tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44783752597874983712024-03-05T14:07:22.601-08:00I dream of OTCH...This was the journal of a handler and her Novice A dog. This was the story of their trials and tribulations as Rah journeyed all the way to the UD and beyond.
And now this is the story of two new dogs - the next generation, and the next step in the journey towards attaining the ultimate in the obedience world. This is now the chronicle of two young baby dogs as they grow up.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-24110850529207626852012-09-19T18:40:00.002-07:002012-09-19T18:40:41.798-07:00ups and downschill had class tonight - i had wanted to go for a walk and train before class too, but i was too tired. this whole having to work to afford my dogs and afford my lifestyle is ridiculous. isn't it time to retire yet?<br />
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chill's grandpa (who is about to turn 14) had a seizure this morning :( everyone is pretty upset - i was glad i got to see him tonight at class, but he's not able to walk well since the seizure and we're all holding our breath. old animals are so hard.<br />
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chill in class was a mixture of He Who Cannot Control His Teeth and wonderfullness. Who would have ever thought I would enjoy petting a fuzzy. We started with heeling - last week Kathy had me lengthen my heeling leash to try to cut down on his hopping for the cookie. This week that resulted in a jumper collie, since chill viewed that as an open invitation to jump higher (which he can). When he did settle down he was cute though - very nice! I have to remember to make eye contact and also push forward - the problem is i tend to lean over him to my left and it makes me drift. nothing like walking like youre drunk :)<br />
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then worked turns - about, right and left, and then about at a gate and then halt at the gate. chill did nicely on some of them - not consistent enough for me, but we will get there. he stopped that weird rain man head movement for the left turns so that was nice, but its hard to move fast when you have multiple dogs doing squares without being roadkill in the way.<br />
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worked sit for exam and my dog is retarded and when i tossed the cookie it landed in his ear fuzz and he lost it. must be hard when you have so much fluff it steals your food<br />
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(the doberbitches are seeing dead people in the cat room and barking and growling. i now have the official loudest house in the neighborhood).<br />
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worked recalls - one at a time, restrained full length. he had some mad speed for this, and the second one even managed an almost nice front :)<br />
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so class was nice. im wiped and my body is fighting some plague (for a change). the energizer collie is not tired, however, and would like to herd cats. is it possible herding cats will become a titling sport at any time? because all my dogs would kick ass at that.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-91186201679980618492012-09-16T16:18:00.003-07:002012-09-16T16:18:53.194-07:00classy dogsso we're back in classes - consistently, and all dogs.<br />
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its still hard going without rah there - it still feels odd. there are times when i accidentally call the other dogs his name, or people who dont know he's gone ask about him. and it seems like half the shows i go to, or judges i see, are milestones for him. this is the judge he finished his first title under. this is the show he finished his CD. this is the show he finished his UD. this is where he earned his highest score... you know. those things. im just nostalgic.<br />
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chill is officially in novice. he's doing very well - i have to remember to do things right for him because more than any other dogs ive had, he's VERY sensitive to my body motion. i also have to keep his head up and my hand back with the cookie - when he's up his little feet fly. he's smart, but he's also calculating. we're working on drive for recalls and little tiny things (kathy is grooming me for perfection with him - because she knows im anal retentive and want to be a competitor, we're looking at little things like eye flickers and such... ) he loves his db and we're working on retrieving to hand because he learned from the dobermans (ha) to run with his prize just out of reach sometimes :) also working on fronts and getting perfect ones - that's where i lost points with all my other dogs, and IMO f/f is what separates OTCH dogs from the others.<br />
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cherry is in novice on thursdays - she's also doing well. she has momentary "blue" moments - where she sees dead people or has butt monsters (HAS TO ITCH HER TAIL) but she has been working full classes, giving me 100% effort (still aiming for 110!!!!) and she's damned cute when she does it. for her we have to rework left turns to get her back end engaged, and we also have to work on her fronts. i also need to work separately on her transitions and motivational things because we need to have games and things we can do without toys and tugs.<br />
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we've done some training outside too, with distraction - outside of my yard, too! (I KNOW DONT BE SHOCKED) - at least one of these dogs may actually be able to show outside. im aiming for 5-10 minutes of great happy active work rather than spending an hour drilling - and cherry gave me wonderful heeling and was CUTE as a button. chill is actually a little more distracted outside because he hears EVERYTHING - cherry spooks more but chill has radar. so i am not getting him 100% on me.<br />
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agility we've worked a bit, but right now im trying to decide how best to divide my time and effort (And finances). i really would like to focus on obedience - its where my true desire lies, and quite honestly i think i might stop agility (didn't we just start?) because i can take them back. we have some foundation things, and i will use the exercises to teach good jumping skills - but i also need much more control - cherry not necessarily but chill is a speed demon and i can see him hurting himself. not sure, jury is out.<br />
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plan for the next few months - matches. need to get out in new places and work our skills.<br />
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oh, and berlin also went back to class - she's back in nosework. my trainer is glad i brought her back, because she says she's a natural. it's been almost a year since she was in class, but she didn't forget a single thing. we need to work on some corner hides, but she checked everything - walls, tables, inside things - what a good girl! she says she was meant to sniff out stuff :)doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-35471665608340321492012-09-03T13:47:00.003-07:002012-09-03T13:47:43.561-07:00things to work onjust a mental note more for me:<br />
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need to formalize a retrieve with a front - my dogs will drop their objects and front, not hold them. need to fix that :) no more retrieving without bringing to front!<br />
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also - worked weave entrances, bang it (end teeter performance) and fast platz on a table. both baby dogs were great. also worked fronts and recalls with cherry and she was bouncy as hell<br />
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berlin may or may not have given me a black eye when she attacked me (aka jumped up when i was leaning down) when we were working.<br />
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tonight: fronts. fronts fronts fronts.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-91779376381801662602012-08-29T19:37:00.000-07:002012-08-29T19:37:14.102-07:00moving on upthis week is chills last week in baby classes - next week he moves up to novice!<br />
and cherry goes back to class this week - i took time off because she needed a month to recover from her spay/pexy, and we reworked some things with privates.<br />
of course, they cant both be in novice so cherry is moving to a different class on a different day.<br />
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we started back with agility and foundation work too - both dogs love it (of course)<br />
berlin may be going back to nosework in a few weeks too... (if i can afford it, ha!)<br />
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class tonight with chill was good. hes been a little off... hard to put my word on it, but quieter and tiring more than usual. i dont know if this is maturation or if something is wrong. i get this way if my dogs sleep too much ha ha ha ha ha.<br />
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anyway in class his heeling is getting super pushy. i need to remember to keep my cookie back because hes starting to heel like rah and kathy yelled at me :) hes pushing and pushing and pushing and i need to start pushing back into his space. hes so funny though for left turns he cranks his head around and i need to break that because its so obvious!!!!<br />
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worked fronts and recalls and attention with them - hes having problems when other people throw toys and he's supposed to be focused. one sounded like a db hitting the floor and his ears were ALL over the place... like mother like son. will need to work on that for his entire career im sure. worked stays (sit and down) and chill has forgotten how to stand on command so we have to visit that this week :)<br />
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on his heeling i have to remember to make eye contact. all the other dobes besides rah have never wanted eye contact and doing it pushed them back - kathy says i need to look at him and push him because hes starting to forge and get crazy. and hes also starting to anticipate and cheat even when he doesnt know whats going on.<br />
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hes such a good boy though and tries.<br />
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both baby dogs are in foundation agility and love it - we are working on contacts, flatwork, starting jump grids and boxwork. little geniuses!<br />
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videos and pics to follow! we may be going out to the schutzhund club on saturday. berlin wants to bark at people and i think chill wants to bite (i mean herd) everything.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-70906608498664241752012-08-03T15:56:00.000-07:002012-08-03T15:56:01.878-07:00motivationsi know it sounds silly in some ways, but on most days its really hard for me to find the motivation to train any of the dogs. for so many reasons - they aren't rah, rah's not here, rah was different/easier/more fun, rinse lather and repeat.<br />
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i know what i should be doing, but honestly most days i have the best intentions but i am not.<br />
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i need to start. but its so hard.<br />
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(even worse that this weekend, rah and i should have been at the all star tournament. and we're not).<br />
<br />doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-14332897138532609392012-07-18T05:07:00.001-07:002012-07-18T05:07:31.053-07:00OohRah 6/29/05 - 7/17/12<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;">Rah is gone. It's hard to even write those words, but so many of you knew him that I have to tell everyone, share him with everyone even in his death. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><br />
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I still remember the day I met him - in the main office at DRU in NH he barged in and caused a ruckus, falling off the couch. I can't tell you why I brought him home, but he didn't kill cats and Willow didn't hate him so that was a start. I was told this blue dog, taken from a gang in CT and esconced to NH in hiding, was destined to be returned repeatedly because he was nonstop - he needed a job and he needed to be worked. They were right - after four days of no sleep at all, I was all set to return the dog that panted and circled, didn't know how to lay down, and had not slept a wink - then he curled up on the couch with me and I was hooked. </div>
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OohRah was my party boy. It took over a year to see him lay down in the house of his own volition outside of the crate (and I thought he was sick). He was the worst pet known to man - he stole and ate so many things that he was a pro at induced vomiting. Thanksgiving turkey, 6 lbs of chili, a whole pizza, banana cream pies - he was quick, he was stealthy, and he knew how to break into the trash. The night before I lost him, he stole all the tupperware out of the sink methodically to clean them one by one.</div>
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<span id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_134257502326475" style="line-height: 1.22em;">OohRah was a big dog. Not just because he stood 32", but he filled a room. He demanded attention, he demanded to be watched, he demanded that everyone focus on him all the time. He was the class clown. If anyone laughed while he showed, he got a glint in his eye and bad things were guaranteed to happen. He was to the end, a showman. Many remember his first venture into obedience at DPCA nationals in 2007 - him biting me in the ring, running around, jumping ring gates. I still remember all the wonderful things said to me, urging me not to give up on the blue dog. He bit me in the ring the day he finished his UD too. </span></div>
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OohRah was a first for so many things. He was my Novice A dog. He was my first CD, first CDX, first UD, first UDX leg. He was my first dog to get rankings. He was my first blue. He was my first tournament dog. He was the first dog I ever had to get an agility leg, the first to try bitework, tracking, flyball - so many things we did together. Anything I have done, he was the first. </div>
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OohRah was NOT my first dog with DCM. At 4.5 years old, in routine screening with his cardiologist he was diagnosed with occult DCM in the arrhythmogenic form. I was devastated, but it didn't stop us. We had just finished his CDX (a success at DPCA nationals 2009 where he walked away with multiple blue ribbons) and he was preparing for utility. I decided that this diagnosis would not rule our lives - if Rah wanted to show and train we would. And we did. </div>
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OohRah was the third dog in the nation to participate in the Stem Cell Study at University of FL vet school. I made the scariest decision of my life when I let them inject stem cells into his heart, knowing he could not wake up - but he did, and he flourished. He was the first dog to make it to the completion of the study and he did the entire time showing, having fun, and living his life. I am forever thankful for all who supported us and the time it may have given us. I am also thankful for his wonderful cardiologist, Dr. Goodwin at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in NJ - aggressive treatment gave me what time I had. Never enough, but it was time. </div>
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OohRah was a party through and through. Every day I showed him, every time I entered the ring people watched and people laughed. There were many tears shed when we finished our UD - it took a village not because he didn't want to do it - but because he wanted to do it too much. Anyone who watched him could see that. I will forever be thankful to the Walkers for believing in us when so many others didn't and for being with me throughout the way and crying with me each time I needed to (including last night). Every morning, every night - I laughed and thanked whomever you thank for a dog like this. </div>
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Rah was my special boy. There's an emptiness here without him, and I will spend the rest of my life looking for another dog like him. Not just because he was a great doberman, but because he was an amazing dog. He had heart and he gave everything he had and then some. Everything he did, he did for him - he loved the show ring, he loved life, and he loved living it. He was hard headed and obstinate, he ignored what he didn't want to do and ruled the house and my life. I had 6 marvelous years with him, and it will never be enough. </div>
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Rah collapsed running in the yard of a fatal arrhythmia - he had eaten cereal with me for breakfast, barked at the neighbors, and run loose in the parking lot at work. He had almost knocked my coffee over, taking me out while running, and did his "Rah scream" while playing bitey face with his sister as I herded them both into the yard. His last moments were barking and running - He was gone before he ever hit the ground.</div>
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Keep chasing your lights Rah, and know that I will miss you more than I could ever say. You will forever be the dog that everyone else has to measure up to - and they will forever come up short. No one can ever be what you were - my blueberry, my noodle. </div>
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Wherever you are, I hope it's Six Flags forever. More flags, More fun. </div>
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<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_19_1342612504524120" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264175" style="font-family: garamond, times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.22em;">ARCHX Bowie's Semper Fidelis v DRU, UD ASCA-CDX CDX-H D-CD RE RL1X RL2X RL3 VC ATT WAC TT CGC </span></div>
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<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264154" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">2008 CDSP #11 Nov B</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264154" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">2008 APDT #17 ARCH</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264154" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">2009 F&F All Breed #10 Open A</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264154" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">2009 F&F Working Group #3 Open A</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264154" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">2009 F&F Doberman #2 Open A</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_19_1342612504524108" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_134257502326457" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.22em;">
<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264154" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">2010 CDSP #17 Nov C</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_19_1342612504524110" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_134257502326457" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.22em;">
<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264154" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">2010 CDSP #9 Open A</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_19_1342612504524112" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_134257502326457" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.22em;">
<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264154" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">2010 All Star #7 Super Rally</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_19_1342612504524114" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_134257502326457" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.22em;">
<span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" style="font-family: garamond, 'new york', times, serif; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv1605190078Apple-style-span" id="yiv1605190078yui_3_2_0_78_1342575023264154" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.22em;">2011 CDSP #16 Open C</span></span></div>
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</div>doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-73221290717873574902012-07-17T13:20:00.001-07:002012-07-17T13:20:15.182-07:00Rah is gonei dont know how else to do this, or what else to say. but rah died this morning. i still cant believe he's gone.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-18403649547325506912012-07-05T05:33:00.003-07:002012-07-05T05:36:24.301-07:00the littles go to a match (video proof!)last weekend i took three new dogs to matches, and one new handler.<br />
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my boyfriends sister has the "showyourdog" bug and has her young english cocker spaniel (incidentally, my dogs very bestest friends!) in obedience classes - hes ready to start matching and has his first entry (in rally) this month.<br />
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so i took rock it!, cherrybomb and chill to the match. it was everyones first real match - cherry and chill have had one at our own training building, but this is the first time ive asked them to perform in front of others at another training building.<br />
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the dogs did spectacular! i was so concerned cherry would disconnect from me, but she was a super star! she was so attentive and focused and up and bouncy i was so pleased! chill was his super star self and while we had some issues with clapping that we had to work out he did so well ! rock it and chrissi were amazing too - i didnt want to be too forceful but i had a lot of hints for her because she's brand new to this - i wish i had someone to hold my hand when i started, and i WISH someone had told me that 5 minutes of awesome high energy fun training is better than 30 minutes of half hearted. i want my dogs 100% into me, and in the beginning i want play and fun - and she had her little english cocker spaniel heads up prancing in heeling and tugging like a doberman :)<br />
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without further adieu, i do have videos of two of the entries :)<br />
i used a few of them in a training discussion on another forum - because i used a physical correction on chill, i use an ignore and reset on cherry with her heeling, and i have to look at see if i can find NRMs in there.<br />
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chill:<br />
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the bomb!<br />
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what these videos have taught me: i need to start really working fronts on the babies. for real.<br />
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oh. and i need to get cherry her PAL.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-58125954540032881572012-06-17T11:22:00.002-07:002012-06-17T11:22:34.564-07:00not really training relatedi still have to go out and train the dogs sometime today but right now we're digesting a late lunch.<br />
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yesterday chill accompanied me to both sides of my family's houses for parties and get togethers. he was, as expected, a huge hit and lovable all around.<br />
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things he likes: babies<br />
things he doesn't like: pools<br />
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he was awesomely well behaved (things i dont get with the dobermans!)<br />
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but he had fun.<br />
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played with the hose:<br />
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you know hes going in to lick the baby, right? </div>
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baby licking is hard work</div>
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i may be biased, but i think this little thing is quite adorable</div>
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<br />doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-49436870981069097692012-06-15T16:28:00.004-07:002012-06-15T16:28:58.147-07:00all the to-do about a blog...we hit the big time when my blog was featured on a facebook group :)<br />
nothing major, but its nice to be in groups where i can discuss training. hopefully we all learn something, right?<br />
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matched the baby dogs last weekend. they did great - the first run cherry was scattered and distracted, afraid of the post and her coffee mug and couldnt pull it together. her second run she was able to focus on me and work and push and heel and be a smart baby dog. i think she just needs a lot more time than any of my other dogs ahve needed to adjust to a location - even if its her training building, because everyone and everything was different. she had quite a few good SFE's with great focus, and in the end she was bouncing in heel.<br />
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chill on the other hand could care less. he's a super star and just takes everything in stride. he worked and focused on me the entire time both runs. we did heeling, attention work, db work, marking, sit/stand/down work, and just did a lot of work. he was even able to work at the ring gates with other dogs sniffing him through the gate -w hat a good boy!<br />
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time to get matching again. cherry was finally spayed so i can ILP/PAL her soon, and then id like to do beginner novice with her sometime this year. and maybe some rally?<br />
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i leave you with this:<br />
the cuteness of my littles.<br />
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<br />doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-76196770023564398182012-05-17T06:15:00.000-07:002012-05-17T06:21:01.516-07:00salvationso i havent been posting much, because ive been having issues. ive got a lot going on here, but the dog training has been tough - mostly because cherry and i were having major issues.<br />
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chill is sweet and drivey and sensitive and biddable and wonderful. he loves heeling, he loves trying, and i adore him.<br />
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cherry i love, but i was so concerned about her working. she started acting spooky and spacey a few months ago, and i was concerned something was wrong - was she going into heat (no), was her thyroid off (no), was anything else going on (not that i could find). i had friends tell me she needed anxiety meds, i tried DAP collars, diffusers, i was banging my head against the wall.
all of a sudden she had no attention at training, no ability to focus on me, no desire to look up. all our previous issues (she never liked moving watch, for instance), were magnified. she would go off sniffing in the middle of working, she would try to wander to visit dogs, she would glance at anything around the room and focus on it like it was the newest most exciting thing. hell, she actually laid down in the middle of class once and started rolling on her back. she couldn't work more than 10-15 minutes without a "cherrybomb brain break".<br />
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i was lost. this dog could be on but now she was off more than anything else, she had no desire to engage me, and nothing i was doing seemed to bring her back. worse, she seemed to be getting softer and softer - the sound of other dogs collars would make her turn and stare, she got attacked three times int eh space of a week by other dogs (She must have a kick me sign attached to her tail!), and quite honestly none of us were enjoying work.
people suggested seeing a behaviorist (to tell her what? my dog is an awesome pet, great with people and dogs, doesnt destroy things, but she wont heel with her head up and at TRAINING only she's a marshmallow?). there was even mention of rehoming her to a house that doesn't have her arch nemesis - oohrah (who still hates her).<br />
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cherry and i had a private lesson with my trainer on sunday (chills breeder). i was so concerned about my dog shutting down, my dog being so soft, my dog being so sensitive.
well she's not. kathy had me bring her out and work her and even in a quiet building with no dogs, cherry chose to start being distracted and spooky. kathy had chill's gpa blake out and cherry knows and loves this dog - but she was acting all afraid. kathy told me to tell her to leave it, and come here. JESUS FRIGGIN CHRIST. cherry turned and left it and stared at me. and that was apparently the key - letting her know exactly what was inappropriate and what she was supposed to be doing. lo and behold, cherry worked an hour and 20 minutes.<br />
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we broke down heeling and used a special toy - we took it slow and wouldnt let her take a step without attention on me. if she lapsed she got pops for not following, or a reminder to look up. 20 minutes in, she was doing loose leash walking with attention on her own volition. she couldnt take her eyes off of me.<br />
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kathys assessment? i had a lazy bitch. cherry found out when she was confused, didnt want to, or plain had something else she wanted to do, if she did all her behaviors she got out of work and i gave her a break. she worked through every one of her previous "stress" moments without any problems and had happy ears, an up wagging tail (no way to hide her feelings when she has a big flag!) and bright eyes. in short, she was playing me. we formulated a plan for classes and how i would approach training - i found out a lot about her and how much she actually does love this (another dog that gets TURNED ON by left turns!)<br />
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i left the lesson feeling triumphant but hesitant about wednesday class - the true test.<br />
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but it went perfectly. cherry was a different dog (because i was a different handler). i warmed her up barely at all - she did 35 seconds exactly of PERFECT moving watch with her chicken, and then started flying into heel position - i couldnt keep her out. when they started to heel, i stood off to the side and worked her slow heeling attention work, both with food and toys. after 5-7 minutes, i joined the class for a few runs. then while they kept heeling, i went and worked on fronts and running to a target. she was flying through the air, barking, spinning, jumping all over me. we did stands and kathy had me hold her chicken out - she never even FLICKED AN EYE at anyone who approached (as opposed to her normal whole head turn). she was positively quivering. recalls were great and at one point she fronted and actually started BARKING at me to demand a reward - kathy asked if i had asked her to bark and i said no, and she said good for her. the entire night if she flicked a head away she came back immediately, understanding that this was what i wanted. she never once sniffed the floor. if she got too focused i used a leave it, come here and she did it.<br />
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this is a game changer for both of us, but im just glad to get my cb back!<br />
<br />doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-58529168415210146362012-03-01T04:38:00.002-08:002012-03-01T05:00:05.735-08:00new classes last nightlast night was the start of a new session with the doggies. and i guess the start of the new era at the somjen household - we the ooh-roo dogs are retired and staying home, and the chillicherr duo are the up and comings. <br /><br />chill started class last night for the first time ever. in some ways i always feel bad for my dogs when we start - i feel like i dont do much foundation or teach my dogs aything - a puppy in class like 2-3 weeks older than him was able to sit and control himself and stare at his owner, and chill can't be on the ground and focus more than 2-3 seconds. though iam hopeful that i may FINALLY have a dog that can settle outside the crate ha ha. <br /><br />but chill is a little natural at this. i get why people have border collies - its not because they are obedience superstars - its because they STARE ha ha. he's got natural attention and focus. it isn't long right now. but its there! he also is SUPER smart and caught on very quickly that when things like the dog next to him squeaking the toy if he looked at me i gave him a cookie. if he sat calmly in front of me i gave him a cookie. so every distraction there he immediately turned back to me - and i was stunned, because this is the basis of obedience essentially and he caught on at least a little bit at day one?!?!?!?!?!?!<br /><br />so mostly for my own knowledge (not that i think i ever look back here to remember what we do, which is also a problem) - things we worked on for chill: <br />1) tuck sits<br />2) fold back downs<br />3) the name game<br />4) moving towards you on the name game<br />5) moving towards you as you back up with the name game<br />6) controlling a settle/cuddle<br />7) the start of come here - collar grab and feeding/coming up to face. <br />8) self control - having to sit still for a few seconds and stare at us before the cookie was produced<br /><br />i think thats about it - he was very good and super for all of this and it made me excited to train him!!!! and he also played like a monster when he needed a break - he tugged like mad! he was also a bad boy and got hung in the air once because he bit me badly on the hand (BAD DOG) because he was getting tired bitey in the last 10 minutes - but we did cuddle last and he was able to last the entire class. <br /><br />so then we went to cherry - cherry missed 2 sessions of attention i think when i stopped classes in october when rah was hurt... so she was a little bit behind the class when we started back last session - but i think she's caught up pretty well and is probably towards the top of the class - some of that may be beacuse ive trained a dog for competition before seriously (some of the others have put CDs but never went higher). but by virtue of starting chill's class at the bottom in the super star puppy class, cherry had to move up to the big dog novice class - some of these dogs have CDs or CD legs (with 197s!) and some are certainly ready to show, there are OTCH handlers in there (!!) and then... baby cherry face. she worked so hard but it was a lot for her and at one point we sat out for 5 minutes because she needed a brain break! <br /><br />we started with cherrys weakest exercise - the moving watch. she's getting better and when she is ON she's friggin adorable with this - she prances her ears are up and her eyes are HUGE (theres this thing with the light colored eyes on the blues - when they stare at you they dilate over and over again a little bit - rah did it and so does cherry!) and she's so into me - and then kathy was mean. kathy started throwing DUMBBELLS!!!! cherry's mind was BLOWN. some dogs were afraid. some dogs were curious. cherry was MUST. RETRIEVE. DUMBBELL. she loves it. she loves retrieving. she, like rah, is a stupidhead for them and she saw this and her mind was done. she was frozen and could not be reached at first. so we had to stop class for a few of us and work on "come here" again and incorporate that into the db distraction work. she got a little nervous then because she wanted to look at the db, but she knew she shouldn't - ears would go back at the throw and then she would sneak a peek, but as long as she looked back quickly we were good. eventually she figured out what to do and we rewarded heavily - but after over 20 minutes of this cherry was FRIED! we did heeling next and she was cute - probably only 20 seconds or so at a time, and i would stop her if she had enough - remember last week was the first time we even incorporated halts and now we are group heeling ha ha. but she's honest and tries hard - and she has the cutest left turns where she flings her butt behind me! she worked hard but by the change of paces i could see her brain start to check out - so she got to lay down and rest and cuddle with me for 5 minutes until she was starting to play and chew on her leash... <br /><br />then we worked on easy things - backing up in the stand or the down... she knows this already but need to clean up cues. and then we went to stand - and i want to clean up her stand cue and get her going on just a verbal and get her kick back cleaned up (i trained the stand differently than everyone else in class) - so i went off to the side and did that, and then worked on attenetion in the front of the dog for a few seconds. but cherry is funny and part of the switch from stand in front of me to stand next to me involved a hop and i thought it was cute and rewarded it - so now she flies up in the air and kicks her back legs up and out - its hilarious. its SO MUCH MORE EFFORT than is required and kathy saw it and started cracking up - its like when she spins - she literally gets 4 feet of air when she spins instead of just going quick. but she does it because people laugh (reminiscent of rah, who puts on a show?!?!?!). we ended class with group stays - again, her first! and she rocked - i rewarded and stayed 2 feet away, feeding every 20 seconds and she was awesome. i know its early to say, but maybe i will actually have a doberman that does a curled down?!?!?!?!?<br /><br />side note- cherry is getting really good with "tell me" too - she loves to speak! <br /><br />so this week i want to work the dogs. for the first time in months i am actually excited because both dogs were amazing last night and while it wont be rah and berlin, i can and will have fun showing these guys. amy was right - its still my OTCH quest, its just not rah, but he was the start. and he will always be the start, but these guys are the next step, my next options.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-88666646723450792522012-02-22T20:21:00.000-08:002012-02-22T20:26:54.035-08:00always latei had planned on updating more, but again life gets in the way. <br /><br />i had hopes of bringing rah out of retirement - his favorite shows are coming up and the judging panel is amazing for him.<br /> but whatever is going on with his elbow is still there - hes mostly sound, but he wont drop - for signals or the DOR. <br />so i guess his retirement is for real. i started crying when i emptied his stuff out of my training bag but its time to make way. <br /><br />cherry is doing really well. she's a good girl and tries so hard - she has a lot of rahs good qualities and less of his bad ones. shes still learning focus, and her response to commands is ... well... blue : ) but she tries hard. she's softer and more sensitive than him, but she's got lots of drive and she's more biddable. she's very willing to offer me behaviors and she's super cute with a great sense of humor. <br /><br />chill is a butthead. he's a tough dog and i love him - his class starts next week. he's very funny and VERY cuddly - and he's a lot like my dobermans. i can see border collies becoming fixtures in this house. i was so nervous about adding something else to the house, but he's an awesome dog. the surprising thing is how cuddly he is - just as much as my dobes. and hes much more self-controlled at a young age than ANY of my dobes. he comes out of his crate and rolls over for me to rub his belly. if i sit on the ground he runs over and jumps in my lap and collapses for cuddles. <br /><br />he also loves the girl dobes - he wont ever be meeting rah for obvious reasons - but the girl dobes love him. and he LOVES people - he sees them and he starts wagging furiously and his ears go back and he licks licks licks. he's going to be interesting to train but he's wickedly smart. <br /><br />so, im toying with changing the name of the blog... or maybe the description. this isn't rah anymore, this isn't my novice A dogs. or should i start a new one?doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-30484923581616310342012-01-12T13:17:00.000-08:002012-01-12T13:25:41.970-08:00its been so longand ive thought about this post for awhile but its been hard to write. <br /><br />i took a big break from obedience. rah and i went up to nationals with cherry bomb, and rah was terrible. not any fault of his own really, but something was off. he was not performing because something was hurting. we came close to qualifying utility one day, and rah got called on his jump height and had to jump 30 inches and i regret that... but he came back hurt. <br /><br />ive spent months trying to figure it out but the end result is, and it pains me so much to say this, rah is probably retired from obedience. <br /><br />i never thought id ever have to retire him. i thought (and i know this is morbid) that he'd be dead before he couldnt work. i simply cannot keep him sound. <br /><br />he has neck pain, and it manifests in a right front leg lameness. i know, in my heart, theres a good chance this is wobblers. i dont want to get my hopes up beacuse he is sound when hes only hanging out and being a pet - but work makes him lame. i cant keep him in active shape and ready to show because he keeps coming up lame. <br /><br />so im forced to retire him too. its painful and hurts so much - to lose BOTH my competition dogs in the same year. <br /><br />once rah got hurt, i didnt have it in me to work. i couldnt go to training, i couldnt show up, i didnt want to be around them. i even pulled cherry from classes - everything she did was a comparison to rah and it just didnt work. to top it off she also got injured and had issues but those seemed to have thankfully cleared up - if it recurs it will be MRI time for her too. <br /><br />i missed obedience, but it still hurts to this day. i havent brought myself back to class, but ive started working cherry again at home. and i thought long and hard about it, but i got another dog. <br /><br />introducing: katwalk calm like a bomb<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/394405_10151144902725078_506845077_22879931_727073_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 540px;" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/394405_10151144902725078_506845077_22879931_727073_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />some of you may know, but this is one of the border collies born and raised in my house this year. he was born 11/20 to my trainers bitch, secret, currently working on her OTCH. i had to change breeds - i cant take all the health problems in mine and i need something that will stand a CHANCE at least of being healthy. <br /><br />so far the puppy currently known as chill is 7.5 weeks and hanging in his crate, we are working on housebreaking but hes also a little genius. is this what happens when your puppies are raised with obedience from the start and the clicker comes out at 5 weeks? he knows sit/down/back/twist/spin/front/get close and tugs like a MANIAC. he's fearless and while his littermates are all still here, he's chilling (haha) in his crate separate because he's a very confident puppy with teeth a mile long and needs to learn some control as well - he was certainly confident enough to be kicked out of the litter early! <br /><br />so, thats me. hopefully i will be back here for some more regular posting, but its sad that it wont be with rah. i dont know what else to say...doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-17718087275347994932011-09-05T09:24:00.000-07:002011-09-05T09:26:07.127-07:00it's finally happened...i cant believe its finally time to write the words -
<br />RAH FINISHED HIS UD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<br /> Not to let that be enough, Rah also managed to qualify in Open for our first UDX leg!
<br />
<br />
<br />Yesterday I decided to go and show him the way he wants to be shown - instead of trying to control him in the ring and keep him calm, I let him party like he wants to. We had spinning, barking (and on our way to set up for signals he also took a bite!), flying feet, he knocked my number off at one point when his foot got caught in the rubber band - but he had a blast and he q'd and that's what matters. It wasn't pretty, but considering I'm not sure he sat for a front a single time in open or utility, I'l take our 185.5!!!!
<br />
<br />So, party boy finally got his UD. and now it's onto the UDX - we're also taking a detour back to CDSP this year as i trial him heavily in the next few months to get 2011 ranking opportunities. Let the party begin!doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-28147494321466649752011-08-31T04:14:00.000-07:002011-08-31T04:18:49.262-07:00traumai purposefully havent posted here because it hurts... rah is fine (for now) but berlin is injured, badly. to the point that she's completely retired from all sports right now. its killing me and im reliving all my past failures and shortcomings with all my other dogs, so i have nothing to say here that's inspirational - in fact, i havent even been training my other dogs because quite honestly i have nothing to give them right now.
<br />
<br />berlins recurrent neck pain prompted me to take her to the neurologist and have an MRI appointment - the results showed that she has a herniated disk in her neck and early wobblers - stenosis of her spinal canal that is compressing her cord and causing intermittent pain. worse, its progressive to the point of possible paralysis. there are options - both in alternative medicine and traditional, but im not sure how i am going to progress at this point because with rest and light activity she's 100% sound and rarely has episodes of pain. i refuse to stop letting her wrestle with rah - and in fact, she goes CRAZY if i dont take her running with me when i go (she runs around the house frantically getting to each window crying and screaming)... she thrives on the things we did together.
<br />
<br />shes the reason i started agility. she's the reason i dropped 75 lbs. she's the reason im becoming a better trainer. and now she's the third fucking doberman in a row that i have that won't be able to accomplish anything she is truly capable of because time just isn't on our side.
<br />
<br />so berlin retires Beja's Bombs Away v Bowie, CD BN RN NA NAJ - i may still play around with her in APDT and CDSP rally because she can avoid the jumps, but retrieving hurts. i can go into the symptoms for her later that led to this but right now im just hurt, angry, frustrated and pissed off at the world. and myself. doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-52627289142380946722011-07-27T04:14:00.000-07:002011-07-27T04:20:10.353-07:00still no UDthe trauma of showing blueblurry in open. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251617_10150736270055078_506845077_20278362_2668630_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251617_10150736270055078_506845077_20278362_2668630_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206064_10150736269835078_506845077_20278357_1674200_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206064_10150736269835078_506845077_20278357_1674200_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/183980_10150736269295078_506845077_20278346_5076238_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/183980_10150736269295078_506845077_20278346_5076238_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/262854_10150736269630078_506845077_20278352_4387956_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/262854_10150736269630078_506845077_20278352_4387956_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/282062_10150736269080078_506845077_20278341_1266948_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/282062_10150736269080078_506845077_20278341_1266948_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253270_10150736268965078_506845077_20278339_5363127_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253270_10150736268965078_506845077_20278339_5363127_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253311_10150736266740078_506845077_20278322_1480997_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253311_10150736266740078_506845077_20278322_1480997_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/284598_10150736271345078_506845077_20278392_4627092_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/284598_10150736271345078_506845077_20278392_4627092_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/215030_10150736271780078_506845077_20278404_7181499_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/215030_10150736271780078_506845077_20278404_7181499_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198708_10150736271175078_506845077_20278387_6175732_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198708_10150736271175078_506845077_20278387_6175732_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/229603_10150736270875078_506845077_20278379_7354713_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 480px;" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/229603_10150736270875078_506845077_20278379_7354713_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />and instead all i have to show you are these.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-87501039028306974422011-07-13T22:33:00.000-07:002011-07-13T22:37:45.938-07:00no goso obviously rah didnt qualify or there would be words of wonder and praise here... instead he was his class clown self. <br />and while i love his sense of humor, its getting old, me funding his comedy career. <br /><br />he's on his own little rough love program right now - he's being pressured, and hard. no more mr. nice guy over here - he's gotta act like a big boy. all the little things he does that i let slip - from trying to take back his articles instead of finishing, staring at gloves instead of me on a front, jumping on me instead of fronting because he's so happy - no more. he needs to settle down and think about his job. he offers a variety of behaviors attempting to get cookies and while i dont reward his obedience behaviors, i am VERY liberal with cookies for cute spins backing up, etc - no more, not right now. he's got 2 weeks that we are trying that and we're attempting to see if ANYTHING calms him down in the ring - because he flies high as a kite and he is so keyed up he gets in his own way. put a lot of pressure on him for everything tonight - dogs all over his article pile, multiple people on the floor for directed jumping, waving arms and running while he did the go outs and while i gave signals to jump and FINALLY got him to pick his own jump and pressure off the right one... <br /><br />we shall see.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-59846586875736691152011-07-07T06:13:00.000-07:002011-07-07T06:16:39.728-07:00awesome training - are we doomed this weekend?the dogs all trained really well last night. <br />which makes me think im doomed for this weekend. <br /><br />cherry in puppy class was a superstar. we did moving attention with distraction of a person near us (4-6 feet) and she was awesome. i used her name to remind her but i didn't even need to use come, just saying her name she refocused on me and was right back and ready to do moving watch like a superstar. <br /><br />she is CRAZY for the db. still hates metal articles. so crazy that like rah, she ran away with the db. i love it. love it love it love it. worked fronts - will have to shape those since she's not understanding straight because she's already too tall to teach like a baby dog :) and her stands and sits are nice, will have to eliminate some signals and go to verbal. and put it in heel position. <br /><br />berlin was awesome in utility too. did two gloves and she marked them1!!!!!!!!!!! go outs i changed her focal point and she got it -need to bring in the turn and sit now. and directed jumping she rocked. she's solidly in the middle of week two of ATC, by the end of the week i will go to week 3. signals i barely worked but she's good at 4-5feet. not bad for a baby dog. <br /><br />rah was solid in utility. <br /><br />so im afraid. now rah's not going to finish his UD this weekend because everyone trained too nicely. damnit.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-10961187325978194322011-07-04T15:03:00.001-07:002011-07-04T15:18:11.046-07:00i fail at this updating thingso its been awhile since i updated... <br /><br />berlin finished her NAJ at the trial - did i post that? im very happy with how she's working so far this year. we have come far, still have a lot to do but in about 6-8 weeks she's finished her BN, CD, NA and NAJ. she's made her debut in open standard and open jumpers, and later this month she will likely make her open obedience debut whether we are ready or not :) she will have fun, that's for sure! <br /><br />training cherry continues to be frustratingly fun. she's a good dog, but just like all my other dogs i sat in that period of "i dont know what to do with her so i will do nothing" until my agility trainer kicked me in the butt. she's on her "ruff love" program right now since she has an unhealthy obsession with all the dobermans save rah (who has an unhealthy obsession with trying to bite her in her soft spots). this has proportionally increased her crate vocalization, but also her focus and willingness to work with me :) she's so smart and just a blast, i sometimes forget she's a baby dog. she's in her "super puppy" class, working on her sits and downs, baby heeling, im also incorporating her shadow handling for agility, baby contacts, front and rear crosses, baby go outs and marks. she LOVES her db like her big brother rah - in fact, she is almost a carbon of him but tempered - she can control herself, has some impulse control, a better awareness of her body, and just toned a bit. i dont want to lay all my hopes and dreams on her, but sometimes i get a glimpse that she could be everything i hoped rah could, but failed in his training and foundation. <br /><br />rah shows in utility this month. in fact, he shows twice - im hoping that this will be the month that he finishes his UD. we're also for the first time in a long time, also going to be showing in open for a chance at UDX legs (when i entered these trials months ago, i had hoped to be finished already). he's doing well at training but again his articles are depending on what set he is using (???). i changed his glove 3 pivot footwork and words to remind him to slow himself down and it seems to be working, but his signals just went on autopilot and he just does them on his own. please god, wait for me. we shall see. im trying not to stress but ARE YOU THERE GOD ITS ME KIM ALL I WANT IS A UD ON THIS DOG PLEASE LET ME HAVE IT. ONCE WE GET THE UD LEG WE WILL RENEGOTIATE FOR FURTHER LEGS BUT IM DUE. <br /><br />berlin is a pip. we got into the masters handling agility class - so for the first time in a year she's back in agility. we ran a baby course and she did a nice job but i did a shitty job handling her - we will get there. she didnt once leave me even though there were 3 new people and dogs there and i screwed up major a few times. im very happy with her. in obedience our heeling continues to have motivational issues - but with almost 2 months out, and now focusing on teaching utility i need to bring back her jackpot to heeling since it's been almost 3 months since she showed and had heavy work with it. her articles are coming along nicely - she's solidly in the midst of week 2 of ATC. signals and moving stand are nice for a baby. gloves... i dont know why my dog can't mark. why can't she stare? i took the glove out of the picture and brought in food and a white target and for the past two weeks we just worked on that and it's much better. go outs --- for a baby dog we're ok, but its frustrating because rah is so advanced sometimes its hard to remember he ever sucked. its berlin staring - she's not sure what to mark so sometimes she wanders and i think its a conflict of me telling her to look away and STARE when for so long i get on her case for doing just that - she's not allowed to look away from me and stare/lock onto other things, because that gets her flank pinches and tapped from me. its baby dog/confidence. we will get there. her open is coming along though, she's very cute and flashy when she's on! <br /><br />mercury will forever be a work in progress. his fronts have been better but i stopped training him for 2 months and just brought him back out in the past few days, his drop and broad jump have been ok as well. just going to reward him like mad for staying with me on heeling and hope he holds out for one trial. and hope we only need one trial!!!! <br /><br />and if you notice, yes, im training 4 dobermans. the training sessions are taking me 2-3 hours, and im not even getting everything i need in them done - its hard to do open AND utility and puppy dog stuff. i also worked some jump grids these past two days on berlin, as well as having her work the triple from a stand still (since she took the triple down in the last trial three times) to get those feeties up. its a lot to train 4 dogs at 4 different levels with 4 different temperaments...doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-54636849102920011202011-06-18T18:15:00.000-07:002011-06-18T18:31:40.172-07:00a good weekend so far<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254274_10150672433555078_506845077_19565273_5173420_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 540px; height: 720px;" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254274_10150672433555078_506845077_19565273_5173420_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />making the sleepings together<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/252401_10150673754120078_506845077_19579881_735793_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 540px; height: 720px;" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/252401_10150673754120078_506845077_19579881_735793_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />berlin rearranging her bed after she got to play in the hose<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/253721_10150673756605078_506845077_19579934_7077574_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 540px; height: 720px;" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/253721_10150673756605078_506845077_19579934_7077574_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />wait, HOW long until i run? <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254089_10150673758665078_506845077_19579970_2699571_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 540px; height: 720px;" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254089_10150673758665078_506845077_19579970_2699571_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />rah being overstimulated<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253433_10150674181495078_506845077_19586497_7929714_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 540px; height: 720px;" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253433_10150674181495078_506845077_19586497_7929714_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />berlin with her ribbons so far! <br /><br /><br />running agiity at JAG's new agility site for the trial this weekend - its hot as hell there. the flooring isn't bad, berlin isn't slipping and i love the sprint turf in the one site. virtually no air movement and while its not as hot as it would be outside, its still hot! id definitely still show there again tho and berlin seems to like the venue!!! <br /><br />yesterday we missed a q in fast when she missed the teeter but nailed everything else. <br />in open standard i celebrated too soon and she took the last bar (bad handler) - hard course and only three dogs in open qualified, period! <br />but after 6 months, our drought is over and berlin q'd in jww and was a super star!!!!! it wasnt pretty and she broke her startline stay resulting in a refusal at jump three when she blew past me and we had to circle back to take the jump ... not the prettiest but it was a q! <br /><br />this morning was day 2 - started out with novice fast, and she aced the run (in 14 seconds ha!) with 58 points to get her second NF leg for what has to be the fastest FAST leg ever. i wasnt going to try to get super points, i wanted in and out and no fancy stuff. we got out points and got out. <br /><br />JWW - we had another startline problem but we managed to pull out another ugly Q for our TITLE!!! yes, we are forever done with that miserable class and moved up to open jumpers for tomorrow!!!! <br /><br />open standard - i made two mistakes with her and they were all my own fault (calling her name over the triple so she turned midair and took a bar, i dropped my arm and didn't support a jump and she came in) but other than that she rocked it. <br /><br />im very proud of her -she's running her heart out, in the heat, hasn't left me once, she's running super fast, she's running with me, she's running like a good girl!!!!!!doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-78181889165304375622011-06-13T04:25:00.000-07:002011-06-13T04:28:10.095-07:00still here...still here, still training. <br />cherry starting her puppy class. she was cute, if not utterly distracted. heck, at least she didn't scream through it like rah did his first class :) <br />berlin started teaching utility :) and she was back at agility - and worked her sunday back at 26 inches and she's been fine - which is good since she's entered this coming weekend. <br /><br /> a lot to write about but not enough time!!! <br /><br />i leave you with bad blues. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250545_10150663864595078_506845077_19464446_2654032_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 540px; height: 720px;" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250545_10150663864595078_506845077_19464446_2654032_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248698_10150663864865078_506845077_19464448_7111692_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 540px; height: 720px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248698_10150663864865078_506845077_19464448_7111692_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-6377018191006945262011-05-31T04:19:00.000-07:002011-05-31T04:23:44.587-07:00outside?this past weekend rah showed (for the first time ever) outside in akc obedience... yeah, nothing like being almost 6 years old before you make your akc obedience debut outside. <br /><br />the funny thing was, it wasnt that bad. except for the almost 90 degree heat (we were 5th in the ring, so we avoided the high heat and saturday was the nicest day of all of them, had an almost breeze) of course. i kept him and cherry (Who came to socialize and play - two of my favorite judges - betsy baird and phyllis broderick (whom you may recognize from my photo of rah's second leg!) have littermate springer pups that are 5 months old and they came to the show, as well as her fake littermate bc drake and they all got to play - anyway i kept them in the car with the sun shades and they did great, it was nice and cool and much nicer than any crate in the shade would have been! we were out of there by 11, and that included me staying to watch kathy show secret. i was actually done by 9:19 :) <br /><br />s ironially all rah missed was an article. which isn't surprising, since he had lost all his confidence in articles outside after his craptastic training sessions the week prior - including some very unintentional heavy pressure at the pile including terry's feral cat and many other things. but doing everything else was nice - and just means we can show outside too. not sure i like that... <br /><br />time to go to work. here's hoping we don't lose power again - which has happened about twice a day for 4-5 hours at a time each day. not so fun.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-73737820301063687442011-05-24T03:53:00.000-07:002011-05-24T04:10:53.454-07:00still here...still here, just haven't been doing much. <br /><br />rah showed last weekend in utility b. he did everything. but on directed jumping, he took the wrong jumps. don't get me wrong. he took them BOTH. so most people didn't realize we had NQ'd but he picked his first jump and picked wrong - i sent him to the left and he went to the right - so on the second jump i sent him over the wrong jump again just to get him to go to the left. which is good because he was so wound that he took off on the go out without me actually, but realized that i hadnt sent him and actually ran backwards back to my side two steps and sat down shaking waiting to run out. i could tell right then that this exercise was going to be an exercise in (lack of?) restraint. and sure enough, he turned, sat, and almost took the jump immediately - he got right up and almost jumped but sat back down and backed up to his go out spot probably because i almost yelled at him in the ring and the look on my face was one of absolute shock!, but he was focused on the wrong jump from the start. <br /><br /><br />this is becoming very frustrating for me and im starting to lose hope. i dont know, maybe it would be easier if he didnt understand or know what he was doing. i could almost make more excuses for him then, that he doesn't know his job. but its like every trial we are at, there's one little thing that i don't know how to explain, one teeny little thing (sometimes outside of my control). which i know is obedience in some respects - but the dog is so heavily trained and proofed, but im going broke showing the dog and its not coming together. i havent even been to training much these past two weeks because im getting frustrated with him and its not his fault, but im truly just getting pissed off. everyone else and their mother have UD's now on their dogs - and half these dogs are nowhere near as proofed or trained as rah, and DONT understand their job as much as him, but they still get the job done in the ring - but rah wont or cant in the ring. he's trying to do everything so exceptionally fast that he's not slowing it down enough to think about what im ACTUALLY asking him to do, instead of what he thinks he needs to do. he's having fun doing this, but having fun doesn't get UD legs. the judge was laughing at him so much in the ring and i just wanted to ask her to STOP because it just makes it worse for him - all the laughing just makes him put on more of a show and get stupider because it encourages him. and everyone just keeps telling me to stay calm and don't encourage him and i try so hard, i know i need to be a better handler. <br /><br />he's entered this weekend, but its outside and it's been raining for 40 days and 40 nights - so im not hopeful that i will even get to show because the forecast has thunderstorms that day and i wont show him in a storm. much less jump him at 28 on wet grass. <br /><br />sorry for the whiney post. i know all this is, is whining.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4478375259787498371.post-47582553621130054282011-05-05T12:28:00.000-07:002011-05-05T12:41:09.178-07:00rahs one year post-stem cell check was today and all is awesome-sauce. so that is good news. he's currently holtered so we wil have those results soon. <br /><br />all i want for his 6 year bday next month and my 31st is a UD :) <br /><br />berlin is resting and today i have a consult with a vet friend of mine who is an acupuncturist/physical rehab person who will look at her and mercury and try to discern the source of their random pains. <br /><br />hopefully for berlin shes just sore. this past weekend she took a slip on the turf at hatfield and landed pretty much on her shoulder while running. i can see how she's sore - combine that with the balls to the wall approach my entire house has towards playing with each other and i can see that lending itself towards being ouchy. <br /><br />rah is entered in a show next weekend, and im entering him outside at the end of the month (WHAT??). im pulling berlin from all her trials this month. <br /><br />some thoughts coming as to showing these beasts coming... lots of stuff formulating in my head. the puppy is good but crazy. and updates once i know what carrie says about whitey and blacky.doberkimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249852495030596575noreply@blogger.com1