Leo Started His Agility Career!

Leo's agility career started on Monday. The first lesson of our seven week session was the first my youngest son, Zach, would be able to attend so initially the plan was for him to do most of the exercises. Unfortunately the dogs tend to perform better with Mom and the boys get frustrated easily. So suffice it to say we both worked with Leo but Zach says he doesn't want to do agility with him anymore. We shall see....  

Waiting for class to start

Our classes are through Columbia Agility Team and our instructor is Autumn. Autumn was kind enough to send us out an outline ahead of class so we knew what to expect going in. Here is our week 1 agenda: Week 1 ~

*** Set realistic and obtainable goals for you and your dog***
Class Objectives
Introduction of classmates/ Instructor
Barn Rules
Handlers will learn to play/ interact with their dog
Dogs will work on stays (1 minute)
Handlers will learn how to lure
Handlers will learn how to reward
Handlers will learn the safety of the equipment used in class
Handlers will be introduced to obstacles (visual)
A Frame Introduction
Contact Plate Introduction

NOTE: Please work with your dog during the week. Work ten minutes twice daily during the week and more frequently if possible. Every time you handle your dog, you are training!! Methods of training are always positive re-enforcement.

Class Description
Introductions
Work on Jumps (both sides)
Work on ladder and buja board
Work on sits, stays, recalls

Review
Goals
Expectations

The buja board was very scary for Leo and I'm not certain he'll ever be comfortable with it or that it will be necessary. Nonetheless, we worked on it with tons of positive reinforcement, praise, and treats. We didn't get around to the ladder in class but I'm confident in what that exercise entails and have already practiced it at home in the past. All in all, I'm excited to see how Leo progresses. I think he's going to make an awesome little agility partner. He is eager to learn, smart as a whip, and has a delightful personality. Here is a compilation of the video I took in class. The only section I really wished I had, too, was when I was working him on the a-frame. Initially he was quite hesitant but after the second time, he really got what I wanted and charged right up the ramp and down the other side without concern. Go Leo!

Mail Call

I wasn't expecting anything from the AKC in the mail - or so I thought. However, when I opened the envelope, something important (and official) had arrived:

Leo also got to be honorary Dane yesterday at the Great Danes of Summer event held at our local park. It's a big annual event we hold to raise funds to support area rescue, emergencies, education, and more. There were quite a few Danes - lots of puppies - and Leo was a complete trooper the whole time. In fact, I barely spent any time with him at all once we got there. Thank goodness for my son who showed up after football about midday and kept Leo with him almost the entire rest of the day. Here are two photos we got taken though that I am completely excited about. 

 

Soon to be a superstar

Leo finally gets to start his next training adventure! His foundation level agility classes start on Monday, September 13. They'll run for an hour once a week for seven or eight weeks. We're taking the classes through Columbia Agility Team which is close and convenient since I'll be juggling getting one of my sons (if not both) to and/or from football practice, too, those evenings. But I'm super excited to get started with Leo! He is so smart - you can just see it in his eyes. He looks at you like he can read you and is willing you to work with him. In fact, just last week I taught him to give a high-five in just three requests/commands. Now, of course, he throws that paw repeatedly and often in hopes of getting a treat. Such a smart little whipper snapper and a mama's boy to boot. Gotta love my little critter.

Canine Good Citizen

Yesterday we participated in the 8th Annual Dog Day Afternoon hosted by the Hazeldale Dog Park Committee in Beaverton, OR. This event is very well put on with tons of vendors and groups represented including flyball, disk dogs, agility, canine freestyle, the canine good citizen program, and much more.

A lot of times these things mean Leo just comes along for the ride and I get him out as often as possible for walks, meet & greet, and social time with Vegas and I. We were fortunate enough this weekend for my son, Zach, to come along to help keep Leo occupied. He got out for more frequent walks; he got to run in the fields; he got to run over some of the jumps in "Beat the Best" with X-Fidos, and he also got to go through the confidence course for agility equipment. And, he took the Canine Good Citizen test.

The test was administered by Alison Eberhard of Everyday Dog Dog Training Center and sponsored by Dog Troop 192. I had actually had the pleasure of chatting with her previously regarding an article I was writing for Spot Magazine, so it was a pleasure to put a face to the expertise I had consulted. Going into the test, I knew what area I was most worried about for Leo. It was primarily Test #6, the sit, down, and stay in place. It would seem this is simple, but for some reason Leo can be very stubborn. He learned all of this in his basic obedience and it has been practiced and reinforced, but I had minor concerns regardless. Here are all the test items for reference:

Test 1
Accepting a friendly stranger
Test 2
Sitting politely for petting.
Test 3
Appearance and grooming.
Test 4
Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
Test 5
Walking through a crowd
Test 6
Sit and down on command and Staying in place
Test 7
Coming when called
Test 8
Reaction to another dog
Test 9
Reaction to distraction
Test 10
Supervised separation

I am proud to say, Leo passed all components with flying colors! He is now Gemini's Leo the Lionhearted CGC!!!

I might have pictures to post later of Leo in the confidence course with Zach. A member of our JAG Agility Group, Natalia, was taking pictures and I'm hoping there are some of Zach and Leo.

Another thing Leo got to do yesterday was to run "Beat the Best" by X-Fidos flyball team. It was a 50' stretch with 4 flyball jumps. He was pretty uncertain so we built his confidence a bit by me having him come over just one jump, then two, and on the way back to the start line he took them all. He was timed on his run and did it in 7.31 seconds. I know he would learn to do this faster as we build his confidence and understanding of what was expected. But I'm proud of him for doing it. He's such a great little trooper and we're pretty darn lucky to have him in our family.

And to close the weekend, Leo had to have a bath tonight because despite his being a wonderful companion and great family member, he is also all boy and all dog. He found something to roll in outside in the yard and stunk to high heaven. So a bath was to be had and the zoomies to follow. I'll get a video up later of that comical respite. 

Good news!

Today was an agility event that our club participated in. We held a demonstration and confidence course for attendees interested in trying out agility. Right before we re-set the course to do our second part of the demonstration, I decided to try Leo on some of the obstacles. He was energetic and really wanting to play so I thought it would be a great time. I may have mentioned before he's weird about surfaces. He will steer clear of anything that in any way shape or form that disrupts his concrete or asphalt surface when walking; he doesn't particularly care for gravel; and he doesn't like the slick flooring at Petsmart. Therefore, my biggest concern with him for agility has been the potential to be fearful of the obstacles because most have Contactacoat or some other surfacing material.

This week has bode well for him, though. It started on Thursday when Leo, Vegas, and I went to the park. We walked down to the dock after our meandering time in the woods. I had to carry him because he took one look at the metal grated surface of the dock ramp and said, "No way." On the way back up, I decided to leave him down on the dock and see if desperation to be with Vegas and I would convince Leo to make the decision himself.

That didn't happen. But, after carrying him part way, I made the tough decision to set him down and see what happened....

He didn't freak out! Yeah, for Leo!

Then today, he did better than I expected. Without help, trying the tunnel was almost futile although I did get him to go through a scrunched up tunnel twice. However, jumping was better. I set the bars on the ground and he was willing to go through the standards finally! Loose leash and repeatedly, it looks like he's losing his fear. And the pièce de résistance...after just three attempts at the a-frame, he willingly went up it (at a lowered height) and didn't lean toward the edge and me to get off. Whoohooo! My "little boy" gave me a lot of hope today for his future in agility. He seemed like he was having fun and really wanted to work with me. He was
distracted, too, what with a lot going on. But he was cooperative and less fearful and that meant a lot. Go Leo!

At long last...

Since Leo's basic obedience classes ended months ago I have hemmed and hawed on what to do with him. I really wanted to enroll him in another session of obedience classes but nothing ever met our scheduling requirements. Of course he's continually getting work when we go for a walk, off and on throughout the day at work, and at home. In fact, he has learned 'dance' recently and is starting to learn 'spin.' His stay could use work but is getting better. It's his leash walking and coming when called that are so lacking, unfortunately. And of course I have never trained a dog so small and am out of my element, so to speak, on working with such an independent and, at times, stubborn little dog.

The other issue I have struggled with is whether I will work with him or whether the kids will. Truth be told, I know they want to but I also know some of that is fleeting and I hate to have Leo's spirit crushed with regard to working and performance due to the kids' impatience. Plus, both are going into new schools in September (middle school and high school), both will be playing football, and Kane is starting to come into his own interests including going out with friends and girls. So, it isn't fair to backburner Leo and his training.

Through a Yahoo Group I belong to (NW Dog Activities) and Facebook, I learned of an upcoming Foundation Class session with a trainer Vegas and I have worked with before. Bobbie Lyons of Pawsitive Performance is great with dogs and knows her stuff. I look forward to the classes and seeing how things go for Leo. The classes will be held fairly close to home at a chic boutique pet store and doggy daycare center, Lexi Dog. They've got a fantastic facility and I look forward to introducing Leo to the world of agility as well as learning how to handle a tiny dog!

Wordless Friday