Winter Training

What an exciting weekend it was for Obedience enthusiasts - the NOI, or AKC/Eukanuba National Obedience Invitational was this past weekend. I wasn't able to go, but am forever grateful to friend Laurie for calling me when she was able to with updates. It got more and more exciting as friend Kathy was 1st seed to go into the Finals on Sunday. Then, she kept advancing....to the final two...I was sooo nervous waiting for that last phone call. When the phone rang I was sooo hoping for good news and yes! It was to be: Kathy had won. THANK YOU Laurie for letting me know, and huge congrats to Kathy and Buoy on an amazing accomplishment.
It's cold outside, Christmas parties and events abound, so it makes for challenging training opportunities. We've done lots of indoors training but the "big stuff" (jumping, go-outs) need to be done outside. This takes time, which of late I haven't had a whole lot of. Things are settling down and today I'm hoping to do some outdoor training this afternoon.
Sweet Moto is stressing, really stressing, over the scent discrimination. We need to work hard on this and make it fun. You can see the relief on his face when he finds the correct article. He's learning to use his nose finally. Once he gets it, like everything else, he will be rock solid. Overall his work ethic is improving nicely - is it the thyroid pills or is he maturing, or is it a combination of both? Either way he may be ready for his Novice debut this Spring!
Now that we are moving on to more advanced work with Pinch, he's developing his own set of problems to solve. He LOVES to work, but is extremely impatient. I THOUGHT I was a fast trainer but this little guy has proved me so very wrong. I am way behind the eight ball with Pinch. Latest is the dumbbell retrieve. Again, kudos to Laurie for helping him get a nice start. I'm trying to move this along to be an actual retrieve now. Pinch has a nasty habit of putting his paw up when I have my hands out to take the dumbbell back. I have to give him information fast (uh-uh), when paw is lowered (goooooood) and take the dumbbell out. But sometimes I am too slow. We have to work on the Hold and keeping that paw down before we can move forward, or I'll have a mess of other problems to deal with.
I hope one, or both these boys will make it to the NOI some day. Shiloh and I had a blast when we went. Meantime, it's time to break out the heavy winter coat, gloves and hat to train outside today - brrrrr!