She got everything but the stay on the table. She had the table, had the down, got up on two and wouldn’t lay back down.
So basically today she did everything but ran out of time. Of course, 90 seconds is a heck of a long time, and wouldn’t make for a Q.
She was with me the entire way, but her nose got caught a bunch of times. Really need to work on that this week! She did refuse the triple but eventually got over it. Time ran out when we were in the weaves.
But no wandering off!
We went to Rally last night, even though I was exhausted. Did get three turns in, and had two decent runs at the course. As always, we’re having problems with stays.
Today we’re waiting our turn for Agility, I really want to be out of Novice this weekend, but whatever goes, goes. Nothing I can really do about it, but do my best handling.
I’m planning on doing some facility rental and work on her sniffing. It’s really bad there now, and I am going to work on clicking for walking with her head up and finally walking around, with her head up and paying attention to me.
Had a decent Rally class but have to tell the funny first.
Three other dogs were in Rally class tonight. All of the herding breed variety. The instructor was commenting on how calm the Terv was (Belgium Tervenan for the non-dog people).
I mentioned that it was much calmer than BC's and I'd had three. I then said, the reason I like my beagles is that they had an off switch, and Macy immediately dropped into a down, rolled over on her side, with her ears spread behind her. She did everything BUT fall asleep.
She actually quit working in the middle of a try at the Rally course, so I put the food away, and sat down and watched the other dogs.
We had a dog that was new to training, and the instructor was trying to talk her into clicker training. I offered to do a demo, since she volunteered me at the beginning of class to show the left about turn.
I did a few touches with Macy and the target, then tried the new dog. Ended up handing Macy to the instructor so Macy wouldn't grab the other dog, and then handed the stuff to the other student to try.
Man, oh man, did Macy hate that and she did a fabulous job at the next two passes.
Was a good night and I learned something really important.
Actually her classes were good, but she and I were both off for the trial. We did have sunshine and I did stay outside most of the day, BUT it took forever to get to our turn.
They started with FAST and I had no idea how long that would take and left an hour later. Even ended up taking my cold weather gear off it was so warm, but we didn't get in our first run until way after 1:00 pm.
Next trial will probably be longer, can't remember if they are doing fast, but they are doing a Parade of Veterans. That's weekend after next.
Needless to say, no Qs and we're still in Novice. But I think we'll be out of Novice soon. She missed only the teeter — got on it and bailed, and then on Sunday, got the teeter but forgot the word "Sit". Said it thirty or so times, tryed getting her to down, tried getting her to touch, nothing worked.
We dropped into a different class last week, and it was good, but no near as good as the Wednesday night, 8:00 pm class — which is a REALLY good thing since we ended up getting moved into that class, this Monday.
Rally class is going really well — we are going to a signs class the half hour before for 4 weeks and I am getting better at figuring out the signs. We're having a periannal problem, stays, but all the moving stuff is going well.
I do focus on a heads up heeling but guess what gets most beagles? Yep the nose.
We also go to go to a fun match held at the facility where most of our trials are held. That really boosted our confidence level, as I wasn't stressing over the course. I also think that I have figured out how to get her nose back — it got caught several times, which does happen in a dirt horse barn. I picked her up once and that really bothered her, but walking towards her helps too. I don't think I want to try to run towards her, but we'll see. And if the run is all ready an NQ, I will pick her up.
Agility class tonight was good. I screwed up one course, but since it was a long one, and I just zigged instead of zagged, it wasn't too bad. Macy is a bit challenged since most of the dogs are competing in Excellent but it did work out okay and if I focus on her, I don't lose her as bad as I could.
Looking forward to DOTC and two chances at getting out of Novice finally. We only need one leg, which I confirmed on the AKC website today.
http://www.sitstay.com/dog/supplies/servlet/CategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&categoryId=25402&top=Y - These are their clearance items.
They have a huge range of supplies for clicker training, for clickers, to targets, to training books and videos.
Super fast service, and really nice people. I've known them as long as I have known anyone on the internet!
We got to go to a more advanced class — the dogs were competing in Open and Excellent. Macy did REALLY well, got distracted where the puppies were trained, but hey, they left cookies in the dirt.
We also went to a new class to us, I've decided to get more serious about Rally, and went to a 1/2 sign familization class, and I think we'll do that for just the next six weeks. I am even thinking about looking at the Rally schedule and see about when I might want to enter.
She needs to learn how to stay but then she doesn't do that for agility either, and learn some more heeling skills, but she is doing well. She really seems to like it.
Macy and I have three weeks before our next trial. I want to work on two things extensively. The first is my weight. There is no denying that my weight affects how she runs. I’ve stayed at the same weight for a over a month, and I need to change that – that was the point of the lap band surgery.
I also need to work on her focus. Rally is helping that and I also need to work on her stays. So yes, I’ve been working on all of this all along.
Our Q rate over the last three weekends was 25%, which is a whole lot better than it was. We’ve got two more trials this season, and I’d like to be out of Novice. The good news is that we only need one more leg. Even better, I’d like to be out of Open, but that probably isn’t possible.
The sad thing, is that I don't know until she's in the ring.
Today is a good example. We had a horrible Open JWW run. Awful, and everyone said her nose was completely down and she definately wasn't listening.
Part of it is the cold. I am so stiff from the cold I can barely move. We've had two days of overcasts 40 degrees and that barn just stays cold. So I understand that she can't be in the game.
However, she had a fabulous Standard run. And the funny part was that I was just about ready to leave, and kept saying I was going to.
By the way, here is a major irritation on my part. Someone decided to check in the Novice dogs and a bunch had decided to leave. Like there was an 8" dog checked in we couldn't find. Besides for me, I have a routine. I watch the course build, walk it in my head, check in, walk the course, go get my dog. It's part of me putting my own head in the ring. Having a bunch of dogs checked in who aren't there is irritating because the ring steward has to find them.
Back to the run … The only difference I can see was that she was really throwing behaviors and asking for food. Hate that little impatient bark, and usually put up the food as I don't want another criticizer.
However, she was taking everything I was throwing out her, and just a moments hesitation on her problem obstacles, in fact, she threw herself onto the teeter and it just took a moment of concentration to get her in the paint. Lovely. Weaves sucked, had to sniff each pole, but that's okay we were well under time according to the peanut gallery.
She took a second place, just seconds behind a Papillion and ran clean. Very nice! We need one more Novice Q.