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  1. #1
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Ram Jet Rocket Dog... 0 for 2 running Master.

    Failed her first two Master attempts... but it's not all bad news. I'm not sure that past has to be prologue. First of all, I wasn't running her. I'm not being arrogant at all... she was being run by a FAR, FAR better handler than me. I'd left her with a pro while I was down with chemo. Trust me, no one knows how to manage a dog through a complicated Master series than this person. But I believe RD's management here at home will put us in a position to improve her performance. That's because when a dog is on a pro's truck, they get trained once a day. When RD is here at home, she's being trained every minute she's awake.

    And I think there's other good news coming from the two failures.

    At Master #1, there was a mix-up on the blind retrieve. RD pulled off a brilliant triple. But a random piece of bright orange tape left in the field caused the pro to line her to the wrong place. (And trust me, the pro felt awful about the error. But, whenever I am playing marshall again at a HT... I will absolutely not let that happen to another handler.) Anyhow, half-way to the ribbon when the pro realized what was going on, RD was given some hard OVER's. She took two big overs, but then, in her doggy brain I'm sure she was thinking "Uh... this isn't the line you put me on" and so she began driving back. So that was that. No recovery possible.

    Then at Master #2, again... her marking was amazing. (I was getting texts from friends who were giving me play by plays.) People were saying she was absolutely thrilling to watch. Stepping on everything. Good on her honor. Steady. Great double blinds. Managed a walk-up (though it was dicey.) Got to the last series and... it was a huge long distance from the parking area to the line. Like 3 or 4 holding blinds along the way. And with each holding blind, RD was getting higher and higher. When it was finally her turn, she sat for the first 2 birds down (essentially an in-line double, so that was the serious part of the test) and then there was a big swing to watch the go-bird. That was (as they say in the Navy) "all she wrote." She went full-automatic and blasted off.

    Oh, well... That was too bad. So close yet so far. Nevertheless, I see the good. Even though she's a relative novice at running Master, she has all the skills and talent and then some. In her entire career, she hasn't missed any mark. Never tricked, never confused... handles all factors without flinching. She must have a three dimensional memory that is incredible.

    So we have the whole winter to work on steadiness. Almost any pro (who may be training a dozen or more dogs) of necessity has to take a no nonsense approach to steadiness that is punitive to the dog that creeps or breaks. AND, a pro only gets out with the dogs for maybe one or at most two set-ups each day. The rest of the time, the dog is on autopilot in a run. This is not meant as a criticism at all. However, at a Master, the dog will have to hold it together for at least three series over two days. (And, heck... at a MN, it will be 5 series over maybe a week!) So, a dog like RD needs a different approach, I think.

    Rocket Dog is living a life of steadiness now that she is at home. She plays third fiddle to the other two dogs, no matter what the activity is. Leaving the bedroom in the morning, going in and out every door, you name it. She has to earn everything by making eye contact and waiting until she's released. What she has to do to get her dog bowl of food is unreal!) And I'm stretching out her releases for ridiculously long periods. Then we are working as much as my energy levels allow on playing THE GAME as described by Bill Hillmann. The concept is that you do your damndest to get the dog absolutely lathered up, then require a SIT, then reward with the coveted bumper. Obviously, this is conceptually opposite to conventional training... Instead of enforced steadiness, it teaches that excitement triggers the desire for steadiness because that's when the reward is achieved. (I know... nuts and bolts fundamental dog training for the obedience people... but slowly catching on in this discipline.)

    So I'm very grateful to have Rocket Dog and her two amigos home. And we'll have our work cut out for us for the foreseeable future.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog
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    Sounds like RD has the tools now she just has to wait for the foreman to tell her to put them to work. I agree with you that obedience, obedience, obedience are the keys to success. My wee darling Elle failed two JH tests this Fall (both on the second day of the tests) simply because she decided to play with the bird. Reviewing FF with skanky birds is now on the schedule. Like RD she gets higher and higher the longer she sits on the truck or in the holding blind.
    I blame myself as I have babied her along but now I am seeing her recovery is complete and she is able to jump straight up into the air. Tightening up on the discipline and obedience will not hurt her one bit. I have her entered in a CD test and M in in a Novice Rally at the end of the month. This should prove interesting.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    I remember when Elle was so injured. It's frankly miraculous how she has come back. By all means share with us what you learn that might help that "mounting anxiety" issue with the holding blinds.

 



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