Well, I’ve managed to get behind again. So, here’s a rundown…
The Greg Derrett seminar was fantastic. I definitely got some great things to work on to hopefully get Trip where I want her to be. We honestly did better then I thought we would, considering I’m in rehab for early front cross cues and a card-carrying flicker. 🙂 We’ve definitely made some improvement, though will likely never be perfect. I hope to do better in my consistency with Ticket.
Our first USDAA trial of the year went well, though it really illustrated to me how Trip is still not in great condition. Jumping 16″ was a bit of a struggle with so many runs, and she was taking more strides and not driving forward quite as well. She still managed to make a dent in legs she needs for her ADCH, as well as getting her first Tournament Q (Steeplechase of course). Grand Prix is going to be the death of me. 🙂 Since that show, I’ve been focusing on Trip’s condition, running her up hills, and I’ve started doing the therapy ball with her. I think part of her problem is her “core” strength is gone after puppies, so hopefully the ball will help us with that.
We continue to do well in AKC. Trip and I have been very connected, and she’s now at 15 QQs towards MACH2. Lyly had a smashing weekend at NADFA, and went 4/4–she now only needs 4 QQs for HER MACH. She’s certainly come a long way 🙂 Mardi is still struggling, but things might be looking up. She actually got a Q in JWW this weekend, and weaved 2/4 runs. She doesn’t have any other trials before Nationals, so I’ll just have to see how she does…
Ticket is still a monster, but I love her personality. She’s never met a stranger, person or dog. She loves to tug, and switches back and forth between toys and food very well. She’s very focused on me when it’s time to “work.” I’ve decided to do 1RTO for her dogwalk contact. I think it gives me the best shot at teaching her to drive to the bottom quickly, which is what I’m looking for. I will do a running aframe, and 4 feet on the teeter.
Our future schedule for the next couple of months is very full. I’m having to balance AKC and USDAA, since I want to take Trip to USDAA Nationals this year, and she’s got to get qualified. So, I’ll be doing 3 USDAA trials, with AKC Nationals sandwiched in-between. I’m also trying to get Trip and Lyly prepared for World Team Tryouts in May. It never seems to end. 🙂
Here are some videos from our last couple of shows…
Agility by .
Wow, been awhile. January was a pretty good month. 🙂 We had 3 agility trials, that first one in San Antonio, and two local ones. All of the dogs did well, though we’re fighting some health issues.
Trip had moments of brilliance, and moments of ONE DARN THING going wrong. About what I expected after her layoff. She earned another QQ, #13 towards her MACH2, and had all 1st place runs. Her dogwalk has been brilliant–ever since I started training with this wire hoop-gizmo, it has looked amazing. I’m hopeful it will continue to hold up. I think the real test will be the USDAA trial in two weeks, where we will have many more opportunities for dogwalks over the weekend.
Mardi has been struggling physically. She has battled some front end issues over the last couple of years, and they seem to be resurfacing. She earned a Triple Q, and a couple of other Qs scattered out, but isn’t running like herself. She particularly struggles with the weave poles, which isn’t like her. So, she’s currently on crate rest for several weeks, and only has two shows left before Nationals. Hopefully she’ll bounce back ok with some rest. I took xrays of everything, and there just isn’t anything there, so I really feel like this is a soft-tissue injury. Unfortunately, those just need time. Luckily, since I don’t do much USDAA with her since her ADCH, she gets a few extra weekends off. 🙂
Shiner was supposed to compete in January, but instead luxated his superficial digital flexor tendon. He has had surgery to repair it, and is on the mend, but I am retiring him from agility for good. He actually had the same injury on the opposite leg in 2003 (right after I started vet school), and came back from it with no problem, but I really don’t see the need to push him into a return now. He’s achieved everything I’ve ever wanted from him, and he’s earned his spot on the couch. Maybe some obedience or some more Rally in our future, if I can ever bring myself to train it.
Ticket is now 12 weeks old, and an absolute monster. A gorgeous monster, but still, one bad puppy. I don’t remember Trip being this bad! But I’m having a lot of fun. I haven’t been rushing to teach her a lot, honestly, I’ve just been enjoying her being a puppy. I’ve been doing my first shaping, and she has a great down and sit with eye contact. We’re currently working on nose touches to my hand. I really need to get working on crate games, because that’s one place where she really is a monster, when she’s not getting her way.
This weekend Trip and I will be working two days with Greg Derrett. I’m really looking forward to it, and I’m hopeful that we will get some information to help us at Nationals and Tryouts.
Here’s some video of Trip, and some Ticket photos…
Well, Trip made her return to agility this past weekend, and she was brilliant. I was just planning on enjoying it, and I did, but WAY better then I thought we’d be. Other then being completely frozen, we had a great time.
Trip went 4/4, with three 1st place runs and one 2nd place. Her dogwalks were AWESOME–3 strides right through the yellow. Her teeters were solid, which I was worried about because she was SO high about doing agilty again. But no worries there, either. We did have some wide turns on some front crosses, and one slow sit, but other then that, she was darn near perfect. I’m so proud of her, and will continue to work on getting her tuned up for Nationals and World Team Tryouts.
Here’s the video from the weekend:
