We're back!

I’ve been terribly negligent of this blog this Summer. I feel as if I’ve been either on the road, training Jasmine on her weaves, in agility class, making videos, editing videos or uploading videos on facebook, and finally, trying to keep my house clean since June.

On my off time, I’ve been either working or popping in at work so that Jazz could fill her role as book club mascot. All, in all, a very busy Summer. Are there any achievements after all this? YES! Plenty!

Achievement 1 - Zoomies

Zoomies have been reduced to a minimum. When she zooms away, either I’m asking Jasmine to do something she doesn’t understand or there’s cat poop in the area.

Achievement 2 – Weaves

Jasmine is now a weaves maniac. If she sees me walking around with the weaves, she starts making that high pitch bark that all dog owners love to hear. The bark which means: I wanna work! I wanna work! She finds such high value in weaving; I have to hide the equipment when I’m setting things up for practice sessions. I have Susan Garrett’s 2 x 2 method to thank for that. Give Jazz any weird entry and she nails it. Now we’re practicing distractions.

Achievement 3 – Start-line stay

It’s rock solid. Need I say more? I can walk confidently away and Jazz stays put.

Achievement 4 – Swimming

Not exactly in our plans, but yes, Jasmine can nowswim. All it took was one visit to a local beach and voilà, Jasmine was paddling away. We also had the chance to discover Sand Banks and what a day.

Unfortunate consequence 1

All this weave training and overall fun made us forget certain very important agility moves. 180s. The champion of 180s has lost her medals. Bad, bad, Lyne. Back to work.

Unfortunate consequence 2

All this beach bumming has made Jasmine decide that paddling is a must before I lower her in her bath water. Pretty hilarious to see!

Unfortunate consequence 3

Not updating this blog...

Contacts 1er juillet 2009

Yep, on Canada Day!

Contacts

This is one of the steps that need to be mastered for contact training. I prefer the 2o2o method.

I forgot the plexi so the hand will do.

I'm pretty happy with the results. Just for the heck of it, I included some recalls in the session. I love to see her barrelling to reach me. What a fast dog!

Next session: Need to practice the teeter. Since a "plank" is required, a training partner is essential.

Sigh.

2 x 2 30 juin 2009 0001

The training continues.

2 x 2 Training

The number of posts on this blog is caused by the training I do with Jasmine. In other words, I don't have much time. The chosen method to teach Jasmine how to weave is the 2 x 2. She already knows how to weave, but she's too slow and we're starting all over again.

This video shows where we are right now.

Sessions June 30th 2009


Weather: 22 degrees celcius, raining off and on.
Time: Evening
Location: Backyard


To reward Jasmine, I use a toy which is currently a favorite of hers. I also put the poles closer together. For a reason or another, she doesn't "see" the second set of poles and off she goes to zoom. Is she too focused on the toy? I try to finish the session with some easy attempts. Is it normal that she doesn't understand?

Sessions July 1st 2009

Weather: 27 degrees celcius, windy, humid
Time: Mid-afternoon
Location: Agility field

I use the same toy but the poles are farther apart than yesterday.
The training goes very well.
I add distractions. Unfortunately, the human distraction isn't fast enough for Jasmine. I abandon this method for the toy. Toy is more reliable than the human. ; )
The mistakes at the end are caused by the fact that I'm not pointing her in the right direction. Bad, bad Lyne.

Oh miracle!

This is like the fisherman who cought the catch of his life. At least I have witnesses. I ran Tucker for the K9 Kup and while I was walking the Jumpers course, I made a spur of the moment decision to try it with Jasmine as well. The course is simple and all the FC are after tunnels so the risks of zoomies are minimal. At least I think so.

Play by play description

Although Jasmine self-released herself at the startline, I stuck to my guns and made her sit again. She complied, did the focus forward and only then did I release her. I'm the boss, right?

Tire, jump, tunnel, FC after the tunnel and pinwheel. She runs off after the second jump of the pinwheel and I call her back. OMG! She obeys and comes back. SHE COMES BACK! I admit my heart did a little somersault but what a day! After that, it's a breeze.

It's no coincidence that I chose a Jumpers course. Jasmine does zoomies after transitions. Obstacle to a jump, etc. In this case, there is none and I didn't need to skip obtacles. I also chose a course I knew she would be confident about.

I'm still in la-la land.

To work on: Startline stays, pinwheels and I need to get fit. Jasmine runs so fast, she always ahead of me.

Fun Match Mai 2009 Partie 2

Watching this gives me a good feeling. Plus je le regarde, plus je suis contente.