Utility class - week 7

We had more time then normal for our utility class tonight so we did run-throughs instead of the usual class format. We each did two complete run-throughs. It was another opportunity to see how we are progressing and.... I must say, I was pleased - especially with the second run-through. I think we are making progress : )

Signal exercise - On the first run through he missed the 'come' signal, but on the second run through his heeling was good - very good; he got all of his signals; and even trotted in on the 'come' instead of walking. I'm seeing a lot of improvement in his heeling these days. I've been keeping him on lead about 90% of the time we do heeling in practice. I think this has really helped his staying close to me and not lagging. And, I'm much more confident about his signals now then I was a couple months ago.

Articles - He got the correct articles on both run-throughs. The first one he was slower to work the pile, but got the correct articles. The second run-through he went directly to the correct articles and picked them up. He's still slow out and back, but maybe more speed will come as he becomes more confident and less stressed.

Directed Retrieve - Good on both retrieves. His pivots were good and the going out to retrieve was brisk. The return with the glove - not so brisk.

Moving stand - He anticipated the stand command in the first run-through - twice. At least he knows the exercise! The second run-through, we did a 'fake out,' then a real one. He was good with it this time.

Directed jumping - All of his go outs were good - brisk, straight and all the way to the wall (although he does slow down when he gets about 10 feet from the wall). Sits were slow, but he did sit, and all the jumps were good.

Overall, I'm seeing improvement - much improvement over his performance at last Friday's fun match! I still think the biggest thing we need to work on is building confidence, so we'll keep doing what we've been doing in practice and try to get out more to different places to work in new kinds of environments with different distractions.

High Fives - progressing

We were practicing at the club today on our 'tricks' - especially our 'high fives' - and managed to get this short video clip. He's starting to distinquish now between the signals for raising the left and right feet. I think the next step we will work on is for me to cue him with my legs instead of my hands. I'll have to look at Honey the Great Dane's freestyle video again to see how that's done : ) We're also starting to work on the 'backing' on signal, but we haven't progressed very far yet with that. He's just starting to get the idea and backing up a few steps now.

This is a nice break from the more serious utility training. Wish I could figure out how to make that more fun and games : ) I think the difference is that there is no right or wrong when teaching tricks - you just go with the flow and reward the responses you like.

Fun Match tonight - D+

Jackson - waiting for his turn to go in the ring!


There was a fun match at the club where I train tonight so I did a run through to see where Jackson and I were at with our training. I've been trying to figure out a way to put a positive spin on tonight's activities, but am having some difficulty with that. But, here goes...

It started out pretty good with the heeling and signal exercise. The heeling was not his best, but okay - considering the match was more stressful than regular training. The 'down' and 'sit' signals were good, but he needed a second command on the 'come.' Although he did trot in to me instead of walk.

Things took a dip with the articles. The first article actually was not bad - very slow, but he went to work and got the correct article. He had problems with the second article though so I had to go out and show him the correct article. If I had waited him out, I think he might have gotten it, but since he knows his articles, I want him to learn that he needs to go right to work and find it - not to keep circling the pile or standing looking over at what's going on in the next ring!

Okay, so then it was the directed retrieve (glove) exercise. His pivot was not good, but he retrieved the correct glove. On to the moving stand - he locks up beautifully on the stand signal, but sometimes anticipates when it's coming, which I think he did tonight. And then he surprised me by not coming to heel on the first command. That's a new one! He did come - although slowly - on the second command.

The directed jumping was the last exercise. His go outs were good (straight and all the way to the gates), but he did not sit on the first go out, so I went out and physically put him in a sit, then we retried it. He did sit on the next two go outs - although slowly - and both jumps were good.

I'm still frustrated with the lack of speed on the exercises. Even though I can get some speed in our practice sessions, it just disappears in a trialing situation. Overall though, it was an improvement over the February trial when he avoided looking at me for signals and he refused the jump. So, I guess when I compare it to that - he is making some progress : ) Still, a long way to go I think until we're ready to enter another trial.

Holistic vet care update

Thought I would take a minute to give an update on Jackson's holistic healthcare treatments.

After several months of recurring lameness issues from an undetermined cause and after visits and treatment (x-rays, Rimadyl and rest, etc.) by our regular vet, I decided to try the holistic approach. We had our first holistic healthcare visit in March of this year. He was evaluated and given spinal manipulation therapy and acupuncture on that visit. Incidently, he weighed 165 pounds at that time.

We had a follow-up visit two weeks later with the same treatments. Prior to the follow-up visit we began seeing improvement in his movements and have seen no signs of lameness since shortly after the first treatment. We started back with our regular training routine, which included the 24-inch jumps heights. I had either not been jumping him, or had lowered the jumps considerably because of the lameness issues over the previous couple months.

Today was our third visit for treatments. The holistic vet that treats him has been somewhat surprised at his positive response to the treatments and that he is no longer showing any signs of lameness. In fact, she asked if she could take a photo of him for a presentation that she is preparing and use him as a case study! However, she did say when she took his pulse, that it was more rapid and not as strong as she would expect with a big dog. This could mean that there are still some health issues going on with him. Incidently, he weighed in at 173 pounds today. Probably not a good weight for a performance dog. Even though he doesn't look overweight, I think it would be best to try to get him back down to 165.

Now, I must also say that at the time we started the holistic treatments, I also started him on Dasuquin - a joint health supplement for dogs that goes above and beyond the traditional glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate products on the market and is only available through a vet. So... maybe the Dasuquin was responsible for the improvement. Or, maybe he would have responded the same if I had done nothing at all ????? Or, maybe it was in fact the holistic treatments????