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.