shoemonster

Were you like it with your first dog Stella, or is it something that more happened as you'd trained a few of them? I more understand why you do it, than the people who are really competitive that do it, you do it cos you like to teach, they do it cos they have to win

I wonder why they do it that way, I'd prefer to reach each stage and challenge myself throughout the way I guess they only do the lower levels to get them out of the way ETA I can see why they do it, I guess I may even feel differently with a different dog, but as Ed is my first I'm enjoying every part of it!

Yeah the cooler weather will be better too We've started change of position in class, but i've been doing it with them for a while anyway Haven't touched on DOR at all but I do get them to drop sometimes as Ed's drop is quite slow, and I make it a race for him to drop, while playing at home I'll have to look through the rule book and see what else there is we could learn now for later Any suggestions? To break it up abit for him now and make it a bit more fun? (I know its as fun as I make it but you know what I mean lol) Oh, how funny is this? The instructor says to me, "you're really uncomfortable withthe lead aren't you? Maybe put it in your pocket!" Made me wonder for a sec if she was a Doler and had read this! Have started touching on retrieve by starting introducing holding the dumbell, and he loves to jump, so he'll love learning broad jump! Have a go to mat for dinner so send out should be not too hard to teach

We will definitely be there to watch Get myself motivated!

Oh and last night reminded me not to get caught up with one good night of trainign and instructors praise and that we have lots of work to do before we think about trialling yet! Oh well, it was good for my enthusiasm! And I am determined that we will get there one day! I might set myself a new goal, to have done my first trial by the end of this year

Well we had our first night in a higher class level at training tonight OMG I really need to do something about my nerves, I was a mess Luckily the instructor realised and she was fantastic, really helpful Eddie just doesn't know what to do when I'm like like, he gets all freaked out and then he realised that the people in the agilty ring we doing jumps and he was obsessed with them Towards the end we both settled down and he did some great stays and stand for exam Also did my first real figure 8, and he was pretty good really, using hand targets to get him around

He's so happy, he wags his tail the whole time! He's looking pretty good to my amateur eye! I'm now really in love with videoing training, so I can see exactly what I'm doing

dupe!

Is this the one that is on Saturday night? 6pm or something I might go watch

Oh cool! Yeah it's hard to see his feet, I was surprised how often he did that in the video He knows targeting so I might use a target stick for it Makes heaps of sense to break it up, and I realised on that video I was walking up one way doing something then walking up the other end and doing something! lol You are right I thought a while back I should tape myself or someone else calling out commands and play that back, as I tend to get distracted easily (hehe me not Eddie) and forget what I intended to do half way I am taking in what you are saying even if I seem abit slow in doing it! So much to remember but I will be keeping this thread so I can read over it all the time too I have been working on Eddie's drops too, as he is hesistant alot of the time to drop, working on getting fast drops, and working on me giving shorter signals and not bending over so much to him as I have been. I've just been doing it on the rug in the lounge room, and once he is switched on he is quite good and does lovely straight quick drops for me I think my main problem is that I'm trying to bring it all together, isn't it? That's what you've been trying to tell me, work on the things seperately, foucs on one thing at a time Ok, lots of homework for me to think about Oh also drove past the train station carpark last night, pretty deserted and nice white lines everywhere for me to practise on! lol (with OH nearby so it's not too scary Thanks so much for your help

More? I am inspired at the moment! I promise I'll give you guys a break from me now! lol At the end was mucking around with hand targets, running just in front of him til he touched my hand with his nose then he got a treat, have heard this can help with heel position, as he kmows when he's in correct position to touch my hand then he gets a treat, anyone else think this will work? He's a bit of a lagger sometimes, I guess due to me not motivating him enough The loud noise in the video was the person from the unit in front bringing their bin in, he pretty much ignored it which was fantastic, as he could have been distracted by that, and run off Any ideas on getting a dog that's stafford size to give "shoulder contact" or are there other ways? I think I watch him so much that I turn my body slightly towards him, and now if I look straight ahead he sits back a little bit, or something, that doesn't make sense, but he lags if I am looking ahead, as you will see if the video And some mucking around with freestyle stuff! He's so cute, he tries to jump the whole 360' circle in his spin! lol Oh and of course the sound is out by a few seconds again, I don't know why youtube makes all my vids sound out

Yeah! it's a bit more like what I'm like with no pressure Add pressure and I get so stiff, I will really have to work on that!

Oh the video works again now! link is up the page abit

Oh cool thanks JulesP I often think it's my own wonkiness that makes him go wide sometimes! Poor Ed having a wonky handler!!! lol I will check out the Alexander techinique too, sounds interesting The kcc run throughs sound interesting too, would love more details

Ah thats a good idea I lose my direction pretty easily! Even when I'm not looking at Ed (like when I leave him for a recall or stay) I'm so wonky!

Ok, short heeling before dinner at mums house last night! I still looked at him way too much Once again the sound is a few seconds late, don't know why that always happens, it's weird I will have to video some freestyle stuff now!

Oh its scary! And I spent most of my tiem at freestyle being glad it wasn't being videoed thinking of all the silly things I was doing! lol Least I am being aware of it though!

Heyyyy Stella!!! Ok, I will ask them about doing run throughs with just one area I won't have training at WP for a couple of weeks, have got shows and a wedding (rude wedding cutting into my dog training! lol) Mrs D, I did listen, just don't know where there are tennis courts nearby! lol I think my stepping into him is a balance thing on my part, due to a long existing bung knee, so really do need to practise on my own stuff Anyone know things for improving my own balance? Shoulda listened to my physio huh?!!! I took some more vids tonight, my god I look at him way too much, I don't even realsie I'm doing it at the time

Oh Mel that'd be awesome Arya, some great points there, we will all be helping each other We can all motivate each other too!!!

Love it!!! Very very cute!!!

Yeah she's ok, she's taking abit of time away from the computer and away from training, etc Have to say I'm missing her alot Haven't got that book, most of the times I get to Kcc its after work, or I'm at a show and my brain is fried, I will try to remember this sunday when I'm down there for a show (the library is open when shows are on isn't it?) I have borrowed a video off an instructor/judge at my club on footwork, it's really good too, he talks alot about practising without dog, and practising on tennis courts, etc

Nah I think you're right, I probably do do my turns too suddenly, even my own legs don't co ordinate sometimes! This is good, things to think about Thanks everyone, I love constructive critisism

Oh man the video upload is slow as! Yesterday I had mine 70% done and I clicked on the screen by accident and lost it and had to start again, I was so pissed! Maybe it is something about the shortness of the staffords that means they do go out a bit wide

Ah that makes sense I will keep that in mind, it's so hard to train myself to do the right thing, or rather know what the right thing is!!! lol

Would they consider that to be too wide do you think? Ed is abit like that on his drops mainly too Dogdude, I want more vids of you 2