The List... 2013

It is once again time for my annual goal list for me and the dogs. I enjoy writing them down and crossing them off as we finish accomplishments. 2012 was a very good year for achieving many of my goals. However some, unfortunately, went by the wayside due to one reason or another. So here we go for 2013 in no particular order...

1. Finish Seeker's MACH.

2. Qualify both boys for AKC Nationals 2014.

3. Finish Piper's USDAA LAA Bronze.

4. Finish C-ATCHs on both boys.

5. Make the draw for CPE Nationals in Ohio.

6. Qualify Seeker for USDAA Nationals 2013.

7. Get Ceilidh back in to nosework class somewhere because she LOVES it.

8. Get Seeker and Gem back in to serious herding training.

9. Work harder and smarter with Gem to understand her and help her enjoy learning.

10. Do more therapy visits with the boys.

11. Hopefully, have Gem ready to do some rally or obedience later in the summer or fall.

12. Have Seeker evaluated and collected for posterity, until I find that special girl for him.

13. Get back to working Seeker in obedience and rally to at least finish a CD and his RAE.

14. Finish Piper's RAE.

15. Put a dent in Piper's PACH.

16. Spend more individual time with each of the dogs.

17. Continue to work on Ceilidh's reactivity issues with the tools I've learned.

18. Work harder on getting students for my classes and workshops. I really am good at teaching and I LOVE seeing teams achieve their goals!

19. Continue working on getting healthier and losing more weight and keeping it off.

20.  Make more time for the best dog dad in the world... my hubby.

I truly enjoy keeping busy with the dogs and I LOVE my husband for his indulgence, encouragement and tolerance of ALL my teaching, traveling and trialing. He helps me keep it all together and moving forward. I couldn't do it without him. 

MACH Piper by Kaitlyn Dreese

Happy Holidays to all and to all best wishes for a fantastic 2013!!!

A new era for Piper...

Piper by Great Dane Photos

Well, we did it... We earned our AKC MACH on September 29, 2012. He has also earned his MX Bronze and Silver and his MJ Bronze titles too. As I truly am not interested in pursuing MACH 2 with him, we are moving on to a new era on January 1, 2013. Piper will be moved to Masters Preferred 16" and we will continue to play there until he doesn't want to any longer. Somehow, I picture him running agility until the day he dies. He loves it just that much. I love HIM just that much as well.

He has converted me into an agility person after being a hardcore competition obedience competitor. His joy for the sport is apparent in every run, every time. When things go wrong, we make lemonade with the lemons. A recent JWW run is an example... With a tunnel start, he blasted out of the tunnel and headed straight instead of turning towards me even though I said his name, trying to cue him to turn. He consequently missed obstacle #2 which was a jump. He came around it, back-jumped it, took again, then went on. He got his weaves, missed the double. I didn't care. He wasn't qualifying at that point anyway, so we made up our own course and headed to the exit. He couldn't have been more pleased with himself. Smiles, tail wags and woos of joy are his trademarks. As long as that is happening, we will play the game.

He is qualified for AKC Nationals 2013, CPE Nationals 2013 and is entitled to go to USDAA Nationals 2013 and run in the Veteran's Showcase there... He will be 10 on April 9, 2013. Today he ran his very last AKC course in 20" Regular.  It was bittersweet, but made special by having him win the 20" Excellent B Standard class against dogs much younger than himself and earning his MX Silver. What an amazing boy he is... and what a blessing that he is in my life.

I have to thank his breeder Cheryl Jagger Williams for the opportunity of even having Piper. He was a FREE replacement puppy, but I could never put a price on him now. He chose me. It was destiny and for this I am grateful. I can't wait to see what the future holds. More fun, more laughs, just MORE! Thank you Piper for being your honest, awesome self... I am truly blessed.

The Quest...

Seeker by Candace Lang Photography

Seeker... what can I say about this wonderful boy? He is my "Quest For The Grail". I couldn't be more pleased with who he is and what he has accomplished. So far, 2 agility championships with another on the horizon. He's earned his way to AKC Nationals twice, USDAA Nationals twice and CPE Nationals. He works stock with grace and strength. He is looser-eyed, but has tons of power. His physical presence on stock is incredible and although, we don't get to work sheep as much as we would like, his raw talent is evident. He has one litter on the ground that will be 2 in March 2013. These pups are proving to be just as versatile as their sire. Obedience, agility, stock work... They are still in training and I am looking forward to seeing them compete in the very near future.

 

Currently, I am in a quest to find a worthy bitch to breed him to so that I can have a son and several friends can have a pup to carry on his wonderful legacy. My search has me and a savvy friend scouring BC breeder websites for the perfect girl that will match him both physically and in spirit, temperament and working ability. He is OFA Good, shoulders/elbows Normal, DNA Normal by parentage, CERF, Brucellosis negative. I have not done some of the other tests (CL, etc) but am open to doing so if it is required, for the right girl. My quest is proving very difficult. The working breeders generally don't take us seriously as we are not trialing even though he has innate talent. The sport breeders think he is too "big" at 21" and 45 lbs. Even if he wasn't mine, he would still be what I want in a male Border Collie. He has substance, but isn't overdone. He has coat, but isn't dripping in it. He has a gorgeous, masculine head and neck. His layback of shoulders is to die for. He exudes "maleness" without being obnoxious. He is a white-factored black tri-color, which is a turn off for many breeders. He didn't throw any of his wild white in his first litter, bred to a darker bitch. The pups are flashy, but are traditionally marked. I have been also told that he is a bit long in the hocks, but that is a matter of opinion. For me, the physical breed standard (AKC) really doesn't have much bearing. It is temperament, soundness and working ability that matters most to me.

 

I don't show in the breed ring as I am unwilling to finish a breed championship and lose the working registration (ABCA). In truth, I don't feel the need to have some judge tell me that I have a good dog. I honestly don't care what the show faction thinks of him. He isn't show bred nor will those folks be interested in him anyway. Seeker is from working lines that also do dog sports. He is far from "traditional" and I think he is stunning.

 

So my quest continues and I am hopeful that I can find that special girl for him. It is just a matter of time and patience... Until that time, a visit to have him collected is in order. Straws To Paws, here we come!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MACH PIPER!!!!

Piper by Kaitlyn Dreese
 



     Where do I begin? This has been such a long journey for us. AKC agility has never been kind to us. The courses are tighter and he can't really stretch out and run at speed the way he likes to do. My handling has to be perfect. While we have had good success in other venues where the courses are more open, QQs eluded us like mad.
    
     Several years ago, I stopped running Piper in AKC for a little over 2 years. This decision came after a trial where the course was so ridiculously tight and twisty that I feared for his safety. I didn't like the judges, their attitudes, the courses, and even some of the exhibitors and their attitudes.  I had found that other venues were more supportive, less cutthroat and more relaxing. So I pursued those instead. When Seeker was of age and ready to trial, I returned to AKC. I finally started to see the courses becoming more reasonable. So we stuck with it, as well as the other venues.

     Piper earned his USDAA ADCH in August 2010. This is still a very special championship to me because of the versatility USDAA requires to earn it. Super Qs, Snooker, Standard, Jumpers, Relay Pairs, Gamblers, DAM team, Steeplechase, Grand Prix, etc. all offer very different challenges than does the AKC MACH where there is only Standard and Jumpers with Weaves. If you are persistent enough in AKC, you will very likely earn your MACH. Not the case with the ADCH. I know very persistent teams that still haven't achieved that title.

     He next earned his ASCA ATCH in July 2011. We both really enjoy competing in this venue. Although I originally used ASCA trials for training, the fun courses, laid back attitude and friendly faces quickly made it a favorite for us. But finishing a championship took some time because of the lack of local trials.

     In the Fall of 2011, I dropped Piper to 22" Performance in USDAA and in June 2012, Piper earned agility championship #3 when he finished his PDCH. We struggled a bit with earning Super Qs, but got our PVP Q easily in April with partners Alyssia and her BC Zippity. And before we knew it, he had earned this championship too. He is also very close to earning his Lifetime Achievement Award - Bronze in USDAA also. I couldn't be happier.




 

     So now, comes the most elusive, earned on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at the Lancaster Kennel Club trials in Palmyra, PA. We had been hung up for a long time on QQ #13 at the beginning of the year. We squeaked QQs out 1 at a time to get to #17. His last 3 QQs came quickly and seemingly easily, with 1 NQ out of the last 4 trials. He is no longer in the ribbons because at 9 1/2 he's slowed down a bit, but all I truly care about is that he is having a great time running with me. Win, lose or draw...

     This is Piper's 7th championship... 3 of them are in canine freestyle and 4 of them are in agility. He has far surpassed anything I could have imagined us attaining. Considering I could have lost him in the summer of 2011 to sepsis, I am indeed SO blessed to be in his life. He is such an amazing creature that has taught me so many things. Most of all, he taught me to love agility just as much as he does. And that was no easy task for him. Thank goodness his attitude is truly infectious. He has made me want to be a better trainer and handler. He has made me want to lose weight to be faster and be able to hold up my end better physically. He has made me thank God everyday for the blessings I have in my life. And for all of this, I will always be in his debt.

     And our story continues for as long as Piper wants to play this crazy game called agility... I will be there for him and with him. Because we are an unstoppable team, my Pi and me. Thank you for putting up with me in good times and bad. I love you Pi-man!!!



The Education of Gem

Gem at 18 months

Gem is now 18 months old and while other young dogs her age are already running agility competitively, she is FAR from doing so. Her independent nature, lack of mental maturity, and low tolerance for being incorrect have been challenging for me as a trainer. She doesn't readily offer behavior, in part I believe because she doesn't like to be wrong. If she offers behaviors and IS incorrect, she is easily frustrated and tries to disconnect. This has been apparent from the beginning in everything I have done with her, from herding to obedience and agility. She has made me think outside the box as a trainer and while I am not always successful, she keeps me thinking and trying to figure out the right method/s to help her learn. It isn't easy... It is downright exhausting at times...

She seems to enjoy doing obedience, which doesn't, at this point, have many choices. She is learning how to heel with attention, do fast recalls, sit-stay, down-stay, dumbbell and stand. We are also working on fronts and finishes as well. I think she really enjoys the structure of obedience. I have also been working on teaching her some of the rally signs as well as some freestyle behaviors. She passed her Canine Good Citizen test a few weeks ago as well as her therapy dog testing, but I don't think she is quite ready to do therapy visits alone. She is definitely more confident with one of the boys with her. I hope as she grows and matures mentally that she will be less of a perfectionist. Piper is also a type A personality much like Gem, but with age, he has mellowed. The difference with him is that he LOVES to offer behaviors in the hopes of a pay-off. I have never been able to foster this in Gem.

Agility training has proven to be more difficult. 2 x 2 weave training was a bust as I could have waited for days for her to just offer going through them. Given that, I had my channels repaired and she seems to understand the concept of those a bit better. I bought Rachel Sanders' video and plank to train her 2 on 2 off, but this has also been a challenge. Luring works to a point, but because she isn't a foodie, even that doesn't always work. I have found that keeping her on a line helps to keep her more focused and keeps her from having an option of disconnecting when she gets frustrated. Her agility career is WAY down the road. Sometimes I get a bit envious of all these youngsters that are already competing, but then I remember that good things come to those who wait. And she will be a "good thing" once we figure it all out...

Sheep training was put on hold with the arrival of agility season for the boys. Since summer proved to be wicked hot at times, it worked out for the better. With the coming of cooler weather, I will be anxious to get her and Seeker back out to herding lessons. He was making good progress several months ago as was Gem. It will be great to get back out to the fields and the woolies again. There is nothing more wonderful than watching this breed do what they are bred to do on a crisp autumn day.

Given all this, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love a good challenge and she is definitely giving me one. She is an awesome little Border Collie girl and I love her to pieces. I really can't wait to see what the future holds for us!

Another one bites the dust...

I have achieved another goal for each of the boys... finishing Piper's USDAA PDCH and Seeker's USDAA ADCH.... Both titles were done quietly, with little celebration because that is kind of how USDAA is. There are usually no win laps or ADCH/PDCH bars. Sometimes there is cake, other times there isn't. We, however, will be having cupcake cake this weekend to celebrate these accomplishments as well as Nancy Craig's Shine's Bronze ADCH. We will celebrate with friends at an agility trial, where else?

I have several other agility goals for both the boys. We are still in pursuit of those elusive AKC MACHs with Piper needing 3 QQs and Seeker needing 8 QQs. We have also found great fun and friends in CPE. So there, I am hoping to have them both qualified for CPE Nationals which are in OH next year and achieving their C-ATCHs. And for Seeker, when he's older.... much older... his PDCH. Because jumping him at 16" any time soon is scary!

As long as they are having fun and loving what they do, I will keep at it. Gem is a work in progress and I am in no hurry to have her in the ring. I am still amazed that people are actually competing with dogs her age. We are nowhere near ready for that. She is enjoying obedience and our next order of business is trying for our CGC and TDInc certification. Gem is an athlete, quick, agile and smart. We have plenty of time for the rest of it.

It is all about having fun! Run clean, run fast and give it hell! But most of all... HAVE FUN!!!!

ADCH Seeker!!!





Well, we did it! TA DA!!! ADCH ATCH Seeker! I am so proud of him! What a ride! After we bombed in VA a few weekends ago, I had to look for other opportunities to do USDAA and specifically, Master Gamblers. 4 Seasons K9 Athlete Center sponsors several USDAA trials a year. I am not fond of the hard flooring and heat in the summer, but I decided to drive almost 2 hours to be in the ring for about 2 minutes. Crazy? Yep!





I entered both boys since Piper loves Gamblers. I got the opportunity to run him first, which can be good or bad, depending on the gamble. Well, I didn't set him up right and he missed the gamble. Argh!!! He has always excelled at Gamblers and since Seeker's forte' isn't distance, I was rather worried that he wouldn't get it either. But, we were there to have fun, come what may. My friend Nancy ran her awesome Sheltie Shine in 16" and they got the gamble finishing Shine's Bronze ADCH. She told me to handle Seeker differently and to NOT try to use the chute to set him up since they are blind when they come out and most dogs were turning right to the jumps and not seeing the weave poles on the other side. So I changed my plan and hoped for the best. IT WORKED! He never looked at the jumps, hit the weaves, then without getting distracted, headed for the correct end of the tunnel and over the finish jump! What a wonderful feeling! He was spot on and I shouldn't have bothered worrying. He seems to always come through when I need him most. I had to laugh when I watched the video as I look so non-chalant until the gamble! We needed only 13 points in the opening and he got that over the A-frame. I wanted to set him up correctly and actually be in the right place for once!

Seeker and his ADCH ribbon

While we aren't World Team material, it hardly matters. He loves the game and that's all that matters. As long as he has fun, the day has been a success. His smile says it all... Way to go buddy! You ROCK!!!



When failure isn't an option... or is it?

Piper by Cindy Noland

I recently finished Piper's PDCH (USDAA Performance Dog CHampionship) without much fanfare or celebration. It took a much shorter period of time than his ADCH (USDAA Agility Dog CHampionship) did to achieve. I seriously started pursuing it last September and we finished it on June 30th, 2012. I am very proud of him. This is our 5th championship, 2 in freestyle and 3 in agility.



Seeker by Cindy Noland

One accomplishment still eludes us. It seems easier for everyone else, but difficult for us. Piper and I need 3 QQs to complete his AKC MACH. Last weekend was a complete bust. It was mainly my fault, but the outcome was nevertheless the same. 0 for 6 for Piper. No QQs for Seeker either. It is doable... but some days, it seems like a feat that we will never accomplish. And yes, there is ego involved for me. While my agility friends and acquaintances are on multiple MACHs, I am struggling to complete MACH 1 on both boys. Sadly, it is easy for me to lose faith, even when I try so hard not to do so.

For Seeker, it is getting that last gamblers Q in USDAA for his ADCH and earning those last 8 QQs in AKC. He is younger, the pressure not as timely as it is for Piper. He is more consistent, yet a little more independent. He sometimes runs his own agenda which gets us both into trouble. I remember the days when he did everything momma told him. Those days are gone. As his confidence grew, he became faster and more independent. I remind him regularly on course that there is no "I" in "TEAM". But I love running him, because he keeps me on my toes. His joyful abandon is infectious.

I know that it should be completely about the journey, and not the destination. But that can be a difficult mantra when dogs much younger and with less experience are finishing their MACHs. One thing I do know is that the boys don't care about titles, ribbons or MACH bars. They care about playing the game with me. THAT is what it is about. Sometimes I need to step back and re-focus. Because when the boys are gone, none of their accomplishments will matter to anyone. What will matter is how much joy they always had when they played agility with me. That is what is important. Easier said then done? Not if I can help it...

My evolution as an agility trainer and handler...

USDAA Mid-Atlantic Regional 2012
Piper by Agility Gallery
8th place PGP   

     I have come a VERY long way as an agility person. Yes... there, I said it. I AM AN AGILITY PERSON!!!!! I have gone to the dark side... and I LOVE IT!!!!

     I started out as an obedience person WAY back when... My first dog out of college (BC mix Jessie) got me in to obedience training because she was the puppy from H E double hockeysticks! I went to my first match when she was around 2 or so, took 4th place in Sub-Novice as it was called then, and I was hooked! Not so with Jessie. It was when she was about 2 1/2 years old that Kastle came in to our lives. Jessie was more than happy to relinquish her working career to him. Every good house needed a couch potato and she was more than happy to ensconce herself in that capacity. Kastle hit the ring at 16 months of age and never looked back.

     It wasn't until 1996 that I was introduced to agility. I have Shane McConnell and the members of SWARM agility to thank for corrupting me! Ha! My club brought them in for a workshop and I was less than enthusiastic about this new sport. It didn't really have structure, in my opinion, and it was all about speed. Definitely NOT my choice for a sport. I also herded with my BCs and that was enough excitement for me. I trialled Kastle a few times and earned his Novice Agility title, but Duncan was so wild on course, the complete opposite of his normal staid, buttoned down personality, that I stopped competing with him and only did obedience, and later, rally. Kastle never went beyond that one title because he had a rebuilt shoulder and couldn't weave.

     I was pathetic as a handler. I only said commands once, like in obedience, and expected the dogs to do it right the first time. Not... When Lyric came along, she was all speed and over-confidence in agility. I was taking her to formal classes and she was beyond a handful for me. It really made me NOT enjoy agility because I spent so much energy trying to get her to do things right. Obedience was more cut and dried for me. It didn't have a multitude of variables to deal with. Lyric achieved an AKC NAJ before the incident. I can still remember her running the teeter the first time she saw it... No fear, no worry... just insanity. After all that happened with her, I gave up agility for a very long time.

By the time Piper came along, I was doing obedience, rally, freestyle and herding. Piper was a wiry, long-legged bullet that loved to learn. I started dancing with him and he did extremely well during his competitive freestyle career. Obedience he wasn't so fond of, but got through his CD with high 190s. I made the mistake of handing him over to a well-known clinician because I could not get him to retrieve a dumbbell. In short, she ruined him and to this day, he refuses to retrieve one. I blame myself for what should have been a glorious obedience career. But I trusted this person and because I was at a loss, I allowed her to work him. BIG MISTAKE... My other dogs were play-retrieve trained and I never had to train any other way. He did and still does enjoy rally and someday, we will finish his RAE. But because of his penchant for speed, jumping and enthusiasm, I begrudgingly took him to agility class. He was shut down for obedience and so I thought this would be a good outlet for his energy. Oh boy... is that an understatement.

I started taking him to classes at one facility, but they didn't know what to do with a dog with his speed and drive. Neither did I. So I found another facility that had instructors that owned, trained and trialled Border Collies... fast ones... That turned into a big help. With only having minimal experience with training anything in agility, I still was clueless and hopeless as a trainer and handler. My timing was horrible, my commands always late, my shoulders and feet always wrong, my arms flailing in the air... and there was poor Piper enduring my bumbling efforts with a grin on his face. God bless him...

He probably wasn't the ideal dog for a rank beginner to learn on. He was fast, wild, a bit stubborn and obstacle focused. He and I were a wrecking crew on a course. His idea of fun in AKC Novice JWW was crashing through the jumps and knocking down all the bars. The bar setters groaned when we stepped to the line. If they were lucky, there would be 1 or 2 bars still up. It wasn't because he didn't know how to jump, it was just more fun to run through them as fast as he could. He squealed and protested if I was in front of him, but steering him from behind was fruitless. He would take what was in front of him, right or wrong. But as time went on, we developed our own language and started becoming successful. I still wasn't sold on this sport, but if Piper loved it, then I was determined to make a valiant effort at holding up my end.

It was at that time that I started doing periodic workshops with Donna Rohaus. I was immediately intimidated by my lack of knowledge and skill. Quite honestly, she scared me! I kind of thought I had done an okay job with Piper, but I soon found out that wasn't the case. I didn't teach him a "handling system", he really didn't have much of a foundation and I still really didn't know how to handle him properly. Thus began my immersion in agility training for the real world. It took me 3 years to get in to Donna's always full classes. But I finally did. And throughout the years, I have blossomed as a handler. (My view, maybe not someone else's.) I also received continued help from Kim & Eric Wong from Splash & Dash and Shane McConnell and Lisa Layton from SWARM. It wasn't until January 2012 that I struck out on my own and truly felt comfortable doing so.

Seeker has the benefit of starting in Donna's classes and learning the Awesome Paws Handling System developed by Linda Mecklenberg. He is powerful and has bloomed over the last several years, getting faster and more confident. I am no longer intimidated by trainers and handlers with more experience and success. As a matter of fact, I love learning new things from these trainers, such as Stuart Mah... I glean information from every workshop and clinic I take and use what applies to me and my dogs. Piper's handling is still a mishmash of methods and is a language we speak together. Seeker's handling is more refined. He has needed different things like distance work from Kathi Scherf. As for Gem, she is being taught different obstacles with different methods, but her handling is all APHS. See? I can and do learn.

My boys are successful in my eyes. I am not on the World Team, nor probably will ever be. But every time I go to the line, my goal is to put in a World Team effort for each and every run. Are we always successful? Nope... but that doesn't matter. It is the journey that I am thoroughly enjoying. I love training and I love seeing the results of all that hard work. And now, I am teaching others to love this sport as much as I do. That is the best part... Yes, I AM AN AGILITY PERSON!!! and I LOVE IT!!!

ATCH Seeker!

ATCH Seeker and his awards

Me, ATCH Seeker and judge Darryl Warren

     Seeker finished his Australian Shepherd Club of America Agility Trial Championship on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the Buckeye Australian Shepherd Club trials under judge Darryl Warren. It is Seeker's first agility championship. We needed 20 Elite Gambler points going in to the trial with 4 shots at getting them. Gamblers is the first class on Saturday and the gamble was tricky, but definitely doable. I wasn't honestly worried about placements or anything else, just the clean run and Q.

      In true Seeker style, he got the gamble and earned a 2nd place in round 1. In round 2, he had the weaves out of a tunnel, which tripped him up at the last ASCA trial because neither of us checked his speed and although he got the entrance, he was going too fast and got tangled up, causing him to pop out. This flashed through my mind and when he hit the tunnel, I reminded him to slow up and get the weaves. He did it perfectly, then took the last 2 jumps earning the last needed points for his ATCH! I could not be more proud of him.

Seeker enjoying a little ATCH cake!

     Gamblers has not been an easy class for him. And I couldn't figure that out for the longest time. I took a private lesson from the Queen of Distance Kathi Filar Scherf and discovered that Seeker's comfort distance was only about 8 feet away from me. THIS is not conducive to a successful gamble when the distances are 15 - 20 feet. So, Kathi gave me some great advice and exercises to work with him and as the weeks progressed through the winter, I saw him gain more confidence and be comfortable working away from me at greater and greater distances. He began getting difficult gambles/sends in AKC and USDAA and crept up on those last needed points for ASCA. I owe Kathi a huge debt of gratitude for helping me and Seeker, for without her insight, we would still be struggling. THANK YOU KATHI!!!

     Seeker got our very first bar (because although Piper earned his ATCH last year, they didn't give bars then) and I am sure it won't be our last. He needs only a few more Qs to earn his USDAA ADCH and 11 QQs for his AKC MACH. And then we will get back to concentrating on his first love, herding... Stay tuned!

2012 USDAA Mid-Atlantic Regional

Piper by Agility Gallery

Did I say how much I love competing in USDAA? LOVE IT!!! We travelled last weekend to the Regional held at In The Net in Palmyra, PA. It was hosted by 3 USDAA clubs and except for the computer software glitches, it was efficiently run. The footing was great for the dogs as was the MAD Agility supplied equipment. The vendors were awesome with Clean Run, EMB Monogramming and several others with unique items, including really cute sheep stuff! :) I bought a pen and some oven mitts. I couldn't resist!

I have never been to a USDAA Regional before. In 2010, I jumped straight in Nationals! Duh... but even though our teams didn't qualify, we had a blast there. Since getting back in to USDAA in the last 6 months, I really wanted to go to the Showcase and Regional. The boys had their qualifications for Triathlon as well. This is a special class that takes a dog's scores from Team/PVP Standard and Jumpers to determine whether or not you make it into the 3rd round. You also had to have a GP/PGP Q too, I believe to be in the Triathlon. The boys ran clean in Standard, but didn't make the time for a Q, but they both ran clean in jumpers and MADE the time for a Q! To my surprise and pleasure, both of them made it into the 3rd round of Triathlon. The course was sort of a Hybrid course with a teeter and weaves. Both boys ran clean, but not fast enough to make it in to the placements. Piper finished 11th in Performance and Seeker finished 16th in Championship. I am very proud of them both!

Piper was in PVP with Alyssia Greiner and her awesome BC girl Zippity. The team name? "Loose Cannons", which best describes them both at times. He was rock steady in Gamblers, Standard and Jumpers. We made it through to #5 in the Snooker closing and although I screwed him up in our relay run, Loose Cannons finished 12th out of 43 PVP Teams and Piper has his Q!

 He also had a "bye" into Performance Grand Prix. He had a terrifying fall from the dogwalk in round 1 on Saturday morning, but after being taken care of by some amazing folks, he was able to finish the weekend. He ran Round 2 cleanly and finished in 8th place and a "bye" into Nationals semi-finals. We aren't going that far west, but it is awesome that he has one anyway. It was also very cool that it was being live-streamed and people we know got to see us!

Seeker by Agility Gallery

He also picked up a PIII Jumpers leg towards his PDCH with a 4th place. And we ended up not staying to run Masters/PIII Snooker on Saturday because they were holding rings while GP finished. We were all tired, happy, but very tired.

Seeker was also steady for his team, "The Evolution Of Seeking Magic" which consisted of Julia Ecklar and her wonderful, young BC Darwin and Diane Aramian and her sweet BC Magic. Although we finished in last place out of 63 teams, it was a good way to get mileage on the dogs. Seeker and Magic have their needed DAM Qs, so it was just fun for us. Seeker ran clean in 3 of 4 of his runs, with a Q in Team Jumpers. His only silliness was in Team Snooker where he earned 4 whole points and almost took me out on the way to a red jump. Naughty boy... :)

And not to forget the girls, Ceilidh and Gemmie... They were angels all weekend for their Daddy as they hung out in the van as there wasn't enough crating space inside. They got to play ball and go for walks and had their Daddy's attention exclusively. Gem got to come in and socialize a few times and watch the rings, which she does calmly. This is exactly what I wanted when I decided to enroll her in an obedience class with agility class running next to it at the same time. They were all well-behaved in the motel and it was just a great weekend. 

I would do it again... tomorrow if I could. I am so happy to be back running USDAA... and I can't wait until our next trialing adventure!

What I've learned...so far...

Piper is a great teacher of many things... Our pursuits in agility began over 7 years ago. I had no idea how to train him. I had 2 BCs in agility prior to him who only obtained Novice level abilities and titles. I was hopeless as an agility trainer with Piper. But luckily, I found some people that helped me out, but didn't teach me a "system" of handling. Piper had the skills, but I had no idea what to do with them. I came from an obedience and freestyle background and agility handling really doesn't work like either of those activities.

When I was finally able to get into a handling class (Donna Rohaus/Agility CAPabilities), Piper was older and had been competing for a couple of years. He wasn't taught the APHS and to this day, although I try to use those principles, I mostly fly by the seat of my britches when he and I run together. He has gotten better at understanding specific cues, and I have gotten so much better at giving him information in a timely fashion. I find myself using a mix of handling, that we have worked out together. I often use Stuart Mah when I need to change his focus. But I primarily use Linda Mecklenberg's APHS, with our modifications. I have had to learn to adapt on courses and Piper requires that I absolutely work the WHOLE course. He isn't comfortable taking charge like Seeker, who was trained on APHS from the beginning. Seeker is much more forgiving of my mistakes. Piper takes my movement, cues and eye contact as Gospel and if I am too slow or off, things fall apart. I have learned from Stuart to just continue when a mistake is made during a run and to not go back and "fix it". With Piper, he can de-motivate easily if I put too much pressure on him. Most of all the mistakes are mine. So why should I make HIM fix it? He is just as happy running with me, Q or no Q.

Running two very different dogs has taught me many things... but mostly how to adapt and overcome. The boys have expanded my understanding and enjoyment of the sport they both so love. But there is always more to learn and I am a willing student.

Progress...

Seeker by Megan Quigley

Seeker and Gem have been going to herding lessons for the last few weeks that I have been off from agility trials. Some days, it takes a Herculean effort for me to make the long drive to Bedford. It is close to 2 hours one way to go to our lessons. Some people say I am dedicated. Maybe that is so, but really for me, it is the privilege of training a Border Collie to do what God intends for it to do with its instinct and drive. I know the potential and I know my goals for both of them. Seeker is blossoming and he has finally earned the right to be taken off the long line he had been dragging for so long. He has proven that he is mature and confident enough to make the correct decisions. He has learned his flanking commands, for the most part, and has started learning to drive. This is a challenge for him, but one I think he will be able to accomplish. 

    He will be moving out in to the big field this week which gives him more room to work and to make mistakes. My job is to keep that from happening. It took me long enough to figure out that as long as I stay quiet, confident and cool, he responds appropriately. If I get stupid, a sheepwreck will ensue forthwith. Duh... I have learned to not only watch him, but keep the stock in my vision as well. Not always easy, but very important. Stock sense is something that you have to learn so that in any given situation, the handler can watch the stock and gauge their reaction to pressure from the field, other sheep, the dog, the handler... it goes on and on.  


     This is a big step in helping Seeker in lengthening his outruns and learning how to handle the pressures in the big field, where there are many as opposed to the training ring. I am confident that we will handle it together. He is very responsive and biddable and has stopped the nonsense of trying to beat me to his stock. He knows that if he is correct and quiet, he gets them. If not, he must become so to have contact with them. He's a smart cookie... He gets it.


     Gem has made progress as well. She is a serious little thinker and trying to let her just have a go isn't always successful. She tries very hard, sometimes too hard in fact. For her last 2 lessons, we worked her with Jack's dog Gwenn. That seemed to give Gem confidence and loosen her up a bit. The first week we used Gwenn a great deal. This past week, Gwenn's only job was to pull the sheep away from the fence for Gem. This worked out very well. I can see Gem getting more confidence with each exposure. She isn't afraid to get between the sheep and the fence, even at her diminutive size. 


     I have high hopes for them both... I am hoping to have Seeker ready to get some experience at a few AKC herding trials this summer in preparation for having him ready by Fall to run Novice/Novice. For Gem, as a start, to get her Pre-Trial tested (PT) title this summer and get her ready for next year to run in Border Collie trials. The journey continues...

Gem starts obedience class...

     Due to my crappy work schedule and the fact that most classes are in the evening when I am working, Gem is finally (at 1 year of age) in an obedience class. It also helps that I don't have the boys in classes now and have the time to work Gem on the night they normally would have had class. Gem needs this... I need this... I am building a working relationship with her. She is finally seeing the value of working with me.
     A few days before her 1st birthday, I had her spayed. And now... she is finally interested in food. Not all food, but her interest is growing. Toys are not always appropriate, although I do use a tug with her even in obedience class. First and foremost, she has to learn obedience to do agility... My dog, my rule... While she is learning to "watch me", do stays and heel nicely on a lead, I am still working foundation exercises in agility with her. She is a natural in obedience I am finding. After her initial culture shock of being in a class with 9 other dogs, she is adjusting nicely. Week 1 was enough for me to not go back...Her arousal level and barking at the other dogs gave me a major headache. This week, although she still had some moments of barking, she was vastly improved. These are things we work at home, but putting her in a class is exactly what she needed.
     This week she gave me some short bursts of heads up heeling with attention, did her stays and likes to play the "Leave it" game with a treat on the top of her foot. She adores her instructor Linda and I may have to use the "Leave it" with her so Gem doesn't bounce on her. Gem is a social butterfly with people. She likes most dogs, but draws the line with naughty puppies and dogs that lack social skills...(ie staring) Although she likes pouncing and wrestling with Seeker, she doesn't want that from outside dogs. She currently thinks puppies are yucky... :-)

     I am not used to working with the girls... I love the boys and have always had great working relationships with them. My relationship with Gem is a work in progress and one that I am happily figuring out. She is independent, but wants to be right. She doesn't like lots of repetition so it challenges me to find fun ways to repeat exercises without losing her attention. All in all, she is making me a better trainer and handler. I am hoping that we will continue to enjoy doing obedience although that is truly up to me. I also think there may be a dancer in there somewhere. And of course, agility and herding as well. According to the Chinese, she is a Fire, like Piper. If she can accomplish half of what he has, it will be well worth the journey put before us. However, if she never earns a title, that's okay with me too. Gem is more like Piper than he cares to know... could be why she irritates him so much.
     The horizon rises before us... and I anxiously await each new day...

Piper and growing older...

Piper by Cindy Noland

It both amazes and scares me that Piper will be 9 in April. Yes, he has slowed down a bit and yes, like me, he has his aches and pains. But "His Nibs", as we fondly call him, still thoroughly enjoys the game of agility.  I love the options we have available to us as he ages. After finishing his USDAA ADCH and the USDAA Nationals in 2010, I dropped him to Performance and 22". At the same time, I dropped him to his normal jump height in AKC which is 20" after running him his whole career at 24". He loves the lower jump heights and can still rock a course with speed. He no longer has to worry about jumping 24" or 26". He has adjusted very well to the lower heights and I know it is so much better for his body. And as he continues to age, we have even lower options in different venues, so as long as he is healthy and wants to play the game, we can.
     He gets chiropractic, massage and now acupuncture as a regimen for his health and well-being. I should take as good care of myself. He feels good, he is fit and conditioned and he has me watching over him, making sure he stays that way. This past weekend, he slipped and crashed a jump in JWW. The bar got caught between his front legs and must have given him quite a stinger. He took the last jump, celebrated, then lifted his right front leg and whimpered. Piper is very stoic... so for him to limp and cry, it had to hurt. I picked him up, sans leash, and carried him back to our crating area. Everyone was so concerned for his welfare... I love my agility friends! His shoulder and leg were immediately iced and his Back On Track jacket put on him. After Seeker's run, I took Piper out and walked him around a bit. He wasn't limping, but his shoulder was warm. I let him jump 12" and he stutter-stepped before jumping. He was sore, that was for sure.
     I love that I have many tools at my disposal to help out my canine athletes. The Back On Track jacket was the best investment. Piper received more ice, massage and a Chinese herb blend called Body Sore. He slept in his BOT jacket as well. In the morning, he dashed down the stairs as if his crash the day before was a distant memory. I was relieved to say the least. Once at the trial, I warmed him up, jumping him at his regular 20" and he was fine. Before his Standard run, I asked my friends to watch him carefully for signs of lameness. I knew that when he hit the 3rd obstacle ( the A-frame ), that would be the place he might show a problem. He hits the A-frame with force, too much for my liking, but I have never been able to re-train him to do the obstacle any other way. He got the first half of his 14th QQ with a 3rd place and no signs of soreness. Later that day, he got the second half of his QQ with a Q in JWW... He also ran Time 2 Beat for the first time, and although he dropped a bar with an ill-timed rear cross on my part, he ran with enthusiasm, fun and without any problems.
     I am his guardian. I know him better than anyone. And it is up to me to make sure he stays as happy and healthy as I can possibly keep him for as long as I can. I want him to be able to play his favorite game for many more years to come. I fully expect to be running him in agility when he is 12 or 13, or for as long as he wants to and physically can. It is truly a joy to be his partner and we are growing old together... I kinda like it that way.
   

Training Gem in agility...

Gem is an intense little girl. This picture was taken when she was about 4 months old. She is no less intense now at 11 months of age... I started some early agility training with her some months ago, but due to my injury, that was all put on hold. I am now back to doing foundation work with her.

I did a training session with her last week which involved wrapping around jump uprights in both directions and driving through tunnels. She has very little food drive and toys wind her up. Toys can also put her in herding mode as in the photo. She is stalking a tennis ball. So, I am trying to find a balance of what I can use for a reward with her. She does like to tug and I keep the duration short with her. Presently her attention is that of a gnat, but she still has maturing to do. I said today that Gemmie's focus needs focus!

I started her in herding to help with her maturity and focus. She has intense focus on stock which I hope will transfer over to other activities as she gets more confidence and ages. And now that we aren't going to the Border Collie National, I no longer feel any pressure to have her "ready" to be in an agility ring by a certain time. She will be a year old on February 28 and I am guessing that she won't see an agility ring until the Spring  of 2013, after she turns two.

She is fast... wicked fast and different from the boys. Piper was fast when he was younger, but not nearly as fast as this little rocket. I want to take advantage of that speed, so I am planning on teaching her running contacts. People say I am crazy, but I think we will be awesome. Because I no longer have a deadline, I am taking my time in training her and trying to not make the same mistakes I have made with the boys. I am sure, however, that I will make different ones given her speed and intensity. But anything worth doing, is worth doing right.

Gem is currently just about 18" tall. She is going to get measured... a lot... until she is over the age limit for each venue we will compete in. But because she is over the height to jump 16" in USDAA and will have to jump 22" Championship, I will run her at 20" in AKC even if she is supposed to jump 16" there. Right now, that seems like a tall order for my little sprite. But I have seen her jump... and jump she surely can! Now, let's see if I can harness the enthusiasm, get some more focus and keep working towards my agility goals for her. And the journey continues...

To go or not to go...

Well, while I don't usually use my blog for any other reason except talking about my dogs, this subject is troubling to me. I recently volunteered to be on the AKC Border Collie parent club's committee to revise the breed standard. While I have 24 years in the breed, I wasn't found to have relevant experience for this particular committee. Hmmm... really? What this means to me is that I don't show my dogs in the breed ring. My reasoning is sound... I refuse to finish breed championships on my dogs and lose their working registrations which is far more important to me. I have also been turned down twice to do judge's education as well. Considering I have had Border Collies for 24 years, I think I know what the breed standard says and I should be able to discuss and educate breed judges intelligently on what they are looking for in a quality Border Collie. I may not agree with the breed standard, which is only one of the reasons I wanted to take part in this committee, but I know a good dog when I see one.

The working line BCs rarely get a fair shake in the breed ring. The judges seem to want the same cookie cutter image over and over again. When presented with something different, although absolutely correct, they can't bring themselves to put that dog up. For example, in 2009 we went to the National Specialty and I showed Seeker in American Bred. He was the only working line bred dog in his class. He was in hard working condition, not an ounce of fat on him. The judge on the first day barely looked at him and treated him as if he were diseased when he did a cursory examination of him. Now, Seeker is a handsome male, with a gorgeous head. He is black tri with white factoring and his markings are deceiving. Which is why a judge needs to put hands on him... in a real effort to examine him. He was dumped to the end of the line, even though he behaved and moved better than other dogs in the class. I expected no less. On day two, the judge at least examined him, but still dumped him to the end of the class. Also no surprise. I told Seeker he wouldn't have to go in the breed ring ever again. The only reason I showed him then was for more points towards the coveted versatility award. If memory serves, there were only 3 or so working line dogs in conformation at all. Uh yeah...

In the parent club's last magazine... the current president's message made me shudder. Why? Because he obviously has no clue about what the hell is going on in his own breed! Right now, there is a Border Collie Health Survey being undertaken by the club. I participated. In his message he said, and I quote, "Given the genetic component for some cases of epilepsy, it would be interesting for someone to look at pedigrees of Border Collies that have epilepsy to see if there are any commonalities back in the pedigrees." Unquote. Is he seriously for real????? Does he have any idea about the current studies that are going on for epilepsy? Sound-sensitivity? Early onset deafness?Border Collie Collapse? Absolutely unbelievable... or maybe not. Scary? Indeed...

I was told that there are other committees that would benefit from my experience. Hmmph... What that tells me is that they don't want someone from outside the breed world to be on a committee to revise the breed standard. There are volunteers with "more directly applicable experience" to be on it. I was told to send in my opnions for changing the standard. I will be heard. I have to wonder if that is true or will they just keep going in the direction they are going. :sigh:

I am up in the air now about going to this year's specialty. I love going and seeing all those Border Collies in one place,  having a great time, doing the activities that they enjoy. But I can also go to any working Border Collie trial or any agility, obedience or rally trial to see that. More importantly, I can look at my own dogs and see their joy. Do I really need a parent club to validate that?  

Going it alone...

Piper at AKC Nationals by Great Dane Photos

After several years of taking agility classes, I recently made the difficult decision to stop for awhile. At first, I thought I was crazy... but now I have gotten into a rhythm of working with the boys on things that I know I need to work on.... rear crosses, back sides of jumps, threadles, complicated jumping sequences, blind crosses, wraps and just about everything and anything challenging I can dream up. I finally feel comfortable enough as a handler and trainer to go it alone for now. I have found a new freedom in planning my own training sessions. And I think the boys are blossoming under this new twist in their training lives. I am constantly challenging and pushing myself and them during our sessions. I want to continue to grow as a handler and trainer and I truly believe that this is a step in the right direction for us. I will still do occasional private lessons from those wiser and more experienced than me, but for now I am content to strike out on my own and take no classes and see the effect that has on me, the boys and our teamwork.  Soon enough, Gem will benefit from a class environment and I will go back, at least with her. But I am enjoying this time with the boys and taking this particular journey with them, wherever it may lead...

And the serious journey begins...

Seeker wearing... photo by Megan Quigley

Seeker is now 5 years old. He was introduced to sheep at 11 months of age and I have toyed around with it for too long now. Because I can't afford and really aren't willing to send him away to be trained by someone else, it is a much longer process. Much longer...

Lessons are almost 2 hours away in Bedford, PA. Going generally shoots my day most of the time. I wish there were options closer, but there isn't. Other options are further... Much further... like 4 hours away. Not an option to do on any regular basis. Agility and other sports are much more accessible for sure, but not more gratifying for me. I love being outside, in the snow, cold, rain, heat, sun, wind, whatever, doing what the Border Collie does best, working livestock. There is nothing more exhilarating for me than sending a dog silently on his outrun with a wave of my hand. I love watching their innate talent come alive. There is nothing more awe-inspiring.

I started my journey in Border Collies 24 years ago with Kastle. From working lines, he was a tough dog to train for a beginner. He was pushy and strong, not exactly the most biddable on sheep. In other dog sports, he was a genius... More, higher, faster were all of his mottos. Not very appropriate for livestock... Zoe came next... easier, more biddable and a natural talent. She taught me so much... and she gave me time to learn about watching and learning sheep... how they move, why they move, where they feel pressure, when they are most likely to be cooperative. She loved real farm work. I so miss those days and having my friend Alison as a trainer and mentor. A senseless death, which that story is for another time.

Recently, I decided to stop taking Piper and Ceilidh to lessons. Why? Because God bless my Piper, but he has no power and the stock have no respect for him. And Ceilidh? Because her medical issues are many and the spondylosis in her spine and arthritis in her feet have made it difficult for her to take the varying temperatures and terrain. So now I make the trip as often as I can with Seeker and young Gem. They are my focus for this journey.

Seeker is back on a long line, learning the rules once and for all. He is not to dive in, he is not to circle aimlessly, he is to lie down when asked. He has gotten away with naughtiness once too often and he thought that was the norm I'm afraid. After a particularly bad lesson, my instructor turned to me and said "We can't ever let him get away with that again." And we haven't... Since that day, he has been on the long line, kept in check in the round pen and is working at a proper distance and with obedience. He is widening himself  on his outruns when I ask him to and walks up quietly without busting sheep all over creation. Good boy... If he continues to progress, he will get out of the round pen, but not off the line for a time yet.

I have learned that I need to take command, be purposeful, quiet and direct with him. If I don't get flustered, neither does he. If he even thinks a naughty thought, I remove him before he has a chance to make a mistake and blow weeks of work. He gets put away for a time to think about the lesson while I work with Gem. Then I bring him back, usually in a better frame of mind, with the lesson in mind.

Gem is different. She is sticky and my goal is to keep her moving with short sessions. I actually WANT her to be a little naughty and have fun. She is far too serious at times and I know that if she gives too much ground at this age, she will only get wider as she grows up. Not what I want... We keep her sessions lively, active and short.

My goals for these two are the same, but with a different time table. I am hoping to have Seeker running in Novice/Novice by this summer, if the weather holds and I can continue my trek up the mountain. I want both of them running confidently at whatever level they are ready for by the BCSA National Specialty in October 2012. The journey has truly begun and I can't wait for the next chapter...