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5:30pm-Friday evening

February 29, 2008 on 5:20 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

The sky is a blue-gray haze with the sun trying to shine, but only showing as a fuzzy light yellow orb. It is windy and cold, the product of an Alberta clipper racing through the Ohio Valley into New England. We got the cold, not the snow, so I won’t complain.

The dogs are invigorated by the cold, not so me. I put up with it by putting layer after layer of clothing on for each walk, topped by my insulated coveralls. I waddle like a penguin and my nose turns red like Rudolph, but I’m warm. Anyone watching me throw the ball for Charlie and Zelda would split a gut laughing… trust me when I say, in this get-up, I may throw like a girl, but I sure don’t look like anything other than the Goodyear Blimp.

It is Friday. I’m wrapping up the day at work (yes Virginia, with an entry to my blog) and thinking ahead to my evening walk with Zelda and Charlie, then dinner and a warm snuggle to finish off my day. Tomorrow will dawn early and Saturday is my one and only day to train with supervision from my club’s training director. Many club members are getting ready to trial the following weekend (Mar 8-9) at our club trial, so I may find my supervised training curtailed. Like most clubs, those trialing take precedence in training on the field and Charlie still has a way to go before he will be ready for his Schutzhund I debut. I will watch, learn and help out where I can…

My guys manage to fill my bed each night and my life each day…

February 28, 2008 on 5:35 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Each night when I go to bed, Zelda curls up next to my shoulder and sleeps against me, angel-like, without fuss. Charlie, on the other hand, sprawls across the bottom two-thirds of the bed. His tail starts the sprawl at the bottom left corner of the bed and his nose ends it by laying across my stomach, somewhere near the middle of the bed on the right side. I find I can have whatever is left of the bed, usually a narrow corridor of space uninhabited by dog and barely habitable by me! Lord help me if I get up in the middle of the night for any reason, for when that happens, I usually return to find Charlie is actually able to stretch even further and now has claimed what little piece of the bed I had called my own.

Mornings, as I lay in that wonderful stage of twilight sleep enjoying images and dreams as they fill my head, I become aware of non-stop whining. When I can stand it no longer and the last vestige of sleep has been chased from my head, I open my left eye and peer over to Zelda. She is awake, whether by her own accord or because of the whine-machine at the bottom of the bed, and staring at me. I imagine she is wondering how long I can take the high pitched sound emitting from Charlie’s vocal cords. With both dogs awake, it is a lost cause and I reach out and begin the morning ritual of petting them each on the head. Two heads, two hands. I can take it for about 10-15 minutes, then I announce, “OK, Let’s go” Somewhere between the O and the K, they bounce off the bed, using my stomach as their launching pad. Another night over and a new day beginning. Bring it on!

Tracking Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 at Villa Julie front field…

February 28, 2008 on 9:45 am | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Great conditions for a dog that is still in the early stages of tracking training. Wet, ankle high stage grass with no human cross tracks… deer tracks, yes, but no dogs or people. 10:15am, little breeze.

Charlie had a little trouble at the beginning. Not sure why, but he started 5 paces before the scent box (like usual) and when he got to the scent box, he objected to something and went around to first or second footstep, then footstep to footstep for the most part, picking up food as he came across it. He did miss a few footsteps, but not many. The first three track legs were between 60-70 steps and the last leg was more like 30. Charlie was focused, although he lost some of the intensity in the last part of the 4th leg into the 5th leg. He found the jackpot and was not very interested in the food until I threw some ham into the mix!

I’m more than willing to take my time with training Charlie to track, but I wish I had more knowledge about the process, what to expect and the ability to recognize when he is ready to move to the next step or level in his training. I know that is why we train with the masters, aka Butch and my friend, Sue M, but knowledge of the process would make me feel more in control. Of course, I also wish I had more time to train! Darn job keeps getting in the way.

Tracking at Rosaryville State Park with Charlie….

February 24, 2008 on 3:57 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Saturday 23rd, 2008

The day dawned cold and cloudy. Light sleet-like drizzle. I wondered if I just might stay home and bag training. Baltimore still had snow and ice on the ground and I am not one to train when I think Charlie might be injured slipping or sliding, not to mention the possibility I might slip…

I called my friend Sue in Upper Marlboro to find out the conditions 1 hour south of here where we train and found my stay at home scenario was not to be–no drizzle and all snow and ice was gone down her way. I sorta wanted the day at home to clean and putter around and mostly, to be inside and warm. Since Charlie and I only get one day a week to track with supervision and only one day to work on our protection skills, I suited up and we hit the road by 9am.

The tracking conditions were some of the best you can find in this area in February/March. The ground cover was damp, ankle deep stage brush grass and only a slight breeze. Since the weather had been sub-par for a few days, the area was not overrun with scent from horses, dogs and other recent tracks. I laid a five leg track with food in most footsteps (only skipping one or two footsteps here and there). The breeze went from left to right across my first leg, but the second leg went into the breeze…
The track was about 20 minutes old when we began. Charlie was engaged and began slowly footstep to footstep with a good start at the scent box. He had good rhythm—left, right, left, right, nose down and he maintained throughout the track with the exception of the final leg, mid-way where there was dog doo. Charlie sniffed and threw his head up and he didn’t want to walk through that area, so he quit and just stood next to the track. Butch told me not to help him that he had to work it out himself. After about 30 seconds of just standing, he went around the spot and restarted.

All in all, one of Charlie’s better efforts and it taught me the conditions of the track make a huge difference in Charlie’s performance and in what he learns.

Obedience: We worked on the long down while a SchIII routine was being done on the field. Charlie didn’t even flinch when gunshots went off. We also worked on sit in motion. Sue M gave me some good advice on how to get a quicker sit and suggested I consider clicker work for reward. Good idea. I’ll give it a try this week. Also worked on recall and heeling in a group. I need work on the about turn. Charlie is doing well, my footwork is sub-par! I think I need an electronic collar, not Charlie!

Protection: Working on the SchI routine. Charlie was anticipating the down for the escape bite. We made him sit. The rest needs polish, more control and I think Charlie still needs to learn how to target the sleeve when it is moving at him or away from him (escape bite and courage test). He did both fine today, but he has been spotty in the past. Time will tell.

Our club trial is in two weeks. Charlie is not ready to trial. I’ll be there to help the club as a worker bee. Come and support the competitors! March 8 and 9 at Rosaryville State Park, Maryland.

January 28, 2008 Training – A cold day on the field!

February 7, 2008 on 10:46 am | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Whose fortitude are we testing? The dogs? Or is it really a test of our desire to train our dogs regardless of the weather? I think I know how the mailman must feel when it rains, sleets, snows and the mail must be delivered!

The “pay” for our dedication to training come-what-may is our dogs progress… but that is small comfort when the wind howls, the temperature makes you wonder if your toes are still attached to your body and the insulated coveralls makes your butt look wider than a four lane highway.