NADAC agility trial

NADAC trial with the boys today.  Fiona went along for the ride and was happy to be kidnapped by puppy lovers.  She certainly has more bounce than Chuck ever did!

I was happy with how Lance did on both of his runs today.  Hoopers was first and I planned a nice flowy course.  Unfortunately I didn't support one of them enough and we had to redo the first test and I ended up improvising the rest of our course.  I guess I pulled it off ok and Lance just barely came in under time to his Q and novice hoopers title.   Lance's 2nd run was Open Chances.  He did the first part of the distance challenge great but then I wasn't far enough ahead to support a layered jump coming out of a tunnel and Lance jumped towards me instead.  Oh well.

I guess Vito did ok on his 4 runs.  He wasn't all that into tugging with me although he did want treats.  His lack of energy showed as he bounced or jogged around the courses.  I thought we were getting over that phase with him but I guess not really trialing all summer has set us back.  Hopefully it's just a confidence issue and putting him in more trials will get him back running full speed.

Oh, and Vito also ran off in Regular 1!  I was actually able to get him revved up before starting and Vito did the first 4 obstacles great, until he took off to say hi to the judge for a second.  Came back and did 2 more obstacles until he sniffed the tunnel upon exiting.  He knocked a sandbag off on the exit so I'm not sure if that's what attracted him for the brief sniff or what.  While Vito HAS ran off to say hi to Daddy in the past, he has never gone over to a judge or worker and has never sniffed any equipment. 

On the positive side, all dogwalks and all aframes were gorgeous.  Luckily all the DW exits were mostly straight ahead except for one which had an off course attraction to pull Vito towards.  But I was able to turn hi gorgeously on the flat!  He also got all his weave poles on the first attempt!

Vito qualified in Novice Hoopers and Open Reg 1.  We knocked a bar in Open Regular 2, and by Open Chances he had zero obstacle focus so I just ran with him. 

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Fi and the "G" Litter

Work has been crazy this past week and will continue to be so for another very long week.  The "G" litter is at work.  9 puppies. 


I wasn't planning on introducing Fiona to the babies since she can be quite the trouble maker with other dogs.  She is extremely respectful if another dog tells her to knock it off, but since all the dogs at work are teenagers well...  she is quite the bitch.    But one frustrating day this week I decided the puppies needed sacrificing and let Fiona in. 

After being yelled at twice for going puppy bowling, she surprised me and settled in like an angel!  Fi has learned to play while lying down

And has the greatest expresssions!

I can't believe how big she looks compared to the little ones!  Fiona turned 18wks yesterday and is a tiny 23lbs.

Is it wrong that I want to trade her in for this cutey?

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The Weekend Events

Saturday- MN Disc Dog Star Jam
Vito's going to ruin me for any future disc dogs!  I am learning to throw low so Vito has no crazy thought of doing a spectacular somersault for the disc and still missing.  And it worked.  Only 1 spill and he caught most of the discs, although in a very boring but safe way.

Sunday- CPE Trial
Our first agility trial since April.  Lance was entered in 3 runs and Vito in 1.  I picked the games for Lance so he wouldn't have to do the dogwalk or aframe during our wreck of training running contacts.  Unfortunately in Colors I had the choice of doing the course with the dogwalk and then flip to a tunnel, or a straight exit off the dogwalk and then the aframe later.  I chose the flip and planned to turn him late.  I am happy to say that Lance hit the contact without any spectacular leap and even turned away from me... into a different tunnel.  And then besides our usual stuttering issues, jumpers and full house went well.

Vito was entered in jumpers.  I wasn't holding out much promise for our run since Vito was once again obsessed with the astro turf at the arena.  It took him a long time to focus on me and take his toy or treats during our warm up.  All Vito wanted to do was roll on that sweet grass.  It shocks me every time since Vito doesn't roll around on normal grass/dirt/smelly things ever!  I feel like the run started really well and Vito was actually running instead of jogging like he sometimes does at trials. But then I lost him for half a second to sniff the grass.  He connected with me right away again but lost his speed.

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Chuck Update

Chuck has officially passed his public access test with his new momma and has moved into her home. Their move in was delayed a bit as she was moving from the third floor to the first to better be able to take care of her new dog. She is completely in love with Chuckles and I think Chuck loves her too. They will continue their training in the home over the next few weeks and will hopefully become a certified team soon with graduation in November.

While they were still in the earlier parts of their training I snapped a few pics of him in the yard with Fi

And then one day I had all 4 dogs in my cubicle.  Vito was thrilled.

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Fiona- 15wks

The puppy turned 15wks old and is a tiny 18lbs.  She's growing on me though. I especially love her Up skills.  Meal times are becoming quite the specatcle.  While the toller is often sleeping in the bedroom, the corgi and lab both start spinning in circles when I walk out with their food bowls.  

Vito still isn't in love with her but they coexist nicely.  Mostly he's up on the furniture so Fi doesn't have an opportunity to bother him. She takes full advantage of the car rides to snuggle with him and he doesn't put up a fight.

Vito's in a tight tank in my attempt to imitate a thunder shirt.

 

All 3 in the truck.

The corgi loves her.  Except when she steals his kennel, which is practically every evening.

Training wise, we are starting to get our verbal positions of heel very well and side is almost there.  I am also setting out to actually teach her front as I completely failed in teaching Chuckles it.  In his confusion Chuck would just dance his body around back and forth from heel to side unless I cued wait in the right spot.  We are also working on getting a stand.  Fi can transition between sit, down, and stand with about 75% accuracy when her front feet are on a book, but is still clueless off the book.  And my biggest accomplishment has been getting Fi to switch from food to toys in the same session.  She still isn't always eager about the toy when it first comes out, but will play with me fairly quickly now and with less effort on my part.

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Happiness

Captured from videos taken this past week. 

Vito has now been left for a record breaking 2hrs 50min and did fabulous.  We may not be doing great in other areas, but he certainly is relaxing and SLEEPING when left at home.  At work his anxiety has increased the last 2 weeks and now he starts whining as soon as I walk out of sight.  If we can get up to 5hrs he won't have to come with me to work every day and can wait until Adam gets home.  In the car he's doing ok as long as he's given 2mg of Alprazolam at least 90min prior to going.

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Vito APDT Rally

Vito tagged along to Lance's CDSP trial this weekend.  I wasn't sure how his anxiety would be from the car ride and just in general being crated at a trial so I didn't enter him in anything before hand.

He was extremely anxious on the drive down but settled in beautifully into his crate, even sleeping for great portions of the trial.  When I took him out he was sleepy but perked up nicely to eat treats and tug with me.  So I decided to enter him in one round APDT Rally, level 3.

He did well but since we were first I didn't feel I had enough time to warm him up from his nap in the crate.  We lagged a little bit and then NQed on a send to the jump when Vito jumped up at my hand going out as he thought I had a treat in it!  Didn't even see the jump on that first attempt but we redid it just fine.  The bonus exercise was a retrieve which Vito brought nicely but started yawning as he fronted.  I thought he was just mouthing it so I didn't grab it as I didn't want to reinforce the mouthing.  By the time I realized it was a yawn it was fallign to the floor :)  He did grab it again as soon as he was done yawning.

Day 2 Vito was again anxious on the drive down but started to settle down about halfway.  He did great at the trial again so I decided to enter 1 more round of rally level 3.  This time I had more time to warm him up but he started to go a little flat before we entered the ring.  I am not sure if it's a training issue or not.  He lagged a bit in the beginning but did start to connect more by the end of the run.  All our fronts sucked.  We did qualify this time although technically the judge should have given us an NQ.  I gave Vito a treat after the moving stand-walk around and that is not considered a "stationary exercise" by APDT.  Oops!  The judge was generous and just took points off.
Video:

I'm not sure when Vito will be entered again in any obedience or rally but it was nice to be able to play with him a little bit this weekend.  I'm currently hypothesizing that his car anxiety and increased anxiety at work is due to his increase in fluoxetine.  The vet thinks it's a long shot but we're going to give him 2 more weeks at his current dose to see if he levels out and then cut him back and consider switching meds, again.

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Lance CDSP Obedience

CDSP obedience trial this weekend.  Two trials each day and Lance was entered in all 4 runs.

#1 Open- Q and Title!
More distracted than usual.  Did great when working but in between exercises he seemed kinda scattered.  More forging than the past trials.

The running broad jump was not really a team exercise!  Lance shot off and I ran to keep up.  He took several strides after the jump before I called him back but at least we were in no danger of cutting the corner!  He then danced around in front position before going to heel.

Drop on recall was not as snappy as I would like.  Retrieves were fine minus the finishes.

I was really happy with his go out.   It wasn't straight, he veered off a few feet to the left, but he went out happily and touched the gate like a good boy. 

This run got Lance his CDX-C title and I moved up him up to utility for his other 3 runs.  I really wanted to have Lance in utility where I can give him treats and encouragement before putting him in AKC utility!

#2 Utility- NQ
Lance was much more focused this run!  Still forging like crazy.  Did his signals really well and thought about taking the jump on the recall.  He ran right to it but then veered off at the last second!

He found his article and had no hesitation on the return!!!

Go outs were entertaining.  Lance headed straight for the jump on the right, took it and paused for a tiny bit, looked at me and then confidently ran to the other jump before coming back and fronting.  On the 2nd send he went straight for the jump again but this time I tried to interrupt him and send him back.  I unfortunately didn't even use the right words but I doubt he would have gone out if I had.  Lance hopped back over the same jump and came to front.  He tried so hard!

I was happy with both glove sends.  On the first one he looked at the jump on the return but I called him back to me.  The second time he had the middle glove and came straight back.

Moving Stand he moved his feet again as soon as I left him but was good for the exam itself.  His finish was horrid.

#3 Utility- NQ
He did his go outs!!!

The signal exercise was done very close in and not near a jump so Lance didn't have to think whether he should take it or not on the recall.  Articles were again fast and happy.  And his go outs were both lovely all the way to touch the gate and straight :)   Our first glove send was #3 and Lance veered for for #2 so an NQ.  The judge had us repeat #3 again on the 2nd send and he did great.  The moving stand Lance again moved 2 steps when I left but was perfectly fine with the judge kneeing down for the exam.  Another horrible finish.

#4 Utility- Q!
Our first utility leg!!!  I completely messed up the signal exercise.  I forgot if I was supposed to stop with him on the stand or if it was a moving stand so I stopped mid step and then I forgot to give him a stay cue as I left.  Lance started coming with me but stopped when I actually did give him my stay signal.  Scent articles were good except for him starting to finish on the judge's cue :)

Go outs were great!!!  Lance was happy and again ran to touch his gate.  The first send he ignored my sit cue and turned around to bop the gate again.  I gave him a 2nd command to sit which he also ignored but stayed out there looking at me.  The 2nd send out was good and I gave a more firm verbal sit.   Gloves were good, we had #2 and then #1.  I saw Lance looking at the jump on his 2nd return so I told him to come.  Moving stand Lance wasn't as sure about the judge kneeling down this time.  He took a step and leaned away, but at least he didn't move as I walking this time.

Video:

Overall
Woo hoo!  I am so glad a CDSP trial was offered so we could play in the utility ring before we venture into AKC utility next month.  I don't know if Lance is quite ready to do go outs in new places but he is having a blast with everything.

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