All In a Days Work

Thought a reminder that I do work would be good. I am on the phone alot. Here I'm in an important phone call. Don't ask why I take pictures of myself during important phone calls....ok ok, I was bored, needed to listen, but couldn't really participate. So I took pictures.

I see alot of this during my work day.

This is what I see under my home computer. Just to the left of my work computer

Maddie stuffs herself in this little bed I got for Fin when she was a small tyke. It is seriously Papillon sized, but Maddie loves this bed.

This bed is under my work computer. (just to the right of Rocky) Tazz can't sleep because he has to make sure no other dogs are going to get his bed. This is Tazzies domain.

During the day I spend much of my time writing on the computer. A little time procrastinating reading about agility, and the rest of the time playing with the dogs outside. A wonderful life.

Agility Monday

Gosh it is hard to go back to work.

I'm really thinking I could use another couple of weeks off. I feel like I didn't get anything done. I did finish my Christmas shopping, got all the presents wrapped, organized all the christmas wrap (thanks mom), had new years here at the house, fit in a bunch of agility practice, did the laundry AND folded the laundry. I guess looking back. Some things did get done, but it still feels like an unfinished vacation.

Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful for the work. Just wish I could do it next week is all.

So today. Agility Monday. Did a little work out this morning. Ran Fin in some drills. Then this evening I took her to Jump n Java for some indoor agility fun. I tried very hard to remain calm and work on her jumping. Overall I felt that she and I did well. Looking back, there were a couple of missed opportunities for reinforcement (especially when she went around the jump twice and then I DID NOT reward her when she did go over the jump...dumb dumb dumb). But overall, I felt that I kept her calm enough to keep her head.

She LOVES jump n java and the noise level seems to crank her up to a fever pitch. Sometime I'm gonna take my video because the noise is unbelieveable.

Tomorrow we are off to agility at PowerPaws in the morning. Tazzie gets to run and enjoy individual time with the mama. It will be fun.

Starting Our Agility Day off on the Right Paw

Got up this morning and went for a quick walk.

Stackable shelties ready for a walk.

Brought along the camera for fun.

Lots of walking was happening....only one flying.

Tazzie stopped for some poopsicle breakfast.

Fin doing her model posing.

Frozen puddles are very hard to drink out of. The good news...too early for mud :)

Fin even got Maddie to play a little.

I can't get Tazz to tug when I train, but he LOVES to tug on mittens during frozen walks.

There was lots of running through frozen grasses this morning. Even old dogs had fun.

Packing to go home. This is like a math problem, how to fit 4 shelties into a PT cruiser with only 2 crates without having two boys next to each other. I'm glad Kel took calculus in school.

Back to Basics

Fin and I headed up to PowerPaws today for a lesson. The wonderful Nancy Gyes was there to see where Fin and I were.

First of all, complements to all of the people who have helped me get this far. Fin is doing well. That said, there is lots of areas of improvement (wouldn't want a perfect dog would we?).

The first thing we talked about is dog walk. She has had some really GREAT dog walk speed. But lately I've noticed that she is slowing down as she ends her dog walk. She is stopping before the 2o2o area and the nose touch is non existent. When I do ask for a nose touch, she is bobbing her head. After a few demos, I got home work:

Lots and lots of nose touches. Nose touch and quick release. The bottom line is I've let the criteria slide down a slippery slope. It is my goal to get it back...so no contacts in class until I back chain it.

Same for the A frame. I'm lowering the A frame and making it easy.

This is really hard for me. I wanted to start to show her, but I know that the long term goal is more important than the short term..... AND I can still show her in jumpers (which is a great place to start).

Her teeter was splendid and will only improve as the nose touch comes back.

Then we looked at weaves. Her weaves were really nice and Nancy gave me a few drills to work on for entrances. Basically use only 4 or 6 weave poles, put her in a sit and send her through (human stands still) and reward. She then goes into the same starting position, but human moves to a different location. Continue this for 5 minutes. So basically she is working on the same entrance for 5 minutes, but human position is moving (her performance is not dependent on where I am).

We looked at jumping and handling. What Nancy noticed during our contact drills is that Fin is going wide (I knew this was an area we really need work on). When I did my jumping drills, Fin seemed to do fine. Nancy felt it was when I sent her to jumps that she was making a wide arch. The drills below are what I'll work on for the next month (in addition to everything else).

Lastly, I need to work on her coming to my side....let's see...Rob told me I need to work on her coming to my side. Laura said, "You really need to work on her coming to your side." Jim mentioned, those wide turns will help if she comes to your side more....ok, ok, I get it. Lots of reward for coming to my side...you don't need to hit me with a brick! (ok, maybe you do). I'm going to be doing some flatwork drills of rewarding by my side.

Learning Through Procrastination

I have often described myself as lazy. I do tend to drift to the easy way, but I've decided lazy isn't a good description for me. I've met lazy, and it ain't me.

I do look for the smoothest road. One, step at a time (here I'm taking steps along the freedom trail in Boston in my Brooks walking/running shoes - lazy people do NOT walk the freedom trail in stylish athletic gear).

I can tend to think on things a while before I take action. If I'm not motivated to do something, it doesn't get done.

Some people might call my "think on things awhile" procrastination. Procrastination is something that I do tend towards. In many ways, I use procrastination as a tool to do something better...if I'm unsure, I'll procrastinate...then I'll cram to get "whatever" done. However, I'm learning that procrastination can be fun. One can learn alot through procrastination.

For example, I procrastinate by reading other peoples blogs. But I learn so much! Here are a few of my favorites:

Team Small Dog: http://www.teamsmalldog.com/blog/index.html

Laura Harwick is a favorite author of mine. I've learned alot about taxidermy, inexpensive ways to remodel a home, sunset magazine style tips, Tupperware inspired weave pole drills, interesting ways to get arrested while exercising your dogs, which agility videos I should buy, where to get tattoos, lessons about our justice system, inspirations on dirt night, and how 3 (sometimes 4) adorable pups can make a life whole.

Elite Forces of Fuzzy Destruction: http://brisbeethewhite.livejournal.com/

Here I learn how a few well taken photos can inspire. This blog spans the practical clicker and agility training tips to the interesting "how to survive in blizzard conditions with no heat and still get your training done" posts. Always entertaining, often educational.

Taj Mutt Hall: http://www.finchester.org/dogs/dog_diary/

A local gal, I've learned alot from Ellen. She has inspired me to go to new places to walk/exercise my dogs, detailed information about confusing topics (such as strategic pairs), thoughtful insights to agility related topics, and often inspiration and motivation to get out and train my dogs.

Susan Garretts Blog: http://susangarrett.wordpress.com/

A new addition to my daily procrastination read. Susan is writing a practical look at agility training, focusing right now on her new weave video. Interesting, inspiring, and thoughtful.

Fanny's: http://www.fannygott.com/

Here is a blog from Sweden. It has so much good info focusing on clicker training. Right now she is raising a puppy and videos showing progress can usually be found. A great way to sip the morning tea.

I hope I've inspired you to procrastinate to learn.

Thousands of shoes snarl Miami traffic

This wasn't me! Yes I am cleaning out my closets, but I know better than to throw my shoes into traffic. Also, there are some shoes that look pretty good! Maybe I could get another pair of agility shoes out of that pile.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Miami/photo//090102/480/e682d0eec0e0404e809a65eb026a2136//s:/ap/odd_expressway_shoes

Today was a day of work. Work out, Work on HP project, Work while walking (jogging/stretching). Lunch in Morgan Hill was the highlight. A new resturant. Yummy healthy fabulous food. Halibut on a salad....that's what I'm talking about.

Not much training...just a little contact work. Walks and chuck-it took up most of the excercise program for the pups. Now they are sleeping. I'm finally finishing up work.

Tomorrow is an agility day! Agility in the morning and agility in the afternoon!

Happy 2009

Well, it is here! 2009. The year of bright new things. The year of promise. The year of health and fitness. I'm so excited. So many things to look forward to.

I have many agility goals for 2009, I can't keep the smile off my face.

In 2009:
-I will run Fin in her FIRST agility trial.
-I will work hard to qualify for the Nationals with both dogs (USDAA)
-I will NOT run Fin if I'm having training issues (will go back to basics at fun matches - then get back into it)
-I will continue to get Tazz in shape and see where that journey takes us

Other goals, related but not agility:
-I will consistently loose weight and gain physical strength
-I will clean my office (ok I know that isn't a huge thing, but if you could see my office, you'd understand).

Today Mom was still here (from new years eve festivities) and we had breakfast and played scrabble. She won, but it was a fun, close game. I headed off to the gym and she off to home. We had to drive up the Peninsula to take back his new TV (LCD pixels were not working). After the gym, we drove up and no muss, no fuss, Video Only replaced the TV with a brand new one and home again we went.

TV is now set up and Kel is enjoying it. It is one nice television. I'm happy because now I'll be able to watch my agility runs on the big screen! Kel's happy because now he can actually see what he is watching.

I've only got 3 days left before I go back to work.

I'm going get up early and work out so I have the entire day to get things done. I'm working on refocusing Fin on targeting as she is loosing her criteria. I'll post video.

Tomorrow I'm also going to watch Susan Garrett's weave video. I hear it is really well done.

Best of the New Year to everyone. I hope all your agility dreams come true.