I have 3 shows left before we leave for Arizona! I am surprised by how fast the time is flying. I shouldn't be but I am. Probably because I feel like I need more time to prepare. I'm meeting Rosanne at a friend's place to train today. There are certain things I need to work on that I cannot do in my yard. Turns out of chutes and broad jumps. He has ticked broad jumps the last 3 times and he needs to understand not to touch them. It is no different than a jump and he used to hit them with free abandon until I taught him that was unacceptable.
I will then be working on my handling with Rosanne - really tough sequences to push me. We are also going to work on some moving or fast Front Crosses, I am not moving soon enough and getting caught behind or flat-footed. I did a lot of analysis this past weekend to see why I am struggling to run G clean and it appears to be a speed issue. I overestimate my speed and underestimate his. In training, I am probably not holding still as long and I get moving faster. In the ring, I am probably trying to make sure I don't rush and in that effort, I am actually getting caught holding too long. This is our primary focus over the next 3 weeks to get me ready for Nationals.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Weekend Update from Splash N Dash
I had a fun weekend. LuAnn and I stayed at the Clarion, it was about 9 minutes away from the Pittsburgh Indoor Soccer Arena. There is a decent restaurant on site and we are always thrilled to go back to the hotel, shower and NOT drive to get good food and a beer. Our dogs really enjoyed playing with each other in the hotel. Those of you who know Gusto well will be shocked to learn that he will, in deed, play with Jack.
Gusto ran really nice most of the time this weekend. There were only 2 runs were he was a maniac and not paying attention - Standard and Grand Prix on Saturday. I was very happy with the rest of our runs though. Still no Q in Standard - dropped 2 bars on Sunday. One was me talking to him and the other one was him cutting too close to the standard.
He has his second Q in Steeplechase at 26 inches for 2009 Nationals. I can now focus on Grand Prixs - he needs 2 and then I can drop him down to 22 and get those Qs.
On Sunday, Denise Thomas with Zippity (first litter of Mayhem x Credit) was in the other ring running her young dog, Zacchary. Love him!! She didn't get a chance to walk Snooker and she doesn't like that event anyway and asked if I would run Zippity. I said YES! So I told her my plan for Gusto and she thought it would work for Zip too. We moved Zip to the beginning of the 26 inch class so I would have time to warm G up for his run.
I warmed Zip up, making sure she was happy to work with me. Zip will work for anyone, she is an agility whore. I took her in and off we went. WHAT A RUSH!!! She runs almost identically to Gusto but is a bit less responsive to my come in cues becuase Denise doesn't use RFPs. I did all 4 reds, 3 7s and finished the course in 45 ish seconds. I was thrilled when I came out of the ring and Zippity was as high as Gusto gets on a good run. I handed her off and went to get G.
Next up, Gusto's turn. Same plan and he ran it flawlessly. He was tigher than Zippity because I worked those turns better knowing how wide Zip had gone. He kept all his bars up and went exactly where I wanted and we finished the course - 2.5 to 3 seconds faster than Zip. I took first place with Gusto and second place with Zip and got 2 Supers Qs. Denise didn't tell me this but Zip needed a Super Q for her ADCH. Glad I didn't know that going in. Denise will get another one though so she can celebrate the ADCH for herself.
I then had to go walk Steeplechase Round 2 and run G almost immediately after the Snooker run. He was hot and I was still winded. He ran beautifully but dropped 2 bars and ticked the broad!! I was irriated with him to say the least. Took him outside and he had to go potty! UGH!
Anyway, we had a great weekend and finally got some successful runs under my belt at 26 inches!!
Gusto ran really nice most of the time this weekend. There were only 2 runs were he was a maniac and not paying attention - Standard and Grand Prix on Saturday. I was very happy with the rest of our runs though. Still no Q in Standard - dropped 2 bars on Sunday. One was me talking to him and the other one was him cutting too close to the standard.
He has his second Q in Steeplechase at 26 inches for 2009 Nationals. I can now focus on Grand Prixs - he needs 2 and then I can drop him down to 22 and get those Qs.
On Sunday, Denise Thomas with Zippity (first litter of Mayhem x Credit) was in the other ring running her young dog, Zacchary. Love him!! She didn't get a chance to walk Snooker and she doesn't like that event anyway and asked if I would run Zippity. I said YES! So I told her my plan for Gusto and she thought it would work for Zip too. We moved Zip to the beginning of the 26 inch class so I would have time to warm G up for his run.
I warmed Zip up, making sure she was happy to work with me. Zip will work for anyone, she is an agility whore. I took her in and off we went. WHAT A RUSH!!! She runs almost identically to Gusto but is a bit less responsive to my come in cues becuase Denise doesn't use RFPs. I did all 4 reds, 3 7s and finished the course in 45 ish seconds. I was thrilled when I came out of the ring and Zippity was as high as Gusto gets on a good run. I handed her off and went to get G.
Next up, Gusto's turn. Same plan and he ran it flawlessly. He was tigher than Zippity because I worked those turns better knowing how wide Zip had gone. He kept all his bars up and went exactly where I wanted and we finished the course - 2.5 to 3 seconds faster than Zip. I took first place with Gusto and second place with Zip and got 2 Supers Qs. Denise didn't tell me this but Zip needed a Super Q for her ADCH. Glad I didn't know that going in. Denise will get another one though so she can celebrate the ADCH for herself.
I then had to go walk Steeplechase Round 2 and run G almost immediately after the Snooker run. He was hot and I was still winded. He ran beautifully but dropped 2 bars and ticked the broad!! I was irriated with him to say the least. Took him outside and he had to go potty! UGH!
Anyway, we had a great weekend and finally got some successful runs under my belt at 26 inches!!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Bring the Heat
Ok - I tried to not post about football but I cannot resist it. Besides agility, it is one of my favorite Fall activities ever since Devin started playing. I never really knew that much about the game - I knew the general rules and the overall objective but I had no clue how truly involved the game was. Last year I got an introduction into the world of the Outside Linebackers because that was the position they had Devin play all season long. This year, I am learning what a Defensive End's job is....basically, a pass rusher. Or at least, that is what Devin has deemed his job and the coaches are happy so I guess it is an appropriate function. One night this week, they had him doing Offensive line functions - blocking for the Running Backs. He did well at that too - Devin is not afraid of physical contact so he does well at any of the jobs requiring that type of skill.
Last night, it was raining and quite chilly. The boys didn't care at all and were sort of wound up by the weather. He played well - his usual sacks and tackles. On our way to the car, one of the coaches told Devin, "Way to bring the heat, let's do that this Saturday".
While I am in Pittsburgh doing my own sport, I will be checking on Devin's football game and silently happy to be indoors while Greg has to stand in the rain and the cold.
Bring the heat, Devin!
Last night, it was raining and quite chilly. The boys didn't care at all and were sort of wound up by the weather. He played well - his usual sacks and tackles. On our way to the car, one of the coaches told Devin, "Way to bring the heat, let's do that this Saturday".
While I am in Pittsburgh doing my own sport, I will be checking on Devin's football game and silently happy to be indoors while Greg has to stand in the rain and the cold.
Bring the heat, Devin!
Pittsburgh Trip
I am getting ready to pack - yeah, a bit late. I was thinking last night that I would try to use this trip as a good test for Nationals. Gusto has done well at my sessions this week, he kept many of his bars up and went where I wanted him to go. He is definitely getting more powerful over the 26 inch jumps. I struggled on some of the challenges presented by the courses that Barb and Rosanne set up. I need to do a better job when I walk the courses this weekend - I need to walk them like they matter, like it might be a final at a big event. Just to get practice running him with more thought to see if I can stay in the moment in order to handle him through the entire course. I do well for about 10 - 11 obstacles and then I think I lapse mentally which is when the mistakes occur.
It was a really good training session yesterday with Rosanne. She set up some nasty sequences which required more thought than the average course. I love these types of sessions because usually it means that when I show, it seems relatively easy compared to the lovely challenges that Rosanne sets up. Practice hard, trial easy! I'm now ready for Pittsburgh - and I need to forget about the bars!
It was a really good training session yesterday with Rosanne. She set up some nasty sequences which required more thought than the average course. I love these types of sessions because usually it means that when I show, it seems relatively easy compared to the lovely challenges that Rosanne sets up. Practice hard, trial easy! I'm now ready for Pittsburgh - and I need to forget about the bars!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What I Will Miss
In order to get ready for Nationals, I have to do some actual events as in more than one day. This means I will miss 3 of Devin's football games; I have pleaded with Greg to videotape them for me. I sure hope he will do that so I can see them later.
I am also going to be away when the election occurs, Rosanne and I will be driving back from AZ (I now know what day we leave - thanks Rosanne). I have to research how to do an absentee ballot. It looks like a vacation is considered an eligible reason to submit an absentee vote. It is really hard to consider the trip to AZ a vacation but since agility is not a professional sport and we usually only win a few bucks here and there; it falls under the category of vacation for absentee voting purposes.
I am also going to be away when the election occurs, Rosanne and I will be driving back from AZ (I now know what day we leave - thanks Rosanne). I have to research how to do an absentee ballot. It looks like a vacation is considered an eligible reason to submit an absentee vote. It is really hard to consider the trip to AZ a vacation but since agility is not a professional sport and we usually only win a few bucks here and there; it falls under the category of vacation for absentee voting purposes.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Action Shots of Jack and Gusto
LuAnn and I got together and trained last Friday. We tried to get some jumping photos of the 2 boys. I confess that Jack was a tad bit easier to get photos - his white blaze on his face stands out against the background much nicer. Gusto was tougher since he was jumping 26, he took off and landed farther away and I couldn't get a lot of frame by frame shots. I like these 2 pictures the best.
Nationals
Reality is setting in. We leave for Nationals in approximately 4 weeks (I actually don't know the date we leave because Rosanne will say - we leave in X number of days and then I will know tee hee). My trial experience this Fall has been less than stellar because I moved Gusto up to 26 and he is dropping bars. I haven't been focused on my handling. I have the upcoming 3 day event at Fair Hill October 17 - 19 to see how he feels running at the 22 inch height class.
Luckily, Rosanne reminded me that I need to focus on my handling and forget about the bars in order to be ready for Arizona. Well forgetting about the bars is not exactly what she said but basically, I need to run him like I want to run him in Arizona....with the small little detail of holding his contacts for a beat. We all know I will be ripping him off early out there and then will have to come home and fix the contacts. Running contacts are in Robbie's future - can't stand losing because I held my stupid contacts too long.
I do not remember being this anxious about Nationals with Ivy. Probably due to the fact that I had no expectations with her. I just went out there to experience a big event. I do remember wanting to go out there and look like I belonged so I did feel that pressure. But Gusto has a shot of doing well - maybe not winning anything this year but at least placing in some events and maybe making finals. All he needs is to be in sync with me and for me to be mentally prepared.
OH BOY! No pressure :) He's almost ready to do very well Nationally - he needs me to step it up a notch so I feel that pressure too. I need to learn how to deal with that - that's life with a 7 YPS dog. He really is amazing and has come along way in the last year!
I keep telling myself....you ran a deaf dog and was decently competitive. You can do it. Ivy was way more difficult than Gusto in so many ways. While not being faster (she was a 6 ish YPS dog), she had challenges that would have stopped many people in their tracks. I perservered, I kept on keeping on, I chipped away at her weaknesses and my own. I just kept saying, she is talented and I need to show the agility world that she can do it. It kept me motivated. Now my motivation is a bit different - it's now about me being talented enough to run Gusto.
Luckily, Rosanne reminded me that I need to focus on my handling and forget about the bars in order to be ready for Arizona. Well forgetting about the bars is not exactly what she said but basically, I need to run him like I want to run him in Arizona....with the small little detail of holding his contacts for a beat. We all know I will be ripping him off early out there and then will have to come home and fix the contacts. Running contacts are in Robbie's future - can't stand losing because I held my stupid contacts too long.
I do not remember being this anxious about Nationals with Ivy. Probably due to the fact that I had no expectations with her. I just went out there to experience a big event. I do remember wanting to go out there and look like I belonged so I did feel that pressure. But Gusto has a shot of doing well - maybe not winning anything this year but at least placing in some events and maybe making finals. All he needs is to be in sync with me and for me to be mentally prepared.
OH BOY! No pressure :) He's almost ready to do very well Nationally - he needs me to step it up a notch so I feel that pressure too. I need to learn how to deal with that - that's life with a 7 YPS dog. He really is amazing and has come along way in the last year!
I keep telling myself....you ran a deaf dog and was decently competitive. You can do it. Ivy was way more difficult than Gusto in so many ways. While not being faster (she was a 6 ish YPS dog), she had challenges that would have stopped many people in their tracks. I perservered, I kept on keeping on, I chipped away at her weaknesses and my own. I just kept saying, she is talented and I need to show the agility world that she can do it. It kept me motivated. Now my motivation is a bit different - it's now about me being talented enough to run Gusto.
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