Cory's class night 2

Arrived about an hour early for class so we could work obedience.  Decided to set up the scent articles in the same position as yesterday, but stay close to the pile and only put out one type at a time.  Cory continued to have issues with picking up the first, bringing it back or part way back to me, then dropping it and going back to the pile and starting random grabs.  Initially he appears to continue working the pile, but each subsequent time he works less and eventually is just grabbing with no scenting.  Also a few times he left the pile to offer go out behavior, so I think the position is a big factor in confusing him.  Dropped the turn and send, went back down to just two articles, he improved for a rep or two  but then started the grab again and continued to have issues.  Eventually turned around and sent towards the gate for just two articles, at this point he seemed to have given up working and was just doing random grabs.  Decided to abandon for the time being and start fresh another day;  Diane's suggestion was to drop the t/s and front, go down to just two articles, and not ask for a retrieve at all until he was giving a strong indication.  Think we will try that although I may not do the two article part as my dogs always seem to have understood the difference better with more.

Worked sit stay for 5 minutes with me outside the ring, his back to adjacent ring and a fair amount of activity.  Laid down almost immediately, had to go back and reposition, he then held well without moving the rest of the time.

For class we worked primarily on serpentines, he actually did fairly well though he slaloms them so tightly he has a tendency to knock the upright.  Our major issue was coming out of th serpentine and sending on without a spin;  I still am tending to be late with cues.

Robbie came in for a very brief heeling session after class;  he did ok but not maintaining attention quite as well as last week, crabbing quite a bit.  Started working him on a touch to the stanchion;  was getting a good one from about 3 feet back but with barking.  Worked a couple of recalls, he is blasting in really fast, getting a front though crooked and bonking me with his nose, but not really jumping up anymore.  Worked on calling to front from about 6 feet different angles and he is improving rapidly there. 

Cory's agility class first night (alphabet drills)

First night of Cory's winter agility class, novice alphabet drills.  Tonight we had a five jump set up and worked on front and rear crosses.  I think these short sequences working on skills will be great for him.  He did ok;  we had a few issues with the rear cross that need working on.  Also he was quite revved and could not seem to hold his stays while we reset bars.  After class we went back over to the obedience ring and I set him up in the corner and did out of sight stays.  His back was to the adjacent ring with the first night of a basic class going on, and there were two other classes across the aisle so it was fairly chaotic.  Luckily with the solid fiberglass ring barriers I could sit across the aisle and see his shadow through the barrier, but he couldn't see me.  Once again he went down just under 3 minutes into the sit;  I went back in and resat him and let him sit for another 3 minutes, then praised when we went back and did a six minute down.  He held the down nicely and did not appear to sniff, but he was angled a little when I came back.  Released and got cookies;  then did a little heeling;  worked on doing slow about turns so he doesn't end up forging/cutting in front of me as we come out of them.  Did signals from about half distance;  he "appeared" to do them well but was anticipating quite a bit and once I released him, set him back up to retry he did walk in on the stand a couple of times.  Worked on lengthening the time between signals, reminding him to wait, and praising.  Once done worked on him walking back WITH me to get his cookies;  as soon as he forged/looked away from me I stopped.  This is going to take some work but we really need to work on him staying engaged between exercises.

Also this afternoon while I was downstairs cleaning the litterboxes we did a couple of broad jumps;  for some reason he came straight to me a couple of times which he hasn't done in forever (I think mostly because I was at the same time making Robbie hold a down stay less than successfully).  Hit good straight fronts the first time each time though.  Used the yardstick to push him out.