The most exciting thing about the practice was that Zara has started to "get" how to pick up the ball while maintaining her turn! Ping-ponging between turns with a ball and without a ball was key and she did several gorgeous turns with the ball.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Dogzworth open practice (Guides Canins)
Several of our team members went for a shared practice with Dogzworth at their practice facility, which was the first time there for all of us and our dogs. His turn is looking better and better each time lately (i.e. not pausing mid-turn), although the ball is still just on the ledge, not in the hole yet. Here's video of his last "run" of today's practice. Kindly ignore my ridiculous arm waving.
The most exciting thing about the practice was that Zara has started to "get" how to pick up the ball while maintaining her turn! Ping-ponging between turns with a ball and without a ball was key and she did several gorgeous turns with the ball.
The most exciting thing about the practice was that Zara has started to "get" how to pick up the ball while maintaining her turn! Ping-ponging between turns with a ball and without a ball was key and she did several gorgeous turns with the ball.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Team practice
What's really working well is having someone else hold him behind a couple of jumps while I stand between the box and first jump. His turn is becoming smoother but it may be because we only put the ball on the ledge in front of the hole today, making it easier for him to pick the ball up. A couple of times he didn't bring the ball but it wasn't a big deal. Rewarded with a new kind of treats today which he seemed to really like.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Saturday October 13th - team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Today's one boxwork session went nowhere fast. He tended to either: (a) try to pick up the ball but it didn't come out of the unsprung hole easily enough for him so he left it, or (b) pick up the ball but not do the turn, or (c) not even try to pick up the ball. This was disappointing because he's been practicing the turn at home with the ball in the unsprung hole almost every day and has been doing very well. Maybe I should have warmed him up with a dead ball retrieve, but I didn't want him going the wrong way again so I didn't.
Today's one boxwork session went nowhere fast. He tended to either: (a) try to pick up the ball but it didn't come out of the unsprung hole easily enough for him so he left it, or (b) pick up the ball but not do the turn, or (c) not even try to pick up the ball. This was disappointing because he's been practicing the turn at home with the ball in the unsprung hole almost every day and has been doing very well. Maybe I should have warmed him up with a dead ball retrieve, but I didn't want him going the wrong way again so I didn't.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Saturday October 6th - team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Once or twice he tried to not only cheat by only putting his hands on the box to grab the ball, but also he went to the right instead of to the left after picking it up. But he did do a few successful ones as well (still very slow-mo with the pause mid-turn). Then we tried some with someone else holding him behind a few jumps, me up close to the box. For the first couple he did the turn but didn't pick up the ball. Then he did one or two good ones. Also, did some recalls from the box with him getting passed into by Sammy and that went fine.
Once or twice he tried to not only cheat by only putting his hands on the box to grab the ball, but also he went to the right instead of to the left after picking it up. But he did do a few successful ones as well (still very slow-mo with the pause mid-turn). Then we tried some with someone else holding him behind a few jumps, me up close to the box. For the first couple he did the turn but didn't pick up the ball. Then he did one or two good ones. Also, did some recalls from the box with him getting passed into by Sammy and that went fine.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Saturday September 22nd 2007 - team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
First flyball practice in a long while due to all the agility stuff lately. Dead ball retrieves are still good although he's still not very drivey on the send out. We start at 2 or 3 jumps and after he gets the ball run all the way back and he carries the ball all the way. :-) But... still turning the wrong way.
First flyball practice in a long while due to all the agility stuff lately. Dead ball retrieves are still good although he's still not very drivey on the send out. We start at 2 or 3 jumps and after he gets the ball run all the way back and he carries the ball all the way. :-) But... still turning the wrong way.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Thursday August 25th 2007 - team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Continued progress with the dead ball retrieve: He's sending to the dead ball on the ground over three jumps then carries it all the way back. If he's made to bark first he gets a bit more pepped. :-) The only thing is, he's turning the "wrong" way pretty much every time - d'oh!
Continued progress with the dead ball retrieve: He's sending to the dead ball on the ground over three jumps then carries it all the way back. If he's made to bark first he gets a bit more pepped. :-) The only thing is, he's turning the "wrong" way pretty much every time - d'oh!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Thursday August 22nd 2007 - practice at nearby abandoned field
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Practiced dead ball retrieve over/back two jumps at the nearby abandoned field. Drive ~70% of what it is at home.
Practiced dead ball retrieve over/back two jumps at the nearby abandoned field. Drive ~70% of what it is at home.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Monday August 20th 2007 - practice at the agility field
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Practiced dead ball retrieve over/back two agility jumps at the agility field today. His drive was good, ~90% of what it is at home.
Practiced dead ball retrieve over/back two agility jumps at the agility field today. His drive was good, ~90% of what it is at home.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Saturday August 18th 2007 - team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Progress today! Started with dead ball retrieves (ball on the floor) over/back one jump in the runback area of the hall while other dogs were working in the lanes. Then, we did them over one jump and back over all four (ball still just on the floor). Wonder of wonders, only one time did he ignore the ball - the rest of the time he brought it back all the way except when I slowed down and looked at him. Keep running all the way back and he carries it all the way back. Woo hoo! Rewarded with chunky canned dog food. He's still quite slow and unmotivated on the run-out compared to at home, BUT he's taking the ball and carrying it over the jumps which is a huge step. Of note, with the ball on the ground he's turning the "wrong" way 80% of the time! Anyway, brought two jumps home and gonna try to get in some outdoor practice with that this week. In other news, Zara and Milo are now doing full runs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Progress today! Started with dead ball retrieves (ball on the floor) over/back one jump in the runback area of the hall while other dogs were working in the lanes. Then, we did them over one jump and back over all four (ball still just on the floor). Wonder of wonders, only one time did he ignore the ball - the rest of the time he brought it back all the way except when I slowed down and looked at him. Keep running all the way back and he carries it all the way back. Woo hoo! Rewarded with chunky canned dog food. He's still quite slow and unmotivated on the run-out compared to at home, BUT he's taking the ball and carrying it over the jumps which is a huge step. Of note, with the ball on the ground he's turning the "wrong" way 80% of the time! Anyway, brought two jumps home and gonna try to get in some outdoor practice with that this week. In other news, Zara and Milo are now doing full runs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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