Bungee's Place

One of Bungee's favorite places...

above ~ a view of part Bungee's agility field

This is where we have been spending most of our time, I think Bungee would like to spend all her time there! Family matters have had us to keep up with our lessons at home without the benefit of many of our classes this week. We did make it out to Bungee's agility class last night and it was really fun with lots of good work. We worked on all the usual stuff: equipment skills, contacts, control & early sequencing. Bungee brilliant as ever :-) of course(!), and extremely keen for the work. The more we do, the more she wants to do and growing more intense by the day, in fact I would say "pushy" to work, work, work all the time. But that kind of pushiness is definitely OK!

Here are some more views of our backyard, our agility field and our trails into the bush beyond the field.
("Bush" = Canadian-speak for: forest)



Elbow room, peaceful settings, a naturalists dream, safe places for our dogs to run, views like this in our own backyard... this is why we live in Canada.


Only about half our equipment is up on the field so far. The rest of it is on the lower field, not pictured, or set up in the basement for inside lessons when it's a downpour outside, but mostly to help give the turf on the main field every chance to re-establish fully - we're still in lawn restoration mode. But the frequent rain has been perfect and very welcome to our cause! Of course now its time to move it all off both places and mow again. My favorite job!!

A big week for the "champagne kids"

What week is it?

It's birthday week for the "champagne kids" of course! Bungee included! She will turn the big 1 year old this Friday! We already have part of a birthday plan in mind for her but we will save that for later.

Some Homework Updates:
Ruff Love - going great at a modified level, Bungee doesn't know she's on it, and is being much more respectful of my time with Guinness. They've had many more lessons together on the field with no more negative incidents of any kind. Just lots of great work. The pushy, jealous behavior I was starting to see around the house is already gone. They have always gotten along great together one-on-one, and they continue to do so.

Agility Homework - We have now advanced from just flatwork to transfering our skills to equipment. The transition from circle work to sequencing is our focus now.

Jumping - Setting up small sequences now, 2 - 4 jumps. Lots of emphasis on focus forward vs. focus on me. I have to hide the toy to run with her over 2 or 3 jumps and have her look where she is going, but if I do she does. Her jumping style is fluid and lovely - really pretty. When she's looking where she's going - bars stay up, I'm working them at max. 16" or 40 cm.

Grids - She is due for some - on the "to do" list.

Box Work - Yes, that's what I said! I worked some sit stays around the box from different positions with success. Curious to see what she'd do, I went to the jump at the Left (L) of the 1st square, tried a Lead-Out Pivot (LOP) w/ a Front Cross, (FC) to the L and she read it beautifully. I rewarded at the turn before the jump. A 2nd try, I let her go over the jump rewarding on the outside. Ditto to the Right (R). So much success I sat her & went down to the 2nd square. LOP w/ a FC to the L - she handled it like a pro so ditto to the R - again success. This time I went back and tried running with her through the same sequences - success again but wide around me through the FC (easily tightened up on a 2nd try). Worked each direction with success.

Later came back to a 270 at the top of the box, wow and wow again, by George she got it! Worked 270's on both sides, son of a gun - she got them. So we had a little session of a 270, then a threadle on the same jumps, then a 270, then back to pulling through the gap - each time changing the task, over the same two jumps, working in each direction to the L & R, and each time she's on it like white on rice! So wow, and wow again for Bungee. Now I see the true magic of circle work! We've only worked on the box twice but very exciting beginning!

The box work also provides an option to drive straight up the center or some turns at the top and drive back down the line of center, which Bungee did nicely.

FFD - However, "before we can run we must walk", and in AAC Starters Jumpers courses that means long straight lines of wide open jumps, maybe with only 3 turns in a whole course and perhaps only 13 -15 jumps in total. That translates to huge, wide-open spaces, jumps set at 18' - 25' apart and so forth.

The point of explaining all this is yet another reason Bungee will need to understand to drive long straight lines, starting "first thing out of the gate" with these long, large, simple circles so frequently seen in Canadian Starters & Novice courses (U.S. too). FF work is really going to be the key to success, but in fairness we will start out by breaking this work right down and that's where we are at now.

Contact equipment - not before contacts of course! But skills work continues.

Contacts - 2o2ow/nt continues .

June Trial

How HOT Is it?

I'm not sure anyone wanted to know that today! This weekend is Tamsu's June Agility Trial and it's a hot one! 32 c. in the shade, 39 c. heat index, an actual record-breaker according to the news. Thank goodness for strong breezes!

This was Bungee's 2nd trial experience. It was Guinness and my 1st time back in the ring since we lost Ketchy. It felt really good to be back in the ring, running with our friends, one little Terrier fella' in particular...Guinness, who did absolutely great! It just thrilled me to see him enjoying it so much and that just means everything to me! No Q's today but he really made me proud, plus two 2nd's & a 1st as a bonus!

Bungee was great too! She is a dream to have at a trial, and she is ready to work! She stayed in the ex-pen with Guinness under our shady tent and never made a peep. She just relaxed & enjoyed the view. I'm told she talks her funny voice when she can hear me in the ring, and she talks to me when I return to her too. I spent my breaks & after my runs with the dogs and she got to go all around with me.

I ran 3, worked 6, and now I'm cooked like a baked apple - and about the color of one too! It was SO hot, I sent the dogs home with their "dad" about 3 p.m. I stayed on for ring crewing, and at the end helped with course building for tomorrow.

Plans for tomorrow - more of the same.

Guinness is entered in only 2 runs. But now it's supposed to be even hotter, higher humidity and big thunderstorms (again! that's 6 out of the last 7 days!) I may leave the dogs home with the DH and just go and help tomorrow. This is a "game" and that means it's supposed to be FUN, right?

Tomorrow in honor of the heat (or is it the team?), there is a human pool party fund raiser for the Canadian Agility Team (CAT Team) on the premises. That sounds MUCH more sensible to me! But don't worry, the dogs have several pools set up for them too!
(click on the link to check out the team's website)

In honor of all the big hearted dogs out there running in that heat today, I've posted a little fictional story I came across next. Happy to report that overall today was a MOST pleasant trial experience for Bungee and all of us. Not only did we have many dear friends there to welcome us back and cheer us on, but every handler there would have passed this next "hypothetical" test!
Would you?

Not Just Any Old Trial

Dedicated to big-hearted agility dogs everywhere!

Inserting update, today, Tuesday, June 24, 2008
I have just been informed the prose below is titled: "Perfect Run" by author Tim String, advisory comment end post.

Agility With God or "Perfect Run"

A man dies and goes towards the light. There is no pearly gate, no rainbow bridge, just an overwhelming presence. He falls face down and cries out "God help me". It is a simple prayer he has often repeated in time of stress. He was totally unprepared for what happened next. A voice said, "Never fear my child. I am here. I'll take a simple form, and we'll have a talk".

The man was filled with peace and knew he had met his Maker. He realized he was being helped to his feet. The man that helped him to his feet had a radiance unlike anything he had seen before. He became aware of the conversation covering his life, beliefs, and why he should be admitted to Heaven. God said he had one last test.

The man had competed in agility and had always wanted one more run with his favorite partner. God said he would grant one final run. A perfect run and he and his dog would be granted access to heaven. A failure and he would not be allowed in.

The man said to God, "Win or lose, I thank you for one more run." The man looked in the crowd but could not see his beloved partner. He asked God where he needed to go to find his faithful teammate. God called the man to him and said to stare into his eyes. Unbelievable peace and joy filled the man's soul. God started to change into bright overpowering light. The man became aware of a movement in the light. It grew and grew and there was his friend. He was bowled over just like so many times on earth. His face was being licked, a tail beat his legs, and a playful reunion was had.

There were several agility teams there that day. God was to be the judge. The exhibitors walked the course and the man was to be the third team to run. He watched the first team. It was a beautiful start. The team looked so perfect, he smiled at their teamwork. It was poetry to watch. Then it happened. The handler took his eye off the dog and it took an off course. "You idiot!" yelled the handler. "What were you thinking"? A curtain covered the field and God's voice could be heard but not understood. When the curtain parted the previous team was gone.

God beckoned the next team to the line. This team looked even better. Then a bar was knocked. The handler went to the dog and beat it. The man wanted to go to the dog's aid but an icy stare from a near by angel froze him in his tracks. The curtain quickly drew around the ring. God's voice boomed and the ground trembled. When the curtain parted the team was gone.

God motioned for the man to come to the line. A quick placement at the line, one last scratch of the dog's ear, as was their ritual. The stay was perfect. The man smiled, overjoyed for one last run and the gleam in his old partner's eye. The man gave the command and released his dog. The run was one of the rare ones. The connection so right, the unexplainable feeling of being in harmony with your dog. Both the man and the dog beamed. One last cross and they would be headed home. The man realized in an instant he had moved to soon. "I'm sorry, that was my fault." he said sheepishly. They finished in fine form but it was not a clean run. The curtain drew.

God came over but before God could speak the man fell to his knees. "I'm sorry it wasn't a perfect run, but I thank you for one last run. It was so much fun, but I just blew that cross. Please don't punish my dog for my mistake. He only did what I trained him to do."

God lifted the man to his feet. "You passed the test," God said with a smile. "I don't understand," stammered the man. "It wasn't a clean run." God answered, "I didn't say your dog wouldn't go to heaven if you failed, nor that the run had to be clean." The man said, "You said it had to be perfect". God answered, "Yes, I said the run had to be perfect, not clean. Up here there is a big difference. You see, nobody can run this course clean. The joy of the run, the connection so close, makes it impossible to run this course clean. That is part of the test. Do you take responsibility for your mistake; do you treat your dog, my gift of love to you, with respect?

"do you treat your dog, my gift of love to you, with respect?"

The perfect runs are the runs where the handler takes responsibility for his mistakes and allows the dog to make his. The dog doesn't care if the run is clean; he just wants to have fun. You really passed the test before you ran. You thanked me whether you won or lost. Also, don't think I didn't notice you reacted when that other handler abused the dog. You have shown great love. That was the test. To me your run was a thing of beauty, your conduct even better."

The owner smiled, "May I have one request?" God said, "I know you want to watch the other runs. If you look past the ring you'll see your old ratty chair. I would love to have company today." The man saw some stunning runs but also some crazy runs. Dogs that did nothing but visit all the heavenly host. Dogs that knocked every bar. Dogs that sailed over every contact. He smiled each time as the curtain closed and watched God inform the handlers that though not clean they were still perfect.

He realized he never saw another run where the handler was mean. Every run he saw brought another team to the sideline. Cheers arose and people rejoiced. It then dawned on the man. He was no longer waiting to get to heaven, he was already there.

At the end of the runs, the man said to God, "You must be pleased; only two teams failed." With a tear running down his face God said, "If only that were true. Once you pass, you only see those that pass. But enough of that, we have a rainbow bridge to go visit. Some more of your friends want to see you."

author unknown