One of the boys better days. Stephen ran Kohl in Open FAST and ExA STD, he ran Sky in Open Fast and Open JWW.
Kohl was very quick in FAST but would not do the last part of the send so they didn't Q. Sky ran next, he did the send perfectly and scored 58 points, enough to Q and come second in his class. They completed the course 8 seconds early so could have done a few more obstacles - they did not attempt the A frame but did complete the Teeter correctly. This was his third leg in Open FAST so he won his title!
Next Stephen ran Sky in JWW, again he was very quick but he clipped a jump (he seems to be doing this everytime they run JWW) so they didn't Q.
Finally, Stephen ran Kohl in ExA STD - he had to tell Claudia to hide!. Kohl was OK, not as quick as his fast run, but he jumped clear and made time. They scored 100pts and came 1st, this was Kohl's third leg in ExA so he won a title - I can't believe Kohl has completed an excellent title, I'm very proud of him.
Stephen didn't run Sky in Novice STD and as he didn't fancy hanging around Argus in the cold and rain until Kohl's last JWW run, they headed home.
He won't be running Sky in anymore FAST or STD classes until he masters contacts. There is a fun match at Argus on Jan 8, we will be doing several runs!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Four runs this weekend and still no Qs
Snoking Agility Trial at Argus, Sky had 4 runs this weekend and still no Q's, although they did come very close in both Open JWW runs.
On Saturday's JWW run there was a jump straight in line with the end of the weaves, but they had to turn sharp left and enter a tunnel. Stephen knew that if he left Sky early to cue the tunnel he would pop out of the weaves and he also knew that if he stayed with him all way he'd take the jump that was straight in front of the weaves. On the run he tried to cue the tunnel and sure enough Sky popped out at the very last pole. Stephen made him repeat the weaves, stayed with him all the way and he took the sucker jump. After that Stephen pulled Sky back on course and did the rest of it the perfectly. Sky was still one of the quickest dogs in the class even though he did the weaves twice and took an extra jump. At least Stephen now has something that we can work on in class on Thursday.
They came even closer to Q'ing on Sunday - Sky was really flying but unfortunately just clipped the second jump (a double), everything else was perfect. Again Sky was super fast and wasn't barking or mouthing Stephen at the end :-)
STD was all about missed contacts. Sky made 2 out of 3 on Saturday but only 1 out of 3 on Sunday.
On Saturday's JWW run there was a jump straight in line with the end of the weaves, but they had to turn sharp left and enter a tunnel. Stephen knew that if he left Sky early to cue the tunnel he would pop out of the weaves and he also knew that if he stayed with him all way he'd take the jump that was straight in front of the weaves. On the run he tried to cue the tunnel and sure enough Sky popped out at the very last pole. Stephen made him repeat the weaves, stayed with him all the way and he took the sucker jump. After that Stephen pulled Sky back on course and did the rest of it the perfectly. Sky was still one of the quickest dogs in the class even though he did the weaves twice and took an extra jump. At least Stephen now has something that we can work on in class on Thursday.
They came even closer to Q'ing on Sunday - Sky was really flying but unfortunately just clipped the second jump (a double), everything else was perfect. Again Sky was super fast and wasn't barking or mouthing Stephen at the end :-)
STD was all about missed contacts. Sky made 2 out of 3 on Saturday but only 1 out of 3 on Sunday.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Five runs this weekend and no Qs
At Puget Sound Labrador Retriever Association Sky did 5 runs without a Q :-(
Stephen admits that 3 of the NQ's were his fault. On Saturday they started with Open Fast - the Send was incredible easy - two jumps in a straight line, he positioned Sky in line with the jumps in a sit, walked to the other end of the arena and then called him, he did both jumps plus another that wasn't part of the send. He did the weaves perfectly too, but then Stephen proceeded to mess up his run, Stephen got him to do the A frame for 8 points (on which he missed his contacts) and ignored the teeter (7 points) and tunnel (9 points) which were (with hindsight) easy. They scored 50 points - not enough to qualify and Stephen was very cross with himself as this was the easiest Fast source they have run and Sky would have got his title if they had Q'd.
On Sat Open Jumpers there were two parallel paths "home" and Stephen sent Sky down the wrong one - 3 off-course jumps and another NQ. Again very annoying as he had successfully completed the hardest part of the course with style.
They didn't Q on Novice Std either - but this time it was Sky's fault - he missed both the dog-walk and A-Frame contacts, but did the teeter perfectly.
Stephen says that they seem to have hit a wall. Sky can't or won't make his contacts, and Stephen's not handling him very well either.
One thing he did discover is that Sky only knock's bars over or barks at Stephen when he doesn't give Sky clear guidance where Stephen wants him to go. Sky ran Saturday's Open jumpers and Novice Std course silently because Stephen gave him clear direction where he needed to go. Sky barked liked mad on the two Fast courses and today's Jumpers course because Stephen believes he did not give Sky clear instructions.
Stephen admits that 3 of the NQ's were his fault. On Saturday they started with Open Fast - the Send was incredible easy - two jumps in a straight line, he positioned Sky in line with the jumps in a sit, walked to the other end of the arena and then called him, he did both jumps plus another that wasn't part of the send. He did the weaves perfectly too, but then Stephen proceeded to mess up his run, Stephen got him to do the A frame for 8 points (on which he missed his contacts) and ignored the teeter (7 points) and tunnel (9 points) which were (with hindsight) easy. They scored 50 points - not enough to qualify and Stephen was very cross with himself as this was the easiest Fast source they have run and Sky would have got his title if they had Q'd.
On Sat Open Jumpers there were two parallel paths "home" and Stephen sent Sky down the wrong one - 3 off-course jumps and another NQ. Again very annoying as he had successfully completed the hardest part of the course with style.
They didn't Q on Novice Std either - but this time it was Sky's fault - he missed both the dog-walk and A-Frame contacts, but did the teeter perfectly.
Stephen says that they seem to have hit a wall. Sky can't or won't make his contacts, and Stephen's not handling him very well either.
One thing he did discover is that Sky only knock's bars over or barks at Stephen when he doesn't give Sky clear guidance where Stephen wants him to go. Sky ran Saturday's Open jumpers and Novice Std course silently because Stephen gave him clear direction where he needed to go. Sky barked liked mad on the two Fast courses and today's Jumpers course because Stephen believes he did not give Sky clear instructions.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
WWHA August 2010 agility trial Marymoor
Sat Aug 28th
Just two runs today as Stephen withdrew Sky from STD.
They did Open FAST first, the run was a little untidy as Stephen avoided the A-frame and tyre which were on the main route to the SEND. Sky didn't seem to get the SEND at first, but as he didn't enter the no go zone they did not get a refusal, Stephen pulled him back and repeated the SEND and this time he did it perfectly. A short loop of jumps plus the See-Saw and they finished, 63 points in 29 seconds, plus they got first place!
Next onto Open JWW, this time Sky was really focused, he ran the course perfectly, including doing some killer weaves. Unfortunatley, he clipped one of the easy jumps (Stephen thinks he may have taken off to soon again) anyway they completed the course in 25 seconds. Although they didn't qualify they had the second quickest time of all the dogs entered - beaten by Cool, Lisa Ross's super quick Border Collie.
Video links below
JWW: http://www.youtube.com/user/ghostyboyster?feature=mhum#p/u/0/WeL2uFGo2hc
FAST: http://www.youtube.com/user/ghostyboyster?feature=mhum#p/u/1/Ti4oQUKWlTw
Sunday
Came very close to qualifying again in FAST - the Send was a double, followed by a single then a wrap back over the double, all from a distance of 12 feet. Sky did all three but there was a slight hesitation when he came back to the last double, which the judge called as a refusal, they still got 50 points even though they didn't get the Send bonus!
However, Sky did something very bad at the end of the FAST run (tore Stephen's shirt) with the result that he's now grounded (literally) - no more until Sky can control his enthusiasm.
Just two runs today as Stephen withdrew Sky from STD.
They did Open FAST first, the run was a little untidy as Stephen avoided the A-frame and tyre which were on the main route to the SEND. Sky didn't seem to get the SEND at first, but as he didn't enter the no go zone they did not get a refusal, Stephen pulled him back and repeated the SEND and this time he did it perfectly. A short loop of jumps plus the See-Saw and they finished, 63 points in 29 seconds, plus they got first place!
Next onto Open JWW, this time Sky was really focused, he ran the course perfectly, including doing some killer weaves. Unfortunatley, he clipped one of the easy jumps (Stephen thinks he may have taken off to soon again) anyway they completed the course in 25 seconds. Although they didn't qualify they had the second quickest time of all the dogs entered - beaten by Cool, Lisa Ross's super quick Border Collie.
Video links below
JWW: http://www.youtube.com/user/ghostyboyster?feature=mhum#p/u/0/WeL2uFGo2hc
FAST: http://www.youtube.com/user/ghostyboyster?feature=mhum#p/u/1/Ti4oQUKWlTw
Sunday
Came very close to qualifying again in FAST - the Send was a double, followed by a single then a wrap back over the double, all from a distance of 12 feet. Sky did all three but there was a slight hesitation when he came back to the last double, which the judge called as a refusal, they still got 50 points even though they didn't get the Send bonus!
However, Sky did something very bad at the end of the FAST run (tore Stephen's shirt) with the result that he's now grounded (literally) - no more until Sky can control his enthusiasm.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Weekend in Sequim
Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Agility Trial in Sequim, WA. August 13, 14 and 15, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Dirty Poodle ...
Today it is time for Sky to have a wash and brush-up. It is a good day for dog grooming as it is overcast and not too hot. Walked 'the boys' first thing so that Sky wasn't bouncing off the walls while I was trying to groom him. This is what he looked like when we got back from our walk ... it had been raining overnight and early this morning so he's a bit wet around the edges ...
First thing I had to do was comb his coat through before washing him ... here's what he looked like after the brushing and combing ...
Next he was placed in the tub while I cleaned his eyes and ears, clipped his toe nails and emptied his anal glands (yes, it needs to be done!).
I use hot water and get his coat totally wet before starting to add shampoo ...
Now he resembles a drowned rat more than a poodle!
When he's been shampooed and thoroughly rinsed off, I use ShamWow towels to absorb as much water as possible. Once he's as dry as I can get him with the towels I have him jump back up onto the grooming table. Next comes the long process of drying his thick coat. I only have a forced air dryer, no heat is involved, so it takes more forever to dry him. Below is the end result: a clean, dry and tangle free poodle.
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| Before Bath |
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| After Bath |
Now onto the shaving and clipping stages ...
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Not a good day for agility ...
We went down to Argus Ranch again today for the NW Bearded Collie Club of Puget Sound Agility Trial. No FAST this afternoon so Stephen and Sky were just running in Nov B STD and then JWW. Both runs were quite spectacular, in STD, Sky jumped off the A-Frame just as Stephen slipped and fell (neither of them was hurt).In JWW Sky took off way too early for a jump ... as you can see above ... and took it out! The jump was flat on the foor but to their credit Sky jumped the 'pile' when the jump had to be revisted later on the course from the other direction :-)
So ... not a bad day yesterday and lots of lessons to be learnt today.