(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Did some more dead ball retrieving stuff in the fenced off runback area. Although he picked the ball up a few times, he really wasn't into it today. I'll try bringing more enticing treats next time, and I think that with flyball being his first activity of the day he simply has too much energy/edge to concentrate on something so boring as picking up a dead ball. I'll try sometime soon to exercise him before practice to see if that makes a difference. Also, he did a few no-ball box turns being sent from about 20 feet back.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Saturday December 16th 2006 - team practice (TTH)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Tried some dead ball retrieves but once again he had no interest (although he'll do it at the local field), so out came the clicker which was much more successful. Seems we'll have to work up to it by spending some time clicking dead ball stuff at practice. No rush, I'm sure we'll get to the end product sooner or later!
Tried some dead ball retrieves but once again he had no interest (although he'll do it at the local field), so out came the clicker which was much more successful. Seems we'll have to work up to it by spending some time clicking dead ball stuff at practice. No rush, I'm sure we'll get to the end product sooner or later!
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Saturday December 9th 2006 - team practice (TTH)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Not much to report. Did some recalls and no-ball boxwork.
Not much to report. Did some recalls and no-ball boxwork.
Sunday, December 3, 2006
Sunday December 3rd 2006 - Walter's first house league
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Today was Walter's first house league event! Since he doesn't yet do full runs, he did some recalls instead:
- First race: Did one recall only, in the warmup. No problems although I realized as I looked back at him that I had run all the way to the back of the run area, forcing him to run on his own through an area with a lot of activity on both sides of him. He looked somewhat nervous doing so (and I felt like such a goof for inadvertently asking him to do that) but he came straight to me and did some good tugging. Thank goodness he is such a good dog and forgives me for making mistakes!
- Second race: Walter ran recalls as the last dog in the line-up. I ran only a short distance past the timers and he did just great, preferring to tug than to get treats.
I was very happy with his performance and am inspired to continue working on his dead-ball retrieve!
Today was Walter's first house league event! Since he doesn't yet do full runs, he did some recalls instead:
- First race: Did one recall only, in the warmup. No problems although I realized as I looked back at him that I had run all the way to the back of the run area, forcing him to run on his own through an area with a lot of activity on both sides of him. He looked somewhat nervous doing so (and I felt like such a goof for inadvertently asking him to do that) but he came straight to me and did some good tugging. Thank goodness he is such a good dog and forgives me for making mistakes!
- Second race: Walter ran recalls as the last dog in the line-up. I ran only a short distance past the timers and he did just great, preferring to tug than to get treats.
I was very happy with his performance and am inspired to continue working on his dead-ball retrieve!
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Saturday December 2nd - home practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
I haven't been doing much dead-ball retrieve stuff with Walter too much lately so I got a practice in today. He now goes to the dead ball and brings it 3 or 4 steps towards me, in my living room. I'll try it outside somewhere soon.
I haven't been doing much dead-ball retrieve stuff with Walter too much lately so I got a practice in today. He now goes to the dead ball and brings it 3 or 4 steps towards me, in my living room. I'll try it outside somewhere soon.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Saturday November 18th 2006 - team practice (TTH)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Did some recalls and no-ball boxwork. Rewarded with tug only, no treats, which was fine with him.
Did some recalls and no-ball boxwork. Rewarded with tug only, no treats, which was fine with him.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Sunday November 12th 2006 - private lesson with Theresa Rector
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Did some recalls, no problem with that and he did some marvelous tugging, both before and after using treats for boxwork! His turns were sloppy so we didn't bring in the ball. Instead, Theresa gave me a terrific lesson on shaping him with the clicker to retrieve a dead ball. I've never been shown how to shape before, but I've read a bit about it and had started to shape to teach targetting, and I can see now how excellent it is for teaching a dog to think. Practiced some more dead ball stuff afterwards at home and I will make this a priority for at-home training for the next while. At home I used a regular tennis ball (not the magical treat one) and by the end of today's sessions he would go to the ball (unprompted) and start to open his mouth.
Did some recalls, no problem with that and he did some marvelous tugging, both before and after using treats for boxwork! His turns were sloppy so we didn't bring in the ball. Instead, Theresa gave me a terrific lesson on shaping him with the clicker to retrieve a dead ball. I've never been shown how to shape before, but I've read a bit about it and had started to shape to teach targetting, and I can see now how excellent it is for teaching a dog to think. Practiced some more dead ball stuff afterwards at home and I will make this a priority for at-home training for the next while. At home I used a regular tennis ball (not the magical treat one) and by the end of today's sessions he would go to the ball (unprompted) and start to open his mouth.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Saturday October 21st 2006 - team practice (TTH)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Began the day by putting the treat ball on the ground a metre or so in front of the box. Set him up in front of the first jump and released him and he ran all the way by himself over the four jumps, got the ball then ran back to me. The first couple of times he missed the first jump after getting the ball but corrected himself in time for the remaining three jumps, but on his third try he did all of the jumps: an independent full run, just without the box! ;-) Later on when everyone arrived we put the treat ball on the ledge and I now had to run with him more instead of sending him from all the way back (he seems to lose some of his forward impulsion when there are other people around but I'm sure this will change as he gains confidence in his task). Towards the end we tried putting a regular ball on the ledge and darn his nose, he could tell the difference so we will have to work on that. Due to various circumstances, Walter's next practice won't be until mid-November.
Began the day by putting the treat ball on the ground a metre or so in front of the box. Set him up in front of the first jump and released him and he ran all the way by himself over the four jumps, got the ball then ran back to me. The first couple of times he missed the first jump after getting the ball but corrected himself in time for the remaining three jumps, but on his third try he did all of the jumps: an independent full run, just without the box! ;-) Later on when everyone arrived we put the treat ball on the ledge and I now had to run with him more instead of sending him from all the way back (he seems to lose some of his forward impulsion when there are other people around but I'm sure this will change as he gains confidence in his task). Towards the end we tried putting a regular ball on the ledge and darn his nose, he could tell the difference so we will have to work on that. Due to various circumstances, Walter's next practice won't be until mid-November.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Saturday October 7th 2006 - team practice (TTH)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Great news: Walter is now consistently taking the magical treat ball from the ledge! Jenn suggested a brilliant idea a week ago, which is to cut a slit in a tennis ball and put treats inside, and practice having him get the ball and being fed the treats from the ball. So I've been doing that this week, and it has worked! He took the treat ball every single time today, never leaving it behind, including once when it fell off the ledge, always bringing it straight to me. The first time we put the ball on the ledge today he only put his hands on the box, so we did another warm-up turn without ball and he got all four on the box every subsequent time except one of the first attempts. We progressed to starting him from two jumps back, me following along beside him as far as the first jump, and starting from a few jumps back instead of right at the box seemed to make it easier for him. I videotaped today's session and from watching in slow-mo I can see that his earlier attempts were kind of unsure, footwork-wise, but by the end of the practice he was starting to look like a pro. He seemed to really enjoy today's practice, which was nice to see. At the next practice (which will be a couple of weeks from now) we'll start fading out the magic treat ball.
Great news: Walter is now consistently taking the magical treat ball from the ledge! Jenn suggested a brilliant idea a week ago, which is to cut a slit in a tennis ball and put treats inside, and practice having him get the ball and being fed the treats from the ball. So I've been doing that this week, and it has worked! He took the treat ball every single time today, never leaving it behind, including once when it fell off the ledge, always bringing it straight to me. The first time we put the ball on the ledge today he only put his hands on the box, so we did another warm-up turn without ball and he got all four on the box every subsequent time except one of the first attempts. We progressed to starting him from two jumps back, me following along beside him as far as the first jump, and starting from a few jumps back instead of right at the box seemed to make it easier for him. I videotaped today's session and from watching in slow-mo I can see that his earlier attempts were kind of unsure, footwork-wise, but by the end of the practice he was starting to look like a pro. He seemed to really enjoy today's practice, which was nice to see. At the next practice (which will be a couple of weeks from now) we'll start fading out the magic treat ball.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Saturday September 30th 2006 - team practice (TTH)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Nothing new to report. Didn't try the ball today, but homework is to cut a slit in a tennis ball and put treats in it, and Walter gets the treats from the ball after retrieving it.
Nothing new to report. Didn't try the ball today, but homework is to cut a slit in a tennis ball and put treats in it, and Walter gets the treats from the ball after retrieving it.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Saturday September 23rd 2006 - team practice (TTH)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Walter had last week off to recover from a minor medical procedure. Today's practice wasn't exactly stellar, but he did show a smidge more interest in the ball than last time. I really do need to work on that.
Walter had last week off to recover from a minor medical procedure. Today's practice wasn't exactly stellar, but he did show a smidge more interest in the ball than last time. I really do need to work on that.
Saturday, September 9, 2006
Saturday September 9th 2006 - team practice (TTH)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Gave Walter last week off so that Lucy would have my full attention at the new venue, so today was Walter's first practice at TTH. For the first time, I tried running with him rather than just trying to send him ahead over a jump which hasn't been interesting him. This really worked! I ran with him from three jumps back, have to run with him almost all the way to the box for now, then we run back over the three jumps. He stayed interested and excited for all of it. That is, until we brought the ball out and put it on the ledge. He nudged it with his nose once, but then on subsequent tries he would have nothing to do with the ball. I tried charging it up and throwing it to the boxloader, throwing it away from the box, handing it to him, nothing worked to get him interested in the ball which is strange because outside of flyball he likes balls. So my job is to get him excited about playing with the ball in various different environments. Later, we did more "runs" without the ball but this time with Sammy doing runs in the other lane (gate dividing the lanes). Except for the first try in which he bypassed the box and wandered into Sammy's lane (due to the wing being on the wrong side), the exercise went well.
Gave Walter last week off so that Lucy would have my full attention at the new venue, so today was Walter's first practice at TTH. For the first time, I tried running with him rather than just trying to send him ahead over a jump which hasn't been interesting him. This really worked! I ran with him from three jumps back, have to run with him almost all the way to the box for now, then we run back over the three jumps. He stayed interested and excited for all of it. That is, until we brought the ball out and put it on the ledge. He nudged it with his nose once, but then on subsequent tries he would have nothing to do with the ball. I tried charging it up and throwing it to the boxloader, throwing it away from the box, handing it to him, nothing worked to get him interested in the ball which is strange because outside of flyball he likes balls. So my job is to get him excited about playing with the ball in various different environments. Later, we did more "runs" without the ball but this time with Sammy doing runs in the other lane (gate dividing the lanes). Except for the first try in which he bypassed the box and wandered into Sammy's lane (due to the wing being on the wrong side), the exercise went well.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Saturday August 26th 2006 - team practice (inside BF)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Walter got all rangy and hyper at being ignored inside the school (leash tied to a post instead of crated). Tried bringing in the ball but he just wasn't interested in it today so instead I worked on sending him from behind one jump which went well enough. Also tried removing the eavestrough for a couple of turns and he maintained the swimmer's turn (no ball involved). Also Jenn sent him while I boxloaded, which was brand new for him. After mountain-climbing the box a few times he started to get the idea. Maybe next time I will be able to call him to increase his speed to the box.
Walter got all rangy and hyper at being ignored inside the school (leash tied to a post instead of crated). Tried bringing in the ball but he just wasn't interested in it today so instead I worked on sending him from behind one jump which went well enough. Also tried removing the eavestrough for a couple of turns and he maintained the swimmer's turn (no ball involved). Also Jenn sent him while I boxloaded, which was brand new for him. After mountain-climbing the box a few times he started to get the idea. Maybe next time I will be able to call him to increase his speed to the box.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Saturday August 19th 2006 - team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
(Walter had last week off so that I could take Lucy to watch a flyball tournament after practice.) Today we only did boxwork (one session) since it was hot and humid. Started with some turns, then backed up a bit farther, then brought in the ball. I charged it up, then we put it on the ledge and he did it, yay! The second time he got the ball but then dropped it before reaching me, I think by accident. The third time I charged it up again and he did it well like the first time, so I called it a day to end it on a good note.
(Walter had last week off so that I could take Lucy to watch a flyball tournament after practice.) Today we only did boxwork (one session) since it was hot and humid. Started with some turns, then backed up a bit farther, then brought in the ball. I charged it up, then we put it on the ledge and he did it, yay! The second time he got the ball but then dropped it before reaching me, I think by accident. The third time I charged it up again and he did it well like the first time, so I called it a day to end it on a good note.
Monday, August 7, 2006
Monday August 7th 2006 - team practice (outside at TNT with Pam)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Walter had an off night. He started with a nice turn, then he was inconsistent (sometimes he'd go towards the box but turn around before hitting it). Pam wants me to really get him excited about the turns, each and every one, and if I run out of "excitement steam" after only three turns, then the boxwork should stop for that session. We didn't bring out the ball because he was not being consistent on the turn. Walter was the last dog up tonight so I blame his inconsistency on the looming darkness since the box is black making it hard to see, plus the fact that we didn't have proper wings which may have thrown him off a bit. (Yes, I know, excuses excuses... :-> )
Walter had an off night. He started with a nice turn, then he was inconsistent (sometimes he'd go towards the box but turn around before hitting it). Pam wants me to really get him excited about the turns, each and every one, and if I run out of "excitement steam" after only three turns, then the boxwork should stop for that session. We didn't bring out the ball because he was not being consistent on the turn. Walter was the last dog up tonight so I blame his inconsistency on the looming darkness since the box is black making it hard to see, plus the fact that we didn't have proper wings which may have thrown him off a bit. (Yes, I know, excuses excuses... :-> )
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Thursday August 3rd 2006 - home and informal team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Have been practicing about five minutes a day this week since had the box at home, putting a jump 15 feet back. He has no trouble being sent to the box from far back at home, so hopefully if we practice this enough at home he'll be more comfortable doing it at the team practices. Was able to send him multiple times. Here are some more photos:
Also, today some of our team met at an off-leash dog park to get in some more boxwork practice. For the first time ever, he took the ball from the unloaded box (from the hole) while doing the turn, several times (but not consistently yet). However, I had some serious competition in the form of a big puddle in the grass nearby. Walter loves nothing more than a good splash and/or swim so it was hard to get him to come to me after getting the ball since he just wanted to take it and go and splash around. Bringing out the best-o-the-best treats helped somewhat. All I can say is thank goodness they don't put water traps as distraction tests in flyball events!
Have been practicing about five minutes a day this week since had the box at home, putting a jump 15 feet back. He has no trouble being sent to the box from far back at home, so hopefully if we practice this enough at home he'll be more comfortable doing it at the team practices. Was able to send him multiple times. Here are some more photos:
Also, today some of our team met at an off-leash dog park to get in some more boxwork practice. For the first time ever, he took the ball from the unloaded box (from the hole) while doing the turn, several times (but not consistently yet). However, I had some serious competition in the form of a big puddle in the grass nearby. Walter loves nothing more than a good splash and/or swim so it was hard to get him to come to me after getting the ball since he just wanted to take it and go and splash around. Bringing out the best-o-the-best treats helped somewhat. All I can say is thank goodness they don't put water traps as distraction tests in flyball events!
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Saturday August 5th 2006 - team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Started with boxwork. A few warmup turns, no ball, me sending him. We also worked on someone else sending him and me being closer to the box, and we did some work with the ball with someone holding it for him. We did two-lane passing with Tashtego, no problem there. I noticed today that Walter is soooo much more comfortable now with being held by someone else for the recalls and passing exercises; he used to squirm around and try to get away but now he waits quite patiently.
Started with boxwork. A few warmup turns, no ball, me sending him. We also worked on someone else sending him and me being closer to the box, and we did some work with the ball with someone holding it for him. We did two-lane passing with Tashtego, no problem there. I noticed today that Walter is soooo much more comfortable now with being held by someone else for the recalls and passing exercises; he used to squirm around and try to get away but now he waits quite patiently.
Saturday August 5th 2006 - team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Started with boxwork. A few warmup turns, no ball, me sending him. We also worked on someone else sending him and me being closer to the box, and we did some work with the ball with someone holding it for him. We did two-lane passing with Tashtego, no problem there. I noticed today that Walter is soooo much more comfortable now with being held by someone else for the recalls and passing exercises; he used to squirm around and try to get away but now he waits quite patiently.
Started with boxwork. A few warmup turns, no ball, me sending him. We also worked on someone else sending him and me being closer to the box, and we did some work with the ball with someone holding it for him. We did two-lane passing with Tashtego, no problem there. I noticed today that Walter is soooo much more comfortable now with being held by someone else for the recalls and passing exercises; he used to squirm around and try to get away but now he waits quite patiently.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Saturday July 29th 2006 - team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Started with two recalls, now over three jumps, success. Then did a couple of turns, no jump, no ball. Then we introduced the ball for the first time! We tried it two ways: with the ball on the ledge and with someone holding the ball. He did best with someone holding it for him since he didn't quite figure out how to coordinate being on the box and grabbing the ball from the ledge at the same time, so he tended to do the turn and not try to take the ball. However, he did two or three successful turns while taking the ball from a hand! This was a very nice first practice with the ball. Then we did two-lane passing with Sammy, the two lanes being about 3 or 4 feet apart, and we released the dogs such that there was some actual passing action happening. They both did great with that. Finished off with a few more box turns, but left the ball out of it since by now he was pretty hot and getting tired. Sent him from right behind the first jump and he was a bit hesitant but did it eventually.
Started with two recalls, now over three jumps, success. Then did a couple of turns, no jump, no ball. Then we introduced the ball for the first time! We tried it two ways: with the ball on the ledge and with someone holding the ball. He did best with someone holding it for him since he didn't quite figure out how to coordinate being on the box and grabbing the ball from the ledge at the same time, so he tended to do the turn and not try to take the ball. However, he did two or three successful turns while taking the ball from a hand! This was a very nice first practice with the ball. Then we did two-lane passing with Sammy, the two lanes being about 3 or 4 feet apart, and we released the dogs such that there was some actual passing action happening. They both did great with that. Finished off with a few more box turns, but left the ball out of it since by now he was pretty hot and getting tired. Sent him from right behind the first jump and he was a bit hesitant but did it eventually.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Saturday July 22nd 2006 - team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
For boxwork, someone held him behind the first jump and I stood between them and the box, then ran with him back over two jumps. It was the first time that he was sent to the box by someone other than me and he wasn't overly enthusiastic, but he did it nonetheless. Recalls were over two jumps, and he didn't deek out around them. Passing with Tashtego wasn't a problem.
For boxwork, someone held him behind the first jump and I stood between them and the box, then ran with him back over two jumps. It was the first time that he was sent to the box by someone other than me and he wasn't overly enthusiastic, but he did it nonetheless. Recalls were over two jumps, and he didn't deek out around them. Passing with Tashtego wasn't a problem.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Saturday July 15th 2006 - team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
I gave Walter a few weeks off so I could better focus myself with Lucy and make sure she's comfortable doing flyball outside. So his turn was understandably a bit rusty at first, but he did a couple of good ones. Managed to get one jump in too. For the recall, to ensure success we only did it with two jumps, and he did great and got in some good tugging action. Passing with Abby went fine.
I gave Walter a few weeks off so I could better focus myself with Lucy and make sure she's comfortable doing flyball outside. So his turn was understandably a bit rusty at first, but he did a couple of good ones. Managed to get one jump in too. For the recall, to ensure success we only did it with two jumps, and he did great and got in some good tugging action. Passing with Abby went fine.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Saturday June 24th 2006 - team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Walter seemed unfocused and kept running around the last jump on the recalls. On the bright side, he seemed even more comfortable at being held by someone else for the exercises.
Walter seemed unfocused and kept running around the last jump on the recalls. On the bright side, he seemed even more comfortable at being held by someone else for the exercises.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Saturday June 17th 2006 - team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Walter showed a marked improvement in his comfort level at being held by someone else for the passing and recall exercises! He was held by Jennifer, Chantale, and Kenton for the various exercises and remained relatively calm for all of them. Today we added in one jump for the boxwork (still no ball involved). For recalls, we did all four jumps, but he consistently deeked out after the second jump, so that will need some work.
Walter showed a marked improvement in his comfort level at being held by someone else for the passing and recall exercises! He was held by Jennifer, Chantale, and Kenton for the various exercises and remained relatively calm for all of them. Today we added in one jump for the boxwork (still no ball involved). For recalls, we did all four jumps, but he consistently deeked out after the second jump, so that will need some work.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Sunday June 11th 2006 - team practice (inside BF and outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Today was the first time I brought both Lucy and Walter to flyball practice at the same time. Started with box work indoors; Walter did fine although we didn't spend too much time on it. Did recalls and passing work outside and he did well, not much to report there. Here's a photo of Walter doing the passing exercise with teammate Tashtego:
Today was the first time I brought both Lucy and Walter to flyball practice at the same time. Started with box work indoors; Walter did fine although we didn't spend too much time on it. Did recalls and passing work outside and he did well, not much to report there. Here's a photo of Walter doing the passing exercise with teammate Tashtego:
Sunday, June 4, 2006
Sunday June 4th 2006 - team practice (outside)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Walter's first flyball team practice! Emily and Sammy were out on healing/recovery breaks, so it was just Abby, Tashtego, and Walter, and thanks to the weather finally cooperating, our first ever outdoor team practice! Warmed up with a bit of stretching first, then the first round of boxwork. Used the tug only, no treats and he wasn't as tug-motivated there as he is at home. But after a few clumsy warm-up turns, he was getting all four on, although not exactly what I'd call fast. Then, recall over three jumps. He did fine over the jumps -- it was the getting him to wait calmly with the handler (Jen) that was the challenge. But I have confidence that once he goes through it a few times, he'll realize there's nothing to it and be just fine. After practice we stayed at the field to do a bit of agility.
Walter's first flyball team practice! Emily and Sammy were out on healing/recovery breaks, so it was just Abby, Tashtego, and Walter, and thanks to the weather finally cooperating, our first ever outdoor team practice! Warmed up with a bit of stretching first, then the first round of boxwork. Used the tug only, no treats and he wasn't as tug-motivated there as he is at home. But after a few clumsy warm-up turns, he was getting all four on, although not exactly what I'd call fast. Then, recall over three jumps. He did fine over the jumps -- it was the getting him to wait calmly with the handler (Jen) that was the challenge. But I have confidence that once he goes through it a few times, he'll realize there's nothing to it and be just fine. After practice we stayed at the field to do a bit of agility.
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Saturday June 3rd 2006 - home photo shoot
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Took some photos with the flyball box today since we'll be returning it at tomorrow's practice.
Took some photos with the flyball box today since we'll be returning it at tomorrow's practice.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Wednesday May 31st 2006 - home practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Having joined a brand new flyball team with Lucy, we have been borrowing the flyball box for the last week and a half. I was having tons of fun practicing on it with Lucy and decided to see if I could get Walter up on it. After a few days of gradually moving the eavestrough closer and closer to the box, he was getting one, then two, then all four paws on the box. He now consistently gets all four on the box and I can send him from 3 to 4 metres away. He'll do it for treats or for a ball, but the tug provides him the most motivation. And so Walter told me that he wanted to join the flyball team! He hasn't been to a team practice yet, but he's met most if not all of the other team members through team walks at a local park. (Note: I pushed my luck a couple of times and rested a ball on the box's ledge, but each time I did that Walter broke his form and only put his hands on the box to grab the ball and then run off, so I'll hold off on that until he's had more practice sans ball.)
Having joined a brand new flyball team with Lucy, we have been borrowing the flyball box for the last week and a half. I was having tons of fun practicing on it with Lucy and decided to see if I could get Walter up on it. After a few days of gradually moving the eavestrough closer and closer to the box, he was getting one, then two, then all four paws on the box. He now consistently gets all four on the box and I can send him from 3 to 4 metres away. He'll do it for treats or for a ball, but the tug provides him the most motivation. And so Walter told me that he wanted to join the flyball team! He hasn't been to a team practice yet, but he's met most if not all of the other team members through team walks at a local park. (Note: I pushed my luck a couple of times and rested a ball on the box's ledge, but each time I did that Walter broke his form and only put his hands on the box to grab the ball and then run off, so I'll hold off on that until he's had more practice sans ball.)
Monday, May 29, 2006
Monday May 29th 2006 - catch-up entry
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Walter's first foray into the world of flyball was in the winter of 2006 in a beginner's course. I had gone through a beginner flyball course with Lucy the previous fall, and I had practiced some of the homework with Walter at that time, so we had a bit of a headstart. I found that Walter got bored sooner than Lucy did since he doesn't share Lucy's tremendous treat motivation drive. But he quickly picked up on the over-and-back with the eavestrough setup (he turns counterclockwise), and recalls went fairly well although he didn't like me leaving him behind. Unfortunately he didn't get up on the box by the end of the course. I blame this on me not having anything decent to practice on at home -- the home setup I used for Lucy (carpet-covered plank leaning against a wall) was no good for Walter because it was too small, and I hadn't gotten around to constructing something better.
Walter's first foray into the world of flyball was in the winter of 2006 in a beginner's course. I had gone through a beginner flyball course with Lucy the previous fall, and I had practiced some of the homework with Walter at that time, so we had a bit of a headstart. I found that Walter got bored sooner than Lucy did since he doesn't share Lucy's tremendous treat motivation drive. But he quickly picked up on the over-and-back with the eavestrough setup (he turns counterclockwise), and recalls went fairly well although he didn't like me leaving him behind. Unfortunately he didn't get up on the box by the end of the course. I blame this on me not having anything decent to practice on at home -- the home setup I used for Lucy (carpet-covered plank leaning against a wall) was no good for Walter because it was too small, and I hadn't gotten around to constructing something better.
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