The summer is over, days are getting shorter and colder. Perfect time for intensive training as both me and the dogs are a bit affected by high temperatures. We have been very active lately and I thought the time was ripe to test our skills in obedience trials. I have started twice already with both dogs.
First out was Prima. The dog that in training shows both power and speed was difficult to recognise. We competed twice in class 2 and did not get enough points to be able to proceed to the next class. On the first trial because of her making a mistake and on the second trial because of my mistake. Mistakes happen sometimes and that´s not worrying me though she was very well prepared. What concerns me much more is her attitude. There is no joy and no engagement in her performance. She carries out her exercises but with an attitude of a beaten dog. I have a feeling that most of all this dog, that loves to perform with me, wants to leave the ground…
I am trying to understand why she acts like this. There might be a possibility that she knows that on trial she will not get the rewards. I don’t really believe in this theory because last time we competed was a year ago. She cannot remember that. Unfortunately the only theory I believe in is that her behaviour is the response to my stress. She is a very sensitive dog. And I am always stressed when I compete. Sometimes more and sometimes less but some anxiety is and always will be there. I cannot help it and I cannot prepare her for that as I am never stressed in training situation…
Well, we will see if I find a method of making her finding joy when working with a stressed handler or do I have to give up competing with her???
Then we have Ruda. Two competitions in class 3. Both times she gets 0 points for 2 exercises. One of them her favourite. But with Ruda I do not have any doubts that it will get better. Class 3 is rather complicated, a long programme and many small details a dog can miss. But she tries her best all the time! She is with me, she is active, she is dedicated! We are a team and it feels so right! I think I´m not even so stressed anymore!
So with her I have hope. She is a bit uncertain in one exercise but I think she will be perfect in no time.
Thankfully I have a friend to train with, Anne with Border Collie Alvin in the same class but much more experienced. We try to train together a couple of times every week and she has always some ideas of what can be done to tackle the difficulties we have. So grateful for that!
The plan is to compete soon again with Ruda and enter a double competition with both dogs in the middle of October.
Little Basqa, although very speedy in every day activities is rather slow in obedience exercises when there are other people around. Though she is well prepared for the beginner class she needs some more training with different disturbances before I can compete with her. We have been training mostly alone and I focused mostly on older dogs so I plan to do a little more advanced training with her when I finish competing for this year.
My life is very simple but rather full of activities right now. I work only occasionally nowadays which means I have more time for the dogs. I could do more but my spine limits my possibilities. And then there is a big house to take care of and the family life requires some care as well. I wish I was younger LOL!
The only unusual thing we did lately was a journey to the West Coast to meet Primas breeder and some other Border Collie owners. Wonderful time spent with nice people at a beautiful place! I hope I can make it again next year!
Here at home we had first frost last night. Some of my veggies couldn’t cope with that very well. We still have beans and squash out there in the garden. The plum trees are full of fruit this year. Have to deal with that before winter comes. I hope though it will take long time before it gets really cold. At least until the trial season is over!
