Obedience class photos

Pictures from obedience training at our training club

Hibernation Over

We had our first trial last Saturday the 1st-3rd of March. I think it finally jolted me out of hibernation. It was not the best of shows for me but I've learned some things and it has motivated me to start training more earnestly again. It was a very cold show because while it was enclosed, it had dirt in the arenas. It was also about 30 degrees and snowing outside, so even with the heaters it was still very cold. 

On Saturday there were two obedience trials, and I was sure I was entered in Novice A in the second one. So I spent the morning watching my Mom run her Shepard (also in Novice A), and trying to stay warm and keep Joey warm and happy. I was a little worried about Joey wasn't his usual food driven self. He was acting not so interested in working and was acting a little scared about the show noise. When our turn turn came I jacked Joey up on molasses and hoped for the best. Well, it turns out I didn't have to worry, we did not even make it into the ring. The ring steward discovered that the books said the run was for my Mom's Shepard. I stupidly mixed up the armband numbers and my Mom went instead of me in the morning show. So, my Mom went in again. I am so tired of my brain, I don't know how I could miss that "small detail" when I check the confirmation letter about ten times. I've made a lot a dumb mistakes in my dog show life, but this has to be one of the dumbest things I've done. I guess it is okay Joey wasn't in his show mood so we probably wouldn't have scored high anyway. I'll just finish up the CD title in about a month.

Sunday we were entered for Rally Excellent A, the afternoon show again. I was a little nervous since this was our first time in Rally Excellent. Joey did all the signs okay but he was barely with me. He was all over the place and I was losing him at every corner. We have been that uncoordinated since our first Advanced Rally leg, about two years ago. I was so frustrated. Despite the embarrassing performance, we got a 96 and first place under Judge Donna Eddins. I think Joey had such and bad skittish performance because I went into hibernation this winter. I did train him now and then but I mainly took a break, I also did not take Joey out and socialize him at pet stores or anywhere public. I think this sudden introduction back into the dog show world was too much for Joey.  I am going to start training regularly again and taking Joey to pet stores and parking lots to practice. hopefully that will get him up to par by our next trial at the end of March.

I did find out I made another dumb mistake this weekend. It turns out that BN is a considered a Obedience title and if you have it you must enter Rally B. So the leg I earned last weekend does not count. So last weekends trial was full of mistakes and left me wanting a new brain. 

But I've learned to:
 1. Not enter shows on dirt floors in the winter.
2. Triple check and confirm with other people my armband number. 
3. BN is an Obedience title
4. I need to enter Rally Excellent B
5.I cannot let Joey hibernate in the winter.
6. Even with stupid mistakes dog shows are a lot of fun and I can't wait to start competing more regularly again.

Late beach pictures

These pictures are from when I went to the beach with Joey a few months ago.

Agility Class

Yesterday, we went to a new instructor and tried a new agility class. We participated in the beginning class, because I wasn't sure which class Joey was ready for. It turns out he was ready for the intermediate class but we still had lots of fun with the beginner class.  I was happy to see that Joey did all the contacts with out a problem. And he did twelve poles for the first time. I was surprised how well Joey did. He seemed to like the class and even ran when the ground was wet. (Usually Joey refuses to run when the ground is wet). We got a video of Joey doing weaves, a little course run, and his first time on an exercise ball.

Finally, a post

Well, I finally got around to writing a post. It hasn't been that I have not been training with Joey. I have been training alot. I just haven't had the time to blog about it. Now that I am settled into my school schedule I hope to post more regularly. I have entered Joey in  USDAA agility trial on the second weekend of February. I'm actually not sure our entry made it in time, (we sent it kind of late), but we are assuming we did make it in and practicing hard. USDAA is a little different than AKC. To start with their Novice class has twelve poles, so we are practicing that. I also entered Joey for a standard run but am kind of regretting that now. He is not afraid of the seesaw any more but we haven't done a dogwalk for some time. I want to head over to our training club and practice the dogwalk and the seesaw.

Obedience is doing pretty well. His stand in motion is coming along, and he is finally starting to stop right away. I'm also doing the go out regularly and he loves running out to the ring gate. His articles are finally starting to click and though we are still only doing three articles, I don't need to tie them down anymore. Finally, his broad jump and drop on recall are good now, so he is ready for the open class. I am entering him in a trial the beginning of March, where I will finish his novice title and get a Rally Excellent leg. And I hope to compete in the open class in April.

I haven't done a whole lot of tracking because the ground is still freezing cold, and it makes it hard to lay a track, pus it isn't to fair to make Joey down for an article.

2012 Reveiw and 2013 plans

2012 was a little slow for me and Joey's title progress. I did not make as much progress as I would have liked to with Joey, yet we almost completed all the goals I set at the beginning of the year. We earned our Rally Advanced title and our Beginner Novice title, started competing in obedience and earned two CD legs, and were able to compete in the NJOC. So I guess it is not that bad. However, I want to be more diligent training with Joey and start earning more titles with Joey next year. Our goals for next year include earning our:

1. CD
2. CDX
3. RE
4. TR1 (maybe in the spring if Joey gets better at tracking throughout the winter.)
5.  NA (Novice agility)
6. and maybe, just maybe out UD. If we can get all the utility exercises down

It seems like a rather long list but I guess it doesn't hurt to dream. 

Merry Christmas to All From the Maltese Gang

 Patiently watching me open my presents

Joey the Reindeer

Merry Christmas!!