tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11134456430129206642024-03-14T01:25:40.964-04:00Northfield NatterThis contains a variety of essays, generally related to dog training of some sort, since that is my profession and my passion, as it's been since 1990. - written by Adele YunckAdele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-59746012154559115112020-03-25T15:21:00.003-04:002020-03-25T15:21:50.104-04:00Circuit Strength Training with Your Dog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As more and more of us around the world are staying home to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, those of us who are used to going away from home to train our dogs on a regular basis are struggling to keep up the training at home. I am incredibly blessed to have a huge building on my property, which, in normal times, houses my dog training school, Northfield Dog Training. Because of the spreading virus, I shut down all operations other than cleaning on Sunday March 15. Indefinitely. That is so surreal to contemplate.<br />
With all the sudden spare time on my hands, I have been training my dogs nearly every day. We have four: 8 year old Sonic (Flat-Coated Retriever), nearly 6 year old Jag (Border Terrier), Sonic’s 4 year old son Tigger and 2 year old daughter Clipper. I have been concentrating on obedience all winter. Clipper is my husband’s first-ever dog that he has trained, and they recently earned their Rally Intermediate title, as well as a couple of Advanced legs. I train Clipper for hunt tests and show her in conformation. I like to think I have finally really committed to teaching her Scent Discrimination, as I like them to know that before doing Force to Pile for her field work. I’ve also been starting her on basic handling for field and she is loving it.<br />
<br />
This morning, I decided to do some fitness-related exercises with them. Many years ago - maybe 10? - when my FCR Gryffin was injured and then did rehab work, I came up with the idea of doing circuit training of the various exercises to keep it fun. I even ran some classes in it for a while. Several of the exercises are things I teach my puppies/young dogs as part of their obedience training. Others are tricks I taught specifically for the circuit work.<br />
The basic idea is to first warm your dog up. I chose to warm them up for about 3 minutes today. Five might be better. Then I did given exercise for 30 seconds, then walked/heeled for 30 seconds, then went on to a different exercise, then walk/heel, etc. All in all, we did 12 different exercises, then did some jumping work, and then finally, I stretched their front and bag legs.<br />
I found a free app called “Interval Timer - HIIT workouts” on the Apple App Store. After downloading it to my phone, I filled in the times that I wanted (3 minute warm up, 30 second each for the interval cycles, and 12 sets). It worked great for what I was doing.<br />
<br />
Here are the exercises/tricks that I did today:<br />
<b>Back - </b>dog moving backwards, whether in front of you or in heel position. Here are two videos of Sonic's early backing up lessons:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4DKuzLbrUw" target="_blank">Back up lesson 1</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TQ6JT3nltk" target="_blank">Back up one week later</a><br />
<b>Perch work - </b>turn on the forehand with the front paws up on a 4 quart rubber feed tub or a homemade perch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH02HL39_HQOYtZRL_8H1nfwRjyUZD2tqJlZC9vrastGyVitpRY9pHoqz1iQS6PlrL-Q1e14RWu4qkcUrndkWtBiqzUGkOZCv0gvy5dZOLmABZxw0HeoRGuS3l6Bmf8k4ecNGn127Gr5s/s1600/E0B80F97-24F1-4B81-A146-AF79A1FC854A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH02HL39_HQOYtZRL_8H1nfwRjyUZD2tqJlZC9vrastGyVitpRY9pHoqz1iQS6PlrL-Q1e14RWu4qkcUrndkWtBiqzUGkOZCv0gvy5dZOLmABZxw0HeoRGuS3l6Bmf8k4ecNGn127Gr5s/s320/E0B80F97-24F1-4B81-A146-AF79A1FC854A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is a 4-quart feed tub I bought on Amazon, but they are also available at Tractor Supply.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E0NaOSwj0X5w3dxeLa1pYmk-JrSaaeiVbrr7MkooZPDoFvM2xXLRImukqr_m14a2wzoinI234reWkbbQINuf5S42ASly9ThJQ9hOpDnQcEvfBucXqYwGFmqQ5-gyyX5SEKx5LdzlyiE/s1600/FEE234C6-5C4F-48A7-A99F-96788E6B5002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E0NaOSwj0X5w3dxeLa1pYmk-JrSaaeiVbrr7MkooZPDoFvM2xXLRImukqr_m14a2wzoinI234reWkbbQINuf5S42ASly9ThJQ9hOpDnQcEvfBucXqYwGFmqQ5-gyyX5SEKx5LdzlyiE/s320/FEE234C6-5C4F-48A7-A99F-96788E6B5002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was made from a puzzle piece of matting. I used a salad plate and a sharp utility knife to cut out the circles, then taped them together.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Beg or sit pretty</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Crawl - </b>with the FCRs, I use 3 chairs lined up that they can crawl under. Sonic remembered how to do this. Tigger was clueless, so we just worked with a single chair.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09ohOiOfOHKukVht4jmsa4GDes7sKih1lVNsFRm7e-KrIZfyPQRuKIZTyxpWRsbXXzYMLgwsM-z47OtD59oxGZduvcWJ9_EqaEl-ychdSjWlTbh6Q1gFKB_SOHhmlm8IcrFzfM-xMEoA/s1600/B4D9AB61-319E-49BA-8F3C-003024F52BC4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09ohOiOfOHKukVht4jmsa4GDes7sKih1lVNsFRm7e-KrIZfyPQRuKIZTyxpWRsbXXzYMLgwsM-z47OtD59oxGZduvcWJ9_EqaEl-ychdSjWlTbh6Q1gFKB_SOHhmlm8IcrFzfM-xMEoA/s320/B4D9AB61-319E-49BA-8F3C-003024F52BC4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Cavaletties - </b>I got the half pipes in the photo from a guy who was in a networking group I used to belong to. He did window tinting with plastic film, and one day asked if anyone could use the plastic tubes on which the film came. He was happy to give me a whole bunch of them, which I then had someone cut in half for me. There are many ways in which I use them for training my dogs and in classes. I had them set 24” apart on center, as my FCRs are 24” tall and that makes for a nice trot through for them. In the past, when I was doing this regularly with Sonic, I gradually added a few inches between the tubes to get her extending ing her trot.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnW_0o1yjKELXTlyvqJEt8_eAYEh1XP25HHwTqg9qbVVwSG1oGw2rKU3n2T883JKypiwRPCkRU-r-5FF4IQaMNnIKnr42UxO7aEE0Iw-D4-_LTZAgxXBv65DSHv_BeHRPcs9kmQj7ZWRc/s1600/E47488A9-85F6-41EB-A23E-A833CB29E6C7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnW_0o1yjKELXTlyvqJEt8_eAYEh1XP25HHwTqg9qbVVwSG1oGw2rKU3n2T883JKypiwRPCkRU-r-5FF4IQaMNnIKnr42UxO7aEE0Iw-D4-_LTZAgxXBv65DSHv_BeHRPcs9kmQj7ZWRc/s320/E47488A9-85F6-41EB-A23E-A833CB29E6C7.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Roll over - </b>Sonic remembered reasonably well how to do this. Both boys were clueless. We just spent the 30 seconds trying to get in a few repetitions. This needs work!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Wave - </b>I first teach my dogs to touch a target (plastic lid) with their front paws. You can also just have your dog target your hand with his paw. I hold the lid higher and higher, and gradually start “clicking” (I more often use a marker word) <i>before </i>he actually hits the target. I haven’t ever gotten any of my dogs to really hold a paw up in the air. They do more of a swiping motion.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7btemFiIITIJswj4XsI7dgcLgg4fGNC8-yn0kuVvndat4ZwkjzTewTyS_1tRkRNiGSJ97i03_85jV_59-IAOJpXBECebxpPg6c0g-S30ZJIRjKX6V0jPZqbB8dmvMg7co99LaHAb3rnk/s1600/4E2D8BA2-2632-45E0-9D63-5137B76ED282.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7btemFiIITIJswj4XsI7dgcLgg4fGNC8-yn0kuVvndat4ZwkjzTewTyS_1tRkRNiGSJ97i03_85jV_59-IAOJpXBECebxpPg6c0g-S30ZJIRjKX6V0jPZqbB8dmvMg7co99LaHAb3rnk/s320/4E2D8BA2-2632-45E0-9D63-5137B76ED282.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lSWZUDX9B0" target="_blank">Here is a video </a>of Sonic learning how to touch a target with a front paw.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Play Bow - </b>front end on floor, rear in the air. I keep my left forearm in front of my dog’s knees while I lure them into a bowing position.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Disk sit - </b>I have them sit on a FitPaws disk. Don’t have one? How about a pillow or couch cushion? Or an air mattress? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV27ya52B_ibitsjbzq_98chVpCMn3_DMVCl7L2T1P5iW6rpbW3iBQ4sHdJNnaeqYOCDf0xjBLe9DMEomES7sMNuox3z6gDbKev0-gVRCdhXOl7KEq2PzKlLxqNc4CC0Gd9RzGYukx4Q/s1600/674EEFFC-AEF4-4FF3-A3C8-896D55B0536B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV27ya52B_ibitsjbzq_98chVpCMn3_DMVCl7L2T1P5iW6rpbW3iBQ4sHdJNnaeqYOCDf0xjBLe9DMEomES7sMNuox3z6gDbKev0-gVRCdhXOl7KEq2PzKlLxqNc4CC0Gd9RzGYukx4Q/s320/674EEFFC-AEF4-4FF3-A3C8-896D55B0536B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Position change work - </b>I have them cycle through sit/down/stand in all the 6 different possible orders. It builds fluency, and they are SO important for advanced obedience work, not to mention Rally Excellent and Master. I have been using this 2 x 4 U with Sonic to help her stay in place. Her down from a sit has never been a consistent fold-back down and this is helping her do it. I figure we might as well work on this consistently right now as we have time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFa46N2JrMOJIU3KYzhsYzjfE9TTUVawx9umItvhqtzFFfaktd0fJMaMsct6O8Px2m1wBNW-8LsGiZ9bWnkuVleCzc7P6M32brH3I3AtalnSyqJ1efp4cW-1CUzsJVHG3c3i6mvd78ms/s1600/C11282A4-1403-4120-A6CE-9E8EB2043A93.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFa46N2JrMOJIU3KYzhsYzjfE9TTUVawx9umItvhqtzFFfaktd0fJMaMsct6O8Px2m1wBNW-8LsGiZ9bWnkuVleCzc7P6M32brH3I3AtalnSyqJ1efp4cW-1CUzsJVHG3c3i6mvd78ms/s320/C11282A4-1403-4120-A6CE-9E8EB2043A93.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXLZLq8NpJQ" target="_blank">Introducing position changes</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Sidepass to left and right </b>- I had their front paws up on a set of small platforms lined up end to end. In the past, I’ve done this with their front paws in half of an extension ladder. You can also do it with no prop at all, either in front of you (as I was doing) or in heel position.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EHce5kYHEAgFRl04c9vTd3rOli4gBPGk-vjRIApKpwj_hgWAYWOFmak1UyWnStn2FRxD1Ahe0BBZ9R4RRZv3ozQ200G7Y9LwmmpHdfnt5a_s5-o6Du4VqXWmfFOKh5Rz5Ebq-jWMirY/s1600/4047D6D3-EC41-497D-A785-AEA81B747DF6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EHce5kYHEAgFRl04c9vTd3rOli4gBPGk-vjRIApKpwj_hgWAYWOFmak1UyWnStn2FRxD1Ahe0BBZ9R4RRZv3ozQ200G7Y9LwmmpHdfnt5a_s5-o6Du4VqXWmfFOKh5Rz5Ebq-jWMirY/s320/4047D6D3-EC41-497D-A785-AEA81B747DF6.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inDRnInkHGI" target="_blank">Teaching side pass right</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85jjx2zmBC8" target="_blank">Teaching side pass left</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Sit on platform, knees over toes - </b>this is something I learned in an on-line course I took with Petra Ford several years ago.</div>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-88723069772524898862018-01-02T17:15:00.000-05:002018-01-02T17:15:26.505-05:002018 Dog Goals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Sonic - 6 years</span></div>
<div>
Sonic will hopefully have a litter of puppies in late February, so we won’t be competing much in the first half of 2018. </div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Puppies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">FCRSA National in May</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Master</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">OB & UB</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Gun dog Sweepstake</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Field trial bitches</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Obedience-related</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">NOC June? Likelihood of being in season may eliminate this as a goal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Open B 1st</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">UDX3</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> - need 8 more legs for this</span></li>
<li>OM4 - need about 25 more points</li>
<li>OM5</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">OTCh - ended 2017 with 84 points, still needing Open B 1st</span></li>
</ul>
<li>Field-related</li>
<ul>
<li>Let her enjoy herself</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Jag - 3 years</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">BTCA in September</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Obedience-related</span></li>
<ul>
<li>UDX</li>
<li>OM1</li>
<li>OM2</li>
<li>OTCh points</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Tigger - 22 months</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">FCRSA National</span></li>
<ul>
<li>BN</li>
<li>Rally</li>
<li>WCX</li>
<li>Senior?</li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Field-related</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Finish Swim-by</span></li>
<li>SH</li>
<li>WCX</li>
<li>Make progress on Master concepts</li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Obedience related</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Master Rally title</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">BN</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Teach him to jump</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Matching in Novice and Open by end of the year</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-39924581757457325612018-01-02T11:25:00.002-05:002018-01-02T17:13:37.987-05:002017 Goal Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For some reason, I didn't publish my goal review at the end of 2016, nor my goals for 2017. Here I am, getting back on track.<br />
<br />
The things in blue were accomplished. The things in pink were started. Those in black were not done. Other than the BTCA National, I did not do any other agility with Jag, and don't see me doing anymore any time soon. Too much other stuff I'd rather do.<br />
<br />
Overall, it was an excellent year of competition with the dogs. Sonic had an unprecedented qualifying streak, passing every Open class from October 2016 up through the trials before the NOC. She also passed Utility each time we showed from January-March. The wheels fell off a bit after the NOC, but still overall, I think she had a better Q rate than I've ever had with prior dogs.<br />
<br />
Jag made tremendous progress from where he was in December 2016, with the icing on the cake winning a Utility B class - something I haven't done since February 2015 - for 10 OTCh points 2 weeks after finishing his UD.<br />
<br />
Once I focused on Tigger, starting after the FCRSA National in May, he really came into his own with his field work. His obedience work is still very much a work in progress. I think I'm getting him figured out, but only time will tell.<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Sonic - 5 years</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 14px;">I plan to devote at least the first 1/3 of the year to obedience, heading into the NOC tournament, and most likely at least through May (National Specialty). Sonic seemed very happy to be back showing in obedience again. </span></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">FCRSA National in May - OB - NQ :-(, UB 2nd place, MH - PASS!</span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">, WCX - pass, Field trial bitches - zippo, gun dog sweeps - 1st place MH bitches!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px; text-decoration: line-through;">FCRSC National - NB, Open bitches (Wendy?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Obedience-related</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">NOC </span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">March 25</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">/</span></span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">26 - Sonic passed everything on day one except the dratted sit stay. Super proud of both of us. We worked very hard for this event and had a blast attending.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Open B 1st</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">UDX - need 2 more legs to finish - leg </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">9 - 2/10/17</span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">; leg </span><a href="tel:10%20-%202/11/17" style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">10 - 2/11/17</a></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">UDX2</span> - </span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">leg </span><a href="tel:11%20-%202/12/17" style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">11 - 2/12/17</a><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">, leg 12 - </span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">2/25</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">, leg 13 - </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">2/26</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">, leg 14 - </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">3/11</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">, leg 15 - </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">3/12</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">, leg 16 - </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">4/15</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">, leg 17 - </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">4/16</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">, leg 18 </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">5/26</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">,</span></span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;"> leg 19 10/8, leg 20 10/21</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">UDX3</span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;"> - leg 21 10/22; leg 22 11/26; </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">OM2 -</span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">finished 2/10/17</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">OM3 - finished 4/16/16</span></span></li>
<li>OM4 - my records show 171 points towards OM4. She came in season right before last weekend when I’d hoped to finish it.</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">OTCh - ended 2016 with 69 points, needing Open B 1st; ended 2017 with 84 points, <i>still</i> needing an Open B 1st</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Field-related</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Train at Jorgensen’s weekly</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Train with Terri P regularly</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Get marking back on track</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Improve understanding of hip-pocket doubles</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Passed all 4 Master tests we entered.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Jag - 2 years</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">BTCA in April - NB, OB, OA, OJWW, T2B</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Obedience-related</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">GN February-April</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Novice B (final time) and Open B (1st time) at BTCA National in April in Florida - HIT out of Novice B class</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">CDX April-July - earned </span>5/25-5/26<span style="color: #0433ff;"> at Kazoo cluster 196, 195.5, 195</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Ready for Utility by Marshbanks in October</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">UD</span> - <span style="color: #0433ff;">leg 1 10/8/17; leg 2 10/21/17; leg 3 11/26/17;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Wasn’t a goal, but he got a UB 1st place and 10 OTCh points on 12/9/17!</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Agility-related</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Practice weaves on a consistent basis - have poles set up in back yard in warmer months, and work on hard entries.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Work on obstacle discrimination</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">OA</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">OAJ</span></li>
<li>NF</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Tigger - 10 months</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">FCRSA National - Show in:</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Puppy Sweeps - zippo</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Bred-by - zippo</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Rally novice - 1st leg, 1st place (54 dog class!), 100+</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">WC - passed!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">JH - Passed! leg 1</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Field-related</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 14px;">Finish Force Fetch March </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Whistle sits - started March - lots more in June</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Pile work</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">FTP</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Water force - June</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Finish collar conditioning - obedience (heeling, whistle sits, FTP, burn out of the hole) June</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">T and TT - teach him to handle - </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">started teaching casting in April, T in June</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Pattern Blinds - started in mid-August</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Blind drills</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: magenta;">Swim-by -</span><span style="color: blue;"> August and September - did a lot of work, but not QUITE there </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">WC - May 14, 2017 @ FCRSA National</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">JH - first leg at FCRSA; leg 2 at July MI Flyways; leg 3 </span><span style="color: blue;">8/19; title 8/20 a</span><span style="color: #0433ff;">t MI Flyways</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Develop marking skills</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Lengthen singles</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Double concepts</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Singles in complex set ups</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Obedience related</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Teach him to heel!</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: blue;">Rhythm heeling</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue;">Turns</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue;">Halts</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue;">Figure 8’s</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue;">Pace changes</span></li>
<li>Proofing</li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Off-leash - for Rally October/November</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Continue with PF exercises</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: blue;">Rally titles -</span> <span style="color: #0433ff;">RN 10/6/17; RA 1 (10/21) RA 2 (10/22); RA 3 (11/18); RE 1 (11/18); RE 2 & 3 (12/8)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">BN - did not even try. I didn't spend a ton of time on obedience with him, as I concentrated on field.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: magenta;">Teach him to jump</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-87691782781459054102016-01-01T11:56:00.001-05:002016-01-01T12:09:57.151-05:002016 Goals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For years, I have enjoyed the process of reviewing the waning year and how I did with goals I set the previous holiday season and setting my goals for the upcoming year. Here are my goals for 2016:<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<b>Myself</b></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 20px;">
<li>Website - change payment method. I have just GOT to get this done, for so many reasons. Or hire it done.</li>
<li>Continue exercise challenge - aim for 200 workouts in 2016, with self-reward prizes for every 50 workouts. If I accomplish just 50 workouts a quarter, I will easily hit that goal.</li>
<li>Walk/run a 5K in each quarter (at home on treadmill okay), reducing time each quarter. Did the one in late 2015 in about 56 minutes.</li>
<li>Successfully raise and place a litter of puppies. Sonic was bred to Heidi Heibert's handsome boy Arrow in December, so I am hopeful that she will have puppies in mid-February. I've never raised a litter before, and I'm terrified at the unknown but so excited about the prospect of spending two months raising them.</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<b>Sonic</b> (4 years old)</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 20px;">
<li style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Puppies! </li>
<li style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">To accomplish anything more on the obedience titles I'd like Sonic to earn in her lifetime, we have to start qualifying in Open B on a regular basis. The sit stay has proved to be a very hard exercise for her, though it was better last winter with all the conditioning work we did. If she does indeed have the hoped for puppies, we won't be back to competitions until late spring, and by then, we'll most likely be back in the field.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Open B 1st place</li>
<li style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">UDX legs</li>
<li style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">OTCh points</li>
<li style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">OM1 - she just needs one more solid Open score to finish that. </li>
<li style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">OM2</li>
<li style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Qualify for 2017 NOC.</li>
<li>Improve Sonic's water blinds. We improved enough in 2015 to pass Master regularly, but they were often a battle. Especially in need of improvement are her initial lines with an angle entry, particularly long water entries.</li>
<li>Qualify for 2015 Master National. She only needs one more MH pass before July 31 to do so. The Master National will be September 29-October 9, 2016 near St. Louis, where the 2015 FCRSA National field events were held, which were fantastic grounds. Whether or not we go will depend on her progress on her water blinds.</li>
<li>Get some MH passes toward qualifying for 2016 MN.</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<b>Jag</b> (20 months old)</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 20px;">
<li>Attend one off-site fun match per month.</li>
<li>CD with scores in the high 190's, with at least one HIT. </li>
<li>NA and NAJ. </li>
<li>Progress on Grand championship.</li>
<li>RATO (barn hunt Open title) and RATS (barn hunt Senior title).</li>
<li>Border Terrier National in June. It is in Ohio, so nice and close by. I'd like to show him in Novice Agility, at least Standard and Jumpers, Novice B obedience, and conformation.</li>
<li>Show him in the Novice division at the AKC Classic in December. But since the qualifying period ends June 30, I'm not sure I want to show him that much in Novice by then. But it does only require 3 Q's in the qualifying period this time instead of 6 Q's.</li>
<li>Matching seriously in Open by the end of the year.</li>
<li>Matching crudely in Utility by the end of the year.</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<b>New Puppy</b></div>
<ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 10px 0px 20px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Get him/her started on all the puppy basics for obedience, rally, and field.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Get started in conformation ring.</span></li>
<li>Matching in rally and Beginner Novice.</li>
<li>WC?</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 20px;"></ul>
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What are YOUR goals?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-50496322979901980272016-01-01T11:03:00.001-05:002016-01-01T11:03:13.276-05:002015 Goal Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
What follows are the goals I planned in January 2015. The blue items were accomplished. As usual, I was more successful with my dog goals.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<b>Myself</b></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Website - change payment method. </span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Essentially did nothing except realize that I need to hire someone to do this. I am hopeful that someone I contacted in early December will be able to help in 2016.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">Incentive program: Develop a more consistent exercise (me and dogs), dog training and other work (office-related and project) schedule. </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">After using this system to earn myself an Apple Watch by June, I relented on the constant record keeping this required. And not keeping records meant I didn't spend time as consistently. Guess that means I need those records for accountability.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Reprint Balancing Act</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Continue exercise challenge - aim for 200 workouts in 2015, with self-reward prizes for every 50 workouts. - </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">strained my right hamstring in April when out for a </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">power walk during a seminar lunch break. It is still bothering me as I write this 1/1/16, but between yoga and MELT method roller work, it is at least manageable. The hamstring and related pains meant I barely exercised in April, September and October. I did finish 2015 strong with 22 and 29 workouts in November and December, finishing with 170 for the year. Didn't manage to do the prizes in 2015.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Participate in a 5K - did it at home on the treadmill on 12/28, but DID get it done.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><div>
<span style="color: black;">One goal that was not on my list in January 2015 was to lose weight, but when I started the Fast Metabolism Diet in February, </span><span style="color: blue;">I lost about 10 lbs and 2 pant sizes and have been successful at keeping it off,</span> something I wasn't when I lost a bunch of weight 15 years ago. I've definitely changed the overall way I eat and cook.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<b>Sonic 3 years old</b></div>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Give her time this year to mature into her obedience performances - focus on her motivation and speed vs. nitpicking for perfection</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Improve finishes to > 50% correct by working on them more consistently. </span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I don't feel that we showed consistently enough to really gauge her progress. Plus I'm too lazy to go back and count!</span></span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Keep her sound via a consistent exercise program</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">UDX legs</span> (1st 2/7; 2nd 2/15; 3rd 2/16)</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">OTCh points</span> (4 from 12/14 UB 2nd, 1/8/15 - 10, UB 1st; 2/6 - 20, UB 1st; Florida - 6 more for 3 UB 3rds; 1 for UB 2nd at Progressive 4/26; 2 for 3rd in UB at MB 10/18; 1 for 3rd in UB at Richland KC 12/3; 3 for 2nd in UB at Medina KC 12/4) 47 total</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fc2737;">OM1</span> - <span style="color: red;">over 200 points by year’s end, just 12 shy of the Open points needed</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">MH legs</span> - Flyways (1st - 8/15), Marshbanks (2nd - 8/15), Backwater (3rd - 9/15), American Chesapeake Club (4th - 10/4), Central Kentucky RC (5th - 10/25)</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">BUD [Big Useful Dog] award at National in April (qualify or place in 3 different areas)</span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Qualify for 2016 NOC</span> - though if I DO end up breeding her, I would want to do it a year from now, so she would be home with puppies during the 2016 NOC if all goes as planned.</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">Didn’t even have anything about her breed championship on the goals list. But here she is on 12/4/15 with her <span style="color: #0433ff;">Championship!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<b>Jag 8 months old</b></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;"></span><br />
<ul style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">RN</span> (2 legs at Strawberry cluster; 3rd at BTCA in May)</li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">RA</span> (2 legs at Marshbanks October; 3rd leg at Greater Toledo November)</li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">RE</span> (1st leg at Greater Toledo, legs 2 & 3 at IX Center in December)</li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Matching for real in Novice, solidify his understanding of the exercises</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Matching at least crudely in Open</span></li>
<li>Continue his Utility education, with a focus on Signals and DJ - <span style="color: red;">didn't spend that much time on this</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Teach him to jump well (got Susan Salo's puppy jumping dvd in January...)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Work on his CH</span> (1st major 1/18/15; up to 14 points by TKC in June; 5 point major Sept 25); earned 1st 5 GCh points at Ft Wayne weekend.</li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">BT National in May</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">Try Barn Hunt with him - June - he LOVES it! RATN in June & July, 1 Open leg in September.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0433ff;">BN in fall if ready (1st leg at BT National in May 194.5; 2nd leg 194.5, 3rd leg 199.5 at Marshbanks)</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-85625788098146466422016-01-01T10:39:00.002-05:002016-01-01T10:39:55.839-05:00What a Whirlwind Couple of Months!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Although I'm publishing this on January 1, I started to write this during our final show weekend of 2015 at Cleveland in December.<br />
<br />
After a spring and summer of mostly field training and very little of anything else, Sonic and I dove into a series of Master Hunt tests. In addition to success there, we also threw in some conformation weekends, one barn hunt trial, and some obedience/rally weekends.<br />
<br />
August 15/16 - Michigan Flyways Retriever Club hunt test: <i>Master pass #1</i><br />
August 22/23 - Marshbanks Golden Retriever Club's hunt test: <i>Master pass #2</i><br />
August 29/30 - both dogs helped me teach an obedience seminar for the Obedience Training Club of Greater Lansing<br />
September 5 - showed both dogs in big zippo in conformation at the Jaxon KC show.<br />
September 11-13 - Backwater RC hunt test: <i>Master pass #3</i><br />
September 19-20 - OFF<br />
September 26 - Buckeye RC hunt test: Master test failure<br />
September 27 - Monroe KC: Sonic RWB, Jag Winners Dog for a 5-point major to complete his <i>AKC breed championship</i>!<br />
September 27 - Great American Dog Barn Hunt trial: Jag <i>first RATO leg</i>.<br />
October 3-4 - American Chesapeake Club hunt test: <i>Master pass #4</i><br />
October 10-11 - field weekend with Midwest Waterways FCRC: Sonic did a super job as test dog for WCX.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLFb8oqDTR2uO8Xo3B8yF8acp9c7ltO01tLKLA4N4OcSdQdcLIsK7ITdahmVtX7VhNDQrw5bua67-il6OoTxAXqGgOi_WGZSRwMYGyXNS6FHQQ3HngLb43qwbhQa1jFghr5-GnQvaUTU/s1600/Sonic+MH+leg+%25235+-+title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLFb8oqDTR2uO8Xo3B8yF8acp9c7ltO01tLKLA4N4OcSdQdcLIsK7ITdahmVtX7VhNDQrw5bua67-il6OoTxAXqGgOi_WGZSRwMYGyXNS6FHQQ3HngLb43qwbhQa1jFghr5-GnQvaUTU/s200/Sonic+MH+leg+%25235+-+title.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonic's 5th Master pass for her MH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
October 17-18 - Marshbanks Golden Retriever Club's obedience/rally trials: Sonic Saturday Utility B 3rd place, 2 OTCh points. Jag 2 Rally Advanced legs (94 leg 1, 100+ 1st place leg 2) and 2 Beginner Novice legs (194.5 4th place, and 199.5 1st place) to finish his <i>BN title</i>.<br />
October 24-25 - Central Kentucky RC hunt test: <i>Master pass #5 - new MH</i>!<br />
October 28 - NE Indiana KC: Sonic <i>WB 1 point</i><br />
October 29 - LaPorte County KC - Sonic <i>WB 2 points</i><br />
October 31 - Marion KC: Jag Best of Opposite Sex 1st time out as a special, 3 point GCh major, also beating another dog special.<br />
November 1 - NE Indiana KC: Jag Select Dog for 2 more GCh points, and beat a dog special.<br />
November 7/8 - trip to Lakeland, FL to present a seminar. The dogs stayed home.<br />
November 15 - Greater Toledo Obedience Training Club: Jag 3rd Rally Advanced leg with 1st place with a perfect 100+<br />
November 15, trial - Greater Toledo Obedience Training Club: Jag 1st Excellent leg with a 1st place 99.<br />
November 16 - OFA Eye clinic. Both dogs passed with flying colors.<br />
November 20-21 - Toledo KC: Sonic managed 1 Utility B pass out of 4 classes shown. A positive was she managed to hold her sit stay on the 2nd day, so we excused ourselves and she got a jackpot.<br />
Jag: 1st place in Beginner Novice with a 198.5.<br />
November 29/30 - OFF.<br />
December 3-5 - Cleveland IX Center shows: showed Jag all 3 days in Best of Breed, got zippo.<br />
Thursday, Sonic was 3rd in Utility B for one more OTCh points. Jag was the most distracted he had EVER been in his life and I begged and pleaded him to a 91 score–very generous–for his 2nd Excellent leg. I excused us from the Beginner Novice ring after essentially dragging him around 2/3rds of the heeling pattern. I saw no point in continuing.<br />
Friday, Jag came back from Thursdays mess to win Excellent B with a perfect 100 to finish his RE title, one of the goals of my trip. He then went in Beginner Novice and did a fine job, earning 1st place with a 198.<br />
Best of all, Sonic won Winners Bitch with Lindsey Cook showing her for the 3 points to finish her breed Championship! And she topped that off with a 2nd place in Utility B for 3 more OTCh points.<br />
To finish off the show year, on Saturday, Jag was 1st again in Excellent B with a 95. Nowhere near as good a performance as Friday, but lots better than Thursday. Sonic was 3rd in Utility B.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRiY0vFlaAcRpWY3f8d2g-4DPjjxubecdfkXbWHfy4GJzMdITBb26Ky3NkYbpcVLvMI_xjdNmZ_e-Tscl7iTfyVpQbQrNuNIsqJKqWEBT5b9O4QnMPBZ6-o7-5DXpfNPMZ8hYfnQGm7k/s1600/Sonic+%2526+Jag+IX+winnings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRiY0vFlaAcRpWY3f8d2g-4DPjjxubecdfkXbWHfy4GJzMdITBb26Ky3NkYbpcVLvMI_xjdNmZ_e-Tscl7iTfyVpQbQrNuNIsqJKqWEBT5b9O4QnMPBZ6-o7-5DXpfNPMZ8hYfnQGm7k/s320/Sonic+%2526+Jag+IX+winnings.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday's Medina KC winnings - New CH for Sonic, new RE for Jag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Total for this stretch:<br />
Jag - Championship, 5 GCH points, BN, RA, RE, and a RATO leg<br />
Sonic - MH, 6 OTCh points, CH.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-52716558143893176622015-07-11T19:32:00.000-04:002015-07-11T19:32:42.398-04:00RATS!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I got my start in dog sports in 1985, and earned my first obedience title in 1986. I did some tracking in the late 1980's/early 1990's. I was again a Novice A person when I started agility circa 1990. I got heavily into hunt tests with the Flat-Coats circa 2006.<br />
<br />
Last month, I went to a Barn Hunt workshop on a Saturday afternoon. Sonic was tepid at best, but Jag... he was in heaven. He definitely got more and more into it each time we entered the ring area for our turn.<br />
<br />
The basic idea of Barn Hunt, which is for all breeds of dogs, is for the dog to locate a rat which is hidden in a tube - a piece of sewer pipe with holes in it. The tube is hidden somewhere in a structure built out of straw bales. The dogs also have to "tunnel" - i.e., go through a tunnel through the straw bales, and they have to do "a climb" - hop up on the straw pile as they hunt. At the Novice level, the tunnel is open at either end, and the bales are at most 2 bales high. There are 3 tubes - one with a rat, one with used bedding, and one empty. The dog has to indicate to the handler when he finds the rat.<br />
<br />
Last Saturday, we attended our first Barn Hunt trials, entering the Instinct test, a very basic test, where all 3 tubes are laid out in plain site. Jag passed that fairly easily.<br />
<br />
In the first Novice class, we were in the first "blind" - a group of up to 5 teams that all have their tubes in the same place - so didn't get a chance to watch much before we went in the ring. He did quite a lot of searching in the ring. When he started biting at a tube, I called "Rat!", but alas, it was a tube with litter in it. I took him to where the tube with the rat was (after the judge pointed it out to us), and he got more excited than he had on the one with litter in it.<br />
<br />
In the second Novice Class, he darted through the tunnel, turned left, I encouraged him to hop up on the bales, and he almost immediately started to indicate that he'd found a tube. I eventually called "Rat!" and this time, it was right. 27 seconds out of the 2 minutes allowed. First RATN leg!<br />
<br />
Today, we headed off for another new adventure, and went to try Earth Dog for the first time. The property we were at is simply beautiful and the weather was perfect for spending it outside enjoying our dogs. I didn't manage to take any photos, but Jag thought Earth Dog was Da BOMB! We started out with Beth Widdows (who trained 3 of her Westies in obedience with me years ago) helping us rank beginners with how to get started going through short tunnels above ground and getting to practice "working" the rats. Jag caught on very quickly and was soon biting the bars like a pro. After a break in the Burb, I went out by myself to see the Intro and Novice tunnel set up.<br />
<br />
We tried the Intro course next, which was a simple tunnel with a left turn, but requiring him to go down a short ramp to enter it. He didn't have any trouble with the tunnel, but he was a bit hesitant to "work the rats". The dog needs to show noisy enthusiasm for the work - just staring won't cut it. It is one reason I've never been sure I wanted to try Earth Dog, since I loathe barky/whiney dogs. So here I was, encouraging him to bite the dowels that separated him from the rats, to whine, to dig, etc.<br />
<br />
Next we proceeded on to the Novice course. The Novice tunnels are 30 feet long. This one had 3 turns on it. He again arrived at the rats fairly quickly. He also figured out how to turn around and come back out the entrance, which isn't desirable at the beginning levels. The Novice dogs are removed from the tunnel right by the rat cage via a trap door. He worked pretty hard at the rats with encouragement, but he'll need to learn how to keep up the work for 60 seconds with zero encouragement from me.<br />
<br />
I put him away in the Burb, took a break, then had one final turn. One of the things I've vowed is that I won't give him access to the rats unless he is keeping his emotions in check. Getting from the Burb to where the tunnels were was a lengthy affair, as we proceeded 5 steps forward, 3 steps back. The 2nd turn was actually better in terms of him restraining himself somewhat on the walk to the tunnels. Reminds me a lot of what Sonic was like when we started our field work. It is SO exciting!!!<br />
<br />
Next Saturday, we will be doing two more Novice Barn Hunt trials, with a practice session tomorrow at the grounds where the trials will be. It is fun learning a new sport, and it is great seeing Jag turning on to the sport he is bred for.</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-30979335611398756162015-02-16T20:05:00.000-05:002015-02-16T20:39:42.575-05:002015 Southern Odyssey Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Sonic, Jag, and I left Ann Arbor dark and early on Tuesday February 11 to travel to Lakeland, Florida for the 4 days of conformation, obedience, and rally trials put on by the Lakeland-Winterhaven Kennel Club. We had an uneventful couple of days of driving, making it all the way to south Atlanta Tuesday evening after 730 miles that day. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwPr3lWuAVjMz0dW3gUfZQVJTTmD8rl3xk8AHYSu5YISYrZ_6EGjABnuphduJVc_Xa7Oc0ByqfmKCEslVnRsMUK2YxNTR4F-RWP6CAWFjCzn-9jSHTYHaI0sUPPvnlx5azCJ0esCM8QI/s1600/mileage+to+Lakeland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwPr3lWuAVjMz0dW3gUfZQVJTTmD8rl3xk8AHYSu5YISYrZ_6EGjABnuphduJVc_Xa7Oc0ByqfmKCEslVnRsMUK2YxNTR4F-RWP6CAWFjCzn-9jSHTYHaI0sUPPvnlx5azCJ0esCM8QI/s1600/mileage+to+Lakeland.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">We got to Lakeland after our 1173 mile trip and checked in to our room at the La Quinta - the same lucky one as Sonic, Little and I shared in 2014.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">We headed to DogSense for some obedience training and conformation class. All three of us benefitted from the concentrated practice on conformation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Friday was pretty much a bust at the dog show, with Jag winning a meaningless Winners Dog ribbon by virtue of being the only class dog entered. The single dog special was chosen as Best of Breed. Sonic won her class of 2, but did nothing in Winners. She then NQed in Utility B by getting glove 2 instead of glove 1.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">On Saturday, the day started out much better, with Jag beating the younger puppy for Winners Dog for 1 point, and then getting Best of Breed over the same special as the day before, upping his points won to 2. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSxC-vfukZLsnDeJVfke9T6HLrx2qtCPjPA8mCx-kJ4TRKWRStYTyw4MHMAeCN3IOvZiVxbYaB7J3Dg7AW3JfZXciMWfOGXWOjmhPiE6MpKJVXeTaviz2gXgKkky26A-LdTtXj7psiaU/s1600/Jag+BOB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSxC-vfukZLsnDeJVfke9T6HLrx2qtCPjPA8mCx-kJ4TRKWRStYTyw4MHMAeCN3IOvZiVxbYaB7J3Dg7AW3JfZXciMWfOGXWOjmhPiE6MpKJVXeTaviz2gXgKkky26A-LdTtXj7psiaU/s1600/Jag+BOB.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Next up was Utility B for Sonic. We qualified with a 195, which netted us a 3rd place, 2 more OTCh points, and High Scoring Flat-Coated Retriever. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Next was conformation with Sonic. The Southern Skies Flat-Coated Retriever Club was hosting a supported entry, so there were a lot of FCRs entered. She again won the Open Bitches class, and went on to be awarded Reserve Winner's Bitch - close but no points - to a 4 point major. I received a lot of compliments on her, which is always appreciated. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I had a break, then came time for Jag's Rally Novice debut. I asked to be put first in the class, thinking the terrier group would be starting after that. But the Novice A dogs were taking a while, and I finally realized I had to switch jackets, switch his collar and leash for his show lead (thanks so much to Debbi Snyder and Kathy Shrimpf for holding equipment and being at ring side to help!), and dash over to the group, which was fortunately just one building over, rather than the three it had been the previous day. We had fun in the group, playing a little bit of catch the ball while we waited our turn. It was lovely having time to get him well stacked on the table while the previous dog was gaiting. Most of the time we've shown, we are the only one in our class, so it is all a big rush. After the judge turned his back on our go round to judge the next dog, I released Jag to a cookie, then heeled him to the end of the line in preparation for Rally :-). </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUWTeq4PqPCA3JtTetj5tFlIf9JBnJBdFYD00znZ0KPa67k9mrEL8JJ9c-vu-lwm321UHQQ_AdTTQOjYKPs5uMfuJ9L5hpyXQC71ossn_8RBz3ewpm3SijjXk39IpJtc5kdr-VU6YgtQ/s1600/Jag+in+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUWTeq4PqPCA3JtTetj5tFlIf9JBnJBdFYD00znZ0KPa67k9mrEL8JJ9c-vu-lwm321UHQQ_AdTTQOjYKPs5uMfuJ9L5hpyXQC71ossn_8RBz3ewpm3SijjXk39IpJtc5kdr-VU6YgtQ/s1600/Jag+in+group.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">We were released after the winners were chosen, and I dashed out to change his collar and leash, and to empty my pockets of ball and all treats, and return to wait our turn in Rally. We finally went in the ring at the end of the class, and he was wonderful, earning a perfect score of 100 and 1st place by virtue of time. I was so tired from all the classes by then that I didn't have the energy to be nervous.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KjOD91rWeyY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KjOD91rWeyY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Once all the classes were over</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">, Jag helped me</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> teach a one hour workshop on teaching Maneuvers. It's a good thing I can teach that in my sleep, because that was practically what I was doing! A couple of people took 15 minute private lessons, and then finally the long day at the show was done. I had dinner with Julie Hill, went back to our room and crashed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">On Sunday, the morning started with a solid Utility B Q for Sonic, once again earning 3rd place and 2 OTCh points. We added on Open B since conformation was over, just her 2nd time in Open since finishing her CDX in October. She managed to do the worst Figure 8's of her life, losing 3.5 of the 5 points she lost in the class just on that, but qualified to earn our 2nd UDX leg.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Jag had a couple of brain farts, but worked very nicely in between them, earning a 96 and 4th place for his 2nd Rally Novice leg. Darned good for 10 month old terrier boy :-).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">He then helped me teach a one hour workshop on retrieving, with one more private session. After finishing up with those, I found an area for a bit of go-out practice for both dogs, and gave them a bit of a run.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">On Monday, the final day of the 4-day cluster, Sonic and I did both classes again. As there wasn't any more Rally, Jag had the day off. Even though I arrived a lot earlier than when I thought I'd be in the ring, the dog two before me was going in the ring, so I pottied me, then the dogs, warmed Sonic up a bit, and went in the ring. I was again in short sleeves - I've been able to take off my winter clothes, but Sonic is unable to do that. </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">She was warm.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> Her performance was lack luster, though she didn't have any significant glitches. She trotted when she needed to, sat when she needed to, just not always with a lot of accuracy. Once again, she qualified and earned our 3rd 3rd place of the weekend and 2 more OTCh points. There was a couple of hours break before our turn in Open, so I took Jag out for a 20 minute walk before lunch. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I decided to try warming up for Open with a bumper instead of food. She got the bumper for a good fast and a good Figure 8, and then I put her away until the dog ahead of us was doing their Drop on Recall, the last thing before Figure 8 and Heeling. We had order 2, which meant the broad jump first, and I was pleased with her effort. While her figure 8's were not her best, they were a lot better than Sunday's, and she passed the individuals. She didn't finish on my first command on the flat retrieve - spaced out brain fart, but the rest was decent. We had the down stay first, and her chin was on the floor when we returned. She once again held her sit stay, earning her 3rd UDX leg. She was solid and straight on the sit stay both days, something for which I am so proud of her. I do think all the conditioning work we have done this winter is paying off, and it makes me determined to keep it up.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Our totals for the weekend:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Jag: WD/BOB 2 points, bringing his total to 8, and 2 Rally Novice legs with 1st and 4th places and scores of 100 and 96.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvhuC_29DjfsYiVmsfnpONivFwQng541oLcsU9JuuZPkyg4cpc0MNaPOAzovSgWseRVeIWzd9L3U4HHcw2pyDpzrCns-buAwqj7mcybKD3Dw0zFtt1CCa7u5oHgv3oVZaQZWUsRr6Qyg/s1600/Jag+Lakeland+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvhuC_29DjfsYiVmsfnpONivFwQng541oLcsU9JuuZPkyg4cpc0MNaPOAzovSgWseRVeIWzd9L3U4HHcw2pyDpzrCns-buAwqj7mcybKD3Dw0zFtt1CCa7u5oHgv3oVZaQZWUsRr6Qyg/s1600/Jag+Lakeland+2015.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Sonic: 3 Utility B 3rd places </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">(195, 195.5, 195), 2 UDX legs (Open scores of 195 and 193.5), 6 OTCh points (total of 40), 57 OM points (total of 141), and RWB in conformation.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYLYcUD-9OhssTuOOjdYadCCfSZQlgVC7vtjXxefF3paYNK8YRd8dRk2S1Lkw6m_Tp6glFtIwVEBUYPBmDP6LyRyD4-38h5y57F7hbH4XHSrOvfLY803X4248FHGA_XB63oH9JISzTTg/s1600/Sonic+Lakeland+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYLYcUD-9OhssTuOOjdYadCCfSZQlgVC7vtjXxefF3paYNK8YRd8dRk2S1Lkw6m_Tp6glFtIwVEBUYPBmDP6LyRyD4-38h5y57F7hbH4XHSrOvfLY803X4248FHGA_XB63oH9JISzTTg/s1600/Sonic+Lakeland+2015.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNuQMlFefcNdotjHribWCpY6hNKBoKDqfbf2D97Bv5qnTb9fnOBRkoAYdko_l_oYbnlVxd3fIF2B5JDbemfYi5uA5R4lE0wC8HVxSi4TAy388N1DDFSlPHlykvMbytdhbh3e9pYSnWeU/s1600/both+dogs+winnings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNuQMlFefcNdotjHribWCpY6hNKBoKDqfbf2D97Bv5qnTb9fnOBRkoAYdko_l_oYbnlVxd3fIF2B5JDbemfYi5uA5R4lE0wC8HVxSi4TAy388N1DDFSlPHlykvMbytdhbh3e9pYSnWeU/s1600/both+dogs+winnings.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">My thanks to the club and its members and all the people who worked to make the shows and trials so much fun! </span></span></div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-82627328224418604882015-01-22T21:01:00.001-05:002015-01-22T21:01:56.533-05:00How It All Started<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thirty years ago this month, a 4 month old Australian Terrier puppy came home from Sheila Dunn's, her breeder, who I had known for 10 years. That little puppy grew up to be <i>U-CD Hott Pursuitt on the Farm Am/Can UD</i>, AKA Casey, my first obedience dog, as well as my first dog as an adult. Sheila knew Gail Dapogny, the instructor of the Puppy Kindergarten class at the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club, so was able to help me get Casey enrolled in Gail's class within days of Casey joining our family - in fact, we'd had her such a short time, we hadn't decided on her name yet. I <i>loved </i>training Casey, and diligently practiced our lessons multiple times a day.<br />
<br />
Above all else, Casey taught me perseverence, because it took a lot of it to reach the goals I set for us. When I first started training her, I wanted to earn a Utility Dog (UD) title on her, having NO true idea what that would really entail. When we started to show in Novice for her Companion Dog (CD) title in the fall of 1986, I thought we'd just stop with that. But then I started training her in Open, and she seemed to kind of like it, so we kept going, and soon she earned her CDX (Companion Dog eXcellent). In fact, she qualified all seven times we showed in Open A, a grand accomplishment, as anyone who has shown in Open A knows is a class with lots of NQs. A 196 1st place in the class proved to be her shining moment in Open. Utility proved far more difficult, though she qualified her very first time in the ring. I look back at that now and just shake my head. It really was dumb luck that we passed that day. In her 2nd trial, she learned that she could down only part way on my down signal and nothing horrible resulted, and that became a huge problem for us. She earned her 2nd leg about six months after the first, when I was about 7 months pregnant with my first son. A full year later, in 1990, she finally passed for the 3rd time (not for lack of trying in between, believe me!), one day before her housemate Tramp earned her UD. That weekend of trials still ranks as one of my all-time best - we finished 2 UDs, Tramp earned her first High Combined, and my 2nd Australian Terrier Rio earned a 3-point major in the breed ring.<br />
<br />
We also showed in Canada often enough to earn her CKC UD. The first time we showed in Novice B, Casey won a 56 dog Novice B class at the huge London, Ontario fall trials, earning a 199.5 and High in Trial. Casey had actually tied with my Flat-Coat Tramp, and my friend and training partner, Deb Schneider, took Tramp in for the sudden-death runoff against Casey and me. Needless to say, it took one forward-halt for Tramp to eliminate herself.<br />
<br />
My husband Fritz and I wrote lyrics for a song about Casey and the difficulties of Utility, sung to the tune of the Canadian National Anthem:<br />
<br />
<b>Oh, Puppadoo*</b><br />
<br />
Oh, Puppadoo, far from your native land,<br />
Why did you sit, when I signaled a stand?<br />
Oh, Puppadoo, what can we do to speed up your retrieve?<br />
Oh, Puppadoo, you brought me 2 when I scented nu(hum)ber(er) 3.<br />
Oh, Puppadoo, what can we do,<br />
I hate the long stand just as much you,<br />
Oh, Puppadoo, when will we ever Q?<br />
<br />
*One of Casey's nicknames<br />
<br />
As I sit here with dogs #9 (Sonic) and #10 (puppy Jag) nearby, I salute you, little Casey, for the wonderful path you helped me start along. You were a good little girl and it's been a great 30 years. Here's to 30 more years of dogs, dogs sports, and best of all, time spent with dog friends.</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-63793992099315319132015-01-01T06:50:00.000-05:002015-01-01T06:50:04.412-05:00Adele's 2015 Goals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For years, I have enjoyed the process of reviewing the waning year and how I did with goals I set the previous holiday season and setting my goals for the upcoming year. Here are my goals for 2015:<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<b>Myself</b></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 20px;">
<li>Website - change payment method</li>
<li>Incentive program: develop a more consistent exercise (me and dogs), dog training and other work (office-related and project) schedule. I have a plan set up that I hope will work as well to motivate me as the every 50 workout prize did in 2014.</li>
<li>Reprint Balancing Act</li>
<li>Continue exercise challenge - aim for 200 workouts in 2015, with self-reward prizes for every 50 workouts</li>
<li>Participate in a 5K</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<b>Sonic</b> (3 years old)</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 20px;">
<li>Give her time this year to mature into her obedience performances - focus on her motivation and speed vs. nitpicking for perfection</li>
<li>Improve finishes to > 50% correct by working on them more consistently</li>
<li>Keep her sound via a consistent exercise program</li>
<li>UDX legs</li>
<li>OTCh points</li>
<li>OM1 </li>
<li>MH legs</li>
<li>BUD [Big Useful Dog] award at National in April (qualify or place in 3 different areas)</li>
<li>Qualify for 2016 NOC</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<b>Jag</b> (8 months old)</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 20px;">
<li>RN</li>
<li>RA</li>
<li>RE</li>
<li>Match him for real in Novice, solidify his understanding of the exercises</li>
<li>Match him at least crudely in Open</li>
<li>Continue his Utility education, with a focus on Signals and DJ</li>
<li>Teach him to jump well</li>
<li>Work on his CH</li>
<li>BT National in May?</li>
<li>Try Barn Hunt with him</li>
<li>BN in fall if ready</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">What are YOUR goals?</span></span></div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-55588915329045985132014-12-29T21:30:00.000-05:002014-12-29T21:30:20.059-05:002014 Goal Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">It is that time of year, when I like to publish how I did meeting the goals I set a year ago:</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Joker - 12.5 years old</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- keep him healthy! – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">after declining gradually all year, we had to let him go in
mid-October at almost 13.5 </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Sonic - 2 years old</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- Show in Novice B for CD
and ring experience January-early April – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We
showed 17 times total in Novice B, with a wonderful four High in Trial jaunt to
Lakeland, Florida in February the crowning glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- Show her in conformation
as often as possible when she's got hair! – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Earned
1 whole point in several attempts. She was bald a lot </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">.</span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- Show for last time in
Novice B and first time in Open B at FCRSA National in June in Oregon - this
will only be possible if she comes in season before entries close... – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">did not go, and was rewarded for that wise decision with her
coming in season 2 days before the start of the National.</span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- CDX in fall – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">completed CDX in early October</span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- Start matching in Utility
by late spring – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">did first one in February,
just before she finished her CD. Utility was going well enough that we moved up
to Utility 2 weeks after she finished her CDX, as it was for the once a year
trials held in my training building. While she didn’t pass either day, she came
within one exercise each time of passing, and also finished her Graduate Open
title that weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Best of all, she finished her UD on </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">December</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> 7, with a 197.5, good for 2nd place and 4 OTCh points! We earned 2 more bumper legs the following weekend at the difficult IX Center in Cleveland.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">She is the first of my 9 UD dogs to go from CD to UD in one calendar year, and she is my youngest-ever UD, finishing the title at 3 year 3 months. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- Compete in AKC Classic in
Orlando in Novice - again, will depend on her heat cycle – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">opted out of this, as the chance of season was too great.
Instead, we stayed closer to home and finished her UD up the first weekend in
December, then went to the Cleveland IX Center trials for 2 bumper legs.</span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- Start running Master tests
with her - June at National if possible, July at Ft. Detroit test if not. – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ran test dog at Ft. Detroit in July, Flyways in August, and
entered the Marshbanks test in August. Had a great first series, including
lining the land blind, but bombed on the water blind in the 2nd series. Pretty
much returned to obedience after that test.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Little - 3 years old</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- Work on skills for MH when
she's with me. – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Did this, with mixed
success. Not sure where we are going at this point. She went back to Helen when
baby Jag came home, mid-June to mid-July, then in mid-August so they could work
on obedience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">New puppy</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> - I am hoping to have a new Border Terrier puppy by late
spring...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">get puppy well started on
obedience foundation <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Riverside Jaguar came home at 9 weeks on June 11.
Jag has been super rewarding to train, and has already done a few matches, one
in rally and a couple of Novice obedience ones. He learned to retrieve a
dumbbell by the time he was about 12 weeks old, and has a pretty good grasp on scent
discrimination, having done “Around the Clock” with him starting at 7 months.
He is well started on all of the Open exercises and bits and pieces of Utility,
as well as quite a bit of Rally and Beginner Novice exercises. He already has a
fan base on YouTube </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">. Also has already earned 3 point in conformation.</span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Myself</span></b><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- Website<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> o implement
Paypal for product purchases (</span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">finished in
January)</span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> o implement
Paypal for class signup (</span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">just never got going on this
</span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> o plug away at
desired additions - set monthly goals at beginning of each month – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">did some additions, but drifted away from website work again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>o Do GTD "weekly" reviews more
consistently - goal is at least 24 for year <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By no means did 24, but I did them more often than in previous
years and mostly felt caught up enough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- FlyLady work<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> o keep up with
kitchen – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Fritz’s new early morning
schedule has made this goal come true<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> o Zone work – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">not as good at end of year as beginning, but much improved.
Google doc that both of us can refer to about what house chores are needed has
helped a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">- Get back to some form of
aerobic exercise. Goal: 100 purposeful aerobic workouts in 2014, 15+ minutes
(biking with dogs, Nordic Track, walking dogs, snow shoeing) – </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I really rocked this goal, with 200 and counting workouts for
the year. Having an every-50-workout prize to work for has been incredibly
motivating for me, as was having a FitBit Flex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Two of my prizes - a gorgeous braided whistle lanyard and a custom leather collar for Sonic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaKMB7nLXZOcUDIxHWPVsdsG10qGn9UyLzQt8QuEZUBPWjv27NAR1ate4V1U5Sx4G8XJ5keKS8fWjWS4RtB03v2bwpjfdyvOPTae6lbx8M0PoPD1J1ry69q3sA5YebW1qQ9_TM1pTC7w/s1600/whistle+lanyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaKMB7nLXZOcUDIxHWPVsdsG10qGn9UyLzQt8QuEZUBPWjv27NAR1ate4V1U5Sx4G8XJ5keKS8fWjWS4RtB03v2bwpjfdyvOPTae6lbx8M0PoPD1J1ry69q3sA5YebW1qQ9_TM1pTC7w/s1600/whistle+lanyard.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9sCcW3ws5u0mt0EJV1jqNWIxhSwidfnvPEvV4VnQT7fJO16vqOKiMEyq8S9j0P36gAEspqhCaB0eeXX9paXNfyvsJjnNO2b8QwdV9G3Y9Q_IF6CuiIcxL_z3o2KnovV3KgLPhF7mMts/s1600/Sonic's%2Bcollar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9sCcW3ws5u0mt0EJV1jqNWIxhSwidfnvPEvV4VnQT7fJO16vqOKiMEyq8S9j0P36gAEspqhCaB0eeXX9paXNfyvsJjnNO2b8QwdV9G3Y9Q_IF6CuiIcxL_z3o2KnovV3KgLPhF7mMts/s1600/Sonic's%2Bcollar.jpg" height="146" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>607</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3466</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Northfield Dog Training</o:Company>
<o:Lines>28</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4065</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><o:p> </o:p></div>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-47706038475754137042014-01-05T13:50:00.000-05:002014-01-05T13:50:57.089-05:00Momentum and Cookie-Toss Retrieves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My new email signature for the month: "If you train a young dog for momentum, precision will arrive. If you train for precision, demanding perfection, momentum will depart." - Rex Carr<br />
<br />
Momentum is a term thrown about more often in retriever training than obedience training, but it certainly applies to obedience. To me, Rex's quote is all about training for the big picture by building in the speed first. I have always worked for a flashier performance with my dogs vs. a robotic one. Don't get me wrong; I want precision. But I also know if I work on precision too much before instilling the speed I desire, it is harder to get the speed later.<br />
<br />
In obedience, we are judged on the speed our dog returns or comes to us: a brisk trot or gallop is required. Anything less should be penalized in some way. While a brisk trot is acceptable according to the regulations, I still strive for a gallop whenever as I can.<br />
<br />
Earlier this week while training Sonic, I realized she is rarely slower than a brisk trot as she returns but she wasn't consistently galloping on her returns on her retrieves or on her jumping for the Open jumps. Given the sometimes scary speed with which she returns from a field retrieve–harder driving than any previous dog I've trained–I know she is capable of more speed. I just haven't explained that component well enough to her.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, I've been working cookie-toss retrieves with both the dumbbell and gloves: as she picks up the object, I might run away from her, or command her to come, then throw a cookie through my legs when she is almost to me. As she goes through my legs, I race to the other end of the area, turn around and repeat. Sometimes she has already picked the object back up (she drops it to get the thrown treat) and is running back. Sometimes she needs a come command. I'm whooping it up with her, cheering her on, and we are both getting in some wind sprints. Since my wind needs all the help it can get, it is a valuable side-benefit of the game :-). We have been doing about 6 retrieves of the dumbbell this way, and 6 glove reps, adding in pivots and marking. It is not an overnight fix, but I think the long-term results will be very pleasing.<br />
<br />
How is your dog's momentum?</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-74713315576885233362014-01-01T08:35:00.000-05:002014-01-01T08:35:40.995-05:002014 Goals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Myself</b><br />
- Be thoughtful about what new projects I take on<br />
- Website<br />
o implement Paypal for product purchases (January)<br />
o implement Paypal for class signup (January-February)<br />
o plug away at desired additions - set monthly goals at beginning of each month<br />
- Do GTD "weekly" reviews more consistently - goal is at least 24 for year<br />
- FlyLady work<br />
o keep up with kitchen<br />
o Zone work<br />
- Get back to some form of aerobic exercise. Goal: 100 purposeful aerobic workouts in 2014, 15+ minutes (biking with dogs, Nordic Track, walking dogs, snow shoeing)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Joker 12.5 years old</b><br />
- keep him healthy!<br />
<br />
<b>Sonic - 2 years old</b><br />
- Show in Novice B for CD and ring experience January-early April<br />
- show her in conformation as often as possible when she's got hair!<br />
- show for last time in Novice B and first time in Open B at FCRSA National in June in Oregon - this will only be possible if she comes in season before entries close...<br />
- CDX in fall<br />
- start matching in Utility by late spring<br />
- compete in AKC Classic in Orlando in Novice - again, will depend on her heat cycle<br />
- start running Master tests with her - June at National if possible, July at Ft. Detroit test if not<br />
<br />
<b>Little - 3 years old</b><br />
- work on skills for MH when she's with me<br />
<br />
<b>New puppy</b> - I am hoping to have a new Border Terrier puppy by late spring...<br />
- get puppy well started on obedience foundation</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-25339657837601909402013-12-31T08:34:00.001-05:002013-12-31T08:34:44.265-05:00Sonic at 17 months<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
I just found this unpublished blog post, written in mid-January 2013. While it will show up out-of-order here, I've decided to publish it, as it is a record of where she was nearly a year ago.<br />
=================================================================================</div>
I am pleased to report that last Saturday (January 12, 2013), Sonic completed the training of the field Double T to my satisfaction. We've been gradually working up to it for what seems like forever (since sometime in the fall), but the final week of it was a bit anticlimactic. After 3 days of the full Double T with very few errors, I was satisfied, and we have moved on to starting walk-out blinds. For these, you and the dog walk out into a field with several bumpers. You reach the destination of a blind, sit the dog close to the end, toss a couple of bumpers out and let the dog retrieve them from that close distance. You toss the bumpers back out, then walk to the other destination, which should be a bit closer than the 1st one. Repeat the tossing/retrieving up close, toss the bumpers out again, then walk back to the starting line. Send the dog to the one you just came from, handling as needed. Repeat with the first one you 'planted'. The two days we have done those has gone very well.<br />
<br />
We've also been doing a lot of lining drills, including Carol Cassity's <i>W Drill</i>. You place 5 white stakes in a W formation, three in a row about 20 yds apart and two 20 yds away from that row, also 20 yds apart. You put bumpers at each stake and, moving around the field, line the dog to the various stakes. It gives you a lot of opportunity to work on 'slots', where they have to go between at least two closer, tempting stakes to get to the farther away one. After a few successes in one spot, you move.<br />
<br />
I find it much easier to work on blind-related training - lining and casting - since I can do those drills by myself much more easily than marking training. But as has been pointed out to me, marking is paramount. At Clint Catledge's recommendation, I've been working a lot of hand-thrown multiples: I throw 2-4 bumpers out in an arc around us and she retrieves them one by one. This allows us to work on the mechanics of running multiples: I send her to retrieve the last one I throw - the "go bird" - and when she returns with it, take delivery facing the next one she is to retrieve. I get her focused on the area, then send to retrieve, etc. It is definitely helping with this whole aspect of teamwork.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, in addition to two Walk-Out Blinds and hand-thrown multiples, we did some 80-150 yard 'Stand Alone' marks. I leave Sonic in a sit stay and walk out away from her. When I've reached the desired distance, I throw a bumper, then release her from out there to retrieve the bumper I just threw. She then brings it the short distance back to me and we repeat the process. I have permission to use a wonderful hay field a mile from home that has fabulous rolling hills with the chance to run across the face of the hill, something they need to learn how to do. Most dogs prefer to run down or up rather than across.<br />
<br />
Our progress in obedience is considerably slower because we simply haven't been spending much time at it. She is my primary demo dog in my classes, so she does get practice that way. I also had someone else start teaching one of my Novice Practice classes so that Sonic and I can attend. We've been doing that for the past several months, and she has certainly made steady progress. Her focus on heeling is quite nice, though heeling with fun toys on the ground continues to be hard. I'm not crazy about her halts, but I really like the rest of her heeling. She can do some lovely left circles at a trot if I keep them big enough.<br />
<br />
Sonic continues to be very eager for the work, which makes her a joy to train.</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-30379677631527322072013-12-31T08:26:00.000-05:002013-12-31T08:26:13.099-05:002013 Goal Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style>
.result {
color:#336699;
font-family:Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;
}
</style>
<br />
<h3>
Joker – 11 years and going strong</h3>
Goal is to keep him that way.<br />
<div class="result">
He tore his cruciate in July, but laser treatments, rest and time spent in the Ontario woods around our cabin got him back on
track without surgery. He had an eye injury in the fall but seems to have recovered from it just fine.</div>
<br />
<h3>
Ty – 8 years old.</h3>
I've accomplished what I hoped to with her – Ch UDX OM2 SH WCX, and applied for the FCRSA HOF. She needs a job, but I don't know what it ought to be.<br />
<div class="result">
At this year's FCRSA National in April, Ty and I did obedience (2 NQ's, but pretty decent effort considering a lack of
training), rally (won the Excellent B class and had
a blast), and conformation (3rd place in Veterans 7-9 bitches and 2nd in the Gun Dogs Sweepstakes class she was in).</div>
<div class="result">
Ty tried to take over leadership of the dog pack after Gryffin’s death last year, but in a bullying and stressful way.
Adele considered placing Ty in a new home for several months. When the right home came along, we made the difficult decision to do so.
She is an only dog in her new home–something that we think makes her a lot happier–and there is a lot less stress in our lives.
She brings a lot of joy to her new owner.</div>
<h3>
Little – 2 years old</h3>
I'd like to have her ready for the WCX at the National and for Senior by fall. Helen may do Novice with her at the National
if she has Little enough to train her regularly, and maybe rally.<br />
<div class="result">
Little earned her RN in March with Helen.<br />
She earned her WCX at the National with me and a BN leg with Helen.</div>
<div class="result">
She earned her Senior Hunter in August and September. While it wasn't a totally smooth ride–steadiness is not her strong suit, nor is handling on blinds
–we still reached the goal. She then returned to Helen, who finished up her BN in October and made a stab at Novice B. Alas, the Stand for Exam
is HARD for this wiggly social girl. She also earned 5 points in the conformation ring during 2013.
</div>
<h3>
Sonic – 16 months old</h3>
Get to do water in the Derby at the April National, which means doing land well enough to move on to water. In my dreams, we place.
But being realistic, getting to water would be a grand achievement.
<br />
<div class="result">
We were one of 3 out of 5 dogs called back for water. Then everyone failed the water test, so there were no ribbons.
Goal was met, and it was a fun new adventure.</div>
Finish her JH. <br />
<div class="result">
Earned our 3rd leg at the National and finished the title in May.</div>
Get her running cold blinds: <br />
<div class="result">
land (March) and water (May)</div>
Earn her WCX - <span class="result">4/21/13</span><br />
Run Senior with her in the fall. While I'd love to earn her SH, that is a pretty tall order - I think.<span class="result">
(pass 1 July, pass 2 8/17, pass 3 8/24, 8/25 TITLE!!!). When we first arrived in Florida, Little was ahead of Sonic in terms of her skill set. During that trip, Sonic got almost caught up on water, and moved ahead of her on land.</span><br />
Earn her RA <span class="result">(March 15)</span> and RE <span class="result">(4/22)</span>.<br />
I've been completely focused on field work with her lately, and plan to continue that as much as possible this winter,
so I don't know if I'll devote the time to obedience titles or not. If I do, we might do Novice in the fall. Or Beginner Novice
<span class="result">(4/22)</span>.
Or Grad Novice <span class="result">(10/22)</span>. Or none.<span class="result">
WC Novice 11/22 - very nice performance! 198.5, 2nd place</span>.<br />
<h3>
Myself</h3>
Update the Northfield Dog Training website! It has been on my list for at least a year, and other things keep getting in the way.<br />
<div class="result">
Finally, my web programming skills reached a critical mass in the fall, and I started serious progress on the website.
Right before Christmas, I got the "get rid of frames" release done. It was a huge undertaking, but I've learned a lot, and find
I still really like programming. After a brief break to get ready for Christmas, I've returned to work on implementing PayPal. The list
of additions/changes I still want to make is lengthy, and will most likely continue to occupy me well into 2014.</div>
Continue with my field training education – to that end, I'm already signed up for two seminars with Mitch White and plan to sign up for the Carol Cassity one that Marshbanks will be sponsoring in July, and maybe one with Bill Hillman in June.<br />
<div class="result">
I had a great time at both seminars with Mitch White, the first one a water workshop in Florida in February, and the other his 4-day summer camp in July. The following weekend was 3 days with Carol Cassity, from which I got one particularly helpful exercise, as well as a long list of great ideas.</div>
Keep honing my <em>Getting Things Done</em> chops.<br />
<div class="result">
While I did manage several 'Weekly reviews', it is still a weak point for me when using the system. However, the overall framework of GTD is
what allows me to keep on top of all of the dozens of projects I seem to have going all the time.</div>
Blog more regularly again.<br />
<div class="result">
With only 12 blog posts all year as compared to > 20 for the previous three years, I'd say I failed on this one. My muse only grabbed me by
the hands a few of times, forcing me to get some ideas out there.</div>
Get back to some form of aerobic exercise. Aim for 100 workouts.<br />
<div class="result">
Started out the year by getting my Nordic Track functioning again and used it for a while, but then when I started PT for my neck and shoulder
in late January, that stopped. I got the bike tires pumped up right before Christmas and have biked Sonic and Joker several times in the building
since the cold weather has set in.</div>
Work on some multimedia product. I have some half-baked ideas. Website first, though.<br />
<div class="result">
I have even <em>more</em> ideas for new projects, but the website will continue to dominate for the immediate future.</div>
<div class="result">
Back in June, I said I would take over the Midwest Waterways FCR Club's website. Worked on it a bit in August. Once I did
the NDT website release, I spent < a day getting a skeleton site released. Having based it on the Marshbanks site, it didn't take too much effort.
</div>
<h4>
Volunteering</h4>
<div class="result">
There are a lot of ways I volunteer my time. For Marshbanks, I chair the fall obedience and rally trials; I am worker organizer for the August
hunt tests; I take care of the website. I co-chair the November eye clinic. For AADTC, I help at the fall trials (stewarded this year), and just
chaired an obedience match, with sign-up done using the Google Docs framework I've used so successfully for my NDT matches. The ladies who have been
running the club's matches are all eager to use the new system, as it greatly simplifies the process.<br />
<br />
2013 was a super year for me. I'm grateful I get to spend so much of my time on work that I love so much.</div>
</div>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-13566937613581928542013-10-06T20:59:00.002-04:002013-10-06T20:59:37.815-04:00The Big Picture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In switching back to the obedience world after several months focused on field training and hunt tests, I've been attending some local fun matches, as well as helping several students prepare for the ring, some for their first time. It's gotten me thinking about The Big Picture. By that I mean what I am aiming for long term with a particular dog. When you are training your first dog, there is simply <i>so</i> much to learn. I can still remember the first time I saw a Utility class at an obedience trial (circa 1985), and thinking, <i>very </i>naively, "That doesn't look too hard." Wrong! Utility <i>is </i>hard. But Utility is also what I'm aiming at with my dog, and my early training reflects that long term goal. For example, I teach my puppies how to do the skills needed for the position change portion of the Signal Exercise - to me, the ultimate obedience teamwork exercise. I get them started on learning to retrieve and do go-outs. The former opens up all sorts of fun exercises to work on with your dog, and go-outs take a long time to solidify, so it helps to start them early.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My goal at each level is to start to show in a given class when I know the dog understands the exercises well enough to qualify in a respectable way. It doesn't always mean that we <i>do</i> qualify, just that there isn't any one exercise we are consistently failing. The dog has shown me through our training and our attendance at obedience fun matches that he can do so even in a distracting environment. Does my dog need to be error free before I enter? No. My dog is probably always going to make <i>some </i>sort of error in the ring - I've only had one 200 in my many years of showing. It is the seriousness of the error that I look at. If my dog is sitting crooked on some halts, that is a very different error than not sitting on most halts. The former is typically 1/2-1 point off, depending on just how crooked the dog sits. A no sit is pricey, and some judges will NQ you if your dog never or hardly ever sits on heeling.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I'm preparing my dog for the ring, I want to first iron out errors that are likely to lead to an NQ or substantial deductions (3 or more points), such as no sits, auto finishes, short or not straight go-outs, really lousy pickups or mouthing on retrieves, slowness anywhere. I don't want walking from my dog anywhere except for the slow on heeling! I would much rather have a crooked front or finish, but have speed and attention from my dog. With a lot of dogs, if you nit pick them constantly about every front or finish, they usually slow down and lose attitude. I want attitude and "try" first, with precision coming with time and training.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of the important skills I have learned over the years of competing with my dogs is that of not dwelling on mistakes already made. There were times when Gryffin failed the first exercise, and then would fail a couple more, I think because of <i>my </i>dwelling on the first mistake. I had to remember to let it go and concentrate on making the rest of the performance the best it could be.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Roughing in the exercises can go quickly for an experienced trainer. Like a fine wine that needs time to develop its full potential, it is the polishing and teamwork and dog's true understanding of the work that takes time. Take the time it takes to get there.<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-88573282854188096722013-09-12T22:18:00.001-04:002013-09-12T22:18:22.302-04:00Switching Gears<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Nothing like sending in an obedience entry to get me training more obedience! I've got Sonic entered in Grad Novice in about 3 weeks. My plan is to do 4 Grad Novice trials this fall, maybe a Wild Card Novice, then start in Novice B in January. We are both enjoying the change of pace from field work, and with the more frequent work we've been doing on it, I can see the lightbulb starting to go on for the Drop on Recall. To be honest, I don't think I'll be upset if we don't actually earn the GN title. I'm entering it as a 'test the water' kind of thing, and because it is getting me training. While I'm confident that she could earn her CD this fall, I want to put some 'polish' on her before we do that, and I need to greatly reduce our field training in order to have the time to do that polishing.<br />
<br />
I am entered in what I hope are my final two hunt tests of the fall, looking to finish up Little's Senior Hunter title. To be honest, since Sonic finished her SH 3 weeks ago, my strong drive to train field drills has greatly dropped off. It doesn't help that I've been gone the past two weeks (family trip over Labor Day and seminar trip last weekend), really limiting my available time to train.<br />
<br />
It has been 5 years since my last Novice dog (Ty) earned her CD, but I've been in the Novice ring a lot since my first CD in 1986. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to dance the dance with Sonic. She is a blast to heel with, and I think will be one of the best heeling dogs I've had in a while. I guess time will tell!</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-15804026597776477052013-08-26T08:04:00.003-04:002013-08-26T08:04:42.941-04:00Goals and Hard Work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't usually talk about goals in August. I tend to do a review of the past year in late December, and set goals for the upcoming year at the same time. Here are the goals I set for Sonic and me in late December:<br />
<br />
<br />
Sonic – 16 months old<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Get to do water in the Derby at the April National, which means doing land well enough to move on to water. In my dreams, we place. But being realistic, getting to water would be a grand achievement. I just have to hope that there are enough entries to hold it - the Derby was canceled in 2012 due to entries being too low. (There were 5 dogs who started the test. Three of us got to run the water, Sonic and me included, all dogs failed the water test. Still, I did accomplish my goal of getting to try it. It was WAY over our heads in terms of difficulty.) </li>
<li>Finish her JH. (Done in May)</li>
<li>Get her running cold blinds, land (March) and water (May)</li>
<li>Earn her WCX - 4/21/13</li>
<li>Run Senior with her in the fall. While I'd love to earn her SH, that is a pretty tall order - I think. (pass 1 7/20, pass 2 8/17, pass 3 8/24, 8/25 TITLE!!!)</li>
<li>Earn her RA (March 15) and RE (4/22)</li>
<li>I've been completely focused on field work with her lately, and plan to continue that as much as possible this winter, so I don't know if I'll devote the time to obedience titles or not. If I do, we might do Novice in the fall. Or BN (4/22). Or GN. Or none.</li>
</ul>
In reviewing these, we have achieved all of them. Her field work for Senior came together much faster than I imagined back in December. And this weekend, she finished the title with some solid work. We've had a really rigorous field training schedule, but she seems to be thriving on it, based on her eagerness to hop in the Burb for another day of training.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If I can pull myself in from the great outdoors, I want to start shifting my focus over to obedience this fall. IF. My goal is to do some Grad Novice trials this fall at some local trials to test the waters for how ready or not she is, then to start her in Novice in January, with the final goal to show her in Novice at the FCRSA National in June. I don't want to stop field training, but simply reduce the number of field sessions a week and shift those to obedience training. Time will tell how well that plan works :-).</div>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-70710894142096463572013-08-18T09:52:00.001-04:002013-08-18T09:52:34.024-04:00Michigan Flyways August 2013 Saturday Senior Test<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">After our successes at the July hunt tests, I decided that doing one day of the Michigan Flyways August hunt test weekend and both days at Marshbanks the following weekend was a good choice. I didn't dare do two days with Little, since she had 3 weeks of no training with me, due to her conformation shows (3 more points!) followed by my vacation at our family cabin in Ontario, where Sonic got to swim lots.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Little was first dog on land. It was a walk-up, with the memory bird on the right, flier on the left. She sat on my walk-up whistle. Turned for the flier. Flier flew, gunners shot, gunners missed, bird flew away. No bird. Went back behind two guys already in blinds. Second try, gunners got the flier, but it went waaaaay deep and well to the right of the ribbon. She had a very long hunt on it, giving me some moments of panic (remembering Ty's failure in a Senior test when I failed to stop her from returning to an old fall). Helen was hiding in the Burb, too nervous to really watch from anywhere close by. Little finally came up with the bird, delivered it, and had a much shorter hunt on the memory bird. The blind was 180 degrees from the marks, down a hill. There was a cover strip to cross and ponds on beyond. She took a *great* initial line, blasting down the hill through the cover strip, and got to it in 2-3 whistles. She honored just fine. So very happy with her!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Sonic's marks were super - very little hunt on either bird, and though she was sucked in by the blind station some on the blind, she also 2-3 whistled the blind. She honored just fine.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Little ran 2nd on water (Angie Becker snuck in ahead of me). Her marks didn't fall where the judges wanted them to, but were instead much more visible than they intended. She had no problems with them, other than coming back very slowly through the plant growth in the pond, slogging along at a walk. The beginning of the blind was shaky - she sucked in to the marks a bit, took several whistles to <i>really</i> stop and acknowledge me, but once she got rolling, she rolled. I debated trying to get her straightened out some in the last 3rd, but let her continue, and she drove out of the water beautifully and went right over to the blind stake (10-15 yds up on shore), and I was so pleased to get her first Senior pass. This time, Helen was able to watch.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Sonic's marks were again fine. During her bounding to the memory bird, one of the judges said, "She has such nice style!" and I turned around and said, "Thank you!" Then she said, "Oh, I'm not supposed to say that out loud!" </span><i class="_4-k1 img sp_323sbx sx_e5d9a6" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yV/r/dno2bV8aN1t.png); background-position: 0px -1299px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 27px 4183px; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 16px; line-height: 17px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">. Sonic took a *great* initial line on the blind. I wish I had blown my whistle before she got out of the water, but I didn't. My attempts to handle at the end were crappy - she was hidden in the tall grass, she wasn't listening/watching very well, etc. But she got herself there with her nose. I asked the other judge if we were okay as I handed him the last bird, since it was that dreadful of an ending, and he said, "Oh, yes." Then I thought back to Gryffin's 2nd Senior pass, when he had similarly great work up to a *totally* dreadful water blind, and still passed. Sonic's blind was only dreadful at the end. :-)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Two tries, two passes. It was a very long day, but such nice results! Next up: Marshbanks tests next weekend.</span></span></div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-34754663244853568272013-08-18T09:40:00.003-04:002013-08-18T09:40:27.826-04:00Ft. Detroit Golden Retriever July 2013 Senior Tests<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">In February this year, I set a goal to run Sonic and Little in the Ft. Detroit Golden Retriever Club's July hunt test at Omega Farms. At the time the entries closed, I just didn't feel like Little was solid enough on her blinds to spend Helen's money, and only entered Sonic one day, as there was a lot of polishing I felt she needed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">The Saturday land series was a double with the memory bird landing on a mowed area in front of woods, and the flier, shot right to left, to the right of the memory bird. The blind angled into some heavier cover on the right. The honor was also on the land series. There wasn't a walk-up in either series.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">The water series was on the Area 5 ponds. The memory bird landed near the end of the left pond, the go bird toward the end of the middle pond, and the blind was at the end of the right pond. We had run a blind to nearly the same spot earlier in the summer when we were working on channel blinds, but the last time had <i>not </i>been very successful.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> Sonic did a nice job and earned her 1st Senior leg. Our water blind wasn't brilliant, but far better than our previous blind on that pond. Little ran test dog on Saturday, and had she been entered, would have earned a leg. What a confidence booster for me! It was the best any of my dogs have ever done running test dog - Gryffin and Ty were both quite awful the times I did test dog with them at Senior tests. I was very relaxed with Little, which was a good reminder of how crucial MY mental game is. I was a bit more nervous with Sonic, but not horribly so.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b8hDmGoHaPUnhWRnJbP76qYbzYSlgVYUcV4UaspSGN6vAuB2msDK7e0oWNbJ2NIwVjwpQeAmaQc7JfRagAoIoKYcJ1xIACNF-Ky0vgMjXene8GeH8GlV7hZa6LEEy5sBjxQe8ZiCY5A/s1600/SonicSHleg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b8hDmGoHaPUnhWRnJbP76qYbzYSlgVYUcV4UaspSGN6vAuB2msDK7e0oWNbJ2NIwVjwpQeAmaQc7JfRagAoIoKYcJ1xIACNF-Ky0vgMjXene8GeH8GlV7hZa6LEEy5sBjxQe8ZiCY5A/s320/SonicSHleg1.jpg" title="Sonic with her 1st Senior ribbon" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">The next day, Sonic ran test dog - I wanted to see how she would do two days in a row - and did a fine job again. The walk up on the land series required us to come out of the last holding blind, walk towards the judge's Easy-Up (where the crowd of handlers were watching), make a right turn at a stake and walk toward the mark. Talk about a great proofing opportunity! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">The water series, which included the honor, was quite a bit harder than the previous day's. We were at the M-52 pond/Area 2 at Omega, an 80 yd long oval pond. The memory bird landed 10-15 yds out on shore at about the midpoint of the pond, the go-bird with a small splash just on the back edge on the right end. The line was well up on shore. The blind was on the left end of the pond, with a sharp angle entry that was 25-30 yds of land before they hit the water. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Sonic went right to the go bird, and didn't have too much trouble with the memory bird. The blind took quite a few whistles, but she was working with me pretty well.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Little ran bye dog. Normally, the bye-dog doesn't get to do the blind, but I asked the judges if we could try it. I really didn't think Little was ready for that long of an entry, nor that sharp of an entry, but darned if she didn't prove me wrong :-). She <i>blasted </i>away from me on a great initial line. She looked to be veering to the left just at the water's edge, so I blew my whistle - just as she turned to get in. Drat. But she did a very credible job on the rest of it, another great confidence booster.</span></div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-81661288448432290152013-06-29T08:47:00.001-04:002013-06-29T08:47:40.511-04:00Crucial Foundation Exercises<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
As I prepare to present my <i>On Beyond Novice </i>seminar at Austin Canine Central in Austin, TX, I've made a list of what I consider crucial foundation exercises to teach a new puppy or young dog. In reviewing the detailed training logs I kept when first training my Flat-Coated Retriever Sonic, she was well started on all of these by the time she was 4 months old, in addition to several field-related exercises. She learned <i>Around the Clock Scent Discrimination </i>in 5 weeks starting at about 6.5 months.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><i>Follow the cookie:</i> this is important because I use a treat in my hand to initiate quite a few of my foundation exercises. If your dog is lunging and biting obnoxiously to grab the treat, it isn't any fun for you - who wants to get their hand and fingers munched on? - you need to teach him the skill of politely following. Sometimes pushing the food <i>into </i>your dog's nose instead of pulling away helps reduce the lunging. I view the treat in my hand like a magnet - if it gets too far from his nose, it loses its power. When first teaching, I move the food at a slow enough speed that my puppy can keep up with my movement.</li>
<li><i>Voluntary attention: </i>this is one on which I use structured shaping. I put myself in the desired position, whether with my puppy in front or in heel, and wait for voluntary attention at something other than my hands. My goal is eye contact in front, general left side attention in heel position. </li>
<li><i>Position changes: </i>there are 3 positions (sit, down, stand) and 6 position changes, i.e., moving from one position into one of the other two positions. Because I want my puppy to learn to use his body in a <i>very</i> specific way for each of them, I begin all of these with a food lure.</li>
<li><i>Find heel: </i>initially, this is just a voluntary and likely to be lured 'get to heel position' exercise, but as soon as my puppy understands that is a rewardable action, we add distractions. This teaches them the foundation of <i>distraction resistance. </i>In class, I do increasingly devious actions to pull young dogs away from their owners. The owner turns and ideally runs away from their distracted dog, while I become boring as soon as the dog shows interest in me. The combination of the distraction getting less attractive and the owner running away usually gets the dog chasing after the owner. The dogs learn remarkably quickly to resist pretty strong distractions from me.</li>
<li><i>Cookie-toss recalls: </i>if you think about all of the exercises in Open and Utility, <i>all </i>of them except the Heel Free & Figure 8 and Out of Sight Stays in Open have a recall component. You don't want to have to think about recall speed when you are working on the advanced exercises, so make that something for which you lay a very solid foundation. Puppies <i>love </i>the CT recall exercise, and it lays a great foundation not only for speed but for grab something (the cookie here) and spin around and race back, a valuable component of an excellent retrieve.</li>
<li><i>Cookie-toss down: </i>a quick down from a stand, ideally a fold-back down, is critical for excellent Drop on Recall and Signal Exercises.</li>
<li><i>Retrieve: </i>play retrieve and beginning of formal retrieves, including the voluntary take, the hold, and head and collar holds without the dumbbell.</li>
<li><i>Basic sit stay/impulse control: </i>I love to start puppies with Chris Bach's <i>sit and maintain </i>exercises. It teaches puppies that voluntarily offering a sit stay is rewarded.</li>
<li><i>Target marking: </i>I teach puppies to stare at a cookie on a target (a plastic lid), at first about 3 feet away. Marking is important for go-outs, the Directed Retrieve in Utility, the dumbbell retrieves to a lesser extent, as well as a few other beginnings of exercises. It is also a precursor to<i> </i>teaching a <i>foot touch to a target.</i></li>
<li><i>Spins left and right: </i>this is an extension of the <i>follow the cookie </i>game, and it is a wonderful physical warm up for dogs, and doing it both directions helps to maintain body balance. The spin to the left (counterclockwise) is useful for encouraging a dog who works with his rear out too far to your left to straighten himself up. It is also helpful for the left finish.</li>
<li><i>Platforms: </i>I use platforms - an elevated rectangle, ultimately sized just wide enough for the dog to sit straight - for a variety of exercises, including fronts, finishes, sit stays, and go-outs.</li>
<li><i>Play running: </i>this teaches the dog that running with you is fun. While I'd say 90% of my students' dogs don't need a lot of encouragement to charge ahead when their owner starts to run, for the 10% who are pokey, this is a very useful exercise. It is a precursor to the Fast in obedience heeling.</li>
<li><i>Maneuvers and set ups: </i>these teach the dog to move in all directions in relation to you - forward, right, left, backwards, tight circle to right, tight circle to left. Set-ups are applied maneuvers, and mean getting the dog to move into a sit in heel position, which you need for every obedience exercise.</li>
<li><i>Foot touch to a target: </i>I use this primarily for go-outs, but you can also use it for the broad jump and the drop on recall.</li>
<li><i>Rhythm Heeling: </i>this is the most important heeling exercise there is! There are no turns, no pace changes and no halts with this exercise. It is simply (HA!) you maintaining a brisk walking rhythm and your dog moving, ideally in a trot, with attention and correct position. A typical heeling pattern lasts for only 30-45 seconds, and yet many, many people struggle to keep their dog actively engaged for an entire pattern. Rhythm Heeling starts with 2-3 steps of moving attention, and gradually, through regular and consistent practice, becomes a lovely dance.</li>
</ul>
There you have it. If your dog is fluent at all of these exercises, you are well on your way to building a fantastic competition partner.<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-27021227987726988902013-05-07T07:56:00.001-04:002013-05-07T07:56:48.163-04:00Practice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>A hallmark of talent is loving to practice</i>. - Penelope Trunk, Brazen Careerist<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices until they don't get it wrong.</i> - Richard Crittenden (D.C. Opera Workshop)<br />
<br />
<i>Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.</i> - Anton Chekhov</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been thinking about practice lately. A lot. Field trial trainer Bill Hillman talks quite a bit about practice on his DVD "Retriever Training Fundamentals: Part 1 Land". He argues that most trainers just don't practice enough with their dogs. They teach something a time or two, think the dog understands, and then move on to something else. Bill stresses continuing to practice the fundamental skills throughout a dog's lifetime. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most of my training energy these days is centered on field work with Sonic and Little. Who would have thought that young(er) woman who disliked guns and dead birds and only got Working Certificates on Tramp and Treasure to get them into the FCRSA Hall of Fame would develop such a passion for field work? I love being outside, seeing the dogs do something they have a huge passion for, helping them to learn how to be the best teammate they can be. It all comes down to training. And practice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have always loved puzzles and problem-solving. Maybe it is why I liked math and computer programming so much when I was in school. I still love programming. I just love training dogs and people even more. To me, dog training is one giant puzzle. Whether I am training for blind retrieves in the field or teaching my dog to heel with animation and precision for the obedience ring, it is critical to have a road map of training steps to follow. I have always believed that if one book or video on a topic is good, having six is better. I like getting a lot of different view points on something. I guess it helps me to study the road maps that other trainers travel and find success with. I like to see what they consider crucial foundation steps, and how they put them together into more complicated behaviors. If foundation is weak, the later steps built on them will be weak.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>While it matters a lot that you have a goal, a vision and an arc to get there, it matters even more that you don't skip the preliminary steps in your hurry to get to the future. Early steps might bore you, but miss even one and you might not get the chance to execute on the later ones.</i> - Seth Godin, blog post 11/7/12
<br />
<br />
I love putting in the daily practice with the girls. Given their enthusiasm to "load up" and go train, I think they love the opportunity to practice with me. I love discussing training with other trainers, traveling their road map some to find out what little side paths helped them.<br />
<br />
It helps a lot to have an experienced instructor to help guide you along the road, especially when you are a new trainer and have never traveled any training road before. Sometimes that instructor is someone with whom you can take weekly classes. Sometimes it is someone who has written a book or produced a video on the topic. Sometimes it is a classmate who helps motivate you to train on a day when you are tired. But you still <i>have </i>to practice. No matter how great the instructor or book or DVD, if you don't practice the skills with your dog, you won't find success, whatever your definition of success is, whether it is to have a well-behaved companion in the home or a trial-winning obedience dog, a hunting companion or a Master Hunter.<br />
<br />
What are you going to practice today?</div>
</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-2180050238209817302013-05-05T22:40:00.002-04:002013-05-05T22:40:45.813-04:00Transition training in the field<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Since getting home from our very successful spring field training trip (eventually, I'll get that post written) to Tennessee and south Georgia, followed up with 8 days of the FCRSA National Specialty, I have been blessed to have returned to beautiful spring weather (finally) and time to train "the girls" (Sonic and Little) a lot. They are now both in the Transition stage of their field work, which essentially means they are transitioning into being able to run "cold blinds", which are retrieves where they don't see the bird or bumper thrown.<br />
<br />
When I was in Florida, I had a chance to watch <a href="http://www.gamekprs.com/" target="_blank">Gamekeeper's head trainer Mitch White</a> working two client dogs on their whistle sits in the water. It gave me a new appreciation for the standard I wanted to strive for. We had only one chance to work on their water sits when we were in Tennessee. It was interesting to see how much better Little was treading water than she had been when we left Florida in early March, even though we hadn't worked on them back home in frigid Michigan. But she was not stopping and looking at me unless I hollered sit, sometimes multiple times. Sonic was faster at stopping, turning, and looking at me, but her ability to tread water was so far poor.<br />
<br />
I got some advice from a friend on-line to improve Little's focus by tossing a bumper between us and then blowing the whistle. Last Tuesday when I first tried that, I tossed her a bumper 3 out 4 times I sent her. When I tried one without, and counted to see how fast she was doing it, I only got to "1000-1, 1000-2" and she was staring at me, treading water beautifully! Here is a little video I made of her on Friday morning, when she was really doing well:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qgNrV1mFoLg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
This morning, I trained with Helen and Corinne, two of my most frequent training partners. We set up 3 stick men in a line at 50, 100, and 150 yards across the face of a hill. I put a white blind stake out at a 45 degree angle from the stickmen up the hill to the left, about as far out as the middle stick man. Here is a quick little diagram I drew.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4B1SKpRnbNkVPHO_P6bgR8DLVhD-aH22xfrbStyMLPfxghruYGlas4lfiH9P4G11XfiNQoinhbQ-gCcaMt5YRPKH35sb5VjCbm4xkvTlmkz4yqatTRfgYsoFpQjEnvrWEsOFMc9Dy3w/s1600/5-5-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4B1SKpRnbNkVPHO_P6bgR8DLVhD-aH22xfrbStyMLPfxghruYGlas4lfiH9P4G11XfiNQoinhbQ-gCcaMt5YRPKH35sb5VjCbm4xkvTlmkz4yqatTRfgYsoFpQjEnvrWEsOFMc9Dy3w/s320/5-5-13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It ended up being a more complicated version of the Key Relationship Drill* we've run several times recently and of Blind Drills, which work on similar key relationships. I think both girls got a lot out of the drill.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*KRD = one mark at about 50 yards, and two blinds (in the beginning stages we are in), one "outside the mark", i.e., #2 in the diagram below, and #3, "behind the gun". We haven't started adding #4 yet.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kwicklabs.com/images/aaMay10/KRD10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://www.kwicklabs.com/images/aaMay10/KRD10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This evening, I decided I really wanted to take advantage of the relative quiet of a Sunday evening at the technology park where I do a lot of my water work. I wanted to get the girls started with cold water blinds. I put out 6 small orange bumpers along one side of a 40 yard wide neck of a huge pond. We ran them left to right. Little had a family of very irate geese parents and tiny cute goslings (why do they have to grow up to be such pests?) to contend with. She had some trouble with popping (stopping and looking at me without a whistle from me) - too many whistle sits this week, I'd say. Her sits did deteriorate as we went along, and she wasn't doing very good back casts when beyond 30 yards (that will be something we work on this week) but overall, I was happy with her efforts. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sonic did even better than Little, even lining (swimming across to the bumper with no help from me) the 3rd blind.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sonic will be running in what I hope is her last JH test in two weeks. If we pass on Saturday, I plan to move her up to Senior on Sunday. No, I know she's not thoroughly ready, but if the test is a reasonable one, I'd much rather take a stab at it than to run another Junior test. This means I will be working the girls as often as I can on their handling skills. I am aiming Little for the Ft. Detroit Senior tests in late July, and for Sonic to be well prepared for those tests, too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Transition is SO much fun!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-61416955143213040262013-03-18T08:02:00.000-04:002013-03-18T08:02:08.506-04:00Sonic's 1st Beginner Novice leg<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I showed Sonic yesterday in obedience for the first time. Beginner Novice is an optional titling class, new since I started a new dog in obedience (Ty, back in 2008). Sonic is the fourth dog who I've started in Rally before doing obedience. The Flat-Coated Retriever National Specialty is in April this year, and I wanted to be able to enter her in something besides Rally. BN seemed a good possibility. Early last month, I did a novice run-through at a match at my building and it went so well, I considered also doing regular novice at the National.<br />
<br />
I want to pause to reflect back to last October, when I showed Sonic in Rally Novice for her title. We showed 3 times, earned some nice scores, but it took a <i>lot </i>of verbal help and guidance to get those scores. She was also barely under control outside the ring. I realized it would be a while before she was ready for any off leash work required to go into Advanced Rally. A funny thing happened over the next several months. I focused almost all of my training time on her field basics, doing obedience once a week in class and then doing most of the demos required in my classes through out the week. In December, we ran a fairly complicated Excellent course for class off leash, and I thought, "Hmmm, I think Advanced will be possible soon!" We showed in conformation at the crazy-busy Novi shows in January, then spent some time heeling and training around the crazy-busy obedience ring area. What she showed me there also encouraged me.<br />
<br />
She got two Advanced legs in February, doing very nice work. Then on February 20, we headed south for 2.5 blissful weeks of field training. We did a teeny-tiny bit of obedience work, but not much. We got back less than a week before our next rally trials. With classes starting last week, there wasn't a ton of training time, but I fit in what I could. She had a fine finish to her RA title on Friday, earning a perfect 100.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/e8r0bP58VnM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
We moved up to Excellent B for her 1st Excellent leg with a 99.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7PkGE97I6N8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
On Saturday, I attended the 1st day of a Connie Cleveland seminar as an auditor. During each 15 minute break, I'd grab Sonic out of my vehicle and we'd do some heeling. If I put in the needed training time, I think she will be a wonderful heeling dog. She still needs quite bit of support from me, but it is getting better.<br />
<br />
So Sunday, off we went to the Toledo KC for a try at Beginner Novice. While I've been feeling quite ready for Excellent rally, I knew our heeling isn't nearly as polished as I'd like it to be for obedience. She's been doing so well on the sit and stand for exams with our class instructor, and quite well with classmates playing judge, that I haven't been good about getting new people to do exams. I got a bunch of people to do sit for exams, and she got better each time we did it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TbSsjsya1d8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Yep, I corrected her in the ring - after the first about turn, I think I said, "Hey, WATCH!" which <i>did</i> get her back on track for the rest of the pattern. I used my one legal "phrase of praise" after the next about turn to good effect, I think. I am not happy that she paced the whole first leg, but that is a work in progress. It simply isn't habit yet for her. I also praised (legally) as we headed toward the 1st right circle on the first Figure 8. The sit for exam was excellent, but then Jim Ham doesn't dilly dally around on his exam :-). The small amount of work we did on it during our Florida trip wasn't exactly promising, so I was pleased she pulled it together.<br />
<br />
We ended up with a score of 194 and 3rd place, all 6 points lost on the heeling pattern. I'm glad I made the choice I did to fix her as I did, since she really seemed to get her head together after that.<br />
<br />
We show again in Rally Excellent next Friday and BN on Saturday. My goal is to have two legs on each title going into the National in late April. We'll be showing somewhere she hasn't ever been before, which will be good experience for her.<br />
<br />
While I'm a trifle disappointed in the heeling pattern, I am also realistic about why it went as it did. Lack of experience. Time and effort will fix that.</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1113445643012920664.post-17455108037563666572013-03-12T22:28:00.002-04:002013-03-12T22:28:47.451-04:002013 Winter Odyssey Part II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
On Wednesday and Thursday (Feb 27/28), I joined Mitch White's training group. On Wednesday, training consisted of 3 singles on land for each girl: medium, short, long. We did a mind-blowing Influential lining drill (18 buckets - 8 is the most I've used).<br />
<br />
I did a final water-force session with Sonic (well, I hope it's the final one :-)). Then swim-by work with Little, whistle sits in water with both (Sonic hasn't figured out how to tread water yet, but she is turning and focusing on me pretty promptly). Ended the day with 3 water marks for each. First was across about 40 yds of water, up over a sizable dike into another small bit of water. There were cheating possibilities, but neither fell for them. Second one was out near a bunch of posts in the water. I did the 3rd one from up a hillside with a long log at the water's edge, which they both handled a bit clumsily but without trying to cheat around it.<br />
Thursday's training: 2 land marks up hill, the left one behind or just in front of a long log, the right one with several patches of brushy cover to go through (or dodge around as several dogs did). We also attempted - and succeeded at - a land blind for which they had to go through some more of that brushy cover. A cold blind for each of them! I had to move up, but I was quite pleased, given their lack of exposure to casting into cover. Did the marks as a taught double with both girls. Neither did very well. Reran later and both did well on the rerun. Moved to water and did a taught in-line double. Long mark was beyond a whole string of fence posts that are in the water. Both girls did that well. Closer in mark was from a launcher behind them. Little stood and jumped forward when that went off. She visited various decoys when I sent her for the memory mark (which she'd ignored when she ran it as a single the first time), but got herself out to the mark. Cheryl Knapp and I then went over to the Horseshoe Pond and worked whistle sits in the water with Sonic and Gem-E, then I did some swim-by work with Little. We finished up letting the girls run and play together, something I haven't had/taken the time for. They had a lot of fun dashing about and going in and out of the pond numerous times. I guess the day's work hadn't exhausted them.<br />
<br />
On Friday, after a slow start, we started with 3 cold land blinds ("cold blind" means one the dogs haven't seen me put bumpers out nor does it have a nice attractive white bucket for them to focus on). They were about 120 yds each. Little's first one was poor - she did NOT believe me when I sent her, but we kept plugging and when she spotted the orange stake, woo hoo!, she zeroed in on it and dashed in for the retrieve. The 2nd was better, third about the same. Sonic did very well on the 1st one, poorly on the 2nd (there was a log to go over), and very well on the 3rd. Next, I did swim-by work for Little that didn't go very well. I was feeling like *such* a swim-by training failure (I never really felt either Gryffin or Ty really 'got it'). While there are some parts that were much better than when we arrived, we weren't as far along as I'd hoped to be. It seems to be my Holy Grail. Then I got Sonic out with the goal to start teaching her how to take over casts (going left or right) in the water, something we'd barely touched on earlier in the week. She proceeded to do so well that she was doing better than Little had. It just seems to make sense to her. That bouyed my spirits a lot. That got me thinking that what I need to do a lot more of with Little is land disciplined casting, which I CAN do when I return to the cold north. I also played with teaching Little to circle a bucket for treats, which she thought was splendid (food=splendid in Little's world). I did this because it was something I did with Sonic, and I thought it might benefit Little. Later in the afternoon, Mitch coached me on improving Sonic's whistle sits in water and more swim-by with Little. She was actually much better in the bigger pond than the one we've worked on since Tuesday. Cheryl and I did a 200 or so yard Postman marking Y-drill (back and forth) to give Sonic a chance to stretch out some.<br />
<br />
After checking out of the motel, I started Saturday morning with Swim-by work and Little did the best she's done. Being in the somewhat bigger pond makes a big difference for her. Sonic didn't do quite as well as she did in the smaller pond on Friday, but still was doing quite well on the early stages. Then we did 3 new land blinds. Unlike yesterday, when Little was mystified about what we were doing on the first blind, she took off like a rocket on her first blind today. Not quite in the right direction, but at least she had momentum :-). It was <i>very</i> windy that day.<br />
<br />
I spent Saturday night with a college friend in Clearwater, who I hadn't seen since her wedding 23 years ago. After keeping somewhat up to date on each other's life through annual holiday letters, we had a lovely time catching up with each other.<br />
<br />
It was a boring couple of days for Sonic and Little after 9 straight days of swimming/field work. I taught 6 obedience lessons Sunday and Monday, so they had a lot of crate time. It was great to catch up with so many of my Lakeland friends.<br />
<br />
Monday evening, I drove to Betsy Reiney's in Palatka, where Sonic swam for the first time outdoors last spring. We had a nearly perfect weather day for field work on Tuesday. I joined Betsy's Tuesday morning group for land work - some marks with ducks from launchers, as well as a site blind (which they both lined on their first try, which I did before running the marks), and then did swim-by with both girls back at Betsy's - quite successfully - that afternoon. The land blinds we did weren't quite so successful. <br />
<br />
We had another full day of training on Wednesday. There were some very good things from both girls, some not so good things. They have different strengths and weaknesses. We started with Bill Hillman's Star Drill. Sonic did quite well, while Little had a lot of trouble. We did a marking Y-drill and reran the blinds from the day before, with much better results. In the afternoon, I did some water whistle sits and swim-by work.<br />
<br />
On Thursday, I did the Star Drill again with Little (better than Wednesday, but lots of room for improvement), and then we set up an 8-bucket Influential Lining Drill, which went pretty well. We did 3 new land blinds. Sonic 3 or 4 whistled the first one at 150 yds - I was <i>thrilled</i> with that! The other 2 went almost as well. Little had a ton of trouble on the long one, so we repeated it after running the right one. We worked more water whistle sits, but decided not to work on swim-by. I was ready for a break from it! After lunch, Betsy threw 3 long water marks for each girl.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDmS9gea1ZoeTpllMrEXMQ-wBDA3KcVft9qyEArmHR4UVNflMydv3sd8_clCnIeNgIJC0dKcLWX-pCJrZgiNirNmYqdmmPv_rip-LhQHHW_Op6canuZuwcBWj-f6LL5k-QrPufn7EgBs/s1600/2013+water+marks+at+Betsy%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDmS9gea1ZoeTpllMrEXMQ-wBDA3KcVft9qyEArmHR4UVNflMydv3sd8_clCnIeNgIJC0dKcLWX-pCJrZgiNirNmYqdmmPv_rip-LhQHHW_Op6canuZuwcBWj-f6LL5k-QrPufn7EgBs/s320/2013+water+marks+at+Betsy%2527s.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
<br />
And with that, our training for this wonderful voyage was over. I am so grateful for the generosity of all my hosts and the use of their training grounds. We had an uneventful drive home, stopping again on the way home to stay with Bonnie. Altogether, I put over 3000 miles on the Burb. And it was worth every mile!</div>
Adele@NorthfieldDogTraininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115901965242548576noreply@blogger.com0