Makin's Class 3/6/08

Makin was awesome last night. We worked many of the same things as last week but also introduced the chute and the tire jump. She did both of these new obstacles well. The best part of the night however was Makin's performance on the table. We did tunnel, jump, and table with a down. In prior weeks we had trouble with the down on the table. Makin was much quicker on the down and held her position, elbows on the table for the count of five. She was great! Very pleased with her performance all around. We also worked the contact board a lot. Last week Makin's butt would slide off the board when she waited because she was trying to face us. This week we started with a gate to keep her from doing that. It worked great. When we moved away from the board to get her to do the obstacle with us a few feet away she still started to slide off. We will have to work with the gate in place a little more. We also practiced our outs, and the teeter. Makin did great.

I have been thinking about the class a lot and started to figure out what I like about it so much. Agility is a sport just like any other. Like other sports there are three parts to the game. There is the before game part when you think about what you will do and try to visualize it to prepare so that when you actually have to perform you already have an idea of what you want to do. The second part of the game is the performance where you actually have to do the things you had practiced and thought about. The third part of the game is the post game wrap up where you have to evaluate your performance and think about the things you did well and what you need to work on. Practice is the best part of the sport. Working together and figuring things out. With other sports I have played you have to concentrate on your performance. Yes it is important to have the whole team working in sync but with agility you really have to focus on what the dog is thinking. You have to realize when they are eager to work, when they have had enough and need a break and what they need from you to be successful. This is the best part because it strengthens the relationship you have with your dog. I just hope Makin enjoys the work as much as Lael and I do. She is awesome!

Tessa is doing great also. Although she is not in a class right now we are working a lot with her. She is crazy for balls and chases them with reckless abandon. I am working on "waits" with her when we play with the ball. She really wants to take off when I throw it, but I am making her wait until I release her. I think this will pay dividends in a variety of ways in the future, whether it is in agility or keeping her from entering a dangerous situation. I am excited to start Canine Good Citizen class with her. Maybe some day she can be a therapy dog?!

I must say again that I am so happy we have found great people to work with. Katrin and Julie are so knowledgeable and positive they make all this so enjoyable. The people in class are also a lot of fun. It is great to be able to be with people who are as crazy about their dogs as we are!