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... can't stop a dog from peeing in the ring when they HAVE to go! *LOL*
My mistake, of course. I spent the weekend at three days of shows/trials about 200 miles from here. On the third day, Khana (21 month old chow) was in advanced rally and she peed on her way over to the ring. I put her in her soft crate and watched as they handed out the ribbons for the advanced B class. We were second in for the next class. As the first dog went in, I got her out and did a little warm-up. She was very distracted but I figured it was a variety of reasons (hot day, she's young, third day in a three day set of trials, etc.). I was just hoping she wouldn't leave the ring.
We hit the sixth station (360° circle left) and she swung away from me out into the ring, dropped her nose to the ground and JUST as the thought hit me that she might need to pee, she squatted and let go. I felt so bad because I knew it might affect other dogs coming into the ring after her. I have always been so careful to make sure my dogs potty before they go in, and since she had peed on the way over (maybe 15 minutes earlier) I didn't think she'd need to go again. But evidently she drank more water than I realized!
Now for the good news. Khana completed her Rally Novice title on Friday, score of 95 (out of 100) and a third place with 19 qualifiers. I moved her up to advanced and she qualified on Saturday in advanced. It was a bit rough - score of 89 - but for her first time ever in the ring off-leash I was proud. She earned a second place too.
My biggest fear was that she would get the zoomies and head out of the ring. The rally ring was not wooden ring gates, it was posts with two plastic chains looped between the posts. Dogs could go right under the bottom chain with no problem (and some dogs did leave the ring). Khana didn't give a stellar performance but it was relatively steady and I never lost her.
Trick (10 year old GSD) was wonderful as always. She earned a 99 and a first place to finish her Rally Advanced title on Friday. On Saturday she went into the excellent class, and we got a score of 89 - but ten points of that was MY fault as I messed up a station. BAD ME! Trick only lost one point. Sunday I redeemed myself, had the same exercise and this time I did it right and we earned a score of 97 for a second place in Excellent B.
Trick is a pretty amazing girl. She's so reliable and steady, even though I know this showing stuff she just does to please me. I rarely put a leash on that dog and nearly all of her training has been off-leash and with very few corrections. She now holds three CD's, two (and 2/3) rally titles, her novice agility titles and a herding certification. She's the first dog that I trained with no corrections (at least for the first couple of years - not even "no"). It's amazing at how much she bonded to me and how much she trusts me. I truly believe that a lot of the response we want to get from dogs is received through a strong fair leadership and a trust and respect on the part of the dog. Trick never wore a corrective collar for training or had pops on the leash. She grew up trusting me to treat her with respect just as I expect her to respect me. I think that's so important.
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
My mistake, of course. I spent the weekend at three days of shows/trials about 200 miles from here. On the third day, Khana (21 month old chow) was in advanced rally and she peed on her way over to the ring. I put her in her soft crate and watched as they handed out the ribbons for the advanced B class. We were second in for the next class. As the first dog went in, I got her out and did a little warm-up. She was very distracted but I figured it was a variety of reasons (hot day, she's young, third day in a three day set of trials, etc.). I was just hoping she wouldn't leave the ring.
We hit the sixth station (360° circle left) and she swung away from me out into the ring, dropped her nose to the ground and JUST as the thought hit me that she might need to pee, she squatted and let go. I felt so bad because I knew it might affect other dogs coming into the ring after her. I have always been so careful to make sure my dogs potty before they go in, and since she had peed on the way over (maybe 15 minutes earlier) I didn't think she'd need to go again. But evidently she drank more water than I realized!
Now for the good news. Khana completed her Rally Novice title on Friday, score of 95 (out of 100) and a third place with 19 qualifiers. I moved her up to advanced and she qualified on Saturday in advanced. It was a bit rough - score of 89 - but for her first time ever in the ring off-leash I was proud. She earned a second place too.
My biggest fear was that she would get the zoomies and head out of the ring. The rally ring was not wooden ring gates, it was posts with two plastic chains looped between the posts. Dogs could go right under the bottom chain with no problem (and some dogs did leave the ring). Khana didn't give a stellar performance but it was relatively steady and I never lost her.
Trick (10 year old GSD) was wonderful as always. She earned a 99 and a first place to finish her Rally Advanced title on Friday. On Saturday she went into the excellent class, and we got a score of 89 - but ten points of that was MY fault as I messed up a station. BAD ME! Trick only lost one point. Sunday I redeemed myself, had the same exercise and this time I did it right and we earned a score of 97 for a second place in Excellent B.
Trick is a pretty amazing girl. She's so reliable and steady, even though I know this showing stuff she just does to please me. I rarely put a leash on that dog and nearly all of her training has been off-leash and with very few corrections. She now holds three CD's, two (and 2/3) rally titles, her novice agility titles and a herding certification. She's the first dog that I trained with no corrections (at least for the first couple of years - not even "no"). It's amazing at how much she bonded to me and how much she trusts me. I truly believe that a lot of the response we want to get from dogs is received through a strong fair leadership and a trust and respect on the part of the dog. Trick never wore a corrective collar for training or had pops on the leash. She grew up trusting me to treat her with respect just as I expect her to respect me. I think that's so important.
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
CONGRATS!!!
