We were LONG over due for yesterday!

Holy cow, I can sum up yesterday pretty easily. FANTASTIC.

I got to the field a bit late, with 2 7yr old boys in tow (Oh boy, were they excited! Almost as excited as the dog!) It turned out to be a tiny group... for most of the day, it was another club member and his stunning (smart) male GSD. He was one of the club members to pass the B in October with Koenig. A new gal was there as well, with her adorable 12 week old GSD pup. A small group was a surprise, we were expecting many more members and dogs, but it worked out to my benefit! Less people = more one on one time with the TD! :D

Tracking:

My brilliant TD said 'We're going to fool his goofy ass!' and had me lay the track 90' to the left of the direction I approached it. :D Hahah. It sure did fool him for a moment! He checked again carefully, and hit it, with a nice deep nose. I was using canned lamb tripe as my bait... nice and STINKY! I had one small piece (Smear) on my scent pad, and the nothing on the first leg of the track to the 1st corner. After the first corner about 8' out, I started putting some food down every 3-11 steps, totally random. No food on the second corner (of course) and food again on the last long gentle curve to the article. I realize it's not a complicated track by any means, but he did well on the 2 corners... ESPECIALLY the second corner which people had walked within 5' of, and there was a Aussie pup getting pictures taken like 10 feet away from the corner as he was working it!!! I don't track often enough, and I know this. Hopefully, with the encouragement I got from this track on Sunday, I'll get out at least twice this week to track him. He can't get better unless I lay him a track to work.

Obedience:
Fun, Fun, Fun! I'm working on rewarding Koenig in position. I've developed some bad habits, and really need to get back to basics working on precision both from my dog, and myself. Did some normal heeling to 'warm up' and then heeled through a set of weave poles. (spaced farther apart then agility weaves) Up next... backwards heeling! We got in a couple good steps, so went 50' or do backwards, with no fence around to keep the brindle one straight. He didn't stay in position as well as I would have liked, or as well as he does at home... but when do things ever happen at training with people watching like they happen at home?? :D We progressed to backwards weaving... that was fun! Koenig swung wide, and somehow managed to straddle one of the stakes- he stayed in a very nice position after that incident! It had him a bit spooked. LOL. Pretty funny to watch though. Finished up with showing the TD the progress we've made on Koenig's 'Bring' (retrieve). I think she was pleased, and that's always nice to see from someone who's been in the sport for 30 years, and really knows her dogs! Also did some position change work, and got conformation of exactly what I know I need to fix... stationary! Don't MOVE, just stand/sit/down!! Goofy dog.

Protection:
Yippee! Yippee! We have a helper! We have a helper!!! Not just A helper, but a GOOD one! In 2 short sessions, he got Koenig into a fairly straight, fairly steady Revier (Bark and Hold), and rewarded him at JUST the right time! He had nice bites, with full grips for the most part (that is, when he wasn't being a dope, and working his way up the sleeve to the elbow...) The new helper got me to the point of being able to help Koenig with his carry of the sleeve, which has always been a challenge for both of us. Koenig wants to drop to the ground and kill it, I want him to run in a giant circle with me, carrying it.... but I can't pull as hard as he can. ;)

To top off all the great training, the boys were outstanding. Well behaved, didn't bother me when I was busy, and got along well. Yay!

Again, FANTASTIC day.

Where do I sign up for a repeat on next Sunday?