Today we will look at the 101 class.. The class size is a little disappointing but the progress we are making is really good... Unfortunately we only have 3 in the class which means a lot of running and jumping.. Champ and Brad are both complete beginners and Champ is coming in with a new handler.. Your first question is probably "if they are new bees shouldn't they be in Pre-agility"... The truth is all 3 dogs know all the obstacles and will do them, not as well as I would like, so we spend a lot of time on the weaves and better handling skills.. The group is wonderful the handlers are not losing patience with their dogs and each week there is improvement... We are presently working on skills and getting the dogs and handlers more confidence in what they are doing
Danielle and Champ
Danielle is a really good handler and has good control of her dog... Champ on the other hand is a real velcro dog sticking right with his handler... Things continue to improve as Champ is slowly moving away from Mom...
This was a really interesting class.. The first night was the most challenging night I have ever encountered... The class started with 9 dogs all constantly barking and no one could hear a thing... After struggling through that first night we made good progress.. Unfortunately 4 members of the class dropped out, I felt they were all doing well and making progress but that happens.. Busy lives, cold night what ever... We finished with 5 strong and better behaved dogs.. No barking after week 2... We had 1 repeater who really did well and you could tell the difference in Gordon from the time he entered the building... 2 wonderful rescue dogs and they both finished strong. and 2 young dogs.. All the dogs finished the last night surprising their owners by exhibiting walking on loose leads coming when called and great sit stays with major distractions The last night there were no dogs out of control and no barking.... The class was a huge success for the students, the dogs and for me personally... I congratulate the remaining 5 for sticking with it and not giving up.. On behalf of your dog I thank you for being a good owner and taking me to class...
In case you have not guessed, I really enjoy the Manner's 101 classes... It is just fun and reward to see the progress some of these dogs make.. In this class there were leaps and bounds of success.. All the dogs were under 1 year old and some were as young as 16 weeks (minimum age for class) except for Emma who was a 3 year old rescue dog..
Everyone did well walking on leash, come on recall (with some major distractions) and most of the class were successful in placing their dog in a sit stay and leaving the building... just a wonderful group of dogs and handlers... Congrads to all...
Carrie & Charlie
Kathy & Bernie (Fuzz Ball)
Shannon &Ceili
Larry & Emma (our rescue) she got a great new home
It always takes a lot to leave a nice warm house to come out to a very cold hill enter a warm but not toasty barn to spend an evening training your dog.. This group stuck it out through all the cold and snowy weather...
This was one of those classes you just enjoy being around.. 2 monster dogs in Eros and Pi.. 2 possible agility dogs .. A future therapy dog, a rescue who found a wonderful home, a fuzzy puppy who stressed challenged her Mom, a lab looking to become a tracking dog and a wonderful lab puppy who was not only the leader of the class but a super nice puppy, who we hope to see in the future..
To the group thanks for letting me meet all these wonderful dogs