touch plate at the bottom of the stairs so hard I had to actually pick her up to break the touch - then I taught her a release for that behaviour. Sally has been wholly shaped so offering behaviours comes very naturally to her. If it pays she repeats and repeats. She is a much more independant thinker than either Brody or Thea as well - which is both a blessing and curse. I think I could see her shut down if she was DRILLED without joy but working with her brings me such joy I can't imagine that happening any time soon.

what motivates you?

I stole the heading from a board I check into - a dieter was asking how other people stay motivated and I realized it's something I'd love to know from other agility folks...

I was motivated at first by a desire to do better and better - personally rather than class results

then I was motivated by a desire to move up with my qs

then I wanted to achieve my goals - qualify for nationals, not embarass myself at CPE nationals, get VMAD title

now I am dying to get back to it - I want to have more mental images of Brody having fun, would love to see Sally doing well, make chihuahuas proud with Thea accomplishments ... all that good stuff!

on fitness ...

In this far too long agility hiatus I've been on I haven't been WORKING ON fitness the same way I was in the spring - not for me not for the dogs ... however I realized today that having built such a good base of fitness for us all has paid off - we've been hiking at the land lots and Brody is a going concern - he keeps up doesn't get puffed- clambers over under and through brush and fences like the big young dogs.
Our young foster dog Fitz has actually gotten fitter through the hikes; he used to need to be carried for a break mid way - today he kept up with the pack.
Brody keeps working on his back muscles too - he offers his cute stretches and dances when he wants something and every morning he balances carefully on his haunches to get his belly rub. I make sure to tickle different spots so he has to rebalance himself - you can actually see his back working!
I've had a heck of a cough the last few weeks so am moving a little slower than usual but still hauling wood, hiking and turning over the veggie garden beds so I guess my own fitness isn't too bad either.
I'd like to get a balance board for the dogs - Sally could use some specific muscle work and recent articles in Clean Run have had good ideas for that .. I think she'd just enjoy the work too (she's actually looking pretty good at the moment - fit and not too skinny or raw). Now, of course, Sally doesn't walk anywhere she RUNS flat out so her aerobic fitness is not in question.

on revisiting goals

dug up my January goal setting post to see how I'm doing...

here are the relevant bits with my current notes in italics:

Personally I'd like to continue to do my day job with accountability and compassion. I want to initiate new programs and contribute to those coming up in the ranks behind me.

did pretty well on that front this year - be interesting to how September goes - achieving this goal has earned me more staff to try to keep happy

On the home front I'd like to be a bit more domestic - keep a tidier and cleaner house and make time for the people and animals who matter to me...

still a work in progress

On the agility front

Thea - continue playing the game with the spirit of game in my heart - enjoy what I get but not pressure her for more - in CPE I plan to stay in level one until she's busting to move up
I will not over face her or be pressured into rushing her.

so far so good

Sally - take each day with fun and opportunity to grow. See how the trials go. I'd love to take her to the regionals but if that isn't the cards that's OK. Earn all her CPE Level One titles and her aac starters titles by year end.

HAHAHAHA - I don't think so ...was I on drugs when I was thinking this?
Sally has earned one q so far - and it was nice but still

Brody - attend CPE nationals, Ontario regionals. Earn Master Jumpers title and AADC title, get into masters snookers and masters team. Enjoy the journey not obsess about the results.

check CPE NATIONALS and add win our height and division
check regionals and add qualify for nationals, place 10th and 6th in two classes
haven't earned masters jumpers title yet - 2 Qs away from MJDC
check AADC title
check in masters snookers - 1 q away from MSDC
haven't earned one Q in advanced team yet - only thing stopping our AAGDC ... ack. 5 tries 5 cleans for Brody and I ...
certainly enjoying the journey - and not obsessing about the results -

have earned our MADC, and a steeplechase Q - which weren't even goals!

coolness ;)

those random thoughts really are my goals - at least at this moment ;)
Posted by andrea at 10:20 AM 0 comments
February 2008 December 2007 Home
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the bad bad MAD Brody

well Brody and I are just home from a trial and he was truly beastly in a couple of classes - earning a whomping 12 points in a class he usually easily earns 22 or more in (then he misses the gamble).

it was hot

it was wet

i haven't done much agility lately

there are a million excuses but the only one that matters is that we blew it ...

we blew it in gamblers (not a strength of ours anyhow), snookers (earning 27 points when we needed 34 - GACK), jumpers (running so slowly at the start we couldn't make up the time at the rocking end- 4 seconds over time - ACK)

we had a lovey run in team clear and quick but our partner had 10 faults so our 5th time in that class was no charm for us

HOWEVER we did redeem ourselves with a very nice (if I do say so myself) masters standad run - 8 seconds undertime and the only trouble was the weaves - not terrible trouble obviously but a moment of OH GOD did he step backwards - I don't think so - did the judge think so??

Brody is now a Veteran Masters Agility Dog of Canada.. WOOHOO and something I hadn't even set as a goal - it seemed so out of reach!

better set some new goals soon

cpe page updated :)

and Sally ran the jackpot faster then Brody and got more points... way it should be but very nice to see

and little Thea just keeps plugging away at it all

www.k9cpe.com/qruns/Q10046.htm

they've posted the requirements for next years nationals - Brody needs
a jackpot leg, a fullhouse leg and a jumpers leg - it might just be doable ;)

Some pictures of team challenge

hehe andy jones (andyjones.ca) took em - Nancy figured out how I can show em off - nice of them both eh?


I had to include Sally's start line stay - just in case I never get another one ;)

practise practise practise

The focus this week ended up being handling and more handling ...


Monday I helped Samara and Nancy with jump work for Duncan and Sophie - I think both handlers could see a difference in form (the mirrored wall makes it all so much easier to see)
We also used the new table - shaping is the best thing in the world - did tons of shaping with Duncan, Sally and Thea and all of them were thrilled to hit the table

Brody was DETERMINED to do teeter work ... so of course I indulged him

Tuesday Brandi set up some rear cross handling - tough for the green dogs and handlers but we all had fun.. also ran the teeter between two tables ... Sally is so drivey

It was a very late night but loads of fun

the brodster does it again!

and Thea starts to rock on too :)

we had a CPE trial today - Sally stayed home which I'm sure didn't thrill her but it did let me concentrate on the little guys ...

Brody went 5 for 5 - 5 qs in 5 classes.. at level 2 CPE so it's reassuring to have that in my toolbox for the Nationals now.. He really is a rockstar - he is so reliable and such fun to work with

His first class was a colours class- pick your course and run it - they are usually quite short and this one sure seemed fast ... 14 seconds was all it took him to run (despite having 38 seconds he could have used). He finished the course and all the way back to the car seemed to be looking for the next obstacle... he is too funny!

On to two standard classes .. again zip zap no faults and quite pretty - except the weave poles.. he did NOT like the weave poles much but he did them .. which is what matters ;)

The last classes were wildcard card classes..... ZOOM no problem at all for the Brodster - no faults, no bobbles and a lovely way to end the day ... in fact he was running so well I ran the last course without saying a word! Always good for me to focus on non verbal cues and it didn't phase Brody in the least.

Thea went 3 for 5 - only struggling with the dog walk (hardly as shock as she hasn't worked any element of it since the snow hit! and she actually did it beautifully the last time) She was confident, flying and having a great time!

Her two colours courses were great - fast and flowing and very focussed. She took 16 and 18 seconds respectively (with 41 seconds allowed!)Her first standard was great except for worrying about the dog walk .. the second run the dog walk was no problem but she was so excited about getting it she did two extra tunnels .. she is too cute- the little crowd pleaser had everybody eating out of her paws.

Her last class was the wildcard class - it took her just 7 seconds longer then Brody and she had to really think about the tire jump :)


It was great to run at a new venue - both of them weren't phased in the least .. and so nice to see familiar faces too .. CPE is such a friendly place to be ;)


loads of fun - and I'm exhausted :)

been too long ;)

Another Monday night practise is done ..

I made a speed circle and all the dogs had a blast working on the loop -

(it was actually an oval - tunnels on the ends and 2 jumps on one side; 3 jumps on the other) some neat ways to work on crosses (Brody sure hates rear crosses!) and a nice way to build momentum too

Duncan was doing some amazing distance work once he figured it all out!

Thea was a bit off her game to start - a week being Princess Thea with Dr Au does that to a girl I guess - but I put her away; worked Brody for a bit then she was raring to go again!

Sally was wired - and the barking shelties didn't help much (I was glad I had two advil in me!). She ran with focus and concentration though despite all the chaos!

getting fit

getting fit is hard work ...
Brody is really packing on muscle - he and I race each other down the road and I try to stretch him often too - spin, twirl, bow, crawl - each one gets him using muscles in different ways

when we are in the county we walk 2 kilometres at least 3 times a day ... Brody and Hank run free and cover a lot more distance then we do - Sally is on a flexie lead for most of the walk and runs free at the end... she covers at least twice as much ground as I do!

It's interesting applying my horse cross training principles to agility - the same principles make sense but I don't have nearly the same kind of charts I had when working with horses to figure it out.

I should keep better track of what I do so that I can replicate it if it works ;)