"I'm ready, lets go" Journey
Our agility instructor, Karin Haderly took a couple weeks off from training. Journey is back in class and he is in the third session now. This is Agility Foundation 103. Our lessons for the last sessions were inside, at the Wilson barn. Now we are meeting for class outside, at Karin's property. We all love it there - so pretty, and the weather has been wonderful.
Agility field, taken from the visitor parking area. Karin's home is in the upper left, on the hilltop. .
The fenced, grassy field is huge and the lawn is nicely cut. The agility area takes up maybe a quarter to a third of the field. Sometimes it is more spread out. Karin also teaches obedience, and rally. Pirate and I go to rally classes the night after Journey's agility class. Class and practice time are keeping us busy.
There is an above ground pool with steps, to cool off the dogs in warm weather. Our class has only 5 students. Very nice people and dogs. We have a good time!
Darn, I had a bunch of new pictures from our last class, and I accidently deleted them. Well we have class tonight, so I will try to get some more pictures.
Journey is still loving the lessons and he has so much enthusiasm! He seems to hold to the theory that if once is good, then two or three times is even better. He does the weave poles beautifully, and then spins around and does them back in the other direction. Same thing with the jumps.... I need to catch him to stop him sometimes. He is such a happy boy.
I tried to put Pirate in Beginner Rally but there were not enough people signed up for it. Karin has worked with Pirate in agility and she knows how quick he is, so she put us in the Advanced Rally class and is just giving us some extra time before or after class, to help us catch up. Pirate is doing great - wish I was a little quicker at getting the hang of it - so many signs to remember!
I did not really think I would be that crazy about rally, but Pirate is so happy he is over the top. I would probably enjoy anything that gave one of my dogs so much pleasure. As we are driving to class, he watches carefully to see where I turn and where we are going. As soon as he determines where we are headed, he is so tense and excited. He struts out onto the field prancing, with his neck arched and his chest out. (Wish he had done that in the conformation ring.) He never really enjoyed conformation that much and though he made it to the Top Ten List twice, once he got his Grand Championship and his IABCA International Championship, I decided to introduce him to things he enjoyed more.
Rally seems to be a strong contender. He really loves Nose Work classes too. I really enjoy watching him and marveling at how quickly he learns. Hopefully I will soon begin to get a little better at recognizing the signs and remembering what to do There is no problem with him, just me. His class is tomorrow night and I will try to get more pictures. I had some nice ones of the other dogs in our class. Most of them have been doing this for two or three years and are competing. We will do what ever Pirate wants to do in regards to that, but somehow I am having a tough time visualizing myself in a competition rally ring - guess we will see how it goes. One way or another I intend to keep Pirate in classes as he really needs something to occupy his super active mind. He is a lot of fun.
Pirate never takes his eyes off whatever dog is taking a turn on the rally course. He was doing things I swear I have never taught him, ever. I believe he learns a lot by watching the other dogs. Heaven knows he cannot depend on me :o). I took all my boys through "Companion Obedience" instead of competition obedience. It is a little looser and seemed more appropriate for what I wanted from my dogs. I did not care if they walked exactly at my left side - I just wanted them to walk in about an eight food radius of me and my command for that is "with me". That way we could all hike or take walks together when I wanted them close and there was not the room or the need for them to be exactly at my left side. Now, of course, he is learning "heel", and having no problem with it at all. That is one of the things that he makes it look like he already knew. The only thing he is slightly awkward about doing is the finish around behind me, and then to my side. I am awkward at it too, or he would probably be doing it better. He is getting it though.
This is the part of the field where Pirate does rally.
I wish I had not lost those pictures, but I have my camera loaded to take with us tonight and tomorrow night, so maybe I will do better with handling the photos.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer.
