Need Work

It has been so hot. In the 90s, so Mom and I are having a hard time running in the morning. Plus Mom went on vacation and Bridget is getting married and having a honeymoon so no agility. We got rained out for herding, too. I am going crazy.

Mom took me to work with her Friday for something to do. She was helping teach a kids class at Wiggles-n-Wags. This week's theme was circus. The kids got to learn about agility. I sat in my crate most of the time, and I was really good. Some of the dogs were rude and walked right up to me in the crate, but I was nice and quiet.

See Mom and I in our costumes?

Yup... job well done!

So last night we were leaving for work and as I was rounding the back of the car... there is was a stray cat running. How could I just let it go? Naturally, I did not. I chased it up a tree. Mom called me back (can you say buzz kill?), so I started back to her. As I was leaving the cat climbed down the tree. What the heck? I just finished chasing it up the tree, so I turned and started to chase it down the street. Mom called me again. I admit... I thought about ignoring her... but I didn't. I came back (can you say Rock Star!) and I got treats for coming. That was nice but so was chasing the cat.

Dog walk

At agility practice last night, we worked on the dog walk. This was the COOLEST! I loved it and once I figured out what mom wanted, I took off like a rocket. Excellent. She was eating my dust.

We also worked on the teeter again this week, but I had no fear at all of it. I flew back and forth and mom had struggle to keep up with me. I was having a great time.

Class didn't start off that great though. Mom brought Holly, so I had to sit in the crate while she and Bridget played with Holly which was totally uncool. Sara was video taping me trying to get me to lie down with the manner's minder, but I wasn't having it. I was too focused on the fun that Holly was having with my two favorite people. It was great when she got tired and went to the car.

agility

Okay mom is clearly doing something wrong with the jumping. Neither  Holly nor I will take the jump across (I know that is not the right term) her body. Where she wants us to jump and turn the opposite way from where she am standing... we just stop and stare at the bar or at her. We have been practicing the jump training at the neutral position and the recall to heel. Mom needs to put a  verbal cue of "heel" to this behavior because we have been conditioned to "come front" when she recalls us. She also lowered the jump to 16" for me and 18" for Holly until she feels like we are getting this. Holly actually took to the neutral jump training faster than me. Not that she is graceful or anything.I like to stop and start free shaping the bar sometimes. Sigh... I am so funny.

Agility: night #1

Sunday night mom and I headed to Narnia to meet with Bridget... who is one of my favorite people in the world. I love to jump on her that crazy the way I use to do to mom until she told me I couldn't do it anymore. Sigh... those were the good old days.

Anyway we basically took a crash course in Agility Foundation class. I feel that there is going to be a lot of practicing/ homework which means TREATS in my future. We are learning Linda Mecklenburg's system of agility training, so mom ordered the book Developing Jumping Skills this morning.

Evidently, it has been noticed by mom that when she puts me in a sit, I like to go into a down. This is the first thing we practiced today. Sit stays with distance and recall to heel. Kasey just sat on his mat next to us... drooling. This is so cool.

Working on it...

So mom got this "great" idea. Yeah, right. She is teaching me how to do a handstand. I am not sure why she thinks this is a great idea, but it involves treats, so I am cool with it.

In theory, I am suppose to back up to the wall and then lift my legs up onto the wall. Well, first of all I prefer to walk to the wall and then turn around. We are using books to stack up slowly to get me use to lifting my legs. Tonight I got up to 5 textbooks. Plus mom used a combination of shaping and verbal commands to get me to understand that I have to back up verses walking up to the stack and turning around.

Where does she come up with stuff? Seriously.

Bring it on! FINALLY!

My Mom has often said that each dog that comes into her life opens a new door for her. Holly turned her into a dog trainer. Kasey turned her into a trainer of reactive, high energy, HIGHLY intelligent working dogs and sheep herding. I am pushing and pulling her into agility. I love it. I am built for it. Sunday night we officially begin our lessons. I can not wait. I know mom will love it once we start. I miss working with Bridget, and I enjoy when Julie runs me through the obstacles at class on Monday, but it is high time Mom and I got serious.

Help is here.

Last week during class, mom was walking around talking to people and their dogs. I was just sitting in my crate. Mom was very involved in a conversation with a woman with a reactive papilion. I figured I would help. Quietly I walked over there and sat next to mom. She suddenly looks down and didn't seem as happy to see me as I was to help her. She gave me the... "Susan Reilly get back to your kennel" command, so I bolted across the room back to my crate. Hmf. Whatever. Just trying to help...

Controlled Unleashed: No Problem

Mom is working with this lady named Julie who is teaching a Focus/ CU class for reactive agility dogs. Mom knows NOTHING about agility. It is kind of embarrassing, but I try to make her look good. We aren't actually taking the class; we are working. I get to demo. Julie thinks it is funny because I totally ignore all the other dogs. Hey, if I am working who has time to pay attention to barking dogs?

Mom is trying to teach me to do a handstand. I am not sure why and quite honestly I do not think it is one of my favorite tricks. I like jumping over her arms and under her legs better.

Long Winter and it is only January

I really feel that I have a few certain jobs as a member of this house.

1. Protect the backyard from squirrels: I look out the window until I spot one then ring the bells to go out. I run out the door at neck-breaking speed (or so that is what my mom calls it) and run to the squirrel and jump to scare it. I then run the perimeter of the yard to check for more. Sometimes I lay in wait for them to come back. Unlike some dumb dogs in this house (i.e Kasey). I do not bark. This takes the element of surprise away.

2. Bite Kasey's face: I need to wrestle with Kasey multiple times a day. I like to bite his face. The winter is great for this. We wrestle and run in the backyard and play. It is fun. Sometimes he can be whiny that it is cold and he wants to go in, but then I just go get a ball and shake it in his face to get him to chase me. Mom has a "no wrestling in the house rule". I just ignore it, but Kasey tries to listen so sometimes if we are in the house we sneak behind some furniture and lay on the floor and play.

3. Let people pet me: I like to stand next to people and let them pet me. It makes them feel happy. Most days Meredith gets tired in the afternoon and sits in her kid chair to watch tv before her nap. I stand next to her and she pets my ears over and over again.

4. Herd cats: This is an endless job and one that I take seriously. I am starting to think the three cats that live in house don't like me? Weird hu?

Mom says that sometimes I am "a little much" to deal with. I have third child syndrome right now so I get away with things that Holly and Kasey have never been allowed to do. Having a three year old human in the house really helps.

We have not done a lot of herding or running because of the cold. Mom is ready for spring, but I kind of like the snow. It gives me something to eat while I am outside working wildlife. I run with my mouth hanging open like a bulldozer. Yum.