ruby55
Well-Known Member
Well, we did it; finally got my schedule set so we can start taking rally classes. Last night was our second class, the instructor keeps these dogs working for about 45 minutes. By the end of the class, Ruby is over it; she lays down whenever she thinks she can get away with it.
It's a little more difficult than I imagined, trying to shape an exercise, keep up the speed, keep Ruby from trying to play with the other dogs (she's such a party girl!). Since this is a novice class, the instructor permits bait, so I've been using string cheese. It's a special treat; the only time she gets it is when we're practicing.
We printed off all of the signs, & are working on them in the dog yard with the other dogs inside. I tried it on the property in front of the house, but as soon as our friends, who are camping on the property, see us out, they want to come & watch. Ruby is such a people person, she starts to pay attention to them instead of me.
The biggest problem we're having is Ruby's size. Since she should be on a close heel, it's hard to judge space so she can turn to get into position on some of the exercises.
We're going to keep going however, I'm determined to make this work, & be a fun thing for us to do. When I'm comfortable with Ruby, I'm thinking of starting Sunny too. The instructor told me last night: "When you get this girl out in the ring, everyone's going to want to watch her. She will be a star; let her shine." Crap; I just wanted to be able to work with the dogs, not carry a responsibility like this.
It's a little more difficult than I imagined, trying to shape an exercise, keep up the speed, keep Ruby from trying to play with the other dogs (she's such a party girl!). Since this is a novice class, the instructor permits bait, so I've been using string cheese. It's a special treat; the only time she gets it is when we're practicing.
We printed off all of the signs, & are working on them in the dog yard with the other dogs inside. I tried it on the property in front of the house, but as soon as our friends, who are camping on the property, see us out, they want to come & watch. Ruby is such a people person, she starts to pay attention to them instead of me.
The biggest problem we're having is Ruby's size. Since she should be on a close heel, it's hard to judge space so she can turn to get into position on some of the exercises.
We're going to keep going however, I'm determined to make this work, & be a fun thing for us to do. When I'm comfortable with Ruby, I'm thinking of starting Sunny too. The instructor told me last night: "When you get this girl out in the ring, everyone's going to want to watch her. She will be a star; let her shine." Crap; I just wanted to be able to work with the dogs, not carry a responsibility like this.