Monday Night Focus

I am so happy with the progress Grace is making in our focus class.  Its always been a challenge keeping Graces attention. Little things like other dogs near her caused her to want to turn away and look at the other dogs.  (Probably due to the time she was jumped from behind when entering the conformation ring, it seems like she doesn't like to turn her back on other dogs)

Last night in class we were working on her mat, keeping focused attention, while other dogs were moving around. A little cocker actual stepped on Graces tail and she never took her eyes away from me, the most reaction she gave was an ear flick!  Good girl.

Now, the barking and conversing with me may never stop....she always has something to say!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a safe, happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. And I hope those of you who are crazy shoppers drive safely and get enough sleep to bear the crowds.

I am not a shopper, so might take in some dog events this weekend, or maybe I will just stay home and enjoy the downtime.  I hope you all enjoy your time and family too.

Grace and Focus

Grace is not what I would call a reactive dog, but she is a very non focused/attention deficit dog.  In other words while she doesn't worry about or snark at  other dogs, she also wants to know what everyone else is doing/going/saying but also she wants everyone to  know what she thinks about stuff too.. So a few weeks ago we started a focus and attention class with our agility instructor.

Last night in class we worked on stays, recalls and toys/food distractions.  Grace was none to happy about the stays, breaking her stay fairly frequently. She was also not too happy about the recalls. or maybe it was the corrections for breaking her stay. When she breaks, her stays though, it does not appear that she is breaking because of the other dogs or distractions. So I think its more of a training issue than a focus one.  At one point after breaking her stay immediately twice, I of course returned after 5 steps or so and rewarded that she hadnt broke. Then I asked her to stay again and went about 10 feet, turned and called her. Grace in typical Grace fashion, came, but got 3 feet away stopped and started complaining. Silly girl.

She did fairly well though with moving through the toys and treats on the floor, only lunging occassionally. The funny thing is with Grace its not that she wants the toy or the food, like some of the other dogs. She just wants to know what it is, then she if fine leaving it. Just gotta get that sniff. 

On the plus side, she is getting much better about laying on her mat and not caring what the other dogs are doing when its not her turn.  Last night she never left her mat once due to other dogs/people going by her. She only left her mat to jump on me and beg.  Good girl.

Getting myself motivated

I admit, I am lazy.  I dont work my dogs everyday.  I should, but I dont.  I need to find a way to get motivated enough to get my dogs trained.  I am thinking that maybe if I show this weekend at the ASCA trial, I might be motivated enough (by embarrassment) to actually train my dogs? Think that would work?

Thought for the Day

Simply keep a place within you where it is welcomed, and happiness will come and abide with you forever.



~Hugh Prather

Magics latest pics

Magics UWPCH from Gateway  Photo by Thomas Photography

 Magics ARCH  Photo by Crystal Image Pet Photography.


I finally got around to scanning these.  He is very photogenic, me, not so much.

Talie

She is so much like her mother, Grace. Love the happy face.