Contacts, contacts, and more contacts :-)

The never ending discussion, what type of contacts do I want to train? I can tell you the thought process goes through my head numerous times a day! Well, whatever you decide, running, moving, 2on/2off it is crucial that you know what you are teaching, how you are going to teach it, and, why you are teaching all of the various steps. Do "you" understand the process, the means to the end? I think a lot of people teach things because they are told to by their instructors, peers, etc... They do not fully understand what they are teaching, without understanding why you are teaching something, without understanding what you are teaching, the steps involved etc... you cannot be successful. Every method of contact performance must be taught, consistent running contact performance cannot be achieved by osmosis, often when a person feels that 2on/2off is not working, or, they get tired of the supposed tedium involved they decide to go to running. Running contacts do not magically happen because you do not like or understand the training process for 2on/2off :-) The same is true for 2on/2off, just deciding that 2on/2off is what you would like the criteria to be does not make it magically happen. Believe it or not this post is really not about running contacts, but, 2on/2off. As fashionable as running contacts are right now, there are still a lot of people who are just not the right fit for running contacts. 2on/2off contacts are not any more difficult to teach than running, as long as there is understanding of the process, consistent criteria, and, criteria maintenance. 2on/2off contacts get a bad rap for being hard on a dog physically, create slow, or, creepy contacts, or, break down. All of these things are true if they are not trained properly. There is a specific way to teach 2on/2off contacts that create speed, drive, accuracy, and proper body position to eliminate all of the above issues. Keeping in mind that any behavior is only as strong as it's foundation is a critical component, also remembering that reinforcing the most important part of the criteria is uber important! Dogs will only offer consistent performance of any behavior if the behavior you are asking for is more rewarding than what they would choose to offer on their own. Words to train by! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

another year gone by... reflecting on 2012

When I was younger my mom was always telling me not to wish my life away, and, that as you get older time just goes faster! I never really believed that I was wishing my life away and I certainly never thought that time would speed up to the point that you barely even realize that it is going by until another year passes! When you are young and have your whole life ahead of you it never seems that time goes fast enough you are always looking forward to the weekend, graduation, getting your drivers license, Christmas, etc... When you become an adult and join the "real" world you are forever wishing that time would slow down a little bit! 2012 saw me turn 45 years old!!! I cannot even begin to understand how I went from a rowdy teenager to a 45 year old woman in what appears to be just a couple of years! The really great news is that I have been blessed in my life with so many wonderful things! It is because of this that I am so incredibly aware of how fast time goes :-) I think if it is possible 2012 was the fastest year I have ever experienced! It was a fabulous year, and, at the same time there were some not so fabulous things that although inevitable, still hurt. We lost Able in 2012, it still amazes me that he was 13 and a half years old! it still feels like he should be that silly puppy or crazy agility dog that was an integral part of many of my fondest agility memories. 2012 brought a lot of happiness and great times as well, my oldest son got engaged to a wonderful girl, my family has a lot to be thankful for and I never take any of these things for granted! 2012 brought me my wonderful Journey puppy from Poland and a chance to make a new forever friend in her breeder Marzena! 2012 was a fantastic agility year for me again :-) I had the opportunity once again to spend my working time with so many fantastic people,teaching and at the same time learning :-) I went to so many awesome places as well! Spending the majority of the month of November in Australia was obviously a highlight of the year :-) Not just being able to experience such a fantastic country but meeting so many wonderful people as well as reconnecting with people I have not seen in years! I had the extreme pleasure of being selected to represent the United States with Maze at the WAO World Agility Championships in Belgium. Words cannot begin to describe how wonderful it is to be able to represent our fabulous country overseas doing what I have made my lifes passion, career, hobby, and, obsession! I freely admit that I love the sport of agility and I love hanging with my dogs. To be able to combine that with International travel, different cultures, and, styles just makes it one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I was once again lucky enough to have had a fabulous year of competition in the states as well! Maze went 6 for 6 clean at AKC Nationals ultimately making the Finals and earning a spot on the podium! What a thrill! In Spet. it was time for USDAA Nationals where all of my dogs made me proud! maze was a 26" finalist in both GP and Steeplechase!, SoBe was on a super DAM team who made it to the Team relay!, Danger made his debut at USDAA Nationals and had the greatest time, and, to topic off Wally was overall 2nd place P 16" team dog, wan, the most wonderful thing of all... 16" PSJ WINNER!!!!!! It was the crown jewel on our year of competition for sure. As we head into 2013 it is time to reassess goals, set some new ones, and, get ready for another fabulous year! I know one thing for certain, as New years resolutions come and go, this one will stick... no sweating the small stuff, be the best person that i can be, focus forward, and, love every minute of this life! HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!

Remembering Able

My very first memory of Able was before I even knew him. I had decided a few weeks before I knew anything about him that I would really love to get another BC and this time I wanted a smooth red boy! Of course that was before I realized that choosing on color or coat is not the best idea :-) Fortunately for me, it turned out perfectly on this occasion! Anyway, one day out of the blue Ables breeder, who also bred Secret called me and asked if I was interested in getting another BC, she went on to tell me that she had a litter on the ground as we spoke and that they were 4 weeks old. I proceeded to ask if there were any smooth red males, she said there were 2 and that I could have my pick! It was fate, right? Well, I told her to choose whichever one she thought would be best for me and he would be perfect! 4 weeks later I picked my new baby up from the airport in Vermont of all places as I was to teach a camp that week and it just made sense since he was coming from the Toronto Canada area to ship him to Vermont. I had never even seen a picture of him at this point! I arrived at the cargo area of the airport had a brief argument with the customs officer about trying to get my boy into the States since he was from Canada and finally got to meet Able. From the very second I opened his crate I was in love, I knew from that very moment that we were going to share a very special bond and that we were meant for each other! As he grew, (boy, did he grow!), it became increasingly obvious that he was going to be a big boy! It was at about 4.5 months that he was dubbed donkey dog because of his ginormous head and ears that did not quite match his gangly body :-). Shortly thereafter he was diagnosed with OCD, in this case I am very sure that the OCD was brought about simply due to his excessive growth rate, he had surgery on the first shoulder, endured a couple months of crate rest only to be released to be a dog when he began limping on the other leg! OCD of course :-) Off to surgery we go again... He came through it all like the fighter he always was.

Able loved to swim, he loved to hike, he loved to play, he loved us... He protected me in many rest areas on many trips to agility trials. You would never get near the car if Able was in it, if the big yellow eyes, and prick ears didn't scare you off the bark sure would. Able hated all things with wheels! Bikes, scooters, lawn mowers, you name it. Those of you that learned that the hard way over the years he was truly sorry :-) Able was the focal point of a series of Clean Run articles I did years ago called bringing up Able, I loved those articles and to this day people still talk about them and remember some of his finer moments. Besides being a part of my heart and soul Able was an incredible agility dog, what he taught me cannot be measured. To say it was at times a very difficult road would be an understatement. I can remember many occasions that I almost threw in the towel because he was such a crazy boy, who seemed to have one agenda, his! Boy how that changed! By the time Able retired he had become "the old pair of shoes" I always knew what to expect, what he was going to do, we were a team! I always said that although I won a World Championship with Secret, just making the World team with Able was at that time my greatest accomplishment, I am fairly sure I still believe that.

Able was famous primarily for his rubber chicken that he was always holding outside of the agility ring, I was reminded today that it actually started out as a rubber pig! He ripped the pig in half after his ADCH run, I was never able to find another pig like the first one so he graduated to the chicken. That chicken was blamed for a lot of stuff, but, it made Able very happy. I can remember a couple of "Busy Bee" arguments with Geoff at trials, just substitute rubber chicken for busy bee and you get it... LOL!!

Able was a very happy boy who brought a lot of joy to our family, up until the very end Able lived a very dignified life that he lived on his terms, enjoying every moment regardless of what he was doing at any given moment! He was my teammate and partner in agility for many years and his accomplishments are many, he was another true pioneer of the sport and I thank him for that, mostly though he was my friend, my protector, and, my soulmate. Sleep well my friend, I love you more than words can describe and I will miss you!

Life down under

It is November 16 and I have been in Australia since the 2nd :-) I know it does not seem like a tremendously long time, and it isn't a tremendously long time, however, when you are a world away, and dog less it feels like an eternity! ;-) It is bittersweet however, because I am having the most amazing time teaching all of the wonderful folks down under, and, at the same time find myself quite homesick :-) I have now had the opportunity to teach in 2 different parts of the country and will go on to teach at a third before I head home. What an incredible opportunity!!! The folks here are virtual sponges and are such tremendous students! The scenery here is absolutely to die for and the weather has been glorious! It is quite amazing to see the incredible wide range of birds flying overhead all of the time, cockatoos, kookaburras, and, lorikeets just to name a few. The dogs here are wonderful and it has been fascinating to get to learn the differences in the agility program in Australia. There are a lot of differences and at the same time a lot of similarities. The courses are not easier or harder, just different. I had the opportunity to go to a trial while I was in the Sydney area and even had a chance to run a couple of dogs, what fun! I have been to Sydney Harbor, through the Blue Mountains, toured wine country, and, done some serious shopping, what a lucky person I am! I have at the same time seriously missed my dogs, my family, and, my friends :-) I know that my dogs will be better for the trip as they have had a much needed break, the family will be pleased to see me again, and, hopefully the friends too! For now I am going to sign off, as it is getting on to "tea time", just wanted to catch everyone up on what has been going on down under :-) P.S. I am not sure that I will know how to drive when I get home, and, i may talk a bit funny, but, it will be a trip to remember for sure!!

The Fantastic Journey, The Incredible Journey, and, a new Journey...

Lots of things going on these days, lots to think about, lots to look forward to, and, lots of adjustments to make! The Fantastic Journey is proving to be all that and more...

Journey is one of those dogs that just makes you smile :-)I am so madly in love with this little, OK, not so little, dog! She is everything I could have ever asked for in a pup and more! What makes her so special, well, her temperment is awesome, she is built like a dream, incredibly athletic, toy drive oozing out of every pore, super intelligent, and, has a fabulous work ethic, speed, and, impulse control! Those are things that make her a special agility dog in my mind, what makes her one of those heart dogs I cannot explain... This is a discussion that I have had with many people over the years, what makes a dog so "special" emotionally?? There does not seem to be an answer, it just happens! With that said my heart is very full these days as I have several dogs that are irreplaceable and wedged so deeply into my heart and so part of my emotional being that it is palpable. Interestingly enough all of these dogs are very different, equally important, but, evoke different emotions and feelings on that deeper level when I think of each of them individually. I know that is pretty cosmic stuff for me, but, very real none the less :-) I am having so much fun training Journey she is progressing so quickly that although I am going to miss her terribly when I head out on my Incredible journey to Australia tomorrow, I know that this is a perfect time as she needs to grow up a bit and spend more time just being a puppy before we go much further. Journey is a big girl, I would say at this point she is about 20" tall and she is just 7 months old :-) We went through a short period of growing pains as she srew enough in a 2 month span to put on 16 lbs.!!! I am amazed at how smart she is :-) We are still playing with a running dog walk and she is nailing it! She is running across the full dog walk at about 3' high and just having a blast exploring how to really run and use her body, it is an incredible process to watch evolve! She is learning to go through jump uprights, playing on the end of the teeter, continuing to explore body awareness, impulse control, and mostly, PLAYING and being a puppy! She is a Fantastic Journey indeed and I am so enjoying the ride! As mentioned earlier there is an Incredible Journey on the horizon, I have the extreme pleasure and honor of going to Australia to teach for 3.5 weeks! I will be heading to Sydney tomorrow to start the fun! I will be there for almost 2 weeks and even get to play in a trial while I am there!! I will be borrowing a dog as I am unable to take a dog with me because of quarantines. Then it will be off to Adelaide for 4 days, then finally Perth for the duration of my trip! I am so excited and very lucky indeed!!! Yes, I will miss my dogs and family tons, but, when I get home we will all be ready to get going after a nice break. Then there is the new Journey...

My beautiful Danger Mouse who has been suffering from chronic on and off lameness was diagnosed with spondylosis yesterday... I know not the worst thing that could happen, but, for a not even 3 year old over the top border collie with an incredibly bright agility future ahead of him, it was definitely a blow. I was pretty upset when the news was delivered, but, with some awesome advice, information, support from friends and family I calmed down and am ready to simply move forward doing whatever needs to be done to keep my very special boy, yes, another of those heart dogs, comfortable, fit, and, playing as much as he can for as long as he can! Danger loves life with a passion that few share, he is a bit crazy, OK A LOT crazy!, but when the day is done he is the first one to be curled up on my lap to watch TV. Our new journey will have us exploring even more PT option, accupuncture, laser treatments, strengthening exercises and the brave new frontier of P16" USDAA agility! Danger is a super fast young man who will soon be kicking his mothers butt around a course with speed bumps, I mean jumps set to 16" so that he can continue to play longer and stay sound and comfortable for many years to come :-) I feel that the elimination of spread hurdles, lower jumps, and a lower A-frame are going to be key in keeping him at his best long term. I am sure that I could still jump him at championship height and I KNOW he would readily do it, but, I also know that there would be ramifications that I am not willing to subject him to just so that I can say he is a Championship dog! I am a bit sad simply because I do not want to see my baby boy in pain or uncomfortable at all and I know that spondylosis can be painful at times, but, we are already exploring the options that are going to make sure that he is a normal, happy healthy, active boy! I am sure that there are other journeys on the horizon that I do not even know about yet, and, I truly look forward to them! Remember everyone, on your way to whatever destination you are headed, enjoy the Journey along the way!

Life is Great!

Per the norm, it has been quite some time since I have had a chance to blog :-) I do have a tendency to stay busy, OK, really busy, but, I like it that way :-) This past weekend I was at a local AKC trial and it just hit me that I am in a very good place right now, physically and mentally! I am HAPPY! This is not to say that before this epiphany I was unhappy, not at all! I just feel really extra special good right now. It is very hard to explain, but, I would imagine many others have experienced these dramatic life feeling moments. I am blessed with the most amazing family, the absolutely most fabulous, fantastic dogs, super special friends, a great career that doubles as my hobby, a wonderful home, I get to live in one of the most beautiful states in the union, what more could a person ask for? On a more specific note, I really feel like the dogs and I are really clicking right now. I still do not get to train as much as I would like to, however, everyone is on track to have a great Nationals, and, regardless of what happens there we have had a great year! I have found the time to do a few more non dog activities this summer and that has been pretty awesome too! I have been struggling off and on the past couple of years with horrible plantar faciitis and it seems at the moment to be as under control as it has ever been, this is a really good thing! I have been trying to modify my diet a bit and learn to make better choices regarding food and the difference in my energy level was the first thing that I noticed. I actually have some energy and although I am seriously done with the heat that we have been experiencing all summer in Colorado, I find myself wanting to do things! SoBe has been off and on lame for quite sometime and she seems to be truly on the mend, for this I am truly thankful! It is hard to have aches and pains, but, even harder to watch your dogs have aches and pains! I am in my forties and am finally figuring out that taking care of oneself is paramount in being able to take care of others. To be the best person that you can be, you have to be good to yourself! With this said, it is my goal to continue to minimize the stress in my life that I am certainly the cause of, I let too many small things become big things, well, not anymore (hopefully:-)! I think at this point I know quite clearly who, and, what are important to me and will continue to try to maintain a safe distance from drama, stress, and, negative energy that does nothing to improve the quality of my life or those around me. I love teaching, I love training, I love showing, and, I love just knowing that I am absolutely one of the luckiest people on the planet because of the fantastic life that I get to lead surrounded by amazing people and animals, with new surprises and adventures around every corner! I hope everyone of you is just as happy and thankful as I am! Pretty sappy I guess, but, I thought it was important to share happy thoughts, it is just good mental management, another huge piece of the puzzle that we call daily life! So, all of you take a moment to think about something really good that is happening in your life right now and enjoy it!

Where does the time go?

I know that is a question that we ask ourselves often, and, true to our parents warning as we get older the time only goes faster! I find it to be especially true since I live by the calendar, my life is mapped out over a year in advance and I find myself living from event to event ticking them off like minutes off of a clock. All of a sudden you stop and look around and realize that so much time has gone by... did I relish every moment? Did I sweat the small stuff? Did I take the time to really appreciate my life, my family, my friends? I am thinking it is a no, yes, no and that really bums me out! Looking back at my life I have already had an extremely full one! I have a wonderful family, that includes a great mother, awesome husband, 2 wonderful sons, a soon to be daughter-in-law, a brother, and, an extended family I married into. My family has sacrificed a lot in order for me to live my dream as it were. The sport of dog agility has taken me all over the world, allowed me to meet some fantastic people, see some incredible places, and, make some lifelong friends. I have been fortunate enough to be very successful in agility, not just the competition part of agility but also as a teacher and mentor. In all honesty when I really take the time to think about the path I have traveled I am pretty much in awe of all that has been afforded me while I play a wonderful game. It is a tiny bit bittersweet though... In all of those years, I have seen relationships come and go, the ability to make some friends that will be with me for the rest of my life and some that although very special have sort of gone away for various reasons, this makes me sad. I have had to say good bye to dogs that in my mind should have lived forever. That is the main reason for my rather reflective mood this evening, Able my very special chicken boy is getting older by the minute and is but a mere shadow of the vivacious, crazy, sometimes scary, soulmate that took me on so many agility journeys over the years. We had to go to the vet today because he has an infection that I was all but positive was cancer... it is not thank goodness, however, he is still so very weak in his rear end and although his eyes, albeit a little cloudy, still have that mischievious sparkle he just can't do all of the things that made "his" life complete. He is still here and I will cherish every day I still have with him, I also miss him already. Able and I are a very special team, he did things and helped me do things I never thought possible and for that I will be forever grateful and will always have a large part of my heart tattooed with his name. The thought of losing these very special members of our family is almost enough to make me not want to have dogs, almost :-) The awesomeness that they bring to our lives cannot be replaced or duplicated and even though that horrible day comes where we have to say good bye, I would not trade the time with them for anything in the World. I have been a bit melancholy lately and sort of lacking in motivation, I think it is natural in all humans although I am not one to allow myself such times. In any case The aging of my beautiful pups has really been bothering me of late, I think just writing it down, realizing what they have brought to my life and what adventures lay ahead will be a big help in getting my mojo back and moving forward to my next goal... Tomorrow, I will appreciate what I have, look to the future, embrace the here and now, and, spend some special me and Able time.