Spritz and Lash at the WAG Trial

I had a good weekend at the WAG Trial in Corvallis.  It was great to be back trialing and seeing people I haven't seen in a long time.  I am really happy with the dogs too.
I have been working with Spritz on 2o2o on the dogwalk and waiting for a release.  He gave me 100%, so how could I fault that one.  I have also been working on his teeters.  He used to come right off of the end and on to the next obstacle.  This past weekend I think he broke 2 teeters and the rest he waited for his release.  His start lines are getting better.  He is tons of fun to run!
Lash was awesome.  Lash will be 8 years old in a couple of months and is still holding her own in Masters and even placing amongst the young whipper snappers.  I was very proud of our standard course on Sunday because I decided to try a blind cross on the fly.  I watched handler after handler put in a front cross and did not like it.  The front cross, even when executed nicely, was breaking the dog's stride.  With Lash, I had her on my left over a couple of jumps, slipped in front of her and lowered my right arm and picked her up on my right.  It worked so nice and I was so proud of her that I forgot to call her after the jump and she banked off of the A-frame.  My head was gone after that, but I didn't care as I executed the blind cross without even walking it.

Here are the videos of the runs I got filmed at the trial.

Training Spritz

I have been having fun training Spritz.  We have a trial this weekend, so it will be interesting to see what he gives me.  It is getting a little harder to run full out as I am 4 1/2 months pregnant.  I find my center of gravity a little more forward then before.
Here are a couple videos of today's training session.  He has a great running A-Frame and we have been working on his 2o2o on the Dogwalk.  I am teaching him to fight to stay on it instead of coming off as he pleases.  In the jumping exercise we are working on him jumping 26 inches and also learning to collect for a turn so that he does not launch himself into space and then turn on the ground.
All in all things are starting to come together.

Fusion x Spritz Puppies 1 Day Old

The Fusion x Spritz litter arrived on Februrary 20.  Momma and pups are doing super.

Fusion had 2 boys and 5 girls.

Atom (Male)

Quantum (Male)

Fizz (Female)

Ion (Female)

Kinetic (Female)

Nova (Female)

Velocity (Female)

Singe Running Mat 1

Well, as those who watched the last training video for our running contacts know that Singe was leaping the last section of the plank. VERY frustrating! I went and bought these foam mats as they are wider and I could make them longer than the plank and I could vary the color pattern as it seemed he was leaping when he saw the yellow on the plank.

The first couple reps I had 7 squares as this made it the same length as my plank and he was leaping at the end. I added an 8th square and this seemed to help. At first he would leap every now and again, but he seemed to settle into a rhythm. I plan on keeping the 8 squares until he can run this length with absolutely no problem. I will then go to 7 squares. Once he can do this I will move him to the plank again. I have some ideas for down the road.

I did not video Havoc and Rave as I moved the plank to a new location in the field and had to start from ground zero. I will move it every couple of days until they can run it perfect in any location. I will then gradually raise the plank.

Running Dogwalk 2

Today was our second session fro running dogwalk. It has been very windy here the past few days, so no training until today.

I learned something very interesting with Singe today. I started the plank work with Singe last fall and gave up over the winter. The reason I gave up is that he was constantly jumping over the end of the board. After watching videos of running dogwalk training all winter long I figured out what I wanted to see. It just wasn't happening with him and he is still jumping over the yellow. Watch in the freeze frame pictures. Then there was this one clip where Singe accidentally ran along side the plank instead of on top of it. The little bugger ran in perfect rotary gait and it was beautiful. So, my conclusion is that he is seeing the yellow on my plank (teeter plank on the ground). He goes into collection right at the middle of the plank and then extends out and over the entire yellow section.

Tomorrow's session will be 10 reps of him running along side the plank instead of him on it. If this works I will then switch to a solid colored plank or foam mats.

Running Dogwalk 1

Well the last 2 days I have felt good enough to train dogs in agility. I have been working some of them on sheep though. I am nearing the end of my 1st trimester so things are becoming easier to do now.

I have started on a journey of training a running Dogwalk to Havoc, Singe and Rave. All 3 dogs are very different. Havoc, so far, is easy and has a nice running stride. Singe, is harder as he has more of a jumping stride. He seems to switch to a running stride as he settles in and becomes more comfortable. Rave, aka Lil' Nigget, is a young dog that is having her first experience in agility. She has been a little flyball girl up until now.

I am excited to see how each of these 3 dogs progress over time. I will be documenting their progress, so stay tuned.

Here is the first session of their running dogwalk training.

Running Dogwalk 1

Well the last 2 days I have felt good enough to train dogs in agility. I have been working some of them on sheep though. I am nearing the end of my 1st trimester so things are becoming easier to do now.

I have started on a journey of training a running Dogwalk to Havoc, Singe and Rave. All 3 dogs are very different. Havoc, so far, is easy and has a nice running stride. Singe, is harder as he has more of a jumping stride. He seems to switch to a running stride as he settles in and becomes more comfortable. Rave, aka Lil' Nigget, is a young dog that is having her first experience in agility. She has been a little flyball girl up until now.

I am excited to see how each of these 3 dogs progress over time. I will be documenting their progress, so stay tuned.

Here is the first session of their running dogwalk training.