Bungee - Master Jumpers FEO

Here's Bungee running in her 2nd AAC trial. The class is Master Jumpers. She was entered as "FEO" (for exhibition only), as she has not qualified through all the necessary levels to run in Masters, the highest level, for points yet.






This past month of March, I have kept Bungee & Guinness very busy in training and classes, and at long last, starting to work on our own field at home! Hoorah!!! The snow left a bit early this year! The ground is not really ready for us to run on yet, so we are still a bit careful about where we work and how much equipment is left out.

Meanwhile we're due for some rain now, which perhaps will thaw the ground, and cause us to stay off a bit this week as we don't want to damage the turf. But, after being away with the dogs trialing, performing & working the last 5 days, including working 38 of the last 48 hours, and coming down with a chest cold as of yesterday, I have not been out on the field yet this a.m. to see where it's at. But I still see no snow and that's a beautiful thing for a trainer, even if the grass is still brown! Today is rest & relaxation for all of us, and maybe tomorrow too!

Happy Training...It's About Love!

Obedience by sister Mia

Bungee's sister Mia and Mona Kjernholm competing in Level II Obedience at Malmo 2009. Mia won her class with 187p. While "mom", Mona, says they still have a lot of fine details to work on, it is clear that this little 19 month old girl is already doing an impressive and excellent job, and all positive training too! What a gorgeous attitude this little girl has!





WoW! Beautiful work!

Thanks to Mona Kjernholm for putting these videos up on YouTube and sharing them with all of us, and also for showing us another example of positive & "Happy Training" at it's finest!!!

I have added Mona's new YouTube site to our list of favorite YouTube links (lower right). Click on the link above or at the side to check out some great training and sister Mia too!

Happy Training...It's About Love!

Shaping the Ring Toss Game

Here's Bungee, keeping us busy round the clock!

The 1st stage of shaping was teaching Bungee (and Guinness) to pick up the rings. The 2nd stage of shaping was teaching them to place a ring on just the peg. The 3rd stage of shaping (in the video) was teaching them to place the rings, on the game, on the floor. Stage 4 is picking up and stacking all the rings in a steady motion, no matter where the game/rings are. (Which is where we are currently). Stage 5, if we decide to go that far, will be increasing the difficulty of playing the game to strengthen skills. However at that point we might also just prefer a new game! :-)) It is after all, just for fun!

My apologies for the little formatting glitch that is cutting off the right edge of the film.

Click here to go to our YouTube channel and see these and our other videos in their full wide-screen format, (we've added a couple new ones this week!) I also filmed weaves today & handling at the barn tonight, so lots more on the near horizon.



Until the next time, Happy Training...It's About Love!

Guinness Learns Ring Toss too!

Our Border Terrier, Guinness, learns the Ring Toss Game too!




Busy with different tricks, Guinness is not quite as far along as his "sister" Bungee on this one, but he's off to a nice start just the same and has a number of others coming along too. It might help speed his ring toss skills along a little quicker if my CLICK WASN'T LATE (like it is in this video! :-) But, Guinness has been falling behind on his share of video time in this household and mistakes are valuable information too. Next time we have a shaping session I'm definitely going to prop up a mirror on the floor nearby, to see what he's doing a little more accurately. This time around I will have to lead by example in giving you a good demonstration of reason to video your work.



Happy Training, It's About Love!