Retrieve and I just don't get on :lol:

After the struggle I had with Solei (not a natural retriever at all), eventually perfecting a toy retrieve and then FINALLY getting him to retrieve a dumbbell....for all of about 6 weeks before he went totally unnecessary and I have yet to get him comfortable with a dumbbell again (currently on a long break from it).

Then came Elton - once I got him past the "omg the dumbell's so heavy I can't possibly hold it!" stage, although it needed a lot of work, he was so happy and enthusiastic - too much so, see my previous post!

I got a good sit/wait quite quickly by telling him to sit if he stood up, then going to pick the dumbbell up myself and recommanding before I threw it - if he stood up, I did the same thing again. If his bum stayed on the floor he was allowed to go and get it!

And then my biggest fear came true - he was doing beautiful retrieves for a couple of days (still not sitting with it in his mouth - though he did do it once! - but the duration of his hold was increasing and he would lie down (on command) and keep hold of it) and then he decided he was bored. He lost the excitement and enthusiasm and wouldn't pick it up. If he did deign to, he would bring it a couple of steps, spit it out and then come back to me!

Deep breath, don't panic...obviously now I've spoilt his "game" it's boring. So the dumbbell is now away for a couple of weeks, and I have my fingers incredibly tightly crossed that a break from it will do the trick and I'll be able to get the enthusiasm and excitement back, whilst keeping the self control he's learnt.

Maybe I should get a Retriever as my next dog!

So that covers my retrieve goals (wait & hold) - on hold! Though progress has been made.

As far as heelwork goes, I decided it was worth reteaching to the wrong chair so we've been practicing that and I've got to say I <3 that dog. I think we've reestablished the heelwork position, and I'm impressed lol

We've been doing some work on instantly letting go of the toy, and I think we still have a way to go, especially in a competition environment.

I'm feeling rather frustrated/discouraged today....yesterday I tried Elton with the "proper" chair for the first time  (obviously he's used to the chair from shows, going out..etc, but he's only been to about 3 obedience classes and I've only done very loose HW with him so far because of concentration and the way the class works).

First problem - I can't decide how close he should work - obviously he can't touch the wheel which he basically does with the manual - and if I have him working too close I'm concerned about running him over, but if I have him too far away he loses position a bit because he has nothing to keep him consistent.

Second (bigger) problem - I can't see him properly!! He's a smaller dog than Solei, and that extra bit of size apparently makes a big difference. Seriously thinking about seeing if i can get a "wing mirror" which may help.

But it's just so discouraging because I love the way he feels in the manual chair. I feel amazing when I'm working with him - so connected, if you know what I mean? - and it's all just so much fun....swapping to the electric I just don't feel as connected, more stressed, less in control and just not as fun. I expect (hope) it'll get better and I don't doubt he's capable, it just frustrated/upset me to feel the way I did, I really wasn't expecting it to be so different. I'm usually ok, but that was one of those moments where I was cursing how much harder the way I am makes everything!

And this is before I have to get used to a new chair!!

Oops!

Very long time no post - I confess; I'd completely forgotten about this blog. So, general stuff - Solei is still much the same, so this is all going to be about Elton - who will be 20 months old tomorrow! Gosh.

Showing - In November, on the day he turned 18 months old, Elton took BOB and Group 2 :-) He has since entered teenage hood - bitches, smells and sod you I'm busy with the floor! He hasn't been perfect for the last couple of shows, but the last show we went to (on the 2nd) he excelled himself, he was so naughty. Typical, because it was a judge I'd really been looking forward to going under, and he just threw it all away. Took him to a match the day before yesterday and practicing beforehand he was super....when it came to the "real thing" it all went out the window. Mega frustrating because it's not something that can be easily practiced....I hope he outgrows it asap, especially with Crufts on the horizon! I will not be amused if he plays me up like that at Crufts :-P

Obedience - Elton - hell child :-D I admit part of it is my fault - the problems are overenthusiasm and over excitement, and after Solei it's so refreshing and so wonderful to have a dog that enjoys it so much I'm wary of discipling him for it (even by time outs or ignoring..etc) when it's not appropriate, for fear of losing the wonderful enthusiasm for everything that is Elton!

However, I recently decided enough was enough ;-) It was escalating to the point when he knew a retrieve was coming he would stand wagging his tail and barking at me, bark as he came into position beside me (which wasn't a great position because of that!), not be able to hold a sit stay whilst I threw it (stood up), whine and/or bark until I released him and then make noises until he had the dumbbell in his mouth and couldn't!

So we've been working on impulse control ;-) He still gets rather noisy when it's all just too exciting, but he's definitely more controlled - I've been working on him both holding a sit stay beside me whilst I throw food (and then releasing him to eat it) and whilst I throw the dumbbell. The dumbbell is still a bit patchier, but he's holding the sit stay whilst I throw food most of the time now, and the dumbbell is improved. I'll keep at it and I'm sure he'll get there before too long. Waiting to come out of his crate or at doorways has been solid for months, so it's just those extra exciting situations that need work.

The other area it's shown in is heelwork - he had a lovely heelwork position (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvhPLAWc0ck) and now I'm having more problems with forging and thus losing the position in more ways than one! Which also leads me into another dilemma because I'm not sure if it's worth retraining it with that chair, as it's the wrong one for obedience anyway. Wish it was easier to train from the correct one!

On the whole I'm pleased with him. He's a wonderful dog, who gives me so much joy....I love Solei to pieces, but Elton is my "heart dog". My dog in a lifetime. He's maturing nicely, and as long as he starts behaving(!) I'm excited to see what he can do in the show ring this year. For obedience, he'll be doing his first show at the end of March - but possibly only training the class.

That said, my main targets for the rest of January and February are -

A solid wait whilst the dumbbell is thrown
Instant "let go of the toy" when asked.
Continue work on the hold, hopefully able to progress to trying to introduce a sit & hold by the end of February.
Improved heelwork position with the correct chair.

Wow, wow, wow, WOW. And did I mention wow?!

Elton and I had the most incredible weekend ever. The kind I'll remember for the rest of my life :D

On Sunday, Elton was entered in Okehampton & District Canine Society's open show. We had two breed classes, and I'd put Elton in both. I wasn't overly optimistic, there was one dog I thought would definitely win the first class. No - Elton won it! Just one Junior Warrant point to go. Back in we went for the second class, this time I was hoping against hope he would win this one too and slightly regretting putting him in both classes! I needn't have, because little rocket man only went and won that one too!! Last point he needed for his Junior Warrant :D and also Best of Breed because he'd already beaten everything.

However....Elton being Elton....that wasn't good enough...he then won the large (13ish dogs) and very strong toy group!!! He went beautifully actually, best behaviour :lol:

Not content even with that, he decided he would really finish off in style and ended up RESERVE BEST IN SHOW and Best Opposite Sex in Show!!

Especially in this area, the toy group is brutal both in terms of quality and numerically. They'd put us on after the utility group, which although a small group...it's not a good idea to have toys sharing a ring with anything else :lol: So we'd taken ages, and all the other groups had long finished. Which although was good in one way in that it meant no waiting, meant Elton had to go straight from group to BIS. We'd been there since 8am, and it was now gone 6pm, so we were both getting tired!

So into the BIS ring, and Elton was an absolute nightmare....there was food all over the floor, and all he wanted to do was get his head down and hoover! I eventually got his attention (aragh free standing breeds!) and he was more or less ok most of the time when it mattered. He didn't move as well as in the group (kept trying to pull his head down to eat!), but he was much better once I got him on the mat and it was passable - well, it must have been given the result!

Major fail on the posting front :-P I've been doing bits and pieces, but posting is evidently another matter!

Solei is still Solei...I've now got him retrieving a dumbbell again indoors at home, but not yet in other environments or outdoors. Screwball :-P
I took him to a companion show with obedience last weekend - it was a very basic round (heel on lead, recall, stay) but I thought it would be just what he needed to build his confidence up and he was actually pretty good. Came 3rd, but I was pleased with his performance - definitely progress!

Elton is coming along nicely, he's maturing and thus getting better about holding his stays. His heelwork is coming along well, though halts are still weak - he's so enthusiastic he's not very good about stopping in time, sitting straight and close beside me! I love the fact the only problems I'm having with him are due to overenthusiasm :-) The other heeling problem is him swinging his bum out and occasionally working too forward - again, both overenthusiasm!

Although again his sits aren't always the straightest/closest, he also knows both a left and right finish, which he manages to look adorable whilst doing them XD

Recall is quite nice, he's getting better about consistantly coming in straight.

His attention still wanders, concentration needs to improve and although he's pretty good at home now he is terrible with distractions! I've only ever taken him to one obedience class, so I need to get him back there and do some work on that! I've hardly been to obedience over the last three months, so I really need to get Solei back there as well - I'm intending to start again in October, and then possibly alternate - take Solei one week, and Elton the next.

As far as showing goes, Elton is wonderful <3 He still needs to settle on the table - he's a real fidget, especially when they're "restraining" his head (though funnily enough fine with his teeth!) - but once he's settled (sometimes when the whole class is moved together he's a bit all over the place) he's so much better on the move now.

Yesterday we went to a championship show where Elton won both Junior Dog and Yearling Dog :-D So he is now just 2pts off his Junior Warrant!!