Adventures in Training the Beagles

Thoughts on my second conformation shoe

I had a good time and enjoyed being with the group. Everyone was nice to me but then I start every conversation with a positive comment (clicker training) so could people be mean to me?

I held onto the leash of a very cute girl dog while her handler showed a boy dog. Dulce really liked them and played with them the whole time.

Saturdays' Judge taught me how to get Dulce not to lean so much but then on Sunday I let her free stack on the table which worked even better. I also used the judge's trick of putting her on the far edge then stood at the front of the table to hold her still. I think we'll do better at Market Hall.

All in all. I enjoyed myself but I am not up to driving around the world chasing points.

2nd Novice FAST Q

While I lost her between the first jump and the second she got her act together and did everything else.

We earned 52 points lost 2 on time and ended up with 50 points for the Q.

Good girl!

Dulce’s Second Weekend of Conformation

It was interesting.

Her first weekend was last July at Dallas Market Hall.  She was scrawny then.  We got beat every day by the same dog, a relative.  She was just a day into the 1 year to 18 month class.  I didn’t know how to move her, and had trouble with her turning into jelly puppy.

This was her second weekend, again, both days beat by the same dog a relative.  The difference was today.  I hadn’t figured out how to show her and she kept turning into jelly puppy.  She was doing that in conformation class.  However, this time, both days she moved really well.  I had jelly puppy again – or something I call the leaning tower of beagle.  This morning I decided I’d put her on the table, let her adjust herself, and then keep her in place.  That worked VERY nicely.  No leaning.  No jelly.

Both show sites are crowded but at least there is somewhat close parking to be found at Dallas Market Hall.  Yesterday I got sent to the far side of the building and ended up parking a long way from the building.  Too far to carry chair, dog and belongings.  I think the situation put all of us off.

We are at the Double W Arena and it was packed.  I would not have wanted to show in obedience there.  Conformation was hard enough.  Yesterday really wore me down as I didn’t have a chair and there were no chairs to be had.  I did help the other owner/handlers though and had a good time.

Today was much better.  I was able to park within site of the door and was able to bring in a chair.  A steward did ask me to move closer to the ring, but I did explain I was trying to stay out of it.  Again I could help the other owner handlers, but even more so, being the deposit point for people as they went into the ring.  I had a good time and my breeder had good things to say both how my dog looked and how she showed.  This time I let her do the work and show herself, both on the floor and the table, and she did much better.

However, I’m looking forward to being back “home” in agility next weekend, and back at Market Hall the week after.  I will say agility is more “fun” because we all have a chance to win when we really don’t in conformation.

Odd thoughts on dog shows

So I took Dulce to a dog show today. Paid $25 for privilege. There were somewhere just over 1000 entries.

So why did the facility have NO parking? No chairs to sit down in and worse yet - no room to do so?

I passed about 10 "no dogs" signs which really stuck me as hilarious.

Sent from my Windows Phone

A bit bummed

We didn’t Q this weekend in JWW because I’m too slow.  That was definitely proved today when Macy stayed with me the entire route and ran clean, but we were had 78 points out of 100.  To Q we needed 3 more seconds, and to get 100 points, we need 11 more seconds of time – which we WILL need for Excellent.

I’m trying but it isn’t coming fast enough for me.  It means losing weight and it means working out.

Love my vet’s office

Macy had a small gastro emergency last week.  I came home to a sick dog with a nasty smelling cage.  I decided to take her to the vet to ease my mind.  $300 some dollars later (thank you #VPI), I had a clean dog that was pooping normally and was almost her normal self.

Dr. Cordias called to check on her this evening, even though I had been by to pick up her tags.

And she seems back to her normal self.

Teacup Weekend

Macy was looking great as a big dog in the crowd. Its so cute to see her huge next to the equipment.

We got a Q and first place in tunnelers.

The rest of the time we were "off by one" from Qing. I remembered to focus on keeping her up. Got compliments on her improvement!

Positive reinforcements trainers who aren't

It constantly amazes me how people who claim the teach positive reinforcement when they trained dogs don't use the same techniques on people.

I got slammed in the face with it Thursday night.

I freely admit that beagles are difficult to house break and mine aren't. The youngest is a particular problem.

I was confronted on Thursday by a trainer and owner of a indoor training facility that just relocated and told in no uncertain terms that my dog has to wear diapers in order to train there.

Wonder if that violates her Karen Pryor clicker training certification. Bet you that it does.

First standard run not so good

Several refusals and wouldn't sit at the table but the rest was clean and refusals don't count.

Both of is had fun!

Teacup - tunnelers

Macy and I just got a Q and a 1st in our first Teacup game - Tunnelers

It was a long course - see pictures but we were clean and faster than anyone else.