So yeah, it's been a while... sorry. Just a lot going on with not so much time left for writing.
Tess has run 3 trials at 24" and did super at every one of them. Never hesitating, never dropping bars but that they were caused by late/poor handling information. It seems the higher the jump, the faster Tess runs. We've been careful to take things real easy with raising the bar too. Always encouraging a flat, fast, jump style rather than an uppity, airy, "safe" style. Tess is already a "safe" kind of dog, always wanting to be perfect so there's no reason I see to further encourage that in her jumping where we're sure to waste time only to save a bar here and there. Anyway, between tight turns and fast, flat jumping Tess took 24" in perfect stride, practicing at 26" at home for the past month and last weekend we trialed at 26" for the first time. USDAA trial, so it's less of an elitist jump height and more just another height. Took the pressure off me at least ;) Sure she's a little petite girl at 20" tall and 35lbs but she fit right in with the confidence she brought to the course. She was absolutely amazing!! First we were able to partake in a Lori Michaels seminar the day before the trial which made things that much better. Tess got to feel the turf under her feet jumping at 26" away from home and I got to take a toy out on course with us to reward her for her brilliance and confidence. I also got to work on supporting her jumping which is a huge flaw of mine. Doodle trained me to show and go, cue and leave. Tess requires I support her and her decisions on course. Tess wants to have no doubt whether I wanted her to take a jump and then respond to my cross or whether I meant for her to respond instantly and bypass that obstacle instead. Tess has good commitment skills, she just requires clear handling telling her what to commit to. Tess is teaching me to be IN the moment, not just blazing through it... in life and on course.
Tess was amazing, but then I said that already didn't I? Well, you'll be hearing that a lot from me so I suggest you get used to it :) I absolutely admire this dog and the way she so honestly points out my flaws so that we might improve.
The first day of the trial was filled with DAM runs and Grand Prix. In an usually large 26" class, Tess picked up a bunch of 2nd place ribbons and had an amazing Grand Prix going with a pretty great 180 turn into the tunnel underneath her DW. Just too bad her handler forgot to cue her which direction to turn to get the *correct* end of the tunnel :p Oh well, Tess was perfect, just keep running!!
Tess popped her weaves a few times over the weekend. Not sure what's up with that but I'm thinking it must be related to not practicing them (bad trainer!) and the fact that Tess is beginning to act like a truly agility crazy BC and might not know what to do when she still has several poles in front of her and she's just itching to move on with the course! So yes, we will be getting out our stick in the ground poles and start practicing our weaves again. Again, Doodle is a dog who practice something enough and she never loses it. Tulies I'm thinking is your regular kind of dog who requires continuous training to keep the skill sharp and at the front of her mind. I only feel sorry for her that I got spoiled with Doodle and now Tulies must pay the price while I retrain myself to be her proper trainer, one that she deserves, not one that's slap-happy and lazy ;) And you know what's perfect? Yes, you guessed it, Tulies! But other than Tulies? I won a free training DVD from Silvia Trkman and so I chose her Fun Fast and Fabulous Weaves :) This will be great!! Love starting training plans in the winter. Not sure why, but that seems to be my thing. Start in the Fall/Winter timeframe and relish in your successes as the next Winter starts approaching :)
So Tess qualified in DAM and also in Biathlon. Knocked a bar in Steeplechase due to a poorly timed "go!" Command on the finishing line and of course offcoursed in Grand Prix to the wrong end of the tunnel. Overall Tess was happy and confident and actually picked up the title of being my consistent girl for the weekend hitting all her contacts and leaving almost all the bars up :)
Doodle had fun too and got to play in the 22" class with a lot of great teams! Her DAM team also Q'd, she Q'd in Steeplechase and won 2nd place in the finals :) Doodle also won the 22" Team Snooker class which is surprising and hilarious considering this dog has practically zero snooker training but is my reliable point and shoot dog, face her towards an obstacle and she's just going to assume it's meant to be taken 'cause she's just that awesome :) Anyway, Doodle declares she does have some Snooker skillz cause every time she's played the game she's brought home the blue :) Unfortunately, Doodle had a lot of dropped bars the first day as she couldn't get a good grip on the turf and adjusted her takeoff spot to balance it out. After the first day I started spraying her feet to give her better grip and that fixed most our bars :) And Doodle works best for junk food like McDonald's breakfast sandwich that her momma couldn't finish... she can run fast AND keep her bars up!! :D
Love my crazy!
So, now that clock officially starts. Trialing once a month. Tess needs all her Exc Qs (3 Std + 3 Jww) before April if we are to attend ITT this year. Obviously that makes AKC our primary venue for the next 3 months or until we gain those titles at least. We're jumping 26" to give her lots of experience at that height and I have a feeling those flowy AKC courses will only help to encourage Tess to let loose and run FAST between obstacles. Here goes nothing!
