Kenz's Novice Debut - so close yet so far

Well its the day after first obedience trial for 2011 - Kenz's first attempt at Novice - all that worry and concern I had eventuated into nothing.

No we didn't manage a pass this time - Kenz lay down with 10 seconds to go on the sit stay but such is life.

Her rate of progress still continues to amaze me - thinking of where she was this time last year to where she has got to now.

Her work was delightful, her enthusiasm super. She is going to be a force to be reckoned with and is absolutely everything I want in a performance dog and then some.

She had a ball in the ring. In fact we both did.

Her heelwork was stunning - her transitions between paces were smooth, her focus was outstanding, her position looks great and she had attitude to burn and it was just lovely.

Her biggest point loss was due to anticipation on the finish after the recall - ah well will take that and run if thats the worst that happens.

Looking forward to the next trial in a fortnight :).

Bored of nothing

Another quiet week - one very very bored Kenz and an equally bored me. Fingers crossed we can get back to some training soon.

Been nearly 3 weeks since I have run a proper training session with her. We have done a little stay work and some metal article holding but aside from that not a lot we can do.

One very sore little girl

Well this week has been a total write off. Kenz's shoulder is still being a problem so another trip to the chiro vet and we have another 10-14 days of no training and then if all things are going well we can start back with agility in around 3 weeks time.

Ah well we competed successfully on NYE with no training in 3 weeks and it appears we are destined to have to pull a similar stunt at our first obedience trial for the year which is 3 weeks today!!!

Eeek.

First Week Back

This week had some highs and lows. It started off with our very first club training round last Tuesday night.

Kenz came out on fire. All the hard work I had been putting into her heelwork lately seemed to have payed off. She was working a lot straighter with her heel position. There was lots of great stuff happening. Her SFE, Recall, COP and ROF were all lovely. Sure we have some continued polishing to do but on the whole I was thrilled to bits with her work. Her Novice exercises all ran as though she had been doing them her whole life.

She was working with the attitude she has been over the summer and nothing seems to phase her to much.

Video of the training session is posted below



All seemed set for a great start to 2011 and then the bad news.

Wednesday saw us back at the chiro vet with her injured shoulder again and the outcome another good week to 10 days of no training as we aren't allowed to tug. The rest of the week as been a little trying to say the least. Kenz has been anxious to do stuff and I was really looking forward to getting her ready for the first trial of the year at the beginning of March. So for now we are back to playing the wait and see game.

Where we have come from and where we are going

I have had a few weeks off from blogging and taken a little time for reflection. Christmas break from training has traditionally been a time off from serious training and a time to recharge batteries. This year we have gone against tradition and continued on with training and growing from strength to strength. After the forced time off for injury over December, January has seen us right back on track.

Kenz's Open and UD exercises are starting to come together nicely. Solid foundations have meant that she has picked up where we left off and her continued increased confidence has made training exercises a piece of cake. The last week or so has seen some serious commitment to reducing her crabbing and forging heelwork. I think we are starting to make progress so I am waiting eagerly to see what happens with our first ring session for the year in a couple of days time.

Any way from where we were at this time last year compared to where we are now the picture is looking a hell of a lot different. Kenz is now the performance dog of my dreams and then some and looking forward to lots of trials in 2011 and hopefully a CD and CDX title. No pressure though and just out to have a good time.

New Years Eve - Obedience Debut

Well guess what we finally got there - wahoo. I finally got Kenz into an obedience ring after all these years of just hoping we could get there. It was looking a little rocky when she injured her front right shoulder on the 16th of December - so with a trip to the vet and a trip to see Matthew few days before Christmas (yeah yeah yeah Kenz not great timing) and a few weeks of crate rest and leash walking I really had no expectations.

My little super star not only managed to get through without melting by we also managed to pass - not the score I would dream about but a pass is a pass and she did manage to come second. It was a little messy and we weren't really in the groove but after a few weeks of no training it was a very nice 29th birthday present and a great way to end 2010.

She worked a round full of enthusiasm and her tail never stopped wagging. Who would have thought 12 months ago she could manage such a pattern with an unfamiliar judge and unfamiliar stewards without having a major meltdown.

Kenz you have come a very very long way in the last 12 months and fingers crossed this is the start of many great things to come in 2011 and into the future.

Way to go Midget Dog :).

One Broken Kenzie

Absolutely no training this week due to a tear in Kenz's front right shoulder muscles - bugger. So it was a trip to Matthew last Wednesday after she had already been on and off lame and rested from the week before. Now we have been dealing with a maximum of 15 minute leash walks and no tugging for at least another week.

Life sucks!!!!