Sunday, July 15, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
UKC Premier
What a busy weekend it was at Premier! The weather was hot and dry except for a brief drizzle one morning. Peace was BOB all 4 days, she made her qualifying weight pull and earned a total dog for the second year in a row. She was pulled out in a couple of the groups, but not placed at all. However, she showed pretty well, gaiting very nicely on a loose leash for the first time ever.
Magic and I finished his UROG and UACH titles. I wasnt sure were going to get either one since by Saturday I was so tired and heat affected that I was making major mistakes, but in the end we pulled them both off. Magic as usual was a wonderful boy.
The best part of the trip though was being able to share and spend time with others. Christi and Maggie, Connie and Burnie, Marsha and the paps, Denise and Al, Barb and Siri, Carol, Tracie and Donna and Jennifer. It was wonderful to see so many old friends and be able to cheer on thier successes. It was also great to meet new and renew aquaintances from last year. Thank you to everyone - time with you all made the weekend that much more special.
Magic and I finished his UROG and UACH titles. I wasnt sure were going to get either one since by Saturday I was so tired and heat affected that I was making major mistakes, but in the end we pulled them both off. Magic as usual was a wonderful boy.
The best part of the trip though was being able to share and spend time with others. Christi and Maggie, Connie and Burnie, Marsha and the paps, Denise and Al, Barb and Siri, Carol, Tracie and Donna and Jennifer. It was wonderful to see so many old friends and be able to cheer on thier successes. It was also great to meet new and renew aquaintances from last year. Thank you to everyone - time with you all made the weekend that much more special.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Premier Day 1
I am very happy with our first day of the UKC Premier. Peace won breed in the Top Ten competition, and was pulled in the cut in the semi finals. We didn't advance, but that was OK, there were some really nice dogs in our group. Unfortunately while we were in that ring, the Rally All Star ring was waiting for Magic, so as soon as we were done, I swapped dogs and ran in to run him in rally. He scored OK, but he was just kind of not with me, so we were not in the placings, but thats OK. We had 3 very nice agility runs though, and one NQ where for some reason, Magic is getting spooked by the tire whenever we run outside late in the day. It happened a couple of weeks ago and again today. I think maybe its the shadow, but its something to work on.
Tomorrow we have more agility rally and Peace has weight pull. While we are having a good time, I got the news that Gracie is back in the hospital with another bout of pneumonia, so I am feeling sad and a bit worried about her. I know Darryl and David will take good care of her though so she will be OK. At least I pray she will be.
Monday, June 4, 2012
My dog is Fearful, and I BITE
Had a nice weekend and I will post about that later, but first I want to talk about something else that happened this weekend. On Saturday, I traveled to Fargo for a dog show with Peace. On the way home, we stopped at a wayside rest in order for me to listen to a voice mail as well as getting Peace out to potty. I parked with several spaces between my car and other cars in the lot. I got Peace out of the car, gave her a drink of water and was turning to take her over to the potty area, when some woman with a terrier of some kind running over towards me. The dog was straining on the leash pulling, hackles up and yapping, towards Peace. MY reactivity kicked in. Peace is not a dangerous dog, but she is a fearful dog. I turned my back to the woman, put myself in front of her dog and told her "NO. We are not interested in meeting your dog. Thank you. Please take your dog and move away".
Guess what, her comment to me was something along the lines of he just wants to play. No surprise right? My response was "No my dog is fearful and I bite-please leave. We did not ask you to approach us and had you approached quietly and respectfully we may have chosen to meet you, however, both you and your dog needs to learn appropriate manners." The woman was offended and rightfully so, however, it really is a simple manners issue. Probably on both of our parts, but at that point my dog was shaken, shaking and very frightened. Its my job to protect her and that is what I had done. Would I do it differently again, maybe. But I doubt it, my dogs(or child's) safety is more important to me than a rude strangers feelings.
Why am I posting about this meeting, because it really bothered me. It bothered me to think that people think its OK to run up approaching a stranger with a strange dog in such an innapropriate way. I do know I could have handled it kinder, but quite frankly, why bother. Maybe my rude response back to her will stop her from this behavior in the future. Maybe, Maybe not.
My friend Crystal (Reactive Champion blog) posted about a similar situation. She probably in general handles things nicer than I do, but its a nice thought provoking read.
Guess what, her comment to me was something along the lines of he just wants to play. No surprise right? My response was "No my dog is fearful and I bite-please leave. We did not ask you to approach us and had you approached quietly and respectfully we may have chosen to meet you, however, both you and your dog needs to learn appropriate manners." The woman was offended and rightfully so, however, it really is a simple manners issue. Probably on both of our parts, but at that point my dog was shaken, shaking and very frightened. Its my job to protect her and that is what I had done. Would I do it differently again, maybe. But I doubt it, my dogs(or child's) safety is more important to me than a rude strangers feelings.
Why am I posting about this meeting, because it really bothered me. It bothered me to think that people think its OK to run up approaching a stranger with a strange dog in such an innapropriate way. I do know I could have handled it kinder, but quite frankly, why bother. Maybe my rude response back to her will stop her from this behavior in the future. Maybe, Maybe not.
My friend Crystal (Reactive Champion blog) posted about a similar situation. She probably in general handles things nicer than I do, but its a nice thought provoking read.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Edited: Siren FIRST NW1 in Minnesota
Yesterday David and Siren competed in the first Midwest area Nosework trial. I am so proud to say they earned their NW1title. Rinnie is David's dog and has been since almost from birth. He fell in love with our little curly girl and has been doing a wonderful job with her. They have worked hard to earn first her UWP and then her UWPCH (weight pull Championship) and now NW1. He says tracking and lure coursing are next, and hopefully NW2 as well.
Nosework for those not familiar is scent work where the dogs learn to recognize a certain scent, in this case Birch. The training and search work is done very much like what bomb or drug dogs are taught. The dogs learn to search an area for the specific scent and to point it out to the handler in some way. Our judges at the trial yesterday in fact were all working or retired police officers-all dog handlers, one is a bomb dog handler.
At a trial there are 4 areas each dog is required to search. There were 48 dogs trialing, divided into 2 groups of 24 Each group was assigned to work 2 areas before lunch and then the other 2 after lunch. The trial was held at a older unused fairgrounds, so the buildings were the typical large metal fair type buildings. David was dog 2 in group 2, so his first search for the day was containers. There were about 24 identical white boxes on the floor of the first building. For containers the dogs have 2.5 minutes to find the right one, the other 3 have 3 minutes time. Rin found hers in 41 seconds. Not a bad time, but certainly not the fastest. Siren tends to search all the boxes or space and then go back tot he one with the scent after she has checked everything. Her first find. Then they immediately moved to the next building which was the vehicle search. It was rainy yesterday morning, so it was nice that the 3 vehicles were inside the building. 2 cars and a van. David and Siren left the start line and started on the cars, Rin checked each of the first 2 cars with no real hesitation or indication of scent, although at one point she wanted to go toward the back of the building-not sure if the scent was pooling back there or if she just thought she saw something. She moved on over to the van where she started at the nose and moved along until suddenly she indicated. There was no hesitation here at all. Nicely done in about 1.15. This was her longest search time, but she was clean and accurate to the point where the judge clearly knew she had found the scent. The judges have to know the dog is right, and if they are uncertain that the dog is finding the actual spot they will ask the handlers where the scent is and they have to be able to say. Apparently several dogs had the general location right, only to find out they were just a bit off where when asked they gave a wrong hide spot. Siren had her nose right on the scents spot so it was clear. Then we were done until after lunch.
After lunch David and Siren were up for the exterior and interior searches. The exterior search was a large area that looked like it had been a small stage built out of large blocks of patio stone or retaining wall bricks. Because this is a fairgrounds not in use, there was a lot of vegitation on and around this structure. David was really nervous about this one, since Siren sometimes forgets she is working when outside, and eliminating in area is a fail. the area was marked off with cones and the hide was somewhere in this space. Siren entered the areas and seemed to lead him right to the back of the space. She worked her way along the base of this stage area to about midway point where she turned around and went back, There was a large light pole right by the obstacles, she searched her way around the pole causing David to have to do some fancy leash work so not to be tangled, but she clearly pawed and nosed the base of the pole and indicated she had the hide. And she did! What a relief-under a minute and she nailed it. From there we went across the street, to an old abandonded food shack. This was only search I could not watch since it was off leash inside a closed building. Her search took only 30 seconds inside and according to David she went in went by the hide ran a quick search around the room and came back to alert on the spot just about 3 feet inside the door. All I know is David came out in tears with a big grin! Rin was the first dog of the day to be successful in all 4.
At the end of the day they gave out all the awards. There are ribbons awarded to the fastest 3 dogs in each search. It was simply amazing to me that some of the dogs had times under 5 seconds. WOW. Although Siren was not the fastest, she was consistent and thorough and she was successful. The overall end results were that about 75 % of the dogs passed the vehicles search and 80% or more passed all the other areas. Overall 55% of the dogs passed and earned their titles. And there were many many tears shed, but all that I saw were tears of relief and joy. I know I was pretty proud of my kid and his dog.
Just got an note from Davids trainer Jane, apparently they are the first NW1 team in Minnesota!
Nosework for those not familiar is scent work where the dogs learn to recognize a certain scent, in this case Birch. The training and search work is done very much like what bomb or drug dogs are taught. The dogs learn to search an area for the specific scent and to point it out to the handler in some way. Our judges at the trial yesterday in fact were all working or retired police officers-all dog handlers, one is a bomb dog handler.
At a trial there are 4 areas each dog is required to search. There were 48 dogs trialing, divided into 2 groups of 24 Each group was assigned to work 2 areas before lunch and then the other 2 after lunch. The trial was held at a older unused fairgrounds, so the buildings were the typical large metal fair type buildings. David was dog 2 in group 2, so his first search for the day was containers. There were about 24 identical white boxes on the floor of the first building. For containers the dogs have 2.5 minutes to find the right one, the other 3 have 3 minutes time. Rin found hers in 41 seconds. Not a bad time, but certainly not the fastest. Siren tends to search all the boxes or space and then go back tot he one with the scent after she has checked everything. Her first find. Then they immediately moved to the next building which was the vehicle search. It was rainy yesterday morning, so it was nice that the 3 vehicles were inside the building. 2 cars and a van. David and Siren left the start line and started on the cars, Rin checked each of the first 2 cars with no real hesitation or indication of scent, although at one point she wanted to go toward the back of the building-not sure if the scent was pooling back there or if she just thought she saw something. She moved on over to the van where she started at the nose and moved along until suddenly she indicated. There was no hesitation here at all. Nicely done in about 1.15. This was her longest search time, but she was clean and accurate to the point where the judge clearly knew she had found the scent. The judges have to know the dog is right, and if they are uncertain that the dog is finding the actual spot they will ask the handlers where the scent is and they have to be able to say. Apparently several dogs had the general location right, only to find out they were just a bit off where when asked they gave a wrong hide spot. Siren had her nose right on the scents spot so it was clear. Then we were done until after lunch.
After lunch David and Siren were up for the exterior and interior searches. The exterior search was a large area that looked like it had been a small stage built out of large blocks of patio stone or retaining wall bricks. Because this is a fairgrounds not in use, there was a lot of vegitation on and around this structure. David was really nervous about this one, since Siren sometimes forgets she is working when outside, and eliminating in area is a fail. the area was marked off with cones and the hide was somewhere in this space. Siren entered the areas and seemed to lead him right to the back of the space. She worked her way along the base of this stage area to about midway point where she turned around and went back, There was a large light pole right by the obstacles, she searched her way around the pole causing David to have to do some fancy leash work so not to be tangled, but she clearly pawed and nosed the base of the pole and indicated she had the hide. And she did! What a relief-under a minute and she nailed it. From there we went across the street, to an old abandonded food shack. This was only search I could not watch since it was off leash inside a closed building. Her search took only 30 seconds inside and according to David she went in went by the hide ran a quick search around the room and came back to alert on the spot just about 3 feet inside the door. All I know is David came out in tears with a big grin! Rin was the first dog of the day to be successful in all 4.
Just got an note from Davids trainer Jane, apparently they are the first NW1 team in Minnesota!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Cedar Rapids Weekend
Christi and Maggie and Magic and I took a little trip this weekend down to Cedar Rapids Iowa. It's true that I almost always have a good weekend when I am doing dog stuff, but this one was super. Probably because I was with really good company. I enjoy spending time with Christi, and we sure don't seem to run out of stuff to yak about. We went down for the 4RK9's Obedience and Rally Trial, and since we were so close to CIndy's we were also able to spend some time there which was also very nice. Cindy and David were wonderful hosts, and to make it even better I got to hold the babies, and play with the older pups and the chickens! Simply cannot beat that.
Unfortunately Maggie did not seem to be feeling well this weekend, and while she worked for Christi, there was a bit of a disconnect. She did well, easily qualifying, but it just wasnt quite as pretty as usual. Hopefully by Premier she will be back to kicking our butts, which truly was my expectation.
I have been having some issues with Magic lately expressing how much he would rather not play in the obedience and rally rings any more. He has been showing his lack of interest with less and less enthusiasm toward working. I have been worried about that, and had decided that this weekend I was going to try to find the right mix for him. So we did a little bit of obedience mixed in with the rally. I think I was pretty successfull in finding the right buttons to push. We were not perfect, but I saw some huge improvements in the performance, but better yet, I saw some desire start to show. Not lots, but enough that I think maybe I am going in the right direction. In fact yesterday we had the best NQ ever. The score sheet brought tears to my eyes and not because of the NQ. We only had 1.5 points off on heeling in open! He was heads up and happy motoring along. What a joy. Of course we mucked up the drop on recall with an anticipated come, and went down on the long sit, but truly I am OK with that since that wasn't my goal. 1.5 I was tickled.
Over the course of the weekend, Magic manage to earn the high scoring herding dog 3 times, High in Trial twice, and also earned his URX2. That one was fun since Christi and Maggie earned their URX on the same two runs. Not to mention they picked up their UROC! The MN/WI gals had a pretty darn good weekend!
(photo taken when we got home, Magic is squinting, but I wanted a picture of it all together-I dont anticipate having such a weekend again so wanted to keep a remembrance)
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