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!