Weave Work
Two of our biggest issues with weave poles are rear crosses into them, and also getting the entry at high speed. So, we have been practicing those a little. For the rear cross, I set up a jump next to the weave poles, send her over, and attempt to indicate the turn into the poles correctly. For speed, I send her through a tunnel first. Both could still use some work but are getting better. For the rear crosses, I need to start helping her less by staying back more.
Anything's Pawsible Show N Go
At the beginning of May, we participated in a very fun Show N Go at Anything's Pawsible Agility Center in Kokomo. We ran a Standard course and a USDAA-style Jumpers course. I didn't get video of Jumpers but here's our first attempt at the Standard. It went pretty well, basically I need to work on my handling, mainly better use of my arms and better timing of cues. (This is also where we figured out that we need to work on weave entries after picking up speed, such as coming out of a tunnel!)
We are also very lucky to have some pictures taken by the amazing Jodie Hemersbach! Check out the pictures from the Show N Go at her website, www.jodiehphotography.com, along with the rest of her work.
Obedience
The weekend following the Show N Go, Penny was entered in Beginner Novice Obedience again in Perry, Georgia and she QUALIFIED this time!! Our heeling still needs work but the other exercises were such an improvement from last time, and I am so so proud of her for that. The next step here is to start working on heeling and rewarding her after working, by not treating her from my hands but rather from a stash kept elsewhere. We have been working on this at home already, and after that will start working in different places such as the park, pet store, etc to get in some practice in varied environments. It's odd because she lost interest at the beginning of the Heel pattern, but reconnected with me after the About Turn. I think the "whee!" factor of the About Turn is fun for her, and is what brought her back to me. Unfortunately she disconnected for the Figure Eight, but we got through it and Q'ed, and now I know what we need to work on. I also want to work on tightening up her heeling position, as well as her sit position when we Halt.
Darwin!
I suppose the biggest reason for the lack of updates is the new addition to our family, a three-year-old Ibizan Hound named Jakona's Natural Selection, aka Darwin! We met his breeder in Georgia at the show cluster in Perry, and he has been settling in wonderfully. While we were there, I showed Darwin in the B Match where he got Hound Group 2! Then Jeannie showed him in Open Dogs on Saturday where he got a second place! He did so much better than his last show. We hope that, while it may take some time, he can eventually be finished. I am going to try to show him in Conformation a little bit this summer, then we will be going to the National in St. Louis in September. I also plan on doing performance events with him, along with lure coursing.
Lure Coursing
Speaking of coursing, both dogs got to try it out in Perry and they had a blast. Neither had ever seen or done it before and they LOVED it! Unfortunately they were only doing practice runs and Coursing Ability Tests (for non-sighthounds), so Penny got one leg towards the CA title and Darwin got a couple of runs in for fun.
However, last weekend he was entered in his very first lure coursing trial and did fabulously!! He passed his Qualified Courser test with ease on Saturday morning, then went on to take Best Of Breed on BOTH days for two 3-point majors! We are so very proud of this athletic, willful boy and super excited for his future :)
