John Heffernan

Wyatt and I headed up to Vermont last week for some extra chances at NADAC Elite Chances run.  For the first run, we got everything but missed one weave entry at a distance.  We got the second one.  It was a relief to break our year long NQ streak in Chances since we have been doing very well overall and just missing one thing for many of these runs.  Should be 5 more for Wyatt’s NADAC championship.  We have 3 chances for Chances this weekend.

Had a fairly easy Elite Chances course today.  I knew we could do it but did not get nervous because of that.  There was an A-Frame (left)  and tunnel (right) side by side to start after Hoop 1.  Wyatt tends to tunnel suck.  This was all before the distance tape so I could handle any way I wanted to.  So I decided to handle on the right, Wyatt on left and push him out to the A-Frame.  I was aware that in moving away from the tunnel when I got to it to go around it, there was a danger of pulling Wyatt to the tunnel with me.  Sure enough, that’s what happened.  So I went back to the hoop and tried it on the other side (I was still off course).  Sure enough, we went right up the A-frame and did the rest of the course flawlessly.  Well, the good news is the “rest of the course flawlessly part.”  I have tried to let go of goals though.  Things are unfolding like the should.  We are getting better and better.  The Qs should follow.

I am feeling like that Wyatt and I are making progress on our Elite Chances distance work.  On Saturday, we ran without faults but went over time.  I had to restart him twice when he stopped before going into a tunnel and also after a switch from some hoops to a dog walk.  I must have stopped suddenly, which causes Wyatt to stop.  I got him to go out from a standstill but it took a lot of time.  I really need to remember to keep moving at all time, even if I need to use tiny steps.  On Sunday, on a much harder course, we got most of it and it felt really good (no stops) but he came in a little and missed a hoop in a outer sequence and also got sucked into an off course tunnel.  But we really felt like a distance team.  I was more relaxed Sunday on the harder course.  I tense up on the easier courses I guess because they seem more doable to me.  We also have some great tunnelers runs and a regular Q.  Weavers on Sunday was also very nice including a great set of 12 from a huge distance to end the run.

I need to get more clear between my out and go ahead commands. I tend to overuse out when I mean go ahead.  But I need to throw in an out if he starts coming in.  But usually go ahead should be the default choice.  That could have fixed the missing hoop problem Sunday.

I have been using the same, fairly small agility space for many years.  Right now, I only work on distance so it’s been challenging to think about the space in new ways.  I’ve come up with some general ideas and I will share those next along with an interesting challenge on a directional tunnel from a distance:  whether to go for the near end so the dog will follow the outer line or whether to try and push out no matter what.  Wyatt had one way that worked and one that did not.  I’ll post when I have a chance to make up some maps.

I am working with Wyatt outside in agility.  We seem to be doing very well with our distance work but still having trouble bringing that to trials.  I think that piece is also coming.  That extra, little bit of nervousness really has a big impact on putting it all together smoothly.  I feel so comfortable now in regular, tunnelers, jumpers, TNG that it seems easy.  But Chances still feels difficult and not so easy even though it would be if I was just a bit more relaxed.  A little bit of a Catch-22.

No obedience or rally planned for now.  I may check for some summer trials during the week.  Not a big priority though.  Patriot stills need long sit work and long dumbbell throw work.  I did do the latter outside and he did great. Need to do more of that.

Not missing the AWC National though I do miss seeing the dogs and the supportive and nice people in the breed who love their dogs and love to do things with their dogs.