Rio Rancho Tournament

Well, the dogs did well.

We were at a tournament in Rio Rancho, a town adjacent to Albuquerque. Spoiled One was running a vet's team the second day, and he did well. I don't think he broke any speed records, but he ran over the jumps, got the ball, and ran back. They were warned about the inflatodog trick, so they ran him in anchor. That dog wore me out. He's 60 lbs of very loud enthusiasm.

Weasel lived up to her sneaky little nickname. She was nearly a full second faster than we were anticipating from her performance in practice. She got to run on the team for one race on Saturday, and made us break out. Twice. So she was banned to her crate, until the second day when one of the dogs was pulled. It worked out with no more breakouts, though it was a close call.

Squeaky toys were awarded and will be disposed of with typical doggie enthusiasm.

Agility Class

Weasel had her first agility class after a break. She's reverted to her obsession with her idol dog and was completely distracted. After most of the class, I was getting some few seconds of attention from her. I amy have to enroll her in a class where there is no idol dog, again.

Unfortunately, I also have reverted, and gotten sloppy in my handling. A lot of stuff to work on.

So, agility was frustrating. But, I was able to have some impact on her, eventually. She did the weaves fast and off leash. I was able to call her back from distraction several times. She did fine on the obsticals.

The new pheasant and duck haven't arrived yet.

I'm tired and frazzled by a lot of other things. Probably, that explains Weasel's distraction. Blasted border collies pick up too much from their handlers. She's a sweet dog, though.

Hope I can get the shirts for the team up by this weekend, so that people can order them in time for the tournament.

Tired.

New Dog Sports Group on Squidoo

Just wanted to let you all know that there is a new group on Squidoo that features lenses on competitive dog sports. If you do sports with your dog, or are interested, check it out. If you feel like it, make a lens (webpage) for the group. Dog Sports Group It's easy and you don't need to know any programming, just point and click stuff.

Training Boxloaders, Pass Callers, and Ball Shaggers for Upcoming Tournaments

Ideally, all of this should happen during the course of practices. As you practice, teammembers learn these roles by taking turns fulfilling them in practice. But there are the zillion things that don't come up:

If the box malfunctions during a tournament, stand in front of it with your arms crossed in an "x"

What's our jump height? Whose setting it? Can they set it while dragging their dog along with it?

Who's holding dogs for recalls?

What practice stuff are we going to do in our brief (often less than a minute) warm up time?

Can the box holder physically pick up and move the box quickly? Does she know where to put it, how to line it up, and that she needs to get it set up and balls in it as fast as possible?

Is someone going to manage the props - setting them up for the warm up and pulling them out after the whistle blows?

Does everyone know to get into position and stay in when the whistle blows?

Does the start dog know who to check in with before signaling that they are ready?

Do the other teammates who aren't actively participating in the heat know to not gesture or call the dogs' names?

Does the boxloader know what she can and can't do to encourage the dogs? That she should always have a ball in the box when the race is being run in case someone needs to rerun? To stay in position at the box until the judge signals the heat is over?

Do all the dog handlers know who is deciding if a dog reruns?

Is someone watching for faults?

So many things that you assume everyone knows, but they don't often.





Spreadshirt Market Place Product

Flyball Ball Shagger Tee

Maybe Running Veterans in Rio Rancho

Spoiled One may be running veterans on Sunday in Rio Rancho, which is both cool and kind of sad. It's cool because he'll get to run both days, probably, with the regular team on Saturday and with the Veteran's team on Sunday. But, my puppy is EIGHT YEARS OLD. He's getting older. He doesn't seem it, really, maybe a little calmer and easier to manage. I don't want my dog to be old.

Well, at eight, he's more middle aged than old, I guess. Anyway, I will be sure to do stretchies and warm ups for him. The sad part is a lot of core dogs on our team are getting near the veterans mark. The start dog, Weasel's idol dog, our current height dog, have all been there the entire four years Zeph has been training. I believe the idol dog and the start dog will be qualifying for veteran's in a year or two. With the new dogs, we'll have to be careful to practice with several different dogs in the start dog position and I would love it if we got more than one height dog going strong, so we could switch them out.

Weasel will run with the regular team both days, probably. She's just starting her flyball career. I should be working on their endurance conditioning (and mine - Spoiled One is a workout to run). Also, as always, building tug drive. The current tugging game is making them wait in another room, grabbing the tug and calling them to race and come get it.

I also ordered them one of the much coveted pheasants and a mallard from the website. Weasel has joyfully snuck into my teammates cars and stolen their pheasant every practice. She's so cute and proud as she would prance about, chased by the pack of dogs, proudly squeaking her prize and then drowning it in the water bucket. I tried a petwhatever one, but it held no thrill for her. My theory is that it's because it's SOMEONE ELSE's pheasant that she loves it so, but I am trying to accomodate her. Maybe my teammate and I can switch pheasants every practice.

Such spoiled dogs. . .