School is over!

At least a month has passed since the last time I posted anything on this blog but remember, Spring has arrived and much needs to be done.  Does that mean I'm a garderner?  No, my condo doesn't allow me that luxury.  Nope, it's finally agility time!

First, let's go back to my 2 days at Say Yes!  Yes, I did enjoy it.  Yes, I did learn many things.  Would I go back?  Of course!  Do I appreciate my instructor in my neck of the woods?  Even more so!

During the two days, we had to keep our dogs either crated or in our cars.  In my case, my vehicle isn't an option because even if I leave the windows wide open, the inside is till too warm for a dog.  We were also going through an April mini heat wave and it was hot, hazy, and definitely humid outside.  Jasmine was instead crated in the building and didn't like it one bit.  I spent a very long two days taking notes and anxiously listening to Jasmine's clawing at the inside of her crate, and her barking, and her whining, do I need to go on?

First thing I did when I got home was to buy Jazz a new crate.  Why you ask?  My old one doesn't have a flat bottom, but a wired one usually used for puppies or (ahem) rabbits.  She now has more space to stand up or lie down.  This may I have my best purchase yet.

 
Second, I make sure I reward Jasmine a lot more for being quiet in that new crate.  By the way, I was able to stay at a local bed and breakfast on the last day.  The motel I had been staying at had no available rooms for the Friday because of a local swim meet (or whatever they're called).   Here is Jasmine on the Saturday morning, just before we left.  I don't think she felt like getting out bed.  As a friend told me, she was flicking a dew claw at me, that's for sure.

Off to school!

Well here we are, on the eve of a Say Yes camp in a strange hotel room.  This is our first time at Say Yes, and I'm indeed looking forward to it, but at the same time, a bit worried.  Worried that I'll feel overwhelmed with information and worried that Jasmine and I are not to par with the other students.  Oh well, I'm sure I'm not the only one in this situation so let's hope everyone is friendly to amateurs.

Flyball progress!

I've noticed that when Jasmine improves, it'll be a while before a new ability will be offered on her part.  This is the case for flyball.

For the past few weeks, we've been getting the help of another team captain during our training.  Even though I could cleary see much improvement in the other dogs, Jasmine was still insisting that pawing the ball out of the box hole was much easier than catching it during her turn. I do believe she may have had a change of heart.

Saturday morning, she took the ball from the hole without cheating!  She did about 7-8 successful repetitions before I gave her a break.  Was it a fluke?  Nope!  A second short session showed us she meant business.  Now, the boxloader has started to put his/her finger on the trigger to keep it in place so we can phase in an activated box. 

On a side note, we're now using foam balls that are sold as cat toys instead of small tennis balls.  The main reason for this switch is they the only toys that Jasmine has caught mid-air. It may not make any difference, but hey, I'm striving for success! 

Q

Such a simple letter, but what a long road to earn it.  At long last, we've done it.  That long unatainable Q has finally crossed our path and yes, we grabbed it with both hands and four paws.

The trial is hosted by the Chomedey Kennel Club in Chomedey, or if you prefer, Laval, Québec. I've never been there before, but it's a great excuse to stay overnight at my big brother's place in Boucherville.  Not many of my Ottawa area agility friends are there, so other victims fall prey to my unending chatter during the weekend.

Our jumpers run during day 1 is uneventful.  Jasmine zooms away after a series of flicks and blind crosses from my part.  I calmly decide to withdraw her.

Day 2.... Ah yes.  Day 2.  My two Ottawa agility buddies are very supportive, but my flicking reputation preceeds me from a Facebook post the night before.  They have been instructed to help me analyse the course.  Still, I'm extremely nervous.  I prespire like a little piggy, and I can't feel my legs.  Am I worried about a Q?  No way!  Not flicking my dog is more on my mind.

It's finally my turn and Jasmine allows me to do a lead-out like an old pro.  The rest, dear blogging friends, is history.  Here is the video.

After the run, a felllow participant came to me to announce that the judge hadn't raised her hand.  That simple sentence was music to my ears and I screamed like an idiot.  Yep, I screamed.  A lot.

That scream represented all the work both Jasmine and I put into training for the past three years.  As I'm writing this, I feel an Oscar moment coming up and this strange urge to start thanking everyone I know, including the ones I don't, for helping me get this far.

Rest assured, I will not.

You know who you are, and to you, my thanks.  We couldn't have done it without you. : )

At long last, like other blogging agility enthousiasts, I can finally add Jasmine's AAC achievement page on my blog.

I'm feeling all tingly inside as I click.

AARF Jan. 30th, 2010

Never will I write such a long post!  My previous entry tends to go on, and on, and I haven't even finished translating it for the French blog, that already something new has happened. 

Yesterday was our second trial of the month and the first one ever at AARF.  The facility is in beautiful historic Spencerville Village, Ontario.  How I love these small communities who don't tare down their historical buildings. 

During the last few days, our area has been hit by cold weather and when I started my car this morning, I could read -25 degrees Celcius on the dashboard.  Good thing I plugged the thing last night because the motor cooperated and started like a charm.

As much as I try to treat Jasmine like a big dog, I do put my foot down when she's cranky, and that's what she is when it's really, really cold.  Therefore, I made the poor creature wear her Winter coat, which I'm sure she considers it very humiliating indeed.  However, as the day went on, the temperature got warmer to a more comfortable -15 degrees and the coat was no longer necessary.  Jasmine was free to trot proudly around.

Here is the video of the Starters Jumpers Run.  I chose to do a lead-out since Jasmine has always been very good at them.  This time, I hold her quite securely in my arms to the startline, remembering quite well what happened at MorningStar earlier this month.  Once in sit-stay, I bravely run to the third jump in the sequence (I've never done that in a trial before) and release her.

What worked well

• The lead-out
• The tire (I was a bit worried about this obstacle, since Jasmine ignored it twice at the fun match two weeks ago)
• Jasmine took the first tunnel with no hesitation.  In a past life, she would have gone straight outside the ring to investigate.
• Yes, she did zoom, but came back to me every time.  : )
• I was suprised that Jasmine didn't try to gorge herself with the footing.  This arena is usually used with horses.

What didn't work so well

• Forgot to call her after the first tunnel, even though Seebee had warned me to.  I was too much relieved after the lead-out, tire, tunnel sequence, that I forgot her suggestions.
• Jasmine went straight out after the first jump of the pinwheel, something that happens quite often lately.
• She's coming at an angle at the winged jump, resulting in throwing her off her line and zooming away.  I didn't expect that.

All in all, I should be quite proud of her.  I must admit that I was quite discouraged on my return yesterday thinking about Jasmine's zoomies and ring crew/judge socialising, I was seeing myself back to the drawing board, training, training, and training.  Now, a day later, I can watch our performance with pride.  Yes, we have come a long way.

Red Gates Fun Match, January 16th 2010 - Not the best of days, but.....

The day didn't start well at all.  Like every ordinary day, I wake up and extend my arm to where my glasses usually wait for me on my night table to grab them.  After blindly shuffling my hand around, I realise that nothing is there.  I get up and sit on my bed, squinting my eyes to make sure I'm not mistaken.  Nope, still nothing.  I don't worry because I may have forgotten them in the bathroom last night, so off I go. Still nothing.  Okay, deep breath, don't panic.  It's only 8 am, and I still have ample time to find them before leaving for the fun match.  Still, although I'm not completely blind, I prefer to go through life seeing things clearly and not only blurry outlines.

First breakfast, then shower, clothes, and getting my gear ready.  At 9:20 am, I still haven't found anything.  Glancing over to the living room, Jasmine looks at me from the sofa with a slightly guilty look.  Could that be it?  The last time this happened, she had chewed the glasses to pieces during the night and when I woke up, she hadn't followed me during my morning routine like she usually does, but stayed put on the chesterfield, and simply watched.  Mmmm.  Something fishy is going on.

At 9:30 am I check my e-mails and take the time to change my facebook status to discribe my current blind predicament. At 10:30 am, it's time I leave for Red Gates.  10:45 am, the car is loaded, I'm wearing old glasses from five years ago, feeling grumpy, and Jasmine is very picky in choosing her bathroom spot on the street.  Argh!  We finally leave at 11 am and it will take a miracle, or an X-Wing Fighter from Star Wars, to get to Red Gates on time.

I arrive at 12:08 pm, but the check-in time was at noon.  The owners have finished their welcome speel and participants are already walking the course.  I count myself lucky not to have come across too many red lights.  After walking the course with a very preoccupied mind (not good), one of the owners tells me I'm up.  Now?  Already?  Jasmine is usually second or third but the other usually 6 inches dogs aren't here today.

Sh**!

I run back to the car, make Jasmine pee, yet again, and run back in.  We reach the startline with no treats in my pockets, only the tug in my hand.  Uh Oh!  I have a plan to run Jasmine through several different sequences but my head is so in shambles right now, I have trouble thinking straight.  This isn't good because as I mentioned in my previous post, I'm one of those handler who needs to focus on her dog before a run.

Oh dear.


Standard Run - First Try

Our first attempt at the standard could have been worst.  The first sequence offers an obstacle discrimination, something we haven't really practiced, and my plan is to stand beside the tunnel she's supposed to take.  It doesn't work on the first try, but considering we haven't done this before, I'm not really worried.

We start again and, I try to put her in a sit in front of the first jump, but the next dog in line is one of her good friends, Mongo.  Major distraction, no doubt about it.  I show her the tug and succeed in getting her focus by playing a few seconds with her, but that obviously isn't enough.  She runs back to Mongo, then to Lisa, to finally come back to me.  On a side note, this is a great exercice to judge how Jasmine can overcome distractions and concentrate on me.  Our second try to the sequence works and I reward her at the exit of the tunnel.

The next sequence is blotched when she takes the wrong end of a tunnel, but I'm probably to blame.  It's hard to see from the angle of the video.  I tug with her anyways, because I have the distinct feeling I'm not giving her the right signals.

Standard Run - Second Try

Whenever I have a set of 12 weaves available during a course, I always attempt it with my little weaves' lover.  Jasmine completes very well the sequence I choose, but avoids the tire, twice!  This isn't the first time this happens (never in a trial environment, but still) and I plan to include this important obstacle in a future training session soon.

She also stops a few times to sniff the ground around the weaves.  I wonder if this is because I haven't played with her enough before?

Jumpers Run - First Try

What I've always feared comes true.  The machine which gives the electronic "go!" with the Voice makes Jasmine release herself before my cue.  You see, our release word is "go" and I was afraid this would come back to haunt us.  Oh well.  I corrected her and hope this isn't repeated.

I underestimate her and don't try a huge lead-out at the startline.  She barrells out of the tunnel, and since I'm not there to direct her, off she goes.  Always in a rush, I don't give us time enough to regroup and it pretty much goes downhill from there.  I won't make the same mistake twice.

We attempt the sequence a second time, a tough sequence might I add, and everything goes well, except for my duh! moment of the day.  After doing a superb rear cross, I forget the tire before a turn at the end of the sequence.  You can hear the audience laughing because my mistake is pretty obvious and my verbal handling is in the "Jasmine, uh oops! uh Tire!" category as well as having my body angle all over the place..  Poor Jasmine doesn't have a chance of understanding what I want.

We continue with a good rear cross before a tire, turn, jump, but a second "duh!" makes me forget the last jump. Bad, bad, Lyne

Jumpers course - Second Try

I'm so proud of the leadout and Jasmine is soooo good.  I reward the first one at the exit of the tunnel and try the complete course after that.  The rear cross before the jump doesn't work but that's another skill in the works.  The one before the tunnel does, so yay!

Things to practice or to remember


Tire!  (No kidding!)
Rear crosses (they're so fun to do too!)
Directionals (They may have been handly in the Jumpers course)
Remember to anticipate important distractions and not to underestimate them. (Mongo)
Trust Jasmine in leadouts. (Oh yeah!)
Leaving my glasses at the same spot every night before going to bed. (Hmpf!)
I used the slip-lead like in a real trial

Here is the video.  Enjoy!

First Trial of The Year In Kingston

We don't attend competitions that often so trials are still very important to me.  I was looking forward to the Morning Star Trial because the venue is wonderful, the organisors very welcoming and Jasmine's comfort level very high in the soccer dome

I registered us in one event only, starters jumpers.  I arrived the afternoon before to take the time to settle in and avoid having to worry about the road conditions.  Mother Nature cooperated and we only had to cope with the cold.  We still attended flyball practice in the morning and this resulted in my nodding off on the road somewhere around Spencerville.  Good thing the highway has those grooves in the pavement on the side.  It jerked me awake and I was able to steer the car back on the road.  I consider myself very lucky and next time, I'll go to bed very early if I have to do a long drive somewhere on my own the next day.

Sunday morning was a bit warmer, around -15 degrees celcius and the venue, which is really soccer dome was warm enough.  Our run was the first of the day.

I'll scan the course and upload it later, but I was surprised to see a rear cross was required in there.  I've practiced it before with Jasmine and even included it in fun matches but who knows how it'll work in a competitive environnent?  Needless to say I wasn't impressed.  I could always have done a front cross instead, but Jasmine being the little speed devil she is, I'm pretty certain I wouln't have been able to position myself in time to do it.

Needless to say, in the end, all this debating wasn't necessary.  Jasmine avoided a jump and when I directed her to take it again, I positioned myself on the other side and the rear cross wasn't required anymore.

What didn't work out

We got two refusals, both of them were jumps.  The first time, Jasmine tried to avoid one.  The second, she was sucked in by the black hole which is actually the soccer goal.  She also tried to enter the tunnel by the wrong end, but I was able to avoid the judge's "hand up".  I'm still not sure how that happened.  By the by, the "black hole" refusal was supposed to be avoided by my great presense of mind and my calling her while she was still in the tunnel.  Been there and called her too late.  The black hole sucked her in instead. : )

I got carried away with my chatting before the run.  I met a handler who has bichons and both dogs hit it off right away.  I also have a flyball buddy whose little chihouaoua is in the same height as we are, so I was talking a mile a minute and was having a bit too much fun.  It seems that I'm one of those handlers who MUST focus on her dog and her course before a run.  Poo!  I'll have to limit my talking.  Sheesh!


Result:  We finished the course in 34.09 seconds (the max was 41 seconds) with 10 points deducted.  I guess that's two faults?

What worked well

Jasmine didn't zoom around, hurray!  She stayed by my side like the good little girl she now is.  I also tried not to use my arms and run silent but her avoiding that first jump affected my confidence so I called a few obstacles and pointed when it wasn't necessary.

Jasmine is very comfortable at Morning Star.  Her tail is up and she trots in a cheerful way.   Stress was pretty much absent all weekend.

What was weird

I decided to walk with her at the starline, so while I was "on deck",  I put her down.  Mademoiselle trotted off to investigate a table and chair left aside for the judge.  She's never done that before.   I called her back, picked her up, put her at the startline and kept a hand on her back until our turn.  That's not something I want to repeat. 

Here is the video.  Enjoy!