Sheep

Raygen is so excited. This evening our neighbor got his Summer lamb. He will keep them until about September. When Raygen got outside he was so excited to see them. He ran to the fence and whined and ran to me and gave out an exciting bark and ran to the fence and came to me again. Look Mom! Sheep!Can' wait to continue herding with him.

USDAA Trial June 21-23

I entered Ryker in the Teams competition. Our team mates where Cayenne and Monty.Our Team name was PG (Parental Guidance). Eric, Monty's dad, designed a great iron on and provided us with the T-Shirts on the morning of our run. We had a great time. Our PG dogs had some mishaps and surprise performance throughout the day. It was hot and we were tired at the end. Ryker, again, fell of the dog walk. It is a very slippery dog walk and a lot of dogs are having minor issues. His speed and inexperience makes it dangerous for him to attempt it the way he does our dog walk at home.On Saturday and Monday we entered all the other classes and even though we had some fantastic runs, we only qualified in in one class. Seems like there is just a bit missing. I had to stop a run, when Ryker started to not wait for a release on the contacts and ran the course without me. Even though he took the correct sequence of obstacles, we weren't a team. He did much better at our Standard run that followed.

Happy Birthday Ryddick!

Mr. Boister is turning 2 today. We didn't do anything special. CU class was at 6:30pm and he was so good. Happy Birthday Ryddick!

USDAA Trial 21-23

Ryddick didn't do much this weekend. We did some calm mat work and he got to jump over the practice jump a few times. We walked calmly around the agility field and I sat for about 5 minutes by the ring giving him treats while being quiet. It was hot, so most of the time he slept in his crate in the open van. What a good boy! He did get to run around with a ton of other Border Collies. And we played a bit of tug and he got to go into the baby pool and .... I guess he did get to do some stuff.

USDAA Trial June 21-23

Raygen With Bill McDevitt

I don't recognize Raygen anymore. He is faster and more enthusiastic about Agility then ever. He was so exited when I sat him up for Snookers, that he almost got away from me and started on his own. Whoohoo! His weaves are getting faster and faster. We have to work a bit more on the teeter in different locations. He did the gamble in the Master Gambler, that included a teeter. I was very proud of him.Can't wait 'til our July trial.

Blackfoot AKC Agility June12th-15th

Raygen has been great all 4 days. Unfortunately we did not DQ. It seems that it has always been something that I would have never thought about. First Standard run he knocked the first bar. I took full advantage of it and pushed him all the way to the end. It was great.
He took 3rd and 4th place in jumpers on Friday and Sunday. I am so proud of him. He really seems to love running with me.

Blackfoot AKC Agility June12th-15th

It was 4 days of different weather. Thursday was cold and windy with a few sprinkles. Ryker ran great. He earned his Open Jumpers title in first place. He was the only dog in the class to qualify. He did not miss his weave entry, but ran around a jump.
He did have an awesome Standard run on Sunday. He listened well and entered the weaves great and while he was in he accelerated and skipped a weave. I pulled him out and had him do it again and still qualified. Some people did not see him skip one of the weaves and were surprised I pulled him. But he can't think he can do it and get away with it. Speed is great, but it has to be accurate, too. His contacts were great and bar knocking has dramatically improved. Some of the Linda Mecklenburg and Susan Salo exercises have helped. I am very pleased with his progress. Hopefully it will repeat in USDAA at Lynnleigh Farms.

Happy Birthday Ryker!

My Baby Boy is turning 3. You are the most amazing dog. Quick to learn and always trying new things.
Happy Birthday Ryker!

Lesson with Liz

One whole hour just Liz, Ryker and I. We worked on some SLS exercises. Really got to proof him more and challenge him to think on staying. He forgets to think when he is around the Agility equipment. He loves thinking and guessing and anticipating. And that is great, however he has to think with me, not against me. We also did some weave pole entry training. Been battling this on and off for some time now. Shauna has been giving me some great ideas and Liz added some more great ways to help him collect. He did some really nice collection with one of the exercises.I voiced my concern about his 2o2o at the A-Frame and possibly putting to much force on his shoulders when he stops. But Liz said that he does it very nice. I will relax a bit more and make him stop every time.My plan for the future. .... do the trials I am entered in, go to camp, re-train, re-train, re-train, no more trial until he can get it right. ASCA and DOCNA trials only and train in the ring if (when) he needs it.

GSLDTC June 5th, 6th, 7th

This weekend we have been going to the Great Salt Lake Dog Training Club's AKC Agility and Obedience trial. Ryddick has been really, really good. I had him off leash at the practice jump and did some "calm" jumps. He gets do excited when he sees a jump that I am practicing a lot of calm jumping. I also did some ball herding and he was a bit nervous when there was a another dog near him , but did not react in any way. Chocolate, him and i went for a walk next to the creek and I found a nice spot for them to go swimming when it gets hot at the trials.
I also had him jump on the tale to have a practice measurement. He was just a bit over 21", that is more then an inch less then last time. This time he was relaxed and not on his toes. I have hope!

Ryddick's Friend

Chocolate is visiting again. Ryddick and him play a lot. Chocolate is a Shi-Tzu Yorkie mix and only about 7lbs. Ryddick is 46lbs. He towers over Chocolate. When they play, Ryddick is very gentle. He pushes him around with his nose. Chocolate will charge and jump on Ryddick and he will roll over. It is so much fun to watch them play.

2x2 Weave Training

After 8 months of not training Ryddick on the 2x2's, I decided that it is time to start again. I made is very simple and started with one, then two, then three. He not only picked up very quick from where we left of last year, but he seemed to have a better understanding of what to do and I was able to move forward within minutes. When he doesn't do it right I don't toss the toy and he knows to try again and correct himself. He is so damn smart. Raygen and him are the most operant dogs I have ever met.