Not a good agility training on Friday night
2 weeks ago Tiggy did so well that the trainer suggested that we could probably be promoted to class 2. Last Friday the chief instructor was taking beginners class and he gets to make the final decision. Now I will admit that Wayne got home too late to take Tiggy for a walk before training but my goodness what a class!  For some reason every time the chief instructor takes the beginners class Tiggy decides that its a good night to blow me off.  Basically it was as if either Tiggy had never met me before or else I was just a necessary encumbrance who should be disobeyed.It was a bad beginning as it started drizzling with rain as soon as we got there. Tiggy was obsessed with sniffing the grass so I may as well have been an invisible and inaudible dead weight at the end of the lead, she jumped on EVERYONE that she met. I thought she was nearly cured of that bad habit.  She tried to play with all the other dogs and she dodged around all the obstacles even her favorite, the tunnel.  Instead of running the tunnel she ran away to play with another dog who was on lead, I used her squeaky ball to call her back, and looked down to find a young Border sitting at my feet looking longingly at the squeaky. Tiggy did come back, bl--dy miracle that was, but the young Border decided that he wanted the squeaky and had a go at her. Tiggy has never been one to take things lying down (maybe I should just rename her alpha or just plain Miss Bossy boots) so she had a go back. I had to grab two hand fulls of coat and drag her out of the fray.  The instructor started to advise me on how to ensure that she was not scarred by the experience then took a look at her excited and happy face and gave up, realising that Post Traumatic Stress was not going to be a problem for us.We retired shortly after, as the rain got heavier and I decided that 'discretion is the better part of valour'. And as we were really achieving nothing except convincing the instructor that we were useless I didnt need to get home at 10.30pm and start blow drying a wet dog. The instructor farewelled me by telling me that Tiggy didnt respect me. And that I needed to get better focus and consistency. No way, who would have thought!!ANY AND ALL CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND ADVICE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED. P.S. Tiggy was banned from making a post herself this week as I really think she had enough fun on the night at my expense. And I didnt want to encourage her. I am conidering a new career for Tiggy! We will run classes in either dog disobedience or how not to train for agility. |
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| Awww...Mim!!! I am so sorry Tiggy decided that this particular Agility class needed some humor and chaos..She could have checked with you FIRST!!!!!! Seriously....Heart does that ALOT...except we are generally in the ring with a judge within 'greeting' distance' and many spectators commentating with ...."""OHHHhhhh....NO..... 'tsk'tsk'tsk...did you SEE THAT>>>>""""~~~ Although the judge says nothing as I exit the ring, I HEAR their thoughts ...""How did this dog make it [b]THIS far???"" [/b] I have no suggestions, since we are working on the very same issues..but I am sure many of the members will!!!! I have been told that practice makes well...you know............ and Tiggy will GET IT. I am still waiting, but Tiggy is much smarter than the shurtle, so I have high hopes that I will be seeing Tiggy's post in the very near future!!! give Tigs and  ...Tiggy is STILL Heart's Hero!!!!! |
| Pawtooie, Tiggy IS a shurtle!! I forgot to mention that bit, she's reverted to snapping my fingers off too. Spring madness??? |
Mim wrote: The instructor farewelled me by telling me that Tiggy didnt respect me. And that I needed to get better focus and consistency.You mean there are FEMALE OES who actually respect their owners????????????????????????? On what planet??????????????  Sad to say this is not about respect. Well, OK, it IS, but getting some, good luck with that, hon.   This is about convincing the little missy that you are more interesting than great smells, other dogs, other people, dustbunnies, pea gravel, lint... <sigh>Some nights, depending on their age, their hormone levels, if applicable, the stage of the moon, the direction and velocity of the wind in the sub-saharan desert, and whether or not the king of Norway wears baseball hats when he's sking (i.e. for no humanly discernable reason) young OES bitches will be bitches. They have their own agenda. Unfortunately you're not on it, tsk tsk. The first order of business is to accept that in training there will be set-backs. In training other breeds of dogs, there will be normal set-backs. In training OES there will be set-backs that make you want to crawl down a hole, never to emerge and have to confess that the critter running amok is actually your dog, a dog you swore you'd spent the last X number of years training, and who for some reason no longer seems to recognize her own name.   The second order of business is to fire DH and if necessary hire a dog walker (well) Honestly, by next week chances are all will be forgotten. The nice thing with a breed for which consistency is not a happy word is that at least they will not consistenly be BAD either. I.e. this too shall pass. So, hold your head up high, march back into class next week and remind yourself that she has shown sparkling brilliance in the past, and will do so again. Set-backs are merely a natural part of the journey.  Failing that, dye your hair red, borrow the King of Norway's baseball cap, he's obviously not using it or why would your bitch be behaving like she's lost her mind? and rename the dog. (It seems that Piggy might work...?  )Me? I have reached a point where I EXPECT insanity set-backs. What scares me is when they start acting perfect. Sybil was exquisite in obedience class last night. Incredible. No dog I've ever worked has done better. By the end of the class I was running around desperately trying to find MY dog, the erractic, I'll get to ya when I'm damn good and ready! dog. Couldn't find her. Perfection continued throughout the night. I am very, VERY scared...something is not right in the universe and I'm being set-up, I just know it!   Now that a few days have passed I think we need to hear Tiggy's version. Kristine |
Mim, I don't know what to say.  As Val mentioned, you are not alone out there in the world of Uncooperative Sheepdogs. And unlike Heart, who may have had a judge think "how did you get this far?" we have actually been told that by a judge in so many words. Too bad you are halfway across the world. We could really stand to have the physical support and close proximity in this pathetic group. Bottom line: I feel your pain. Now for the pep talk. It will happen. It may take a while (an embarrassing 39 attempts at a Novice title she says under her breath) but it WILL happen. And along the way she will entertain most people. No matter how hard our dogs try, some of these snootier dog people are not amused by them - the word disgusted comes to mind. However, I think the trainer was correct. Tiggy needs discipline and if she is not giving it to you now then she is not going to give it to you when the stakes are higher. I am still trying to work this out with Harry. Now I stand alone on this but truly I don't think that the Harry's of the world need to be revved up with a treat or a squeaky toy. In fact I just figured this out at the trial before last when I removed treats from the pre-ring routine at a trial. He still was excited to get out of the crate, still forged instead of heeling on the way to the ring, waited impatiently as I removed his leash at the practice jump until I released him over the jump then lunged at me in enthusiasm because he waited for his release and left the bar up. BUT he took notice when I CORRECTED him. So Tiggy is excited to get to go to class, possibly interact with other dogs and get to run over equipment. That is all the reward she needs - the treats and squeaky toy are totally secondary. But she needs to know there are rules. BTW one of the best things I did with Harry is never let him play with other dogs at classes. The earlier you set rules the more likely they are to stick. Now in fairness to you, I find great opposition from several trainers if I don't want to use their method. But they don't come into contact with a lot of OES and you need people willing to work with you and not against you. So if you don't want to get Tiggy revved up and they find it an integral part of their training they may not agree with you. But not all dogs are the same. Perhaps you can contact that trainer who told you that Tiggy needs discipline and set up a private lesson with her to work on her ringside manners. I did this once and that was not even the purpose of my private lesson. But when the trainer saw how Harry charged out of the crate at the lesson she helped me correct that issue instead and it has helped greatly. Also if your trainer sees Tiggy one on one she might see a different more promising side to her and be willing to work with you despite Tiggy's behavior in class. Harry will forever test the limits of obedience and I suspect Tiggy will too. But I really think it is more to do with complete unbridled enthusiasm than a desire to displease us. The two of you just need to find a balance between fun and obedience. Lastly, I am sure that Tiggy could feel your nervous energy that this was important and acted out as a way of coping with your stress. There is nothing I can tell you to do about that. When someone tells a person to "calm down" it has just the opposite effect. I still can't figure out how to calm my nerves. I hope this helps. Good luck. P.S. Don't ban Tiggy too long from posting. |
| I also feel your pain. 2 weeks ago in our agility class I felt like we didn't even deserve to be in the class. It was totally disheartening, and quite embarrassing. The 1st obstacle was the tire, and he ran around it and came to me from the start line....and went totally downhill from there. (But, I found out later they had lowered the tire 4" for the new rules and I was late (from work) and missed that part, unfortunately didn't find THAT bit out until we completed our disaster... ) So instead of being helpful with the tire, and getting him adjusted to the change, I was shocked and wondered what was wrong with this darn dog... And that set the mood for the whole night and yes, I swear he didn't even know his name...on his own agenda (BUT, he didn't go pee on the tree at the edge of the course that another dog marked!  - another dog did...lol)And last night was the complete opposite. Late from work again (I work until 7 and the class starts at 7), I did a quick 2 walk thrus (actually jog thrus) and then ran Chewie. It was the excellent standard course from this past weekend's trial that most everyone else had gone to and had proved to be a challenge. (I didn't go - had to work). So I never had even seen it.... Well, we were like champs! Chewie ran it on the 1st try with just one mistake (ticked the panel, and that was my fault as I turned him too sharp because I kinda was unsure/lost - not enough walk thru time ). Talk about feeling proud of my boy! Total redemption for sure. Plan for ups and downs. Try and figure out why the bad things happen, and if it's something you can fix, then go for it. The others - they will fade, I promise! |
| Thank you all for your words of support! They make me feel better. I tell myself its partly sheepies and their ways but none of the instructors will have a bar of that. Tiggy is currently lying on the couch looking like a big hairy angel (do angels come in that variety?). Or at least like butter wouldnt melt in her mouth, if she was given the opportunity to steal it, which she wouldnt if the opportunity did arise. Thanks Kristine, I forgot to check the internet for the King of Norway's hat wearing habits. How silly of me to forget that Tiggy would be on to that one, seeing as she's in training with Heart as an apprentice fashionista. Judy, I'm definitely with you on 'not too many rewards', the squeaky ball only comes out as a recall when Miss Tiggy has totally lost it and started off after another dog that has suddenly turned into a sheep (anything with four legs can turn into a sheep in Tiggy's world). But as you pointed out most of the instructors are dead set on using toys. After the instructor saw her response to the squeaky he told me to use it and attempted to demonstrate to me how he would get Tiggy to run the tunnel with it. Tiggy will post as soon as she has time out from her busy schedule of chewing bones, pouncing on the cat and licking his ears off, annoying Rastus and snoozing! |
| I feel your pain believe me, My Weimarainer mix Camille does Free style, we had a competition July 23rd, we had to go to Kansas City which is a 3and a ½ hours from here, so we left the Friday before and got to my friends house, we practice in her living room, she did the routine like a pro no a false move or anything. Everything in sink with the music everything was perfect, and I have to hand it to her she was tired from the trip. Come morning after wake up and have breakfast we went over the routine one more time and then left for the show, everything good everything perfect We were patiently waiting for our turn, we walk into the ring say hello to the judge take positions and signal for the music to start ……….and then it happen Her brain took off one direction and my dog another, she run out of the ring into the back room did a loop around making sure everybody was watching her , come back into the ring and run like a nut, she did come to me once and did one of the exercises and she decide that that was enough and by this time the music stop and Camille did a bow on her own and came to me and smile, like saying “ do you see that Mom? Was awesome!!!” There was me all that time standing in the middle of the ring looking like an idiot, I didn’t now what to do, I swear my face change colors faster and better than a chameleon And this is not a OES I understand you pain very very well Welcome to the club !!! |
Hopadogmom wrote: Her brain took off one direction and my dog another, she run out of the ring into the back room did a loop around making sure everybody was watching her , come back into the ring and run like a nut, she did come to me once and did one of the exercises and she decide that that was enough and by this time the music stop and Camille did a bow on her own and came to me and smile, like saying “ do you see that Mom? Was awesome!!!” There was me all that time standing in the middle of the ring looking like an idiot, I didn’t now what to do, I swear my face change colors faster and better than a chameleon And this is not a OES Clearly Camille is an HOES (Honorary OES) Welcome, Camille! You are among friends, here.  Already Tiggy worships you  Kristine  |
| Yep definitely an HOES!!! And a leading light in the 'how to make sure our uprights dont get up themselves" team. |
| Can you imagine how boring it must be to run a Border or other breed who is so into the event they get upset when the uprights goof? Life is too short......have fun! OES know how to live. |
| Mim, I guess the only thing left to say...tomorrow is another day. We all have days, or weeks like this and wonder why we put ourselves through this... |
| I think people with Border Collies, Australian Shepherds’ and Golden Retrievers CHEAT That kind of dogs know everything since birth, they are born with some kind of computer chip or something, that allow them to do everything with out effort! |
| Oh this was so good for me to read. Lots of great advice and experience here. i was thinking it was just Gigi or Bogey and the biggest problem was ME. I agree Border Collies etc... cheat! You are right Monica - there is some sort of chip in their brains. Yes sheepies know how to enjoy live! I am taking a lesson from them! Love the clowns! |
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