Riley's First AKC Agility Show!

We did it and survived! Our first agility show was a blast! And not only did Riley and I have a ton of fun, we even earned some Q's! Going into the show, my only real expectation was to not have Riley run zoomies around the course. Which at some points I could tell he was fighting them off!

Day 1 was nerve wracking and COLD! Which didn't help with my shivering! I got there in plenty of time and got Riley measured, then my friends talked me through some of the finer points. The first course of the day for me was, Novice A JWW. I walked through the course over and over, and was having trouble figuring out how to get to the weaves, which was a really tight right turn. I got my game plan and went to get Riley and in literally no time I was up, my knees were shaking (and not from the cold) and I walked to the start line.

I decided to do a big lead out, as I had planned to do a front-cross at jump 3, but I was nervous and you can see in the video, I all of a sudden go, "oh yea! move!". The first sequence was good, but then Riley caught a whiff of Daddy in the stands and decided to go say hi! I called him back and had a good second sequence, then came the weaves. We tried our 3 times and just couldn't get it, so the judges called for us to move on. The 3rd sequence was awesome (you can kinda see him fighting the zoomies here). We NQ'ed but I was so stinking happy! We ran our first course and didn't look like idiots!

Our second run of the day was Standards, and I felt much better, I wasn't as nervous and had the first run jitters out of the way. My only hope here was that he would hit his contact and again, not run out of the ring. And just in case Riley decided to say hi to Dad again, I had hubby video from the elevated booth above the arena. Riley did AWESOME, he even got the weaves! We had a few little blips, but we earned our first Q and even a first place!!!!

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Day 2 was so much better! Riley and I both figured out what we were doing and both were a lot more confident! Again, our first run of the day was JWW, and wasn't as nervous as the previous day, but still nervous. When they started I was suppose to be dog #7, but there were a few absent and a couple who were late. There was one 24" dog and then they called me to the line since I was there! Yikes! I got Riley lined up and waited for the jump height to be change, and off we went! We had a couple refusals, Riley doesn't seem to like/understand rear-crosses yet, so I got some spins, but other then that we had a wonderful run! With our first JWW Q and a 1st place!!!

Next was Novice STD. Over the course of the weekend, with each run, Riley was more and more focused and that was no different for this course. This was our best run of the weekend, earning us our 2nd STD Q and another 1st place!

This weekend, Riley and I earned 3 Q's and three 1st places! We had so much fun and learned a lot! Thank you, to all of you who gave me words of encouragement and support! Our first trial was a blast and I could not have asked for more from my awesome dog, Riley! I am so proud of him! I can't wait for the next trial!

End of day 1 after earning his first STD Q and 1st place!

Riley earned 2 Novice STD Q's and a Novice JWW Q!

Also, in earning our first Q, we earned our club crate sign and shirt!

Ready or Not

Okay guys, this Saturday and Sunday can way too quick! Ready or not, this weekend is Riley's agility debut, and I am so nervous! I thought I had my nerves under control, but the more I think about it, the more I think," Oh shit! We are really doing this!". I know the nerves never really go away, but still.... I don't like them. I think the only thing really keeping me from going into total panic mode, is the fact that I will have my husband and my whole group of agility friends there to help me.

I signed up for Novice Standard and Novice JWW both days, and I am pretty confident in our ability to run the courses, IF I can keep him focused, if I got, that then I think we may have something. I am not expecting to Q, but if we do, awesome, all I am hoping for is a somewhat collected run. I am going to make sure I get there plenty early, so I have time to set up, get Riley measured and most importantly, calm down.

Besides being busy with worrying about our first trial, work, and life, the other reason I haven't posted in a little while is because, we bought a NEW CAR! Well, certified pre-owned, but basically a new spankin car! Now I have a proper dog car! I LOVE it! And we got it just in time for our first trial. Going from my little Corrolla to the Pilot takes some getting use to, I just have to remember I now have a bigger kuboos, although the back-up camera helps a lot!

This will most likely be my last post until after the weekend, and come next week I should have a few pictures and videos to share! So until then I leave you with some cheesy, posed, fall pictures of Riley and Grace.

Agility Show'n'Go

I was so excited when I found out there was a agility show and go before our first real event. The only places Riley has ever done agility, was in our backyard and our club, so this was going to be a good test for him. He behaved very nice in the new place, he stood with me while I signed up and sat quietly in his create while I walked the course and waited for our turn.

Our first run, looked promising, but then he got to sniffing around the tunnel. Once I got him through, we had another good sequence, until the weaves. At first, I just don't think he saw them, and then he started focusing on the table. My much more experienced friends on the side lines helped me out as said to go the other direction, and waa-la! he did them! But, because we spent so much time at the weaves, we ran out of time on the course and had to end early.

My friends, and husband, were very positive, helped me keep my chin up, and gave me some pointers for the second run, which was the same course.

Our second run was much better. No sniffing, but he still wasn't going all the way down on the contacts and had trouble in the weaves, BUT he didn't focus on the table! And we got to finish the course! So, overall it was a very good evening and gave me an idea of what we need to work on.

Here is the Standard course they set up, the novice course were the dark circles. After walking the course and talking with my friends, at 4 and 5, I decided that going to the close end of the tunnel was going to be too hard for a green dog like Riley, so I decided to go to the far side, and besides the sniffing it worked out really well.

Here are our runs. The first part is pretty bad, but we had some good sequences. I also think my nerves had a lot to do with it, but overall I am happy with Riley's performance! Now we got the real thing at the end of the month!!

Contrary to popular belief...

I have not fallen off the ends of the earth! I am still here! YAY!

It has been some time since I last posted.... about anything....sorry :( But you know how it goes, life just kinda gets going and it takes forever to catch up. Now I feel that things have settled down and I can take a break (for now).

Hummm, lets see, what has been going on around here....

Hubby is in the final stages of his fish tank! This has been a looong process, some of the items can be expensive and time consuming (or at least the way he wants to do it haha). So we've been doing it in stages.

We bought the stand and canopy unfinished because we wanted to stain it the color that we wanted, versus what the store offered (only 3 colors).

Stained! Rocks and sand in place.

Down to the final stages. Plants and stick added.

The tank now has water and is cycling to grow the bacteria the tank needs. Hopefully soon we will have fish!

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Grace had her first small road trip with us :) Hubby likes to go off road biking and compete in races, here and around Houston. The first race of the season was 2 hours away, at a cattle ranch that we have been to a few times with Riley. Grace was pretty overwhelmed at first. We had to go into the heart of the event to register, and the crowd, bikes, weird noises were just about too much for her. But, we had 2 hours until hubby's event, so we went back to the truck and ate lunch and chilled. I think that really helped Grace relax.

Riley was wonderful and I think he was kinda a big brother for Grace. Showing her there nothing to worry about.

 Second time was much better! She was much more relaxed and was able to realize there was POOP! COW POOP! DOG POOP! and who-knows-what POOP! Needless to say she had a blast smelling ALL the different smells and was able to enjoy the trip and help me cheer hubby on :)
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Agility practices have been going great, Riley and I are learning so much! The other people at practice have said that we have progressed a lot since the start and they just love how fun and happy Riley is. His tail is constantly wagging and just wants to have fun. We might not be the fastest, but we are sure having fun out there :)
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In other news, a few weeks ago husband and I went on a ski trip with some friends. One of the most amazing  things we did (besides the skiing) was dog sledding! It was so much fun! We got to meet the dogs, help hook them up, drive the sled, and feed them afterwards. It seemed like chaos at first, all the dog barking, jumping, lunging, but the second we were off... complete silence. It was one of the most peaceful moments of my life. Seeing the dogs be so happy to do what they love, run and pull, was just amazing.

One of the greatest things about this facility was, they are a rescue. They take in unwanted/rejected sled dogs and give them a job there. They don't do any breeding and once a dog decides it doesn't want to pull any more, they try to adopted them out to good homes.

The team lead dogs

Second


Third

Fourth

Here is a short 40 second clip of my 10 minute "shift". I was the first to "drive" the dogs and I was so nervous! Hints why I say "I'm gonna die!" at the beginning of the clip LOL :) But it was AMAZING!



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So over the past few weeks we've been busy, but things are settling down and getting back to normal again :) Just in time for spring!

We are embracing this lovely spring weather with smiles and wagging tails!

 HAPPY SPRING!

Mr. Riley and Miss. Grace!

How time flies!

I love course work night! Every other week is course work and it's so much fun to see how far we've come. Riley is doing so awesome! Me, on the other hand, I'm still very unsure but I am getting more confident (slowly) with each class. Riley is very patient with me :)

It's amazing to think how far Riley and I have come :)

Here is our very first attempt to run a small course in our beginners class.

Now!

Although I still need to work on his 2o2o on the A-frame :- /

We still have a lot to learn together but I feel so happy in the progress we've made!

Dog fun filled afternoon

We are loving the warmer weather! 72'F, YES PLEASE! After a couple weeks of 20-30 degrees, freezing rain and ice, the dogs are welcoming this beautiful weather with wagging tails! Now, I know I can't complain too much, because I know some of my followers have it far worse/colder! (But, I must admit, I miss the snow (I'm a former Washingtonian) and I think Riley and Grace would love it). For now, us and the dogs are embracing this wonderful weather, because I know it won't last long before it'll be scorching hot/humid at 90-100 F, sigh.

Anyways, today, after I got back from morning errands, it was play time! I set up the short teeter and worked Riley for a bit, he is getting more confident each time he runs it :) I am slowly putting on taller and taller legs, and right now he is only about 8 inches up, progress is progress!

(This picture is before I decided on the shorter legs)

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Next order of business was playing fetch with Grace! I say with Grace because Riley just wanted to chill after the teeter work. So with Riley laying off on the side, Grace and I played fetch/tug. I love the way she bounds after toys :)... Riley runs...Grace bounds! It is so cute to watch :) Sometimes she will even to one last big bound before she gets to the toy. I'll have to get a video of her doing it sometime.

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After a wonderful afternoon outside, it was time to relax inside. As a special treat, I got the dogs bully sticks while out on my errands! I don't know if Grace has ever had one before, but she loved it! As did Riley :)

Nom, Nom, Nom

 

 Fetch + Agility work + Bully sticks = Happy, tired dogs

Happy + Tired dogs = Happy human

I have the bug! The agility bug that is :)

I've made a few jumps a long time ago, but I've wanted to expand to my equipment list for a long time. Now I am! First "big" piece is the Teeter. Recently Riley has developed a hesitation on the teeter (he hasn't always had it, it's a new thing), I don't think it's a fear, just lack of confidence. He'll run up onto the teeter... then slowly walk... get lower....creeeeeep....slowly tip....creeeeep.... get a little higher.... and make it to the contact.

So, to practice in between weekly classes I built my own Teeter! Pictures of it fully competed and maybe even some with Riley on it will be posted tomorrow.

 The base

 The Teeter board

My teeter and my friends (Red's mom) mini A-frame

Living in an apartment has it's major down falls. Like, lack of a yard for example :( But we do have a nice grassy area right outside, I just have to haul everything out each time I want to practice. I only have to laugh to myself, imagining what my neighbors think of me when I am out there. I'm sure they just peek out their windows, shake their heads, perplexed, or are maybe even a little intrigued.

"What the hell is that lady doing?", "Is she part of a circus?", "Why would you make a dog do THAT?", "Hey Dave, come look at this crazy lady outside!"

LOL, Glad to know I amuse my neighbors I guess!

Now, when we finally buy a house, my one requirement is a large enough backyard for my agility/future agility equipment :) And God bless my husband for agreeing to it! Unfortunately we are about 1-1.5 years away from affording the down payment it requires/ my husband wants to have...

So, until then, I shall be known by our neighbors, as the weird circus lady that makes her dog do crazy tricks!

Yay for crazy agility people!

:)

Riley finds his Spot

Finally able to post!

It's busy here, or at least I feel that way. So here's a quick post.

I was able to get video of class last week and I promise to post it soon :) But last class it was apparent that Riley still really didn't know the 2o2o contact and didn't know the cue word for it, "Spot". After class I asked my instructor what I could do at home to help him understand. He said since we live in a upper apartment I could use the stairs. I was like "Really?". So today I found a lid top and started training!

Session 2

Raising the Bar

Today was the hardest agility class yet! But the funnest!

Last week we started to run some sequences, ie. tire, a-frame, jump. We are just doing 3 at a time. But last week all obstacles were in a straight line. This week they pushed us harder.

We still did the sequence of 3 obstacles, but this time with turns! We just did all right hand turns but DAMN it was HARD, but super fun! Riley did pretty good. The station that he had the most trouble (as did all the dogs) was the 3 jumps in a pinwheel shape.

Riley and the other dogs wanted to skip the second jump and go to the third one haha. After a couple times through each dog got it, with the help of one of our instructors waving a toy at the second jump :) It was clear here (and at the teeter) that I really need to work on Riley's come command, it's kinda sloppy.

The one sequence we did, that Riley decided to try his attempt flying again, was the dog walk. Sequence was, tunnel, dog walk, jump, each with a right hand turn. First time was perfect, he lined himself up nicely out of the tunnel and was across the dog walk. Well.... the second time, I sent Riley though the tunnel and as he came out, I guess I didn't "push the path" hard enough and he was a little crooked going onto the dog walk.

Up the incline = SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE trying to keep balance!

Half way across the top = SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE! Riley decides "screw the scrambling, I'll just jump!"

Well thankfully for this reason, our instructor stays on the other side and follows the dog as he runs across. So when Riley jumped, my instructor caught him in the air! *Insert sigh of relief here*

So I attempted again, pushing the path harder this time. He lined himself up better, but once again scrambled across the dog walk, but he made it without baling. 

Riley and I are both learning what works and what doesn't, and I am learning how my body language is very important in telling Riley what to do. But my teachers say when I harness Riley's speed and enthusiasm, he is going to do great things!

Riley's new nickname = Kamikaze dog!

(Next week I promise to post  video from class)