Running Conacts Training

Our Carpet Set-Up

We've started some training on the carpet :-) The course hasn't started yet so we're just running on the carpet full speed!!! With some different exits and entrances :-) So far they're both loving it and I think it's their favorite part of Agility!!!

Beth, Wilson & Holly Xxx

Tigger & Roo

Tigger

Okay, I'm going to give the short version of the story because it could take me hours to give the long version.

Back in the summer we fostered 4 tabby kittens handed in to our local vets. Two girls, Hawaii & Venice and two boys, Tokyo & Orlando. We weaned them and then our friend took the boys and we decided we could offer the girls a loving home, so we rang the vets to ask if that was ok. And they said no, a family had been waiting for two of the kittens the whole time! They never told us! So we were forced to give them to the family.

Baby Roo (aka Hawaii)

Baby Tigger (aka Venice)

The family were quite nice (or so we thought) and said we could visit anytime. Over the next few weeks we got photo's of them which was nice, (they also discovered they were boys not girls) and last weekend we visited them, there were a few worrying things we noticed, they were put out because they were marking in the house (which neutering would resolve, but the family couldn't afford it) and as a result one was covered in bare patches from a fight with a tom cat.

A photo of them on our visit

Then a few day's ago we received a text. They were moving house and unable to take pets, so would we like them. We said yes and we arranged to collect them the next day. When we arrived we realized they'd been in another fight with another cat (because they were put out at night) and had an injured tail. They also were free-roaming without collars or a microchip. They also weren't de-wormed or de-flead (fortunately they didn't have fleas). So we went straight to the vets, and there we realized they'd not been vaccinated and they'd been in a fight with a tom cat! And there is a disease they could have (because of being bitten/scratched by a tom cat whilst no vaccinated) and if so they could pass it onto our cats! So we had to have a blood test, which fortunately was negative, Phew! And then we had to microchipp, vaccinate, neuter, worm, de-flea them and check out their tail, which was a large vet-bill and a lot of worry, all this should have been done by the previous owner!

Nala, our other kitten.

It was very frustrating as we'd offered them a home (and we'd have done all this, and avoided the blood test etc...) and that they'd made us give them the kittens when they couldn't afford them, and before we took them back we weren't informed about half of the things they'd failed to do!

They are now doing fine and we've changed their names to Tigger and Roo (they were "Hawaii & Venice" with us their owners called them "Tony & Toby" and them "Billy & Bobby" so it's their 4th name change) . They are getting used to our cat's :) None of our cat's are very cuddly so I'm hoping Roo will be.

Roo

Here are some photo's, and yes I dod notice the "JazzberryJam Production's" on some of them insead of "JazzberryJam Photography"

Nala

Nala

Nala

Wilson's Video!

I'm really pleased to see Silvia Trkman shared our video! You can see it here:

http://www.lolabuland.com/2015/11/26/love-my-on-line-classes-2/

Our new game ...

As many of you know we had a few issues with Wilson working for toys before our Foundation's course, sometimes balls were fun other times they were booaarrriiinnngggg!

We made toys more fun and also did food-in-toys. We can work with just toys but it's erratic as to when, so I decided to try and progress from food-in-toys, (which he's pretty happy to work for anytime) which we changed to a fetch. He had to race to get the toy I throw for him and return it to me for a treat, simple. I'd been half working on it for a while but a few days ago we mastered it.

I filled a glove (not a good idea, the treats get stuck in the fingers!) with treats and threw it for him, he raced after it and I called him and when he brought it at least half way back (it was only a short distance away) I clicked and rewarded. Then we got it the whole way (still short distance) and then I swapped the glove for an empty one (swap for an empty glove straight after work with the treat filled one). Wilson went straight for the empty one and I rewarded. We can now do it with any soft toy, but he does occasionally need to be told a second time he really needs to get it! He sometimes does it for fun, he didn't bring it back a few times as he wanted to play which is good! And sometimes the reward is another throw or tug! I also can now hide and call him! So good! Because he does like toys I think it'll be easy to get the reward to be another throw.

We're also doing "happy tricks" which is a Silvia Trkman idea, you either use tricks that dogs do when happy and excited or even observe your dog as to what they do when happy for example, jump up on you? or spin? or bark? and you capture that behavior and name it. And tehn you use it to excite your dog before Agility etc ... Wilson we're doing bark, spin, jump up, rebound, bounce, side-to-side, touch & get-it.

Many dogs, especially retrievers (flat coats, golden retriever, labs) love fetch and don't need to be taught, except to drop it! Holly loves fetch (not sure why we never encouraged it) as did Skye (a foster flat coat) but Wilson not so much but he loves it now!

Running Contacts

There are two ways to get your dog to hit the last 90cm of the Dogwalk & A-Frame. 2o2o or Running Contacts. 2o2o you teach your dog to stop and wait with their two back paws on the dogwalk/A-frame until a release and RC is when you teach your dog to stride so they hit the contact point. RC is better for speed and forward drive, no loss of time or momentum.

I've decided to sign up with Holly for Silvia Trkman's RC, I chose Holly for this course as, I think she will be harder to teach RC to, unlike Wilson she is obsessed with Balls/Toys which is good but sometimes she get's so focused on having that ball thrown she doesn't think about how to get it. Wilson has had more issues with working for toys (although it's much improved and only getting better, I'll post about our new game soon) but I think he's more aware. He think's about what he's doing and how he's earning it. Also I've just finished a course with Wilson leaving more to work on and Holly's training needs more structure. I am going to try training him with what I learn from Holly and the RC DVD, and Agility Diaries, and if we have big problems there is another course next summer. Also Holly has more troubles with DW, A-frame and Contacts, she flies off, literally in the middle! And contact's make no sense to her, and Wilson I can work with 2o2o for now anyways.

So you'll be getting more Holly updates as this is part of the transition to me doing all her Agility. She's not my dog and I had been doing part of her training but it's had little structure and she is a super dog.

Also we're going to work with 4on for the seesaw as I don't like the way the seesaw bounces with their back legs on and front paws on, it can't be good for them.

Holly's Video

Our Graduation Video!

We've been taking part in Silvia Trkman's Agility Foundation's Online Course for the past few months, and at the end of all her Courses you can submit a video of everything you and your dog has learnt, the video's are then all entered into a competition to win a free online course :-)

So here's ours :-) 

                  ♫ "We're still King's and Queens ...
                     Here's to everyone who said we never had a chance,
                     Here's to Us!" ♫

NEW VIDEO!!!

Thumbnail

Uploading!

Puppy Photo's - Wilson

A few of the Million baby photo's of Wilson as a puppy! More to follow, once I find them! I may even find some puppy clips to put in his B-day video!!! Anyway, massive cuteness-overload for now!
Click on link for writing part of post! When I met Wilson .. till now!

Beth + Wilson Xx

Wilson 7 days (the first photo I have, this pic always reminds me of when I first met him)

A little bit older, just as his eyes opened 

Sleepy Puppy

Pile of Puppies

Wilson (far left)

A favorite of mine x

One of the photo's we were sent when we had to choose between Wilson and Pinky 

The photo that made me cry, I love this one too 

Before we picked him up

Handsome Boy

Sunbathing

Him and his equally crazy sister, Bunny  

First Day Home

Happy Puppy

In the daisies

Beautiful 

Cuddles! He still does that now!

With Holly

Sunbathing with Holly

My Baby

Sweetest little Pup

Quite a bit older, Cuddles!

Handsome

Stacking 

Activities we do!

Okay, so I've told you all our Frisbee & Junior Handling plans (we're not doing either for the minute) but I haven't actually told you what we are going to do, well not properly anyway.

                     Agility...

... is currently our main focus. We're going to finish Silvia Trkmans Agility Foundations online course ( Here's the link to her Website, I definatly reccomend her DVD's and Foundations Class: http://www.lolabuland.com/ ) at the end of the week, so the next 6 days will be spent trying to perfect everything we've learnt, and trying to master pushes, threadles, serpentines & weaves! And after that training till the spring when we can start training rounds, and then depending on how we get on hopefully compete next Summer!

                 Video Making & Photography

...will continue of course, after our Graduation video (which should be done 22nd November!) just our Christmas video for 2015. I have big plans for 3rd Birthday video! And lot's of photography too!

                        Trick Training ... 

... lot's of this planned, but, unfortunately there aren't really trick contests or freestyle contests here so we'll be training for our videos, online trick challenges and contests and of course FUN!

                       Obedience ...

... is something I'm really considering doing competitively. We're training heeling (a very important skill for obedience) with Silvia Trkmans Heeling DVD, are working on improving recall all the time (which is mostly good, but seagulls are sooo much fun!) and I'm hoping to teach a fetch as a trick, (you need a fetch for Obedience) and if Wilson really enjoy's it we can play it as a game too!

                     Holly...

I'm also planning on continuing Holly's agility training, like Wilson we'll see how we get on in training rounds in the spring before competitions. I'm also going to keep training her new tricks, and maybe in the future try trick contests or a bit of frisbee!

Fun, Fun, Fun ...

... and of course lot's of playing, walking, cuddles & grooming like normal :-) And we'll also as part of our Agility training keep working on toy motivation, which is improving a lot!

I think that's everything! Thanks for stopping by, as this is a new blog I have few followers so all views, comments & follows are appreciated!

Beth + Wilson Xx

Trick Tutorials?

I'm considering doing some trick tutorials on my blog. A trick I'm working on at the moment is a "Hand Rebound" and whilst there are lot's of videos with this trick in, I haven't found any tutorials. Despite that we're progressing well with this trick but it gave me the idea.

I'd probably do them "Unlisted" and simply on the blog, although I'm still unsyre. It probably wouldn't be till after our Agility Foundations Graduation Video, but any thoughts or suggestions on this would be great. It could either be a photo tutorial or video, or both.

Beth + Wilson Xx

Last week of Online Course (Lolabuland, Agility)

We are now approching our final week of our online course "Agility Foundations" we're focusing on Serpentines and Channel Weaves, and the Serpentine's are really progressing! We're almost in a straight line!!! Channel is a bit slower, but hopefully he'll be Weaving by the end of the class. I want a good fast weave, so no rushing!
Of course we still have to work on everything else expecially 2o2o, Sequences & Multi-wraps. We're now using primarily a toy with food in for training which is working really well, it's a good compromise, I get my toy and he get's his food! And he still plays with just toy's, expecially inside :-)

I'm editing our graduation video at the minute, which is getting there, although the majority of the filming I'd like to do next week once we've learnt most things. Beacause the Serpentines are going so well I'm hoping to start on Pushes and Threadles and maybe have mastered them by the end of the course ...

We may re-do the class next year, and I may join her RC class with Wilson, once we have a DW :-)

Here's our latest submission. As I've said before, beacause I have 20+ Foundation Videos, most are set to "Unlisted" simply not to "clutter" my Channel, the most recent are still avalible to watch, like this one. And I'll probrably oost the links here at some point, so my blog followers can see them. If they "disappear" it may be that in the future they are removed or set the "Private" if you'd like to see one of my later FF videos, feel free to ask and if I can I'll share the link, all comments apreciated :-)

Anyway, enjoy our latest video, I'm so proud of my Jazzie-Boy, look at those Serpentines and him Chasing that toy!

Beth + Wilson

When I first met Wilson ... till Now

I'll start from the begging shall I? This is going to be one long, post, cuteness-photo-overload of Will's baby photo's to follow ...

Okay, we started looking for a puppy, Holly was only approx 4mths old at this stage! And I'd just convinced my parents to get me a dog. First off we were getting a Rottweiler, but then we decided a little dog would suit us better at that time. So we decided, like Holly, to get a Cavalier cross. So we started searching online puppy sites (for anyone considering getting a puppy BAD IDEA!!! We've been incredibly luck with both Holly's health and temparment, and we will never get a puppy from that sort of breeder again.) We decided a "Pugalier" or "Cavachon" (Again BAD IDEA!!!! There is NO SUCH THING as a good breeder of a "Pugalier", "Cockerpoo" or "Cavachon", if you want a cross-breed, GO TO A RESCUE CENTRE!) We rang hundreds of breeders and there were problems with everyone, one "breeder" didn't even know if the puppies were girls or boys!

In the end we decided, this is Silly, what we actually want is a Cavalier Just a pure Cavalier, from a good breeder (Anyone looking for a puppy, don't, don't look for a puppy, look for a good breeder and then wait for one of their puppies) So we researched breeders in Ireland, until we found Wilson's breeder, we asked when she was next expecting a litter, and she told us March. We sent her more info about us and our family, so she could see if we'd be suitable. Then, we went on Holiday (Crufts 2013) and one morning we got a text, the puppies were born! A few days later we went to visit them.

We'd originally thought a boy would suit Holly better but we were flexible, a boy or  girl would be perfect. We were greeted by 4 adult Cavaliers, all very friendly and then we met the puppies, the breeder held up each one in turn for us to see, and when I saw Wilson, Boy2, I wanted him, he was my favorite. It was several more weeks before we could see which pup would be ours (Many good breeders actually choose which pup goes to which home, not the owner) and then after weeks of seeing photo's of the puppies, I recognized Wilson in all the photos, he was the darkest of the litter, we got an email, we could choose between Frankie (that was his litter-nickname) and Pinky. We discussed it, although from the second I saw the email, I knew we'd tell them Frankie.

Then once the puppies were 8weeks old we visited them, I instantly picked out Wilson, and when I was asked if I wanted to hold him I was soooo happy! I held him for the most of the visit, but there was a problem Wilson had a sensitive stomach, and they didn't know if they should keep him or not, they decided to think about it and we left, but I was upset I soooo wanted Wilson! Then a few days later they emailed, sending photo's of both Frankie and Pinky, basically suggesting we should have Pinky, and lovely, adorable, sweet and gorgeous as Pinky is, I wanted Wilson. I actually cried when I saw the photo of him I was so sad! So my dad called the vet the puppies had been seen by (for vaccinations) and the vet said she thought it'd be okay, we told the breeder we'd still like him, if that was okay with her.

Then a week or so later, we brought him home! I was sooo happy! We played with all the pup's for about an hour whilst my dad sorted paperwork (Good breeders always have contracts) I was too young to do any paperwork, even though he was to be mine. He was allowed to sit on my lap (just this once) and he was wrapped in his blanket, but he was panting a bit (which looked so cute) so we took it off which made him cooler!

That leaves one thing, what to name him, the shortlist was Wilson, Alfie, Archie, Frankie & Jazzie, We were discussing this (on his forst day home) when Wilson just randomly picked up a tennis ball, and when we looked we saw the words Wilson 4 on it so yup, that was that, Wilson Frankie Roche, nicknames Jazz, Jazzie, Jazzie-Boy, Lil' Growler, Cheeky Monkey .... 

And yep, that's the journey to get him, and in the last 2.5 Years, we've learnt basic behaviors, trick & have started Agility.

Thank you to Wilson's breeder for trusting me with my little Jazzie-Boy!

" Don't look for a puppy, look for a good breeder and then wait for one of their puppies."

Beth + Wilson Xx 

New Trainers!

I got new trainers ('cause I need good trainers for Agility) and Wilson had to see if he could do "Your feet on Mine" with them, and of course he could :-) 

 

Cop-Cop (Your feet on Mine)

Pink and Orange

With Silver Stripe :-)

A new walk ...

We went on a new walk today, my sister has drama class each week and this time I decided to go along, with Wilson, my other sister and her puppy. It wasn't the most exciting place just a small village, luckily it had floodlights 'cause it was already dark.
After a quick walk along the pavement we headed for a large patch of grass, and it was amazing that when your looking there are so many opportunities for practicing tricks! Like a low wall for Wilson the jump on and walk along. A massive plant pot, with only a small plant in the centre for Wilson to jump up and walk along the edge. A flight of steps to practice 2o2o or Back-up steps on. Lamp posts for practicing Cik&Cap or Hug-a-pole. Or even railings for "Paw's Up"!
We didn't get any photo's but we're probably going to go next week ...
Beth, Wilson + Zara Xxx

Junior Handling and Frisbee Plans

Rebound, a potential trick for Frisbee

Okay, I hope you all like the new lay-out of the blog! I've jsut realized I never shared why I decided to not pursue Junior Handling or Frisbee as a hobby for now, well here's why:

I decided to try out Junior Handling at a show this Summer, to see how we got on. Whilst it was fun, I realized it's not really for us at the minute, I prefer the speed and excitement of Agility to the slick and precise style of Junior Handling.

I also think, truthfully Wilson found it pretty boring. We may well return to it in the future but for now Tricks and Agility is what we're working on.

Frisbee is another thing we were considering trying, I just think that beacuseat the minute I don't play frisbee with Wilson, it's not something he loves. I also think it'd take a lot of training and I want to focus on Agility and Tricks, but we are training tricks that, in the future could contribute to frisbee performances, so you never know... I may try this sport with Holly, she's more of a natural at frisbee/catching toys, and she can flip! Also there arn't currently any frisbee competitions near us to compete at whereas there is Agility.

Here's some photo's ...

Stacking on the table

Standing in the "line up" 

A nice stack