Today was all about showing up. I have a bum knee and really did not “feel” like going to class. But both pups look forward to their training time with Dad and I knew that there were skills that I really needed to work on that could be done without much movement. Besides you never know when you might get to a big event and have something limit your ability to run. The first time we started on the first turn I failed to use my “out” command to help her still on the line to the second jump without me. I was happy that when I did my part she did well. The send after the tunnel straight ahead would have required some sort of toy toss or target with how far behind her I was today. A skill we certainly need to work on as shown by many failed attempts at the send in the Mid-Course Challenge Slingshot runs in SpeedWay. We also still need to nail down that start line skill set.
The second run was a numbered course and was something I thought I could handle with my limited movement abilities. The start line was an issue on this run again but part of that was start outside the ring as she and another dog had a short barking thing before we went in. That is actually a good thing for both dogs as both handlers are working on that issue 🙂 SO I let her get away with getting up before released. I was very happy with the wrap to the tunnel under the Frame. Also, with her going past the Frame then to go to the next jump. The jump sequence was a bit rough but okay. I was frustrated that the turn out of the tunnel in a different environment is not nearly as good as it is at home. Guess we need to work on that. She was very unfocused with the weaves all morning. One more class in the set so hopefully I will be back to 100 percent next week. The Backyard training needs to get better as fair as my commitment to it on a regular basis. It really shows when we do it versus when we do not. Back to our morning videos and more serious skills work. Focus on what we need for the trials we plan to do.