Sadie breezed through the course. Mr. Trainer actually commented that it was too easy for her, though I think there were a few good spots for both of us. On her part, I asked for more distance and solid running contacts. She gave me excellent lead-outs with a fairly good slice across the first jump. She also sends to the weaves pretty nicely these days.
On my part, I'm learning to read the best path for her, rather than what the course initially looks like it calls for. There was a moderately tight curve of 3 jumps ending in a hard left over the double. The first time we ran it, I felt that a front cross between 2 and 3 seemed appropriate, giving her a right lead over the double. I instead ended up in her way and she took the double at a wide turn. Mr. Trainer suggested I try keeping her on my left for the curve, the rear crossing the double. It worked beautifully, and she tightened up the turn.
Maxwell can still be a little nutcase, but he is improving in leaps and bounds. He loves the weaves, which makes it tough to call him into a turn when they are on his line. He also has very wide turns, which we will need to reign in. On the (very big) upside, he charges his dogwalk, allows me lots of space, and can be left in the weaves to give me a head start.
He is also incredibly cute. He has a new trick on the table, where he has a nearly instant auto-down. As soon as he lays down, he puts his head down between his front paws. It give him a resigned, pleading look, like Gee, can't we just keep going? Mr. Trainer loved it.
I also discussed with him what height to enter Maxwell at for the New Year's trial. He jumps 20" completely clean, and accidentally (on our part) took a 24" without a blink in class. So, 22" it is! The performance height would be 16", which he would consider a joke. And it's hard to believe he'll measure into the 26" category. Sadie and Maxwell will be in the same height class!
* * * * *
I had some fun clicker training tonight.
With Maxwell, I teaching a new way to retrieve. He has this super-sized tennis ball that he can only just pick up. We were playing with it last night, and he happened to nose it. That gave me the idea to teach him to push it back to me! It's very cute, and he's already getting good at it. I can ask him to back up, put the ball in front of him, and then ask him to PUSH. He love backing up because it means a game is coming, and he'll wait for my PUSH cue because sometimes I feed just for waiting. And of course he loves the new game, because he's insane for anything ball-like. Win all around!
I've modified the same idea for Sadie. Since she is a non-retrieving Retriever, I want her to learn to carry a tennis ball. I'm using a standard sized one, to make it easier, and started clicking just for her nosing it. That quickly progressed to open-mouthed touches, then light nips. Before I knew it, she was lifting it off my open palm! I know that's not a retrieve, but it's a darned good start.
So, anyone have other cute tricks I should teach the pups?
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