Lots of visitors

Vega hiding from the other dogs!

We had a bunch of company last week and so I didn’t have much time to train. Katrina was on vacation so we didn’t have class and we got to babysit some of her furry kids while she was gone. There were 11 here total! It was fun. We played a lot. Fred especially had a great time with them all.

Guess what I'm holding?

Merlin, Vega, Ice, Rip, Rush

It’s amazing how empty and quiet the house is now that they’ve all gone home. I definitely have an appreciation for how much work it is to take care of that many dogs now too. Kudos to you, Katrina. Here’s just a few of the pictures I took.

Rip, Skye, Rush, Max(white pup), Growls(on couch), Ice

Keeping in practice...

Class this past week….

The sequences we have been doing this week have been very challenging for Vega and I. I’ve spent 2 hours now trying to draw them and I give up.

In one of last night’s sequences I was supposed to do 3 jumps, FC, 3 jumps, FC, 3 jumps, FC, 2 jump out. The idea was for me to learn how to remember courses by learning patterns. I absolutely didn’t get there at all. I couldn’t even get the first FC done. It didn’t have a thing to do with Vega either. I must have tried to get through that course at least a dozen times and never really did though I got close to the end. I was trying to decide on the way home why I had no idea what I was doing up there and the only think I can really remember about that course was that I did’t think I was going to get to jump 6. I think I was so busy worrying about it that I didn’t think about anything else. When it was my turn I couldn’t get there (cause I screwed up the cross so badly) and had absolutely no idea what to do when I fnally did get there. Even after watching someone else do it I was so focused on the wrong thing, whatever it was, that I still had no idea how to do what was before or after it.

So I analyze a sequence up to where I’m sure we will lose it and then if I don’t I have no idea where to go from there. I’m not sure what to do with this but I guess at least I know.

The other sequences we did we were a little more successful when Vega remembered I was out there with her.

Vega’s name

Here’s the meaning behind Vega’s name. Her registered name is Dream Weaver Wishing on a Star.

VEGA
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Astronomy

The name of a star in the constellation Lyra. Its name is from Arabic الواقع (al-Waqi’) meaning “the swooping (eagle)”.

Kind of cool, I think.

Training lately

I haven’t written in quite a while. Lately it just seems like I have a lot to do and I go through these phases where I’m all on fire about agility. That’s usually when I blog. Either way, I need to get back to it because it keeps me on track.

We’ve been having some pretty amazing classes lately. I’ve really been enjoying them. The sequences have been fabulous and the skills we’re trying to learn have been challenging for me and Vega. We are the least proficient in the class but are having fun trying. I hear that Vega is a lot of dog for a green handler and I know I spend way more time than I should wondering how I’m going to keep up or how I’m going to get there than a good handler should. I guess I should be concentrating on how I’m going to get her there.

Additionally, my timing is off. I’m late all the time. I’m either not there or I forget to cue Vega when I am. I also don’t have a grip on how much support she needs when we are running. We’re trying to get distance but it seems like sometimes she just goes and sometimes I peel off too early and she’s right there. I’m not terribly concerned because every week it seems to get a little better and I’m sure it’ll come together the more we practice and get used to each other.

I’m continuously floored by how fast Vega is… it’s really like she’s getting faster too (or maybe I’m getting slower!). Collection is a real challenge for her. She loves to just go and not slow down. She is doing better about checking in with me though.

I’m going to take the camcorder out to FAAD this weekend and play with that same sequence we did in class Wednesday night. It was fun and really challenging for me. I need the practice running and it’ll be fun to see a tape of her run since I really haven’t.

I’m very grateful for my instructor. I can’t imagine how dfficult it would be to try to fgure it all out her amazing insight and eye for detail. I’m so impressed at people who can be competitive in this sport without weekly instruction. Hats off too you all.

I really like the people in my class too. They are all fabulous handlers, inspiring to watch and fabulous to just hang out with. I’m pretty lucky.

Practice, tapes and pictures to come…