Tracking Yesterday and Today

Yesterday (actually a few days ago now, this didn't get published on the day I wrote it) I laid a somewhat long hard surface track.  Of course somewhat long is completely subjective because some people routinely practice full length tracks and I never do.  So somewhat long is actually pretty short for most people.

I have faded the water after using it for about 8 tracks.  As discussed, Dottie already was willing to keep her nose down and I think the water did help in that it gave me the push needed to not age my hard surface tracks at all.  Some people were telling me "aging doesn't matter on hard surface" but if that is true, why was she having so much trouble?  I had gone back to 1/2 an hour, but she was still having trouble.  The HITT has you run the track right after laying/spraying it, and I think that has really helped us.  The HITT also helped me realize it is ok to put food on hard surface tracks.  And finally, using food in combo with the water and no aging for several days gave Dottie some confidence back that I had taken away by making it too hard with too much aging.  So while we didn't follow the steps exactly and have faded the water,  there was lots there that helped us.  I did re-discover that too much food is a distraction for Dottie because the scent of the food obscures the scent of the track.   Some food is good, but it has to be spaced far enough apart that it is a reward and not a lure.

Back to my track yesterday.  Overall she did well, but had one part between a big building and a shed where she picked up her head and seemed to be looking around.  Also, the same van driving back and fourth 4 times about a minute apart each time distracted me and I forgot a corner.  But Dottie and I both realized the mistake at the same time and we went back and got on track.

I laid a second track that was pretty fun.  It went along side a building (the base movie theater.)  Turned up some steps, and was now in a covered section, turned back the same way and went down the ramp next to the place we had just come from.  She nailed it!  Here it is on film.



Today I laid another track in the same area (movie theater/ chapel) and went between the building and shed again.  Again it caused trouble.  I'm guessing it is the combo of the big building with the smaller building.  She penciled 2 of the hard surface turns, did ok on another HS turn and had a bit of trouble on 2 more of the hard surface.  One of the turns she made correctly, then abandoned it to go up the stairs.  She has to learn that just because there are stairs, the track doesn't go up them.  Stairs are fun, but I'd better not do any more.  This track was aged 5 mins.  Here are the highlights:



And for those who have the time to watch the whole thing, here is our video from today:


And here is a picture of the area she had trouble in:

4th of July Trial

I trialed for 3 days over the 4th.  I like the location because even though it is over an hour away, it is under a huge horse arena on top of a hill so even when it is hot outside, we are always in the shade, and there is occasionally a breeze.

I had to drive home Friday after the trial to return a guest dog, but after that I planned to "camp" (aka sleep in my car) in the parking lot.  That went pretty well.  Lots of room in the mini-van!

This was one of my best agility weekends ever!  Fancy had a double Q the one day she was entered, Pie double Qed both days she was entered, and even Dottie got one double Q and then two additional jumpers leg the days she didn't double Q.  But the biggest news is all of the dogs took first place in all of their runs!  I've never had a pure blue weekend.

Good dogs!

All blue, and 4 QQs also!

Who needs an RV when you have this set up?  Dottie has claimed the "bed."

The really cool campers.

Pie checks in.

Sunset at the agility trial.  As seen from our parking spot.

Muffin being small and cute and not taking up a lot of room.

Fancy and Dottie's leg sleeping.

Comfie.

Fancy the next day at the trial waving and barking for a treat.

Camping in the mini-van isn't something I would want to do every weekend, but it saved on gas and a hotel cost.  I think the dogs enjoyed it a bit more than I did.

Close Ups

This little dog is so cute!

She's watching me.

No really, she is.  I was sitting on my chaise lounge reading my Nook, and she got on the foot and looked at me over the top of my knees, imploring me to do something more fun.  So we practiced some agility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One More Picture

Of Pie in action on the 4th of July.  Notice Fancy is holding her flag while being pulled in the wagon.  They are both so good!

Sometimes I Do Non-Dog Stuff...

...but it is usually with dog people.  Last week our agility class was canceled so one of the ladies in our group had us over for dinner at her spectacular hillside Malibu home.  Driveway was a bit scary.  Directions said, "Put the car in first gear and proceed up driveway and DO NOT STOP."  The directions neglected to mention the hairpin turns on the DO NOT STOP NEAR VERTICAL driveway.  Happily, I made it without incident, unless you count adding grey hairs to my head.

Dinner was very tasty, conversion and company were both great!  Here's a picture of the ladies in the class (some hubbies were there too.)

Beach Day

After the very hot weekend we had a bit ago (this post is over due) I looked forward to taking the dogs to the beach.  I don't go on the weekends due to crowds.  Monday showed up and it was gloomy and cool, but since I had been craving a beach day we headed out after work.

I didn't bring a ball because fetching the ball in the water causes Pie to accidentally ingest the salt water with disastrous results.  And the ball causes Dottie to obsess over Fancy with annoying results.   I just planned a relaxing walk along the beach.  Unfortunately, there were so many fishermen we couldn't walk along the water's edge.  And walking behind the fishermen doesn't work because the dogs constantly run to the water and could potentially get in the way.

So we picked a spot and hung out.  Much to the dog's disgust. Without the ball, they wouldn't run and play.  They spent most of the time backing up, trying to entice me to throw a non-existent ball.  Oh well, at least it was cool.

Some fun running.

Digging is always popular.

Glamor shot plus sandy nose.

Pie gives it a try.

Not too wet.

Does this ever happen to human models posing on the beach?

Lots of this going on.

Dottie supervises the digging.

I spotted this sail boat.

Big waves!

Off into the setting sun. 

Happy 4th of July!

At an agility demo in the morning.

3 Patriotic Girls.

I think I need flags with shorter sticks.

Trying to make do with 2 flags and 3 dogs.

Good Fancy!

Really good Fancy!

Extra really good Fancy!

Good thing Dottie is smaller, it makes the flags work better.

I let the dogs out.

Happy Pie.

Serious Pie.

Patriotic Pie.

Got the ears up!

Howling in frustration, or maybe just eating a hot dog.

I hate you.

Really, we aren't done yet?

This is me glaring at you.

Being a good sport.  This is as far as the ears would come up.

Not sure what is going on here, but it is the end!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Just like Benjamin Button, she keeps getting younger!  My mom is the original Spring Chicken.  A very good looking chicken, not a plain, boring white chicken raised for meat.  Maybe enough with the imagery.

We celebrated by going out to Fridays, then back to the house for some home made ice cream cake with 9 layers and at least 3 different types of ice cream!  Wow!  Made by brother K's special lady friend.

Happy Birthday to the Best Mom Ever!

K and special lady friend.

The special birthday song and ice cream.

Southern California Collie Club Agility Trial Results

Dottie didn't Q very much this weekend (2 for 6), but when she did Q her winning streak continued. She has all first places since Memorial Day. NQs were 2 (slight, in my ever so humble opinion) handler errors and 2 bars. One bar she touched the wing and the other she didn't jump high enough.    I saw the underside of her deep chest scrape it.  We also had additional random bars. She was definitely hot but was still very fast. Good old Pie was 4 for 4 with all first places and 2 QQs. Fancy was 1 for 2 and was a bit naughty. I'm not really sure what has happened to my steady, "when you absolutely, positively, MUST Q, call Fancy" girl.

Dottie got 41 points (one std and one jww), Pie had 89, and Fancy 17.  Fancy and Pie are both in P so they get more points per run, but Dottie is running faster yps (yards per second) and that is what counts.  On the runs Dottie dropped a bar in but had no other mistakes, she would have also taken first based on time compared with the other dogs.  By 3 full seconds in one class!  It is so nice to have a truly fast dog!  She is fast, but her fastest times come from tight turns.  If the course is wide open, she won't have as big as an advantage.

Since the trial was practically in my backyard, there were lots of local friends to hang out with, great times were had! Not so great heat, hummidity, and running order... I was there past 2 o'clock each day due to the judging schedual having open JWW before Masters and of course T2B always runs first and takes up time.  I'd rather be in and out quickly.

I am sad my last run of the day I couldn't get there in time for a nice tight post turn with Dottie and instead cued huge extension...Someday I'll be the handler I want to be, and then my dogs will be happier. Good dogs for putting up with me as I am now. 

I didn't take any videos, but I did snap a picture the dogs and their pretty ribbons.