Documenting the life and times of a Border Collie mutt
(Ahem - Thursday topic in this case...) Pace changes are fairly simple at level 1. You aren't going to be asked to do anything while running or going slow. Just want the dog to be with you and not get ahead (or behind, but that is less likely to happen). I remember at the course, …
Continue reading Tuesday Topic – Rally skills part 4; pace changes and sitting turns.
This part covers the four level 1 skills that start with the dog going in front to sit facing the handler. Two of them involve the dog then moving around the handler's back from right to left, while the other two skills involve the dog coming straight to the left heel position. One of each …
Continue reading Tuesday Topic – Rally skills part 3; Fronts
The second part covers simple turns, spirals and slalom between cones. 106/108/110/112 Right Turn (90deg, 180, 270, 360) - Based on Pivot skills, Cone-to-Cone, Sidestep, as well as Step Touch for drive (to the degree he needs it, but I suppose it will also aid focus 'into exercise'. Obedience Right Turn and About Turn. Also …
This is going to be a multipart series, with some descriptions and lots of videos. We have only done level 1 stuff so far, which is mostly skills he knows. It's just a matter of making it look good - and keeping focus in stressful situations. Filming all this is excellent training for us - …
Continue reading Tuesday Topic – Rally skills part 1; sits and downs
No topic on Tuesday, and I'm taking the weekend off from posting - review and plan is coming Monday. Just a quick (layman's) definition here: A 'cue' is a request. "Can you do this thing?" Asking the dog to lie on the ground can be cued verbally "Down!" or by gesture, like a flat hand. …
Monday Alternated Look at Me and Look at Bowl - a couple of seconds each, but always rewarded with the bowl. Not adding any other behaviours to this yet, but I definitely feel he is on his way to 'getting it'. Broke up the session with chasing games and finding games. At one point he …
Continue reading Journal midweek, week 19 – new stuff, rally… and poetry?
https://youtu.be/dG0qyHq6vGQ Fifth round. For those interested, the rules can be found at Regelverk 2018 Two short rounds first with just a sit, a 360 degree turn and a left turn. And a front/round the back/walk forwards. If I recall correctly. Then a longer course; twice with instruction, and then a final round where the teacher …
Tales from the Apupcalypse aka My First Dog aka Fenris 