Pictures!!!

Here's a taste... hopefully more pictures soon!






and yes, that was a "stand" at the table!!!






To check out more pics from the event: http://siriusphotography.smugmug.com/Agility%20Trials/409399

Pickle is in Level 1, 8"

Brags!!!

***EDIT***
*New pics added to the right...*

I've been dying to write in here all week!!!

Last weekend was Pickle's first "official" agility trial! I signed him up on the day of the trial... my mistake was- "oh its cheaper to go ahead and do the whole weekend!" So I signed him up for 9 classes, 4 standard runs, and five games split over saturday and sunday.

Our first game was a blast! It was tunnelers... they were so small (I seriously thought Pickle was going to look at them and give me the paw. There was a total of about 7 tunnels that made up the course, and boy were those turns tight! Pickle performed like a champ- but I sent him the wrong signal so we got on "off course" on that round.

The next run was hang-ten. This game looked a lot easier than it actually was. The idea is that each type of obstacle has a different point value. The goal is to complete obstacles adding up to ten (not going over) then bank those ten points by jumping through the tire jump. Our first and second sequences were flawless! Then when I attempted the 3rd sequence I had planned out, I lost him. The sequence was jump-tunnel-teeter. For some reason the teeter scared the crap out of him (he stayed scared of it for the rest of the day). After bailing of the teeter, he made up his own course for about 15 seconds (the run is for 60 seconds). I finally got him back in control, but not soon enough to finish another sequence. Luckily, level 1 only has to get 20 points- so the little man got his first Q!!!

Our next run was a nightmare!!! It was our first standard run... it was an easy course set up in a figure 8 pattern with the table in the middle. Well, we get through the 1st 2 obstacles, and Pickle sees the judge in the middle of his course and runs to her barking. I was kinda sorta embarrassed at this point. I get him undercontrol and continue the course. The teeter at this point has scared the bajesus out of him so am there baby talking him at the teeter... didn't work this round. After this round, I put him back in his crate for a nap.

Our next round was our second standard run. It was beautiful! He even did the stand at the table- which we haven't really worked on!!! He thought about running past the teeter, but I called him off and brought him back around... it wasn't pretty, but he did it. We Q'd in this round with 5 seconds to spare!

The last run of the day was connect the dots. Again, all the obstacles had point values, the contacts had the highest value. We smoked this class as well bringing in our third Q of the day!!!

Pickle's first run on saturday was another game. The name off it is eluding me right now, but it was very similar to gamblers. This was by far the best run of the weekend!!! He was so on! He was the only level 1 dog that completed the gamble perfectly with out hesitation! I think gamblers is going to be his game! We Q'd here as well!!! With this Q, Pickle won his very first title!!!!!!!! So now, he can be referred to as The Wicked Pickle TG1! I'm so proud of the little guy! Mom came out got to see him run.

We had over 2 hours until our next run which was our third standard run. He ran great the first half, did the teeter perfectly! I got so excited about the teeter performance, I was not focused on the run... I sent him past the tunnel right on out of the arena, when I called him back, he was so confused he jumped right on over the tunnel- hahahaha. He finished the course, but we didn't make time, my mistake. At thispoint he'd already run seven runs that weekend- by the time I got him out of his crate to warm up for his 4th standard run, he was so tired- he wouldn't even tug with me (for those that know him, he loves to tug). I decided to take him out of the final 2 runs, he was too tired. Nine runs on one weekend is a lil much for a 12 month old. I am so pleased with him! He worked really hard for me, paid attention, and worked through the tough stuff! He's gonna be a force to reckon with! :)

Thank you to Dori, Rhianne, and Mom for coming out! I'll try and post pictures soon! I am waiting on the photographer to upload the pics!

Private Lesson

The Midget Man had an awesome training session last night!!! He was so excited about work and so attentive! We worked on weave entries and contacts mostly. His weaves are really coming along... a couple of weeks ago I thought he was never going to get them.
Jamie gave us something new to try on our contacts- I am going to put him into a down at the base of the dog walk. I still want to try for a running contact on the a-frame, so for now- we are using stride regulators. So far so good.
Private lessons seem to work better for us at this time, he focuses on me more, and he seems to stay happier (more excited about agility).
Looking forward to playing at chuting stars friday night!!!

Weaves

This weekend there is a TDAA trial in Mckinney (teacup agility) and it is so tempting to go since they have same day registration. We definately have things that we need to work on- namely weaves, so I decided to close my channel weaves and see what the little monster would do. HE NAILED THEM!!! I was so excited... I honestly did not think he was ready for that (I wonder if he can repeat that performance elsewhere though).
I have a private lesson tomorrow, and I am going out to chuting stars on friday night with Dori. Depending how the little devil does, I might take him to the TDAA trial for fun... maybe even just do tunnelers.

Things to work on...

WE had a make-up class yesterday morning for our handling skills class. We mainly worked on wraps, threadles, and 270's. Pickle can do these blind folded at home, and did pretty well in class- but we reverted back to being more interestesd in all the other dogs in the class. I had a couple of times where I could call him back to me, but several times I had to go collect him. He is so good when there are no other dogs present, I really just need a way to work on distractions.
Jamie (my instructor) is moving and will no longer be able to offer classes at her home. I've looked at other places to train, but haven't found anything that I find compatible with my schedule or my liking. With the new job, I do not yet know what my work hours will look like, I know for the first month I'll be working pretty long shifts. I'd hate to sign up for a class and then never be able to attend. I think for know I'll take a few privates here and there until my schedule figures itself out.

Blah

Not a whole lot going on lately. Pickle and I have a handling class on saturday, then wednesday we'll have a private lesson to focus on our weaves. If things go pretty well this week, I am thinking that I will take him to a fun match next friday night... depending on what the vet says about his ear- he's lost a patch of hair around his ear- talking to the vet-> she thinks its just fungal, but we are going to run a few tests this week.
The job that I've been interviewing for months (atleast it seems that way) was offered to me- I do believe I am going to take it. My current company keeps making all these promises to me, but none of them have happened- this new opportunity is to good to pass up. It is a full commission position, so I will be broke for the 1st two months, but I'll be ok. EEKS!

Grrrr

I know its been a long time, but we haven't had class... and I haven't had much to post about. Since I had been putting off the weaves and pretty much not looked at them for weeks- I decided to pick them up again. I wasn't getting the desired affect with the channel weaves so I tried luring a time or two. It seemed to click and he magically seemed to understand the weaves- on the down side, they are not super fast. I only lured one training session then went back to channel weaves- I think its made a positive difference. My goal now is to speed them up (I think that once the weaves are outside he will run them much quicker).

Thats all for now- hopefully I will get to go pick up my teeter this weekend!!! :D