second try at trialing

[debbiej]

although I worked with Hilda between trials, and she was very good in 'practice' she did exactly the same thing friday morning that she did at the last trial. the only difference was I took her by the collar to go to the position to do off lead heeling. then she drifted and took off on her frolic. so it wasn't a one time goof up. I figured I wasn't going to go back and let her do it again today. The judge said we could try the sit and front. she wouldn't do that either.

I know she could do it, if I worked with her more. she is perfect in class, but her joints are kind of an issue right now too. since there are no more trials near me till, I think January, we'll see if we go on.

I wasn't very nervous at the small trial near home, but I was nervous yesterday!

[Judi W]

Just one small point since you seem to grant her consideration because of her joints - they don't hurt her too much to inhibit her from going off to play when she wants.

[debbiej]

oh, that is so true. maybe working a little harder would build them up.

[debbiej]

just a little more about this leg stuff. the hips are not causing pain, the hock joint seems to be giving her trouble. I took her to the vet last week, very inconclusive. she said perhaps the hock joint is inflamed like tendonitis. training and working she isn't too bad, but there seems to be something going on with travel to and from. yesterday, I didn't take a crate as the weather was very cool and cloudy. I thought she could stay in the car with windows open. and she was fine until the clouds cleared and the sun came out in the afternoon. then I took her out and toward the end of the afternoon she was actually on three legs sometimes. today she is fine again. I'm just wondering what is going on with this hock joint.

[Luvs]

Debbie,
Do you have any fun matches near you? If so, I would start taking her to fun matches where you can stop her frolicing and correct her if needed. Something else that our instructor does that helps us, is to go to different parks/ect, and set up a ring so we can get our dogs used to working in different areas. That way they learn to work no matter where we are.

I am sorry that today didn't go better for you. Don't give up!!!!

[debbiej]

thanks Carol, I was asking the woman who runs hilda's 'school', why we couldn't do our own fun matches. several of the people in her classes are entering obedience and rally trials. we could get together and make or buy equipment, help each other etc. so maybe that would work. I know this woman's plan is to build an indoor training facility/kennel along with her pet food store. if that ever gets up and running, it would be great. I have looked for fun matches, and there just aren't any that I can find, anyway. hilda's trainer was holding a sort of pre-novice class, where we practiced in a ring, and it was like a trial, but she only held a couple of them.

[Judi W]

I think just maybe you misunderstood me. What I was implying is that you are not requiring the level of actual prompt obedience in your training because you feel a bit sorry for her. I am not indicating that she should have to do something she cannot physically accomplish, but that if you are going to trial her, you might quit pampering her quite so much. My point was that she isn't too uncomfortable to play, therefore she certainly should not be too uncomfortable to be required to work.

[debbiej]

I understood! she is choosing to blow me off, and she is quite capable of doing the work. she isn't feeling bad enough to limp around the ring, and you are absolutely right! she wasn't acting lame in the trial, it is usually after walking around the field or at the end of obedience class. I just am trying to figure out what is making her so gimpy. everytime she has had a problem, it has been after a ride in the car. she dosen't seem to have problems when we travel in the van, which is lower to the ground. and she gets limpy after walking around a lot. I guess she should get worked a whole lot more in shorter daily exercises. the leg does make me feel sorry for her, but that is not the way to treat a working dog who is willing in mind and spirit. and she never feels sorry for herself.

[Judi W]

Sorry, I was looking at this as training, not vet's issue. My suspicion was because you mentioned her joints at the same time as mentioned that she blew you off and it occured to me there might be a connection, but not one of a disability. Shorter and effective sessions are always better than long ones especially with this breed. There is no reason why you can't move in and out of class either. If they tend to do a great deal of heeling drill, do 7 or 8 minutes of good strong work and then go off to the side until they move to another exercise.

[debbiej]

I shouldn't combine the two. vet & training. I brought that into the mix because I'm kind of waffling over how much effort to put into a dog who is so physically limited. but I do enjoy it, so does she, but maybe we could enjoy something else as well.

[Judi W]

Just because the obedience title doesn't come easily, doesn't mean she cannot do it or that she is not capable of the work. You are not asking her to run and jump and what she is doing is simply walking away from you. That is not caused by her infirmity. Give her the respect of knowing that she can do it. This is your first dog. Did everyone else in the class pass? No? I thought not.

[flyballmom]

Debbie, there's no reason why Hilda can't be expected to participate in Novice obedience, or Rally if you so choose. There's no running, jumping or climbing in those venues at the Novice level. She thumbed her nose at you...has nothing to do with her joints. Just wondering...how much off lead practice did you do in how many different places? I'm now working toward entering Blitz in Rally Advanced...which is all off leash. At home, or in very familiar locations, she's "right there" and gives me good attention. In unfamiliar (interesting) locations, she's all over the place. So...it's to those places we go, on a daily basis.

[frontierrots]

Have you considered taking a break from traditional obedience and try Rally Novice for a bit? It is all on lead