Run-Thrus Tonight!
Last week I made the conscious decision to start running Daisy through formal obedience practices as well as the rally ones. We've been going to the rally run-thrus since we've been eligible for them, since we joined the rally class last spring. Last week was kind of disastrous, but I figured the schnauzers that were in our formal obe class are doing it, why can't we try it? This week went much smoother; her stand-for-exam is still piss poor, as she doesn't like to stand and doesn't like being approached by strange men (and it doesn't get much stranger than Craig, har-d-har har!) but he fed her and pet her, so that was enough for me. Her off-leash heelwork would have been better if she wasn't so freaked out by Craig following along up her butt. HOWEVER - her stays were infinitely better!! Last week she kept getting up, getting half up, and just generally fidgeting. This week she laid down ONCE during her sit-stay (I walked back to her, gently put her back in position, and she successfully completed the exercise). During the down stay (3mins) she made it to about the 2:30 mark before sitting up, realizing the other dogs were still laying down, and laying back down before I could even start walking back towards her. This was a huge improvement over last week, and she was still a bit anxious from the whole heelwork with Craig following her thing, so I was more than satisfied for the week. Her moving-side-step-right in rally could use some work ;) We compete again on Oct 31st in Bloomsburg!