It MIGHT Be an Exciting Year

Training has begun in earnest for Pinch and Moto. Our 2012 goals (not set in stone, of course, since life happens):
- Both boyz get their Started titles in Herding; and
- Moto gets his Open title in Obedience;
- Pinch gets his Novice title.

It's very difficult training two dogs with completely different temperaments. My thanks to Renee for helping me remember this. At a fun match this weekend I wanted to take too big of a proofing step with Moto which could have had disastrous results. Pinch - definately a cool thing to do, but would've destroyed Moto's confidence. It was the putting of a mesh screen behind the Broad Jump, to help the dog to not cut corners when taking the jump. Had Moto stepped on that in a new place he probably would've thought ALL Broad jumps had scary things that would come out and get him. Sheesh. Good thing I have people there to remind me I can't train all dogs the same way! But his performance was great! Now by great I don't mean OTCH-worthy, he was upbeat and happy and he tried. That's all I want from him, is to have fun in the ring and for us to be a team. We accomplished that. We'll dip our toe into Open some time this Spring and I'm looking forward to it.
Pinch tried Utility for the very first time at a fun match. I was impressed and thrilled! I have high goals for Pinch in Obedience. I still have lots and lots of work to do and I just don't ever seem to have enough time. We'll try some Wildcard classes and UKC Novice and if all goes well, maybe late Spring I'll put him into Novice. I want him to be as prepared and ready as he can be, as I hope to have a long, thrilling Obedience career with him.
Herding is, well, interesting. Moto has an innate understanding of the stock, but his performances are hit-and-miss, depending on how he's feeling that day. Some days he's very keen and others, well, let's just say if the sheep get away from him, he'd rather just call it a day. Moto was simply spectacular yesterday. He really IS ready for the Started class. It's just about building up his confidence and exposing him to different situations. He can do it, he just needs to be reminded he CAN do it, and do it very well.
Pinch has tons of "want to" but needs to be taught more of the basics as he lacks the understanding of how to work stock. I'm a green handler myself so this gets dicey. Again, thanks to my trainer Cathy who stopped us when I was confusing my poor guy and helped get us back on track. He will do it, eventually, but I'm going to need help getting him there.
Moto may be ready to try in the Spring; Pinch, probably in the Fall. Since I'm not an experienced handler in Herding and I don't feel I "get it", I just hope for that wonderful qualifying green ribbon. Anything else is icing on the cake.
If we can accomplish these things, it will be an exciting year indeed!