Going Forward and Backward

It's a lovely cold day in the Midwest. I had trouble sleeping and what with it being my birthday today hubby let me sleep in. This is NOT good (although I can't be angry, his intentions are good!) as this puts me waaaaay behind schedule. So only time to work some fine-tuning with the dogs. It is very time consuming to train THREE dogs at once. Shiloh worked the glove #3 pivot. I found a huge hole in my training in that I never taught him how to move his rear. He can walk backward heeling, but he cannot pivot. Gosh no wonder we always lose points on glove #3!
Blitz just continues to be amazing and eager. He is a thrill to train. We did some fronts and finishes with him. His biggest problem is crooked sits so I'm helping him learn the "straight" command. He tries so hard and is so excited.
Moto....*sigh*. It is hard to be patient with him. Yesterday I was excited in that when playing with the dogs, for the first time ever he retrieved the ball. Not once, but several times. I thought we had a breakthrough. The dumbbell though is still a huge problem. He does not realize that he has to come TO it. I found myself getting frustrated and I could see he felt it so we stopped and did some more fun, moving stuff (some heeling and recalls). Then I decided to throw the dumbbell with all five dogs present. Shiloh, Dusty and Blitz all fought to get it. Moto saw this and I was hoping he'd fight to get it, too. Then I realized Daisy was trying to take over the game and wouldn't let Moto play. So I removed everyone but just Shiloh and Moto. I'd throw the dumbbell, Shiloh would get it and get rewarded with tons of praise and a treat. Still, Moto didn't try to get it. So I put the dumbbell on the ground, leashed him and said "take it" and moved him to it on lead. He did it and brought it back (we are talking about 1' of freedom). I praised enthusiastically and treated. We did this three times with Shiloh screaming to get it. Finished with Shiloh getting the dumbbell, showed it to Moto, played with it myself so that he was jumping to it, and then I put it away. I need to do this several times a day. Maybe. My biggest fear is putting a negative connotation with the dumbbell. But, we HAVE to get a retrieve. Without it I can't move on to scent discrimination or gloves.
Meanwhile heeling is coming along nicely. He needs to go to the prong as he is forging (a good problem to have). He's learning he has to pay attention as I'm upping the ante. He is also getting his finishes and fronts are coming along. So much more to teach, not enough time!

Back to Training

After a good month off the weather broke and I got out all the training gear and trained Shiloh, Blitz and Moto. I want to see where these dogs are at and if I can show any of them in our upcoming dog club's show in March.
Shiloh: Utility only, as he's a very naughty dog in Open (goes and visits other dogs - thank God it happened after the OTCH). Some minor tuning up in heeling, fronts and finishes. He's very willing to work. Articles were fantastic. Turn to glove #3 is very nasty and will need a LOT fo work. Signals - while correct - have a new problem: he creeps on each one. It could be a fluke but I don't want it to happen twice. We are doing some major backchaining to straighten that out. Everything else is just minor tweaks. He is enjoying himself. I am hopeful he can show in March.
Blitz: maybe. His heeling is so awesome. He wants to work so bad and is so eager. I can't train him too hard as he tires easy. Everything will depend on his health. But gosh, he feels good, his coat feels the best it's ever felt - soft and his skin is supple. He still is taking lots of medications and it's hard to tell if he can hold it together long enough to go through all the exercises AND sits and downs. I'll proceed carefully but he needs serious fine-tuning if we are going to go into Novice with him.
Moto was thrilling! He was very eager. Of course, it helped that he had to sit in his crate and watch Shiloh and Blitz having so much fun. He picked up pretty much where we left off. I haven't introduced the dumbbell again, will do that tomorrow. But pivots and laterals and all those little bells and whistles heeling stuff was great, as was his heeling. Again, not precise, I want attention and attitude and he gave me what I asked for. Maybe, maybe we can do rally novice with him.
It's to be gorgeous all week so I'm looking forward to training every day. There is a sho n go on Saturday and all three boys are entered.

Poopsicles

It's been subzero here for several days now and I've noticed an interesting - or rather disgusting - trend with my dogs. Of course their poop freezes, it's been delightful chipping them off the ground and into the bucket. For whatever reason the dogs now view these as frozen treats. When it's -20 outside (wind chill factor) one does not feel like running outside and scooping up poop. In fact, you CAN'T run outside as you need to get dressed just to go outside, leaving just the eyes exposed. It's so cold my eyes tear, and then the tears freeze. Not fun. Anyway this has been a Snack Bonanza for the dogs. My new creed is "the poop bucket is NOT a snack bin" but they don't seem to listen.
On the plus side it snowed last night, so we will have a White Christmas. This is Moto's first Christmas and yes even the dogs get presents. All is done so now it's just time to visit friends and family, continue the feasting and enjoy the holidays.
I hope everyone out there does same.
Back to training and training blog notes after the Holidays.

NOI Musings

The Eukanuba National Championship has come and gone this past weekend. Much hoopla and television time was devoted to conformation and agility. Obedience, sadly, continues to be the red-headed stepchild of the AKC.
If it were not for some loyal obedience folks with a laptop, those of us who were unable to attend would not have known who made it to the finals, and who finally won. AKC has made it quite clear they are not going to devote much time to the sport until - as they say - "obedience has a wider following."
Something needs to be done about this, and fast. I am hoping to meet with one of the AKC board members in '09 and see if we can develop a game plan of some sort. Obedience does not need to be dumbed-down, it does not need more titles, and perhaps it doesn't even need any significant change. What needs to be changed is how it is marketed (this is all just my opinion of course). Somehow Obedience is viewed as "boring". No, it's not exciting like a basketball game, full of action, but look how many millions of people watch golf!
People need to be inspired to join the sport. I think a top-down change involving the AKC getting on board with a proper marketing program is a good beginning. Wish me luck, change doesn't happen quickly or easily but for the sake of Obedience, it NEEDS to change.

Five dogs and a Christmas Tree

It sure is great to be back home again. I've been in California (visiting Mom and sister & family) then on to Arizona (visiting daughter & family) and am now back home, jet-lagged and extremely exhausted but happy to be in my own bed again.
Got home late afternoon and after dinner I insisted we put up the Christmas tree and decorate the home. After all, it's only once a year so I want all the festivities to begin as soon as possible!
We have one of those trees-in-a-box that you just pull out and there it is, ready to decorate. It's always fun bringing up the ornaments - some of which we've had since our childhood - and all the memories that come with them.
However, I'd forgotten what it's like to have Christmas trees, ornaments, garlands, and lights with puppies around. Blitz was ill last year so we didn't have an accurate Puppy Representation. Moto filled in that spot this year getting into everything with his big nose, tangling himself in garland, knocking over the tree several times, and then trying to pull off some of the more interesting looking ornaments. Of course all the commotion excited the other dogs who did a great job running around the house barking. It was the liveliest Christmas decorating we've had for quite some time!
In the end the tree finally got decorated, nothing broke and things look very nice around the house.
I'm hoping to get some rest and begin training tomorrow. My goal is to enter Shiloh, Blitz and Moto in our March trial. Shiloh will do Utility B, Blitz Novice B and Moto Pre-Novice. So I need to get busy!