I am so loving class with Tammy. Teri and I get our weekly drive up to hang out, I get pushed to get better and smarter and here are your holes ;) And what can I say, being there makes me feel loved, which is exactly what I need right now.

I am having such a love affair with Peach and it's so fun to actually be training again. And the turf? Divine ( Read more... )

Life just keeps getting better. Some of the changes coming up are hard, but I have finally learned the lesson that you cannot do it all. At least not effectively or to the standards I like ( Read more... )

I don't know how else to say it. I'm ready to kick 2013 out the door and bring on 2014. Most years, I am a bit apathetic about the new year. I'm happy for new beginnings, and all that jazz, but this year? Bring it.

Some reflections ..

• Two years ago Beam was in Novice and was the best novice dog ever. Yankee also earned her AXJ. Officially (not for ( Read more... )

After a few random and separate events and ah-ha moments, I am back into my obsessive trick training mode. We'll see what we can get accomplished, but I do have a few goals.

1. Beam - longer duration with focus, specifically with heeling. I just finished up Silvia's Heeling video (and dang she makes it look so easy ;) ), so that is what we are working ( Read more... )

I was asked about teaching rear foot awareness and teaching the puppies how to target with their rear feet. I couldn't think of an answer without actually working them, and realized, I teach them all a good "4 feet on" objects and "2o2o" before I worry about targeting with rear feet. For me, it has been helpful in teaching them to move with all of ( Read more... )

I hosted the very first Redwood Ranch Christmas party last Saturday [on Beam's 3rd birthday, no less!]. It was Wonderful. Nerve-wracking. Fun. Entertaining. And I think an overall success ( Read more... )

It's hard to think of anything creative to say in the title.

Lucero turned 18 months old yesterday! WOOT! He survived this long. He's been the most difficult puppy, but gawd do I love this dog and all of his craziness. He forces inspires me to work harder. For ME to get it right. Thank you Lu.

Weaves *felt* awful yesterday. I added a jump in the ( Read more... )

In my efforts to be more thoughtful about Lucero's training progress (well, at least the weaves), here's the update.

We had almost a week off with the California trip. No biggie. Yesterday, his 4 straight poles looked awesome - speed + entries.

Yesterday, the good trainer that I am, forgot to bring home the 3rd set of 2x2's from where I teach, so I ( Read more... )

Lucero has made progress! In the last week, we got in 11 practices or so. The first few were too long, and after video editing, I got it knocked down to a more reasonable length. Lucero definitely has not progressed in the perfect straight line I had expected. He understood the change from 2 and 8 o'clock to 1 and 7 o'clock easy. Going to straight ( Read more... )

Lucero has the best fake weaves going right now. He loves to offer different styles of weaving. My favorite part is that he skipped two poles, so the judge would never notice based on which pole he ended the weaves on ;)

Click to view

I'm waiting to add 2 more to make a set of 6 until I have some more consistent speedy straight 4 poles, with entries. I haven't ( Read more... )