Yes, I did cry - but only once!

For all of you that get frustrated with agility, your dog, your timing, your lack of speed, skill...whatever...I do feel your pain.  On Saturday afternoon of training with Stuart and Pati, I did dissolve to tears.  We were working an exercise they call "Triple Threat Drills", and the name alone should make one want to cry.

The sequence started with #1, but then we got to #8 and from there we had to pick up any of the 4 obstacles that were not part of the sequence and get back to #1 and do the course again. After the 2nd run through, we had to pick up another of the 4 obstacles, just not one we had already done and then run it again...as you can tell, that wound up being a 26 obstacle course. I ended up taking the A-frame first time around, followed by the #4 jump on the second go round...that is NOT what made me cry. 

As we started the exercise, I made the mistake of handling that #4-#7 sequence very conservatively...let me remind you that I was training with Stuart and Pati Mah as they prepped for the USDAA Nationals.  Pati immediately stopped me and wanted me to get 2 back to back front crosses in...one between #4 - #5 and the other between #6 - #7...take a look again at the line from #1 to #4 and let's think a second about who I was running...oh yes...I kid you not.  After the 4th failed attempt, I dissolved.  Pati quietly came out and reminded me they fully intended to "push" me beyond my limits all weekend.  She told me I could make it happen but had to give Karma her "shhhh" as she went between #3 and #4...even though I was needing to get there...so...on the 5th attempt, we finally got it.  It was just one more example when they proved to me that our dogs indeed need and use all of our cues...not just the motion alone.  That was the first and last time I cried that weekend...when all else fails...give your dog more information!

Playing on the beach of Jekyl Island before training all weekend in Jacksonville with Stuart and Pati Mah.

Energy Flow

So, after 2 days of training with Pati and Stuart Mah, one of my biggest "take-home" messages was all about Energy Flow...when we run agility, the course has sequences where the energy has to be high and big, and then other parts where the energy has to come down and relax.  "Relax into it" was a phrase I heard a lot and it took me a while to get the feel of that.  How do you relax on an agility course when you run a dog that is 50 x faster than you?  It all sunk in when we played around with "Gamblers" courses using a "time gamble" rather than a distance gamble.  During the first 30 seconds, we built up as many points by making up our own course...then the buzzer sounded and we had 15 seconds to get the gamble and get out. 

We worked two different set ups. The first was a box of jumps and the gamble was to get in the box and do a 270 turn with a straight line through the box.  Essentially, you could go straight through the box, then do a 270 or you could enter the box and start with a 270 followed by a straight line through. 

Since I don't get to play USDAA, and I was a bit unfamiliar with the game, Pati spent a good deal of time talking me through it.  When you rush to get all the points in during the opening sequence the energy is obviously very big and high, in order to get the gamble points, you must be able to settle back down and calm the energy or you won't be able to blast a fast dog in the box and correctly get the 270's and straight lines.  If don't calm down, they'll come in too fast, miss the straight lines, etc... 

What a perfect game to play in order to build the energy and then have to bring it back down rapidly.  I didn't get to walk it since I was trying to understand the rules better, but this was the sequence that Karma and I successfully ran at the end of the weekend...without walking it...how cool is that?  NICE!!!! We finally got the energy flow to work perfectly. 

The 2nd time gamble was a jump with weaves on both sides and we had to take jump-weave sequences...the goal was to get as many of the jump-weave or weave-jump sequences as possible without going over 15 seconds or you lost all the points you built up.

Let go and hit the gas!!

Tonight I sit here thinking about the really great weekend we just had and the prospect of what this week will bring.  Both Keegan and Karma got 2 Double Q's this weekend with their fastest times EVER.  I'm so grateful for the many great instructors we've had along the way.  That said, I am most grateful to the one that has given us the most, Stuart Mah.  We leave on Tuesday to drive to Jacksonville, FL to train with Stuart over the weekend.  Both little girls (6 months) are going to have private lessons on Friday and Saturday nights, while Karma will get most of the work on Saturday and Sunday.  Keegan is going as my security blanket and relief dog when I can no longer feel my legs. 

Why would we do that you ask? Quite simple...Stuart is the reason we play agility in the first place. 

Karma - Photo by Rosemary Strasser

In 2006 I met Stuart at a camp.  Keegan wasn't even competing and I remember being so frustrated and feeling like I'd never be able to play this game...I'd never get my front crosses right, or support the jump, or get my dog to weave, etc... Over the course of 2 days, he and his wife Pati, showed me that agility is a game to be played with your dog, and your dog is the one that has the majority of the responsibility.  All I had to do was train them well and learn how to drive the two "sportscars" that I play the game with...it's really all about when to "tap the brakes" and when to "hit the gas"...when to hang on and when to let go.  It all seems so simple doesn't it? In theory it is...problem is that like so many other things in life...we just like to hang on too much.  We need to learn to let go and hit the gas. 

MACH2 Keegan

Keegan finished MACH2 in Burnsville, MN on August 22, 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXGinMRjonk&feature=recentlik .  I was pretty frustrated with him that day because he ran so slowly...my husband is fairly convinced that he knew it was the last Double Q we needed; therefore, he ran slow to prevent me from screwing up.  Those of you that know Keegan, know that's likely right...he is definitely that arrogant.  The funny part was that he proceeded the rest of the weekend to run his normal fast self. 

This weekend (September 17, 18, 19, 2010) Keegan ran his fastest times EVER.  A couple months ago I was certain this was his last year competing due to the leg, but thanks to a wonderful vet in town, cold laser therapy, and chiropractic work, he looked and ran spectacular this weekend.  Even when I fell on my rear this morning in JWW, we still managed to recover, qualify, and win the class.  Now I need the chiro work!

5 Months!

Wow. The summer has really flown.  The girls have kept me very busy. This past Saturday they turned 5 months.  Shelby made the long drive back to Indiana with her mother last weekend.  I was pretty sad but happy to find out how pleased the breeder was with her.  She'll be shown primarily in UKC and I look forward to someday having her back to do some agility with. 

Shadow is proving to be a delight to train.  About a month ago I had posted a note on our lists to place her. Then I started training her. Now there is no way she's leaving...how's that for good plans?  She is super fast and delightful to live with. She reminds of Keegan all the time...even looks like him.

Leia has definitely turned into the naughty puppy with her mother's fiery attitude.  Both girls are so fun to train.  While working on typical puppy stuff (sits, downs, stays and self control) they have also been introduced to agility.  They are learning how to be very obstacle focused puppies.  They can drive with nice distance already through tunnels and jumps without bars.  They're comfortable on all boards that wobble and have been run across planks and introduced to contact obstacles low to the ground.  I have to say it's been a great deal of fun and I blame them for my not posting regularly on the blog.

I look forward to a weekend in Minnesota with Keegan, Trinkit and Karma.  Keegan only lacks 1 Double Q from MACH2.

16 Weeks!

Leia - 16 Weeks

Shelby - 16 Weeks

Yes, the girls are already 16 weeks.  Worse, it's been a month since my last post.  It has become a busy time since they are now actively training daily.  Shelby (ShiVK Firing on all Four) is leaving in 2 weeks to go be a show dog in Indiana.  I will continue to co-own her and follow her accomplishments in the breed ring.  She likely will come back to me after she finishes her Championship.  Leia (ShiVK Her Father's Fire) has become the dominant - pushy girl I knew she would be.  She is developing some nice sequencing skills through tunnels and jump standards without bars.  Shadow (ShiVK Small Fiery Inferno), is crazy fast. Everything she does, she does it in squirrel speed.  She's a very interesting puppy...seems a bit shy and aloof until you start training.  She never loses focus, her attention is very natural, and her toy/tug drive is amazing. 

Shadow - 16 Weeks

Instant Karma MX MXJ NF CGC

(Photo by Rosemary Strasser)

With the puppies here, I think I've failed to talk about my brilliant baby border collie.  Karma turned 3 on March 15 and finished her MX title on May 9, 2010 with this run http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evQ3vyclWnM .  This was a course that I didn't think we'd successfully run. I was particularly worried about the line from the table to the right side of the tunnel, knowing I'd have to leave her on the table for a decent lead out.  She read it much better than I thought.  She followed that up by finishing her MXJ the following weekend with the fastest jumpers run of the day with this run http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8D6xBPBLs0.  I was pleased with the run except for being a bit too far behind at the end causing her to almost miss a jump. We did recover in time to fix it though.We repeated that the following day with another great jumpers run, again, the fastest of the day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4TuMzgkLGA. 

It''s particularly sweet to run Karma as she was a rescue.  Not knowing exactly what I'd adopted, I feel very blessed to have such an amazing dog.  Never did I imagine that I'd be seriously thinking about attending and competing at the AKC National Championship and now, that seems like a reasonable goal. 

Not only is Karma a delight to run, she's wonderful to live with.  She never tries to herd the little dogs and what I can't do with them (canicross, bikjoring and skijoring) I get to do with her. 

The Fun Part!

The girls just turned 9 weeks old on Saturday and have officially (IMO) hit the most fun stage.  They have been doing fabulous on house training and are now completely weaned onto a diet consisting 100% of raw meat (and yes, even a raw meaty bone in the form of chicken wings).  They got their first vaccinations on Saturday and traveled in the car beautifully.  They have changed a lot over the course of the past several weeks and all just shy of 2.5 pounds...they are still small enough to fit through the fence and are superb at finding the holes.  Shelby is still her father's daughter but has turned out to be the prettiest conformationally. 

http://www.youtube.com/user/cdikeman#p/a/u/0/SH7nSKwE_H4  Not only will she be great in the showring but she is a little lover as well.  Shadow is still our naughty puppy only from the standpoint of the fact that she's the first to tackle everyone else.  She loves to explore new things and I hate to admit that while I was playing with the others and turned in horror to see her racing over the dogwalk.  Yes, indeed folks, this one will make an agility pup and she already has a great recall that can be seen on this video http://www.youtube.com/user/cdikeman#p/a/u/1/JR-U7N8WNfQ  Then there is my puppy...Leia.  She is a very elegant little dog and pretty darn fiesty to boot.  While Shadow may start the fights...Leia won't let them end until she's won.  http://www.youtube.com/user/cdikeman#p/a/u/2/9_N3CSI2URs(pictured from top to bottom: Shelby, Shadow, Leia)

The Busy Dustcloud

Hard to believe the last two weeks have just flown by.  We have been a very busy dustcloud indeed! The girls are now 6 weeks old, eating great, miraculously are either pottying on their indoor potty or outside (hard to believe), and have the most adorable personalities.  Shelby is her father. The way she plays, looks at us, and even wanders off on her own, is so characteristic of Keegan.  Shadow is our naughty puppy. She loves Danny, already picks on the other dogs, and loves to get into stuff.  Leia is a very playful, yet laid back, and super sweet puppy...yet loves to tug on pant legs.  They don't seem bothered by anything. They got to meet their first new people this weekend and thought they were fun new obstacles to jump on.

Huck (we still have the darling foster boy) has turned out to be the sweetest big brother to the girls. He absolutely adores them and his patience with them is truly amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb0ztzB7hXQ

Keegan has picked up 3 more Double Q's, now putting us at 12 toward MACH2.  Pretty spectacular since he's only not double Q'd 3 times out of 15 days of trialing.  He's become such a fun, fast, consistent boy.  Last weekend he had his fastest Standard Run to date which makes me even happier that we are beating our best times.

Karma finished her MX yesterday with a really great Standard Run.  We have some consistency to work on, but for a 3 year old border collie, I'm pretty jazzed! She only lacks one leg to finish her MXJ...maybe that will happen this coming weekend in Omaha.

Little 4-Lb Trinkit was put on the team this weekend and entered in Open Jumpers with Weaves.  I wasn't expecting her to qualify as she's not seen 24-inch weave poles in training to date, nor does she really like running longer courses (after all, why on Earth should a tiny Princess have to work so hard?). She surprised me with 2 perfect scores both days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCi62B-iEyk

More from the Dustcloud soon! Cheers and Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful Mom, Debby and grandmother, Beau!!!!