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...