Helen's Home World: Puppy Agility Workshop

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Puppy Agility Workshop

Yesterday, Keltic and I went to a puppy agility workshop hosted by one of the best agility instructors in our area. It was an all day seminar hosted in her own agility field. Yes, she has her own agility field, they live in a rural area and they have created their own agility field on their property about 500 meters from the house.

All the puppies at the workshop were between 5 and 7 months so were pretty much at the same level although you could see that some had more foundation work then Keltic. I think we were the only ones who have never played "crate games", and I'm not sure we will either.

The agenda for the day included:

How dogs learn,
Reinforcement,
Impulse control,
Proprioception,
Shadow handling,
Restrained recalls,
Acceleration and deceleration,
Extension and collection,
Foundation work for front crosses and rear crosses, and
Beginning distance work with cones.

It was a very ambitious program and by the end of the day I think not only were the puppies pretty worn out but so were the humans.

Aussie puppy Fudge Ripple doing some ball work

I've done very little with Keltic in terms of his agility training but he did just fine. He didn't seem to mind the things that moved under his feet much at all. He didn't want to have much to do with the ball though but he did get on the discs no problem with two feet anyway; we'd have to work on doing all four.

Keltic's buddy Sam working with the teeter board.

He also did fine at restrained recalls although I had difficulty just getting the toy in the correct hand. He did a good job at the deceleration exercise but I can already see the effect of doing heel work for obedience on only the left side.

On both the restrained recalls and deceleration exercise, Keltic comes up to my left side and stops just wonderfully but on the right side he tries to go behind me to get over to the left side.

On the jump grids, he did great on the collection grid, especially considering we had never done more than one jump in sequence before. He was a good boy and held his sit stay, letting me lead out to the third jump and doing all three jumps to get his toy. I do have to get him more motivated for tugging and his toys so that he will really drive out to those jumps.

We have lots of work to do over the winter and next spring and summer. Now though we have lots of exercises we can work on to help develop those agility skills which the seminar presenter says largely boils down to being able to send, run and recall.

8 comments:

SaraSeptember 30, 2012 at 3:58 PM
What a beautiful agility field!

Sounds like they gave you lots of "homework". Keltic is going to love it.
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corbinwootenSeptember 30, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Cool opportunity! Sounds like there was a lot of good info.
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VonnieSeptember 30, 2012 at 4:49 PM
Wow that was a lot to do in one day! Clever Keltic he'll be a Star :)
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Kiyi KiyiSeptember 30, 2012 at 6:17 PM
What a fun day! Looks beautiful with all the fall colors.
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andreaOctober 1, 2012 at 12:46 PM
jealous ;)
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MuttsandaklutzOctober 1, 2012 at 6:54 PM
When you said "All the puppies at the workshop were between 5 and 7 months" I thought how out of place Keltic must have been seeing as he was only 9 weeks old... and then it struck me... he's already had his 6-month birthday! LOL

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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother