World Cynosport Rally July Trial Molly and Zorro

Last Saturday was Zorro's debut in WCRL Level 1! I felt solid to enter him in Level 1. The only area he is weak in is his stands and we put extra training time into that. Also, Molly came along to play in Veterans. I have a soft goal for Molly to be nationally ranked in the RLV category for 2019, so we will play until she is one Q short of the Rally Veteran Championship title (because that would put her into the Championship category and we aren't going to be playing that much WCRL this year.) Ps. Einey did get nationally ranked in the Veterans Championship category in 2014.

Anyway! This was a two ring trial so definitely a new experience for Zorro. I groaned when I saw our course map, as the Moving Stand walk around was the bonus. I had not prepared Zorro one little bit for that exercise. Oopsie! Other than that mister man did a really nice job. I am thrilled with his enjoyment of heeling. He does hesitate on his left finish, we are working on "You don't always get a treat at front." and he says, "Are you suuuuure?" And we got a sit on the stand exercise later on the couse. (That's ten points off for stand issues, ouch.) 198/210 on this one.

Trial 2 was a bit better for Zorro, although we still got a sit on the Moving Stand bonus (yes, it was the bonus sign again!!) This time he did his Sit-Stand sign without sitting again. I thiiiiink this one was a 202/210. Five points off for the sit on the moving stand and then we had a sit on the 270 during heeling. But, really good work for my baby boy!

I am making a commitment to myself and Zorro to stop letting the "new rules" surprise me. They are not new rules anymore. I was very disappointed in myself that I let that Moving Stand sneak up on me. My young dog could have had far nicer scores his first time out if his owner had trained him. :)

To be honest, I do like the format of using a list of Level 2 signs as Bonus for Level 1, and so on. I think that it encourages teams to train for the next level more than the old format did. I found the news update that included which bonus signs could be used in Level 1 (I could not find it in the rule book but that's user error, I'm sure.) and we have been enjoying working on them. We can practice rally-o inside in the AC since it is too hot to practice agility out there anyway! We are currently putting priority on his understanding of "Stand stays are rewarding, too! Sits aren't the only cool thing to do."

Molly had a blast, especially on the first Trial! Her usual lagging vs exploding and no in between when it comes to Rally. We also had to do one of the "new" signs where I took a left 180 turn and Molly had to spin or something and get on my right side. I don't know if we did it right but Molly sure did seem to enjoy it!

ARCH Perri and Excellent Leg #1

Perri wrapped up her late winter-early spring Rally-o "tour" last weekend. We attended the Poodle Obedience Training Club of Great NY at their annual spring Obedience and Rally-o trial. I will admit to having little to no interest in AKC Rally with Perri, but our friend was debuting in Rally Novice. I wanted to go along to support her, and competing with both of our poodles at a specialty had the makings of a fun day.

I entered Perri in Excellent and unfortunately she was more stressed than usual in the ring. Her hypervigilance was very intense and we did not have any of the teamwork that we are capable of. Perri pulled off an 82 and earned her first Rally Excellent leg though. We did attempt for our second leg at the Afternoon trial but we lost 10 points on the Moving Back-up, I paused on a Down-Stay-Walk Around (oops) and I did the Figure 8 WCRL style. That's 30 points off right there, folks. Ouch! I forgot about those brutal AKC 10-point hits if you do any element of the sign incorrectly. Our friend Zoe did well, earning her first two Rally Novice legs. It was still a great day of poodlin'! Perri made it very clear she would like a break from Rally-o, and that was the plan anyway!

Backing up, Perri spent two weekends in March earning the final two double Q legs needed for her ARCH (All Rally Champion) title in World Cynosport Rally. We went to a new-to-Perri trial location for leg #4 and when I saw how good-for-Perri her confidence and attitude was, I entered the next trial there (two weekends ago.) Perri earned her last QQ with a very nice Level 1 leg and a decent Level 2 leg with some mild floor aversion due to a drool mop up spot. Perri has become extremely obsessive about keeping an eye on the floor when we do rally obedience and her engagement suffers a lot for it. In any case, ARCH Poodle!

Birthdays and Baby Titles

Since the almighty Facebook is experiencing some sort of outage today, it is a good night to get caught up on this poor neglected blog. February was a blur with the only trial after my prior post being a CPE trial to gain points toward's Ein's 1000 Point Level title. Ein is now standing at 970/1000 points and set to finish the title this weekend. We have "only" been working on it since 2013 so maybe it is time to wrap it up.

Speaking of Ein, March 3rd was his fourteenth birthday. 14!!
Einey is definitely slowing down. He is clearly showing the beginning signs of "canine cognitive disorder" aka doggy dementia. It is most noticeable overnight. He will pace up and down the stairs or lick his paws and/or bed obsessively. I added 3mg of melatonin to his evening meal last summer and for a while it was peaceful sleeping at night again. In the last month though, the melatonin has not been enough. CBD oil is the next thing I am going to explore for Ein. Other than that, the old boy is holding together really well! He can act pleasantly and happily vacant sometimes. He still comes on hikes, although he "pays for it" with arthritic pain and stiffness more than ever. But he so adores his time in the woods. His deafness is worsening. I have to use hand signals to recall him in from the yard and I have to yell his name if I want him to come from another room.
He still loves carrying his Benebones everywhere, biting the puppy as needed and being a happy little busy body.

And guess what else happened on March 3rd? I took Zorro and Perri to a WCRL Rally Trial and baby boy earned his first title: Rally Level Intro! He had two rounds of Intro with lovely heelwork and attention. He couldn't resist one moment of trying to "wrap" a sign and then sniffing it - which he sometimes does in a new location. Otherwise a really lovely job and he had such a good time in the ring. He enjoys himself so much and we are going to have so much fun together. I also learned that you can reward at front position and finish in WCRL in the Intro Level Only. I think that's a great rule for the Intro level and I felt like it was a great support for my young dog.

Perri had a great attitude for her first time at this trial site (new to Perri! Only Ein has trialed in this ring before.) She blew me away with a perfect 210 and first place out of a 20 dog class. When she is on, she is on! Level 2 she was not quite so confident but we still put our fourth QQ in the books towards her ARCH.

Perri's big moment.

Perri also turned 7 this past Saturday. I am kind of amazed that she is already 7 years old. We are worlds away from where I thought we would be by this age in performance sports but I can truly say this year.: that's all right. Whatever. I have Perri's medication situation figured out, for now and hopefully forever. I am so much better at supporting her and understanding her. She loves her puppy and he makes her jealous and takes the pressure off of her simultaneously. She is my best hiking and adventure dog. I am so proud of her strangeness, I love sharing her eccentricities with people. She is a goofy unique martian of a dog.

World Cynosport Rally....Life after Ein's retirement!

Yesterday I took Perri to a World Cynosport Rally obedience trial and it wasn't until I was getting the car ready to leave that I realized: Ein isn't coming along. Ein isn't entered. I mean, I knew it. But I hadn't felt it emotionally until that moment.

I have done AKC Rally alone with Perri but as I scoured my memory, I can't say I have ever attended a WCR trial without Ein being entered. But yesterday was different. Ein is retired. I may have gone to a rally-o trial alone with Perri but that was only because I wasn't interested in any more AKC rally with Ein. He was still actively competing in WCR.

I have only been in dog sports for about 6 years (my first trial was AKC Rally with Ein in October 2012.) Yesterday was the first time that I entered a trial after retiring the dog that I started in that sport with. And World Cynosport was a huge part of Ein's life, his confidence. He earned the Award of Excellence in all three titling levels as well as Veterans class, he earned every championship title possible (ARCH, ARCHX, ARCHEX and ARCHMX) and he was nationally ranked in Veterans Champion and Rally Champion Extraordinaire. It was a big part of our lives. Memories I will treasure forever.

And I enjoyed my day with Perri, I really did. I supported her to my best abilities while we waited for her turns in the ring. I kept her away from trigger/scary dogs. At one point a spitzy type dog was staring at her and I noticed it and moved to an entirely different area. (the old me would have tried to distract her with food. Distance matters far more to Perri. Food does not make her stop being afraid of a trigger.) I rejoiced in myself that I did not resent Perri for needing support. For Not Being Ein. She needed a lot of support in the ring. This trial was at our old training club and for some reason the flooring results in a lot of static for Perri. She got shocked once when I gave her a treat and also when a few different people petted her. By the middle of her Level 2 run she seemed to be looking at the floor ahead of her and would dodge out of the way of random spots of flooring. I can only guess that she was looking for potential shock spots or places she did not want to step on.

I was supportive of Perri outside the ring. And I caught myself turning into Perri and looking at her on the Figure 8 when she lagged a little bit and adjusted quickly, looking ahead and on the floor. It helped a lot. I almost did the Figure 8 the old way and laughed at myself. When I laughed and smiled Perri lit up, trotting next to me and heeling her most flashy to end the course with.

Remember to smile. Remember to breathe.

ARCH QQ #1, 207 (L1) and 206 (L2).

I was chatting with a friend this morning who told me she is thinking of doing more rally-o with one of her dogs in the interest of confidence building. It made me think, Why am I pursuing an ARCH with Perri? I came up with: I want to gain more experience in supporting Perri, I want to learn more about what ringside routines work and I want to build my own confidence in those respects. 

It's a whole new journey with a whole new purpose. 

Ein retires from Rally Obedience

Today I took Ein to what will be his final rally obedience trial. When I saw that today's trial would be at the same training club as our first trial, and under the same judge, and he would be able to finish his RLVX5 I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to retire him.

I did not study or bring a copy of the new signs and regulations with me and that was a big oops! We lost three points for some handler errors on our first run (Did the figure 8 the "old way" and asked Ein for a sit on a sign when we should have heeled forward.)

On the second run I did a better job of doing the new signs, thanks to a sensible competitor who had the rulebook saved on her iPad. (a good idea!) We got to do the new "Mini Spiral Left" (you can see us performing that in the video, it was the first exercise we did.). I also had to look up the Call Front Forward Left as the sign looked so different that it used to, I was worried about doing something wrong.

Ein did something unusual in that he sat on both of his Moving Stands. Ein has never done this before but I feel it was due to a lot of pain he is having in his left wrist lately. (Winter is very hard on Ein.) Ein's left front was always his good leg but I can see his left wrist starting to get that hyperflexed look that his right wrist has. On our first run I saw Ein stumble on the Moving Stand - and that makes me think that when he does that exercise he typically weight shifts to his front left. But today, it hurt him to do that so he shifted all his weight to his rear and sat instead (he has good knees!) I notice on the video when I re-cue him both times, he makes a point to weight shift to his front right because he is ready for it this time instead of doing what he has always done by muscle memory. A good reminder that when competing with a senior dog, or any dog, the importance of keeping in mind that pain may be the cause for them doing something out of character.

Perri's December

Continuing on in the spirit of catching up, we will address Miss Perri's doings.

Perri has had a tough year in agility but a very encouraging year in Rally Obedience. I waited three years to enter Level 2 and Perri's confidence and enthusiasm was well worth the wait. I have always loved attending AKC Rally-o trials in December at this trial site - historically Perri had her AKC Rally Novice and Advanced debuts (and first two legs) here. It was a fitting place to try Rally Excellent after a two year hiatus from AKC Rally.

Perri was not confident in the ring. She was worried but working hard to stay with me. The run felt awful to me, especially as I had been hoping for some of the sassy rally poodle from earlier this year. It turns out that Perri scored in the high 80s, she was the only Excellent A dog to qualify. Only one Excellent B dog qualified as well, leaving Perri one of two dogs who qualified. Cool? Mostly I felt sad that Perri was worried. But grateful to her and proud of her for trying hard.

Fast forward to the next weekend .... CPE agility. We played on a Friday night that I braved a "one inch snowstorm" to get to. Perri qualified in Fullhouse. She had one staring fit in Snooker, long enough to NQ us. Saturday we took a break and Molly played USDAA (two lovely powerful runs, a hearbreaker Standard run with an Aframe fault keeping us from a Q.).

Sunday I entered Perri in Jumpers and Wildcard, two classes she "needs" towards her C-ATCH/CT-ATCH whatever I choose to pursue. She stressed in Jumpers. Not badly. Not earth shattering. But it shattered my heart. I walked the course for her Wildcard run and then promptly walked over and scratched her name from the run order. I am done with this. I am done trying to make my poor dog play this game that she has become too stressed to play. I don't know what happened. I don't know why, when or how it happened. But I have nothing left right now for Perri and Agility. It's not fair to either of us.

Why have I continued on this long? Because I remember Perri loving this game. I have watched videos of her running fast with her tail fluttering. I remember her proud and huffing after a good run and walking with pride back to her crate. This video from last winter made me cry. We had worked so hard to come back from her shoulder injury and she was finally strong and confident and even sassy in the ring. It is one of her last phenomenal runs, right before, for no reason that I can figure out, she came undone. I had lyme and anaplasmosis tests run, thyroid tests run, a full check over for physical issues. There is nothing, no explanation. Right when Molly got sick, Perri fell apart and I cannot put us back together. We took two months off, it was not long enough. I feel very lost right now. I do not want to give up on my dog but I also want to respect her. What a hard line to draw. Nothing is forever but we must retreat further than ever for now.

Ein returns to Veterans class!

Ein and I got to return to Cynosport Rally Veterans class today - happy day!   It was so nice to do two Veterans courses and be done, no more Triple Qs!!!  (Can you tell I am happy to be finished with Ein's MX??)

First course for a 210: 

Second course was just as perfect and happy but we lost a point on an out of place finish.   I can still see Ein having some of that generalized ring stress that he had a lot of when we were working on the MX.   I remember the last time that we did a lot of Veterans, that ring stress very nearly disappeared.   I am looking forwards to and hoping for something similar in the future.

Our next trial is with a club that is offering the new Intro course, so I am very excited to see that and learn more about it.    I hope that people enter it!  

Placements in both trials and his Rally Veteran Champ x 4 title!

ARCHMX The Finest Einest!

Yesterday Ein and I attended the last World Cynosport rally double-trial we would need to earn his ARCHMX.   All we had to do was get those last two triple Qs!

This training center holds not so great milestone memories for me: my first NQ ever.  I touched Ein in Level 1A rally back in 2012 and blew earning our RL1 title.   Apparently you can't touch your dog, never forgot that lesson!  Then in 2013 I blew our ARCHX run by skipping a sign for the first time.   And Ein was so exhausted and anxious in the ring that we NQd both Level 3 rounds as well.   So!   A little superstition wasn't going to deter me from entering to earn our big title.

Our first trial Ein was feeling a bit stressy, I was getting some sniffing.   We qualified in Level 1 with a 209.   In Level 2 we had to do the Figure 8 around the food bowls - we don't often see that sign.   In the past Ein has always been spatially bothered by the food bowls and would stick close to me - yesterday he spent 3 points on a nice sniff!  We qualified with a 202, I think I had to double cue something else.  In Level 3 the first sign was a drop on recall, right in front of the stewards table!  Ein was slow going into his "down" with a hairy eyeball glance at the steward table but he did it.  Then Ein pulled off the jump, straight up refused it!   I hadn't even looked at it but when I did I saw the bar was at 8".  I told the judge that was not his jump height and she reset it.   Of course Ein was quite happy to take the jump when it was set to 4".   We had to come right back over it with the Directed Jump exercise.   Ein was fast and direct right over the jump and that made me smile.   That sign was our old nemesis!   The bonus was the retrieve and Ein had to retrieve towards the audience, and again he overcame a potential fear paralysis moment - it was an excellent retrieve!  Our score was a 197 since I know we lost 5 points for me staying close to the jump on the "handler runs by".   We also had a sign re-do because Ein became obsessed with sniffing a dark spot on the floor - stress behavior.

We had our 9th Triple Q secured, so just had to get one more.   I was a little nervous because Ein seemed tired and stressed and I didn't see that improving.   I decided to take him for a car ride to refresh his mind and get him out of the training building - we rode out for coffee and some snowed in geocaches.   We returned and earned a 208 in Level 1.   In Level 2 we earned a 209!   Ein's nose was staying off the ground and he was enjoying our time in the ring a lot more - that makes me happy!  Then it was time for our last Level 3 course.   I told him he never has to do Level 3 again if we get this one!   In response, he smiled and wagged his tail and asked me to give him some cheese.   The course was a super chill Level 3 course, none of the more challenging signs.   We must have paid our dues in the first trial.   Ein qualified with a 208 and at last earned his Rally Master Champion title!

I am happy that we are finished.  I am happy to be done with Triple Qs.   Truly I somewhat regret pursuing an MX.   Ein is consistent enough to earn the Triple Qs with little to no trouble, he has mastered the exercises and all of the challenges they presented to us.   What I have seen creeping in is Ein's ring stress.   It is nowhere near as severe as it was back in 2013 when I made the decision to retire him to Veterans.   But it is there.  On the other hand, I am proud of Ein for achieving WCR's highest title though, in a way it completes our journey there.   WCR made such a difference in our lives, the exercises in Level 3 challenged us, Veterans refreshed us and we have so much personal growth through our years together in this venue.   After we started competing in Rally, Ein became more relaxed socially, people remarked he was "like a different dog".   His shyness of strangers diminished and his confidence grew.  So it meant a lot to me to earn an ARCHMX with Ein, thinking of it in that way.  Symbolically, for pure human emotional purposes.  The drudge of earning Triple Qs did lose its luster very quickly though - perhaps Ein's "ring stress" was simply a reflection of my loss of passion for the work.  I will be so happy to return to sweet Veterans class with shorter more flowing courses and no jumps.

Ein and I will also continue to focus on playing in CDSP Open obedience.   I saw none of the ring stress when we competed in January - just passion and excitement.   It was something different and Ein seemed to feel refreshed by that.   I know I did.

RL2 Perri!

Last night found us at another World Cynosport Rally-O trial.   I can never resist Friday evening trials - get done with work and go to a dog trial!

Let's start with Perri.    What began as a leap of faith at the last Friday evening trial we attended at this training center, it was time to finish.    I entered Perri in Level 2A in hopes of earning her Rally Level 2 title.   I looked back in my records, Perri earned her Level 1 title in July of 2013.   That's three and a half years ago!   I simply did not feel that Perri was ready.   And she wasn't.   Her ring stress was considerable and while I could have easily pulled her and coaxed her around the course and qualified with low scores...I was not interested in that.   Perri is capable of a beautiful performance and until I knew we could go into the ring under those terms together - I wasn't in that kind of rush.

We did start off our time in the ring with Perri decided she wanted to flirt with the male judge before beginning!  I had to take her collar and guide her to the Start sign.   From there on out it was gorgeous.   I actually barely talked to her while heeling her, her turns were lovely, we had to circle around the cones and Perri was latched onto heel position and bouncy, watching me the whole time.   She had three downs on the course and there was no hesitation, Perri is happy to do her downs now!   No more fear.   The bonus exercise was like some kind of Final Test.   Perri was left in a sit, she had to down with me 10 feet away.   At a trial.   For a moment she lost focus, looking at the dog about to come into the ring.   I called her name and she began to recall into me but as soon as I saw her butt come up I cued "down!"   And she hit the deck.  

A 209/210, (no doubt losing the point for standing up in the bonus) and first place out of a decent sized A-class.   Pinch me, am I dreaming?!   I waited a long time for this.   They say "never give up", well giving up gave my dog some breathing room.   She needed that breathing room.   I was suffocating her with my desire to do rally-o and obedience with her.  I was trying so hard, when what she really needed was time.   Temporarily, or indefinitely.  Taking time off from working hard on a sport that I wanted gave us time to work on other things.   Things that actually helped Perri.   Empowerment over her environment, scent work, and building her confidence in agility.   I am very proud of Perri, I am very excited for what our future holds.  An obedience match may be in our future - test the waters and see if I've got a dog who would like to be a Companion Dog!  I think that I do.  

And Ein had a really great night!   We were much more in sync than we were at last Sunday's trial - my suspicions were confirmed!  A relaxed mind is best in the ring.  Ein sailed through the first trial and earned his 7th Triple-Q - even surprising me  his first perfect 210 on a Level 3 course!  The second trial began at about 9:30 at night, so we were both getting tired.   Regardless, he scored a 210 on the Level 1 course.   My night owl!   In the Level 2 course he decided if I really want him to "down" I can tell him twice, so we lost 6 points for re-cues.  This is becoming A Thing and I am not sure what to think about it.   The obvious culprit is arthritic pain.

The Level 3 course was heart stopping!   The whole thing was great, except one little thing - our old nemesis the Directed Jump.   I saw it when I was walking the course, there was a rally sign sitting by the jump standard.   That sign was right in a small dog's line of vision - I suspected during the walk through that Ein would not be able to see the jump.   Sure, he could see half of the standard, and the standard on the opposite side.   But it was far from the picture he was used to seeing.    To him it looked like I was asking him to run around the sign and wrap it - a skill we have not practiced!    Sure enough, I cued him to take the jump and he wavered and came running into me.   I told him to Stop! before he crossed the jump plane, backed him up and reset him.   I cued him two times and he narrowed his eyes at me.   He gave me a stink eye Molly would be proud of.   I looked at him, I said "Oh Ein."   I turned my whole upper body dramatically nearly 90 degrees and pointed with both hands and cued him again.   And my sweet old loyal dog, who had no idea what I wanted him to do, got up and trotted in the direction I was pointing.   And took the bar!   His face lit up when he got there and he was grinning from ear to ear when he came into front.   Thank goodness you can give treats in the ring in Cynosport because I gave him one for sure!  

We squeaked by with a score of 196, whew!    Your Triple Qs have to be with scores 195 and above.   Triple Q number 8.    Two more to go.   We are ready.  

Rally-O Oops

Ein and I went to DTCCC today for a rally obedience trial.   We were entered in both trials, since they were running back to back levels - Ein's stamina is lasting nicely for these 6-run trials.   I am very proud of him.  

The day started off strong in the first Level 1 course with a perfect 210 (and all corgis in the placements, with Ein in 3rd place.)   The second Level 2 was a 207 for a double command of some kind.

Our first Level 2....we lost our connection.   We still qualified with a 205 (in both Level 2s!) but Ein was ground sniffing a lot and generally not in sync with me.   He was having moments of zoning out and would drift away from me mid-heel pattern.   I actually had to pat my leg one time and call his name sternly to snap him out of it.   The second round of Level 2 I did a lot more talking and cheer leading and praising and he responded well to that, but he still wasn't all there.   It is very unlike him to sniff the ground obsessively while heeling with me now.  It is usually his pride and joy to heel with me and play rally-o.

I have so much on my mind, with Molly.   All day I was talking with people about it, thinking about it, worrying about it.   It is hard when there is such a huge question mark in my future.  And Ein is so in tune with me, I am his world.   He studies every move I make and no doubt he sensed my mental unease.

On our first Level 3 run Ein had very shaky engagement on the start line.   He was melting and having trouble with stressing about the people ring side.   And then it happened....on the "send dog to jump, handler runs by."   Ein had to do the jump heading towards ringside.   I sent him to it, he committed and when I went to run by I must have moved just the slightest bit laterally to allow for the proper distance (and not lose points.) and he pulled right off the jump and ran around it.   Ein and I have not NQd in rally obedience since 2013.   So, ouch.    Ein did the directed jump just after that, flawlessly.   He had an adorable retrieve and actually pounced on the dumbbell and everybody loved it.

Our second Level 3, now I was feeling even worse.   Not only does my Molly have cancer, but I was stressing Ein out so bad that we NQd - just because I wasn't feeling "all there."   I was ruining our fun day together.  When we entered the ring for our second Level 3 run Ein would not set up on the start line.   He had to leave me to sniff the judge then, instead of returning to me, he drifted towards the ring entrance - staring at people.   The first half of the run was very upsetting, Ein could barely focus for staring at the people.   Instead of a "drop on recall" he did a "sit on recall."   Thankfully he dropped on my second command and that is not an NQ.   When it was time for the "send dog to jump, handler runs by", I stayed very close to that jump and left no chance I would pull him off.   3 points off be damned!   So angry at myself for even caring about that in our first round - but it is normally a complete non issue.   Ein's moving back up was perfect and straight, and he was smiling and happy.

So.   A tough day, with a lot to be grateful for.   Ein had a lot of great moments in the ring, and I am happy for that.   We earned our 6th Triple Q towards the ARCHMX.   But our teamwork and connection was hurting today, and that makes me feel very bad.  

Cynosport Rally Videos

My friends who visited me and the pups at the rally trial yesterday videoed all of my runs!   How exciting!

This is Perri's Level 2A.   Sure enough I did a jet-fueled pivot right and left her in the dust - bad handler.   We need to work on our Left About Turns (she face plants on my leg!)

And here are Ein's videos.
Level 1B

Level 2B

And 3B

I feel really inspired to try to clean up my handling after watching these.   I have some bad habits that I do not love and they are glaring to me when watching these videos.   I kind of hate that I look at these and feel so critical of myself.   On the other hand, this is how I have improved over the past few years.    Qualifying is wonderful, but being clear for my dogs and continually striving to be my best is even better.  

Halfway There - January World Cynosport Rally

After playing CDSP Obedience last weekend, it was nice to return to the rally-o ring and its familiarity!  This was a two-ring trial so it went rather quickly.   Ein and I started in Level 2 and had a perfect run except for my needing to double-cue the "down" on the Halt-Sit-Down exercise.   I must not have learned from our last trial, because I cued with a verbal only when Ein has made it clear that he needs both verbal and hand signal.   Oops!   207/210.

Next was a 209 in Level 1 - it was a super flowy course with lots of heeling and not a lot of halts, nice for senior dogs!

We ended the day with a fun Level 3 course.   I was hoping the Drop on Recall would be used at today's trial but no such luck.   We had the Directed Jumping, the Recall over Jump, the Moving Back up.   Our bonus was Stand with Distraction and Ein was solid as a rock.   That made me proud since we have not done any "stand" work since we finished his CD.  We worked so hard on that one, truly changing his mind and building his trust that I doubt he will ever forget or "get rusty"!   We got a 207 and I'm not really sure where we lost the points.

So that means Ein is officially halfway towards his ARCH MX.   Yay!

I also took advantage of the available day of show entries and entered Perri in Level 2A again.   I repeated Perri's usual ringside routine that we do for agility, trying to get her Up! and happy.   Sit Pretties, High-Fives, buzzing and making turkey sounds and asking her where "daddy" and "mommy" are.   She even jumped up on me wagging her tail right before we were called into the ring....perfect timing.

And she was absolutely ON.   Flashy happy heeling in perfect position with a smiley mouth, no doubt with the tail up!   Even two left-turning signs in a row (360-Left and 270-Left) could not bring her down!    Her drops were perfect and fast, no reluctance.   She got ever so slightly worried when the heater in the building kicked on, but it was only in her face - only I noticed because I know her so well.   I had to re-cue her on a Pivot 90 Degrees, and I blame that on myself.   I fell into one of my old habits of just pivoting and murmuring my cue all at one time rather than giving my dog a half a second to realize what I wanted.   Ein probably compensates for this more than I realize because he is so seasoned and used to my nonsense, but Perri needed clear handling.   Can't blame her for that!   Our second re-cue was on the bonus.   It was the Call Front with Distraction.   You leave your dog in a stay, and call them to front.   As soon as you cue your dog, the judge walks towards your dog in a parallel path.   Perri remained sitting when I cued the front because she was staring at the judge.  Oops!   I called her again and she responded.  

Aside from those 6 points off for re-cueing, Perri lost no other points.   I'm really proud of her, of us.  Perri finished her RL1 title in summer of 2014.  And I just did not feel that she was ready for Level 2 until recently.   We have gone through so much trouble with worrying and staring in the ring, with her total loss of motivation.   As a fairly new handler, it was destroying my confidence and continuing to try to train and show Perri in rally or obedience was not helping either one of us.   The best decision was to take a break.   My friend sometimes shares "cowboy wisdom" with me, and one of those wise observations is that "horses can't read a calendar."   Neither can poodles.   If it took Perri years to feel comfortable enough in the ring with me, with herself, with the environment....well, that is how long it took.   Period.

Perri's confidence has grown by leaps and bounds, and so has mine.   We have a good ringside routine that is working well for us.   I train while Perri and I are playing, we don't really have formal training sessions anymore since she seems to find that to be too intense.   We are getting somewhere.   Today Perri performed like I always dreamed she would, like I always knew she could.   I feel like we are finding our way, and I can't believe it is finally happening.

December Cynosport Rally

Yesterday Ein and I attended a Cynosport Rally trial (in a land far, far away.)  Just kidding...it was northern New Jersey and only two hours away.   Of course when I am traveling further than usual, I have to look up fun geocaches.   One en route was a "challenge" geocache, you could only sign if you had filled your "81 D/T Grid" and if you had found 10 or more types of geocaches.   As of this year, that's me - so it was exciting to get another high rating geocache find for those accomplishments.

The next one, very close to the trial site, was a webcam geocache.   Very rare!   It was at a university and it was very easy to find once I battled through traffic and found the correct entrance.   This is my second webcam geocache (the first was at Rehoboth Beach on the way to Poodle Club of America.)  These geocaches are no longer allowed to be created, but the existing ones are grandfathered in.  You go to the location of the livestream camera that matches with the coordinates and get a friend at home who is watching the livestream camera to take a screen capture.   Or, just open the web page on your smart phone and take a screencap.   Easy peasy!

Now onto the fun stuff.   We arrived just as the stewards were setting up the first Level 1 course.  This double trial was set up so that Levels ran back to back.   Because of this, I opted to do all 6 runs.   Ein and I have not done all 6 runs in nearly three years and it was not a decision that I took lightly.  I think six runs in a day is a whole lot for any dog, and especially so for an arthritic senior.

But Ein held his own.   There was a competitive bunch of dogs in the B classes, young dogs in their prime laying down 210s on every run.  Ein got a 209 and 207 in the 1B, a 204 and 209 in 2B, and a 207 and 205 in 3B.   I had to laugh because we kept losing a point on a crooked left finish.   In his second Level 1 round I made the mistake of only using a verbal to cue him down when he was pointed straight at ringside.   I should have given him the extra support and motion of a hand signal as well - I had to recue him.   The 204 was due to some pretty far away fronts and that stinking left finish.  

Otherwise, so many super moments that I am so proud of him for!   The first Level 3 course in particular had a lot of the more challenging/fun signs.   The drop on recall, the signals and the retrieve!   Sometimes I see many of the more challenging signs left out of Level 3 courses so it was fun to be able to show off the exercises that we have worked hard on.  On Ein's retrieve the judge was standing closer than he likes to the dumbbell.   He sent out fast and he picked it up!   When he turned he paused and gave the judge a stare but then he came and ran to front with his DB.  Held it like a good boy.   Wow!    Talk about all of our hard work paying off - that was huge for Ein.   Retrieving with a person nearby has been so hard for him.   (And it made me glad I took him to Tractor Supply Co this week to work on his retrieves and go outs!)

I did notice Ein was tired by the last run.   He was getting up slower from his downs and there was this particular long stretch of heeling to the back of the ring that he didn't seem to enjoy.   It made me very glad that we work hard on his general fitness and muscle tone, that he still goes for walks.   It is so important for senior dogs to not lose their muscle mass - and I think it made so much of the difference for Ein yesterday.   There was a lot of jumping and downs - it was taxing.   There were many moments where you could choose "finish or forward" and we just heeled forward so Ein wouldn't have to do a lot of sits.   When we got home I gave him a rimadyl and treatment with our Equine Light Therapy pad on both hips and spine.   This morning he looks great, no stiffness and moving great.

That was encouraging for me.   Double trials at three runs each are not going to be a common theme for us in our quest for the final 6 Triple Qs we need for Ein's ARCHMX.   But it was nice to see Ein meet the challenge with strength and joy, even if we were both tired by the end.

Geocache walk at the trial site.

September Cynosport Rally...with a rare poodle showing!

After a longish break, Ein and I returned to the rally-o ring last night! No particular reason for a long break other than we have been busy with agility. We arrived semi-late due to some horrible traffic that I did not expect. Prior to that, with plenty of time, I stopped for a tenth of a mile walk to find a geocache. This particular geocache was my 1500th find and it was a "Challenge Cache" that you may only find if you have completed your Difficulty/Terrain grid - it was a big deal! The hard part was meeting the qualifications, the challenge geocache itself was not hard. Except for the part where we walked right through sticker burrs to get to it. And all three of us, Ein Perri and I, got loaded. It sort of took away from the excitement of the moment.

 I hate sticker burrs! We got back on the road, I found a gas station: got gas, air in my tires, Swedish fish and a 99 cent plastic comb. I should have left and brushed out Perri's fur at the training center...this was where I lost my time. I was laughing at my self being at a travel plaza combing a poodle's fur for a dog show...what have I become? Note to self: keep a dog comb in the car! Anyway, with all of that lost time I discovered heavy construction and an overturned tractor trailer on the highway we had yet to travel. Sigh.

 I still arrived on time, but barely...and Ein was the second Level 1 dog. He was stressy and I had to double command his "Stand", but overall we had a nice time in the ring. I felt very bad when I gave him water after his run and he drank the whole bowl dry...he must have been so thirsty, poor boy! Level 2 was much better...it was the same score (a 204) but he was just so much more relaxed and happy. Another re-cue needed on the Stand though! Stand from a sit is not always comfortable if Ein is sore in his hips, so that is something I always have in mind. We aren't going to sweat the small stuff.

 This training center accepts day of show entries so...all day long I was entertaining the idea, and I decided to go for it. I entered Perri in Level 2A. It has been years that I have waited for this, and truly I let go all desire to do rally or obedience with Perri. It's just not her game. Still, why not? She has the skills, it's a quiet trial. The first sign was a fast pace, ugh. But Perri was overall super happy, tail up! When I cued her moving down she dropped immediately and with sass! She was a little laggy in some places but as we continued through the course she really started to....enjoy herself! She showed her brother up with her gorgeous kick back stand...and when we got to the bonus it was Halt-Leave Dog-Down. Downs from a distance have always been a struggle for Perri. I turned and cued her....and down she went with no hesitation! Wow! A 207/210 and beat her brother by 3 points! I was absolutely blown. away. And so proud of her, especially for those downs. I have no idea when, if, I will do more rally with Perri and I don't care.... We had fun last night!

 The last course of the night was Ein in Level 3 and he finally did his Stand on the first cue! Finished the evening with a 205 and a second Triple-Q towards his ARCHMX. What a boy!

Triple Q the First!

Ein and I had our first Cynosport Rally-O trial since wintertime this past Saturday.   We are trying for an ARCHMX - Rally Master Champion.   A dog needs to earn 10 Triple Qs (Qualifying Scores of 195 or higher in Levels 1, 2 and 3 in the same trial.).   Since Ein was handling double trials reasonably well stress and energy wise (that is four runs.), I feel comfortable asking for three runs per trial from him.    That is one less run than he had been used to, and Level 1 is much easier (and on leash!) than Level 2 or 3.   I will not do a double trial with him during our MX journey, six runs is too much.

It went well!   207 in Level 1, 204 in Level 2 and 205 in Level 3.   The rally courses were set up so that the final line of exercises, each time, had to be run alongside the ring gating.   We lost all of our points there.   In Level 1 and 2 I had to re-cue a down because Ein was too worried to down next to the score table.   Level 2 we lost an additional 3 points because the re-cue happened on the bonus exercise where Ein needed to lay down from a sit-stay and wait until I returned around him.   Instead, he crept forward but dropped immediately when I told him to the second time.   Level 3 we had a re-cue of a finish and I forget where the other 2 points went.   But hey!   It was a good time out with my little guy and he certainly enjoyed time alone at a trial with me all to himself.

ARCHEX The Finest Einest!

Today Ein and I went to our club's February Cynosport rally-o trial and it was going to be The Big Day.   The ARCHEX day!  We needed two more double Q's and since it was a double trial, we had our chance.

For an ARCHEX, your dog needs to qualify in both Levels 2 and 3, at the same trial, with a score of 195 or better - that's a double Q.   A QQ.  You need to do this ten times for an ARCHEX.

In December 2013 Ein and I earned our ARCHX - that is five QQs in Levels 1 and 2.   I retired him to Veterans class at that point, because Level 3 was too much for him to handle.   We barely broke 200 in Level 2 and we often NQd Level 3.  Why stress him out?  Veterans class was perfect for him, at 9 years old.   Until last August.   Ein was showing strong in Veterans class, often earning perfect scores and even excelling at some of the exercises that were our nemesis (the "signals" especially - Moving Stand-Leave Dog-Down Dog-Sit Dog-Recall.)

August of 2015 I moved Ein back to regular titling class, I entered him in Level 2B and Level 3B and I was terrified.  I wanted Ein to have a good time.  I didn't want my excitement to earn titles to overwhelm him.   I didn't want to be moving him back to regular classes out of selfishness - but he seemed eager for more work than a 12 exercise Veterans course.  And he was.  Ein blew away our first QQ at that August trial and I thought, "Well, I guess Ein wants to work for an ARCHEX!"

So, we did.  Today we earned a 209 and a 208 in the first trial.   In the second trial we earned a 206 and a 209 and earned our Rally Champion Extraordinaire title!   ARCHEX.

The second trial had a rather nasty little surprise for me.  Ein stressed, like in the "old days".   We finished a serpentine around some cones and he just got weird - what else can I say?   There was a 360 left exercise and he started acting odd, like he didn't want to walk on certain parts of the floor.   He continued to act avoidant of certain parts of the flooring for the next few signs (I gave him two finish right commands which he ignored and so we re-did the sign ...further away from the "weird floor area" and we were successful.)   The rest of the Level 2 course Ein kept looking into the spectator area as though the devil himself was seated there waiting to steal his soul - I could not see anybody new, or anything that might be troubling him.   It shook me up and I struggled to remain strong for Ein in Level 3.

In Level 3 our two weakest signs awaited.   The Directed Jump and the Signals exercise.   I was rather jolted after Ein's strange hang ups in the Level 2 round but: dogs live in the present, I needed to be strong and support Ein.  So, I did.   I supported Ein with a lot of praise, more allowed-food rewards than usual.   He got weird in the exact same areas as before, but this time I was ready for him and performed our 360 and call front-finish right in different areas of the flooring (just an inch or two to the side did the trick.)   Ein nailed the signals exercise and the directed jump - we finished strong after that strange, bumpy Level 2 round!

Ein gives me 200%.   Today he leveled the ultimate challenge, he exposed my weak spot: stay strong for my dog when they are stressing.   I am unable to do that for Perri, she paralyzes me.  For Ein, who loves the game so much...I had to do that much for him.   It was very difficult for me to control my stress after Ein's strange behavior in Level 2, when we were looking at a Level 3 course loaded with his two weakest signs - but I did it.   I avoided talking obsessively about his behavior, and I supported him on our Level 3 course.   My dogs, every dog, has the ability to make us better handlers, stronger handlers.  I am so grateful to Ein.

10 straight QQs.   Our ARCHEX: the title that I accepted that we would never have.   My achilles heel exposed in the "final hour".   This is why I love dog sports.  What a fun ride, what a beautiful journey!

Ein-portion of roast beef for dinner!

First Trial Dumbbell Retrieve!

foggytop photography

Photos are finally posted and I just had to buy the shot that was captured of Ein doing his first ever successful dumbbell retrieve at a rally trial!  He went out on the first send, didn't even notice the judge, grabbed it up and brought it to front.  So proud of my little man, things are happening!

I cropped the digital file that I bought, here is the full size image of us on the rally course.

October Cynosport Rally Trial

Today Ein and I went to the K9Jym for the big Halloween rally-o trial that we usually go to every year.  Last year we were of course in Veterans class only, but this year we were trying for a Level 2 and 3 QQ!

We did Level 2 first and Ein was high on life in the ring and working happy and we got a perfect 210!  It still makes my brain spin that Ein is throwing such high scores when we used to struggle so much just to break 195.  Awesome!  Ein earned a first place in a really big class and there were quite a few perfect scores - we were just the fastest!  (Each run is timed in Cynosport.)

Level 3 we lost a point because Ein "lagged" in a down and didn't start heeling with me.  I think he thought he was supposed to be in a stay!  And then we lost half of our bonus points because Ein did not do the "back up" portion of "Call Front-Back Up 3 Steps."  A reminder that I actually need to train that exercise.  I am truly not competitive, but I felt a little sad that a hole in Ein's training kept us out of the ribbons.  Not to be so negative, Ein's entire run he was just as on fire as he was in Level 2.  I love doing rally with my boy!!!  He is so happy!

(We did start working on the "backing up out of a front" when we got home.  I think he will have all ten of those bonus points next time we see this at a trial, no problem.)

This trial always has a costume contest in between Trial 1 and 2, so I bought Ein a silly sombrero on my way to the trial.  There are some seriously creative costumes every year at this trial: my favorite this year was three terriers dressed up like peas and placed inside of a green painted box.  They won "Most Creative."

Cynosport Rally-O QQ #2

Yesterday afternoon Ein and I hit the road to go to a Wednesday evening Cynosport Rally-O trial.  It was a hot day but I wanted to take him for a short hike before our trial.   I was on the fence about it, thinking it might be "too much".   We visited a rock called "Dinosaur Rock" since there was an Earthcache to log there.  Ein was hot and the one place we walked, there were blow downs everywhere and it was very physically demanding for him even though we were not out for more than 20-30 minutes.  I knew on the way back to the car that I had (again!) made a not so awesome decision.

Ein qualified for his second ARCHEX QQ with 201's in Levels 2 and 3.  Level 3 we lost 5 points because I forgot to ask him to sit on the Recall Over Bar jump.   Otherwise he was sort of like the "old Ein".  He was worried, doing some staring.  I had to double-cue him on his Stand in Level 2 because he had zoned out staring at the spectators.  I felt a little sad that he wasn't as happy in the ring as he was for our August trial.   But I also have to remember that the 90-plus degree hike sapped his energy, and also that this was a new location by appearances for him.   We have trialed at this location many times, but the rally obedience trial was held in the newly added crating room (yay air conditioning!), and that was new for Ein.

On the Rally-O subject, Ein finally had a break through with his directed retrieve training tonight!  We have been stuck on a calm hold!  I mix in our hold work with pick up work (that is going very well!).  Ein has a hard time not being frenzied and tonguing the bar and moments of calmness are hard to find for clicks.   I have been clicking any mouth contact with the dumbbell if he is looking at me, even if it is not a solid bite, a compromise!  As well as biting the bar if my palm is underneath his chin.   Alternating, being patient...tonight for some reason he bit that bar and stared at my eyes, tooth contact was firm and he was very calm.  Jackpot!!!!   I was delighted when he did it two more times and ended our session!  I think he is catching on.  

Thankfully the bonus last night was the sign where the dog is called to front and asked to back up three steps.  Ein did that well, and actually backed up three steps in a straight line!  (He used to curve off to one side or the other.)  If it had been the retrieve we would have done the old "fetch the ball and drop it on the return" that we always earn 5 points for (but not 10!).

Cynosport Rally-O - Ein is Back!

Sunday was a really really big day for Ein and I.  At the end of last year, I was enjoying Ein's growing enthusiasm in the rally ring.  It was getting to the point that I was considering returning him to regular titling classes.  I decided against it at that time.

But through this year, we have not been showing in Veterans as much, but Ein has been joining Perri and I in her rally class.  And was bursting with pride and joy.  The courses were longer but he never grew tired, he never stressed down.  Our wonderful instructor helped me maximize his attention and hold him to a tighter standard, as well as pushed me to be a better handler for both Ein and Perri.  We are currently taking a break from rally class (for Perri's sake.), but when it came time for the club's summer rally trial...

I entered Ein in Level 2B and 3B, no Veterans.  An ARCHEX QQ.  I said we would not do it, but I say that about a lot of things.  There is no finality in my decisions.  These are incredible and surprising dogs, I am learning and growing, we are an evolving and beautiful team, me and these three dogs.  But could Ein do it?

Oh, yes he could!  Ein killed it.  A 210 in Level 2 and a first place.  Ein has never earned a perfect score in Level 2.  It was a misery to simply earn the thirty points that he needed for his ARCH back in 2013 since our scores often did not break 195.  He has earned exactly one perfect score in regular titling classes and that was in Level 1 with the "safety leash" on.  He earned a 205 and second place in Level 3, and this was his highest ever score in Level 3.  The five points he lost were on the bonus exercise - and it was simply because I have not taught him a formal retrieve (He drops the retrieve object.)

 

And beyond scores, it was his enthusiasm.  His joy.  He was absolutely shining, he was smiling up at me.  He did not one single time disengage to stare, sniff or shake, he did not lag notably.  He was absolutely on fire and in love with being in the ring.

I can't stop thinking about our day.  About our journey.  I remember after Ein's very first rally-o trial (AKC.  August 2012 at the Harrisburg farm show complex.) I remarked that I could not imagine Ein ever doing a right finish properly. (Without freezing and staring into space.)  Oh, please.  I have thought that so many things were never possible.  Including this day, this Sunday.  My dog with eyes only for me and completely fearless.  My little dog and me and everything else falling away while we danced together.  Ein's fearfulness felt so final, like a wall we could cope with and work around, but never ever break through.  Until we did.