3 months and in charge

They get so big so fast! I'm trying to take as many photos as possible, but it's never enough. Love this girl!

Learning and Laughing

Over the past 2 weeks, Tana has grown and learned so much! I've been trying to balance the things we work on with lots of fun and relationship building. It's so easy to forget she's young and can't work for very long! Some of the big things we've worked on (and still have lots of work to do!):

11.5 weeks

"Under" Day - we focused on getting under or through things

• Under my legs (learning how to stretch back legs out, learning how to crawl with all legs under her body)
• Under the covers (pushing at fabric and exploring in the dark)
• Through a tunnel (Sam helping! They were having so much fun)
• Under the coffee table

Puzzles - we played different games to make her think and challenge herself

• Treats under tennis balls in a muffin tin
• Lotus balls with treats
• Empty water bottle with treats in it

Body awareness

• Fit Bone - getting all 4 feet on the bone
• Standing on objects (anything!)
• Paw touch
• Nose touch
• Wraping around my leg
• Tucked Sit
• Folding into a Down, with legs tucked in

Obstacle awareness

• Mat work (finding it and a little duration work - 3 seconds)
• Going around a bucket - introduction
• Going through stanchions/2x2 weave poles - start searching for them
• Looking and investigating what I look at
• Toy/Treat race games

Handler focus

• Lap turns and Tandem turns
• Blind crosses and front crosses on the flat
• Recalls - lots of treats!
• Tugging, releasing
• Re-engaging with me and asking for play without me asking her.

We also got to do a little photoshoot and have fun in the sprinklers (check the flicker link in the bottom right)! Who knew water could be so much fun!!! Loving this little sprite, even though she is a little terror at times.

Expanding - Plus 4

2016 is my year to expand. Expand my knowledge, growing and always learning. Expanding personally and building new skill sets and life directions. And Expanding our family by one more set of 4 paws!

10 Weeks

Introducing Tana! Tana is 10 weeks old now and she's a Flat Coated Retriever from Saskatchewan, Canada. She's from the same breeder as Rosey, Prairielight Kennels.

"Remus" Rainesgift Over the Moon

"Splash" Ch Prairielight Truth or Dare CDX, WCI, JH 

8.5 Weeks

We chose the name Tana after the shocking and powerful spring/summer in Northern Alberta with the Fort McMurray fire. The name Tana, "Fire Goddess," has it's origins in Greek (thanks google!), but has been adopted by Faery Traditions and its definition is so fitting for who she's turning out to be.

"She appears as liquid fire, sometimes molten magma, but at others simply plasma in a liquid-like form. Sometimes she appears as lightning, arcing from the sky and into the earth. She is often dancing wild, ecstatic, sparks and flames jumping from her burning aura as she moves. She is the explosive power of all fire, whether that be in the smallest candle flame, or in a raging inferno, or the nuclear processes in the heart of every star. She is the geo-thermal power in the center of the earth, as well as the heat and adrenaline in our bodies. She brings both change, and destruction, as heat can cause chemical changes in objects (as in food being cooked, or stones changing characteristics when exposed to higher temperatures while forming) or even completely obliterate them (a forest or building burning to the ground in a raging fire)." 

9 Weeks - On our way home

Our little fire goddess has kept us on our toes and is always happy to try something new! She is amazingly respectful of Rosey and Sam, not once jumping on them or grabbing at them (yet!). She has amazing self-control already (sits before exiting her crate, quickly learning to wait for her bowl to get to the floor before eating, It's Your Choice game was very quick!), and loves to run. 

So much to learn! So much to teach! I'm so grateful for all the amazing resources online, I feel like I can pick and choose to make the exact right training plan for this puppy. And so many great trainers out there to go to for help when I get stuck! 

Some of my resources so far:

Sophia Yin and her checklist

Chris Puls and her amazing training plans 

Julie Daniels and AG160 at FDSA

Sylvia Trkman and Puppy Class (and amazing student videos)

Plus all the great classes I've taken at Fenzi (Nosework, Focus, Play, Behavior management/rehab) and everything I've learned trying to build a relationship with Rosey and Sam!

Are you smiling?

"Relax people, it's agility! It's supposed to be fun!"

 There's always that person at a trial or in your classes, the one reminding you that you shouldn't take things too seriously. Well, often I'm that person :) But... I'm also a hypocrite (sorta)! I look pretty serious while walking my course and I'm pretty focused before and during my run.

Maybe that's why I love training the breed I do, Flatties don't let you get too serious. Rosey is ready to split or run slower if I get too serious. She says "This is supposed to be fun!" I can't stay upset at myself for too long with her around. Every day is a blessing and each run such a gift.

Veuve

But there is a difference between being serious & enjoying yourself and being serious & not being able to see the big picture. Agility isn't easy (at least not in my own experience), it takes a lot of mental concentration, a lot of training, and a lot of understanding how to communicate with your canine partner. So if your way of trying to learn and keep your mind on task is to be serious, go for it! Just don't forget to step back on a regular basis and enjoy what you've accomplished!

Fun. It's a loaded word for so many people in agility. It has baggage, something we should be doing, but sometimes hard to grasp. When you dog goes into the tunnel for the 10th time instead of the dog walk, or when your dog knocks one bar in every. single. run. and it's been a year since you've had a Q, it's hard to see the fun. These moments suck and they're frustrating, but it doesn't mean the run was garbage... what went well? Dogs aren't the only ones that need positive reinforcement, we do too! You are always free to praise yourself for the good moments, the better connection, the 15 other bars that didn't come down. 

Ginger is one of the happiest handlers I know. Luna is one lucky pup!

I'm a glass-half-full kind of person, and I know my students appreciate it. Training isn't linear, sometimes things just aren't going your way. I try to remind them that it's ok to have a bad week and that they are always lucky to be able to take the time to come to class and build on their relationship. It's easy to stop seeing the fun if training is hard and there's very little progress. It's at this moment, where you are frustrated and ready to give up, that's most important to step back and evaluate. Step away from the immediate goal and play with your dog :) Go for a little walk or play a few little games. Reconnect with your relationship and find the joy. Often your dog is just as frustrated as you are and needs that same break.

Happiness is a tricky business and we all seem to seek it. I found a group of ted talks to have really helped me understand some paths for my own happiness, maybe you can find some little golden nuggets to help yourself. (I especially love David Steindl-Rast, being grateful for our moments gives you permission to be happy.)

Now get out there and have some fun!

For a few more blogs about happiness, check out the topic of Fun at Dog Agility Blog Events.

Reaching some goals

This past weekend was a local AKC agility trial, held inside and where I train. Set up was easy, arriving and leaving was quick and painless and the trial was run really smoothly. I love trialing outside, enjoying the sun and hanging out around "nature", but I can't complain about the ease of indoor trials! So little set up, easy to pack and unpack, so much less draining!

Maybe the stars aligned just right, or the moon was in the right phase, but Rosey and I had the best weekend we've ever had. We were connected, I knew my courses, and she was doing her best to follow all my commands. I remembered to talk to her, to let her know how amazing she is, and she responded to each "yes" with a burst of speed and confidence. The look in her face after the run was enough to tell me she thought that we did a good job! Our weaves are still an issue, still slowing down after our first class, always a "project" for us. This weekend hopefully is a first among many, and all our hard work is starting to pay off!

Priority #1 this weekend was keeping connected. After the OMD seminar in December with Jessica Ajoux, I've started to get into a rhythm of letting Rosey know when she does a good turn or make a great decision... I was missing that piece and Rosey was getting slower because I wasn't giving her that feedback. Now that we're on track, she's getting more confident with turns and tight sections, making it more fun and easier for me to handle! Another major help to get connection was taking Denise Fenzi's play class and Deb Jones' Focus class, both have helped me understand how to play and how to make "working" so much more fun! Agility isn't just about running anymore, it's becoming a game and a conversation that we both look forward to having.

Priority #2 was to reduce most of my ring nerves, keep a clear head while running, and be open to connect with Rosey. Taking the mental management class with Andrea has really helped me identify my own issues and help me take control of them. With the tools I learned there, I was able to see the nerves coming long before they would be able to affect me. Driving to the trial, I was able to get myself into a more focused and better mindset, and setting the tone of the day. I even found myself humming while walking courses, not even realizing I was doing it until halfway through. I felt clear headed and I was totally present each run. It went so well that I am suspicious that I might not be able to make it happen again! Something to keep watching and working on... need more practice!

How did we do on paper? Exactly as I felt we should! We earned 5/6 Qs this weekend, making that two QQ, 1st place in Premier Standard, and 68-speed points towards our PACH.

One year ago, I was considering that I might not ever be able to run with Rosey. Her injury, her age, her heart murmur... it was all coming together and things seemed like I needed to make big decisions. I'm so glad I made decisions to explore rehab, strengthening, time off, and making an effort to make her better. 2015 was all about healing, and Rosey sure looked healed this weekend! I saw she was a little slower by the end of the weekend, but she's not sore! OMG she's not sore ;) So grateful to all the amazing teachers I have been able to learn from this past year. Our journey isn't over, it feels like we're just getting started!

Loot after Saturday! Added 2 more 2nd places and a 1st place and another QQ ribbon.

Expanding - 2016

2015 was my year of healing. I loved Tori Self's way of looking at new years and adopted my own mantra for this past year. Both dogs were hurting and I needed to discover what I needed to do to help them heal. In the process, I learned so much, more than I ever knew I could know. Thank you 2015! We healed in all sorts of directions.

Now that Sam has learned how to let go of some of her worry, not that she always chooses to, she's started to play. She plays with me, she plays with Rosey, or she plays alone with her favorite toys. She's quirky and will never be my second competing agility dog, but she will always be my weird sensitive dog. She sings her own tune (daily) and will always be wary of things she doesn't know or understand. My favorite new tricks she's learned this year are: picking up and throwing toys at me, shoulder rolls, "back it up", and finally being able to (occasionally) dismiss when the neighbor's dog is hanging over the wall of our yard. As always, we will have to hold each other's hand this year. We will figure out what "hanging out" really means in 2016.

Rosey has healed from her psoas injury, but the scars of my ignorance will be there for the rest of her life. Hard to swallow, but now that I've learned what we can do to keep her sound, she won't have to suffer as a result. Every day we have to remember to keep trying to be stronger - daily training, daily massage, and never forgetting. Wanting to come home and hang out with her on the couch isn't helping our situation and I need to change some habits to be able to work on both of us a little better. We both have the foundation we need, now it's time for 2016 and to Expand.

My goals for 2016 are to expand. Expand what is normal for me, step outside the easy. I want to expand my definition of Rosey, I want to expand what it means to be me. What do I want? What do I want to struggle through to get what I want? There is so much out there, I think I need to start choosing and diving in, grabbing hold of what I want and tugging away.

Back in the Ring

Rosey and I took the summer off from doing anything but playing and tugging. This is something that I did last summer as well, mainly because she really doesn't do well in the heat. I figured trying to beg convince her to run in the heat wasn't really going to help either one of us. At the beginning she seemed a only little jealous of Sam going to class, but as the weeks went on, she got more and more anxious when I left for class.

We started back at the beginning of September and our first classes back were a little rough. After the whole summer off, she was more eager to just run and play and less eager to play with me! With 3 weeks of working out the kinks, things got better, but we still have a few kinks to figure out. Unlucky for her, two hurricanes off the coast dumped tons of rain over the valley, so our weeks back should have been cooler, and were instead some of the hottest and most humid Arizona has ever seen in September!

Two weeks ago, we had our first trial (USDAA) back from the summer and although we only Qualified in one run, the whole weekend felt great. We had some awesome teamwork and she was happy to be running. Plus the one Q we did get was Grand Prix, which was something we've been working towards for the past year. (woohoo!)

This past weekend felt even better! It was AKC this weekend under Judge Kylie Bourke. With some tough, but really great flowing courses, I'm happy to say only 3 bars down over the entire weekend and one wrong course (all my fault with a poorly done rear cross). We managed 47 speed points this weekend with a QQ on Friday and a Q on Sunday in a really tough Standard run (only 30% Qualified in that class). Positives from the weekend: 2 classes with Rosey doing weaves nice and quick, and sticking everyone of her contacts (3/3 beautiful striding dog walk contacts! - we did work them in class this week). With a little more jump work to help with the bars, I think things can only get better AND faster. After our long journey together, this weekend had such a rewarding feeling to see the results and to know we have the potential to get better.

PACH count: 6/20 QQ and 258/750 speed points 
1/3 there!
Also, she earned her Master Agility title this weekend :) Now she's got some new letters after her name:
Prairielight Once Prairie Rose NA OAJ MXP AJP OF CGC PD APS APJ APG PKM

Tough course! Tricky parts that had most handlers were 3-4 (people didn't support the jump), wide turns at 6, the backside at 9 (options that worked was hang back at the teeter and push 9, or get ahead and blind cross 8 to the backside of 9; lots tried to rear cross the flat before 9 with mixed results and confused dogs), lots of dogs popping out of the weaves, LOTS of dogs that took the off course of #20 after the chute (we almost did too!). 

Love that face! So happy!

Wordless Wednesday

From our trip north in July:

Sleeping Arrangements

Beavers

Mountain Views

Worried about bears

Nosework - Continuing having fun

Over the spring and first part of this summer I took Nosework 101 and 120 from Fenzi Dog Sports Academy and Loved it! I did the first class with Sam and the second with Rosey. They both learn so differently and it was interesting to see how different their drive is for the game! Sam is so timid and so worried about doing the right thing that she will try and mark every box and forget the game is about sniffing. Rosey on the other hand is so driven to find the scent that she forgets to mark a the scent and would rather just destroy what ever is holding the scent to get closer. For entirely different reasons, I think these classes were perfect for them!

The second class started putting different search elements and moving the learned behavior outside. I found that I was having trouble remembering to keep things simple. The goal at this point, and like any new behavior, is to keep reinforcements high and encourage drive. I kept wanting to make the scent harder to find to really see her work and have fun finding it. Keep it simple and fun!

This is something we say all the time in foundation agility courses, Simple and Fun. I don't know how many times I've had to remind students to keep the reinforcements high, especially when adding a new distraction. Interesting that I'm having the same exactly problem when I start something new. Its just so fun! :)

Wordless Wednesday

The pack grew by two this past week. But only for a week, they went home last night and now I have two tired and sulky black dogs at home. Always a sad day when your best friends go home.

Rest of the photos from this day

This past weekend was the first AKC indoor agility trial in the area. Its a one ring show with one judge and will often fill, unusual for trials in our area. This year we were able to get Linda Robertson (from TN) and I think the exhibitors were pleased with the choice, I know I definitely was! She was efficient, friendly, and had some great courses. My gauge of a good trial is the number of smiles in and out of the ring, and I saw lots this weekend!

The ultimate title that can be achieved in AKC agility is the Agility Champion (MACH, "regular" stream that has 24" jump height for my size dog) and Preferred Agility Champion titles (PACH, "preferred" stream that has 20" jump height).  MACHs and PACHs require 20 QQs (2 qualifying runs in one day - Standard and Jumpers with weaves) and 750 points (one point for each full second under standard course time). The path to a MACH/PACH is long and some people never get there, while others seem to pick them up every few months. It really depends on how consistent a team is and how often they trial. One of the top 5 flat coated retrievers last year had 19 MACHs, while another had 17 MACHs!

Rosey and I aren't aiming quite so high, I would be delighted to get to 1 PACH (we are in the preferred stream), and I hope one day we'll get there. This weekend was the second weekend to work towards this goal, and I think we did not too bad :). We were able to snag our first QQ and 45 points two weekends ago at a local outdoor trial, and it sure felt good! This past weekend Rosey and I managed to get another QQ on Friday with some beautiful runs. Saturday we were able to put together two more awesome runs, but I ended up not cueing a jump properly after the table and so ended up not qualifying in our Standard run.
( JWW on Saturday - 19 points! ) Sunday seemed to continue the luck of refusals, but I think we had two of the best runs of our lives on Sunday. :) I'm still beaming and so proud of her and all the work we've done!

Current progress: 2/20 QQs, 83/750 speed points

Staying Connected

I figured that today is a Dog Agility Blog Event and I might as well use it as an excuse to write. The topic is “The Mental Aspect of Agility”. To find more blogs exploring this topic, head over to Dog Agility Blog Events.

My view from the computer.

I find this topic well timed and very fitting for my situation, it seems that most of my failures on the agility field are when I’m not focused or mentally prepared. The mental aspect of agility can be pretty tough, especially in a show situation. I have dreams of having perfect runs, but I know what my limitations are and go into any agility situation with realistic expectations and aim my mental strength to improve as a team, not necessarily to Q or win every class (yeah right!).

Running a Flat Coat and now a GSP I understand I need a sense of humor, patience and love. I enter the ring with the goal of doing justice to my dog and being better than last time. For Rosey, my goal is to be on time with my cues so she doesn’t get worried about being wrong (and thus goes off sniffing), and for Samantha, my goal is starting together and finishing together… the middle section has yet to be worked out. My mental game is focused towards these goals, which in the long run will get me to Qs (so far its been working out).

I find I can break the mental aspect into 4 parts:

Knowing the Course

The most obvious part of agility’s mental aspect is memorizing the course; knowing where your path is and where you need to direct the dog to get around a course. I like to look at the map, draw my dog’s path and figure out where I need to be in relation to the obstacles and my dog. Then I’ll walk the course from both the dog’s point of view and then a second or third time from my point of view and I start memorizing where I need to be. The third aspect is to be able to visualize this course while standing on the sidelines. If I can’t remember something or can’t “see” where I should have been standing as they come out of a tunnel or after my front cross, I’ll head out for a last walk of the course to make sure the course is clear in my head.

Relationship building

The second mental aspect of agility is building a relationship and being able to be connected with my dog in the ring. This starts with the instant that she gets out of her crate/xpen. I make sure that I am completely ready to give her my complete attention before I go even to put my hand on the latch. This has been the hardest thing for Rosey and I, it’s been a really hit-or-miss aspect of our agility and really depends on everything going on around us. As we are getting more solid in our relationship, it’s gotten easier, but I still make sure that I’m 100% mentally there for her when I get her out to make sure that I don’t lose her trust again.

In the ring

AKC - October 2013 - Rosey

Keeping my mind in the ring and connected with my dog is the hardest part for me. I have learned that if I’m thinking too far ahead (or worrying about what people on the sidelines are thinking or if my dog might leave and sniff), my dogs will start to lose interest and get sluggish, start sniffing, and get zoomies. I’ve learned that I need to be actively playing with my dog, not just directing her where to go. As long as I’m in there with them (mentally), they are more than happy to keep playing with me.

Staying mentally sharp

Agility isn’t all about the dog, it’s about how physically fit and mentally acute I am. I find that a perfectly well thought out and well planned course can go completely downhill if I’m struggling with my mental sharpness. I make sure I always bring food for me to munch on and water to drink. If I’m feeling a little hazy I make sure I have some protein or complex sugars (bananas, apples, or protein bar) to perk my brain up. It definitely can get tough by the end of the weekend! All the training, all the practice and relationship building I work on is all worthless if I don’t take care of me. Without the right nutrition, it doesn’t take too long for my reaction time to slow down, my thinking get hazy and I start tripping over my feet by the time I get to the end of a run.

I’ve found that the idea of preparing mentally is starting to catch on in the agility community. It’s become a topic and I’ve seen more and more people talking about getting mentally connected with their canine teammates. I know its definitely made the difference in my dogs!

Throwback Thursday

Rosey when we first got her. This was taken in Utah on our drive back to Phoenix after picking her up. We couldn't ask for a cuter puppy!

Starting in the middle

“Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”

– Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

I am far from the beginning of my journey, but where exactly does the beginning start? While I've had my current dogs for a while (5.5 years and 2.5 years), agility has been a part of my life for 5 years, and I've been dabbling in photography for the past 10 or so years, I still feel quite like a beginner in all these areas.

Me:

My interests include dogs, agility, photography, my husband, and insects. Yep, insects. Although this blog is directed towards agility, consider this your warning that insect photographs may pop up occasionally. My hubby really enjoys taking apart and putting back together our home, so I anticipate some photos of our ongoing projects also making an appearance.

My dogs:

Rosey – Prairielight Once Prairie Rose

Happiest around water

        Being a Flat-Coated Retriever, her outlook on life is something I cherish and aim to remember when ever things get tough. Her goal in life is to play hard, love lots, and enjoy every moment that comes her way. I like to think that she’s the type to tell you a joke and you both laugh at the punch line.

        Agility hasn't been easy with her. It’s been a long path full of learning about each other, about communication, and about listening. I was committed to giving her an outlet for her energy before I knew enough about the sport to teach her how to get there without frustrations. Luckily we both have learned a lot and are finally figuring things out.

Samantha – Sammy Sweetheart

Waiting by the bed

        Sam is black German shorthaired pointer rescued from the Arizona Humane Society and we got her when she was around 2.5 years old. She came with a complicated past that included multiple homes, the last of which she was forced out of because of too many dogs. I could probably write a paragraph on her neuroses that could or could not have resulted from her past, but instead I’ll say we have overcome most of them and are working on the rest.

Sam is a sweetheart with a wild streak. She’s the type to stand next to the bed (and head on the bed) for and hour until you wake up to invite her up for a cuddle. But she also gets moments of pure abandon that are little more than “zoomies” and make me wonder if she’s at times possessed by a demon.

Agility has been an adventure with Sam for different reasons, mostly an exploration on gaining trust and learning self-control. Once we establish the ground-rules, things hopefully will start to fall into place.