Rally-O results

Recently Brody had his first real go at a Rally-O Championship show. It was at the AEC Benefit show at the NZKC exhibition centre in Ardmore.

We were entered in all four of the Novice Rally competitions, with the hope of gaining three qualifying certificates (gaining at least 90 / 100 points) in order to achieve our first Rally qualification (Rally Novice - RN).

I was so pround of Brody - he was SO happy to be in the ring, and worked like a champion. All that to my rediculously long stride and fast walk..... and we did really well!!!

We gained 4 /4 qualifying certificates, with two wins and a second!!! I was so happy, and stoked that Brody was happy in the ring.

Having a go at Rally-O

In the weekend Brody and I had our first proper go at a Rally-O Competition. It was a ribbon trial at the Ardmore Exhibition Centre.

Rally-O is a new sport that has only recently been recognized by the NZKC as an official sport, that you can gain titles in. It consists of a course of heel work, and many other activities such as turns, sits, downs, weaving through cones, recalls etc. The course is set out with signs that you walk around before your round.

I was a bit nervous, because I have given Brody a BIHG break from obedience due to his epilepsy, and how anxious he was getting in the ring when doing obedience competition.

When it was our turn to go in the ring I tried really hard to be positive and happy even though I was a little scared about getting lost or doing the signs wrong. I also aimed for speed.... because you are placed based on your time, and I thought it might be better to keep Brody focused if I was moving fast!

I was SSSOOOO happy with how Brody worked in the ring. He was happy with a wagging tail, and enthusiasm. He tried really hard the whole round, and did everything properally. The picture above shows him 3/4 through the course doing his slow pace.

Our round had no deductions, so we got 100 points, and then it went on our time for the placing. And we won!

Now I'm looking ahead to the upcoming champ shows so that I can work towards getting some Rally-O titles for Brody.

National Dog Show 2011

I left Auckland on Wednesday morning to head off early to Nationals in Fielding. I bought my first every house at auction the night before (both scary and exciting!) so my head was a bit all over the place. The drive down was bit yuk - wintery and windy and cold!

We arrived in Palmy to the motel I was sharing with Nicki and her three shepherds to find a very wet and cold Nicki - she had been out doing tracking with Reicher.

Thursday was nice - wandering around the Mansfield arena watching everything that was going on - it was the prelude obedience (off site - I didnt go watch that) and the prelude breed inside that Nicki was doing with her youngest GSD Indie. Nice to just wander and not have too much to do.... except for spend some money of course!

Mansfield Arena

Nicki breed showing Indie

Friday was the first day of agility, unfortunately they moved the agility from outside Mansfield stadium to the Fielding club grounds. It was a bit of a pity because it didnt really feel like we were part of the national show, and the grounds felt fine on Sunday when we were there for AD / Finals!

Brody ran in Intermediate, Novice and jumpers. He had a good run in intermediate except for Brody contacts (leaping off the top!), but kind of fast. He went clear in Jumpers C which was great as we are only a few away from JD, but not super fast. I managed to watch some agility, but missed most of the obedience I wanted to see!

Chace posing at the agility grounds

Saturday was a very busy and somewhat stressful day. Brody's health has been a bit up and down lately - no seizures since Christmas which is awesome, but since then skin and shoulder issues. So I was really worried all day about how he was. We ran Novice (I didnt know I entered it and didnt walk the course) and knocked a rail, and Jumpers C (clear but slow). Went and watched some breed and obedience, and then got back to agility only to have drama with Nicki - she just got bcak from breed showing and had four GSD's to run right away. So I got my intro to shepherds - I had to take each one to the ring from the crates in the car for Nicki to run. I think I scared the judge a bit when Reicher hauled me to the ring and almost pulled me onto my face! Then the drama of trying to get one in and one out and of the crate with three dogs in...... Fun!! Also Nick almost had an asthma attack, then when I was taking the last dog back to the crate when Nicki was all done there were BC's running all around the ute, with Reicher and Tess in one crate going nuts, and I was meant to open that crate and get Indie in. Needless to say I decided NOT to open the crate! I didnt want any GSD eating BC incidents!!!

Brody with best buddy Reicher.... that is until Brody decided it would be a good idea to hump him!!! Really not a good idea!

Paws N Music

Saturday night was the Paws N Music event, and both Nick and I were pretty nervous!!! My first routine was the HWTM - little star.

This was me completely out of my comfort zone, as Brody's not too keen on heelwork, and I'm not a dancer, and definitely not good being all delicate and girly! Unfortunately Brody got distracted by someone eating something that smelt REALLY

GOOD off the the side of the ring, and apparently I didnt have enough heelwork in to score very high. Its a bit of a pity because I think that although there was not as much heelwork, it was better choreographed and more entertaining than many of the other HWTM routines. But it didnt score well - we got 4th. The next routine was our starters freestyle - Brody was a bit tired and laggy, but hit most of his moves. We got third behind Kate and Irma.

Nicki did really well with Reicher - 4th in Elementary with her werewolf routine, and first in HWTM with the routine that I choreographed! Stoked for her!!!!

After the prizegiving all the kiddies came up to see the dogs, and as per normal Brody was VERY popular! We had a good play with all the kids, and jumped over (or on top of) a few of them!

I got back into the car after prizegiving to find a puppy surrounded in sequins..... Silly me had put Brody's beautiful sequined bandana too close to the crate, and forgot to give her a chew, so I think she is going to have gold sparky poos for a few days, little bugger! And after the hours of sewing!!!

Sunday morning we had AD at the Mansfield grounds, I was a little disappointed because both Brody and I managed to completely stuff it up - completely demo'd the second jump! It was a bit disappointing because theres hardly any AD's this year, and I am trying really hard to get ADX with Brody this year. Then we had lots of fun watching all the breed show, parade of winners, and Test C obedience. I took Chace for a few circuits of the stadium to get her used to the strange noises and surfaces.... and to tire her out!

Then Nicki went back to the unit to eat a whole lot of junk food, and drive home Monday morning, another crap weather day! Raining and windy.

All in all another great Nationals, a bit disappointed with some of our performances, but Brody is happy and seizure free, and thats the main thing. I always love watching all the events, like the Breed showing (still dont get it though!) and the YKC (there are some SUCH awesome young handlers!) and it was great to see the South Island girls!!

Looking forward to next year.... hopefully Chace might be on the scene then too!!!

Brody and Chace posing on the ride home - North end of the Dessert Road

Obedience Seminar - Kamal Fernandez

Last weekend I went to an Obedience seminar - Training course with Kamal Fernandez.

• You Tube Video of Kamal at Crufts

Brody and I were lucky enough to get one of 10 handling spot, where I could take Brody and work with him during the seminar.

Saturday started with a FREEZING cold start at Ardmore.

The four reasons that you are not getting what you want from a dog

1. Lack of understanding - the dog does not actually understand the task you are asking it to do properly
2. Lack of motivation - the dog is not motivated to do it
3. Lack of Respect - the dog does not respect you
4. Relationship problem - a handler issue.... eg. the dog is a rebound dog, or trying to live up to a previous dog.

I think that Brody definately has a lack of understanding of the things I am asking him to do, and needs more motivation.

The basic ideas were that in training a dog, to get a really motivated excellent dog you should:

• Positive reinforcement (LOTS)
• Clicker training - allow the dog to learn what you want by offering behavior, rather than being lured. A clicker could be an actual click, or clicker word.
• Teaching to dog to be focused on the handler, almost WILLING the handler to notice that it is doing what the handler wants so it can be rewarded.
• The dog should learn to hold a strong heel position, despite distractions or the handler looking away, talking, or doing strange body posture
• The handler should not lead behaviors or nag to heel, or look at the dog... instead reward with a high motivation reward when the dog is doing it well
• Lots of training in the ring is really important e.g. 4:1 training:competition. So your dog isint sure when a reward is coming. The dog thinks the ring is just an awesome place to be, as it gets all these rewards there! Choose what you want to reinforce and have your rewards ready.
• Overtrain what you need in the ring - do 150% more heelwork then you need in the ring, or three retrieve's when you only need one.
• Randomizing where the reward is coming from, and teaching that the dog must do the behavior to get the reward, rather than be lured to follow the treat.
• Reinforcement zone - using where you reward a dog to build importance for that area e.g. the left side for heel work
• Plumbline - the position your dog should hold during heelwork - like a piece of string from you hip down to the ground
• Using lots of hands on tactile work with your dog, to build your relationship and value for interacting with the handler, and desensitize to handlers touch / movements
• Being a 'lumper or a splitter' e.g. breaking an exercise down to lots of very small pieces
• Hierarchy of reinforcement - having a range of rewards, and understanding the importance / value of each for your dog, and using them appropriately.
• NOT naming a behavior / task till you get exactly what you want. Kamal used noises to gain attention rather than asking for things, and rarely used to dogs name. Also just click / reward for a long time until you get your 'finished product' that you can start adding the cue / command to.
• Reward NOT lure. Train the dog that yes. there is a treat in my hand but you only get it for looking at me, not following / nosing the treat. The dog learns that to get the treat / reward he must give the correct behavior.
• Don't 'cheerlead' your dog. If you cant get the attention / work you want in the ring you need to do more training. Your dog should WANT to be in heel, looking at you because you might just look and see him working really hard, and reward him!
• Not all dogs are toy motivated, but you can build this drive. By making the toy more rabbit like (not a half dead three legged rabbit - be exciting and realistic!), putting onto a rope, flicking around etc. Trying different types of toy, incorporating treat into toys to build interest. Even playing with other dogs in-front of your dog. Work over many sessions to build up the interest / drive.
• Food circles - to reward, build drive and interest. Throw a treat out, and encourage the dog back, pull the dog around you and throw another treat out.... You can change so the dogs runs around you, through your legs etc.
• Targeting - teach a dog to hold a nose touch to hand, to use in heel work and maintaining head position.
• Transfer of value - making a little boring thing totally exciting and the best thing ever for your dog because of the rewards / high value you build for it.

Important concepts to consider when teaching new tasks

Proofing - testing your dogs understanding, giving controlled chances to fail so the dog learns

Generalizing - transferring the experience + learning to a new environment

Reinforcement - builds behavior

Kamal used lots of games to build motivation for the dog

• Get the party started

Sit in a chair, somewhere quietly with the dog with you. Suddenly jump up and have a big play with your toy, being super fun and exciting for the dog. Alternatively to playing you could do food circuits. This builds interest in you, and the dog is always looking at you to see is a game is going to start.

• Eye Spy

Stand up with the toy / treat in your hand. Stand still until the dog looks at your face, rather than the treat. Click and reward. Progress by increasing the time the dog must look, then increased time and you looking away. Teaches the dog that he wont get a treat by focusing on the reward, instead is rewarding for giving the handler attention. Encourages the dog to be looking at the handlers face all the time just incase they notice and reward.

• Give us a clue

Stand and without giving any other clues / cues (dont' move your body!) move your hand to the left side in the heel position. Click and reward your dog for any movement towards the left side, and each time ask for a little more movement. Reward on the left hand side to build value for the heel position. If your dog dosent notice your hand, do more eye spy games and you can wiggle your fingers a little.

• Chase the rabbit

Basically running around with the tog (tug toy is best) making it super exciting and fun, the dog tugging and playing with the toy. Make it exciting and not predictable, let the dog win sometimes (unless you have a very dominant dog) to encourage drive for the toy.

• Hit the baby

This is an extension of chase the rabbit..... when your dog is playing / tugging with the toy really well, with your hands touch their face and body. You can add in doing the same with your foot. Desensitizes the dog to touch, and also increases contact/importance with the handler.

• Musical chairs

Ask the dog to do something (sit, spin, down, thought legs....) click, run to your chair and reward the dog. Repeat. Then ask for two things, click and reward. Then do the same, but run to another chai you have set up with rewards..... This can be played with lots of people or on your own, and teaches the dog that it dosent know where its reward is coming from.

• Good Cop Bad cop

Ask the dog to do something with handler (like eye spy), then another person tempts them with a box of treats. The dog dosent get treats from the 'bad cop', who says 'oh no too bad' and pulls the treats out of reach. When the dog looks / returns to the handler it gets clicked and rewarded. Teaches the dog to stay focused on the handler and ignore distractions to be rewarded.

• Catch up

Another person holds the dog in the middle by the collar, and the handler walks in a circle around the outside (left circle) with hand in heel position. Dog is released, and when the dog arrives in the heel position with the handler is clicked and rewarded. Ask for a little more heel work each time, and then can change to right hand circles. Teaches the dog to race into the heel position and it will be rewarded, also good for Test A recalls.

• Beat ya

Hold the dog by the collar, and throw the toy out in front. When the dog is pulling against the collar restraint release and race towards the toy, let the dog win! Builds drive for the dog, and also desensitizes against collar touching / handling.

• food circle

A different way to reward with food to help build drive. Throw a piece of food out in front, and encourage the dog to move fast, and come back. With another piece pull the dog in a circle around you, and throw it back out in front, repeat. Can change to the dog going around the handler, through legs etc.

• Simon Says

How well does your dog actually understand its cues / commands?

1. put your hands at the side, and ask your dog to sit

2. Hands on head, ask your dog to sit

3. hands on hips, ask your dog to sit

4. Hands on knees, ask your dog to sit

You can do this for a number of commands and do all sorts of body / hand positions.... what about when you sit down? Will your dog stand etc. This tests your dogs understanding.

• Push me pull me

For building a stronger heel position, where to dog actively maintains the position ('plumbline'). When the dog has a strong static heel position, start testing by pulling the lead so it pulls the dog out from your hip slightly. As soon as the dog resists the pulling to pull the head back into heel, click and reward. Can add in more active pulling, pushing the shoulder away etc.

I hope my summary of the seminar has been helpful, I will keep everyone posted with how our new training regime is going, and hopefully load some pics / video's from the seminar if I can get them.

Agility weekend away

This weekend Brody and I went on an agility mission to Cambridge and Hamilton. We went down with Debbie and Bailey, and met up with Matilda with Hiska, and Tonka with Molly and Jazz, also Darren and Adam.

Saturday started with a very early morning drive - we left at 5.30am! We arrived at Cambridge far to early, despite the Mystery creek Field days traffic. And surprisingly the weather was actually great, despite a bad

forecast.

Brody and I ran in Jumpers C (knocked a rail because I didnt time it right, and Brody's pacing was wrong), Starters (placing yay!), Novice (missed an up contact), and our first ever AD.

I was really happy with our attempt at AD, as we got much further that I thought. My only goal was to get the see saw, which we did. It was really only me mucking up the cross over that blew it.... But check out the video.

Saturday night Debbie and I drove to Hamilton, and stayed in a great little dog friendly motel (the Abbey travel Lodge) with Tonka and Matilda and all the dogs.

Sunday at WAG was more like the forecast..... very wet and muddy, so not all the pleasant! Tonka started the day in great form - getting the last ADX she needed with Molly to get ADX gold! Wow.

Despite the weather and a tired Brody we managed to get two more ribbons - in Jumpers C and Starters. All in all a great agility weekend.

GC's got talent.... Results!

Well apparently Brody and I have got Talent - we won the most talented teachers award! Yay!

Look out Nationals and NDTA here we come

GC Talent Show

Today Brody and I participated in the schools talent show... GC's got Talent!

It went ok, except that the floor was super slippery (so Brody couldn't do some things properly), I was paranoid that he was going to bolt into all the students, also we ran out of room moving forward in the first part and had to stop and stand there!

All in all it was alright, but I definitely need to do more work, mostly on me dancing better and being more theatrical.

Brody's competitions in the holidays

This holidays Brody had a couple of different competitions. In the first weekend we entered in an elementary class at an obedience champ show, and Brody (for once in obedience!) did really well. His heelwork, which is usually the issue, was fantastic... only half a point off! But unfortunately he broke his sit stay. We would have won if he had stuck the stays!! But a third place ribbon was pretty good.

This Saturday we entered the Paws n music show, that was run in conjunction with the Ardmore Bennefit show.

It was a great competition, once I got over the nerves it was kind of fun! And it was great to see all the dogs we have been training with do their routines.

Brody did ok, I was a little bit disapointed because he had itchy ears (allergies!) and kept shaking his head, and this made him miss a few moves. Also my timing was a little of. But it was pretty good for our first performance!

We were placed first in Elementary heel work to music, but as we were the only competitior (the others were classed in freestyle) it dosent really count! But overall we had the second highest points, and considering that he kept shaking his head I was pretty happy with that.

So we will keep working on the routine for the upcoming local show, and Nationals in October.