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Thread: Murphy's Law

  1. #1
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    Murphy's Law

    First I hope that all went well with Rocket Dog's surgery. I have not made the decision about spaying M. I talked to a fellow that owns her sister and he had her done and is now regretting the decision because she is turning out to be a great little dog. I still have two other intact females and we have three intact males. It makes for some interesting times around here.
    Anyway I have been looking forward to running M in her first junior (derby) and got the call from the pro today she has finally come into season. I waited 16 months for the chance to run her and she does this to me. Oh well there will always be the next trial at the end of June. By that time the other one will come in. You just can't win with these girls.
    Look after RD and I hope she gets back to training real soon.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Thank you for the kind thoughts. It's amazing how this high-strung, crazy dog will lay down and let me put hot compresses on her belly (I put them on my arm first... but they're pretty warm!) And she's almost getting used to being under tight supervision for pee and pooh. She'll pick up a toy in the yard and look at me like... "wanna play? Huh? Huh? Can we play now?" But she seems to have learned the rules and is settling down.

    RD is an EIC carrier, so that was a big part of our decision to spay. The breeder was very responsible, and knew that the male was a carrier... but he so admired FC AFC Riverrun's True North (Pete) that he decided to go for it. He had all the pups tested and all the buyers knew what they were getting. But, hey. I'm going slowly and just enjoying the ride. I don't expect a brilliant early career and people beating a path to our door asking for puppies.

    Frustrating to have to remain on the shelf for 3 weeks. Has she been regularly coming in at 6 month intervals? At least now you'll know how to map out your campaign going forward.

    When the staples are out and we get the all clear from the vet, RD is going to the pro near here to get her line manners screwed down a little tighter. I think it's time to get a professional assessment of where we are and how we're going to proceed. I was at a HT in Medford OR and was chatting with a gal with a hot little golden. She was running senior and the dog was nailing her marks. But she was a wild-child on line. The gal said "we've really worked on steadiness but I just decided to relax about the whole thing." It was like saying "you know, steadying a dog is a lot of work and I'd rather have the gratification of watching her pick up birds."

    I don't have to tell you how fun it is to cut a fast dog loose and let her rip on a mark that you know they've watched all the way to the ground. It's a hoot. BAM! Scooping it up on the run and beating feet back to the line to hand it to you. Love it. But, I just can't let her do that right now. I have to delay her gratification and mine!

    And you have to delay gratification for 3 weeks. It must be frustrating!

  3. #3
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    I know how you feel. Three weeks feels like an eternity when you are used to training everyday. This is M's first heat cycle so hope that she will now fall into a regular pattern. Maybe even get in the same grove as my other two. They come in days apart. This make life a little easier for the males.
    We just spent 3 days with M and Huggie at the pros. I thought maybe they would be upset when we were leaving without them but no way. It was like kids at camp. We are having such a good time do we have to go home. M will be there for another 3 weeks as the heat cycle pushed her water training back a little. I was really pleased with what I saw. She is almost through the swim-by and is flying on the land drills. When she finished the swim-by Don and I were talking and she was allowed a little freedom. All of a sudden she took off toward the pond, swam across got another bumper and started back. Don said to watch her as she returned, when she got to the point where she is usually stopped to cast she looked left and then right and then back up the hill where Don stands. When she didn't see him she made the decision that she should come straight in. Don doesn't usually let them pick up random bumpers but I guess our standing around talking was boring her. I will go back to pick her up and work with Don a couple of more days. He has offered to come our way and work with a group for 3 or 4 days> I hope I can arrange it because it is so much cheaper than having to pay for rooms or drag a trailer down to his place.

    The Sunday trial was disaster I will explain later.

  4. #4
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    You are so right about getting the line manners cleaned up as soon as possible. I think some handlers don't realize that the test is so much more than running out and pick up a bird. Every time they say sit , stay, what ever to their dog on the line their score is dropping lower. I am a firm believer in strong basics, especially obedience, so that you have a great foundation to build the other skills on.

 



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