Using Compulsion

Sometimes, you just gotta do it - you have to use compulsion to make a point with your dog.  Moto had it happen to him at the fun match this weekend.  While I try to be mostly positive, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to give a correction, and even more thrilled with the way things turned out.
Moto was in the Open class, and just as we entered the ring there were several loud claps of thunder.
Moto does not like thunder.  He isn't terrified of it, but it does put him on "alert".  His ears were up and he was quickly surveying the ring.  I paused before entering, giving him simple things to do (pivots) and treating.  It worked somewhat.
First exercise was Retrieve on Flat.  I threw the dumbbell.  I sent Moto.  He went halfway, paused, and decided that was as far as he could go.  Running forward, I put my hand under his collar, we ran to the dumbbell, I gave him a light ear pinch and said "take it" (he did), ran backward, release.  Repeat throwing the dumbbell.  This time he did a beautiful job.  Good boy!
Next:  Drop On Recall.  I called.  He came.  Signal for the down.  No, he did not want to do that, he paused, and began a death march in.  Not good enough.  Back to where I said the Down command, pushed him into a Down, set up again.  This time his drop was a thing of beauty.  He came in after the down nice and crisp.  Good boy!
The rest of the run was qualifying.  It wasn't magnificent but he gave effort the rest of the time.  That's all I ever ask for. 
What was thrilling about it was a) having the opportunity to get in a correction, which is why fun matches are SO important; and b) the fact that Moto understood the correction and the job at hand, and did well after the correction.
Two weeks until our next Obedience trial.  Moto is entered in Open all three days.  I'd like for him to qualify 2 of the 3 days, and enjoy his time in the ring with me all three days.  That is our goal.

A Perfect Training Opportunity

I've learned from watching great trainers about seizing training opportunities as they happen.  Normally for me it's just little things but today was the BEST training opportunity EVER!
My training sessions depend on weather and what we need to work on.  Today it was far too windy to set up jumps so I decided precision heeling and "find heel" would be the work of the day.  The cold and windy weather was sending Pinch over the edge and precision was a tough assignment for him.  I believe he's in the Teen-Age/hormonal stage and I watch carefully for frustration and make sure he's absorbing what I'm trying to show him.  Here's a dog that will work his heart out and wants very much to be right; trying to keep him from a Fun Explosion is my challenge.
Moto was up next.  What's new and exciting for this guy is when he's on a down/stay waiting his turn, he's beginning to whimper and bark - he WANTS his turn NOW!  Very exciting and a new behavior for Mr. Moto.  He did his precision stuff just fine.  Now on to some heeling to test what we've just done.  Everything is going OK until all of a sudden he just leaves me and takes off!  Turns out our neighbor's dog has come by for a visit.  Mind you we are inside our fenced yard (which is cattle fencing so they have a clear view of our and neighboring property).  All our dogs love the neighbor dog which runs free 24/7, in fact I frequently bring her into our yard to join in and play.  Or if we're walking our property she comes and joins us.  It's a love fest all around.  But this time was different - Moto was working and he just plain abandoned me.  He got a strong correction for that and a collar scruff back into heel position.  He returned to heel, but he was focused on Shadow.  I did an abrupt about-turn which he completely missed.  Another collar scruff back into position.  Things were fine for a bit as Shadow sat to watch the show.  I took advantage and heeled toward her then turned left - CLUNK went Moto's head into my knee.  He got the message.  After that he understood his job and I had some of the best heeling I've ever gotten from him.  I was absolutely thrilled.
Now, if someone will please bring Shadow to the next show and place her ringside we'll be in great shape!

Moving Forward

I received a thought-provoking article written by a club member for publishing in our club's newsletter (I'm the editor). It's about being stuck between grieving for a beloved dog with whom you accomplished a lot and beginning again with a new dog. The person writes that the Fire in the Belly, the excitement, is pretty much gone for now, but they hope they'll find it again with the new pup.
I've heard that a lot lately from other folks, too. I'm glad for this article as I think a lot of people will relate to it.
Maybe it's our age. All of us have already had and lost our very first performance dogs, and are now on to our 2nd, 3rd or even 4th dog. And everyone I've spoken to, it's the loss of that first dog that is the hardest.
I definately can agree with that. While losing Shiloh - my dog who handed my my OTCH dream - was tragic, I seemed to be able to move forward with my training and showing. Not that I didn't grieve, mind you. Maybe it's because I have his son Moto that helped me through that hard time. It was losing Dusty that completely knocked the wind out of my sails. Moving through this grieving phase has been harder and longer. I'm not as emphatic about training. It's been a very difficult, sad part of my life, moving forward without my Dusty in it.
So being "stuck" is a very easy place to be in. Grieving is such a personal thing and everyone moves through it at a different way and pace. Losing two dogs so close together has made it very hard. When they all were alive I enjoyed having six dogs. Now I realize that, if life goes in its normal progression, I'm going to have to say good-bye four more times. Having dogs is the best part of my life but it's also the hardest.
I'm slowly readying the computer room for that coat of paint. I think in a few more weeks I'll be strong enough to finally take down those ribbons, pictures and trinkets Dusty and Shiloh have won over the years and gather their life stories into containers.
Then, maybe then, that fire in the belly will return. I look at Pinch and know he deserves the very best I can give him. He's ready for many adventures.
Moto has taken over as Heart Dog and stands at the ready to offer his big fuzzy body for comfort. He's really, really good at it.
Life is for living and I have four dogs deserving of all good things. Dusty and Shiloh wouldn't want me to be sad. As my article-writer said, they look forward to watching their new dog's performance in the ring returning a smile to their face.
I look forward to that, too.

Becoming Show Ready

I haven't shown competitively since 2006. To say I'm itching to step back into the show ring is an understatement. However, doing so when my dog is not ready would not make it a fun experience for either of us. I must be patient and do my homework and correctly assess when my dogs are ready. Here's the current status of Moto and Pinch.
Pinch
Here is a Star in the Making, but when the wheels come off, they come off big-time. I learned that showing him at the UKC trials. While each dog is different boy I've never had a dog quite like him. He's a blast to train, he's fun to show but he likes to examine ALL the parameters of every exercise, and all the parameters of each building block of each exercise. So everything, absolutely EVERYTHING, needs to be ring-tested before this dog is ready. Just when I've got one thing nailed down, there's something else that needs fixing. And some things need to be done every day to get it into muscle memory. I really and truly don't have enough time to do all the things that need to be done every day with this dog. I was hoping to bring him out in the spring, and now it's been delayed to fall. It may push back even further as he may need to mature. I'm impatient! It's hard.
Moto
Here's a dark horse that is emerging. I was absolutely thrilled with his Open B debut. He NQ'd by refusing to go over the high jump, as he decided he just didn't want to do it right then. BUT! His attitude was great. The judge told me afterward: "he broke a lot of hearts by NQ'ing. He's a lovely dog." MOTO! That was a wonderful thing to hear. No, he wouldn't have won the class. He wouldn't have even placed. That's not my goal with him. It's to have fun, and we did. People enjoyed watching us. That is winning. We'll try again at our upcoming Sheltie specialty in May. He still needs some tweaking, but that's really it. I'm seeing an attitude and intensity I've never seen in him before. While we may not have thrilling run-offs and placements, my excitement will come from watching an unsure, low-confidence, low-drive dog put forth effort and realize he IS a Good Boy and he CAN do it. What a valuable lesson we both are learning.
I'm being stretched as a trainer having two completely different dogs to train. It will be very interesting when they both are in the Open and Utility B classes together and I'll have to quickly switch gears and approaches to performance success on the fly.
I hope I can be a Good Trainer and know I CAN do it!

Time for Walls to Come Down

The bouquets are beginning to fade and the cards fall down along the mantle. It's getting time to gather up the sympathy cards people have sent for Dusty, and in a few more days, the flowers will need to go away, too. I just hate to do that as these items seem to keep Dusty closer to me.
Same with the "Walls Of Fame". In the computer room, there is one wall that was dedicated to Shiloh's pictures, certificates and ribbons, and the other wall was for Dusty. I sit here at the computer and look at these walls and it just reminds me that my precious dogs are now Bridgekids, and these are just memories now.
This room could use a fresh coat of paint, and to do so, it's time to take these things down. Each boy has his own large container in which to put all these things, along with all their paperwork. I was going through Dusty's and saw his hand-typed contract that started with "You have purchased a Westwind Shetland Sheepdog..." dated 1995. So much has changed since that happy day when I brought my very first puppy home.
But when you walk down life's road there are changes.
And, putting away my boys' things, while many tears will be shed, will make room for good things to come: Moto and Pinch both need a wall, and now there will be room for them.
Here's to saying thank you and good-bye to lives well-lived and very much loved, and hello to promising new adventures with my young ones.