control unleashed

My copy of control unleashed arrived. One of the dogs bit the corner off the packaging. Must have been in their hurry to learn about it. A quick skim reveals exercises in getting your dog to look at the things that make it blow its tiny mind, but to relax at the same time. I've been saying this to people who get me to turn Spike away for ages. Will give it a good read through when possible (PhD getting in the way right now).

scary blouse

While Maggie is away I had a funny thing happen.

I rescued Maggies blouse from a bowl where it was probably going from black and white to grey. It''s fine and I put it very carefully on a towel rack in the bath to dry.

Funny thing is I was reading about "fear periods" when dogs get scared of things for no reason last night. Benny is now in the corridor barking furiously at the blouse in the bath, obviously out of his tiny mind! Funny dog. The only thing that is even slightly frightening is that is vaguely like an animal print.

NAWS

We won class c jumping! I knew Spike was going well, but didn't realise how fast he was going. Actually the best thing was that I handled it mostly from the middle. I had worried that the grade C would be a bit harder than the B that I was in last year. As it turns out it was a helter skelter, and we like those.

Rupert was back with his mum which is great news for all who have spent the last week wondering where he was and worrying about him. He looked really well despite his ordeal and he won his class too!

A lot of the people I know, train with or see at shows all the time did really well too. I won't even think about listing them, in case I miss anyone!

Rob.

New caravan

I have recovered enough from the trauma of getting it home now describe what happened.

I got a good price for a nice, but quite old caravan at an agility show. We agreed we would pick it up at some later date. Maggie had to go to Liverpool airport so since that made a trip to pick it up shorter we rang and arranged that I would pick it up after going to liverpool.

I set off about 4 ish on the day after having worked from early morning. Got there paid for it had a nice cup of tea and a chat, and then went out to set up. I got hitched up reasonably quickly and put all the cables on, everything worked. Off I set. There was a bit of a clonking noise, but we have a trailer that does that so I didn't worry. Anyway after a couple of hundred yards a big clonk and I look in the mirror to see the caravan receding! Turns out I had forgotten to hitch it on, and had just put the hitch on the ball.

Anyway got it back on with minmal damage, and drove for about 4 hours. got all the way home, and cut into the drive. unfortunately I was too tired to think, and did not slow down and check we fitted. The van moved inwards as I turned tight to avoid vehicles opposite the drive and hit the heighbours wall, scraping the heater outlet and wheel trim off the caravan in the process. Ooops! So I put it in our turning circle and went in to sleep.

Next morning I had to move it onto the drive. So there I am reversing it about and I hit the front of the house. Slight dent to van, no damage to house. eventually got it sorted and stable.

I have a new heater outlet and it is all shipshape again, but I have to say we will not be caravanners very long if I keep this up!

Good training

Spike has been doing really well at training. So fast, and often accurate. Any accuracy problems might well be my fault, but don't tell him. Competition soon, now in grade b. Should be fun.

Another "arty" dog

Not quite such nice work, but he's only young.

Put it on a lead

So I was out walking with Spike ad Willow offlead and Ben on until we passed his geronimo wall. Spike was running about and having fun and went off round the corner. I called him back and realised there was a person walking their dog on a lead. Spike focused and would not recall or down. Then he ran in round the back of them. She was upset and waved her stick at him, I think she might have hit him with it. Any way he does his usual and recovers and looks to me. She walked past and said "perhaps you could try putting it on a lead". So I told "it's a he and when I want training advice off someone who hits my dog with a stick i'll ask for it".

Trouble is of course, she was not to know that if I put him on a lead he is worse, and that he hardly ever runs up to dogs anymore. Nor that he has never bitten. I'm not even sure he was running up to the dog actually, he mostly mugs the people they are with for treats, or runs straight past. Anyway I'm a bit annoyed; at me for reacting, at her for thinking she has an instant fix for the dog I have had for 2 years, and at Spike for regressing. It's always frustrating when they ignore you I guess. I think I will be mostly training Spike for the next couple of weeks!

farm training

Felt pretty bad all day before the last farm training session.

Strangely once we got there after a few blips Spikey worked very well. I did lots of obedience with him between runs and he approached calm at some points! He was knocking poles, so I got the timing just right after one pole down and stopped him so he knew I didn't want him doing it. Guess what no more poles down for the rest of the evening. He really does try! I left feeling much better than when I started.

Ben was Ben, and met everybody in his usual relentless way. He is now registered with the KC as Billabong Ben. Pretty pleased to get that name. Oddly someone told me on Tuesday it would be a good name. They claimed not to know I had applied for that about 3 weeks before. Life's strange sometimes.

Went to Rother Valley Dog Agility today. normally it is obedience with a couple of agility courses set up. I do the agility with Spike (if they set it up safe, which they don't always) and obedience with Ben. Willow comes sometimes to chase pebble splashes in the lake.

Today it was their party day. Kids party games, and silly dog games. Spent an hour setting up and could not get an answer to whether there was any training. So I just went home again. Not my scene at all kids parties!