May Trials

After we got back from Boxer Nationals we did a trial at Villa Park (Lyons Township) neither got any Q's but some interesting courses. As I mentioned earlier Keegan got his second leg in Open JWW at Nationals and last weekend (May 18 & 19) we did K-9 Obedience Club's trial he got his last leg and his title.

I am continually learning more each time I run him, if I don't keep ahead of him he often will lose his focus on me.  That is when he prances around to see what is going on around him, silly boy.  Our first run in Excellent P JWW was awesome and I have no doubt he would have Q'd if I hadn't gotten lost and took him over a wrong jump.  Ended up with 2 wrong jumps to get back on the course and he finished in style.  Hit his weaves perfectly and even did them a bit faster than he normally does (one of the things we really need to work on).  We finished a few seconds over with two faults (my bad).  He is so much fun to run and done so well in such a short amount of time.

Kiah is still stressing, I believe now it is just habit with her.  She knows if she doesn't do anything she gets to leave the course.  Renee is going to run her at the next trial, maybe we can get her out of this funk at trials.  It just kills me because we have so much fun in class and she is just awesome.  She has so much potential and I want her to enjoy the trial atmosphere and not dread it.  I would hate to leave her out but if this continues and she is so miserable then I don't want to force her into doing trials anymore.  We will see how this year goes and if it continues then she will be retired next year.  I will continue classes with her and maybe the club trials since she is comfortable there.

Introducing.......

Thor, my new puppy.  He will be doing Obedience, Agility and Tracking when he is older.

American Boxer Club Nationals - May 3 - May 10, 2013 Indianapolis, IN

UPDATE: 
Nationals are so much fun; meeting new people, putting faces to facebook friends, talking about Boxers and hearing stories about them plus seeing the Boxers in Agility, Obedience and Confirmation is just the best time.  I hope to be able to make it next year too.

Keegs got his second leg in Open P JWW with a first place even with one refusal and a couple of seconds overtime.  Not only did he get a ribbon he got a medal too.  It is awesome!!!!

Kiah and I are still having issues with her getting stressed but we have been ending the run with a party to which she is responding.  I know we can work through this I just have to get it together with her so I don't stress her out.

I did find my puppy, wasn't planning on getting a puppy so soon but he was too awesome to pass up.  Please go to the "Introducing..." page to meet Thor.  I can't pick him up until the 25th but believe me the wait will be worth it; he is such a special boy.

May 3: Kiah and Keegan will only be doing Agility this year, hope next year we can do some Obedience too.  I am going tomorrow, May 4 and will leave on May 8 so won't be able to see a lot of Confirmation but hopefully I will see a bit on Sunday.  Monday and Tuesday will be agility; Monday is all breed and Tuesday is Boxers only.  Going to be so much fun!  I should be able to post results from there and should have videos that I will post when I get back.  More later.......

Doberman Club of Greater Milwaukee Trial-April 19-21, 2013

It was a 3 day trial and a great weekend, we stayed overnight on Friday and Saturday it was nice to be only a few minutes away from the trial.  Keegs is not the best dog to have as a roomie, he thought every noise was something he had to alert me to so not much sleep either night.  Hopefully he will do better at Nationals in early May.

On Friday none of us had the best runs; Kiah was stressed (me helping to stress her) and Keegs thought bouncing around the course was fun (at least I don't stress him out).  Saturday was better for both Kiah and Keegan; Kiah was a little less stressed and Keegs got his Open Standard title but we were 2 seconds over time with one fault so his score was 91.  Not the best but we will take it although I decided not to move him up for Sunday.

On Sunday Renee ran Kiah for me, she wanted to show me how to keep Kiah focused and what she does if not stressed by me.  I videoed it and it is at the end of this post.  I did do better with not stressing her in the next run so she ran much better (maybe I was too tired to be so stressed since I had so little sleep :-) ).  Keegs really did well on Sunday and he Q'd his run in open standard, no faults and 12 seconds under time which is awesome for us.  I did run faster and he stayed right with me, I have to trust him more.  A friend videoed it on her iphone but the file was pretty small so not the best quality but at least I have the run.  His video is attached also.

Here is Kiah and Renee.

Here is Keegs Q on Sunday:

April, 2013

Classes have started back up and it is good to be back.  Keegs has had two classes so far and is doing well.  I am learning to run with him and not wait.  We may be missing some jumps along the way but eventually he will pick up the "outs" to a jump as we learn to run better together.  He has done so well in such a short time trialing.

Kiah has had one class so far.  I was really nervous since this is a class with two new instructors and from what I had heard it was pretty intense class.  It turned out to be a lot of fun but the course was difficult so we learned a lot.  Kiah was great and fast, she had a great time and was still ready to play when we got home so she is feeling so much better.  She gets the last of her antibiotics tomorrow and I will take a urine sample in on Wednesday to see if she is clear of the UTI infection.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Since there were some issues when we started back trialing this year with both Kiah and Keegs I have restarted the focus training which I never should have stopped over the winter.  We have two trials at the end of the month and then it is Nationals in Indianapolis so we will see if the focus and classes are helping.  I would be nice to have Kiah in Masters and Keegs in Excellent for Nationals but also want them to have fun along the way and not push them too hard.  More later after their classes next week.........

What a month!

So many things have gone on this month I am sure happy it is about to be over and hope that along with spring Kiah has better health.  We have Nationals coming up in May.

A week ago last Monday, I came home from work and Kiah's face was swollen so I gave her some Benadryl hoping that would get rid of the allergic reaction (all I can think is a spider or some bug bite).  By morning she was worse so we went to the vet.  She was put on Prednisone plus Benadryl.  Tried to do some agility over the weekend but she just was still not feeling well or it was the medication.

Last Monday morning I had a feeling she had a UTI (possible side affect of prednisone) the way she was acting, when it was light I found blood in her urine and back to the vet we go.  Definitely a UTI so she is now on antibiotics for 2 weeks and we have 4 pills left of the prednisone which she will be taking every other day to wean her off of it.  Poor girl can't catch a break but hopefully she can tolerate the antibiotics (diarrhea and vomiting side affects).  She did vomit last night but had been playing; maybe it won't happen again.

Thankfully Keegs is doing well, we started classes last night and he did really well.  Fun class and a great group of people in class.  We have one day of agility this coming weekend and hope Kiah is feeling better to run. Her classes start next week so she has some more time to recover.

Forest City Trial 3/8-11/2013

Another great trial put on by my club, Forest City Dog Training Club in Loves Park. IL.  Always busy but always fun with such a great group.

I was surprised at Kiah, she zoomed in both JWW and Standard on Friday, the first time in over a year she has done that.  My fault as we have not done much since our last trial in December so we are back to working on focus every night, hopefully she will come around quickly since we have trials every weekend till the end of the month.  Saturday was the opposite, she didn't want to do anything at all, just kind of moped around.  The judges wife said she was limping before we went into run Standard (I didn't notice) and she fell off the dog walk so we left the course.  When we went home I used the vibrator the chiropractor recommended on her and massaged her left shoulder.  She must have been better because she zoomed again on Sunday.  Not a good weekend with runs for Kiah and I but she did seem to have some fun out there.

Keegs got a leg in Novice Standard (1st place) on Friday but nothing the rest of the weekend.  He did do well but we are still having problems with weaves.  He popped out in one and others we are having problems with entrances.  That is what we are working on the rest of the week.  Keegs just loves doing agility and I love running with him.

I am looking forward to next weekend to see if they both settle down and get back into trialing mode.

"Internationalization" what it means to me!

Today is another Dog Agility Blog Event Day - March 6, 2013; please visit all the blogs at: (http://dogagilityblogevents.wordpress.com/internationalization/).  Please leave comments, we all enjoy hearing what you have to say.

I have to say I hadn't really thought about it much until recently.  Now I am hearing more about many of the venues incorporating international rules, making more of the upper level courses  like the international courses and even adding new course formats.  I have heard AKC will be adding a new course called an excellent "C" run which will have more of an international feel and has been testing it at some trials.  I found some examples of the course maps on "Carolina Piedmont Agility's" FB page (like the page and see the videos also) and will post those at the end of the blog.  From what I have seen it will be challenging, a lot to learn but oh so much fun.  

Personally I think it is a great thing and probably way over due although I understand USDAA has always had more of an international feel and now I see more UKI trials being offered. The new class Kiah and I will be taking this session will have courses similar to USDAA courses so we will be learning many of those new moves.  Some of the ones I have seen so far are "backy uppy", Ketschker or "ass-pass" (a term that is easier to remember), out and back, and back side jumps which may even be the "backy uppy" but I am not really that knowledgeable on the terms yet.

I know the US has sent some great teams to the International trials but perhaps incorporating more international type courses in the larger venues will allow us to have an even greater number of teams to that will qualify to compete. 

As I mentioned I am excited to see these changes but need to remember no matter how challenging or how long it takes us to learn these new moves it has to be an enjoyable experience for Kiah, Keegs and myself otherwise it is not worth doing.

I also want to mention again please visit the other blogs and make comments, a lot of thought and effort goes into these blogs.  Some will have much more experience and others like me are just beginning to learn about Internationalization; I look forward to seeing all perspectives these blogs offer.

Here are the course maps:

March 2013

Wow, if I get in to the trial at the end of the month we will have a trial every weekend but this one.  I am so excited to get back into trialing, I have missed seeing everyone.

Had a great practice last night with Renee and Lloyd (friends and my previous instructors from the club).  Learned some new moves from Renee that we need to practice at home for Kiah's new class coming up.  Kiah's class will begin either late March or early April, it depends on how many makeup classes they need to fit in for snow days.  Keegs class will start March 25.

We plan to go to the drop in class today too.  It will be our last training on a course before the club's 3-day trial next weekend.  We can do a little bit at home and we will practice Keegs entry to weaves, once he is in he does well but really doesn't associate the word "weaves" with entering the weaves yet.  He will catch on.  More later........

February 2013

Feb.17, 2013:  We had a great time at class on Sunday's drop-in class.  Kiah's first run was awesome, had a lot of energy and enthusiasm.  I messed up on getting her at a right angle and she dropped a bar, looked at me like "I am so sorry" and I thought she would just give up but I told her it was OK, she perked right up and we finished the course with the same energy she started.  AWESOME!!!! that she recovered so quickly and shrugged it off; a year ago she would have been done running the course and not paid any attention to me.

Keegs had the "bouncy" bug when he ran the first time, it was funny to see him try to bounce through the weaves, had to redo them 3 times before he was able to finish them.  Second run for him the bounciness was gone but still happy and energetic.  We would have Q'd if it had been a trial.

There were a couple of spots on the course where I had some problems, it was easier with Keegs as he isn't quite as fast as Kiah but he is getting there.  I am still working on keeping a head of them and not waiting for them but still having issues with front crosses.

Feb.10, 2013:  Worked with Keegs on sending him out to jumps, he did a really good job and it won't be long before I can work more distance with him.  Kiah and I practiced focus at the start line.  She has a wonderful start line stay but she looks everywhere but at me when I walk away.  I just walk backwards keeping eye contact with her and then go back to treat her or call her to me to treat her for her focus.  This is something we can practice at home too.

The course was furn, we ran the easier course first and then ran the harder course since the weather was awful and no one showed up but me and one other person so I got to run Keegs too.  It was a good session for all of us.

Feb.9, 2013: No trials so far this month but plan to go to a drop-in class tomorrow (2/10/2013) if there is no freezing rain.  I will work Keegs for awhile before the class sets up since he is not eligible for the class.  Kiah will run in the class.

New Collars and Leashes

Kiah's new agility collar and leash; she is going to look awesome!

The leashes are made by Myra at
http://www.k-9pizazz.com/

Keegs new agility collar and leash; the handsome boy is going to by stylin!

January 2013

Janurary 20, 2013
Went to a drop in class for excellent dogs so Kiah got to run.  Learned a lot and we have a lot of home work.  I plan to go the the club tomorrow am to practice sending Kiah out to jumps, practice my handling so I can communicate the correct moves to both Kiah and Keegan and practice box patterns.  

Janurary 19, 2013

Went to a CPE trial and had a great time.  We didn't get to run until after 2:30 pm so it was a long day for Kiah and Keegs since we got there a little before 7 am.  They both did well; Keegs got a 2nd in the first standard run and a 1st in his second standard run.  Kiah got a 1st in her first standard run and an NQ in her second.  Her first run was awesome and so fast so I am pleased with her; hopefully we will have more runs like that in the furture.

Happy New Years everyone!

The K's and I are ready to get back to training since we didn't do much over the holidays.  I am hoping to do a couple of days at a CPE trial this month and next month, it will depend on the weather if we go or not.  I don't care if it is cold just not snowing or freezing rain while driving to the trial.  In March Kiah and I will be starting a class with new instructors (at least we are on a wait list) at the club.  I have been told they will make me run with her which is what I need and why we are doing some CPE.  The CPE courses are more wide open and I can do some practicing with Kiah and Keegan.  The dogs have to be in excellent classes so Keegs won't be able to train with them yet.  Hopefully he will be ready by summer.

My goals this year:

• Learn to run with Kiah and Keegan; trust them to know what they are doing.
• Kiah her Masters titles and some QQ's toward her PAX & PACH
• Keegs his Excellent titles and hopefully further than that.
• Go to Nationals in Indianapolis this year in May
• Maybe a puppy in 2013-14, I would really love to train a puppy before I get too old to run in agility.

Our club banquet is in a couple of days and really looking forward to seeing everyone and enjoying a wonderful meal.

December-Keegs Christmas Serenade

It is a busy month and classes are now over until January.  Probably won't get much training in but we may be able to make to a fun match on Monday and maybe a CPE trail at the end of the month.

This video was from a few years ago; I always like to post it again at the time of year. I just love the kids laughter and you just have to smile when you hear Keegs and the kids.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Kiah, Keegan and me.

Backyard Training

Today is another Dog Agility Blog Event Day - December 5, 2012; please visit all the blogs at: (http://dog-agility-blog-events.posterous.com/pages/backyard-training).  Please leave comments, we all enjoy hearing what you have to say.

I don't have a lot of agility equipment at home or a lot of room in our backyard so a lot of our "backyard training" is working on focus or working with 4 jumps. My yard is not fenced either so working a small area makes it easier to keep the dogs in my yard.  I do have a set of 12 weaves loaned to me from a friend and will have them until her puppy is ready to start training on them later next spring.  I leave them in the basement since they are metal and too heavy to move back and forth.  If the weather is bad I have an option to get some practice in on weaves and can still work on focus.

So what can I do with just focus and 4 jumps, a lot!!!!!  I can set up small sequences to practice treadles, serpentine's, go outs, 270's, 90's, front crosses, rear crosses, obstacle discrimination, pull and pushes just to name a few.  Where do I get these sequences?  If we have a particular problem in a class I can pull a short sequence from our problem area; for example, if we have a problem on obstacle discrimination even though it was not a jump, I can put a jump where the obstacle was and practice the correct sequence.  Another source is Steve Schwarz's (http://agilitynerd.com/blog/agility/courses/steve/BoxDrills.html) jump box drills. Steve also has a course box jump generator you can use to create a course you want to work on or you can create your own course from the "blank" course generator (http://agilitycourses.com/courses/box/create/).

In the winter we do our "backyard training" with classes plus I am lucky that our club allows the members to have a key to the building so we can train when no classes are being held at the facility. We also do some short sequence work there along with full courses if they are setup. My basement is not finished and has a very smooth concrete floor so I don't do any jumps there in the winter. Someday I would like to put some matting in the basement so I could do more at home.  I do have rugs under the weaves so the dogs can get a grip or it would be too dangerous to let them weave. 

I know that I will get some great ideas from the other bloggers participating in this topic and hope you will check out all their blogs too.

Run clean, run fast :-)

Barb

Forest City Nov-Dec Trial

It was a wonderful long weekend; the trial was so much fun and our club workers make it such a good experience.  I worked in the office this year helping enter sheets, getting info ready for the judge to review, got results filed in the books and  labels out to those who had Q'd.  I have to give so much credit to trial secretaries, can't believe how much work they do in preparing, working during the trial and the post work that makes a trial run so well.  Renee Fulcer is our trial secretary and she is just awesome so if you are looking for a great person to run your trial check her out at her event page http://www.fulcerevents.com/

Kiah and Keegs did well this weekend, Kiah got her Open title in standard and her first leg in Ex A jumpers. Keegs got a leg each in his Open Jumpers and Open Standard.  I really have to work on moving, keeping ahead of them and my front crosses (UGH!!!!).  I really need to work on distance with Keegs, teach him to go out and work direction better.  Kiah and I need to work more on communication, she sometimes anticipates what she thinks the next jump will be and takes it without checking or listening to me.  I also have to work on queuing her faster.

I will post their scores once they are published.

November 2012

November 23 & 25-Went to the club to practice both days.  Started out running the full course with both, then worked Keegs on short courses with rear crosses and "outs" to jumps, he is really starting to get it.  Kiah knew the course, so I worked on pulling her off the next obstacle so she would pay attention to me and not take what she thinks should be next.  She watched and listened so much better after she figured out it wasn't going to be the same sequence each time we ran.  Our club's 3 day trial is coming up next weekend and really looking forward to it.  It is always a great experience and I love to hear all the positive comments about the trial.

November 14 -  Was able to fit a class in last night for both Kiah and Keegan, it was really great to see everyone and how well their dogs are doing.  Keegs did well once the instructor reminded me to keep moving, he wants to be with me and if I slow down to wait for him he stops.  Kiah was really excited to be there and did awesome except for the times I forgot the course, whoops :-(     She did catch a smell at the tunnel on the second run and it was tough getting her away from it but she finished the course like a pro!  Love those two, so blessed to have them in my life.

November 4 - Went to the club yesterday am to help with the work getting ready for the trial at the end of the month.  We added more pellets to the turf, a couple of places were low.  Also I was asked to help keep the agility pages updated on the club's website; it will be fun.  They were going to have a open practice later in the day but I didn't have the dogs with me and a few things I had to do when I got home so they left the equipment up for me to use this morning.

I worked Keegs on rear crosses and go outs, he did really well.  Ran the easy course first and then ran the more difficult course with him 3 times.  Kiah and I worked on discrimination's and watching me so I can pull her off the off course obstacles.  My timing is getting better and she is watching more.  A great way to start the day.

Follow my posts

Just added a "Follow" button to my blog.  Please click on it to follow us.  Not quite sure how this works but thought it would be fun to see how many people will follow us.

Thanks,
Barb, Kiah & Keegan

October, 2012

October 20, 2012 Car-Dun-Al Trial:
No Q's on Saturday but had a lot of fun at the trial and I see improvements on both Kiah and Keegan.  Keegs had to wait a long time before he ran so he had a great time running around to visit bar setters and see what is going on. Kiah did pretty well on her ExA JWW run, she had her moments of being distracted by something at the weaves but she recovered well and did not shut down.  On her open standard run she thought the smells were much more interesting then running the course with me.  Video's of Kiah ExA run and Keegs Open Standard run.

October 14 - Went to the club this morning and practiced on a fun standard course.  The club left it up from the Friday night's run thru so people could use it to practice.  Kiah and Keegs did really well and pretty much wore me out.

Worked distance and discrimination obstacles with them.  Kiah is listening to me more and I am giving her faster cues.  Keegs pretty much watches me so I worked some more rear crosses with him. The rear crosses  still confuse him a bit and he will spin after the jump to follow me but he is getting better.

We have a trial this Saturday and if the weather is cool enough I may crate them in the car. The place has a small crating area and I hate to set up just to have to take down again that evening besides I'd prefer leaving spaces for those who are trialing both days.

October 8 -I missed classes last week due to a migraine so nothing to report on classes.  Classes are done for this session and I am not registering since the Wednesday classes will be discontinued due to an outside group renting the facility.  Our classes have changed to Tuesdays and Thursdays which I cannot make.  I am taking a class at the local community college on Tuesdays and sub for a bowling league on Thursdays.  I should be free on Tuesday since this is only a 6 week class at the community college for the session starting in January. 

I am continuing to work Keegs on his weaves and he is doing so much better. I am moving faster and trying to build some distance.  Since we can't make classes this session I plan to work them on Sunday's at the club, not as good as a class but it will work for the short amount of time we are off.

We have a one day trial coming up on October 20 and a 1 day and 3 day trial (our club's trial)  in November.  I usually don't do any trials after that as I never know what the weather is going to be like and hate to skip a trial due to weather.  Our first trial will be in March back at the club again.

More later on our training sessions at the club........

September Trial

September 29, 2012 - No Q's for Kiah, her runs were a bit up and down but her attitude continues  to be positive and that is all I really am looking for now.

Keegs was having a grand old time on his Open JWW run, popped out of the weaves and missed one jump but he sure had fun.  Gotta smile at his antics.  He did settle down a bit for his Novice Standard run and now has his Novice Title in Standard.  He is picking up some speed, we were 10 seconds under standard time where we have been previously close or overtime.  He got a nice Title ribbon. 

September 28, 2012 (excellent only) - Kiah's Excellent A JWW run was a bit fast and wild, she took the discrimination jumps so I was getting her back on track several times.  She kept her enthusiasm and was having fun so that is what counts.

Kiah and I go to the K-9 Agility trial in New Berlin this afternoon for our first Excellent only trial.  The doors open at 1pm and the trial starts at 2pm; Kiah will run only a leg in 20" Excellent A preferred, she is still in Open in standard.  The class goes from tall to small so it won't be a late day for us.  I don't plan to take Keegs but he will be going tomorrow and  I will just set up for him today.  It will be a long day tomorrow with Kiah in Excellent JWW and Open Standard and Keegs in Open JWW but still in Novice Standard which will run small to tall.  I am hoping Keegs will be able to get his Novice Standard title so we will be done with Novice.  It would be nice if Kiah got her Open title too but I am still focusing on her enjoying herself and not getting her stressed.

September Classes

September 27, 2012:  The classes (same for both novice and open) was broken down into 3 sections, contacts with tunnel discrimination, difficult entries to weaves and jump course with either a serpentine or threadle.  Kiah did really well  but didn't want to overdue since we have the trial coming up Friday so we just worked each area twice.

WOW!  Keegs did so much better on his weaves, only popped out once or twice and is picking up some speed.  I am so proud that he is doing so well on his weaves plus he did his contacts, paid attention to me and did his discrimination challenge and even did a serpentine without any issues.  Did the same with him but we did work the weaves more times just to give him some practice.

September 19, 2012:  Keegs is beginning to pick up some speed and I can work him at a little more distance.  Weaves is still our biggest issue, this week training is going to be on entrances and not popping out of the weaves when I am on his right.

Kiah was awesome, still doing great with distance unless my signals are a bit too late or not clear.  She is focusing on me and having a good time so that is all I ask of her.

Trial coming up at the end of the month, same place we were in August so hopefully Keegs will do better.  Kiah will run Friday in excellent a, should be a short day since it is excellent only.  Hoping that Kiah gets her Open Standard on Saturday and Keegs his Novice Standard.  Then no more novice classes and the last dog of the day!!!!!  Didn't enter on Sunday, we all 3 need a rest and play day.

September 12, 2012:  It was so good to get back to classes, see everyone and get a good workout.  I was surprised at how well both Kiah and Keegs did without any training for 3 weeks.  I think they were happy to be back and I am sure getting those special treats doesn't hurt.

Christine, my instructor, creates fun but challenging courses; this week it was a jumpers course.  Kiah and I had fun, confused her a bit with some of my handling but she was a good sport and carried on.  She amazes me, she is sooo good with distance and gets better all the time.  It sure gives me more confidence in running her.   

Keegs course was Kiah's jumpers course but modified for his novice level. We did do 12 weave poles which is good since he is now in Open in jumpers.  He is picking up speed on his weaves (his good side) but continues to pop out on his bad side.  His good side is with me on the other side of the weaves and his bad when I am on the other side of him.  Either I am doing something I don't realize or he just doesn't get it yet.