Distance Down

On Wednesday for our agility class, Meg was quite ornery. I think it was partly my fault because I lost track of time and had to rush us out the door so we weren't too late getting to class. Once we arrived, Meg immediately decided that the German Shepherd that was there from a previous class was out to get her (though he was ignoring her) and she barked, growled and lunged at him several times. *sigh*

Meg was all alone in class today, so we started her on the teeter, since that is where she needs the most work. On her second time getting on the teeter, she growled a little and showed her teeth at the trainer to show just how much she dislikes the teeter. After a couple more tries on the teeter, we moved to the A-frame. She tried going around it all together the first couple times (last week I couldn't keep her off of it). Same with dog walk. Then we moved to the tunnel. She likes the tunnel and started to settle down a bit after that, so we started stringing obstacles together. Curved tunnel to table, jump to tire, two jumps (angled) then tire. She liked that, but I need some work here. I have to remember to say "yes" every time she does something right. If I don't she keeps trying different things to figure out what it is I want, even though she's already done it.

Meg was in a great mood for Prep School today. When we arrived, Dharma and one of the labs were playing in the yard. Lise (trainer) suggested I try Meg out in the yard with the lab (after Dharma had worked with her a bit). We went out and Meg did very well. She even tried to get the lab to play chase, but then decided that was a bit more than she could handle and told the lab to stop (with a high pitched bark). This lab doesn't have much self control so we stepped in to help Meg out, and then all was well. Then the terrified little chiweenie Skippy arrived. Meg went up to sniff him, he was ok at first, then growled so Meg backed off (good girl!). She was ok with the German Shepherd puppies too!

During class, Meg started to play with Dharma. They get along great and it was fun to watch them swat at each other and play bow. Then Meg also went to the end of her leash to meet Skippy again. Skippy was feeling a bit more brave and let her sniff him and even came up to her to sniff her.

Last Saturday in our Prep School class, we started working on a distance down. Once again this week, due to work and the shorter days of winter, we weren't able to spend much time training. Today in class, we continued to work on a distance down, but Meg doesn't quite have it. If she is stationary, it doesn't matter where I am or how far away I am, she'll go into a down. But if she's moving, she wants to come all the way to me before going into a down. Telling her to stay before telling her 'down' doesn't seem to work either.

We'll keep trying. Hopefully we'll be able to train more this week and make some progress.