Fun in Finnish trial!

Here is a video of Bungee's half-sister Fun running clean in 2 Finnish Agility Trial runs. Fun is a very young girl too. Here, Pirjo & Fun are doing a beautiful job handling these very challenging courses, the Finnish way. We send them big congratulations on their success!








Our sincere thanks to Pirjo Yli-Juuti for sharing this video of her & Fun with us!

Happy Training...It's About Love!

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!

Bungee's 1st Trial

There were a few ways to handle the start, I was the only one in the entire class to chose a Lead-out Pivot, (LOP), partially because it's starters, but even the few who might consider trying LOP's on some courses opted against due to the perceived "risk" with the chute at the start. I had no such feelings.

On the contrary - we've waited a long time for this day, so why start our career compromising on all the good training we do? That said however, good thing we video, I did not realize how much I was leaning, and even stepped out to the side - yikes! Note taken... I didn't need to talk to Bungee as much as I did as she stayed on her line nicely. Her focus was GREAT right from the start. When we first arrived I wasn't so sure what would happen, as she was focused - but on only one thing - what was happening on course! However when it was her turn to run, she was ready to go and just as focused on me.

The DH thinks she's slow off the start and takes her speed after the 1st obstacle. He may have something there. We have done an awful lot of control work to have a good start line. So, there's definitely some work to do there to get blasting off, as we can't have that! The judge thought I was "holding back" a bit...I do tend to manage her FC's a bit. Of course we lost time at the crooked line out of the chute, and the head checking with my poorly timed rear cross to the finish line. But, I told you we needed more work on Rear Crosses. But didn't she recover on that LOP beautifully? I was thrilled with Bungee and I had so much fun too!

I was really happy that the course was as tight as it was, taking up only half the field. Most of the Starter Jumpers courses I've been on or seen were 15 - 18 obstacles spread out to the whole field. Those big wide gaps make them very hard to get a fast dog around if it's not really strong on driving a line, unfortunately when they are they are often weak on turning. Bungee turns very well and is improving on driving a line all the time. All will come in it's own time. But this was about the nicest paced starter jumpers course I've seen. We're both very proud of young Princesse Bungee.

We also want to thank our friends who stuck around to the last run of the weekend to see her 1st run, and our friends who made a special trip over just to cheer us on! We are so blessed with good friends in the dogs and a marvelous agility community to play in. Thank you all so much! It meant a lot to us to have you there! I couldn't imagine a nicer way to come back to the game myself! Many thanks.

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!

It's a Family Tradition!

Happy New Year Everybody!!!

Lately I have really been enjoying Jenny's latest videos. It's clear where our Kvarkin "Champagne kids" get one-half of their large talent!! So we just can not let 2008 get away before we get a chance to brag about brother, Ogin, and compliment the fantastic work he and "mom" Jenny Damm are already doing in agility training & competition! So, what better way to brag about them, than bring you directly to Jenny's latest YouTube video of Ogin & Elvis right here! And now...drum roll for Ogin, Elvis & Jenny, prepare to be impressed!



Congatulations Jenny & Ogin on your awesome debut! Congratulations also to "papa" Elvis on his continued success! In a word: Wow! You guys are looking awesome! We are tickled to see these videos and looking forward to many more! Meanwhile, I'll be filing this video under "inspiration" and Jenny's latest weaves video as well! (We've been keeping a little busy in that department too, but another time-this one's for Ogin!)

Between Mia & Ogin, it seems Sweden is off to an early start with a monopoly on the competition market for Kvarkin kids!!! Ho Ho Ho! Good thing we love them! Go Sweden!!!!! :-)))

I have some lovely photos & nice video clips of Jenny & Elvis relaxing in the park and showing a few of Elvis's many tricks, on a break during FCI AWC 2008. I'll be putting them up very soon!!

You can learn more about Kvarkin Kennels and our dogs, or Jenny Damm, Elvis & Lotus Education by visiting the "Family Links" to the side, the link to Jenny's YouTube site is also listed to the side under YouTube channels.

Signing off today to again wish you a Happy New Year! We raise a toast of champagne to all for a wonderful & prosperous 2009!

Luv & hugs from Bungee & family...XOXOXOXXXOOO!
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!

Bungee's Ring Toss Game

For Sophie and her classmates in Cambridge, England

Here is Bungee playing her Ring Toss Game!



I also have a 6 minute video showing some of the shaping sessions we did on this. Maybe someday I'll get the uplink speed to post that one. But for now Bungee can play this game any which we way choose. There are 5 rings. I can hand her each ring, toss each ring to any side of the floor, or lay all the rings on the floor in a row for her to pick up on her own. When she will pick them all up straight-away and stack them without a pause or need for re-direction I'll update the video for you. Until then, here's how we occasionally spend some "TV time" on the winter evenings at home.

OK Maisa & Pirjo I hope this keeps those beautiful bowl retrievers at bay until we get that one up for you - but it's coming!!! :-))

Click here for our: YouTube page , now updated (by special request~thank you Sophie!) with a few new training videos of Bungee: http://www.youtube.com/user/bl0art
Enjoy!

Happy Training! It's About Love!!

To Sarah & Gabby

Please note this blog will be on hiatus from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1, 2008.

A Special Tribute
This is a little retirement tribute to Tamsu's Special Angel, "Gabby". It's especially fitting to post Gabby's video as I depart for the World Championships, as it was Gabby and Sarah who 1st introduced me to world-class agility. They have inspired so many things in our lives, it was a special treat for both of us to be there for Gabby's last trial - The 2008 AAC National Agility Championships! Gabby, now 10 years old, excelled at every run, winning 1st place in the aggregate scores from the Veterans class, and taking 2nd place from the Veteran's class at the Steeplechase finals. What an awesome weekend for such an awesome girl, this one's for her! We love you Gabby!




Happy Training...It's About Love!

OGIN!

How exciting!!! New YouTube videos from Jenny & brother Ogin!

Just have to love the internet! How lucky we are to get to see all the great family photos & videos. We have some new photos of sister Mia to put up also, perhaps after class tonight! Looks like Ogin is maybe a few weeks ahead of Bungee on weaves but not much more. Ogin's doing an awesome job here - wow!






Happy Training! (certainly looks like Ogin's getting plenty of that!!)...It's About Love!

Susan Garrett & Encore & "The Journey"

Susan Garrett & Encore's winning run at the 2008 AAC National Agility Championships, Steeplechase Finals event.






The 2nd video entitled: "The Journey" is very special.
As the agility world prepares to come together in Helsinki, I can't think of a more fitting time to highlight the tremendous message of Susan's video: "The Journey". I will be filing this one under "Inspiration" to be sure.




The story behind the video:
Susan was invited to be the keynote speaker at the 2008 Agility Association of Canada (AAC) National Agility Championships. Her program included this magnificent creation: "The Journey". We were so moved by her presentation that we urged her to share it on YouTube and even someday as a published pocket book of inspiration. "The Journey" received tremendous applause and recognition at the Nationals Banquet & Awards ceremony, with nary a dry eye left in the house, as the message touched one heart after another. It has now received huge acclaim on YouTube, as it SHOULD! Yesterday it passed the 50,000 viewers mark on YouTube! Wow! Richly deserved!

Susan Garrett owns & operates Say Yes! Dog Training Center, Inc. in Alberton, Ontario, Canada. (Bungee's 1st Canadian school :-) Click on the "Say Yes!" link above to visit Susan's website, tell them Bungee sent you!

Happy Training...It's About Love!

Bungee's Winter Vacation - 2008

This will be a little bit of a repeat for our Blog readers, but it is new to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/bl0art, which has been in dire need of updates. Content: Winter training & a little R & R, lots of relationship building. Enjoy!





Happy Training...It's About Love!

Everybody Splish Splash!

Bungee, Guinness & friends have some weekend fun in the water.

Bungee advances to running 6 feet and jumping into the water without stopping! Guinness just loves everybody & loves to swim. He never wants to leave the pool!!
Some dogs are just learning to swim, some are old pro's at this game, the rest are somewhere in between. Enjoy!




The two Rotties are our good friends Emma & Eli (mom & son). Emma and her human mom Cassie joined us in our RV for our trip out to Nationals last month. Unfortunately we all came home quite sad to see we got nearly no pictures of them to include in our vacation photos :-(...but we're making up for it now!! Here they are in all their glory, having a blast, dock diving like old pros and amusing everybody with their antics!

Happy Training...It's About Love!

Bungee! 2007 The Early Days

A photo collection of Bungee's early days, August to December, 2007.








Happy Training...It's About Love!

Cutter Joins Our Blog

Sarah Mairs-Heaslip & her young, male, Golden Retriever, Cutter, making his Nationals debut.





Following the video a few photos from the beach at one of our vacation stops together after National's. Bungee & Guinness are in a group shot at the end near a lobster trap we found washed up on a deserted beach on P.E.I.

Sarah runs the agility program at Tamsu Learning Center, where we train 3 nights a week and some time more. Sarah's father John, runs the obedience program as well as owning and founding the school 20+ years ago. Tamsu is like our 2nd home, at least I'm sure all the dogs think so!

Back to Mr. Cutter...I think he is Bungee's favorite playmate, after her "brother" Guinness. He was our stud of choice in our early hopes for Ketchy. He is a phenomenal dog. Starting his agility career running 7 y.p.s., the sky's the limit for him. Our biggest congratulations to Sarah, Cutter, Gabby & Jiggy on all their successes at National's. Great as he is, the big 1st place silver bowl in the awards pictures actually belongs to Cutter's mother, Gabby, who won her division!

Fantastic job on the video Sarah! LOVE that song! :-)) It really speaks for Cutter: "put me in coach! I'm ready to play! today! Look at me! I can be...Centerfield!" I think Miss Bungee is singing that tune to me too! Speaking of which, I better get her back out to our "centerfield" right now!!! :-)))


Note: When you see Sarah doing what may look like "weird distance handling" these are Gamble runs. On the ground there is orange tape staked down as lines or boxes, you cannot always see them in the video. In a gamble course you earn as many points as you can in your opening sequence which is a course you design for maximum points, according to the obstacles given to you in the opening area. The opening may include "mini-gambles", which offer higher points if you can get them. To get any gambles you cannot cross the line on the ground the judge has laid, you must send the dog to the gamble, and handle from a distance which may vary, but which is always behind the line. At 40 seconds into the opening sequence, a whistle or horn blows, and you must proceed to the main gamble and complete it in the remaining time allowed. Usually you have about 20 seconds or less to complete the main gamble. If you complete the main gamble it doubles your opening points. You must earn a minimum # of points in the opening sequence and complete the main gamble sequence within time to earn a qualifying score. Highest points with fastest time of those qualifying wins. Gamble courses are very challenging when you are trying to be consistent with your handling (for your dog's sake back in regular standard & jumpers classes)!

At AAC National's each dog gets 2 standard rounds, 2 jumpers rounds and 2 gamble rounds. There is also an optional, separate Steeplechase event with elimination rounds to a final selection round, which is often a money round with a cash prize.

Happy Training & Hugs to the dogs!...It's About Love!

Christian the Lion

"...Love Never Fails"

This may seem a little "off topic" to dog training, and perhaps you've seen it before, but if this isn't proof that animals not only have Hearts of Gold, but understand, receive and give love, then I don't know what is.

In all that we ask of, do with and for our animals, we must never forget what they do for us in return, the relationships we're so privileged to have with them, and how very much "It's (definitely) About Love!" Enjoy!

Christian the Lion





Happy Training ~ It's About Love!

Bungee's 1st Video

Now that I've learned to attach videos we will be enjoying a lot more film soon. I have been filming our work daily now for awhile and really looking forward to getting started posting it. I'm so anxious to get some film up that I thought I'd start with Bungee's 1st video to start things off. Guinness & Ketchy also make appearances in this video.
Enjoy!



Video Disclaimer: YouTube attackes it's own choice of video thumbnail options to any video posted, just like it does on it's own site. Most of the thumbnails that appear after Bungee's video plays we know nothing about.

Happy Training! Always remember...It's About Love!

Cool Hack!

Want to see You Tube in High Def?

If you add &fmt=18 at the end of any YouTube URL you'll see the

video in uncompressed form.

Normally you see this as a YouTube URL form

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUkaOKibZXk

If you change it to look like this,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUkaOKibZXk&fmt=18

You'll see a huge difference.

Enjoy!

p.s. the dog trainer in the house thanks the resident geek for this very cool tip

Circle Work

The goal of circle work is to create value for the dog in being at your side, a.k.a. in the "reinforcement zone." derrett greg derrett laura derrett greg derrett greg derrettderrett greg derrett laura derrett laura derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett laura derrett greg derrett greg derrettderrett greg derrett laura derrett greg derrett greg
Bungee & I doing some circle work this past winter, "Florida vacation style!" :-)


The first 3 pictures show desired position of dog, next 3 show dog being rewarded in correct position. Note the even ratio of 3 pictures working to 3 pictures rewarding(!!) Reward often is the point. Please note: the dog was rewarded frequently throughout the entire circle. But photos with the dog being rewarded on the far side of me, away from the camera would not make good examples for you to see dog or delivery of reward clearly. Looking at these, the work would seem lopsided with the dog only getting rewarded on one side of the circle. I assure you this was not the case. Double click on any photo to enlarge for greater detail.
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Circle Work Explained
Greg teaches that he is looking for the dog to run at our side, neither forging, lagging or bouncing, nor pushing your line, nor shaping the size of your circle for you. The dog is never crossing in front (flanking a.k.a. "father flicking"), crossing behind (blind crossing), spinning away, or turning away from you (flicking). The dog is able to stay in position at your side, with acceleration and deceleration. The handler being particularly careful in deceleration that the dog does not swing wide & away from you as it slows (flanking), or moves ahead of you landing facing you, (major flanking), but instead remains at your side keeping the body aligned forward in the same direction as you are running. Run good, large circles with the dog on outside and dog on inside, in both directions and changing paces.
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Equipment needed: Flat collar (ONLY! NO Corrections!!), 6 ft. or approx. 1.8 m. leash, small bite-sized food rewards to start, tug toy(s) to advance
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Start: circle work at a walk with dog on leash with small bites of food ready for rewards. (Tie leash around your waist if food delivery is a problem, food rewards best at this stage). Find an object to circle such as a barrel on it's end, or the chute, set up on end. As you walk in a circle with the dog on the outside, feed the dog for being in position but do not lure the dog with the food. Work in both directions so dog works on both sides.
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Note: As you work, keep the dog on the outside, this allows the dog to correct itself from flanking. If the dog is on the inside the barrel prohibits the dog from flanking and that is a lesson the dog has then missed.
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Break it off and play frequently. Little tug games are perfect stress breaks! Don't worry about an awkward or rough start. The dog will soon catch on to what you are doing. Make sure your rate of reinforcement is very high at this stage. Susan calls this stage: "shadow handling".
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Advance your circle work: When the dog can circle with you and stay in position (still on leash) advance to a trot and then running circles as described above and start carrying a tug toy as a reward. Once you can run with the dog you no longer need to circle a fixed object. A big open lawn or field is ideal. Again, do not lure the dog, but give the toy as a reward for correct position - often! Lots of reinforcement! Let me repeat myself: lots of reinforcement!!! Carry the toy on both sides, next to the dog and away from the dog. Work through the dog trying to take the toy before it is given as a reward.

"What is reinforced is repeated." Bob Bailey
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The key to success in circle work is good reinforcement, that means rewarding the dog frequently for being where you want them to be. Bailey Basics dictate: "what is reinforced is repeated. "IMO if you only learn one thing about dog training, that is the best one to learn! In circle work, we are reinforcing for position and I pay my dogs very well!

Important tip #1: Be mindful about where your dog is when going to & from circle work sessions. (If you're serious about Greg's system, this is a valuable habit to make all the time). Keep the dog on one side and reward for staying there. Do not let the dog cross your path, flank you, flick away, spin or blind cross you when you transport it. This is never motion you want to see your dog doing on course, so don't allow rehearsals of it when you're not on course. If you allow such random behavior, you are undoing the good work you do in the circle work itself, and one of the main elements of Greg's system is "consistency"

Important tip #2: Do your circle work away from equipment, pretty much forever.

Important tip #3: Have FUN with your dog with this! This is playtime for Bungee & I; just always careful to maintain criteria of what we're doing.

OK, that's all there is to it. Simple as pie, but expect good results. I didn't plan on writing this much about circle work. But I also didn't want to give anyone just enough information to be dangerous, or start trying to do circle work from an intermediate level, which I quickly realized was possible from the email questions I received after the brief information I first posted.
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You can see Greg demonstrate Circle Work in his first video/DVD: Agility Foundation Training. (click on the link to check it out).

At some point much later on, as you advance and get closer to small sequences on jump equipment, you may want to start mixing in some straight-line exercises to proof acceleration/deceleration such as a two-toy game and some Focus Forward work (FFW) such as with the One Jump exercises from Susan's DVD. (click on the link to go to the Agility Success with One Jump site). You can also introduce Front Crosses in your Circle Work, Two-Toy Game and One Jump exercises. One Jump exercises actually allow the opportunity to teach 17 different agility moves - brilliant information too.

So, on behalf of the dogs, who deserve a fair approach to training here you have it as my small gift to them. Our dogs, hearts of gold you know! They deserve the best we can give them. From this point forward you will need to find an instructor and/or get yourself Greg's videos to continue learning his system. (click on the link to go to Greg's site.) IMO they are EXTREMELY worthwhile if you're following his system. You really do get your money's worth, and a lot to work on.

The agility schools in Ontario that I can recommend to you to best learn Greg's system are: Say Yes Dog Training Center, Inc. with Susan Garrett and Tamsu Learning Centerwith Sarah Mairs-Heaslip who also teaches Greg's system exclusively. (click on either link to visit the websites for those schools) greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg
Almost forgot! Should tell you when to do this with your dogs and for how long! Short answer - before they ever see equipment! Ideally you are starting your pups at the shadow handling stages and working your young dogs in circle work once or twice a week, for the full year before they EVER see equipment(!) as in multiple jumps, sequences, etc. This is OK because young dogs aren't really jumping or weaving before their growth plates are closed anyway. If you are one of Greg's own students, he tells that you are doing circle about a year before any of his student's dogs are proficient enough to pass his test that enables them to move up to working on sequences. greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrettderrett greg derrett laura derrett laura derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett laura derrett greg derrett greg derrettderrett greg derrett laura derrett laura derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett laura derrett greg derrett greg derrettderrett greg derrett laura derrett laura derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett greg derrett laura derrett greg