Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Regionals Flop
Well, I'm still not ready to go through our videos from Regionals last weekend. I'm not sure if I'll ever be ready! And I doubt I'll ever share them, either!
I already posted on Facebook, but for those who didn't see, we had the worst weekend we've ever had. I was so disappointed. I would be lying if I said there weren't tears involved as the weekend unfolded. It wasn't that we didn't win, or place, or qualify. It was that we are WAY better than what we showed. We just chose the worst weekend to have the worst weekend.
My frustration and disappointment was compounded because the trial was poorly run, and some of our runs were eliminated due to time (because our team was out of the running for placement). And also because of time, as soon as you took an off course, you had to leave the ring. Multiple times over the course of the weekend we were eliminated in the first few obstacles. So I couldn't even focus on the positive. Usually after an off course you have the opportunity to run the rest of the course--and sometimes those are even the best runs because you aren't worried anymore, you're just running and trying new things. But, we were whistled and had to leave. So the only thing on my mind were mistakes.
On the positive side, my girl is healthy and happy. I always go back to this, but after we found out about her patellas I didn't know if we would get to play together again. And I didn't know if she'd be able to trial, or hold up during a long weekend. But she did--like a champ. She was raring to go on every run, and had a blast doing it (even when I didn't!)
The positives from the weekend were few and far between, but on the first day we did really well.
Masters Gamblers:
The atmosphere was busy, loud, and crowded. But my crazy baby girl held every single one of her contacts until I released her.
Masters Jumpers:
So proud of this run. Lexi won the class across all 16" dogs--and many, many dogs were eliminated. Check her awesome back side of the jump before the tunnel. Good girlie!
I already posted on Facebook, but for those who didn't see, we had the worst weekend we've ever had. I was so disappointed. I would be lying if I said there weren't tears involved as the weekend unfolded. It wasn't that we didn't win, or place, or qualify. It was that we are WAY better than what we showed. We just chose the worst weekend to have the worst weekend.
My frustration and disappointment was compounded because the trial was poorly run, and some of our runs were eliminated due to time (because our team was out of the running for placement). And also because of time, as soon as you took an off course, you had to leave the ring. Multiple times over the course of the weekend we were eliminated in the first few obstacles. So I couldn't even focus on the positive. Usually after an off course you have the opportunity to run the rest of the course--and sometimes those are even the best runs because you aren't worried anymore, you're just running and trying new things. But, we were whistled and had to leave. So the only thing on my mind were mistakes.
On the positive side, my girl is healthy and happy. I always go back to this, but after we found out about her patellas I didn't know if we would get to play together again. And I didn't know if she'd be able to trial, or hold up during a long weekend. But she did--like a champ. She was raring to go on every run, and had a blast doing it (even when I didn't!)
The positives from the weekend were few and far between, but on the first day we did really well.
Masters Gamblers:
The atmosphere was busy, loud, and crowded. But my crazy baby girl held every single one of her contacts until I released her.
Masters Jumpers:
So proud of this run. Lexi won the class across all 16" dogs--and many, many dogs were eliminated. Check her awesome back side of the jump before the tunnel. Good girlie!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Back to 2o2o Training
Back several years ago the purpose of this blog was to teach Bentley running contacts. We gave up on that when he gained confidence and just jumped them constantly (not to mention we didn't have any idea what we were doing!) and went back to 2o2o thinking that if we set clearer criteria, we would have more success. We did for quite some time (probably a year or so) but, his criteria ALWAYS deteriorates at a trial, and it's morphed into not even having a 2o2o on the a-frame.
But, we can't pull him in the ring because I'm sure the fault is ours (he is ring wise, and we've done a poor job teaching the criteria). If you put Lexi in front of any raised piece of anything, and tell her "touch", she gets into a 2o2o. Bentley has no idea what to do. He tries laying on it, turning around the other way (2off2on) etc. So it's further proof that we need to do more teaching.
So now we're teaching the criteria with his head down (to encourage him to drive to the bottom into position, a current problem) and the 2o2o.
We started in the house on a couch cushion (just barely raised off the ground) and then moved outside to a board. But, in working with him outside (we have seriously limited time because the neighbor's dogs are outside 99% of the time), I think he understands the nose down, but still not the leg position. If I help him get into position with my motion, he's got it, but he isn't quite there on his own.
But, we can't pull him in the ring because I'm sure the fault is ours (he is ring wise, and we've done a poor job teaching the criteria). If you put Lexi in front of any raised piece of anything, and tell her "touch", she gets into a 2o2o. Bentley has no idea what to do. He tries laying on it, turning around the other way (2off2on) etc. So it's further proof that we need to do more teaching.
So now we're teaching the criteria with his head down (to encourage him to drive to the bottom into position, a current problem) and the 2o2o.
We started in the house on a couch cushion (just barely raised off the ground) and then moved outside to a board. But, in working with him outside (we have seriously limited time because the neighbor's dogs are outside 99% of the time), I think he understands the nose down, but still not the leg position. If I help him get into position with my motion, he's got it, but he isn't quite there on his own.
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