Classes 10/17 & 10/24

Katielyn has kicked me off of her dog -she's taking her to class now.

10/17 Worked on weaving from tunnel, and discrimination. Had two jumps in L shape with tunnel as C [_ I _ ) ]. Katie had some difficulty getting diva into the right end of the tunnel -she had to make sure she had her head before she approached the tunnel. She had to go in what was the bottom part here and then come back over the jump in front).

10/24 Had an intricate pattern. Diva was wanting to weave out of tunnel patern was:

Had tunnel under a-frame. Do a-frame send back into tunnel. Jump away from a-frame jump was same angle as a-frame, then a jump diagonally to it on a curve away. Wrap that jump to a teeter.

For some reason Diva wanted to do the weave poles on exiting the tunnel. Katie needs to get her commands out earlier and run faster. Diva was quiting at the end -perhaps because she didn't know what was wanted of her?

Class 01/25/11

Tonight I took Diva. She was good.

We ran the following exercise:





There are many ways to handle this sequence. The idea was to lead out 2 jumps and either do a moving cross or stand at the 3rd jump and cue. With Diva I'm only able to do a one jump lead out. I ran on the right side of the jumps. 1-3 were good but she collided with me in front of the table. I'll need to make sure I'm telling her where we are going, and she needs to watch me.

Tonight I'll practice the same sequences with Annie.

Herding Lesson #1

I've been promising Annie she could go herding again but just haven't gotten around to it. Finally this week, I scheduled a lesson.

First of all Jamie had me put Annie on a down while she watched the other dogs worked. It was hard for her to stay put but finally she settled some.

When it was her turn, Jamie worked her on 4 sheep in a pen about 15x10. She had her on a leash and walked with her around the pen. Every time Annie lunged she was put on a down. When she relaxed on the down, she was released and could work again. Jamie was sure to work the corners, head and tail.

Annie was more bold on the tail but not quite as confident at the head.

Our homework was to work the downs and get her moving off the sides.

Class 12/13/10

Today it was pretty brisk so we worked some more jumping lines. Annie handled the course well. The first time through I tried a lead out to the tunnel -I found it wasn't necessary and it got a little ugly sending her in. She did the serp well but then flew over the A-frame missing her contact.

The next time through I ran with Annie at the beginning on the left of 1 to the tunnel and then back to the left of jump # 1 going the other direction and the opening was much better.

For handling from 14 to 15 Elizabeth suggested I cross at 14 and then try to cross again from 15 to 16. I was able to do the first cross but the second one I didn't. This can be our homework.

Class 12/06/10

We worked on some jumping exercises and more discrimination. Annie was doing the discrimination well. I needed to make sure I didn't turn my shoulders too soon pulling her to the dogwalk.

Next we did some jumping exercises. In this exercise it worked best to slide from 3 to 6 so I could get a cross in at 6 and not get a funky turn from 6 to 7.

Class 11/29/10

We introduced some discrimination. Annie was pretty good at this. I basically had to yell close and move forward up the dog walk and she'd come with me.

Class 11/22/10

We worked on some more distance tonight. We did some jumps to a hard left turn to tunnel. I learned the value of rotating my shoulders as well as keeping my feet moving.