Agile Raff!

Finally, I've competed in an Agility trial with a Keeshond! This is only a dream I've had for, say, 10 years or so. Just a dream come true, that's all. No big whoop.
He did really well. After a shaky start (he ran around the second jump, so I brought him back to try again), he stayed with me remarkably well. He didn't knock any bars, either.


We had to skip the Dog Walk and the A-Frame because we just haven't had enough training time on either of those for me to feel he could accomplish them safely. So our run was just FEO (For Exhibit Only...no scoring), but I was still very pleased to get him out there and see what he could do.

In the pinwheel, I did a rear cross after the first jump. I'm kind of proud of that move because I anticipated (correctly) that he would shoot out ahead of me after that jump, so I could easily cross behind him and then get him back on track with me in time for the second pinwheel jump. It worked! I also knew that I wouldn't be able to get the rear cross in BEFORE the first jump b/c we always end up waaaaay too close together (as you can see in the picture above.)

This is the third to the last jump--he went way out after this jump, ignoring all my cues that he needed to collect and turn right away...but I was able to get him back to me pretty easily, and he didn't take the off-course jump that was right in front of him, so all was well.

We finished our run just fine, thank you very much. And he really enjoyed himself, despite having to wait about 4 hours before being able to run. Unlike Sheila, who got so stressed out, he stayed pretty calm in the car. And I am amazed at how focused he actually was once we got into the ring, especially since he'd never been at this facility before, and had never trialed before...so he really had no idea what to expect. If dogs expect things, that is.

Our next trial is October 5th...CPE Level 1, Standard and Jumpers, NOT FEO. Yee-haw!

Raff's First Agility Class

I’ve been taking an Agility class with Sheila this summer--it's a Starter/Novice class for people and dogs who are pretty much competition-ready. Unfortunately, Sheila (who has arthritis) has been through a really bad patch these last few weeks, and as I mentioned in my earlier post, I'm afraid I'm finally facing her complete and total retirement from all dog sports. That's a sad thing to face, in and of itself, but that also meant that I'd have to stop attending that class because none of my other dogs are even close to competition-ready. And taking a different, lower level class is problematic because: 1) the timeslot for this class works perfectly for me; 2) the location for this class is also perfect for me; and 3) the people in the class as nice and friendly and I like them, and I like the instructor a lot...and that combination is a rare thing for me!

Enter Raffy, the pinch hitter! He's only had a few private Agility lessons, and lots of time with me in the backyard. But my instructor said it was fine for me to bring Raff in place of Sheila, even though he's not nearly as far along in his training. So last night we went, and we both had a great time. He still can't do some of the obstacles, so we just stuck to the jumps and tunnels...but I was really pleased to see that my backyard foundation training has paid off. He stuck with me the whole class and kept his focus remarkably well. He didn't resort to spinning in front of me (something we've worked very hard on fixing!), and he didn't knock any jump bars.

I'm so pleased with my little man. This is the second time he's had to sub for his big sister, Sheila. The first time was almost 3 years ago. We were in a beginning Flyball class, when Sheila suffered a soft-tissue injury in one of her front paws, and she needed 6 weeks of recovery time. (The trials and tribulations caused by poor structure in dogs is a topic I'll have to save for another post.) We had just started the class, so with 4 weeks to go, I started bringing Raffy instead. At that time, Raff was very young, very hyper, and had undergone almost no socialization. He'd lived with us for less than 6 months. It was pretty much a disaster. Everytime I let go of his leash, he'd go flying across the arena to visit the nearest dog. He went completely berserk everytime he came within 75 feet of another dog--that's no exaggeration.

Fast forward 3 years, with age and a lot of reactive dog work (took a class, practiced our lessons...never stopped practicing our lessons), he's a changed dog. He's a joy to play with--a pleasure to have in class, as they say.

We Q'd!!!!!

Finally, after over 5 years of on-again-off-again training, I overcame my reservations and entered Sheila in an Agility trial. We just entered for 1 run, 1 day--CPE Level 2 (novice), July 19, 2008, in Turner, OR.


I was nervous, but not as bad as I can get sometimes. I kept it pretty cool, if I do say so myself. My strategy was to keep Sheila in the car so that she wouldn't get too stressed out. We had to wait for about 4 hours before we finally got to go, so it was good that I'd made that plan. By the time it was our turn, she was still pretty fresh and engaged. (When she gets too stressed out, she just disconnects completely.)


I won't say it was perfect--there was some sniffing before the dog walk, and again after the 2nd jump, and again before the teeter. We had to restart the weaves once. At one point I said "here" when I meant to say "go", so we almost got tangled up.


But the rest of the run was pretty...it felt good. I gestured, she went to the right place and did the right thing. I turned, and she moved with me. And most of the time she was smiling and enjoying herself (nevermind the sniffing!)


A professional photographer, Joe Camp, was there. He took this photo.


This might be...well, pretty much for sure was, Sheila's first and last Agility trial. We took an Agility class to get ready for it, but even though I kept her jump heights low (8 inches), and even though we kept training light and rep's few, it seemed to take it's toll. She's nine years old now, and she has spondylosis and probably arthritis in her shoulders, too. For the latter half of July, and now most of August, she's been pretty uncomfortable...waking up in the night, panting, pacing, can't get comfortable. Slowly she's improving, but I can't conscience pushing her any further.


It's all just play now...whatever she wants to do.