Of course, Tessa went along to the Rally FrEe competition, as well. Tessa, my fun girl! We were not as technically prepared as I had hoped we would be. There are actually quite a few Intermediate exercises that she can barely fudge, much less carry out fluently! Also, we have a very, very long way to go with our work on verbal cues. Tessa really is still on hand signal for most of her behaviors. So, I didn't really expect to qualify. I just put her in for the ring time and for the enjoyment of it.
When we got the course just over a week before the competition, I was glad to see that there were only two exercises that she had really not mastered yet. There was a back up 4 steps in right heel, and a back around out of heel position. We had actually been working on the backing up along the kitchen counter at home, and I was very pleased to see that this exercise would happen just a couple of feet from a ring gate! Tessa likes a "bubble" when she works along a wall, and I knew that the distance from the wall in the competition would be about the distance we had been working at home.
The back around was another matter altogether! I had introduced it. If I lure Tessa out of heel about halfway around in front of me, she backs into heel. But she had no experience of starting the exercise from heel.
So, just for the sake of art, I decided to see how far we could get if we tried to crash train this in a week!
It was slow going! Tessa is a deliberate girl when it comes to learning. We got to where Tessa would back halfway around me from heel, with a guide. Without a guide, the best she would do was tuck in behind me and stand there!
It would do. In Rally FrEe, you start with no points and earn them for what you do. I knew we would get some "partial credit" for the tuck in behind me!
I decided not to worry about it at all - go have fun, do our best, and let whatever happened happen. I didn't mind at all if Tessa NQ'ed because I know we still have a lot of Intermediate skills to work on.
Tessa ended up doing better than I had anticipated. Her heel position wasn't terribly precise, but her attention was excellent. She did need hand signals, but she did most of the exercises nicely. There were a few big blips, but she worked with confidence and enthusiasm!
One moment really stands out for me and that was at the back around. At first she shot out in front of me, but I lined her back up and swung my shoulder back to cue her to tuck in behind me. She suddenly skittered behind me and backed halfway around!! I could have laughed out loud. She was like, "I GOT THIS!!!" When she does get the hang of the back around, I think she is going to absolutely adore it!
Of course, her pivot platform was gorgeous and we ended up getting some nice Free Choice scores! I was very, very happy with her performance. She has so much fun out there and when the technical precision begins to kick in, she is going to be phenomenal! I do see a ton of improvement over her work back in April.
Here is our video. If you want to enjoy this to it's fullest, watch her tail the entire time!!!
I was pleased and surprised that we qualified, and with a pretty nice score, considering the amount of hand cuing I still have to use with her! That was her first Intermediate Q!
In the afternoon, we got to try for our second. I did not feel that she performed quite as well the second time, but our score was not a whole lot lower, and we qualified again!
So, Tessa now has two legs in Intermediate!
In November there is going to be a world wide video competition for Rally FrEe. I am hoping to video Speedy in Alt Novice to try to finish his title up. I was planning to video Dean to finish his Intermediate title, but now that is done, so I might try for that with Tessa. Even though I enjoy live events with her, this is kind of a special video event - to celebrate the one year anniversary of Rally FrEe - so it would be fun for her to be a part of it.
Now Tessa and I are off and running in our training!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
A Lesson on Relationship
When I think of a ring performance that demonstrates a great dog and handler relationship, I usually think of a dog that is animated, performing with confidence and a nice level of attention, perhaps a wagging tail, and bright happy eyes.
This past weekend I learned that sometimes a performance that is a testament to an excellent dog and handler relationship can actually look very different.
Dean, Tessa, and I headed back up to Tyrone to compete in our second live Rally FrEe event. Tessa was signed up to compete in Intermediate for the first time, and Dean was signed up for one Intermediate run, to try for his third Intermediate leg.
It was a very dreary day. It was cloudy when we left and by the time we got to the turnpike, it was drizzling. Some time between our arrival at the event and lunch, it started to rain very heavily and that didn't really let up until late last night. With a threat of thunderstorms in the area, I wasn't sure if Dean would be able to perform or not, and so I was very grateful that his run was early.
Dean went out there and he gave it everything he had! He was a bit distracted. He was not entirely comfortable in a live competition setting. I could tell by his demeanor that he knew it was feeling potentially stormy. But he worked through it. He never quit! He did start moving toward the entrance at one point, but after watching the video I saw that he thought I had released him.
And he did some really nice stuff. There were some short stretches of beautiful heeling, he did a beautiful 360 left pivot, he did some very good Free Choice work. He tried his best on every single exercise, even on those where he missed the mark a bit.
When we came off the floor together, I honestly didn't care if the run qualified or not. It was a rousing success in my book. I know how much Dean struggles when competing live, and when working without food in the ring. And he did it!
And that was when I realized that a great dog and handler partnership is not always characterized by high animation and riveted focus. Dean stayed with me and did his best because he understood that was what we were doing out there together. He kept his head in the game as much as he possibly could, and he truly did the best work he could under the circumstances. I could never ask him for more.
He may not have been super animated on the floor, but the joy was apparent in his eyes afterward. He was glowing! It was clear that he understood that we had accomplished something important together and he was as pleased as he could be!
Here is the video of our run. I have added a few captions. If you saw the video that I posted of him last April you will see that he has improved a lot. Even his comfort level in this situation is markedly better.
To top it off, the run did qualify! We squeaked through with exactly the amount of points that we needed! And that earned Dean his Rally FrEe Excellent Title (for Intermediate level!)
Big congrats to Dean Dog, RFE-X !!!!!
Now we really have our work cut out for us! Some of the Advanced exercises are super difficult! We will be busy this winter! And enjoying every minute of it!
This past weekend I learned that sometimes a performance that is a testament to an excellent dog and handler relationship can actually look very different.
Dean, Tessa, and I headed back up to Tyrone to compete in our second live Rally FrEe event. Tessa was signed up to compete in Intermediate for the first time, and Dean was signed up for one Intermediate run, to try for his third Intermediate leg.
It was a very dreary day. It was cloudy when we left and by the time we got to the turnpike, it was drizzling. Some time between our arrival at the event and lunch, it started to rain very heavily and that didn't really let up until late last night. With a threat of thunderstorms in the area, I wasn't sure if Dean would be able to perform or not, and so I was very grateful that his run was early.
Dean went out there and he gave it everything he had! He was a bit distracted. He was not entirely comfortable in a live competition setting. I could tell by his demeanor that he knew it was feeling potentially stormy. But he worked through it. He never quit! He did start moving toward the entrance at one point, but after watching the video I saw that he thought I had released him.
And he did some really nice stuff. There were some short stretches of beautiful heeling, he did a beautiful 360 left pivot, he did some very good Free Choice work. He tried his best on every single exercise, even on those where he missed the mark a bit.
When we came off the floor together, I honestly didn't care if the run qualified or not. It was a rousing success in my book. I know how much Dean struggles when competing live, and when working without food in the ring. And he did it!
And that was when I realized that a great dog and handler partnership is not always characterized by high animation and riveted focus. Dean stayed with me and did his best because he understood that was what we were doing out there together. He kept his head in the game as much as he possibly could, and he truly did the best work he could under the circumstances. I could never ask him for more.
He may not have been super animated on the floor, but the joy was apparent in his eyes afterward. He was glowing! It was clear that he understood that we had accomplished something important together and he was as pleased as he could be!
Here is the video of our run. I have added a few captions. If you saw the video that I posted of him last April you will see that he has improved a lot. Even his comfort level in this situation is markedly better.
To top it off, the run did qualify! We squeaked through with exactly the amount of points that we needed! And that earned Dean his Rally FrEe Excellent Title (for Intermediate level!)
Big congrats to Dean Dog, RFE-X !!!!!
Now we really have our work cut out for us! Some of the Advanced exercises are super difficult! We will be busy this winter! And enjoying every minute of it!
Friday, September 20, 2013
Are +R Trainers Really Big Bad Meanies?
A good measure of conflict has existed for some time now between those who train dogs as exclusively as possible using positive reinforcement (hereafter +R trainers) and those who hold that some incorporation of aversives/positive punishment/correction, is necessary to effectively train dogs (hereafter All Quad trainers). The points of debate between the two groups have included many long-enduring assertions and objections.
But this past summer I came upon a new one that has left me quite astonished. The new rallying cry of a particularly vocal segment of the All Quad training community is "+R trainers are MEAN!!"
Now, it is important to note that practitioners of all of the different training approaches include some individuals who are rude and disagreeable, just as there are many practitioners of all of the different training approaches who are polite, eager to engage in discussion in a true give and take, and strive to be objective. The fact of rude trainers is not strictly a +R training phenomenon. I do not deny that there are +R trainers who could use some work on their people-skills - but I would say just as firmly that All Quad trainers who could stand to work on the same people-skills exist in at least the same proportion.
However, there is one extra little barb that is inserted into the objection directed at +R trainers, and it is often worded like this: "how can you say you are +R toward dogs when you don't use +R with people?"
I give the All Quad folks a lot of credit for finding a slam that will really pack a good punch. This is actually a personal attack (you are a mean, rude, etc. person) veiled as a criticism of the training approach (the trainers use of +R with dogs). As such, it is very, very clever. Granted, I would maintain that choosing to use aversives in training does not give a person any more right to be rude to other people than +R trainers, but that really isn't where I'm going with this. The accusation boils down to, "there is no way you can actually do what you claim to do as a dog trainer because I don't like the way you treat me as a person". Frankly, that doesn't add up. But it does come off as if a valid point has been made.
When it comes down to it, we should treat other people with respect because it is right to treat other people with respect, not because one chooses to train a dog in a certain way. Being a +R dog trainer does not somehow imply that an individual now has an obligation to be Mother Theresa but that those who incorporate aversives/positive punishment/correction can be as rude as they please! Choice of training approach has no bearing on this, actually.
Now I am going to say something that might be very controversial, but I feel strongly that it needs to be said . . .
I do not believe a prevalence of rude +R trainers is actually at the root of this particular accusation. I strongly suspect that something else is happening here.
Sure there are rude +R trainers. But there are rude All Quad trainers out and about on the online forums, as well. Nobody is sending out a mass rallying cry against them.
I believe this accusation is actually a response to the fact that there is something that the vast majority of +R trainers will not and cannot, in good conscience, do.
It is a fact that no matter how much an individual All Quad trainer loves his or her dog, no matter how well he or she takes care of his or her dog, no matter what titles and accomplishments he or she achieves with his or her dog, most +R trainers will not and cannot say, "Even though I choose to train in a different way, I am perfectly fine with your personal training choices".
I believe that for those who choose to train using aversives - even to the most minute degree - that stings a bit. The unspoken implication is there - "I would not choose to do what you do, therefore I am, on some level, not really perfectly OK with what you are doing".
Ouch!
When looking at things from that perspective, the over-exaggerated cry of "+R trainers are mean!" makes perfect sense. It does seem mean. Total approval from an entire population of dog trainers is being withheld and the reason why probably doesn't quite make sense.
Many +R trainers and All Quad trainers share a lot in common. We train and compete side by side, harmoniously, in almost every dog sport. We use a lot of the same techniques, especially in the early stages of training a dog. We all want good things for our dogs. We all have goals and we are all looking for results. Many of us have put forth a lot of effort to try to understand those who make different training choices, even when we do not agree on this approach or that approach. I realize it must be utterly confounding that +R trainers will not just make nice and offer a complete and resounding endorsement of at least an All Quad training approach . . .
But that doesn't make the "mean" designation accurate. It is actually not mean or rude to hold true to one's personal standards. There are training approaches that All Quad trainers use that +R trainers choose not to use because they do not consider them to be appropriate things to do to a dog. In doing this, and even in saying so, one is not being "mean" to those who consider such approaches acceptable. It's not really about them, actually . . .
The fact is that the vast majority of +R trainers are out there training dogs, working with clients and client dogs, helping people learn how to help their dogs overcome behavior issues, coaching competition handlers, and preparing their own dogs for competition. Most promote +R training to those who come their way for training, many of whom have tried methods that incorporate aversives and have not gotten the results they hoped for.
Of the ones who are on the internet forums, many engage in debate with All Quad trainers in an objective and helpful manner. If you aren't finding those +R trainers, I would suggest you explore some different groups.
No, we aren't really big bad meanies. We are excited about +R training, we promote +R training, and we are committed to excellent use of +R training. Rude individuals best represent themselves as rude individuals, not the entire +R training population.
But this past summer I came upon a new one that has left me quite astonished. The new rallying cry of a particularly vocal segment of the All Quad training community is "+R trainers are MEAN!!"
Now, it is important to note that practitioners of all of the different training approaches include some individuals who are rude and disagreeable, just as there are many practitioners of all of the different training approaches who are polite, eager to engage in discussion in a true give and take, and strive to be objective. The fact of rude trainers is not strictly a +R training phenomenon. I do not deny that there are +R trainers who could use some work on their people-skills - but I would say just as firmly that All Quad trainers who could stand to work on the same people-skills exist in at least the same proportion.
However, there is one extra little barb that is inserted into the objection directed at +R trainers, and it is often worded like this: "how can you say you are +R toward dogs when you don't use +R with people?"
I give the All Quad folks a lot of credit for finding a slam that will really pack a good punch. This is actually a personal attack (you are a mean, rude, etc. person) veiled as a criticism of the training approach (the trainers use of +R with dogs). As such, it is very, very clever. Granted, I would maintain that choosing to use aversives in training does not give a person any more right to be rude to other people than +R trainers, but that really isn't where I'm going with this. The accusation boils down to, "there is no way you can actually do what you claim to do as a dog trainer because I don't like the way you treat me as a person". Frankly, that doesn't add up. But it does come off as if a valid point has been made.
When it comes down to it, we should treat other people with respect because it is right to treat other people with respect, not because one chooses to train a dog in a certain way. Being a +R dog trainer does not somehow imply that an individual now has an obligation to be Mother Theresa but that those who incorporate aversives/positive punishment/correction can be as rude as they please! Choice of training approach has no bearing on this, actually.
Now I am going to say something that might be very controversial, but I feel strongly that it needs to be said . . .
I do not believe a prevalence of rude +R trainers is actually at the root of this particular accusation. I strongly suspect that something else is happening here.
Sure there are rude +R trainers. But there are rude All Quad trainers out and about on the online forums, as well. Nobody is sending out a mass rallying cry against them.
I believe this accusation is actually a response to the fact that there is something that the vast majority of +R trainers will not and cannot, in good conscience, do.
It is a fact that no matter how much an individual All Quad trainer loves his or her dog, no matter how well he or she takes care of his or her dog, no matter what titles and accomplishments he or she achieves with his or her dog, most +R trainers will not and cannot say, "Even though I choose to train in a different way, I am perfectly fine with your personal training choices".
I believe that for those who choose to train using aversives - even to the most minute degree - that stings a bit. The unspoken implication is there - "I would not choose to do what you do, therefore I am, on some level, not really perfectly OK with what you are doing".
Ouch!
When looking at things from that perspective, the over-exaggerated cry of "+R trainers are mean!" makes perfect sense. It does seem mean. Total approval from an entire population of dog trainers is being withheld and the reason why probably doesn't quite make sense.
Many +R trainers and All Quad trainers share a lot in common. We train and compete side by side, harmoniously, in almost every dog sport. We use a lot of the same techniques, especially in the early stages of training a dog. We all want good things for our dogs. We all have goals and we are all looking for results. Many of us have put forth a lot of effort to try to understand those who make different training choices, even when we do not agree on this approach or that approach. I realize it must be utterly confounding that +R trainers will not just make nice and offer a complete and resounding endorsement of at least an All Quad training approach . . .
But that doesn't make the "mean" designation accurate. It is actually not mean or rude to hold true to one's personal standards. There are training approaches that All Quad trainers use that +R trainers choose not to use because they do not consider them to be appropriate things to do to a dog. In doing this, and even in saying so, one is not being "mean" to those who consider such approaches acceptable. It's not really about them, actually . . .
The fact is that the vast majority of +R trainers are out there training dogs, working with clients and client dogs, helping people learn how to help their dogs overcome behavior issues, coaching competition handlers, and preparing their own dogs for competition. Most promote +R training to those who come their way for training, many of whom have tried methods that incorporate aversives and have not gotten the results they hoped for.
Of the ones who are on the internet forums, many engage in debate with All Quad trainers in an objective and helpful manner. If you aren't finding those +R trainers, I would suggest you explore some different groups.
No, we aren't really big bad meanies. We are excited about +R training, we promote +R training, and we are committed to excellent use of +R training. Rude individuals best represent themselves as rude individuals, not the entire +R training population.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Cyber Rally Fun
Dean, Tessa, and Speedy have all enjoyed some Cyber Rally fun in recent months. Speedy, of course, earned his CRO-I back in August.
Dean is now working on Level 2 and he actually did his best run ever for his second Level 2 leg. Here is a video of his run . . .
I really, really like some of the Level 2 exercises, especially those that cannot be found in any other type of Rally - the Figure 8 Jump, the spin, and, of course, the side transitions.
And, of course, I love his attitude during the run.
As Tessa and I were filming for Level 1, I realized that she is ready now to jump into Level 2. She does not know all of the Level 2 exercises, but she knows enough to do some of the courses. Everything on this particular course - 8P - was familiar to her, so I gave Tessa a turn, as well. She earned her first Level 2 leg on this run . . .
While she has now begun working toward her Level 2 title, I am also working with her toward her Level 1 Championship. This is broken up into smaller parts. We need 5 more Q's to get our CRO-I (2) and then 5 more for CRO-I (3) and then 5 more for CRO-1 (4) and then, finally, 5 more for CRO-LI-CH.
As of right this minute we have 3 Q's toward our CRO-I (2), but I have two to submit that might finish it up.
Tessa's second leg toward her CRO-I(2) was a particularly nice run . . .
Last night we filmed another Level 1 course and Tessa did some really, really beautiful movement.
A big part of the reason why I am doing this with her is for overall confidence building and ring experience. I think it is definitely helping with both! Also, we are having fun with it.
I am looking forward to doing more Level 2 work with both of them in the near future.
Dean is now working on Level 2 and he actually did his best run ever for his second Level 2 leg. Here is a video of his run . . .
I really, really like some of the Level 2 exercises, especially those that cannot be found in any other type of Rally - the Figure 8 Jump, the spin, and, of course, the side transitions.
And, of course, I love his attitude during the run.
As Tessa and I were filming for Level 1, I realized that she is ready now to jump into Level 2. She does not know all of the Level 2 exercises, but she knows enough to do some of the courses. Everything on this particular course - 8P - was familiar to her, so I gave Tessa a turn, as well. She earned her first Level 2 leg on this run . . .
While she has now begun working toward her Level 2 title, I am also working with her toward her Level 1 Championship. This is broken up into smaller parts. We need 5 more Q's to get our CRO-I (2) and then 5 more for CRO-I (3) and then 5 more for CRO-1 (4) and then, finally, 5 more for CRO-LI-CH.
As of right this minute we have 3 Q's toward our CRO-I (2), but I have two to submit that might finish it up.
Tessa's second leg toward her CRO-I(2) was a particularly nice run . . .
Last night we filmed another Level 1 course and Tessa did some really, really beautiful movement.
A big part of the reason why I am doing this with her is for overall confidence building and ring experience. I think it is definitely helping with both! Also, we are having fun with it.
I am looking forward to doing more Level 2 work with both of them in the near future.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Coal Region Freestyle Weekend
This past weekend, Tessa and I headed up to the Pennsylvania coal region to try for our second Beginner Heelwork to Music leg, and title.
This was a particularly meaningful event for me because it was held in the Schuylikll Mall in Frackville, which is just 10 minutes from Shenandoah (pronounced "Shendo"), where we used to live. Our first three dogs were all coal region dogs when they were young. We adopted Sammie from the Hillside SPCA near Pottsville. Speedy lived in the Shendo house from the time he was 12 weeks old until he was nearly 2. And Miss Maddie was there with us for a year before we moved down to our current home in the Cumberland Valley.
We have lots of memories in the coal region. Walks around the town of Shendo - back by the Shen-Penn pit with Sammie and Speedy, at block parties with Maddie, and all around town with all of them. Playing in the park behind Mrs. T's pierogies. Meeting Ben in the Schuylikill Mall parking lot and a parking spot we called "the stupid place". All three dogs were so young and they were always crazy when we went out and about in the car!
Ben and I still laugh when we remember one time when I went to meet him at the mall and when he pulled up in the truck, all three dogs were jumping around in the car! They always got so excited when a tractor trailer would show up and he would step out of it.
Speedy playing in the park behind Mrs. T's as a puppy:
Of course, Tessa never lived up there, but I was eager to take her up and create some new memories. And, at the last second, I decided to take Dean along, so both of our youngsters had the chance to hang out in Sammie, Speedy, and Maddie's old stomping ground.
Dean was most pleased to go. I decided that he could be our "service dog". Afterward, Ben dubbed him our "moral support dog" and that's exactly what he was throughout the entire day.
We had a nice ride up. The weather was perfect. Once at the competition site, I was able to squeeze into the crate area. Luckily, Tessa and Dean crate together so I only needed one spot! I actually wouldn't have taken Dean if he would have used an additional crate space.
I was grateful right from the start to have Dean along. When we arrived, we had to walk through a bit of a corridor to get to the performance area. Tessa balked even with Dean. When she hesitated, I told her, "follow your Dean Dog!" and she rushed right up to go with him!
After briefing, I got changed because Tessa and I were fifth in the first group! Again, I was grateful for Dean. With Tessa and Dean in the crate together, she didn't fuss at all when I went away to change, use the restroom, or go anywhere.
After watching the first few routines, I took our pedestal prop, and into the ring we went!
Now, I typically try to get to a competition early enough to "walk" my routine, but I hadn't this time! The funny thing was - I didn't care. I didn't care about anything, really. Not in a bad way, but in a good enjoying each moment, being relaxed kind of way. If I could bottle that and use it before every competition, I would be in really good shape!!
Tessa was really sniffy outside the ring. I didn't stress out about that, either, and I am glad because once we walked in, she was her normal focused and dependable self!
We had fun in the ring. Such a contrast to our Star Spangled Swing performance, which had fallen completely flat! Tessa had her usual "sparkle" and she improvised a good deal. She even got up on her hind legs at one point and I grabbed her paws and "danced" her backwards! It was super cute and it absolutely must be trained!
Our performance . . .
I was extremely happy with it. Tessa isn't a close working dog and we haven't worked a whole lot on precision. But she danced with enthusiasm and at this point that's what I want to see.
We did qualify and we earned our Beginner Heelwork to Music title!! We also got first place for our performance!
So, we got to sit back and enjoy the rest of the day. We watched the other performances. I did take Tessa and Dean out a few times, and during the break I took them into the little practice ring and gave Dean a "turn" (with food).
Dean just had such a good time. I have never taken him to a competition before just to tag along and it suited him really well. With no competition stress, he seemed to like hanging out in the competition atmosphere.
He made himself quite comfortable throughout the day . . .
A "Tessa Pillow" . . .
A "Water Bowl Pillow" . . .
My big, goofy boy!!
A lunch time I took them on a walk down memory lane. We drove into Shendo and I went by the old house. There have been some improvements on the street, but by and large the town is, sadly, dying out.
After a drive through town, we took a ride out to Locust Lake State Park and took a walk in the woods. That was Dean's reward for being such good moral support to us all day long!
Then we returned to enjoy watching the afternoon performances.
In addition to our first place and Q, Tessa and I got an award for "Highest Scoring Border Collie"! That amazed the heck out of me. It isn't often that a dog in the Beginner class gets highest scoring anything!
After the long day, I went to a local pizza shop and got a sub. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! Coal region food is SO good! There were chunks of mozzarella cheese on the sandwich and the bread was the best I've had in ages!
I will remember that day for a long, long time as a great one! Also, I am now excited about Freestyle again. I am planning to take the music we worked with this time and make our Intermediate routine to it! My goal is really to make it a fun routine! No more Heelwork for now!
Tessa's Traditional Ribbon Photo:
Congratulations, Tessa, WFD-HTM
This was a particularly meaningful event for me because it was held in the Schuylikll Mall in Frackville, which is just 10 minutes from Shenandoah (pronounced "Shendo"), where we used to live. Our first three dogs were all coal region dogs when they were young. We adopted Sammie from the Hillside SPCA near Pottsville. Speedy lived in the Shendo house from the time he was 12 weeks old until he was nearly 2. And Miss Maddie was there with us for a year before we moved down to our current home in the Cumberland Valley.
We have lots of memories in the coal region. Walks around the town of Shendo - back by the Shen-Penn pit with Sammie and Speedy, at block parties with Maddie, and all around town with all of them. Playing in the park behind Mrs. T's pierogies. Meeting Ben in the Schuylikill Mall parking lot and a parking spot we called "the stupid place". All three dogs were so young and they were always crazy when we went out and about in the car!
Ben and I still laugh when we remember one time when I went to meet him at the mall and when he pulled up in the truck, all three dogs were jumping around in the car! They always got so excited when a tractor trailer would show up and he would step out of it.
Speedy playing in the park behind Mrs. T's as a puppy:
Of course, Tessa never lived up there, but I was eager to take her up and create some new memories. And, at the last second, I decided to take Dean along, so both of our youngsters had the chance to hang out in Sammie, Speedy, and Maddie's old stomping ground.
Dean was most pleased to go. I decided that he could be our "service dog". Afterward, Ben dubbed him our "moral support dog" and that's exactly what he was throughout the entire day.
We had a nice ride up. The weather was perfect. Once at the competition site, I was able to squeeze into the crate area. Luckily, Tessa and Dean crate together so I only needed one spot! I actually wouldn't have taken Dean if he would have used an additional crate space.
I was grateful right from the start to have Dean along. When we arrived, we had to walk through a bit of a corridor to get to the performance area. Tessa balked even with Dean. When she hesitated, I told her, "follow your Dean Dog!" and she rushed right up to go with him!
After briefing, I got changed because Tessa and I were fifth in the first group! Again, I was grateful for Dean. With Tessa and Dean in the crate together, she didn't fuss at all when I went away to change, use the restroom, or go anywhere.
After watching the first few routines, I took our pedestal prop, and into the ring we went!
Now, I typically try to get to a competition early enough to "walk" my routine, but I hadn't this time! The funny thing was - I didn't care. I didn't care about anything, really. Not in a bad way, but in a good enjoying each moment, being relaxed kind of way. If I could bottle that and use it before every competition, I would be in really good shape!!
Tessa was really sniffy outside the ring. I didn't stress out about that, either, and I am glad because once we walked in, she was her normal focused and dependable self!
We had fun in the ring. Such a contrast to our Star Spangled Swing performance, which had fallen completely flat! Tessa had her usual "sparkle" and she improvised a good deal. She even got up on her hind legs at one point and I grabbed her paws and "danced" her backwards! It was super cute and it absolutely must be trained!
Our performance . . .
I was extremely happy with it. Tessa isn't a close working dog and we haven't worked a whole lot on precision. But she danced with enthusiasm and at this point that's what I want to see.
We did qualify and we earned our Beginner Heelwork to Music title!! We also got first place for our performance!
So, we got to sit back and enjoy the rest of the day. We watched the other performances. I did take Tessa and Dean out a few times, and during the break I took them into the little practice ring and gave Dean a "turn" (with food).
Dean just had such a good time. I have never taken him to a competition before just to tag along and it suited him really well. With no competition stress, he seemed to like hanging out in the competition atmosphere.
He made himself quite comfortable throughout the day . . .
A "Tessa Pillow" . . .
A "Water Bowl Pillow" . . .
My big, goofy boy!!
A lunch time I took them on a walk down memory lane. We drove into Shendo and I went by the old house. There have been some improvements on the street, but by and large the town is, sadly, dying out.
After a drive through town, we took a ride out to Locust Lake State Park and took a walk in the woods. That was Dean's reward for being such good moral support to us all day long!
Then we returned to enjoy watching the afternoon performances.
In addition to our first place and Q, Tessa and I got an award for "Highest Scoring Border Collie"! That amazed the heck out of me. It isn't often that a dog in the Beginner class gets highest scoring anything!
After the long day, I went to a local pizza shop and got a sub. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! Coal region food is SO good! There were chunks of mozzarella cheese on the sandwich and the bread was the best I've had in ages!
I will remember that day for a long, long time as a great one! Also, I am now excited about Freestyle again. I am planning to take the music we worked with this time and make our Intermediate routine to it! My goal is really to make it a fun routine! No more Heelwork for now!
Tessa's Traditional Ribbon Photo:
Congratulations, Tessa, WFD-HTM
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Some old Speedy Images
These images were taken by me several years ago. The effect was done in Photoshop!
Taking a jump . . .
Lifting a paw . . .
Taking a jump . . .
Profile . . .
Lifting a paw . . .
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Summer Summary - Speedy
We had the best summer ever! We trained! We did video sports. We just had a super nice time!
Speedy filmed for the DCD Challenge back in July. We performed to a bluegrass piece that he picked out a while back. I had planned to use his take for Musical Interpretation, but Dean did a stunning performance that I am using for MI, so I decided to hold Speedy's videos for another event. But . . . at the last possible second - literally - I edited two of the takes together and submitted them for Entertainment. We have our Entertainment title, so this submission is going toward our second one/second Championship! I don't care if it doesn't score high. I just wanted Speedy to be part of it. When I say last second, I am serious. I decided to do the edit around 11:30 PM and I finished and submitted it near 1:00 AM. The submissions were due at midnight Pacific time, so we made it. It was fun doing a last minute entry like that!
Speedy also did two Cyber Rally courses and earned his Level 1 Cyber Rally-O title! That's extra special because Speedy was my first Rally dog. Even though dancing is his love, he gets a kick out of Rally, and it was fun to do these videos for Cyber Rally.
Speedy's 3rd Cyber Rally Leg.
Speedy with his CRO-I Title Ribbon:
Speedy also took a spin in Rally FrEe! Two friends and I did a video competition at the beginning of August and I ran Speedy in the Alternate Novice division. In Alternate, you only need 100 points to qualify (as opposed to 125 in the regular division) and there are no leg weaves.
Leashes are permitted in Novice, but one of the three legs must be earned off leash. I did try to run Speedy off leash, but he got to hyped up and I ended up running him on leash. Three takes and he got one I could submit. He did seem to struggle a bit with doing a structured course to music. He seemed to want to GO!
But he pulled it off. He earned a 127!
My friends and I had so much fun doing that video event that we decided to do another, and my final "summer fling" was this past Friday when we got together to video again. This course consisted of mostly left side work, so I decided to try really hard to make this the one that Speedy would do off leash. After a couple of unsuccessful tries, we had him do it without music, and this time he kept it together and did a really nice job.
This is currently unjudged - I won't have a score for two weeks - but this was his submission to try for his second leg:
He really, really struggles on the right side, but he pulled it off and I'm proud of him!
I think that if this had been around when he was young and in training, he would have really enjoyed it. But I'm glad he is having a chance to try it out now!
If he earns this second leg, we will have to find a way to squeeze in one more event. Luckily next time (if this qualifies), we can use a leash!
Speedy also enjoyed making videos for the online classes ta I was teaching. He got to demo a lot for my Intro to Rally class and a good bit for Poised for Performance!
Add to that our beach trip and lots of quality hang out time, and Speedy had just about the perfect summer!
Speedy filmed for the DCD Challenge back in July. We performed to a bluegrass piece that he picked out a while back. I had planned to use his take for Musical Interpretation, but Dean did a stunning performance that I am using for MI, so I decided to hold Speedy's videos for another event. But . . . at the last possible second - literally - I edited two of the takes together and submitted them for Entertainment. We have our Entertainment title, so this submission is going toward our second one/second Championship! I don't care if it doesn't score high. I just wanted Speedy to be part of it. When I say last second, I am serious. I decided to do the edit around 11:30 PM and I finished and submitted it near 1:00 AM. The submissions were due at midnight Pacific time, so we made it. It was fun doing a last minute entry like that!
Speedy also did two Cyber Rally courses and earned his Level 1 Cyber Rally-O title! That's extra special because Speedy was my first Rally dog. Even though dancing is his love, he gets a kick out of Rally, and it was fun to do these videos for Cyber Rally.
Speedy's 3rd Cyber Rally Leg.
Speedy with his CRO-I Title Ribbon:
Speedy also took a spin in Rally FrEe! Two friends and I did a video competition at the beginning of August and I ran Speedy in the Alternate Novice division. In Alternate, you only need 100 points to qualify (as opposed to 125 in the regular division) and there are no leg weaves.
Leashes are permitted in Novice, but one of the three legs must be earned off leash. I did try to run Speedy off leash, but he got to hyped up and I ended up running him on leash. Three takes and he got one I could submit. He did seem to struggle a bit with doing a structured course to music. He seemed to want to GO!
But he pulled it off. He earned a 127!
My friends and I had so much fun doing that video event that we decided to do another, and my final "summer fling" was this past Friday when we got together to video again. This course consisted of mostly left side work, so I decided to try really hard to make this the one that Speedy would do off leash. After a couple of unsuccessful tries, we had him do it without music, and this time he kept it together and did a really nice job.
This is currently unjudged - I won't have a score for two weeks - but this was his submission to try for his second leg:
He really, really struggles on the right side, but he pulled it off and I'm proud of him!
I think that if this had been around when he was young and in training, he would have really enjoyed it. But I'm glad he is having a chance to try it out now!
If he earns this second leg, we will have to find a way to squeeze in one more event. Luckily next time (if this qualifies), we can use a leash!
Speedy also enjoyed making videos for the online classes ta I was teaching. He got to demo a lot for my Intro to Rally class and a good bit for Poised for Performance!
Add to that our beach trip and lots of quality hang out time, and Speedy had just about the perfect summer!
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