tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149971710177229412024-02-21T06:30:47.952-08:00Tessa and Friends Dancing and Training AdventuresKristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-13920700618277494002023-10-31T07:30:00.001-07:002023-10-31T07:33:40.801-07:00Meet Stella<p><span style="font-size: large;">"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>- Seneca</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And so .... this is Stella! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mUn-A8G6Mia04cZnkZa-67YMg49MzfzHw4achaWozG950P7UaNw4gBnOQYZOv55wYbXVTwZFamdp-9q_anHH2nS8iTxbJeJY6YKTN4hVX0AF7sJ0mivuvIjDYsb8vA5qAFh0h1Dx1FGdY848iCz8L6y4S8Mt4Wa8yNfqUQ-LZYSJ0nXmoM4dmBp_HAQ/s1370/Stella%20Anything.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1050" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mUn-A8G6Mia04cZnkZa-67YMg49MzfzHw4achaWozG950P7UaNw4gBnOQYZOv55wYbXVTwZFamdp-9q_anHH2nS8iTxbJeJY6YKTN4hVX0AF7sJ0mivuvIjDYsb8vA5qAFh0h1Dx1FGdY848iCz8L6y4S8Mt4Wa8yNfqUQ-LZYSJ0nXmoM4dmBp_HAQ/w303-h396/Stella%20Anything.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We brought her home from the Ruth Steinert SPCA on September 17, 2023, and we officially adopted her shortly thereafter.<br /><br />We DNA tested her - she is Blue Heeler, Border Collie, American Eskimo, and .... yes, Chihuahua! <br /><br />Lest anyone think the Chihuahua was a mistake, I saw a pair of puppies from the same house that Stella came from - one looked like a Border Collie puppy, and the other ... a Chihuahua!<br /><br />Stella is as different from Tessa as a dog can be, although there are a few striking similarities between them.<br /><br />I have enjoyed getting to know Stella, and I have enjoyed starting to train her. Sometimes she is difficult to keep up with, but we are making it work!<br /><br />More about Stella in the future!<br /></span></p>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-1800532436306969192023-10-30T09:40:00.005-07:002023-10-30T09:55:11.791-07:00The End<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Wow. It has been a very long time since I wrote an entry for this blog.<br /><br />We lost Tessa on May 14, 2022.<br /><br />This is what I posted on Facebook on that day:<br /><br /></span><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I have very sad news to share.<br /><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a year long battle with some kind of degenerative condition, the time came yesterday for us to give Tessa back to the loving and generous Creator Who had give us such a beautiful treasure.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />What can I say? We miss her.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />She <span></span>was an incredible girl and our ride together was amazing from beginning to end. She was my right hand girl, the most incredible sport partner I have ever known .... she was my girl. Always with her soft and peaceful sense of beauty and grace.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The last year was difficult for both of us, but it was also very beautiful in many ways. I learned the meaning of love in a whole new way and Tessa was, unfailingly, a perfect teacher. I would have gone on forever as we were, but that could not be.<br /><br /><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">Goodbye to my beautiful, sweet, Amazing Flying Tessa.</span>"<br /><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HYMdnHl9iLN3ebtucTrjJcRWvMc3NKB3pHJi7TNl3YljnXtER7ITYnaJjtXnmsttKb6vHEbl62t0KMovEiX5nJ-0ck8J3AxLKHTlt20x7oYz_l4MiQ1y5xlS6KBhhXRJk_2OOPd0X-r_u1yHfAvg1vbqxB-tV622PFTZRX1-XW0rgUNz7eg3AFHLDl4/s529/Flying%20Tessa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="529" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HYMdnHl9iLN3ebtucTrjJcRWvMc3NKB3pHJi7TNl3YljnXtER7ITYnaJjtXnmsttKb6vHEbl62t0KMovEiX5nJ-0ck8J3AxLKHTlt20x7oYz_l4MiQ1y5xlS6KBhhXRJk_2OOPd0X-r_u1yHfAvg1vbqxB-tV622PFTZRX1-XW0rgUNz7eg3AFHLDl4/w393-h387/Flying%20Tessa.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />That last year was so difficult that I never saw fit to write about it. I wish now that I had because it would have been a record of a time that was both sad and beautiful, but I could not bring myself to do so.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig22-dRbOuzMidLmc0RNLH09AkJQiLxyXu3d7s8m66EREGSdRPkH3ELtQVtYVtP5USCuFzIKHB1wxKcLEDJq3O4Yvl_xw-3hZgeNLQlKkRVla_QKTi_6FPCcBfuLDuSgMXnssn-Fwpuscq6kAAr-XpoNrK3O73rb7TafYoidlKX4FduY1LcEKgG_NWCXY/s1440/Tessa%20Last%20Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="1440" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig22-dRbOuzMidLmc0RNLH09AkJQiLxyXu3d7s8m66EREGSdRPkH3ELtQVtYVtP5USCuFzIKHB1wxKcLEDJq3O4Yvl_xw-3hZgeNLQlKkRVla_QKTi_6FPCcBfuLDuSgMXnssn-Fwpuscq6kAAr-XpoNrK3O73rb7TafYoidlKX4FduY1LcEKgG_NWCXY/w383-h322/Tessa%20Last%20Year.jpg" width="383" /></a></div> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, for a long time afterward, I could not write a final post.<br /><br />I still find it difficult to write about losing Tessa. She was so beautiful, so perfect, and our time together was such a treasure.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZSUvNfwuzXdUS92b8hJmtGVUHfQGxAwgJG6UK6Owp5pklzRzzoLSO4qhM3K0QqnHApJsfBZJc0uSJssgIeOJsX32E42fLB43BtWreoZHwFQSIGSRCrgB4lzlpJyJgbiWVLQYnfOMlS6V2ijPwm0Fi-Rc1xULUTbVFogw9ye-LsH8K6DH8ctmlWvRVGA/s903/Tessa%20on%20the%20Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="854" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZSUvNfwuzXdUS92b8hJmtGVUHfQGxAwgJG6UK6Owp5pklzRzzoLSO4qhM3K0QqnHApJsfBZJc0uSJssgIeOJsX32E42fLB43BtWreoZHwFQSIGSRCrgB4lzlpJyJgbiWVLQYnfOMlS6V2ijPwm0Fi-Rc1xULUTbVFogw9ye-LsH8K6DH8ctmlWvRVGA/w401-h423/Tessa%20on%20the%20Beach.jpg" width="401" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">But .... life continues. It continued after we lost Maddie, and then Speedy, and then Sammie, and then Dean Dog, and it continues after Tessa.<br /><br />And, the Good Lord sent a new girl our way and we have started a brand new adventure together.<br /><br />Miss Stella does not replace Tessa. No dog will ever replace Tessa.<br /><br />But, I did fall head over heels in love with our new young girl. Maybe someday I will write about her!<br /></span></div></div><p></p>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-76585794180538349402020-06-27T09:07:00.001-07:002020-06-27T09:07:21.702-07:00Reflections: Vacation During a Pandemic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Although I would say that overall, this vacation was much like any other that we have taken, there were some things that were different about going on vacation during this global coronavirus pandemic.<br /><br />There were certainly many others who had made the same choice that we had, and who went ahead and took their trip. Things were not super crowded, but we never went anywhere and found it deserted, as often happens when we go for a weekend in the fall! That said, social distancing was never an issue. There were not so many people gathered in any one place that we all had to crowd together.<br /><br />Indoors, facing coverings were required. Any time I was going to do something indoors that would require covering the whole time, I took my regular hat/shield and used that because it is more comfortable, easier to see though, and, actually, easier to hear with. If we were going in somewhere to eat, or if we were mainly outdoors, and just going in somewhere for a minute, I would use my pink "crushable" hat/shield. That one is easier to carry around, although it is not as nice to see through, and I have something of a hard time hearing people when I am wearing it. I think the plastic the shield is made from is thicker, and it sits closer to my ears.<br /><br />Most places where we wanted to go were open. Restaurants were open for takeout, and many were accepting eat-in customers. We don't do bars or the nightclub scene, so I really have no idea how any of that might have been impacted.<br /><br />Outdoor areas were more or less normal. With plenty of room for everyone on the beach, and at the Ecological Preserve, everyone could safely enjoy being outside barefaced, breathing the healthy fresh air freely!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />Although we were able to do pretty much everything we wanted, there were a few things that we had originally planned that were impacted.<br /><br />Several years ago we had visited a theater and had seen a very fun magic show. When we originally planned our trip in February, we had hoped to return, but their season is cancelled.<br /><br />We also had hoped to go out on a boat tour, but those were also not running.<br /><br />Finally, we avoided the boardwalk. They were requiring face coverings on the boardwalks in Delaware, and we just weren't interested in walking around at an outdoor attraction with our faces covered. We don't always go to the boardwalk, but, again, when we had originally planned the trip before all of this, the boardwalk was on our list. <br /><br />And while we would have enjoyed doing these things, not being able to do them did not impact our overall enjoyment of the trip in anyway, especially given the fact that we almost did not get to go at all!<br /><br />Really, I was so grateful to be able to go and spend time by the shore, and to have time to play with the dogs in the water, that I didn't really miss these other activities. They will keep for another time when life gets back to normal.<br /><br />In the end, the biggest benefit of this trip was psychological. Just having a change of scene, and spending time in a setting where things just felt a lot more normal and relaxed was refreshing, and it provided a much-needed mental boost! <br /><br />And, of course, I will forever be grateful to have had this trip with Dean Dog. I strongly suspect that it will be his last one. I will always be glad that we got to go and share this time with him.<br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since Tessa had stayed with Rocky when we took Dean Dog and Bandit out to the James Farm Preserve on Thursday evening, I wanted to take Tessa back one more time for a hike and swim, so, once again, Bandit, Tessa, and I headed down one more time.<br /><br />It was pretty hot, so we hiked directly back to the beach, and we played in the water for some time. And then, we hiked the bigger loop after we had cooled off.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After we had finished, I had a look at some of the flowers near the parking lot. Their blanket flowers look great!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0XBcChg_GyQugWZaazwCvB0zq2eIfFLG-2JomYpEt2-YygkdCuEblHgzrZLpReA3I_5D1mgGFKv_mTtGhCTB9jjQb1bC7Eg8r1X7oaS7muIF_VAZKZgtlaPy5xZ67gBXp4rRsAHL_qo/s1600/Blanket+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1586" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0XBcChg_GyQugWZaazwCvB0zq2eIfFLG-2JomYpEt2-YygkdCuEblHgzrZLpReA3I_5D1mgGFKv_mTtGhCTB9jjQb1bC7Eg8r1X7oaS7muIF_VAZKZgtlaPy5xZ67gBXp4rRsAHL_qo/s320/Blanket+Flowers.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Black-Eyed Susans were in bloom, too!</span></span><br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUmlUv_jyI13DFkU1dNUbkLABY69YFlE8s8AnEzguYoh-LMPeuls3lNSTyopHT7PKLIB_bgQzt-uLBTl9WadThd1R6oWQ-RcasTz-gYZFNU68S-Fgtn35vwDe3EWndIqlf3Bf7EkqU8g/s1600/Rudbekia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1347" data-original-width="1600" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUmlUv_jyI13DFkU1dNUbkLABY69YFlE8s8AnEzguYoh-LMPeuls3lNSTyopHT7PKLIB_bgQzt-uLBTl9WadThd1R6oWQ-RcasTz-gYZFNU68S-Fgtn35vwDe3EWndIqlf3Bf7EkqU8g/s320/Rudbekia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />After that, we headed back up to the cottage, and I stopped on the way home and got some donuts from the Fractured Prune.<br /><br />If you have never had Fractured Prune donuts, and you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend it! They make them fresh while you wait, and they have all kinds of unusual and creative toppings. These truly are like no donuts I have come across anywhere else!<br /><br />Ben's favorite is "Rollo", which has a caramel topping with chocolate chips. Mine is "Peppermint Patty", which has a mint topping (delicious!) and chocolate chips!<br /></span></span></div>
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<br />Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-39580948100352980992020-06-26T19:17:00.001-07:002020-06-26T19:18:17.664-07:00Back to James Farm!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yesterday evening, we took Dean Dog and Bandit back down to the James Farm Ecological Preserve.<br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am
well aware of the fact that it might be the last time Dean will ever do
this. His back legs are getting weaker. I could see a very big
difference in his ability to use them now compared to our trip last
October.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So,
even though it was a little bit of a stretch for him, it meant a lot to
me to go with him for one last hike and swim at this particular place,
where we have had so much fun together for so many years. And yes,
there is a very slight possibility he will go there again, but ...
really, I seriously doubt it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He was excited to go, of course, and although he hiked slowly, he had no trouble.<br /><br />The tide was out .... waaaaay out! So, we all had quite a walk out to get to where Dean Dog and Bandit could actually swim!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iqjhAjBIZLTtFPacr0Nm82CfPO7iyLR_JoC7Hv6KmsCr3LmJLPdhhlliW8gSGKF3ZybRt04ZSxTLODtEfdY9XpIhLbp15Rqec2mlzD7rf0uwjdH-CbwmxScsV2oNlb-MPGFQxvYn_Mo/s1600/20200625_184032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iqjhAjBIZLTtFPacr0Nm82CfPO7iyLR_JoC7Hv6KmsCr3LmJLPdhhlliW8gSGKF3ZybRt04ZSxTLODtEfdY9XpIhLbp15Rqec2mlzD7rf0uwjdH-CbwmxScsV2oNlb-MPGFQxvYn_Mo/s400/20200625_184032.jpg" width="300" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BMXZcuQVhY1GkQXbmoDTGWN1kU4ZhBWIA304tKOTkPgg5EcHJZDfhPx0OkL823H2SkEnExklLh5Yr72Sr8P8omitZ2pt0Y1DSvVt6WeWKKvcSAnbgOpOHymVQp89A1ej75xvYDQJgHE/s1600/Waaay+Out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1600" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BMXZcuQVhY1GkQXbmoDTGWN1kU4ZhBWIA304tKOTkPgg5EcHJZDfhPx0OkL823H2SkEnExklLh5Yr72Sr8P8omitZ2pt0Y1DSvVt6WeWKKvcSAnbgOpOHymVQp89A1ej75xvYDQJgHE/s400/Waaay+Out.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1231746401"></span><span id="goog_1231746402"></span> <br /><br />At first Dean looked a little confused - like he was not quite sure how to get himself going! But, Ben helped him "shove off" and after that he swam and swam and swam!<br /><br />His back legs were not working properly, but he is still the strongest swimming dog I have ever seen! He managed very nicely using mostly his front legs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had forgotten Bandit's life jacket, but he swam anyway!! He did better when he had it, but he did very very well in spite of the fact that he did not have it.<br /><br />Some photos from their swim:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguynpl_5-qkedl8-8Rmg3RSCR1fCfZVLabAULxaLeD5QWQGJlOf9GXXsuS53STigxQtWm6LTyGHp_l-zZ9NhsiEp_9VEkS6fI4vPUsVFQpOsZC3ILjHzx9ay_VYA4K7DlbIrWElq1vEVI/s1600/Dean+Dog+and+Bandit+Second+Outing+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguynpl_5-qkedl8-8Rmg3RSCR1fCfZVLabAULxaLeD5QWQGJlOf9GXXsuS53STigxQtWm6LTyGHp_l-zZ9NhsiEp_9VEkS6fI4vPUsVFQpOsZC3ILjHzx9ay_VYA4K7DlbIrWElq1vEVI/s400/Dean+Dog+and+Bandit+Second+Outing+3.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And some photos from the hike back:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIrsDhAFaBrxmob8_aOTQd0HTybQ17uQFPC-1OHj6pwp8nE-0Gab5j4TjBFNO8A156RvZ-m2Jt_y5hJZ7SpY-xeMFXfv5yTOsedM2lXSSERlQeq-kHoY9deS14RekPcoaxIkQvt8kwPg/s1600/Dean+Dog+Second+Outing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1586" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIrsDhAFaBrxmob8_aOTQd0HTybQ17uQFPC-1OHj6pwp8nE-0Gab5j4TjBFNO8A156RvZ-m2Jt_y5hJZ7SpY-xeMFXfv5yTOsedM2lXSSERlQeq-kHoY9deS14RekPcoaxIkQvt8kwPg/s400/Dean+Dog+Second+Outing.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FwQc8z5v319BU5zSdtf90vFXT5bDTef2mwuUv-yUwfh4M_6W7Q5d0TmJCXew8koj0PoZ_YOQZ3R_D2xcTk31hU9nx9pF8eY2CaGbUZKSnUBozD-rnjbNkr9IJwzn_p9jg2qdg6i_hw0/s1600/20200625_192409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FwQc8z5v319BU5zSdtf90vFXT5bDTef2mwuUv-yUwfh4M_6W7Q5d0TmJCXew8koj0PoZ_YOQZ3R_D2xcTk31hU9nx9pF8eY2CaGbUZKSnUBozD-rnjbNkr9IJwzn_p9jg2qdg6i_hw0/s400/20200625_192409.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All in all, it was a wonderful time. Bittersweet. But, a memory that I will treasure always.</span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-50832829057020509192020-06-25T10:18:00.002-07:002020-06-25T10:20:06.798-07:00Enjoying Time at the Cottage, and More!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have spent a good bit of our time just enjoying quiet time at the cottage.<br /><br />The dogs are comfortable here, as are we. The far back room of the cottage has a sun-porch kind of a feel to it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are two of these chairs, and Rocky loves them! He has spent most of his time chilling on one or the other.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGH9t0cKUOOu3DRC7WLZ6GZjt_uk5qkySPXBzE6o3HhHeqFI5ccH2-cGhlxT9frBkM8UIYc2G5bInSfMkaaMbOZDOAXmcXRltnTWNpnw1MH5pAlnwKbVYLdaARnwSB7Cz_H5na2-ODJM/s1600/Rocky+Office+Annex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGH9t0cKUOOu3DRC7WLZ6GZjt_uk5qkySPXBzE6o3HhHeqFI5ccH2-cGhlxT9frBkM8UIYc2G5bInSfMkaaMbOZDOAXmcXRltnTWNpnw1MH5pAlnwKbVYLdaARnwSB7Cz_H5na2-ODJM/s400/Rocky+Office+Annex.jpg" width="375" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dean Dog likes to survey everything from the dining area.</span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVRerlDxlW07RCCMDLd2_hpFQBd0ZwZj7tWB2OrAunkuOzoPMz0LCxAT3Nk1DM7gIUxpjDudfq6bsRpTaZmenVlwkayT810xBRmc7daiVZHPh6JP4MMHPjvnOsRsYYtZLFrQQEDnQ7-c/s1600/Dean+Dog+Cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="261" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVRerlDxlW07RCCMDLd2_hpFQBd0ZwZj7tWB2OrAunkuOzoPMz0LCxAT3Nk1DM7gIUxpjDudfq6bsRpTaZmenVlwkayT810xBRmc7daiVZHPh6JP4MMHPjvnOsRsYYtZLFrQQEDnQ7-c/s400/Dean+Dog+Cottage.jpg" width="238" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Outside
in the newly fenced dog area! It was from our visit here last fall
that I drew inspiration for white lattice around the decks and butterfly
bushes! Ours aren't so big, though!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of ideas, I absolutely love this one! Our cutlery drawer is overly-crowded. Considering putting together something like this!</span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QL1wx25NH9uj6jEnuCVC7W49AkwepgvjilBO2XO1XykKKVyQAoW8jd5T30LDRMf0zlo6TSEVumVIe5ZHTAqHV-bhgedPrR6LczSSQ4D3PUDaRLa8pdlicc2NrcXrFm6A7wSUE2YDuuI/s1600/20200622_163127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QL1wx25NH9uj6jEnuCVC7W49AkwepgvjilBO2XO1XykKKVyQAoW8jd5T30LDRMf0zlo6TSEVumVIe5ZHTAqHV-bhgedPrR6LczSSQ4D3PUDaRLa8pdlicc2NrcXrFm6A7wSUE2YDuuI/s400/20200622_163127.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course we have not spent all of our time at the cottage.<br /><br />One
thing that we have really loved on this trip has been going out to eat - something we
have not done, save one very recent exception, since before mid-March! We
had two delicious meals out - one at the Outback Steakhouse, and one at
Chaps Pit Beef (unbelievably good!)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Zgy7J_xGk7KAXKt9C2yuw3xlId3a_Kpo8cxxg1GEUxhf96G2O5cKhxJOBJHThRKyL_062azviivtqNf6JXCrsaxrpMZEYxSJPOUSJGM2wnOB5DeBLCboA5XalHfJLEsIm7pYNxgLjE0/s1600/20200623_182333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Zgy7J_xGk7KAXKt9C2yuw3xlId3a_Kpo8cxxg1GEUxhf96G2O5cKhxJOBJHThRKyL_062azviivtqNf6JXCrsaxrpMZEYxSJPOUSJGM2wnOB5DeBLCboA5XalHfJLEsIm7pYNxgLjE0/s400/20200623_182333.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />It is all done very safely, with people spread out all over the restaurant, and lots of cleaning.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />And,
of course, we went and sat on the beach. We usually take the dogs, but
Dean's back legs are just not in any condition for him to play the way
he would want to, so this time we went dog-less and just sat on the
beach, watched the waves and talked.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUrLG2gNTR77XBk4_bo6ufa2PRLVqwbNLudVFk8WJfKy4QeLwA7wvryn3qT2d2_wimsLT7ftBsZPGiwMrXzMRYwXzif3XkOR053CjyKDPnb5EpihbkhhyJCV8IrdbBp7iILm47Pui3pQ/s1600/20200623_192756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUrLG2gNTR77XBk4_bo6ufa2PRLVqwbNLudVFk8WJfKy4QeLwA7wvryn3qT2d2_wimsLT7ftBsZPGiwMrXzMRYwXzif3XkOR053CjyKDPnb5EpihbkhhyJCV8IrdbBp7iILm47Pui3pQ/s400/20200623_192756.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The beach was not deserted, by any means, but there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out and enjoy one of the most exquisite pieces of God's creation.<br /><br />We are hoping to head back to the James Farm preserve with Dean Dog and Bandit again this evening ....</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-20907814981001501672020-06-24T20:23:00.001-07:002020-06-24T20:23:57.745-07:00Hiking and Swimming at James Farm Ecological Preserve<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the reasons why I love to visit the Delaware shore is having the opportunity to take the dogs hiking and swimming at the James Farm Ecological Preserve.<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />While
all three of our "big dogs" love to go, we choose to leave Rocky at the
cottage because being in a place like that really only frustrates him,
so we ended up leaving Tessa back to keep him company.<br /><br />Ben, Dean Dog, Bandit, and I headed off on our outing.<br /><br />Dean
struggled a bit on the hike. It really isn't that long of a walk, but
it was a challenge for him. But, he made it, and before long, he was in
his favorite place in the entire world .... the water!<br /><br />We
brought along a life jacket for Bandit. He does not tend to enjoy the
water all that much, and I was thinking that having assistance with
floating might help. It seemed to because he swam out with Dean and was
having a fantastic time. <br /><br />We spent a good half hour out in the water!<br /><br />Some photos:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ycS_QB5pwmXwDBUetWeEDSC57nJcAUaaDiwRZCxhyphenhyphenfniSOURBnKhPDSozHFGZEj9Gu0rs6bL5tVxBoQdHceajc7cjf43ETeCHazUt9sn-I-umbs4SeV1KLKSdtn5CCHgtGD3ns_HjTc/s1600/Dean+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1137" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ycS_QB5pwmXwDBUetWeEDSC57nJcAUaaDiwRZCxhyphenhyphenfniSOURBnKhPDSozHFGZEj9Gu0rs6bL5tVxBoQdHceajc7cjf43ETeCHazUt9sn-I-umbs4SeV1KLKSdtn5CCHgtGD3ns_HjTc/s400/Dean+Bay.jpg" width="283" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dean Doggie</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PdACcR6ncJz3ea_nJMdkDO9cL95a8UH3_AudEWPYrd84E0b7Kvth8meAgYOP_wEOJGmP_QWHcuhm6yDLzHIEQ0I-dOIyOpVgkjHe8UfBx1C02-lxDrIneMHAN1w2gACVXhGyc7UqtrU/s1600/Dean+and+Bandit+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1271" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PdACcR6ncJz3ea_nJMdkDO9cL95a8UH3_AudEWPYrd84E0b7Kvth8meAgYOP_wEOJGmP_QWHcuhm6yDLzHIEQ0I-dOIyOpVgkjHe8UfBx1C02-lxDrIneMHAN1w2gACVXhGyc7UqtrU/s400/Dean+and+Bandit+Bay.jpg" width="317" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Playing Together!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwjYB0TkWmos4m4OGK4FAggQpWww1CjcGJSu0ASu9yqRvUGjr2RTXm95yJvKP6EMH1iKQD9vvFoj5CkRIEku1yN5qESo_Awmk5Ih9-igeqmLCYwR5YpxbOtf__EauIefmr4kHZZtsdKI/s1600/Drowned+Rat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1191" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwjYB0TkWmos4m4OGK4FAggQpWww1CjcGJSu0ASu9yqRvUGjr2RTXm95yJvKP6EMH1iKQD9vvFoj5CkRIEku1yN5qESo_Awmk5Ih9-igeqmLCYwR5YpxbOtf__EauIefmr4kHZZtsdKI/s400/Drowned+Rat.jpg" width="297" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Throw It!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKWoh51uiDWQZoI1Ih6M0wDI2ZmRezoIM8xJvcB7l4BMqr_WO3O7qaRlfEozEFg-9miI_V4Ys3QpZhV7hfSkoQpkPSIALI5QBsiszJpMwkjWXHAuwQ4-lTOwU9aDhxZtNpEqM_qM7Jsw/s1600/Dean+and+Bandit+Bay+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1272" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKWoh51uiDWQZoI1Ih6M0wDI2ZmRezoIM8xJvcB7l4BMqr_WO3O7qaRlfEozEFg-9miI_V4Ys3QpZhV7hfSkoQpkPSIALI5QBsiszJpMwkjWXHAuwQ4-lTOwU9aDhxZtNpEqM_qM7Jsw/s400/Dean+and+Bandit+Bay+3.jpg" width="317" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dean is, forever and for always, the Master Swimmer!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnrsnLEwLFYUT76K_BntSDSKsd-xB4R6MP-alBf8FFW9_T_6SkJqTYjRfFJs1EFat8Atula2T00H5wy2KWLtBQicTtvsDwXx1Wk3gETxGqinqcE9FVyMOzD3HSCZ1ryWwoOETSYDRXac/s1600/Dean+Bay+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="1355" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnrsnLEwLFYUT76K_BntSDSKsd-xB4R6MP-alBf8FFW9_T_6SkJqTYjRfFJs1EFat8Atula2T00H5wy2KWLtBQicTtvsDwXx1Wk3gETxGqinqcE9FVyMOzD3HSCZ1ryWwoOETSYDRXac/s400/Dean+Bay+3.jpg" width="388" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifI-cOIU-qrHy76CPS-9QMnYQ4ibyWyrav8d-ICsulmS5VqhDhW4iRTdiEGYlvU7QqazpqmFd02AB_OKQupNoB1L4Fx81G6qOVIypyzf1qeREo_i5MoNJb2nekh1Sjb0uZ-Vi5raK1nRU/s1600/Love+Shades+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="1600" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifI-cOIU-qrHy76CPS-9QMnYQ4ibyWyrav8d-ICsulmS5VqhDhW4iRTdiEGYlvU7QqazpqmFd02AB_OKQupNoB1L4Fx81G6qOVIypyzf1qeREo_i5MoNJb2nekh1Sjb0uZ-Vi5raK1nRU/s400/Love+Shades+Bay.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Love Shades at the Beach!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxOe0G3orCu6m1fcBsomAu0iUHkjxX5_UGpaZNFD69CHdN1uFQW78P_OkX4KiB3_G8AxZt7ILy958eFpcr0IzC-K4lw02s_8RjCKPBrfPLeoTsyVhfINs7EQPp8Jcuw7b7cuHvRyalyI/s1600/20200622_184854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxOe0G3orCu6m1fcBsomAu0iUHkjxX5_UGpaZNFD69CHdN1uFQW78P_OkX4KiB3_G8AxZt7ILy958eFpcr0IzC-K4lw02s_8RjCKPBrfPLeoTsyVhfINs7EQPp8Jcuw7b7cuHvRyalyI/s400/20200622_184854.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was a beautiful evening!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRotOHGrFfG8xfcu2kHuI0m5H1VonhJesjrAJfgRsNv5xYojdubJeKtNfcYAcCahXKTMnjukbt_3YzJM3axZh0VT7Dd2BE_kgUKnRNAhKGAPS8NhYkPhvoaXs6nSSo92ocjsRRjeXzfyE/s1600/Throwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRotOHGrFfG8xfcu2kHuI0m5H1VonhJesjrAJfgRsNv5xYojdubJeKtNfcYAcCahXKTMnjukbt_3YzJM3axZh0VT7Dd2BE_kgUKnRNAhKGAPS8NhYkPhvoaXs6nSSo92ocjsRRjeXzfyE/s400/Throwing.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1djdkpvKCYYfq_1sp16fr_NDGXgdBPI0Am0bzRr9XK1Tr71zYUI7QPVSKz-_nZXcdXLDbVEueQWirSLDOb0rAN2UrRny5WhhJSKdHbCOKwEpmTjcDywW2toTc3_H_w3ah-1AN2g2qXk/s1600/Stay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="1600" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1djdkpvKCYYfq_1sp16fr_NDGXgdBPI0Am0bzRr9XK1Tr71zYUI7QPVSKz-_nZXcdXLDbVEueQWirSLDOb0rAN2UrRny5WhhJSKdHbCOKwEpmTjcDywW2toTc3_H_w3ah-1AN2g2qXk/s400/Stay.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">"Let's go again!" </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Tessa, Bandit, and I returned in the morning, but I did not get any photos on that outing.<br /><br />I am hoping we will get down at least one more time before our time here is finished.</span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-59095796376117160842020-06-24T12:58:00.002-07:002020-06-24T12:58:58.558-07:00Hopkins Farm Creamery<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On our first evening here, we were speaking with the owner of the cottage, and she recommended that we visit a local spot called "Hopkins Farm Creamery". <br /><br />The creamery/ice cream shop is right on the grounds of the farm itself and they use all their own milk!<br /><br />Now, getting milk from a farm is no novelty to us, nor is locally made ice cream. But, we couldn't say that we had ever had ice cream made and sold right on the farm, so we headed over!<br /></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnD-kMpOaBtf5klErGJgiilg0hUq4dA7Iy_29d7SltERyDGl8eUpgrnhHVu-oRVc-dZnYSqiIThoedg6fj4EdSlBtLTxoY3lvpu0npmX4MWZDM6igfDXUevyrwxlv3AXzK2AfMbv-u1I/s1600/20200622_205000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnD-kMpOaBtf5klErGJgiilg0hUq4dA7Iy_29d7SltERyDGl8eUpgrnhHVu-oRVc-dZnYSqiIThoedg6fj4EdSlBtLTxoY3lvpu0npmX4MWZDM6igfDXUevyrwxlv3AXzK2AfMbv-u1I/s400/20200622_205000.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now,
here is the really fun thing. Usually people go there and park and
stand in line, but because of the pandemic, everyone stays in their
car! You line up in your car - just like at a drive-in movie, and inch
up until you get to the area where you order.<br /><br />Here we are waiting in the line ...</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5pXCwDN8vPXLNe-il0ZVCNDoLGlruDkGHiZ3Rk4HdQ9Z4T6uFhPVVQwcr9Xwsf_uNBGkWAdeWxDBxIben_zSXRE50MfbhI5hgOz40pB2C_cVwu6rrJqI4cuZmWIWmsQmhsCijK0IH3k/s1600/20200622_201851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5pXCwDN8vPXLNe-il0ZVCNDoLGlruDkGHiZ3Rk4HdQ9Z4T6uFhPVVQwcr9Xwsf_uNBGkWAdeWxDBxIben_zSXRE50MfbhI5hgOz40pB2C_cVwu6rrJqI4cuZmWIWmsQmhsCijK0IH3k/s400/20200622_201851.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And here are the cows, as we were getting closer to the area where we would order ...<br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The creamery ....<br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And the ice cream .... absolutely delicious!!<br /><br />If you are ever in the Lewes, Delaware area, I high recommend giving Hopkins Farm Creamery a try!<br /></span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-75856260976638043672020-06-23T14:05:00.003-07:002020-06-23T14:05:37.327-07:00A Needed Vacation<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, here we are in June of 2020. I have not kept up with blogging at all, but with the social implosion that seems to be happening on social media lately, I am seriously considering doing more blogging.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I turn to this blog now to write about our much needed vacation!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We almost didn't have this one! We reserved the "Cozy Cottage at Minos" back in February. I was so excited to snag the last week that they had open - the last full week in June. Ben got the week off of work, and we seemed good to go!<br /><br />And then the coronavirus hit, everything closed down, and it really looked like this whole trip was going to be cancelled! In fact, at one point it <i>was</i> cancelled! In early May, the owner of the cottage contacted us and told us that they were not allowed to rent to out-of-state guests, and that all people who came into Delaware from out-of-state would have to quarantine for 14 days. Which, of course, was not going to work for a 6 day trip!<br /><br />So, we cancelled. And then, just a few days before June, we were contacted again. Things had changed! They were allowed to rent to out-of-state guests, and the quarantine was no longer required! We re-booked, and here we are!!<br /><br />Some may question the wisdom of taking a vacation in the middle of a global pandemic, but we considered the matter very carefully. Pennsylvania and Delaware, neighboring states, have both been on a steady down-trend in cases. <br /><br />We are not really boardwalk people, and we don't really get out into crowds on our trips. Mostly, we go off into nature with our dogs, and .... eat!<br /><br />And, there was Dean Dog to consider. He turned 14 in February. And, while he is managing, and doing fine in many ways, every year his back end weakens more and more. This may well be our last chance to share a beach trip with him, and I absolutely did not want to miss out on what might be his last trip with us. Now, had we judged that it was dangerous, we would not have come, but - all things being as they are, we definitely did not want to miss out on this one with him.<br /><br />So, we are here, and I am SO glad that we came! Yes, things are different than they normally are. But, there is still a sense of near-normalcy here that I haven't experienced in a long time, and it is really just good to get away from home, and enjoy some down time!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This is the official "emblem" of our trip!<br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because
I have a physical issue that makes it impossible for me to wear fabric
over my nose, I use a hat/face shield when I go into public spaces where
masking is required.<br /><br />At home, I use this pumpkin to set it on when not in use. When we were packing, Ben said, "you better bring the pumpkin", and I thought, "yes, I will need it", so I brought the pumpkin!! It is the first time I have ever taken a pumpkin decoration on vacation!<br /><br />Our trip down was uneventful. No problems! By Sunday evening, we were settled into the cottage!<br /><br />Here is Bandit, ready to GO!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rocky has claimed this particular chair as his very own!</span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tessa, pretty as you please!</span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />All of us are very glad to be here!!<br /><br />More photos to come soon!<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-28327640658772115002019-06-23T12:45:00.000-07:002019-06-23T12:47:40.163-07:00Three YouTube Channels!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A big part of the reason why I rarely write blog posts anymore is because I have gravitated much more to creating video.<br /><br />I have three YouTube Channels and I would like to tell you about them!<br /><br />The first is the one that I post to the least. That is my personal YouTube Channel where I post personal videos.<br /><br />This is where I post my entries, and most of the public videos on this channel are Parkour entries and video Freestyle entries.<br /><br />There are some older training videos on this channel, but the majority of the recent videos are entries.<br /><br />This channel can be found here:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCxD_cDtuLGG0kCZo579NsA?" target="_blank">Kristine's Personal YouTube Channel</a><br /><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The next is probably my favorite: my general Poised for Success Channel. I post my "fun" training videos on this channel, there are examples of Parkour and Freestyle training on this channel, and other random training videos live on this channel. <br /><br />It is a bit disorganized, but most of the videos on this channel are short and to the point! If you would like to check out an eclectic mix of training, demonstration, and even a bit of nonsense, be sure to take a look at this one!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This channel can be found here:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZzM2WO33GmGb_X0kVaGVtw?" target="_blank">Kristine PFS - My General Training Channel</a><br /><br />Finally, the one I am most excited about: the Poised for Success Freestyle Titling Program YouTube Channel! This is the most organized and developed of the three channels.<br /><br />On this Channel I post longer videos where I discuss different aspects of the Poised for Success Freestyle Titling program, Freestyle training topics, general training topics, and more! Eventually, I hope to have full-length Freestyle demonstrations on this channel, as well!<br /><br />Please do stop in and check it out!<br /><br />You can find this Channel here:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCLayIhWY1jjk4ctLYHITYg?" target="_blank">The Poised for Success Freestyle Titling Program YouTube Channel</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Please, stop by any or all that are of interest to you! If you select "Videos", you will see a menu of all of the public videos that are available on that Channel!<br /><br />If you particularly enjoy any of them, please do leave a "like" and a comment! I'd love your feedback!<br /><br />And if you really like any of the channels, please do consider subscribing!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I do create videos on topics by request! The Clicker Training video on the PFS Titling Channel was created by specific request! So, if there is a topic you would like to see covered, just let me know and I will see what I can do!</span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-9524627744698064862019-06-23T12:15:00.004-07:002019-06-23T12:21:43.894-07:00Bandit's Truncated Tango<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hello!!<br /><br />Yesterday, I got something of a very pleasant surprise when someone on a Facebook Group recognized me from this blog!! It was totally unexpected! And it meant a great deal!<br /><br />And, after that I got the idea to stop on in here and write a brand new entry!!<br /><br />As much as I would love to go back and fill in all of the blanks that exist from the last time I posted and now, what I really want to do, and what I am going to do, is just pick back up as if I never stopped blogging, and write a post about something that just happened.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These days, Bandit is my Freestyle dog. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dean, whose back end doesn't work so well anymore, is enjoying a quiet retirement with short hikes as his main activity. Tessa, who is still doing well, and is reasonably active, also enjoys hikes, and we are still involved with Parkour. I do have one last Freestyle goal for Tessa. We are just one leg away from her Melody Title in Poised for Success Freestyle. If we film her Artistry Leg, we will finish that up. I would like to do that, so we probably will at some point.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Dean Dog enjoying a hike in a nearby State Park</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />I do dabble just a bit with Rocky with some Freestyle, but he is more Ben's dog than mine, so my training with him is more casual on-again off-again. I "borrow" Rocky often when I need to film a demo with a dog who has not been trained for a certain skill!<br /><br />But, for all intents and purposes, Bandit is my Freestyle dog. He is the one who goes to the building weekly to work on Freestyle. He is the one with whom I spend the most time training and building new skills.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My main goals for Bandit right now in Freestyle are to work on the skills that he needs to earn his Harmony Title in Poised for Success Freestyle, and also to work toward creating demo routines for the Dynamic Division for the venue.<br /><br />I do plan to enter a WCFO competition with him in November. He needs one more leg toward his Novice title, and I would like to finish that.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One goal that I did not have for him was further work in the Cyber Rally-O Dance Divisions.<br /><br />I love the CRO Dance Divisions. I love the concept of pattern dances. I enjoy working toward mastering performance of a specific structure. I have always wished that they came around when Dean was a little younger because we thoroughly enjoyed them, but he got to where he could no longer had the physical ability to do them after we had finished the pre-Bronze Level.<br /><br />Bandit, on the other hand, does not love too much structure! He prefers things much more free-form. He generally does not enjoy repetition, and he is rarely thrilled when he does not have input into how things a movement sequence is going to go.<br /><br />I like for my dog sport activities to be those that an individual dog of mine and I mutually enjoy, so I long ago gave up any plans to continue with Bandit in the CRO Dance Divisions. Especially since he particularly seemed to dislike duration heelwork!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then, a few days ago, the owner of the CRO Dance Divisions made a post on the Cyber Rally-O Facebook Group to announce some modifications to the existing rules and patterns. I saw at that point that one of the Preliminary Level Patterns - the Scenic Route Tango - had been chopped in half to provide a shorter option called the Truncated Tango.<br /><br />I saw that and thought, "maybe Bandit and I could do this".<br /><br />We had the building rented that evening, so I set up the proper sized ring, set up the camera on a tripod, and we gave it a shot!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was such a great experience!<br /><br />First,
we attempted the whole pattern "for real". To my surprise, Bandit was
"in the game" for the whole pattern! His nose hit the ground several
times, but he returned to offering attention when I quietly said his
name.<br /><br />That was an enormous success right there!!<br /><br />So, to
sharpen it up a bit, we went through it again, with food and a clicker.
I clicked good focus, and a couple of times used the clicker to help
Bandit self-interrupt that nose touch to the ground.<br /><br />Here is a video of our first attempt and the first of our two training runs:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/32koQAcvnxE" width="560"></iframe></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After
that, we did another training run, and then took a short break. He
hung out in his crate and then we played around a bit with a target.<br /><br />Then, we went out and tried it again, "for real" and ... WOW!!! We had a great run!!<br /><br />I
can honestly say that for the first time I felt like Bandit and I were
connected and moving together as a real heeling team! I could see that
he was working to keep his focus up and to work with me!! That is the
first time I have ever seen that from him in a heelwork context!!<br /><br />Here is the video that we submitted for our Truncated Tango!! I will have results within a couple of weeks!!</span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ziKYibvVdvY" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now I am really excited to work with Bandit more on heelwork. I think we will work with a couple more of the CRO Dance Division patterns and see what we see!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One really cool thing is that Bandit and I had been working on an option toward our PFS Harmony Title that I believe helped prepare us for this!! We had been working on a Floor Pattern with Transitions. I had been using reinforcers in a way that was very motivating to Bandit as we ran through the shorter heelwork pattern.<br /><br />If you would like to see that Floor Pattern, and some of the other things that Bandit and I have been working on, check out this video!! (As you can probably tell, I am very much into video these days!!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To anyone reading this, thank you for stopping in!! I am glad to "see" you here, and hope to be back again for another update soon!!</span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-88037660685933332592018-12-15T12:56:00.002-08:002018-12-15T13:10:08.379-08:00Find Inspiration! Be Inspiration!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today I am going to talk about something that I have held back from sharing for a long time. It is my hope that through writing about this, you will take away something good. 💜</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I look back to my earliest days as a dog trainer and dog sport handler, there was a "spark" that drove everything that I did with my dogs. It was fresh. It was exciting. I had a lot of hopes and future expectations.<br /><br />I used to pack my dogs up and dash off to Rally, Freestyle, and Agility competitions, and I simply could not get enough of any of it! Even working with "challenging" dogs did not deter my enthusiasm, drive, and high interest in training and dog sports.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In recent years, however, some things have changed, and I came to a point where I continually struggled to find motivation and drive to continue on, especially with Canine Musical Freestyle, the art and sport with which I had once fallen head over heels in love.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This was somewhat confounding to me because I was not able, for quite a long time the exact problem. I realize now that I did not yet know what the issue really was.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But I have come to a point now, through something totally unexpected, and completely unrelated to dogs, where I realize precisely what was lacking, and what I needed to finally make positive changes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Looking back, I would say that there are two particular things that led me to the low point where I found myself.<br /><br />First, Speedy's death.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />When it came to training, and especially to Freestyle, Speedy was my inspiration. There was something about him that always made Freestyle a dynamic adventure. Whether we were noodling around to music by ourselves, or training something, or filming a performance to enter in a titling event, or performing in front of a live audience, Speedy brought something to the experience that made it come to life.<br /><br />When I think back to the time and the work and the struggle that I put into training and performance with Speedy, I almost find it hard to believe that I was that driven! Something about Speedy always brought forth the best in me, and giving up on him and on the things that we did together was unthinkable!<br /><br />I found it incredibly difficult to continue in the sport after losing him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One bright spot in my life after losing Speedy was the continuing quest for Tessa's C-ATCH. Tessa and I both put heart and soul into chasing that down, and that accomplishment will always be one of the high points of my collective experiences in dog sports.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />It was not long after - just the following winter - when I hit an unexpected wall.<br /><br />This had nothing to do with dogs directly. I had to deal with some unexpected medical issues. The issues themselves were not serious. There was never anything life-threatening involved. But .... the issues had major consequences in my life. And, within the course of a couple of months, I went from someone who had gone out with Tessa to trial a couple of times a month to someone who could barely get out on a weekend.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Even though the situation did improve, I was no longer the person that I had been before. Remembering the things I used to be able to do was disheartening and depressing. I no longer had the energy to get out there all that much. And, when I did, I was usually left completely exhausted.<br /><br />I lost a lot of my creativity, and even the ability that I had always had to express myself in writing diminished. And, when it came to training dogs and participating in dog sports, I found myself going through the motions most of the time, without a whole lot of heart or interest.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am deeply grateful that Canine Parkour came into my life at this time. It was something new that had no connection to Speedy. All of my dogs could participate. And, I was able to train and film Parkour entries when I was able, and at my own pace.<br /><br />Parkour got me back "out there" to some extent. Sometimes, when I was out filming a Parkour entry with one of my dogs, I felt glimmers of normalcy and I felt like the person, trainer, and handler that I used to be.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Finally .... a Change!</u><br /><br />So, this past summer, I found myself at a place where I was feeling unsatisfied. On one hand, I missed involvement with Freestyle, and other dog sports, and with being a more active person in general.<br /><br />But .... I did not really see any way to change the situation. On occasion I would try to push myself forward, but to little avail.<br /><br />And then something happened that I never expected. Everything changed. I never saw it coming, and I still almost cannot believe the degree to which things turned around.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was spending a lot of my time last summer watching YouTube videos. Various and sundry YouTube videos, about all different topics. Dead malls, urban exploration, and .... people living in different parts of the world.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Following a somewhat random and complicated chain of YouTube video recommendations, I ended up landing on a channel full of videos created by this South African guy who was living in China. Yes, China. I had absolutely zero interest in China, but I found myself watching video after video and learning things about China that I never knew I wanted to know!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of course, it was not China that kept me watching him over and over. It was the man himself. Something about him resonated with me. Something about him brought a part of me that had gone dormant back to life.<br /><br />I know .... this sounds really bizarre .... but it's true.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I do not really understand why, but all of a sudden, after watching his videos for just a couple of weeks, I found myself suddenly wanting to get up, step back into the world, and start living life more fully again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And, I did.<br /><br />At first it was incredibly difficult. I did not have the energy. But .... then I did. And I found that I was suddenly able to do more and more and more.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not only that, I rediscovered creativity, and I started to be able to write again. I found myself interested, once again, in getting involved with Musical Freestyle, and I have real hope that Bandit and I will have a rich future in the sport, as we explore many, many ideas that I have in mind for us!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What the heck happened?<br /><br />All I can say is that in this man who I do not personally know, who will probably never know that I exist on this planet, who talks about topics that no direct connection to my life ....in this man I have found inspiration.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Find Inspiration! Be Inspiration</u>!<br /><br />Since that time, I have thought a lot about inspiration.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have noticed that we rarely talk about inspiration, and I am starting to wonder exactly why that is.<br /><br />Maybe we do not discuss it much because inspiration is something that is going to be a little bit different for everybody. You could watch the same videos that have changed my life in dramatic ways and they could have no effect on you whatsoever! And you could find inspiration in people or places that would have no effect on me at all! Different people are inspired differently.<br /><br />In spite of that, I am starting to think more and more that inspiration is something that we need to start talking about in the dog sport world.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As time has passed since I started watching his videos, I am continually amazed by the ongoing positive effects that he has inspired in my life. 😎<br /><br />So ... inspiration .... it matters!<br /><br />And I want to start talking about inspiration, and hearing about inspiration from others!<br /><br />What inspires you? And what effect does that inspiration have on your life? I am keenly interested in this!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of course, this is not the first time in my life I have been inspired. And, I have certainly found inspiration much closer to home.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />Years ago, I found my inspiration in Speedy, especially in our shared experience of dance. When Tessa and I were running for her C-ATCH, I found my inspiration in her, and in our mutual goal. In Parkour, I find inspiration in the filming experience, and - with Tessa - in the beauty of what we create together.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But, given the difficulties of the last couple of years, I am starting to think about inspiration in new ways. I see now that I need inspiration. As a dog trainer, as a handler, as an instructor, as a creator, as a titling venue owner, as a participant or competitor, as a presenter .... all of it!<br /><br />And, when I think about what I want to give back to the dog sport community, I would say now that the very best thing that I could do is to strive to be inspiration to others. Granted, that is not something that I can strive to do as an end in itself, but it is an effect that I can hope to have along the way!!<br /><br />This is a new mindset for me, and one that I am grateful to have developed.<br /><br />I owe my South African inspiration in China a debt of gratitude I can never quite repay. So, maybe I can pass on some of what I have gotten from him to others.<br /><br />At least, I can try!<br /><br />Find Inspiration! Be Inspiration!</span></span><br />
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Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-14420385301966426262018-11-15T04:27:00.002-08:002018-11-15T04:31:05.976-08:00The Balance in My Training<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For many in the world of dogs, "balance" can be something of an emotionally charged word. The term "balanced trainer" is used as a designation for a trainer who holds a particular training philosophy, which I am not going to discuss here because that is actually beyond the scope of this particular post.<br /><br />Suffice it to say, I do not fall into the category of "balanced trainer". </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But that is not to say that there is not balance in my training - there absolutely is. However, the balance in my training is a different sort of balance.<br /><br />Allow me to explain what I mean ....</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When it comes to training, or to titling endeavors, or to competition, or anything that I do with my dogs, I always strive to balance: <b>what is truly in the best interests of my dog</b> with <b>my own hopes and ambitions for that dog in that activity.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am not always 100% successful in achieving this balance, but I do my best to make it happen to the greatest extent possible.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This was not always the case. I would imagine that pretty much every dog sport enthusiast grows and matures and moves far beyond the point where he or she started, and I can certainly say that for myself.<br /><br />When Speedy and I started in Rally Obedience back in 2005, I secretly wanted him to go out there and perform perfect runs, earning high scores and placements. I really gave very little thought to how the experience of competition might benefit him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">After all, that seemed to be what everyone around me was doing. I heard many talk about their scores, and about having hope for higher scores. One time a fellow competitor showed me a binder that she had brought along to a Rally trial where she had a written record of all of her Rally scores. She pointed to a page and said, "See, I used to get really low scores". Then she pointed to another and went on to say, "Now I get high scores". Her "low" scores were actually pretty nice scores that I would have been more than thrilled with at the time. It was clear to me that working toward high scores was a priority for her.<br /><br />Back then everyone's attitude seemed to be centered on striving for perfection in their Rally runs, and in earning high scores.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">So, I poured my heart and soul into training Speedy to a level where he could perform perfectly. I dreamed about earning those high scores and those pretty blue ribbons, and working our way up to the point where we could earn the giant ribbons!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">There was just one teeny tiny little problem ..... and that was Speedy himself!<br /><br />On one hand, Speedy was a trainer's dream of a dog. He had a gorgeous work ethic. He loved to learn. He loved to drill. I used to get confused when I heard people say, "never drill a dog". The more I drilled Speedy, the happier he became! Speedy had to-die-for heads-up focus that I find utterly astonishing when I watch video of him now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />But then there was the other hand ....! Mentally, Speedy was a mess. He started out fearful of dogs and people, and later he became reactive toward other dogs. We spent years working all of that out. The even bigger challenge with Speedy was his tendency to become overstimulated by movement - even his own!<br /><br />Speedy was trained to perform all of the exercises in (then) APDT Rally at all three levels. He was good at them, and he performed the beautifully .... in class. But, when we got to a trial, he could become so overstimulated that he could barely perform in the ring! He would make wild circles around me, run around cones, back-jump the jumps (which, in those days, was an automatic NQ!), and sometimes even grab at my clothes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">He completely and utterly shattered all of my dreams of perfection and high scores.<br /><br />After banging my head against the wall for a time, trying to come up with ways to help Speedy be "perfect" in the competition ring, it came to a point where realized that I had to make a choice. I could shift my focus away from perfection and high scores and create goals that were more appropriate for Speedy, or we could stop participating in competitions.<br /><br />Because .... really .... with Speedy those were the only two choices.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Speedy and I ended up taking a break from Rally and we got into Musical Freestyle. In Freestyle I was determined, right from the start, that my goals with Speedy would never be for perfection or scores. When Speedy and I stepped into a Freestyle ring together, I had two goals: to allow Speedy the opportunity to express himself, and to entertain the people.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBDo0cLwmPpW1OSIK9KWR3disXQoDpIXBkDkOWs_8KpU5H_UECkfPn5TziRZA-DIvZzAeyBByuWeOZTRz7THURdvsnVFMF27xa8PVtqlVC9N56-R-D4DEZfct7X28Yl3NS1eh4pw7vkQ/s1600/Speedy+Octopus+Garden+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBDo0cLwmPpW1OSIK9KWR3disXQoDpIXBkDkOWs_8KpU5H_UECkfPn5TziRZA-DIvZzAeyBByuWeOZTRz7THURdvsnVFMF27xa8PVtqlVC9N56-R-D4DEZfct7X28Yl3NS1eh4pw7vkQ/s400/Speedy+Octopus+Garden+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />Speedy could do both of those things very well. No matter what happened in our performances, he was always entertaining to watch! He drew everyone's eye with his gorgeous movement, with his intense focus, and with the artistic flair that he demonstrated in just about every performance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Speedy always expressed himself better in the Freestyle ring than anywhere else. It was a joy and a pleasure to provide him with the chance to perform as often as we could.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />That is not to say that I had no concern for the rules of the discipline, nor that I did not create our routines with the performance criteria in mind. Those were simply not my first and highest concerns.<br /><br />What happened is that I learned to find <b>balance</b> in our training, and in our work together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I came to recognize that Speedy was an individual with his own strengths, talents, and limitations. I started to see training and titling and competition events as means to enhance the quality of his life instead of as a way to accomplish something solely for myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Later, Dean came along and taught me this lesson yet again, so that by the time I started my work with Tessa, I was not even thinking of success in terms of high scores or perfect performances. I consider any Agility run, or Freestyle performance, or Parkour filming session, or anything that we set out to accomplish together, to be successful when Tessa is confident, joyful, and she comes away from the experience with a happy and satisfied demeanor. Results still matter to me on some level, my priority is always the well-being of my dog.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This, in my book, is the most important <b>balance</b> I can have in training and dog sports. Results matter, to some extent. But the quality of the overall experience of training and working toward titles, and seeing a clear benefit to my dog from the experience is always what counts the most.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-55472538532100092562018-11-12T17:55:00.000-08:002018-11-12T17:55:07.493-08:00A Quick Hike on White Oak Trail<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Since this past summer, I have been getting out a lot more with the dogs. We almost always film Parkour entries, but every now and again we just go for a plain-old-ordinary hike. Yesterday evening, Bandit and I took a very quick hike on the White Oak Trail at Kings Gap.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is one of two paved trails in the park. It is a short loop - only about a quarter mile. It is one of Bandit's favorite places to hike, and I appreciate it because we can complete the loop quickly.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The area is always beautiful. Right now it has that poignant beauty of late fall. Most of the trees have lost their leaves, but the leaves are freshly fallen on the ground. There is still a "living" feel, but that will not last for very much longer.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Much of the trail is moss-covered, which feels really cool underfoot. It can be a little bit slippery when it is damp, but I still love to walk on it, wet or dry. And, of course, it is beautiful!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXmWlnuGF3496fsh4vpD8vb_5TAMhrXLl_HgdyeTF8WfRvbnGKf-dDn0HDx6ljNKE3OfkCmiwcX7dPHqA0252mUjrESRklSulaNEDyuoMYg3nJB5Wyn1MO9OOcMg1EgPfWSWkHuIbzFc/s1600/20181111_162635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXmWlnuGF3496fsh4vpD8vb_5TAMhrXLl_HgdyeTF8WfRvbnGKf-dDn0HDx6ljNKE3OfkCmiwcX7dPHqA0252mUjrESRklSulaNEDyuoMYg3nJB5Wyn1MO9OOcMg1EgPfWSWkHuIbzFc/s400/20181111_162635.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One thing that I have started to do on many of our outings is to take a photo of the sun-in-the-trees. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bandit and I hiked around the loop. I had some chicken from a bit of training we had done just before, so I did have Bandit do some Parkour Interactions - a Go Under a picnic bench, a Go Around a post along the trail, and a Get On 4 on a low rock. Bandit really seemed to get a real kick out of that.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was a quick hike, but one that we both enjoyed thoroughly.</span></span><br />
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<br />Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-28815703819743472662018-11-11T05:59:00.005-08:002018-11-11T06:03:41.679-08:00Long Overdue Update!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blog, blog ..... how long it has been!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I never meant to let this slip away, but in the rush and busy-ness of life, it did. Somehow it has been almost a year and a half since I last wrote a blog post!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Life with the dogs has been moving along.<br /><br />Dean is still with us, and he is now going on 13 in February! Last winter he suffered an injury to one of his back hocks. By summer he was doing better, but I was concerned about him. I honestly did not think he was going to last the summer, but he rallied, and now he is doing very well.<br /><br />I know that our weekly summer Parkour outings made a big difference for him!<br /><br />He can no longer jump up to pluck frisbees out of the air, but every day we take him out side and roll these plastic rings on the ground for him to chase and retrieve. He absolutely loves it! So, Dean still runs every day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next, Miss Tessa! She is doing well. Tessa is also starting to show her age - she is "about 10" now. But, she seems to feel pretty good, and she is still quite active.<br /><br />Recently Tessa and I completed her second Grand Champion title in All Dogs Parkour, and we are now working in the Premier Division. I hope to earn a Premier Grand Champion title with her. We currently have 13 entries to go for that.<br /><br />Ever since we finished our Grand Champion 2 title, I have been seeking out new locations to go film with Tessa for Premier, and we have really enjoyed going out to some new locations.<br /><br />In addition, I have kind of started moving "beyond" just going out to film titling entries. When we are out and about filming our entries, I often have Tessa perform Interactions, or train, on Environmental Features that actually do not meet submission criteria, just for the fun of it. Sometimes I have her run over bridges, for instance. Then, after creating our submission video, I make an informal "Parkour Excursions" video to document and share some of the fun that we had while creating our entry. These videos contain a mixture of submission clips and clips that would not be submitted, and I set the whole thing to music.<br /><br />Here is an example of one of these. This is our Canine Parkour Excursions video from our filming at the White Oak Trail in Kings Gap several weeks ago:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />Tessa is also still running Agility, although we are not as involved with it as we were when we were running for our C-ATCH. We go to class weekly, and we do go to a trial every now and then.<br /><br />Bandit, going on 5 in February, is in the prime of life. He is a happy, active dog, and I could not love him more!<br /><br />He loves Agility. We are not super serious about it, but we go to class weekly, and very occasionally I trial with him. He also enjoys Musical Freestyle, and I hope to have more Freestyle video to share of him in the near future!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />Bandit and I have not been as involved with Parkour as I would like, mainly because I have been focused on my two older dogs with that. But, he did earn his All Dogs Parkour Champion Title over the summer, and occasionally we get out to film.<br /><br />Finally, Rocky, our little Beagle Terrier, also in his prime at about 4 years old!! I do not do a whole lot with Rocky, although I do train a bit of Freestyle and Parkour with him from time to time. Ben still takes him to Rally and Agility classes when his work schedule allows for it. Rocky adores training, and it is something that I hope to get into with him more in the future.<br /><br />Now that I have given a general update of everyone, maybe I will get back to writing a blog post every now and again! It is good to be back, and I hope to stay!<br /></span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-66157296646336014262017-06-08T19:56:00.002-07:002017-06-10T13:58:19.600-07:00Joy Rediscovered<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ever since we moved to this area in 2003, hiking with dogs has been a favorite activity of mine. Sometimes Ben and I would take Sammie, Speedy, and Maddie to Colonel Denning State Park and hike the Nature Trail with them. Maddie and Sammie would actually cross over the creek on large fallen logs, and we used to enjoy calling them back and forth over those logs!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speedy and Maddie in the woods near Currituck Beach Lighthouse in North Carolina</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Speedy always seemed happiest in natural spaces, especially the woods. Whether we were at one of our nearby State Parks, or at the Ecological Preserve down the shore, or at Glen Highland Farm, he seemed the most confident, the most whole, and the most at peace in wooded areas.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">One of my favorite pictures of Speedy enjoying the Nature Trail at Colonel Denning!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speedy and Dean Dog eager to get into the woods at Glen Highland Farm!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And when Tessa came along, I found the same thing about her! The first couple of times I hiked with Tessa, I was amazed with the joy and wonder in her eyes as she would gaze away from the trail into the trees around her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As Speedy got older, and I became very interested in giving Tessa good quality exercise as my Agility partner, I began to take most hikes with Speedy and Tessa. I called this little group "The Walking Club". Sometimes we included Dean, but most often it was just the three of us together.<br /><br />We went many different places together, but most often we hiked on the Nature Trail at Colonel Denning, the Pine Plantation Trail at Kings Gap, and, on our favorite trail of all - the Watershed Trail at Kings Gap.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All of this changed when we lost Speedy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When spring of 2014 came and Tessa and I set out to enjoy our favorite trails, the experience felt like I had a deflated balloon inside. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tessa and I did continue to take our favorite hikes, and I always enjoy them to some extent, but without the other member of our "walking club", the experience was always lacking something that I had loved.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"The Walking Club" - Speedy and Tessa</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is another of my favorite places to hike - the Nature Trail at Colonel Denning</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I hoped that including puppy Bandit in our "Walking Club" would restore some of the joy that had been lost, but that did not happen. As a baby dog, Bandit was not really ready to be a hiking partner. And, Tessa did not really seem to enjoy Bandit's company on these walks.<br /><br />We still went out and about from time to time, but I found that my interest in hiking with dogs seriously waned.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was, until last summer, when everything changed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of course, last summer we began our involvement in Canine Parkour.<br /><br />I distinctly remember the first time I packed up my camera and tripod and a bag of chicken, and set off into the woods to film Parkour Interactions with Tessa.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To my great surprise, I found that going out into the woods with Tessa felt right again. Once again, the Watershed trail was beautiful, and Tessa and I were walking along with a shared sense of adventure and purpose.<br /><br />Stopping to have her interact with various objects was different, and Tessa did seem a little confused at first, but she got right into the new game, and she and I have never looked back!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_05A5RQaMLU" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the very first Parkour Interaction that Tessa and I ever filmed together!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When Tessa and I started going around filming our Parkour entries together, I found, very much to my surprise, that the distinct feeling of something being missing vanished.<br /><br />Not that I forgot about Speedy! I always think of him when Tessa an I are out on a trail together. But somehow it was almost like his heart and his spirit were again with us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Tessa and I had no idea how important these bridges would become for us someday!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lately Tessa and I have been working hard on the Grand Champion track in All Dogs Parkour and we are currently in Level 4 (out of 5). This has been a worthy challenge for us! Some of the skills that Tessa has needed to master to be able to Q at this level on this track have not come easy to her!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I actually did not plan this deliberately, but the location where we filmed our third submission toward our Level 4 Grand Champion title turned out to be . . . . the Watershed Trail!<br /><br />And what a cool adventure it turned out to be for us!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I took Tessa to the Watershed Trail back in March to do some filming for an online Parkour class that I have been teaching. I found that after a long winter of low activity, we were both completely out of shape and out of practice!<br /><br />We managed to get a couple of Interactions filmed, including a sequence that was really cool, but that it turned out that I could not use in our submission.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I decided after that to put filming at the Watershed Trail on hold, and we filmed at Willow Mill Park instead. That turned out to be something of a difficult entry to film. At Level 4 Grand Champion, we needed to include four different Advanced Interactions, and a 5 Interaction Sequence! Tessa struggled a bit with the Sequence, and we needed to visit the park several times over the course of about a month before we were able to complete our submission.<br /><br />However, we did get it done, and it was a Q!! One down!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our Submission for Leg #1 of Level 4 Grand Champion at Willow Mill Park</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I considered going back to the Watershed Trail at that point, but I happened upon another location with Bandit - the White Oaks Trail - and I decided to film there with Tessa instead.<br /><br />That entry turned out to be very straightforward to film, and Tessa and I managed to complete the whole thing in just two visits to the location! We even took a bit of a side trip over to the Watershed Trail, which is nearby, on one of those occasions, and we filmed a couple more Interactions there!<br /><br />The White Oak Trail entry was a Q, as well - two legs down!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our Submission for Leg #2 toward Level 4 Grand Champion on the White Oaks Trail</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After we finished our second submission at this level, I decided to finish our Watershed Trail entry. By this time, summer break had begun and I had plenty of extra time to get there with Tessa to film.<br /><br />But that did not make it simple . . . !<br /><br />Tessa and I set out on an overcast day and I had the goal of walking the entire Watershed Trail loop - which is about 2 miles total - as we filmed some Interactions!<br /><br />It started out as a beautiful day, and it was a lovely hike ... at first!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cooling off in the creek in between hiking/filming</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />With about 1/4 of our hike left, it started to rain! It was a light rain, but Tessa was none too pleased! She started making a beeline toward the car, making exactly the right turn at each place where the trail split!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By this point we had filmed almost all of the Regular Level Interactions that we needed, but we still had to film our four Advanced Exercises and the Sequence, which were the most difficult components of the entry!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Since one of the Advanced Exercises that I had planned was Advanced Novel Uses, which consists of seven Interactions in and of itself, I decided to break those up and visit the location at least two more times.<br /><br />And so, on another overcast day, Tessa and I returned to the trail. I hoped to film Trick on a Platform Small, the Sequence, and possibly a couple of Interactions or Advanced Novel Uses. <br /><br />We did get the first Interaction filmed (although I ended up re-doing it), but as we moved toward the area where I planned to try a sequence, there was a sudden clap of thunder! I didn't even know there was thunder in the forecast! Fortunately, we were not very far from the car, so we headed right home!<br /><br />At this point, filming at this location was starting to feel a little . . . . drawn out! Granted, I love the location, and I was enjoying our frequent trips there. And I was very pleased that Tessa wholeheartedly approved of these ventures. But I was starting to feel like we were stalling out!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On our next visit, just a couple of days after our session got cut short by thunder, we finally had a "break through" filming session!<br /><br />We re-did the Trick on a Platform video, and the sequence turned out to be very straightforward to take care of. Then we went and filmed seven Interactions for Advanced Novel Uses before Tessa started getting kind of tired. We also had a bit of run-in with a bee while we were filming Novel Uses! Tessa did not get stung, but the bee brushed against her side and it took a while before she was convinced that it was really gone!<br /><br />So, now we were down to needing just two more Interactions - Go Around Distance and Get on Send. And we finished those off today! To celebrate, we filmed one more Interaction where Tessa and I sloshed into the creek together! After all, it is the Watershed Trail!<br /><br />In the end, getting this entry finished felt absolutely wonderful! It had taken quite a bit of time, and we did a lot of walking and filming, but in the end I find that it is intensely satisfying to finish up an entry that we needed to put so much of ourselves into.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And this one is for you, Mr. Speedy! Just as you always put your whole heart into everything you did, Tessa and I put our hearts into filming every bit of this entry! In some mysterious way you are always with us out there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our Submission for Level 4 Grand Champion - Leg #3 - Watershed Trail</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, on to Level 5. This will be one of the most difficult challenges that Tessa and I have ever taken on together.<br /><br />And I know we will love every minute of it!</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-83608701525595967302017-03-25T16:49:00.004-07:002017-03-26T11:34:04.250-07:00Verbal Cues<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Six months ago I made a decision to stop all work on verbal cues with Bandit, and focus on attitude, focus, and bringing enjoyment into our training together, especially our Freestyle training. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">That was one of the best decisions that I have ever made! Since that time Bandit and I have truly started to know one another as training partners. Our communication has improved, and our enjoyment of training has skyrocketed right through the roof!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">And now we are at a point, with certain behaviors, where we are ready to start working on putting some of his trained behaviors on verbal cue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I think that some people got the impression, when I made the decision to put all verbal cue training on a six month "hold", that I am against the training and use of verbal cues.<br /><br />That, actually, is not the case. With some dogs, in certain contexts, there is a time and a place for the use of well-trained verbal cues. In addition, there are dogs who respond very well to verbal cues - with clear understanding and enthusiasm. For those dogs, the use of verbal cues is perfectly appropriate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">What I am against (for myself) is approaching the discipline of Canine Musical Freestyle as an exercise in the performance of trained behaviors on verbal cues to music. When one of my dogs and I perform a Freestyle routine, we are creating art together. Freestyle is a form of expression - of who the dog is, of our bond, and of the joy that we find in the performance. It is not a display of verbal cues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">That said, again, there is certainly a time and a place for verbal cues.</span></div>
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Since I do not want to fall into the same mistakes that I made, both with Tessa and Bandit, when I tried to train verbal cues in the past, I have come up with a detailed plan for our work with verbal cues.</div>
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<b><u>Kristine and Bandit's Verbal Cue Training Plan</u></b></div>
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1. I will not take on a "stiff" demeanor because we are working on verbal cues.<br />
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I will strive to always keep my body language "loose" and natural.</div>
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2. I will ensure that each behavior that is to be put on verbal cue is being performed consistently with strength, understanding, confidence, and joy on physical cue <u>before</u> making any attempt to put that behavior on verbal cue.</div>
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3. When working on verbal cue training, I will approach it as a game. The introduction of the verbal cue is simply a new twist to the game.</div>
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4. When first working on verbal cues, I will reinforce all attempts on the part of the dog to avoid deflating Bandit. Incorrect attempts will be reinforced with a treat of lower value, or with just one treat. Correct attempts will be reinforced with a very high value reinforcer, or with a mini-jackpot.</div>
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5. I will use verbal cues that Bandit already knows to work on the concept of <u>listening</u> for cues: Whiplash Turns, Releases to Hand Touch on verbal, Releases to Leg Weaves on verbal, Spins and Twirls in center position, and Splat Downs.</div>
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6. When putting a verbal cue on a new behavior, I will use a "food anchor" to help Bandit first listen, and then respond. In addition, I will support his movements and choices with my eyes.</div>
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7. Once Bandit begins to respond correctly and consistently to new verbal cues, I will have him practice by working on opposite behaviors in the same training session, and we will play "find the cue".</div>
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8. Once Bandit knows a small selection of Freestyle behaviors on verbal cue, and he is performing those behaviors consistently, and with understanding and joy, we will introduce verbal cues into simple movement phrases. I will remember to keep my arms and body language "loose" and natural. No stiffness!</div>
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9. I will remember though all of this that verbal cues are a tool. They can be used selectively to enhance our dances. We are not showcasing verbal cues - we are showcasing Bandit and our dance.</div>
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I am not striving for Bandit to "do everything on verbal", but to be ambidextrous - equally able to perform behaviors on obvious and supporting physical cues, and on prudently chosen verbal cues.<br />
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I will remember this!</div>
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I am excited about this because I believe that Bandit and I are really ready to take this challenge on at this stage of our work together.</div>
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It will be an adventure, not an obligation. Perfect!</div>
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</span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-83182946639674143862017-03-06T10:22:00.004-08:002017-03-06T10:26:08.860-08:00Introducing Rocky<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have a new dog! Well, as of this past New Years Eve we have had him. I have only just now gotten around to updating this blog since then!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">My husband and I had been talking about adding a fourth dog for quite a while. We had gone back and forth and back and forth, and had actually decided not to add a new dog at this time. Of course, we were thinking about a Border Collie, or Border Collie mix, and were planning to adopt through rescue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">On New Years Eve, I was driving us home from church, and Ben suddenly said, "Look out - there's a dog!" I didn't even see him at first, but then there he was - a small dog meandering up the road, in my lane. Of course, there was a car coming in the other direction, but that person got over enough for me to just manage to squeeze by the dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">At that point, the dog ran off the road into someone's yard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We stopped, hoping that we would be able to catch the dog, and that he would have ID. He was super easy to catch. We called to him and he stopped and let us approach. Just to be safe, we looped Ben's belt around the dog's collar and led him to the car, and he got right in.<br /><br />At first we were very happy - he had a tag. And then . . . it turned out to be a rabies tag. That was it. No ID. No address. No way to figure out where he belonged.<br /><br />It wasn't terribly late, but it was dark and nobody was around outside in the area.<br /><br />So, we took him home, knowing that we would probably have to hold him until Monday, when we could call the vets office to see if they could hook us up with his owner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We could tell that he was a little Beagle mix of some sort, and he seemed to be young. Not a baby puppy - we guessed about one or two years old.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We got him home and put him in a crate with some food and water, and put the ex-pen around it to keep our dogs back away from him.<br /><br />He stunk to high heaven. It wasn't a horrible smell - he smelled like a farm. But in the house it was strong, so we ended up giving him a bath, which was no problem.<br /><br />By this time we could tell he was friendly, and pretty compliant. He didn't try to bite, or fight us in any way. I am not sure that he had ever been in a crate in his life, but he put up with sitting in there, near the space heater, while he dried off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">The boys seemed curious about him, and Tessa acted like she would like to get in there to bite his head off!! Tessa has never taken well to new dogs coming into our house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Ben really took to him. Before long, Ben was carrying him around, and holding him, and taking him out when he needed to go. By the time Monday rolled around, the little dog - who was completely nameless to us at that point - was like "Ben's little dog"!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I had a Freestyle practice at the training building on that Monday morning. I planned to call the vets office and see if I could get the owners info. I told Ben that I would give his number to the owner and have them call him to make arrangements to get him back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I did call the vets office, and they told me that they would get in touch with the owners and have them call me. Several minutes later, I got a phone call. The woman on the other end said, "I hear you have our dog!" <br /><br />Since I was on my way to the building, I gave her Ben's number so she could work out the dog's return with him directly.<br /><br />When I got home, I was in for a surprise. Ben had spoken with the woman's husband and he had asked if we wanted to keep him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We talked about it, very briefly. We knew right away that we did want to keep him. We called them back and made arrangements to buy him for a very reasonable fee, mostly to make it official. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">It turns out that he is a mix between a Beagle and a Smooth Fox Terrier. He is about two years old. He ran loose on their farm and slept in a shed on the property. He is very friendly and loves children. And his name was Buddy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">The owners were having a difficult time keeping Buddy from running off. They tried tethering him, but he did not like it (knowing him now, I am sure he screamed bloody murder on a tether!), so they continued to allow him to run free. They were concerned that he would eventually get hit by a car, which, of course, is what almost happened!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">And so, we now have a "Beagle Terrier"! He has presented his share of challenges, but we really do love the little stinker! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">How could anyone not love this face?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We changed his name to "Rocket", but soon changed that to "Rocky"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">This is very typical Rocky!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">He is, especially, Ben's dog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"></span><br />Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-56995294811458609812016-11-09T06:12:00.001-08:002016-11-09T06:18:55.907-08:00Parkour Champion!!!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday Tessa earned her All Dogs Parkour Championship title! Tessa is a Parkour Champion!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I am particularly excited about this because I really do love the mutually satisfying experiences that Tessa and I have had creating our Parkour entries for this venue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We started out titling with the International Dog Parkour Association (IDPKA), and we had fun doing that. Tessa and I explored the Parkour behaviors for that title in that venue, and we made videos of Tessa carrying out those behaviors - some on training equipment in the house, and others outside. For IDPKA, the behaviors do not need to be filmed in a single location, so our final submission was a combination of videos from different places.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />Tessa and I created a nice entry and we earned our Novice title, and that was very satisfying.<br /><br />I considered going on to the Intermediate level with her, but I did not feel that some of the requirements were appropriate for Tessa, and so I decided not to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">And that is when we got into All Dogs Parkour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />At first I did not like the requirement that all of the behaviors would have to be carried out in one single location. The first few times I filmed, I had to work very hard at coming up with 12 behaviors (although some could be repeats) on the EF's (Environmental Features) that Tessa would find in one single location.<br /><br />However, as we progressed through the levels, I began to find that going to a single location, which can cover quite a lot of ground in some cases, was precisely the aspect of All Dogs Parkour that I enjoyed the most!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I also came to appreciate the fact that we could choose the Parkour behaviors that we wanted to do for each entry. I never had to ask Tessa to do something that I felt wasn't quite right for her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I found that I loved packing Tessa up to set off for different places, and then Tessa and I would get there and we would explore together. She would sniff as I looked around for EF's that we could use. Then we would try different Parkour behaviors out with what we found. Then we would film.<br /><br />Sometimes our filming attempts completely failed. Sometimes it became clear that Tessa did not want to interact with a particular EF. At other times, she rocked the exercises with enthusiasm and style.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I learned that it is OK to go back to film at a location twice. I learned to film extra behaviors, especially when Tessa was in a focused and happy frame of mind, in case something didn't end up working on the video.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">And after all that, I had the pleasure of cutting down our video clips, putting them together, labeling them, and submitting them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I found that this whole process of choosing a location, searching out EF's to use, trial and error and filming, and then putting it all together is like creating an art project with Tessa! And there is nothing that I love better than creating art with my dog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I loved everything about this. And - even more important - Tessa thoroughly enjoyed it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Tessa has always been a team player. Her love for engaging with me and accomplishing something with me as a team really shines forth in her Parkour. And, we get to do all this, as much as we want, out in the woods where she and I have always loved to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Last week we filmed one of my favorite entries of all that we have done. We went up to the top of the mountain in Kings Gap State Park to film in the area of the mansion that is up there. Tessa absolutely loved working up there, and there were many great EF's. On top of that, the setting was beautiful! I enjoyed adding in bits of beauty to our film clips - the mansion, the view in the distance, a quaint light post, pumpkins, fall leaves . . . . this video really is beautiful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I entered this as our final leg for Level 5:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">As we go on to start to work toward our Grand Championship, I want to go back up the mountain to film there again! We are allowed to re-use locations the second time around, and I plan to re-use most of ours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We won't have the gorgeous fall background next time, but it will be fun to go and film there in another season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">After we filmed the mansion entry, we needed to do just one more. I was completely at a loss for a last location. On top of that, the time change had occurred, and I would not be able to go very far from home and have daylight to film in with her after school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">On a whim, I thought of the trailhead for our local rail trail right in town. I live about 7 minutes from there, so we went to check it out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">It was a perfect location!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We had to go twice because the camera battery died on the first day that we filmed. But I was glad for that. On the first day we shot the Advanced Novel Uses (at the end of the clip), and that is almost an entry's worth of work unto itself with 7 behaviors!<br /><br />The next day we went back and finished it up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We both liked this location. Tessa was a little leary of the people in the area at times, but she didn't mind them very much, and they always moved on pretty quickly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">My favorite clip in this video is her "Get Inside" in the planter. She just got a kick out of jumping into that thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Here is our video for this entry:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Cv7lZMGTtk" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I submitted those two videos together and yesterday we got results! Both Q's, and we earned our Level 5 Title and our Championship!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Go Tessa!!! Parkour Champion!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">On we go! Weather permitting . . . we are having way too much fun at this!</span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-72885991133694724432016-11-07T11:57:00.000-08:002016-11-07T12:00:39.213-08:00Rambling Thoughts on Creativity<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"You're so creative". I hear this a lot. Especially in the context of Musical Freestyle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't think I am, though. Sure, I can come up with ideas, but most of the time I don't take that all-important step of carrying them out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then a lot of times I feel like I'm just stuck doing the same things over and over. Like I haven't come up with an original idea in years . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I WAS creative once upon a time . . . <br /><br />Back when I did Freestyle with Speedy, I was always coming up with ideas - and we carried some of them out.<br /><br />We danced to "Here Comes the Sun" and I made him a sunbeam collar and I designed the choreography to fit the music. We danced to "Reunion" and we made it very flowy and elegant. We danced to "Waltz from Maskarade" and our movement together was truly a dance.<br /><br />And even with Dean I came up with some original ideas and we performed routines that were truly ours, as a team.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">But when I go to choreograph, or design, a Freestyle routine now, I get stuck in putting together the same movement patterns I've been using with my dogs for years! I just feel like I'm in this enormous rut!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Freestyle is a sport that requires coming up with ideas. It's not like I can get what I need from someone else. And, really, I want my ideas to be my own. Sure I get inspiration at times from watching others - sometimes I see a move or a movement phrase that I want to try with my dog. But that's not creativity unless I take it and do something with it that makes it belong to my dog and myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, I'm not like other Freestylers. I know that turns some people off, but I have never been one to go along with the crowd. I don't march to the beat of my own drummer - a lot of times I am turning handsprings to the beat of my own marching band playing music that nobody has ever even heard before. That was true for me in grade school, in High School, and it's true now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">So, my routines tend to be outside the box. The problem is that they have gotten stuck inside my own box. I want them to be free . . . !!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Speedy and I did this, we did it to suit ourselves. And now Bandit is leading me down that path again, but in a different direction altogether.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The problem with being different from everyone else is that it is easy to stagnate. It is easy to fall into a pattern and circle there endlessly. And then that gets old and tired and I feel like I want to go a different way, but I have no idea which way to go. Part of me might want to go where everyone else is going, but somehow that just doesn't work for me. I've tried it and crashed and burned. So, if I'm not following the crowd, what do I do?<br /><br />The only thing that has ever worked for me is to let my dog lead the way. Whatever success I have had in the dog sport world I have had at the times when I have listened to my dog. I can trust Bandit to help me figure this out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That said . . . where is Bandit leading? That's what we have to work together to find out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Right now I strongly feel that exploring creativity is the next step for us. How do I find our style as a team? Only by trying stuff. Thus far with Bandit I have pretty much done what I have always done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is the starting point for something new? I don't even know. That is where I am just stalled out right now. I know that creativity is the answer . . . I'm just not quite sure how to go about becoming more creative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">But I need to think about it, and I need to figure this out. Bandit and I can't go forward unless we find a direction and head out together.<br /><br />Hopefully someday I will post a follow-up to this where I say what the resolution was . . . </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Where do we go from here?</span></div>
Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-43015246759697490522016-11-06T09:16:00.001-08:002016-11-06T09:16:15.082-08:00The Fruits of Good Changes<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has been just a little over a month since I made the post entitled "Thoughts on Freestyle".</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since that time, Bandit and I have adopted a completely new approach to our Freestyle training. I barely work on verbal cues with him, other than to keep the training that he has on verbal cues fresh. I have not been focused on precision or training anything "flashy".</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, again, it is not because I consider those to be "bad" things in some way. Having a heavy focus on those elements of the discipline of Canine Musical Freestyle is just not right for Bandit and me at this point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have focused, instead, on engagement, joy, and enthusiasm. I have focused on what I need to do, as a handler, to help Bandit be a confident and competent performer. We have worked on honing the skills that have already been trained. We have worked on flow and on chaining skills together. We have spent time moving together, and we have worked on changing up reinforcement patterns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And yesterday all of this paid off big! I know that we are definitely on the right path together right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Several months ago I entered Bandit in the WCFO Freestyle competition, "Barkaritaville". When I entered him, I was honestly not sure if he would truly be ready, but I entered because I knew that it was time to turn up the volume on our preparation and that the only way that I would be really motivated to do that would be to enter an actual event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That was a very good thing to do. I did focus - at least for a time - on stepping up our training and preparation. Recently I got a bit sidetracked by the See-Saw class, but that turned out to be a very good thing in the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bandit chose music a few months ago. At first, I planned a routine and we started to practice it. But . . . it didn't exactly . . . . click. When we would doodle to the music together, Bandit was brilliant - focused, willing to try different things, engaged, and happy. But when I tried to have him do choreographed sequences, his performance became somewhat flat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was honestly not quite sure what to do about the situation - we had a competition coming up, and I had no routine with an extremely green dog! This called for action, but I took none whatsoever!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead, I just focused on doing what he and I had been doing. We went to Rally class, and we worked on him doing the Rally exercises with less, and varied, reinforcement. We went to Rally FrEe class and focused on enjoyment and varied reinforcement. We went to Agility and focused on staying connected, engagement, and enjoyment. And at home we just trained whatever I felt like training.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And all of this was very, very good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But it didn't seem that any of it was preparing us for our first actual Freestyle event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the event got closer, I considered dropping out - or, at least, changing our entry to Innovations. But, that idea did not really resonate with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so, yesterday morning I found myself driving in the car with Bandit to Barkaritaville. I had music burned onto CD, an outfit that I could wear that was nothing special, but halfway decent, and Bandit . . . and we went!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was not excited, although I was not exactly dreading the event, either. Really, I felt quite indifferent about the whole thing. I really love this particular Freestyle event and I was looking forward to being there, but Bandit was such an unknown in competition, that the net result of my personal emotions was pretty much . . . nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In retrospect, I think that was actually a good thing. Too many emotions on my part - even happy excitement - might have confused Bandit. From his perspective, I was acting normal. The same way I would on the way to a training class, or if he and I were just out for a ride in the car. For a young green dog, the less that is "out of the ordinary" on a competition day, the better!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That said, I knew I had to resolve the problem that I found myself in before we actually arrived at the event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, I thought about it. And I thought hard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I knew that I could not be thinking about qualifying. I had to put that out of my mind altogether. And I knew that a focus on "just having fun" was not going to get me anywhere with a dog this green with no choreographed routine and no reinforcers in the ring. I needed some objective in going into a situation like this, so I <i>can be</i> supportive of my dog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, I gave the matter due consideration . . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I accepted the fact that we were not really ready, and I put aside any ideas of actually putting together any kind of routine at the last second.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I considered what we <i>could do</i> out there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First, I could be very aware of asking Bandit only for behaviors and moves that I knew were rock solid for him: Moving in heel, side, or center, twirls and spins, switches, leg weaves, clockwise circles around me, sit and give paw, and maybe backing away from me in center as I move toward him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are a good many movement sequences that I have choreographed from other routines that are sequences that I tend to use quite a lot: such as me moving backwards diagonally across the ring, with the dog moving toward me in center, and pausing to ask for spins or twirls or weaves along the way. And Bandit is familiar with those because we often do them in training. So, I knew I could go ahead and see what he could do with some of those.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But it was more than that. I made a decision not to be outcome-focused, but to really keep my attention on helping Bandit to be relaxed and enthusiastic. If that meant using hand signals, I would use them. If that meant doing quite a lot of movement and few stationary moves, I would do that. I decided not to care if he missed moves, and if he refused to do something, we would just move along and I would not ask for that move again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided to do everything I could to give Bandit a chance to explore this Freestyle world, to the greatest extent possible, on his own terms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, if I saw him become stressed or shut down in the right, I would thank the judge and we would leave the ring. That was not what I was hoping for, of course, but I prepared myself mentally for that possibility and accepted it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then it hit me out of nowhere: this competition could be an experience that would prepare Bandit and I for our <b><u>future</u></b> in Freestyle performance!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today might not be about striving for a Q, but today could be about setting a foundation of joy and good partnership in the competition ring, and that could set us up for our future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it occurred to me that it is truly a precious gift to have the opportunity to prepare for our future!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, mentally, I was on board with that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also made a mental resolution to let the past be in the past for this one day. I said to Bandit out loud, "Today this is all yours - today this is for you!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was in a pretty good frame of mind when we arrived at the competition site. Still somewhat indifferent to the whole thing, but feeling cheerful and at peace with the whole situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I unloaded our stuff, and set up Bandit's crate space. Then I walked him a bit and brought him in. Bandit just sparkled with joy when I brought him into the building. He has been there before - twice - to do Innovations. But this was the first time that he and I had gone to any kind of competition completely by ourselves, without at least one other dog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took him out in the ring with a toy and we played. He was very focused on me, and he was clearly thrilled to be in the ring. It was obvious that he definitely had some idea of what we were there to do, and he was excited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully, our turn was very early - we were the 5th team to perform.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I warmed him up in the warm up area, and then we went in for our sound check. I did take his tug toy in with him for sound check, and I think that was a very good decision. It got him into a really great frame of mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In we went for the real thing and, honestly, I don't think it could have been a more perfect first-competition experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was not at all nervous or stressed. Bandit was in a great frame of mind - engaged, eager to do whatever I asked. I never lost his focus once - not one sniff! And he did absolutely everything I cued him to do! He twirled and circled and weaved and moved and sat and gave paw with skill far beyond his experience!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was so happy that he stayed engaged and worked, even without treats or toys out there! He loves performing in front of an audience, and he was just shining with joy the whole time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After leaving the ring, I was happier than I ever thought I could have been with the whole thing! Bandit gave me the best of himself out there, and I would never ask for anything more from any dog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found that I didn't care at all about our score - it was just such a success for Bandit and I as a team.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After giving him a good walk, we hung out and I watched a lot of the other performances. I chatted with friends. I fed Bandit bits of chicken from time to time. I wished I had frozen him a Kong so he could have chilled out with it after his performance, but I hadn't. Next time, definitely!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShfvU16vnMwYu1HcJYFpgt69Fm3z_0n6019gp8Qj1BPeICMqUbN9FFq-l4Hy-1jtY2aCY1ZMpmfejTZ_yyKvkYx6Cgme6FKWYqHROpjKB_9Zbto7Z3gxj-ogJFQIVlpjdSqNeay_3wg4/s1600/Bandit+Bark+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShfvU16vnMwYu1HcJYFpgt69Fm3z_0n6019gp8Qj1BPeICMqUbN9FFq-l4Hy-1jtY2aCY1ZMpmfejTZ_yyKvkYx6Cgme6FKWYqHROpjKB_9Zbto7Z3gxj-ogJFQIVlpjdSqNeay_3wg4/s400/Bandit+Bark+1.jpg" width="383" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you mean, I don't get another turn?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We went to lunch and returned to watch the rest of the show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And we got our results, which absolutely floored me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8.0 Technical and 8.1 Artistic!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For Beginner, we needed 7.3 in each category! For Beginner scores, these were quite, quite high.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the comments the judge gave were very positive!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Qualifying was icing on the cake, but the surprises weren't quite over yet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also scored in First Place in our class!! I simply could not believe that!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBd4EeCKs-qbCQ6uuaDHAK1tt5nYtgOyjZ_ftm95eiAFJqtBu4hSeH1U9r22RmMSRGL-doO9oQp2TKuzjmP7bDLf-IXn0aP63M6JNiMVvX7v3BnGBlb5C7IixZqWoWu8cKc8gPKcUxdc/s1600/Bandit+Bark+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBd4EeCKs-qbCQ6uuaDHAK1tt5nYtgOyjZ_ftm95eiAFJqtBu4hSeH1U9r22RmMSRGL-doO9oQp2TKuzjmP7bDLf-IXn0aP63M6JNiMVvX7v3BnGBlb5C7IixZqWoWu8cKc8gPKcUxdc/s640/Bandit+Bark+2.jpg" width="355" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My first official "Ribbon Photo"!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the end, the thing that makes me happiest is that Bandit and I accomplished this by doing what was right for him. Our path may not be typical, but it is right for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the changes that I have made in my approach to Freestyle have paid off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I am thinking about where we go from here and I am very excited!! Great things ahead! Bandit is a dancer with heart and his own style!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I love everything about him!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here we go!!!</span></div>
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Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-52480693872227721982016-10-22T08:05:00.002-07:002016-10-22T08:05:52.453-07:00Celebrating 50 Titles!!!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This past week, Tessa earned her 48th, 49th, and 50th titles: Expert Trick Dog, Cyber Rally-O Dance Division Pre-Bronze, and Level 4 All Dogs Parkour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is an accomplishment that I never intended with any of my dogs (maybe 50 total, between all of them, but not 50 with one dog!), but I am beyond pleased that Tessa and I have done this together!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, it makes me think back to when Tessa first came here and I remember that she was terrified of me, and then - as soon as she realized that she had found safety in this house and on this property - she was intensely afraid to leave the property. I remember the tiny, tiny baby steps that we had to start with when we began training and how it took quite a lot for her to trust me even a little.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A snippet from an early blog about Tessa's training:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">After Tessa had been here almost a week, I was inspired to try some noodling around with a jump with her. I don't mean that I set out to train jumping. She is nowhere near that point. But I decided to see how she would be near a jump and start to make her comfortable with the piece of equipment.</span><br style="color: #333333;" /><br style="color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">I set up a jump, with the bar set at 4, in my living room. Of course Tessa was wary of it, but she very willingly approached it since I had a handful of chicken.</span><br style="color: #333333;" /><br style="color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Chicken! This girl adores chicken!</span><br style="color: #333333;" /><br style="color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">I walked toward the jump and handed pieces of chicken to Tessa (from behind me as I faced away), as we approached the uprights. When we got close, she stopped. I put a piece of chicken on the floor right where she was and then I put a piece</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">closer and I sat on the floor and looked sort of away from her. She slowly moved in and took it. I put a piece right next to the bar, but still on her side. She slowly moved in and took it. I noticed that as she moved in for each piece, she didn't back off once she had taken it.</span><br style="color: #333333;" /><br style="color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Finally, I set a piece on the floor on the other side of the bar. She put one paw over the bar and ate it. She stood there. I put another piece down where she was and then one just ahead of her. She ate the first one then put her other front paw over the bar and ate the second piece. I did that until she had moved forward to the point where she still had her back paws behind the bar, but she was streeeetching forward to get the chicken off the floor. We took a break, she ran into the living room and hit the sofa, I got more chicken and she came back all on her own.</span><br style="color: #333333;" /><br style="color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">We did what we had just done and then I put a piece far enough ahead that she would have to get a back paw over to get to it. It took a few seconds and a few extra pieces where she was, but she finally got one back leg over! Then we got the other one over!</span><br style="color: #333333;" /><br style="color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">She liked that. I could tell. She didn't get happy or excited, but she was VERY interested. I went to get more chicken and this time she stood in the fireplace room and waited for me with a very interested look on her face! We did that three more times. Neither of us wanted to quit.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My girl! This was just the beginning and we have come so, so very far! Although, to this day, chicken is still her all-time favorite! Some things never change - but mostly those are the good things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Title chasing" has something of a bad connotation among dog sport folks. Many hear that and think of handlers who put undue pressure on their dogs, who blame their dogs for their own mistakes, or who put chasing titles above the well being of their dogs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In spite of that, I will shamelessly admit that I adore "title chasing" with Tessa! With one clarification - for Tessa and me, "title chasing" always includes: putting Tessa's well being above my personal goals, avoiding putting undue pressure on her, and striving to honestly recognize that Tessa and I are both fallible beings and that we are striving to do our best, not be perfect, in our performance together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This began at our very first Agility trial. It was a NADAC trial, and we were waiting outside the ring to go in for our third run of the day - a Jumpers run. Tessa had surprised me all day long with her obvious enjoyment of being at the competition venue. I had expected a dog with her background to be nervous in a new place full of strange people. From the moment we walked in the door together, Tessa lit up, obviously very happy to be there. This was unexpected, but very welcome!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before going in for our first two runs of the day, in Regular Agility, I had practiced the mindset that had been necessary with Speedy, Maddie, and Dean. "No pressure to qualify, just go out and enjoy our time together. I appreciate whatever we do out there." In fact, from running Dean, I had trained myself to almost pretend we had already NQ'ed before we even got going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But as Tessa and I waited our turn outside that Jumpers ring, I looked at her and I saw a happy girl who was clearly anticipating what we were about to do with obvious pleasure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On impulse, I said to her out loud, "Let's try to qualify!" Not with a "we must do it or we FAIL!" kind of motivation, but really with a, "how fun would it be to actually <i>try</i> to qualify?!!?" attitude.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tessa's eyes met mine, and I could tell from Tessa's demeanor that she was "in"!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, we did that. We went out there together and we tried to qualify. You see, I didn't have to worry about Tessa's comfort level - she was very comfortable. I didn't have to give her the kind of support that I had needed to give my other dogs. Tessa was positive that she wanted to be out there doing what we were doing! So, we ran for it - the Q.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was an amazing experience. We ran with everything we had. We didn't Q. But it didn't matter in the least! We had put everything that we had out there and we had gone for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it was exhilarating!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And for Tessa and me, particularly in Agility, which is her favorite thing in the world to do, we have always done that. We go out there with everything we have and we give it what we've got.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Title chasing" for us isn't as much about the titles as it is about the experiences that we have going for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the titles do serve as goals to strive for. They help me to structure what Tessa and I do together. And we both gain a sense of accomplishment throughout the process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Moreover, Tessa thrives on the challenge that comes with trying to meet a particular standard in whatever kind of ring we walk into. I am not a high-pressure handler, but with Tessa I can focus as much on success as I do on her when we are performing in a particular discipline together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And <i>that</i> is why earning 50 titles with Tessa has been one of the best accomplishments of my entire life!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have all kinds of titles, too. Some are from live competition venues, some are from video competition venues, some are from non-competitive video venues. To me, they all have the same inherent value because all of them present their own challenges to Tessa and me as a team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, my favorite of her titles is the one we worked toward for 5 years - her CPE C-ATCH. That took more work and training and preparation and dedication and pure effort than any title I have ever earned with any dog. But, Tessa being Tessa, it was also the source of absolute joy for both of us most of the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her Freestyle titles mean a lot to me because Tessa is not a natural Freestyle dog, but she has been willing to put herself into that because I asked her to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And Parkour has become our newest love. She and I have been going into the woods together for years - earning Parkour titles with her out there is perfection!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is the video of Tessa's Walk Around Tango, which finished off her CRO Dance Division Pre-Bronze Title:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LLUVa4XVk1I" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And here is the video of Tessa's third All Dogs Parkour submission for her Level 4 Title. We did this at a park that had been a favorite of Tessa, Speedy, and me when we used to hike together!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o9MMl7BJL6Q" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Someone on a forum where I had shared this news expressed interest in seeing these titles written out, with an explanation, so here goes . . . </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">I put the highest titles in </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">each discipline/venue first</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">, and then the titles that preceded it in parenthesis, and then I provide a brief explanation of each: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>Agility</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">C-ATCH </span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Preceded</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"> by: CL1-H, CL1-R, CL1-F, CL1-S, CL2-H, CL2-R, CL2-F, CL2-S, CL3-H, CL3-R, CL3-F, CL3-S, CL4-H, CL4-R, CL4-F, CL4-S)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Explanation - CPE Agility, all four category titles (Handler, Standard, Fun, Strategy) at Levels 1 - 4, and then the Championship title at Level 5.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b>Rally</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">P-CRO-II, CH-CRO-I </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">(CRO-I, CRO-I(2))</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Explanation: Cyber Rally-O, Level 1 Title, Level 1 Title (2) (Now defunct, but we did earn it when it was being awarded), Level 2 Performance Division (Meaning: Dog works on both sides), Level 1 Champion Title</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">RL-1 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Explanation: World Cynosport Rally, Level 1</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b>Canine Musical Freestyle</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">D-CRO-PreBr </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">(D-CRO-Preliminary)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Explanation: First and Second Levels of Cyber Rally-O Dance Division</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">DCD-CH2, DCD-CF2, DCD-Ent3, DCD-MI2 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Explanation: Dogs Can Dance Challenge - Championship, twice, Classical Freestyle, twice, Entertainment, 3 times, Musical Interpretation twice (so, this is a total of 9)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">WFDM-MF, WFD-HTM </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">(WFD-MF, WFDX-MF) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Explanation: WCFO Freestyle titles Beginner, Novice, and Intermediate (WOOT!!!), and Heelwork to Music Beginner</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b>Rally FrEe</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">RFE-X, RFE-Alt-X </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">(RFE-N, RFE-Alt-N)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Explanation: Rally Free, Novice and Intermediate in both Regular and Alternate Divisions</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b>Trick Dog</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">ETD </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">(NTD, ITD, ATD)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Explanation: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert Trick Dog</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b>Canine Parkour</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">PKD-N</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Explanation: Novice Parkour Dog, International Dog Parkour Association</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">ADP-4 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">(ADP-1, ADP-2, ADP-3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Explanation: All Dogs Parkour - Titles, Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And we aren't finished yet!! Tessa and are still running Agility, playing Parkour, and I expect that we will do some more Cyber Rally-O Dance Division Patterns and Dogs Can Dance Challenge performances. We are still having fun - so, why not?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This month of October marks Tessa's sixth "Anniversary Month" with us!! This is the month when we celebrate the day I met her, the day I brought her home as a foster, and the day we officially adopted her. Earning our 50th Title together during this month makes it extra special.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go Tessa!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn7Mrj-on4lFRw9-kys9NatK_oXN9bzA5k9HOo6wo5o9Dvof-qsi5EQARI8tz5JBFHCnOrHDQVGhPFiQNKWj8STK3HkzB6kjLoU8fn14m6Oln86xptyuDDII3lBfipgAIuhan3qjeqck/s1600/Tessa+Parkour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn7Mrj-on4lFRw9-kys9NatK_oXN9bzA5k9HOo6wo5o9Dvof-qsi5EQARI8tz5JBFHCnOrHDQVGhPFiQNKWj8STK3HkzB6kjLoU8fn14m6Oln86xptyuDDII3lBfipgAIuhan3qjeqck/s400/Tessa+Parkour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tessa on a recent Parkour outing at Colonel Denning State Park</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-86648994114411600122016-10-18T10:21:00.000-07:002016-10-18T10:21:03.594-07:00A Shift in My Approach . . . <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recently I have experienced a bit of a shift in my approach to training. It is not a major shift. It is subtle. In fact, on the surface it might look like nothing has changed at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">But the result of this shift, particularly for Bandit, is tremendous!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">It all started with another Fenzi Dog Sport Academy class - Foundation See Saw. I wasn't planning to take this class. I had actually kind of given up on training a teeter with Bandit. I had been doing some work, with a half hearted hope that something might change for him, but really I was prepared to go do NADAC with him and forget the teeter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">The trouble started when Bandit was taking Foundation Agility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">His introduction to the teeter seemed successful enough. He first learned to choose to bang the end of the teeter with his front paws for treats. That went well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Then he learned to circle around behind me, push the board down to the ground with his front paws, and get on with his four paws. That went . . . . OK. He had a tendency to throw those back paws off if he had any opportunity whatsoever, but he did all right with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">But when we got to the point where he was supposed to get all the way on, tip it, and go to the end, the whole thing fell apart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Bandit quickly developed a very serious aversion to having anything moving underneath him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />And this had an effect on more than his teeter. He quickly became suspicious of any boards that I asked him to go across, so he lost what progress he had made on the dogwalk, as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I did manage to help him regain confidence on stationary boards. Doing Parkour with him definitely helped. And eventually I did convince him that going all the way over the dogwalk, instead of jumping off the top of it, was a good thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">But any time I would ask him to do anything with a moving board - even slam it with his front feet - he immediately became wary of boards again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">So . . . I made up my mind that I could live without the teeter . . . mostly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">When enrollment started for this term at FDSA, I made up my mind that I was only going to take one Bronze level class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">And then I saw a post on the FDSA Alumni Facebook group announcing that there was exactly one Gold Level spot left in Foundation See Saw.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I signed up. Completely on impulse. I felt that Bandit and I deserved one last fair shot at this piece of Agility equipment, so we signed up - at Gold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I really went in with few expectations. I figured I would work on the exercises with Bandit and I would see where we went.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">First week went well. There were no moving boards in any of the lessons. Some nice, simple exercises that gave Bandit the opportunity to get reinforced for choosing to interact with various and sundry pieces of "stuff". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">That is good for him. Bandit has always had an initial suspicion of anything he hasn't interacted with before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">But the first lesson of the second week was the one that changed everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">In the second lesson, the instructor posed the question of what it feels like for our dogs to be trained by us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">That question made me stop short and really take a hard look at my work with Bandit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">What does it feel like for Bandit to be trained by me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">And when I really looked at my work with him objectively and was truly honest with myself, I had to admit that it probably didn't always feel all that great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong - Bandit has always enjoyed a lot about our work together. At the same time, there has always been something between Bandit and me that hasn't quite "clicked" between us as a dog and trainer/handler team. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I know that as positive as I always strive to be, there have been times when I have put undue pressure on him because I know he has the most incredible potential that I have ever witnessed in one of my dogs, and I want to see him master concepts and behaviors quickly and easily.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">But Bandit is not always on the same page that I am on. I think sometimes he is trying to understand what we are doing, but I am moving too fast. I think that sometimes he is trying to get used to something that we are doing and I want to take it to another level. I think that sometimes he just plain does not see the point of something that I am asking him to do, and sometimes I think he doesn't really understand what I want and he checks out on me because of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I have often thought that I wished that Bandit has more resilience and that he was more willing to be a partner in the game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">But maybe, I realized when I read that line in the lesson, I was the one who was failing to do what needs to be done to make all of this training and performance stuff work for Bandit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">When I thought about it - why would Bandit <em>want</em> to play with me with a moving board? Obviously the allure of treats - even treats that he loves - did not outweigh his personal aversion to having his back feet move when the plank tipped. There really was absolutely no motivation for him in this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">As we have worked our way - at our own pace, which is slower than that of most of the participants in the class - through the exercises in this course, I have become more and more attuned to going out of my way to make sure that Bandit is in a state of mind where he wants to be engaged in whatever we are doing together before we start our work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">This state of engagement is more than the fact that he is paying attention. He is paying attention, his tail is up, his eyes are bright, he is eager to jump right into whatever I am going to have him do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">If he is not in that state of mind when we begin, then I spend some time with him to help him get there. With Bandit that isn't very difficult at all. By nature, he wants to be a team player. He just needs to know that what the team is doing is something that is going to be enjoyable and worthwhile for him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I saw this attitude spilling over into my other work with him when we were at Rally FrEe class yesterday evening. I had cued Bandit to do a spin, which he did perfectly, but he didn't come back to position afterward. He "landed" at something of an angle from me. I first looked at him to see where he was mentally. He was engaged. He was looking at me, his tail was up, his eyes were shining. Then I cued him into position and reinforced.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">If he had looked distressed, confused, or distracted, I would not have bothered to ask him to get into position.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">The result of this shift in mindset is having an amazing result. I am seeing Bandit's confidence increase, and I am starting to see him begin to trust me much more, both in the ring and in regular life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">And - yesterday, for the first time, Bandit got on a low tippy plank and he tipped it with his front feet and stayed on when his back feet tipped up! Not only did he stay on, but he was clearly comfortable, and after I tossed a treat to send him away from the plank, he came right back to it and did it again! He was clearly not the least bit bothered by the movement of the plank!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8dHwt9GvOe0" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Again, it is difficult to really describe what is different now. It's not that I was doing something "wrong" before. It's more like I wasn't seeing a part of the picture that is very obvious to me now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Before I would have said that Bandit tipping a plank and staying on it was an amazing accomplishment. Now I would say that the fact that he <em>wants</em> to do it is the most important thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">A subtle change. But an enormous one, too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-45694726370227104092016-10-07T08:32:00.006-07:002016-10-07T08:36:05.711-07:00Changes<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bandit is now in Thursday night Agility class.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />He is not in class with Tessa - he has class first, and then she is in the next class.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />But, she is now sharing her Agility nights with Bandit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">This is a change. It's a change for me - mostly a good change. It's a change for Bandit - all a good change. And it is a change for Tessa - I'm not quite sure whether it is a good change for her or not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">It has been many years since I took two dogs to Agility class on the same night. Years and years ago, Maddie and Dean went to Thursday night class - Maddie in the first class, and Dean in the second. Then Tessa took Maddie's place and she and Dean shared Thursday evenings. Eventually they were in the same group together until I retired him in the fall of 2013.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">It was particularly easy to have Dean in class with another dog because he had to spend the majority of the class in the car with his music playing. Because of his noise phobia issues, he could not hear the teeter bang, nor could he hear other dogs drop bars, so he was only in the room when it was his turn. I could easily pop the other dog in the car while he was running, so I only needed one crate set up for one dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Not so with Bandit. I can keep him in the car, but I prefer to keep him closer when possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">So, before class, I needed to freeze Kongs for the two of them. I also froze one for Dean so he would have something to entertain him while I had both of the other two dogs at class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">When I arrived at class, which we did have outside last night, I set up two crates - one for Tessa and one for Bandit - right next to my car. After we were settled, I took the two of them for a walk together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />Bandit was clearly as pleased as punch. Sometimes when we are at class, and I am out walking him, he seems a bit nervous. Not with Tessa there. He was very obviously thrilled with this situation.<br /><br />When it was close to Bandit's turn to run, I gave Tessa her Kong and zipped the top of her crate shut, and I warmed him up a bit. She was quiet, and seemed perfectly content to enjoy her Kong while I did my thing with him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We started with a sequence of a tunnel to a serpentine. I started out with the same trepidation that I usually have when I look at a sequence and try to figure out exactly how to handle it with him. After trying it one time, our instructor gave us some pointers, and after a few tries, he ran it like a pro! He was confident, kept the bars up, and - best of all - he was plainly enjoying every second of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />In fact, Bandit was so happy, he was acting a bit silly out there! Before we started the sequence, he would run around a bit - run toward the dogwalk - and then come back and run.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />I am actually really glad to see this. Once he was engaged in a sequence, he was totally focused on it, but in between he wasn't worried. Just thought it was party time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Then we worked on the dogwalk a bit. His attitude on the dogwalk has turned around completely - he used to avoid it and now I can barely keep him away from it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Then another short jump sequence - backside of one jump and then another straight on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />We tried to work some weaves with wires, but his brain was a bit fried at that point, so we ended there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Next turn we focused on the weaves, and he ended up going through 12 weaves, wired, focused, intent on what he was doing. Love seeing that!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We ended by working the sequence of two jumps with the jumps raised to 20 inches, which will be his jump height. He rocked it!<br /><br />That ended Bandit's part for the night, and now it was Tessa's turn. Another thing I will need to remember is to walk the two of them together after Bandit's second turn, so Tessa gets a bit of time out of the crate before I need to warm her up for her class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">This two dog thing is a learning curve!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">When it was Tessa's turn, this time Bandit got his Kong. I was pleased that he settled right down and enjoyed it. He did not fuss over the fact that I was running Tessa at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I was absolutely shocked when I got Tessa out there. She ran like she has never run in her life. She was running FAST!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">At one point she flew ahead of me over two jumps, and took the A-Frame at full speed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I honestly don't think I have ever seen her do that in her life! I didn't even quite know what to do with it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">It was fun running her like that! I guess a little competition from her pesky little brother might be a good thing for her, although I expect that effect to wear off as she starts to get used to him being with us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">After Tessa's turn, I did walk the two of them together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Bandit didn't do so well with staying quiet on Tessa's second turn. I gave him his Kong and zipped the top of his crate, and he started to yowl, so I ended up putting him in the car. But once in the car he didn't fuss at all, which was very good. He could still see us plainly from the car, so that was a big step.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">After class was over, I had to tear down both crates and pack up everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">All in all, it was an excellent night. I really enjoyed working with Bandit and I know this is going to be very good for him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Someday this will be our "normal" . . . we will get there!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDjn8bWFD7JyRC7Ja4YRMy5U2xiuISKQx_SouHPJ9h7XzaIgHWZDtMYSeQP_1Slhxf3WiAtH7yO2Od07S3cnltTB-3Vs-6-KZRLbaBRBjPfigz-sR2fQKNf6PEkCfPKgFec4mNyl87J0/s1600/FB_IMG_1473424031594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDjn8bWFD7JyRC7Ja4YRMy5U2xiuISKQx_SouHPJ9h7XzaIgHWZDtMYSeQP_1Slhxf3WiAtH7yO2Od07S3cnltTB-3Vs-6-KZRLbaBRBjPfigz-sR2fQKNf6PEkCfPKgFec4mNyl87J0/s320/FB_IMG_1473424031594.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Tessa: That whippersnapper will never jump like ME!!</span> </span></div>
Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1314997171017722941.post-21636470292647731582016-09-30T11:59:00.002-07:002016-09-30T11:59:38.279-07:00More All Dogs Parkour<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have to say - I haven't had this much fun in a very long time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Tessa and I have just gone to town with our All Dogs Parkour entries! Since my last post, we completed Level 2, which requires just one Q. And we have completed Level 3, which requires three Q's! So, we have filmed at four more locations and we have enjoyed every step of the way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">For our Level 2, we went to the park where Dean and I filmed his first entry - Stuart Park at Barnitz Mill near Mount Holly Springs. It was a very hot evening, but I wasn't really too concerned about it. I figured that after a quick dip in the Yellow Breeches Creek, Tessa would be very comfortable - and she was. I was, too. I love to slosh around in the Yellow Breeches!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hanging out in the nice cool water!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My favorite spot along the creek. I don't know who owns that table setup - I would be sitting there all day long if that were mine!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Here is our entry! I love seeing how much she enjoys this. The tail was waggling away after many of those exercises!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vONMR4l_dxE" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">In Level 2, the dog has to complete 7 different exercises, so only 5 can be repeated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">After this we were on to Level 3, where the dog has to complete 8 different exercises, so only 4 can be repeated. And, we needed to qualify in three different entries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">For our first Level 3 filming session, we went to a location that was brand new to me. A good friend of mine, and fellow Parkour enthusiast, lives near a small park near Boiling Springs. She, and two of our other Parkour friends, spent the morning in her "Little Park".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">It was hot again, but this park is also along the Yellow Breeches, so Tessa got to take a bit of a dip after we had been working for a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">My favorite part of this filming session was trying out two of the Landscape Patterns - Figure 8 and Loops. Tessa really seemed to enjoy doing those, too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Here is our submission video. It was a Q!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F4RngoDTiXY" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">We went to film next at a location at which I had been looking forward to working with Tessa for quite some time - Willow Mill Park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">I had expected that it would be cooler on this particular day, and it was - somewhat. As we worked we got pretty warm again. Thankfully, there was a creek at this park, too - the Conodoguinet. After filming about six exercises, we enjoyed a bit of wading to cool off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />My favorite part of this filming session was actually the Get On (4 Feet) onto the big rock. We did that toward the end of our time at Willow Mill. It felt something like a CPE Table, and Tessa and I adore the CPE Table!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Tessa also enjoyed the filming with did with the picnic table for "Novel Uses". I let her come up with some ideas and she really liked that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mQRHg_athLs" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Finally, for our third Level 3 entry, Tessa and I went up to the Watershed Trail in Kings Gap State Park. It actually was much cooler for this filming session, which was a very good thing because the Watershed Trail was dry as a bone! The entire creek has completely dried up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Tessa was really into our Parkour this time around. She had a clear attitude of adventure and interest on every exercise we filmed. We ended up filming twenty exercises that we could have submitted, and, of course, we only needed 12.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">My favorite part of this one was "Back Up onto an EF". She had I have been working on this, and she almost always sits after she backs on. That's OK. In ADP that is allowed. But this time she nailed the exercise and remained standing! It was gorgeous!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">And she had so much fun working with that big log. She love walking on a log, and doing her Jump Assisted (which I refer to privately as "VAULT!").</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">If I could go back and film with her on the Watershed Trail, I definitely would! Maybe we will when we are eventually working toward our Grand Championship! But that will come later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;">Here is our entry from Watershed Trail . . . </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: large;"><br />And that was a Q and our Level 3 Title!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Now we go on to Level 4 where we will need three more Q's at three more locations, now with nine different exercises within our total of 12, and one must be an Advanced exercise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Here we go!</span>Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085606791407614656noreply@blogger.com0