Resq TailsThe trials and triumphs of rescued dogs

I always get uncomfortable videoing training sessions and posting them. I have to say though…I’m really glad that I’ve been stepping out of my comfort zone and doing it anyway. Yesterday was a perfect example. I came in after training with Layla a bit baffled. If I hadn’t had video, I probably would have still been scratching my head about why I was getting a different response from Layla on one side of the tighter turn drill than the other. Thankfully we didn’t need a finger pulse oximeter to help us figure out the solution. LOL Seems that all we needed were some really helpful observations from everyone. Someone mentioned placement of treats, someone else that maybe I was seeing a tighter turn in one direction because she just prefers one side, and finally that she may have been uncomfortable turning towards the wall. I appreciate all the comments, both on and off the blog. I thought about it and figured the easiest one to test first was if it had anything to do with my placement of of the jump near the wall. Guess what? That seemed to be the problem. I moved the jump to a different spot today and she started jumping much tighter to that left side of the jump. Woot, thanks Diana for the observation!

Now that we’ve finally caught up on the agility part of the past weekend, we can share the other bit of good news. Dare passed her CGC test. I know it’s nothing ground shattering, but it was fun, and I’m glad we did it! She’s such a good girl and I think she’s got so much potential for doing great things in both obedience and agility. I don’t think we need any stainless steel drums to store all her titles and ribbons in just yet, but I bet we will one of these days…

Day 3 of the ASCA came and went as fast as the first two days. I don’t think I’ve been to a trial this small in ages, and to be done running by early afternoon was just great. Anyway, Zoe finished off the trial with another Regular run Q and another Jumpers Q. So, she had a total of 3.5 Regular for the weekend, (she dropped a bar in one run, so it was just a half q), and 4 Q’s in Jumpers. Not bad! Here is her Regular run from round 2 yesterday. Sorry, again I didn’t get any course maps, so I don’t have any to post.

Another great day of agility! Today we had two Jumpers runs, two regular runs and one gamblers. Zoe ended up Qing in four of the five classes today. Of course the one that we didn’t qualify in was gamblers. Always has been our worst class. I only got video of one of the regular runs today though, but here it is. She did fine, but I was really late on the front cross before the A-frame and almost sent her to an off course jump. Fortunately, she called off and there aren’t any refusals, so we were fine.

We made it home from the agility trial. I just have to say…I don’t know how all of you out there can manage to go to a trial and come back that same night, upload all your videos and then write a blog post. It amazes me. LOL After being at the trial for 12 hours, I’m just beat. I tried to get my videos uploaded onto Youtube at least, but I didn’t have the energy to blog after that. Anyway…the girls did great.

On Friday, Raven finished her Open FAST title the first day. However, I wasn’t on top of things and I didn’t remember if it was her second or third leg, so I didn’t move her up. Bleh! Bad mom. She also Q’d in her Ex A Standard run that day, so she only needs one more leg for her AX. Here’s her Open FAST run.

Layla had her agility debut on Friday too. She started out really well in Nov FAST. Qualifying with a total of 75 out of 80 possible points. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw her score. Here is her video.

Next was Layla’s Standard run. It didn’t go quite as well. She decided that she needed to visit the jump setter really bad and then she didn’t want to weave. I think both things are just common green dog mistakes though and other than that, she did a good job. Here’s that run.

Last of all was Jumpers with Weaves. It was such a nice course, was really excited. Layla did the first two jumps and again the urge to say hi to someone was just too much for her, and she left me to go see the judge. The problem is that she took an offcourse jump to do it. Bleh. So, even though she then came back and finished the rest of the course under time, we couldn’t have the one wrong course and Q. She also seemed to get really sniffy at the end of the run. I didn’t know if she was stressed, but I don’t think so. She’s always been a real sniffer, it’s something we’ve tried to work on, but I think by the third run she finally decided that the arena dirt was just too interesting to pass up on anymore. LOL Anyway, here’s her last run of the day.

All in all, I was pleased with both the girls. Ricky you mentioned when you saw one of Layla’s videos that it’s nice to see a friendly Sheltie, and I have to agree. I definitely love that Layla thinks everyone is a potential friend. I just need to make sure that she understands that we visit our friends after we’re done running. LOL

We got to see Dare’s half sister Tennille again, and her “brother” Captain this weekend too. I couldn’t believe how much Tennille had grown. She is almost the same size as Dare already and she’s 7 weeks younger. Anyway, here’s a picture of them all together. Dare on the left, Captain in the middle and Tennille on the right.

After the 15 degrees below zero last week, we had a bit of a heat wave with the latest storm. It was in the upper 30’s and it melted all the snow we had and the new snow that fell was so wet that it just melted. So, my grass has made an appearance again and we’re thrilled! I brought out the weave poles again for Layla. I thought I’d add a jump to what we’ve been doing. First we did the jump before the weaves and then later we tried it after the weaves. If the weather cooperates, I’ll start changing the angles of the jump for different entries next.

I went out yesterday and took another short video clip to show where we’re at with training of Layla’s weaves now. I’ve taken the more visual grid guide things off the poles, except at the entries at both ends. I replaced them with guide wires, and now I’m taking the guide wires down little by little. You’ll see they are attached to one pole each, but no longer forming a complete guide. Next I’ll be taking those down. Hopefully the weather keeps on cooperating long enough that we can get to that point before we get snow again. I’m still working on me being on both sides of the weave poles, and running ahead of her and behind her, but this clip is short and I just don’t have the patience at this point to do all the fancy editing and stuff that a lot of you do with your videos. So, it just shows her going through one time, one way. Oh, and as a little side note, I do see that my stick in the ground weave poles are starting to look like they are about ready to fall over too. I may have to move them if I get some ambition later today. LOL

Well, another year has come and is nearly gone already. I don’t know where the time goes anymore! It’s been a year full of great accomplishments, a big loss, some continuing struggles and new beginnings. Wow, we really crammed alot into a year! LOL

Zoe earned her MACH, to become the first Sheltie in Utah to have that title. She also qualified to go to the AKC National Agility Championship in North Carolina in March, and we’re really looking forward to that trip!

Twist tried his paw at regular obedience this year, and in his first Novice Obedience class, took first place and earned the High in Trial at the Utah Sheltie Specialty! Woohoo, Twist. He went on to finish his CD in September. Now we’re working on moving into Open Obedience!

Raven took a break from competing in agility for most of the year, but she did try Rally Obedience at the Utah Sheltie Specialty, and she qualified first time out. She’s entered in an agility trial in Jan., so we’ll see if the break from competition and the training we’ve been doing have paid off. In the meantime, she says that she doesn’t mind just chilling out and chewing on a bully stick.

2008 was a great year for Penny! She got to try out for a tv commercial, and even though she wasn’t chosen, we had a great time! Of course, now she thinks she’s a star and we’re just staff that here to serve her. LOL

We said goodbye to Jessie this past August. It was an unexpected loss, and she is greatly missed!

Our attempts to help Rogue overcome, or at least manage more successfully her anxiety issues…continue. The last year has allowed us to meet some wonderful people. I feel really grateful to have found such great support and guidance as we work with Rogue. We hope that 2009 brings more progress for Rogue.

As for Lucy, she’s enjoyed another year of being Lucy. There’s really not much more you can say. To Lucy it’s not the end of one year or the beginning of another…it’s just a wonderful day to be alive!!!

Lastly, I guess it’s time to admit that the little foster girl, (formally known as Lucy), has found her permanent home, with us. I knew there was a reason we hadn’t done any fostering for several years! LOL For obvious reasons, we’ve changed her name. My husband got to re-name her, and he’s chosen “Layla”. I looked up the meaning of the name and it’s “dark beauty”, so I guess he did a pretty good job, for just pulling a name out of the air…he doesn’t overanalyze naming like I do. Hehe. I don’t know that I’d describe her as a beauty just yet, more of a cutie at this point, but I’m sure she’ll grow into the name.

So, I guess that about sums it up!

Well, she wasn’t so sure about the cold weather and the funny stuff on the ground at first, but it didn’t take long before the little foster pup was enjoying the fresh snow!

Exactly where am I supposed to sit? LOL