Yes it can. And in Kaleb's case, effort is a measurement of the length of the tongue. And as you can see he always gives 110%.
Yep, he's been workin' hard.
Still goin' strong 3 hours later...
Even huntin' dogs need to take a break ...
Note the lack of tongue on the subject to the left. It is safe to assume the subject on the right did most of the work.
There is nothing better in the world seeing a working dog work, doing what they were bred to do. Nothing tops it. Well except for having a really good weekend at an Agility Trial :) that is a close second.
*editors note: you must think he consumes alot of water hunting? You're right, I would say 2 or 3 litres ... and someone has to carry it ... my name is Sarah, I am a pack mule ...
"If I wasn't in the comfort of this warm vehicle, you would be mine sucker. I could get you if I really wanted too. You should Just know that. I can climb trees too, you know."
"Ferdinand, you are just a bucktoothed, bad-hair-day, overgrown rodent. Your quills don't scare me."
* editors note: I for one, hope we don't run into Ferdinand any closer than this.
Besides my own dog Jane, the only dog I have known longer, is Jazmin. She is a very special dog to me. She is 11.5 years old and she is still bratty, sassy, spunky, independant and perfect.
She helped confirm the reason we wanted a flat-coat when we were looking for a second dog.
The first time I met Jazmin, she had her head burried in a snow bank with her butt in the air, acting pretty much how she does now - 10 years later.
I would love to be running my dogs in Agility at the age of 11, like Jazzy ... and still with the same spunk as a youngster. It's amazing what an impact a dog can have on us ... and she's not even mine!
I think her personality is a part of what keeps her so young at heart. She barks, she bounces, she ALWAYS has fun. I love telling people how old she is, and I love it when they say "really??"
Jazmin (middle) and her apprentice's, Kona (l), and Roxy (r)
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?
- Alice (in Wonderland)
"Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!" - White Rabbit
"No wonder you're late. Why, this watch is exactly two days slow." - Mad Hatter
"Off with her Head!" - Queen of Hearts
If I am going to dress up my dogs and embarrass them, I will embarrass my self with them, it's only fair.
I read a great article in Clean Run about warm-up routines with our dogs. This is a great subject, and something I take quite seriously, for me it can make or break a run - whether it be Agility or Obedience or any other dog sport really. It is more than just the physical, for me it is getting mentally ready too.
I sometimes see people ignoring their dogs in the warm-up area, or when they take them out of the crate, taking the dog out too soon, not moving them around, not engaging them physically or mentally - and the dogs get bored, or you've probably even seen dogs staring out at the ring and finding the equipment more rewarding than working with their handler in some instances. The warm-up is one of the things I look forward too, as much as putting my dog on the startline. I want to feel that connection with my dog, and know that their body and mind can handle what is coming up. It is all about balancing the quantity with the quality of warm-up.
All of my warm-up routines (dare I say rituals) include a physical and mental warm-up ... for both sides of the Team ... the dog and me. Because all of my dogs are different drive, focus and energy wise, I piece different elements together to create the best warm-up for each one, and it always changes. My rituals also vary given the venue, the weather, the class being run, and the time of day (1st run of the day vs. last class of the weekend), just to mention a few. But there are basics that never change.
I always do a pre-warm up usually half an hour before we run, which includes going for a potty and nice little walk and lots of trotting on leash - I let them wake up a bit - we might do a bit of heeling, sits and downs - nothing too much to get them overly excited, but to let them know that we are getting into work mode. Sometimes I take them together, but generally I take my guys out one a time for a bit more one-on-one time. Then it is time for me to being visualizing my run with each dog.
Sometimes (depending on the stress levels of the event, or if I feel the dog needs more from me to focus) I do 2 pre-warm ups - usually with Kaleb (but sometimes for all of them) :) I'll take him out again about 15 minutes before he runs and we boost the excitement level - from the time he is out of the crate, it is all about him. We run together, do some shadow handling, do lots of trotting, the treats and toys come out, we tug - away from the excitement of the ring if possible. I put him back while still excited knowing he is game to play in the ring in about 10 minutes.
I usually take the dogs out to the ring 3 - 7 dogs before they run, depending again on their energy, the class etc. Usually the 2nd pre-warm up :) indicates how I need to adjust those last 5-10 minutes before we hit the startline. Again, I am engaged with my dog the whole time from leaving the crate, talking, playing, moving around, doing some stretches, we will sometimes use our warm-up jump to practice a certain serpentine, jump angle, 270 or rear cross the course might have - again the warm-up jump has a purpose, it is NOT there to warm-up my dogs. I am!!!
I bring out a REALLY good toy and we tug and tug (Kaleb likes his tug and treat, Gyp likes sheepy tugs) - I get them high - but still focused, not just using up important energy reserves for no reason. If the class is delayed or moving slow, I'll put Kaleb away one more time and bring him out 1.5 dogs away from his run - he is warmed-up at this point. Just before we enter the ring we do a we bit of focus work, and we always run into ring ... it is the most exciting place on earth you know.
Then we leave the next 30 - 60 seconds in the ring up to the Agility gods ...
After I run each dog, I take a minute to get that run out of head - be it amazing or crap, I need a clean slate to focus for the next dog. I stick my headphones on, find a song for that dog (really I do), and then I begin the visualizing for the upcoming run with that dog. I warm-up that dog ...
then once again ...
we leave the next 30 - 60 seconds in the ring up to the Agility gods ...
You might be thinking, that Taco looks really small, doesn't it?
Well Jane's dad thought it would be just right for a Terrier. While I was gone this weekend, he made Tacos. He put aside some plain unseasoned beef just for her, whole wheat tortilla, folded and dressed it up just for her.
He took photos ... but it took him a while to figure out my "f'ing complicated camera" :)
Jane posing with her Taco and showing some self-control.
more, please? she did eventually eat the tortilla ... but Jane's dad had to cut it into small pieces for her ... seriously.
Jane says retirement is good, and highly recommends it to everyone.
It was a great weekend at Training Troop. I was dumb and didn't write down the real specifics, but I do know ... what we messed up on and what we did good on, and most placements and all that.
The short and sweet version:
Gyp ran 6/8 and placed 1st in all her classes that she Q in. All 3 Standards, Gamblers, Jumpers and Steeplechase. She was on, feeling good and super pumped all weekend. She had some really fast top 3 times in her standards and had the 2nd highest points in Gamblers with 104. I just remembered she also got her VBA (Versatility Bronze Award - 3 Masters Events with 10+ Q's), her 10th Gamble this weekend earned her that one.
I had a couple DUH moments, like in Snooker where I missed the 'B' in the 'A & B' combo (I didn't walk the closing correctly) ... she did what I asked. Snooker as the last event of a REALLY long weekend, sometimes gets the best of people!!! I ran in properly with K after my screw up with Gyppie. Amanda and I switched dogs for Team ... it was fun, we each had faults, but that should be its own blog post :)
I am really feeling like Gyp and I are clicking, and I don't walk courses questioning so much how I will handle them with her (and I don't give in to peer pressure :) ), and I never think "I can't get there" anymore, I know I can, and those silly thoughts in my head hold me back. It is a really nice feeling to go there and trust her skills, and have her trust me. Our contacts have improved too (sticking to my criteria and my timing, the "friendly" reminders from Amanda have helped).
Gyp also got worked on by "Magic Hands" Susan on Sunday. She has had a little tightness in her back area causing a bit of uneven movement I noticed last week, and I knew it was time to get some adjustments. Gyp really loves being worked on and the benefits are long lasting. She worked miracles on Kaleb over the last couple years. She did a quick once over Kaleb, but knock on wood, he is doing great.
The man, the legend the K-man ... hehe ... Kaleb had a great weekend too, he ran 4/8, just a few little bobbles on some runs a missed contact on our Gamble, but his energy and enthusiasm remained over 8 runs. I was very proud of him this weekend, his standard times were really good. He brought home 2 Standards, and Jumpers and a Snooker ... getting closer to Gold :)
It was hard not having Jane there, and a few people asked where she was. Well she was at home and got spoiled by Pete ...
Oh and we won the Costume Contest for best Handler/Dog Team ... photos to come :)
(thanks for letting me borrow Wicca as Jane's stand in, Amanda)
Here are some videos:
Gyp and Kaleb on the same Standard run - I pretty much handle them the same, but sometimes there are areas I need to really pick K up, and I never lead out as far with him either, so I handle a bit different in those instances. He also doesn't have the independence Gyp has on contacts so I have to handle for that also ... ENJOY!
We head out tonight for the Training Troop Halloween Trial. One of my fav's. On top of running in a great Trial, they have a Halloween Costume contest, and I've been slaving for 2 weeks getting them together :) I might have just topped the Wizard of Oz from Last year ....
(Yes I am one of those people who dresses up her dogs, and I am OK with it)
I am sad and I can't help but tear up knowing Jane won't be there with me. It was hard enough only filling out entries for 2 dogs. But it is now hitting me that she is retired. She only ran in 4 or 5 trials a year, and this was one of them. I know it is for the best, and I have to keep thinking that.
It would be cruel and unusual punishment to drag her 2.5hrs, dress her up for 10 minutes and sit around doing nothing for 2 days. So I have a replacement at the trial for Jane ... her name is Wicca :)
So Jane is staying at home with her dad, and word is she gets to go for lots of Truck Rides and even gets to go into work with him!!
Stay tuned for photos of this Year's Halloween Masterpiece!!!
