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...