Target Training, Amongst Other Things

Rio’s target reminder sessions are not going well. I am writing this post to remind myself not to move on until I am 100% happy with what I’m seeing, and I’m not. Also, we can’t have six months off and then expect a perfect behaviour straight out of the box. I need to get the clicker out and do some more work, and start shaping for what I want.

She has a solid two-foot hit on the flat but she isn’t engaging her rear on the turn. I also need to work on her hitting the target when I’m holding it up.

However, her agility training is going awesome. We did our first rear crosses this week! I am really excited about this, I always think rear crosses are a little bit awkward to teach but she said it was no problem. Her waits were also amazing, we did a little bit of testing this week and she had to wait whilst her friend Kobi was inviting her to play. Rio was very clear about ignoring him; Agility is Serious Business. She did a beautiful wait.

She makes me happy, this puppy. I realise I say this a lot, but she does. She gets impatient with me, barking or offering wing wraps or tunnel pickups if she thinks I’m being too slow. She is just joyous about running, and jumping, and bouncing, and is the Angry Growly Tugger. No matter how tired I am, or how little motivation for training I might have, once we’ve arrived and started work I can’t help but have a good time working with her.

Dylan fell off the dogwalk twice at training this week, so he’s on rest for a few days in case he’s hiding an injury. The first fall was a slip, he went on at a much harsher angle than I was expecting and just slid off the side. He did a few more dogwalks with no problems at all, no hesitation, which was relieving. Second fall was more dramatic, and I’m not even sure how he managed it! He must have mis-stepped on the up plank and then never really recovered, he came off just before the apex to the down plank. He got another go, and then we called it a night.

He is standing and moving as usual and I can’t find anything that seems to be causing him discomfort, so we’ll see.

Ri and Dyl are both in for their boosters and annual checkup this week, and I’ll get them weighed too. Unfortunately I can’t be there to take them, but I’m sure they’ll survive without me.