Went to Jess's yesterday - thank you Jess for letting us use your field and for filming :)
Scandal was a good girlie even with distractions of their chickens which she got a great view of stood on the top of the dog walk :) her contacts were 100% too which I was even more pleased with... ok so her stops weren't perfect but she's driving down quicker now, she understands she has to stop, just when she is going faster her momentum takes her a little further on, which I'm not worried about at all right now, main thing is that she gets as much reward as possible to build her confidence.
I back chained her dog walk so did 2 of the down plank and then the whole thing, I expected some jumps but didn't get any so that's cool!
She was a bit steadier but as it was a new venue that is just how she is, she is careful and that is fine, as her confidence comes and she gets more reward for being right, I think the speed will start to come :)
Here's a vid of Scans...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmIFe3loaz0
Friday, 19 March 2010
2
Written a couple of days ago... Trials and tribs of Scandal's RCs continue. Sunday they were great again, so got Imogen to run round playing with Honey (as Scandal looooves Honey), Scandal would look across, when we weren't running, but when we were she was as good as gold and concentrating really nicely, contacts great.
So couldn't think of what else to do so got Garth to hold one of their chickens and stand about 5m from the dog walk. Hmmmmmmm. Once I'd persuaded Scandal she couldn't just stare at the chicken, she did some good stuff. Her dog walks were slower but still held up 100%, was really chuffed as thought they'd be all over the place. I did fear for the chickens life at several points but luckily it's a very brave chicken, who's used to Scandal and Tia thinking it's a sheep.
x
So couldn't think of what else to do so got Garth to hold one of their chickens and stand about 5m from the dog walk. Hmmmmmmm. Once I'd persuaded Scandal she couldn't just stare at the chicken, she did some good stuff. Her dog walks were slower but still held up 100%, was really chuffed as thought they'd be all over the place. I did fear for the chickens life at several points but luckily it's a very brave chicken, who's used to Scandal and Tia thinking it's a sheep.
x
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Crufts again
Forgot to add a couple of things
Firstly was thrilled to see my obedience trainer (not that we've been for over 6 months now!) win the Crufts dog obedience championships with her supper Aussie Buck, who is only 3 years old, think he entered 4 or 5 ticket shows last year and won 3 of them, Susanne doesn't campaign her dogs heavily and Buck will now be retired from obedience and compete in WT where he's already WDex. Buck to me epitomises what obedience is all about - style, accuracy, drive and precision, without being OTT with an awkward head carriage that seems to be becoming more and more common. Absolutely loved this dog since seeing him in novice a couple of years ago, he took my breath away back then and has done every time I've seen him work since then.
I think worst part of Crufts for me was seeing a horrendously lame collie competing in YKC ADOTY, a big chunky collie, who skidded after number 2 and was clearly holding his leg up, despite several shouts from the audience (me included) that the dog was lame, she carried on, I know when under pressure people don't notice these things but the dog was running on 3 legs and was measuring terribly, it made my blood run cold to see a dog running in so much pain, they really do give everything even though their body is telling them to stop.
Watched a bit of the breed show BC judging but not for long, the BC bitches seem to be tiny, and most of them to me are barbie type collies now, with hugely long coats that are kept trimmed, I would love to see some of them do a days work. Was nice that Sarah's Skye won her class as she isn't OTT (in my expert opinion :)) so nice to see these more normal looking collies getting put up.
Should have a new video up of Scandal by the end of today :) x
Firstly was thrilled to see my obedience trainer (not that we've been for over 6 months now!) win the Crufts dog obedience championships with her supper Aussie Buck, who is only 3 years old, think he entered 4 or 5 ticket shows last year and won 3 of them, Susanne doesn't campaign her dogs heavily and Buck will now be retired from obedience and compete in WT where he's already WDex. Buck to me epitomises what obedience is all about - style, accuracy, drive and precision, without being OTT with an awkward head carriage that seems to be becoming more and more common. Absolutely loved this dog since seeing him in novice a couple of years ago, he took my breath away back then and has done every time I've seen him work since then.
I think worst part of Crufts for me was seeing a horrendously lame collie competing in YKC ADOTY, a big chunky collie, who skidded after number 2 and was clearly holding his leg up, despite several shouts from the audience (me included) that the dog was lame, she carried on, I know when under pressure people don't notice these things but the dog was running on 3 legs and was measuring terribly, it made my blood run cold to see a dog running in so much pain, they really do give everything even though their body is telling them to stop.
Watched a bit of the breed show BC judging but not for long, the BC bitches seem to be tiny, and most of them to me are barbie type collies now, with hugely long coats that are kept trimmed, I would love to see some of them do a days work. Was nice that Sarah's Skye won her class as she isn't OTT (in my expert opinion :)) so nice to see these more normal looking collies getting put up.
Should have a new video up of Scandal by the end of today :) x
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Crufts
Haven't had time to do a blog post for ages... have been swamped in uni work... handed dissertation in yesterday, seems strange now I havent got it hanging over me, just one more assignment to write and a journal to hand in (well, write!) next week and then revision revision revision for easter, exams starting in May and finish 2 days before Scandal's first KC show, so will be nice to do the show without having to worry about revising.
Crufts was great, we stayed up there weds night to saturday, sooo knackered after each day. Imogen had a 4th in YKC ADOTY on thurs, lovely run, top 3 qualify for final so she was just out of the placings, which was a shame, but great considering they've only been doing agility for 14 months, has also taught her that she does have to push, and can't fanny about like she can in grade 1! Honey is working amazingly well in training and could easily hold her own up against grade 7s, fabulous little bitch, her attitude has changed so much in the last year, complete nutcase now, hope that as Imogen gets her confidence they will start to enjoy being in the ring a lot more.
Show season starts now - Chippenham on saturday, then a show every weekend from then on.
Tia is back home and touch wood there have been no fights and not even any grumbling, shows how much Scandal's season must have affected her. They've been playing loads and are loving chasing each other and trying to outrun one another on walks. Tia was a bit stiff yesterday after running, I think it's because she hasn't done it for about 3 weeks, hopefully it won't be long before her muscle is nicely built up again.
x
Crufts was great, we stayed up there weds night to saturday, sooo knackered after each day. Imogen had a 4th in YKC ADOTY on thurs, lovely run, top 3 qualify for final so she was just out of the placings, which was a shame, but great considering they've only been doing agility for 14 months, has also taught her that she does have to push, and can't fanny about like she can in grade 1! Honey is working amazingly well in training and could easily hold her own up against grade 7s, fabulous little bitch, her attitude has changed so much in the last year, complete nutcase now, hope that as Imogen gets her confidence they will start to enjoy being in the ring a lot more.
Show season starts now - Chippenham on saturday, then a show every weekend from then on.
Tia is back home and touch wood there have been no fights and not even any grumbling, shows how much Scandal's season must have affected her. They've been playing loads and are loving chasing each other and trying to outrun one another on walks. Tia was a bit stiff yesterday after running, I think it's because she hasn't done it for about 3 weeks, hopefully it won't be long before her muscle is nicely built up again.
x
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
1
Ok, so seeing as I'm rubbish at keeping a diary/scribbles of how training's gone, I thought maybe I could try and keep an up to date version on the blog.
So here goes.
Thank you to the people who emailed me suggestions. When I trained today, Scandal again did perfect running dog walk, from whereever on the dog walk I released her (including full ones). We also did some stop ones and they were great, really pleased with them as she's driving down into the position really nicely where ever I am.
So, to make the running ones a little harder, and adding in a distraction, I put her half way along the dogwalk, and had Ricky alongside, on the floor. Said 'go' and Scandal flew down and hit the contact very high up. So we went to the end of the down plank, but again she jumped. So, I gave her a 'time out' for 10 secs. I think the 3rd and 4th one she then got nicely, so I moved her back a bit along the dog walk. Jump. Jump. We worked on it for a while and I think we made some sort of progress. But Scandal got about 6 time outs, which for me is higher than I'd like, however the majority of these were at the top down plank, so I'm not bringing her any closer than that.
So... I think what is happening is when I train at home, there are no distractions, or distractions that Scandal is well used to and it doesn't bother her. But add anything else in and all of a sudden she does a completely different behaviour. So, we need to increase distractions at home, setting Scandal up with a much higher chance of her succeeding, ie from the top of the down plank, and then move her further back as her % of success increases.
So... plan will be for now to do stop dog walks at UKA shows, and KC shows. When I feel that the running dog walk will hold up in the ring, I will try it out first at UKA, and if it is ok, do it at KC. So we have got a lot to work on, but at least a plan of action to go with it :D
x
So here goes.
Thank you to the people who emailed me suggestions. When I trained today, Scandal again did perfect running dog walk, from whereever on the dog walk I released her (including full ones). We also did some stop ones and they were great, really pleased with them as she's driving down into the position really nicely where ever I am.
So, to make the running ones a little harder, and adding in a distraction, I put her half way along the dogwalk, and had Ricky alongside, on the floor. Said 'go' and Scandal flew down and hit the contact very high up. So we went to the end of the down plank, but again she jumped. So, I gave her a 'time out' for 10 secs. I think the 3rd and 4th one she then got nicely, so I moved her back a bit along the dog walk. Jump. Jump. We worked on it for a while and I think we made some sort of progress. But Scandal got about 6 time outs, which for me is higher than I'd like, however the majority of these were at the top down plank, so I'm not bringing her any closer than that.
So... I think what is happening is when I train at home, there are no distractions, or distractions that Scandal is well used to and it doesn't bother her. But add anything else in and all of a sudden she does a completely different behaviour. So, we need to increase distractions at home, setting Scandal up with a much higher chance of her succeeding, ie from the top of the down plank, and then move her further back as her % of success increases.
So... plan will be for now to do stop dog walks at UKA shows, and KC shows. When I feel that the running dog walk will hold up in the ring, I will try it out first at UKA, and if it is ok, do it at KC. So we have got a lot to work on, but at least a plan of action to go with it :D
x
Monday, 8 March 2010
Contacts
Scandal's aframe has been looking really good this week. She only did a 1-hit twice, the other times it was a nice 2-hit on the down ramp. Her turns are also coming on nicely.
The dog walk on the other hand..... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I HATE THE DOG WALK!!!
The dog walk at home = lovely. Nice and confident, 100%, running through the contact perfectly. We went to James and Sam's yesterday, and Scandal didnt hit one dog walk contact properly! In the end we left it, even if I only let her go from the down plank, she still was missing it.
I'm now at a loss with what to do. When she misses it, I say 'no' and we go and do it again. Previously, this worked... she'd almost always do a perfect hit the next time. However yesterday it became quite clear that Scandal had no idea what she was doing. Then I got into a tizzy because she wouldn't do it (and I didn't know how to solve it) so she jumped off from even higher up.
So, the plan for the time being, until I've worked out what to do, is to do a 2o2o dog walk everywhere except home. Increase distractions at home, and see if she still maintains criteria.
I don't know what to do... don't know what is best. If I call her back, she flattens. She'll keep trying, doesn't shut down, but she doesn't go as fast, which throws her stride out even more. If I ignore it, and carry on, then I'm accepting that (it'd be like her not stopping in 2o2o and me just carrying on) and then I don't see how she'll differentiate wrong from right. I guess the best thing to do would be to let her pick her toy up, but not play with her, and then jackpot it when she does a good contact. Problem is, like yesterday, if she doesn't do any good ones, then she switches off completely.
If any one has any suggestions on how I could work on this pleasse get in touch, harding_charlotte @ hotmail.com (remove spaces) as I'm completely at a loss with what to do next!
The dog walk on the other hand..... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I HATE THE DOG WALK!!!
The dog walk at home = lovely. Nice and confident, 100%, running through the contact perfectly. We went to James and Sam's yesterday, and Scandal didnt hit one dog walk contact properly! In the end we left it, even if I only let her go from the down plank, she still was missing it.
I'm now at a loss with what to do. When she misses it, I say 'no' and we go and do it again. Previously, this worked... she'd almost always do a perfect hit the next time. However yesterday it became quite clear that Scandal had no idea what she was doing. Then I got into a tizzy because she wouldn't do it (and I didn't know how to solve it) so she jumped off from even higher up.
So, the plan for the time being, until I've worked out what to do, is to do a 2o2o dog walk everywhere except home. Increase distractions at home, and see if she still maintains criteria.
I don't know what to do... don't know what is best. If I call her back, she flattens. She'll keep trying, doesn't shut down, but she doesn't go as fast, which throws her stride out even more. If I ignore it, and carry on, then I'm accepting that (it'd be like her not stopping in 2o2o and me just carrying on) and then I don't see how she'll differentiate wrong from right. I guess the best thing to do would be to let her pick her toy up, but not play with her, and then jackpot it when she does a good contact. Problem is, like yesterday, if she doesn't do any good ones, then she switches off completely.
If any one has any suggestions on how I could work on this pleasse get in touch, harding_charlotte @ hotmail.com (remove spaces) as I'm completely at a loss with what to do next!
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Mixed week
Well started off well, with Daves lesson, then on Friday Scandal fell off the dog walk... gave herself a dead leg, which ok'd itself after a few minutes. Then she seemed fine, so gave it a few hours and then did another couple of dog walks and they were perfect, she was low across the whole dog walk rather than the stupid jumping which she was doing.
Then on Sunday we tried a raised aframe, did it slowly a couple of times so she knew it was higher, all fine, then did one a bit faster, again fine, then the next time, she went up the apex, and carried on skywards... and landed on the floor. After I recovered from just seeing Scandal's near death experience we did it a few more times and she did it much better.
Not enjoying this RC malarky right now. It's great when it's going well but they go so fast there really is no room for error. In 2 minds about stopping the whole thing now. Did the aframe today and Scandal just wants to go from contact to contact as soon as she's further back than 1-2metres. So I've got no idea how we are going to ever get it into a course.
The dog walk was looking really good today, correct striding, head low, we are putting 1 or 2 jumps before and after it now, all going swimmingly.
Jumping on Sunday we did at 22", she's 15 months and I felt she was ready, however she seemed to find it harder to adjust to this height than when we went to 20". So may do some 20 and some 22 for a couple of weeks. She's fine on the straight ones and wing wraps but on a star she can't keep a tight curve like she can on the lower jumps.
Did some of the stuff we worked on at Dave's and it went really well, with Scandal now driving at me after a sharp turn, rather than pansying in a curve to the next jump :) she is very up for it and it makes training so much easier.
Feel like we have got so much to work on. It was so lovely to train today in the sun. Scandal was knackered, I don't think she's ever got so warm from training before! :) x
Then on Sunday we tried a raised aframe, did it slowly a couple of times so she knew it was higher, all fine, then did one a bit faster, again fine, then the next time, she went up the apex, and carried on skywards... and landed on the floor. After I recovered from just seeing Scandal's near death experience we did it a few more times and she did it much better.
Not enjoying this RC malarky right now. It's great when it's going well but they go so fast there really is no room for error. In 2 minds about stopping the whole thing now. Did the aframe today and Scandal just wants to go from contact to contact as soon as she's further back than 1-2metres. So I've got no idea how we are going to ever get it into a course.
The dog walk was looking really good today, correct striding, head low, we are putting 1 or 2 jumps before and after it now, all going swimmingly.
Jumping on Sunday we did at 22", she's 15 months and I felt she was ready, however she seemed to find it harder to adjust to this height than when we went to 20". So may do some 20 and some 22 for a couple of weeks. She's fine on the straight ones and wing wraps but on a star she can't keep a tight curve like she can on the lower jumps.
Did some of the stuff we worked on at Dave's and it went really well, with Scandal now driving at me after a sharp turn, rather than pansying in a curve to the next jump :) she is very up for it and it makes training so much easier.
Feel like we have got so much to work on. It was so lovely to train today in the sun. Scandal was knackered, I don't think she's ever got so warm from training before! :) x
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