Did some obedience
Just Beginners Novice, with Pirate. We were not successful, and I'm a little disappointed, because I honestly thought he was ready. We did it exactly once before, at Rose City last January, with very little practice beforehand, and he did almost everything. He just didn't quite hold his stay long enough on the "walk around the ring", because I hadn't practiced that particular stay. (I use stays a lot in life, and figured he knows them).
So, I've been practicing with him. When Mercy was in season, I started bringing Pirate along to work, keeping him in my van, and at lunch break, I'd go out and walk him, take him down to the park, and do some obedience work there. Since she's been out of season, I've tried to keep that up once or twice a week. He was doing really well, his obedience skills sharp. I practiced the walk-around stay, lots of heeling, lots of recalls (I really wanted to improve his recall performance). I practiced working without treats (this is hard for me), and going for a jackpot at the end.
This morning, our first class was at 8, so we had to get an early start, and when I took him in the ring, it was obvious he had no idea what we were doing. He was flaky about everything, stood up on the "sit for exam" (that, I didn't have somebody to practice with, so not a shock), and on the recall, he basically came to me and then wandered off. His stay was solid, but nothing else. And I did expect some drop-off in the ring, but he was really not engaged. He was also trying to grab the judge's pen, or my hands.
Before his 2nd run, I took him in the practice ring, which seemed to help. And that run was a lot better. He engaged. He had some really pretty heeling. And some really not-pretty heeling at other moments, but I felt like he was trying. The first half of his figure-8 I was walking into him, after the first halt, he was suddenly a perfect little heeler. I didn't practice a figure-8, guess I should have. But he was doing alright.
Then, on the stay, he stood up and turned to watch me as I walked around. I don't know why it suddenly became more stressful, but it did. Also, on the recall he didn't stay, when I got out and turned around, he started to move towards me, then suddenly remembered that was wrong, and froze, with an "oops" expression on his face. That's the one part I understand, actually, anticipation is a Stafford's nemesis, and he has had the tendency to occasionally do that with the recalls. We've worked at it, I don't think I can eliminate it completely.
I did like that run a lot more, he was trying for me, and I felt like we were working together. He wasn't being as crazy, so I wasn't terrified of an explosion. But, still not a Q. And it's Beginners Novice, this is supposed to be easy!
I think obedience is just so different than anything I've asked him to do in the ring, and he's confused by that. He really does know the exercises we're going, but he's used to doing those in a variety of places that do not include a show ring. I don't feel that the environment is that stressful for him, he's been in that environment plenty, but the "now we do this thing in the ring, instead of giving you treats and having you look pretty. Oh, and there will be no treats. Also, I won't talk to you"... that is a big change, and it's confusing to him.
But, he did get better with practice, maybe he can figure this out still.
I was going to do the Farm Dog Certification with him, but they didn't take pre-entries, but ended up letting people that ran it yesterday sign up for runs today. And they filled up, so there was no room to add entries from people who weren't around yesterday. I found that annoying.
We did do some lure-coursing practice, not because they need practice, but they like it. The field was crazy muddy, so they didn't have it go far, and just zipped the lure back and forth. Pirate decided he doesn't like that, and wandered off, so probably no point in trying for the last CA leg. He's not a fan of turns. The girls had a great time, and we all got excessively muddy.
Mercy would have gone again. Right now.
No more competitions planned this month. I intend to do agility the New Year weekend trial, but probably just Sunday, unless the office is closed on NYE. We're planning a rebellion in the Novice class, though, between Mercy and another overly friendly young dog who is planning to debut at that trial.
So, I've been practicing with him. When Mercy was in season, I started bringing Pirate along to work, keeping him in my van, and at lunch break, I'd go out and walk him, take him down to the park, and do some obedience work there. Since she's been out of season, I've tried to keep that up once or twice a week. He was doing really well, his obedience skills sharp. I practiced the walk-around stay, lots of heeling, lots of recalls (I really wanted to improve his recall performance). I practiced working without treats (this is hard for me), and going for a jackpot at the end.
This morning, our first class was at 8, so we had to get an early start, and when I took him in the ring, it was obvious he had no idea what we were doing. He was flaky about everything, stood up on the "sit for exam" (that, I didn't have somebody to practice with, so not a shock), and on the recall, he basically came to me and then wandered off. His stay was solid, but nothing else. And I did expect some drop-off in the ring, but he was really not engaged. He was also trying to grab the judge's pen, or my hands.
Before his 2nd run, I took him in the practice ring, which seemed to help. And that run was a lot better. He engaged. He had some really pretty heeling. And some really not-pretty heeling at other moments, but I felt like he was trying. The first half of his figure-8 I was walking into him, after the first halt, he was suddenly a perfect little heeler. I didn't practice a figure-8, guess I should have. But he was doing alright.
Then, on the stay, he stood up and turned to watch me as I walked around. I don't know why it suddenly became more stressful, but it did. Also, on the recall he didn't stay, when I got out and turned around, he started to move towards me, then suddenly remembered that was wrong, and froze, with an "oops" expression on his face. That's the one part I understand, actually, anticipation is a Stafford's nemesis, and he has had the tendency to occasionally do that with the recalls. We've worked at it, I don't think I can eliminate it completely.
I did like that run a lot more, he was trying for me, and I felt like we were working together. He wasn't being as crazy, so I wasn't terrified of an explosion. But, still not a Q. And it's Beginners Novice, this is supposed to be easy!
I think obedience is just so different than anything I've asked him to do in the ring, and he's confused by that. He really does know the exercises we're going, but he's used to doing those in a variety of places that do not include a show ring. I don't feel that the environment is that stressful for him, he's been in that environment plenty, but the "now we do this thing in the ring, instead of giving you treats and having you look pretty. Oh, and there will be no treats. Also, I won't talk to you"... that is a big change, and it's confusing to him.
But, he did get better with practice, maybe he can figure this out still.
I was going to do the Farm Dog Certification with him, but they didn't take pre-entries, but ended up letting people that ran it yesterday sign up for runs today. And they filled up, so there was no room to add entries from people who weren't around yesterday. I found that annoying.
We did do some lure-coursing practice, not because they need practice, but they like it. The field was crazy muddy, so they didn't have it go far, and just zipped the lure back and forth. Pirate decided he doesn't like that, and wandered off, so probably no point in trying for the last CA leg. He's not a fan of turns. The girls had a great time, and we all got excessively muddy.
Mercy would have gone again. Right now.
No more competitions planned this month. I intend to do agility the New Year weekend trial, but probably just Sunday, unless the office is closed on NYE. We're planning a rebellion in the Novice class, though, between Mercy and another overly friendly young dog who is planning to debut at that trial.