Team practice

Following Walter's two steps forward, one or two steps back approach to flyball, he didn't want to do an independant full run today with so many people around. He did head to head runs with Sammy in the other lane and someone else helding him so I could stand up close to the box. It went ok.

When we drive to Walter's favourite walking place, he barks in the car like mad, and the rhythmic sound of it reminds me of a flyball dog in the lineup waiting for the race to start. Maybe someday that'll be him... or maybe not, that's ok too.

Team practice sans team

Today's team practice was cancelled, but since I was in that end of town anyway for the agility trial I figured I'd stop in for a quick practice. For the first time ever, he was doing independent full runs with the ball in the (unsprung) hole! The bad news is, he clocks in at about 7 seconds, losing tons of time with his "how not to do a boxturn" boxturn. Hopefully he'll soon figure out how to pick up the ball and do the turn in one fluid motion.

Team practice (TTH)

Since he no longer needs super duper treats as a bribe to pick up and bring the dead ball, for the first time ever Walter's boxwork was rewarded with the tug instead of treats. (He's always tugged for the recalls.) It worked great! C. held him behind two jumps (we only had two jumps per lane today) while I was close to the box, then we ran back together after he got the ball. Like at other recent practices, a couple of times he didn't pick up the ball, but a simple "where's the ball?" and he'd go right back for it. No signs yet of him dropping the ball early in anticipation of the tug because a couple of times he accidentally dropped the ball after clearing the last jump but immediately picked it up and brought it all the way to the tug. Fingers crossed that that holds. He seemed to really enjoy this because he was doing his excited agility-start-line bark while C. was restraining him and he tugged harder than ever, seriously digging in and even vocalizing while tugging.

Head to head and opposing recalls went well with Zara although he was definitely aware of her being in the other lane.