"Building The Team"

I love to train my dogs and I love to teach people to train their dogs. I hope my students find as much joy being with their dogs as I find in being with mine!

"Before you teach skills & fundamentals, make people feel good about their abilities. Make them believe they can perform." Rick Pitino

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Cavall, Coolhand Luc & stuff

I have been busy teaching and training. Gotta say I have a great bunch of gals (and one guy) that are very devoted to the game. We had a wonderful class last night. We set up an advance level standard course. Boy did it have some challenging handling opportunities in it. I have to remind my clients to not just do things they know because then they are just practicing, but to train so you and your dog can learn and progress. the best is when they are successful at a new skill and walk away feeling good about what they just did with their dog.

Now for my own dogs, Cavall and I, as most of you know have a "little" start line issue. I know that to get him more comfortable at the start line his emotional state has to change. We have been training lots with that. I know with him turning 6 yrs old next month that this will be a "management" behavior for the rest of his agility career. I just want to help him out as much as I can, because damn when the dog and I are on , well...... he smokes!

Coolhand Luc is growing into the "man". He is 10 months old on the 6th of this month.
We have just started weave pole training, been doing lots of jump foundation training :jump chute, bended grids, set point. also front cross, rear cross and serpentine cues. and start line work!!!!
We have just raised the jumps to 12 inches.
Luc is now starting to show some adolescent behavior,

"oh did you call?"
Oh yes I did!
"oops I am so sorry.. I am coming now"
Right choice little guy!

The other morning I was walking in our field with Cavall, Reba and Luc.
Francis ( hubby ) comes around the far corner out of the tree line and Luc figures "hey who are you?" barking and hackles up and running towards Francis. We got that under control quickly. Luc was very apologetic when he realized the err of his ways.
guess he is trying to find himself, hopefully he will not go overseas to Singapore, Bali etc like our 3rd oldest son who I miss dearly.

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