Miikka had her ultrasound this morning.
She's pregnant!!
Vet saw "6, but probably there's more".
Ultrasounds are inaccurate at best, but a good vet can usually count within 2-3 pups. Generally their estimate is lower then what is in there.
Can't wait!
August 15, 2011
August 11, 2011
Lil Miss Manners
Loki (the Arson puppy I'm raising) has been taught to not be rude when another dog is eating, and butt in to their food dish.
Here she is practicing every bit of restraint she has while watching Ahti finish her dinner.
August 10, 2011
Miikka's Brace
Miikka got her new brace on Monday. It is a custom made orthotic made by OrthoPets.
It is a world famous company and I'm so lucky that they happen to be in Denver.
A week ago, they made a cast (mold) of Miikka's leg and the brace was designed just for her and her injury.
She is showing no discomfort while wearing it, and we take it off at night when she goes to bed. She will be able to be a lot more active while wearing this and it will be adjusted every two weeks as her achilles tendon heals.
When she is all better (8 weeks they guess), then the brace can be used as a "sports" brace for her.
The things they can do nowadays...
August 7, 2011
Libby on the List
My Little Libby, who mysteriously lost her brain the last two week-ends, was back in full force this week-end.
She WON the Derby, which put her on the US Derby List. Her littermate Zink was second, thus giving Elmingo a great Derby showing and I'm sure that made Momma Miikka and Daddy Shaq very proud.
Zink now has 27 Derby points and Libby has 12.
Kenny ran Darbi in the Open and they went out in the first series. It was a tough test and Darbs tried real hard.
I need to break out my camera as I haven't been taking many pictures lately. Look for some this week.
She WON the Derby, which put her on the US Derby List. Her littermate Zink was second, thus giving Elmingo a great Derby showing and I'm sure that made Momma Miikka and Daddy Shaq very proud.
Zink now has 27 Derby points and Libby has 12.
Kenny ran Darbi in the Open and they went out in the first series. It was a tough test and Darbs tried real hard.
I need to break out my camera as I haven't been taking many pictures lately. Look for some this week.
August 1, 2011
Not One Bird
I didn't get one bird at the trial this week-end.
Nada. Zip. Zilch.
I have to think back about 4 or 5 years to the last time that happened...when Darbi broke in an Open in Canada.
Well, she did it again. She broke in the first series of the Open.
I'd like to think that a 175 yard flyer is NOT a breaking bird...but nobody told Darbi that.
She.Just.Left.
And to add misery to company, she tried to break AGAIN on the honor when she was ON LEASH.
To say I was stunned, was an understatement.
Darbi is creeping?? And now breaking??? What happened to my dead serious, dead steady dog?? Well, she is having the time of her life...that's what is happening. It is a fine balance to train a dog at this level. We have her in the right frame of mind, the BEST frame of mind, that she has ever been in. But we need to reel her in a little bit...just a wee little bit. Too much pressure on line and she gets stale...too little...and well, we know what happens now.
And Libby...Little Lunatic Libby.
I picked her up on the flyer in the first series of the Derby.
She was quiet in the holding blind. Good going to line and watched the birds nicely. But when I released her, it was akin to a patient escaping a mental hospital without their medications. She went under the arc of the flyer and ran WAY deep and then started to run around in random places. I got tired of watching it and picked her up. Well, my sweet little dog that is so nice in training WOULD NOT pick up and I had to walk out to the field and get her. The Walk Of Shame they call it...and shameful it was.
This week-end will go down in the Anals of Field Trials (spelling mistake intentional) I'm sure.
But my spirits were lifted thanks to the children of my "girls".
"Turq" (Darbi x Prime 2008) WON the Qualifying at this trial and "Zink" (Miikka x Shaq 2009) was SECOND in the Derby, bring him to a total of 24 Derby points at 19 months.
WAY TO GO kids!!!
Nada. Zip. Zilch.
I have to think back about 4 or 5 years to the last time that happened...when Darbi broke in an Open in Canada.
Well, she did it again. She broke in the first series of the Open.
I'd like to think that a 175 yard flyer is NOT a breaking bird...but nobody told Darbi that.
She.Just.Left.
And to add misery to company, she tried to break AGAIN on the honor when she was ON LEASH.
To say I was stunned, was an understatement.
Darbi is creeping?? And now breaking??? What happened to my dead serious, dead steady dog?? Well, she is having the time of her life...that's what is happening. It is a fine balance to train a dog at this level. We have her in the right frame of mind, the BEST frame of mind, that she has ever been in. But we need to reel her in a little bit...just a wee little bit. Too much pressure on line and she gets stale...too little...and well, we know what happens now.
And Libby...Little Lunatic Libby.
I picked her up on the flyer in the first series of the Derby.
She was quiet in the holding blind. Good going to line and watched the birds nicely. But when I released her, it was akin to a patient escaping a mental hospital without their medications. She went under the arc of the flyer and ran WAY deep and then started to run around in random places. I got tired of watching it and picked her up. Well, my sweet little dog that is so nice in training WOULD NOT pick up and I had to walk out to the field and get her. The Walk Of Shame they call it...and shameful it was.
This week-end will go down in the Anals of Field Trials (spelling mistake intentional) I'm sure.
But my spirits were lifted thanks to the children of my "girls".
"Turq" (Darbi x Prime 2008) WON the Qualifying at this trial and "Zink" (Miikka x Shaq 2009) was SECOND in the Derby, bring him to a total of 24 Derby points at 19 months.
WAY TO GO kids!!!
July 24, 2011
Seven Stages of Grief
The streak is over.
Libby didn't just not finish the Derby this week-end, she did so in spectacular fashion.
First series was a TINY little double. Not tight, not long, no cover changes...the longest bird wasn't over 70 yards. Serious.
She pinned the flyer and then went under the arc of the memory bird, and without hesitation, went hyper speed back to the flyer.
As I stood on the line watching this, I went through the Seven Stages of Grief:
1) Shock & Denial: "No way she is going back THERE"
2) Pain & Guilt: "I wonder if it's because I haven't been getting on her for making dumb loops behind a gun. Maybe it's my fault."
3) Anger & Bargaining: "TWEEEETTTTT. GET IN HERE!!"
4) Depression & Reflection: "That was depressing."
5) The Upward Turn: "Well, it WAS just a little test and she's been doing bigger stuff".
6) Reconstruction: "I need to work on her run around in the first series".
7) Acceptance & Hope: "Hey, she's cute anyways and it made me laugh".
And then I was over it. On to the next trial. She's just a dog after all, isn't she?
On a happier note, Darbi finished yet another Open with a JAM. She's finished 3 of the last 4 here in the US and is running great!
She was in fantastic shape going into the last series as one of only 17 of 75 dogs to do the first series (and she did it very well) and she had a great water blind. The last series was a big Quad, which scared me to death. She got one bird pretty ugly, but did the test without a handle. She was so much fun to run, as she has been as of late.
Kenny said to me after "she may not be the most talented dog I've ever seen, but she is certainly one of the smartest I've ever trained". She used her brains to figure the test out and didn't look too shabby doing it. I'm thinking I should let Kenny run her soon...but I just don't want to give her up. We're having WAY too much fun, just the two of us.
Libby didn't just not finish the Derby this week-end, she did so in spectacular fashion.
First series was a TINY little double. Not tight, not long, no cover changes...the longest bird wasn't over 70 yards. Serious.
She pinned the flyer and then went under the arc of the memory bird, and without hesitation, went hyper speed back to the flyer.
As I stood on the line watching this, I went through the Seven Stages of Grief:
1) Shock & Denial: "No way she is going back THERE"
2) Pain & Guilt: "I wonder if it's because I haven't been getting on her for making dumb loops behind a gun. Maybe it's my fault."
3) Anger & Bargaining: "TWEEEETTTTT. GET IN HERE!!"
4) Depression & Reflection: "That was depressing."
5) The Upward Turn: "Well, it WAS just a little test and she's been doing bigger stuff".
6) Reconstruction: "I need to work on her run around in the first series".
7) Acceptance & Hope: "Hey, she's cute anyways and it made me laugh".
And then I was over it. On to the next trial. She's just a dog after all, isn't she?
On a happier note, Darbi finished yet another Open with a JAM. She's finished 3 of the last 4 here in the US and is running great!
She was in fantastic shape going into the last series as one of only 17 of 75 dogs to do the first series (and she did it very well) and she had a great water blind. The last series was a big Quad, which scared me to death. She got one bird pretty ugly, but did the test without a handle. She was so much fun to run, as she has been as of late.
Kenny said to me after "she may not be the most talented dog I've ever seen, but she is certainly one of the smartest I've ever trained". She used her brains to figure the test out and didn't look too shabby doing it. I'm thinking I should let Kenny run her soon...but I just don't want to give her up. We're having WAY too much fun, just the two of us.
July 20, 2011
Go Pedro
I guess dropping his name yesterday on this blog helped!
My racehorse, affectionately known as Pedro, WON tonight.
Yeah Pedro!
Miikka had her ortho consult today. She's going to get fitted for an orthotic brace and we have a treatment plan in place for her. The ortho vet thought that with her improvement since the injury, and further physio treatment, she should be back to normal in 8-12 weeks. It brought tears to my eyes. He even felt that she may be able to chase a tennis ball, do light hunting and pretty much do anything but field training in the future.
Such a great day today.
My racehorse, affectionately known as Pedro, WON tonight.
Yeah Pedro!
Miikka had her ortho consult today. She's going to get fitted for an orthotic brace and we have a treatment plan in place for her. The ortho vet thought that with her improvement since the injury, and further physio treatment, she should be back to normal in 8-12 weeks. It brought tears to my eyes. He even felt that she may be able to chase a tennis ball, do light hunting and pretty much do anything but field training in the future.
Such a great day today.
July 19, 2011
Flip Your Lid
Look what I found!!
I have a book full of old win pictures from when my Grandparents had their horse racing stable.
As you know, I've named all my dogs after horses raced under the Elmingo Stables banner.
I found a picture of Libby's namesake in the stack of photos.
From the looks of the purse money, Flip Your Lid was running in a bottom claimers race, but a win is a win.
My Grandparents are the couple on the left in the photo. Sadly my Grandma passed away years ago, but I own a share of a racehorse, Cactus Cut, and Grandpa is his "honorary" owner. It's been so much fun to share a horse with him and I owe my love of horse racing (and horses) to my Grandparents.
Flip Your Lid actually raced for Rotary Stable, which was a partnership between my Grandpa and a friend of his.
July 18, 2011
Green Team
Tim jokingly called themselves the Green Team...and the name stuck.
Left: Elmingo's Pacific Eider MH *** - owned by John Hatfield (Shaq x Miikka 2007)
Middle: Elmingo's With One Twist*** - owned by Time Duhaime (Shaq x Miikka 2007)
Right: Elmingo's Violence On Request - owned by Rod Neterer (Prime x Darbi 2008)
THREE Elmingo puppies ran the triple Qualifying in Logan Lake, BC a couple weeks ago and they did very well. All three finished one or more!
What is to be extra proud of...is that all are Amateur owner handled and trained. We had Matti for a short time 1 1/2 years ago, but Tim has done pretty much all of her work himself. I "believe" it was Rod's FIRST field trial and he trains by himself in Alaska. What an accomplishment!!
I'm so proud of my Elmingo babies and it's nice to see that no matter where they are from, or where they go, they are all one big family.
On another note:
Miikka was bred for the second time today to Arson. We'll ultrasound in 26 or so days. Keep fingers crossed!
July 16, 2011
Growing Up
Elmingo's Lone Ranger ("Spur" Prize x Darbi 2011) doing some retrieving.
All the pups in the litter are starting to lose their baby teeth and will shortly begin formal training. It's a big step to move from being a puppy to the beginnings of being a "big dog".
And what does Spur think of this upcoming change in status...
Pfffttttt.
July 12, 2011
Getting closer
Miikka is getting closer to ovulation. It "looks" like we'll do the first breeding to Arson on Saturday. We're going to re-check her progesterone on Thursday to be sure.
We're doing a "side by side" Artifical Insemination with this breeding to protect Miikka's leg.
Miikka has been used as a "teaser" for Arson this past week while we collected him so we can ship some of his semen to a breeder in Australia...so she pretty much thinks he's a pervert.
Her leg is MUCH improved, but we still have a ways to go.
Some people have asked me if this injury was genetic, but I've been assured by people way smarter then me that it is not and it was due to wear of tear, much like any athlete can hurt their achilles.
A giant thank you goes out to Dr. Shmon in Saskatoon, who has been an invaluable resource, and to Dr. Burns, who's a reproduction vet by trade, but he's who I see for everything and he's wonderful.
Miikka has an appointment with an ortho vet next week to carry forward with her treatment, which will include a moderate splint and some physio, which I've already started.
I'll do anything for the Peanut.
We're doing a "side by side" Artifical Insemination with this breeding to protect Miikka's leg.
Miikka has been used as a "teaser" for Arson this past week while we collected him so we can ship some of his semen to a breeder in Australia...so she pretty much thinks he's a pervert.
Her leg is MUCH improved, but we still have a ways to go.
Some people have asked me if this injury was genetic, but I've been assured by people way smarter then me that it is not and it was due to wear of tear, much like any athlete can hurt their achilles.
A giant thank you goes out to Dr. Shmon in Saskatoon, who has been an invaluable resource, and to Dr. Burns, who's a reproduction vet by trade, but he's who I see for everything and he's wonderful.
Miikka has an appointment with an ortho vet next week to carry forward with her treatment, which will include a moderate splint and some physio, which I've already started.
I'll do anything for the Peanut.
July 7, 2011
July 5, 2011
Couple of Pics
A couple of pictures of Libby and I from the Double D/Q this week-end.
Here we are on line for the fourth series. I remember what was going through my mind at the time: "Her ear is bugging me...I'd like to reach down and flip it back". Seriously. That's what I was thinking.
OCD anyone?
And she's off!
A fun picture of Libby's litter brother Zink and their daddy Shaq. Shaq is now retired after an amazing career.
July 3, 2011
7 for 7
Way to go Libby.
She finished 2 more Derbies in Colorado this week-end and is now 7 for 7. She was great in the water, but loose on land, so she finished with two JAMs. I'm starting to call her a Walmart Bag as she's taken a new liking to sailing with the wind and hooking guns. We'll work on that. There's ALWAYS something to work on.
Libby's brother Zink finished with a third today, giving him 21 Derby points now!!!
Another great week-end for Horsetooth in Canada. Final tally of the three weekends up there is 10 dogs qualified for the Canadian National, 3 titled dogs (including my very own Darbi!) and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd today.
I'm exhausted. Long week-end. Part of the double Derby/ Qualifying was on our property this week-end, so I've worked hard getting the place in tip top shape. Now for some rest.
She finished 2 more Derbies in Colorado this week-end and is now 7 for 7. She was great in the water, but loose on land, so she finished with two JAMs. I'm starting to call her a Walmart Bag as she's taken a new liking to sailing with the wind and hooking guns. We'll work on that. There's ALWAYS something to work on.
Libby's brother Zink finished with a third today, giving him 21 Derby points now!!!
Another great week-end for Horsetooth in Canada. Final tally of the three weekends up there is 10 dogs qualified for the Canadian National, 3 titled dogs (including my very own Darbi!) and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd today.
I'm exhausted. Long week-end. Part of the double Derby/ Qualifying was on our property this week-end, so I've worked hard getting the place in tip top shape. Now for some rest.
June 27, 2011
Peanut is in
Miikka is in season.
We're breeding her to FC FTCH LKY's Controlled Burn.
I'm very excited about this breeding for many reasons.
Arson is level headed, consistent and tries very hard. As mentioned in previous posts, he got three AA placements with three different handlers in 2 week-ends this year. Amateur First with Brad, Open Second with Kenny and Open Second with me. Not many dogs can say that. One of the very first times I ran him...EVER, we won an Open together in Canada. As I walked off the line that day. after the last test, I said to Kenny: "so this is what it's like to drive a ferrari!".
His mother (FC AFC Mizpah Miss) is also our house dog. She is a 3x National Finalist and Kenny says Arson is a lot like her. I love how they're not great at any one thing, but they're sure good at everything. Arson can mark, he can run blinds, he's very good in the water, he's stylish, he's tractable...what's not to like?
I think he's a great match for Miikka.
I'm not just breeding to Arson, I'm breeding to his mother Miz. "Families to families". That's what I've been taught from breeders I look up to. I've also been around a brother of Arson's and trained with Miz's mother quite a bit a number of years ago.
Plus, I have a puppy here I'm raising...she's 11 weeks old...from Arson's first breeding. She is a hoot. She retrieved, literally, right off the plane. She's easy to have around and seems like a smart little gaffer.
I like the family. I know the family. Let's go for it.
We're breeding her to FC FTCH LKY's Controlled Burn.
I'm very excited about this breeding for many reasons.
Arson is level headed, consistent and tries very hard. As mentioned in previous posts, he got three AA placements with three different handlers in 2 week-ends this year. Amateur First with Brad, Open Second with Kenny and Open Second with me. Not many dogs can say that. One of the very first times I ran him...EVER, we won an Open together in Canada. As I walked off the line that day. after the last test, I said to Kenny: "so this is what it's like to drive a ferrari!".
His mother (FC AFC Mizpah Miss) is also our house dog. She is a 3x National Finalist and Kenny says Arson is a lot like her. I love how they're not great at any one thing, but they're sure good at everything. Arson can mark, he can run blinds, he's very good in the water, he's stylish, he's tractable...what's not to like?
I think he's a great match for Miikka.
I'm not just breeding to Arson, I'm breeding to his mother Miz. "Families to families". That's what I've been taught from breeders I look up to. I've also been around a brother of Arson's and trained with Miz's mother quite a bit a number of years ago.
Plus, I have a puppy here I'm raising...she's 11 weeks old...from Arson's first breeding. She is a hoot. She retrieved, literally, right off the plane. She's easy to have around and seems like a smart little gaffer.
I like the family. I know the family. Let's go for it.
June 25, 2011
Three in a row!
Another great day for Team Horsetooth in Saskatoon!!
1st - FC Westwood's Sunday Silence (NEW FTCH!!!)
2nd - Big Red Herding Cats
4th - FTCH AFTCH Maralan's CEO
RJ - Backwater's Boomer
Now we have SEVEN qualified!!! (Plus Ollie makes eight of course).
YEAH!!!
1st - FC Westwood's Sunday Silence (NEW FTCH!!!)
2nd - Big Red Herding Cats
4th - FTCH AFTCH Maralan's CEO
RJ - Backwater's Boomer
Now we have SEVEN qualified!!! (Plus Ollie makes eight of course).
YEAH!!!
June 23, 2011
Scratch!
For all of you Darbi fans out there...
HI Mom!!
...she is being scratched from the trial in Canada this week-end. She met both her objectives in short order, a title and a National Qualification.
We're going to give Momma D a rest and try to qualify a couple more dogs.
Our focus is finishing her FC now.
HI Mom!!
...she is being scratched from the trial in Canada this week-end. She met both her objectives in short order, a title and a National Qualification.
We're going to give Momma D a rest and try to qualify a couple more dogs.
Our focus is finishing her FC now.
June 21, 2011
Handsome boys
First litter, last litter for Darbi.
On the left is Elmingo Flight DirectorXXXVI*** (Tiger x Darbi 2006)
and on the right is Elmingo's Lone Ranger (Prize x Darbi 2011)
Both of these handsome boys live in Ohio.
I think it's safe to say that Darbi throws herself. :-)
June 19, 2011
FINALLY! FTCH Darbi
Darbi got ANOTHER third today in the second Open at Lethbridge. She is now FTCH Darbinator.
It's been a long time coming and she deserves it.
Tears of joy for my "heart" dog, my first trial dog and the 4-legged love of my life.
I'm going to need a couple days to let it sink in.
Kenny WON the Open again the second day with Backwater Boomer...a wonderful up and coming young dog. He's only 3 and made it to the fourth series in the last two US Opens he ran in. Although all the dogs in the kennel are special to me, Boomer grabbed my heart from day one and he's my best buddy.
It's been a long time coming and she deserves it.
Tears of joy for my "heart" dog, my first trial dog and the 4-legged love of my life.
I'm going to need a couple days to let it sink in.
Kenny WON the Open again the second day with Backwater Boomer...a wonderful up and coming young dog. He's only 3 and made it to the fourth series in the last two US Opens he ran in. Although all the dogs in the kennel are special to me, Boomer grabbed my heart from day one and he's my best buddy.
This was Miikka's and Ahti's reaction when I told them.
First day in Lethbridge
Good first day in Lethbridge, Alberta for Kenny and the gang.
1st - FC Westwood's Sunday Silence
3rd - Revilo's At Full Tilt
4th - Backwater Smokin Turq
RJ - FTCH AFTCH Maralan's CEO
Darbi needs ONE more point for her FTCH. It's been a long time coming! Like I've always said...she really struggled the first years with me training her, not knowing what I was doing, and she's finally the dog I knew she always could be under Kenny's tutelage.
And CONGRATS to Darbi's son Turq (Prime x Darbi 2008) for placing in his very FIRST Open!!! I couldn't be more proud.
It takes only a placement to qualify for the Canadian National and we have FOUR qualified already (plus Ollie makes 5). Arson qualified by way of his being a National finalist last year. Ollie is qualified too via his finalist status, but he is now enjoying his well deserved retirement.
Arson is competing in the US National Amateur this week. Good luck Arson!!!
Another Open today. Fingers crossed for everyone.
1st - FC Westwood's Sunday Silence
3rd - Revilo's At Full Tilt
4th - Backwater Smokin Turq
RJ - FTCH AFTCH Maralan's CEO
Darbi needs ONE more point for her FTCH. It's been a long time coming! Like I've always said...she really struggled the first years with me training her, not knowing what I was doing, and she's finally the dog I knew she always could be under Kenny's tutelage.
And CONGRATS to Darbi's son Turq (Prime x Darbi 2008) for placing in his very FIRST Open!!! I couldn't be more proud.
It takes only a placement to qualify for the Canadian National and we have FOUR qualified already (plus Ollie makes 5). Arson qualified by way of his being a National finalist last year. Ollie is qualified too via his finalist status, but he is now enjoying his well deserved retirement.
Arson is competing in the US National Amateur this week. Good luck Arson!!!
Another Open today. Fingers crossed for everyone.
June 13, 2011
What makes a good dog.
From here on out, I'm going to try to do some training articles from time to time.
I have sure learned a lot in the past 2-3 years while being with Kenny and I have a LONG ways to go. But I hope to add some things that I have learned on this blog.
According to Kenny, four things make a good field trial dog:
1) Trainability
2) Marking
3) Desire
4) Guts
Trainability is a all-encompassing label. A trainable dog is one that is intelligent, a team player, handles pressure well and learns. Trainable dogs may not always know what it is that we're trying to teach, but they WANT to learn and generally do not make the same mistakes over and over.
Dogs that are low on the trainability scale can include:
-dogs that are hard to force fetch
-dogs that are very difficult in the water and don't imrpove
-dogs that have trouble with multiples
-dogs with a poor attitude
Marking is somewhat genetic and somewhat taught. Knowing WHERE to go is genetic, and knowing where NOT to go is taught. Some dogs never figure out where NOT to go (they keep going back to the flyer regardless of the number of lessons against this) and these dogs would be also low on the trainability scale, as well as marking. Great markers never seem to have to be taught this lesson.
Knowing where not to go is just as important as knowing where the bird is in the big All-Age tests judges put up.
I have seen puppies at 6 months of age not knowing how to mark a single at 25 yards, and never improve. This could be due to poor eyesight, lack of focus, lack of desire, too MUCH desire or just missing the genetic quality that makes a good marker. I have seen fantastic markers out of no-name parents, and very poor markers out of very accomplished, titled parents. Generally, the better the family, the better the marker though.
Desire can be a tricky one. It is inherently genetic, but desire can also be taken out of a dog pretty quickly with poor training. Especially with young dogs, we try to not make the learning more difficult then the desire of the dog. Kenny calls it the plateau. When a dog is ready, they need to be pushed upwards and onwards. This will cause stress for the dog (and owner!!). It will take time for the dog to reach this new level of expectation, and no more degree of difficulty should be added at this time. Once a dog "plateaus" at this level and begins to have a large amount of success over time, then we can do another push up. This type of training keeps the desire level high and the dog progressing. The desire needs to be there in the first place though.
Guts is an intangible quality. We believe guts are taught. A dogs LEARNS that it can swim 250 yards in a cross wind and be brave in doing it. But, as with the other criteria, some dogs never get those guts no matter how well we try to teach it.
As you can see, all these criteria blend into one another. Guts is desire, and desire is guts. But a dog can have desire with no guts and vice versa. It really is more an art then a science.
Be sure to teach slowly and thoroughly. Don't push the dog more then it's ready for and don't ever "test" for guts. Evaluate your dog thoughtfully and work on the weaknesses. There is no such thing as the perfect dog.
I have sure learned a lot in the past 2-3 years while being with Kenny and I have a LONG ways to go. But I hope to add some things that I have learned on this blog.
According to Kenny, four things make a good field trial dog:
1) Trainability
2) Marking
3) Desire
4) Guts
Trainability is a all-encompassing label. A trainable dog is one that is intelligent, a team player, handles pressure well and learns. Trainable dogs may not always know what it is that we're trying to teach, but they WANT to learn and generally do not make the same mistakes over and over.
Dogs that are low on the trainability scale can include:
-dogs that are hard to force fetch
-dogs that are very difficult in the water and don't imrpove
-dogs that have trouble with multiples
-dogs with a poor attitude
Marking is somewhat genetic and somewhat taught. Knowing WHERE to go is genetic, and knowing where NOT to go is taught. Some dogs never figure out where NOT to go (they keep going back to the flyer regardless of the number of lessons against this) and these dogs would be also low on the trainability scale, as well as marking. Great markers never seem to have to be taught this lesson.
Knowing where not to go is just as important as knowing where the bird is in the big All-Age tests judges put up.
I have seen puppies at 6 months of age not knowing how to mark a single at 25 yards, and never improve. This could be due to poor eyesight, lack of focus, lack of desire, too MUCH desire or just missing the genetic quality that makes a good marker. I have seen fantastic markers out of no-name parents, and very poor markers out of very accomplished, titled parents. Generally, the better the family, the better the marker though.
Desire can be a tricky one. It is inherently genetic, but desire can also be taken out of a dog pretty quickly with poor training. Especially with young dogs, we try to not make the learning more difficult then the desire of the dog. Kenny calls it the plateau. When a dog is ready, they need to be pushed upwards and onwards. This will cause stress for the dog (and owner!!). It will take time for the dog to reach this new level of expectation, and no more degree of difficulty should be added at this time. Once a dog "plateaus" at this level and begins to have a large amount of success over time, then we can do another push up. This type of training keeps the desire level high and the dog progressing. The desire needs to be there in the first place though.
Guts is an intangible quality. We believe guts are taught. A dogs LEARNS that it can swim 250 yards in a cross wind and be brave in doing it. But, as with the other criteria, some dogs never get those guts no matter how well we try to teach it.
As you can see, all these criteria blend into one another. Guts is desire, and desire is guts. But a dog can have desire with no guts and vice versa. It really is more an art then a science.
Be sure to teach slowly and thoroughly. Don't push the dog more then it's ready for and don't ever "test" for guts. Evaluate your dog thoughtfully and work on the weaknesses. There is no such thing as the perfect dog.
Another win!!
Congrats AGAIN to Rett and Zink for winning another Derby. This is the third win by 17 months for this wonderful team. Zink now has 19 derby points.
Zink is a littermate to Libby and is out of the Shaq x Miikka litter of 2009.
Way to go!!!
June 12, 2011
Productive Week-end
Back home from the trial in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Had a very fun week-end.
Darbi finished the Open with a JAM. She was in very good shape going into the last series, but had a big hunt on the last bird of the trial. I was very proud of her...and told her so. She did a few things that made me especially proud.
She tried very hard and went very tight to obstacles (gunner and flyer crates) on the double land blind. Darbi does not like going tight to anything she thinks may get her in trouble...so I was so happy that she trusted me and took the great cast she took to slide by the crates.
She ran an excellent water blind. The initial line was past water...another thing that makes her squeamish. And there were several dicey water re-entries that she took on her own. A dog needed to be seeking water on this blind, as they were out of sight at several critical moments. She was balanced enough to run past water and then hit every piece of water afterwards. And she did it in only 4 whistles!
I was most proud of her last series. She went off line on her own going to the last bird TRYING to be a good girl and take an extra piece of water. Some dogs did this and never recovered. She ended up deep and upwind of the bird and worked in out on her own. A real effort on her part.
She didn't even creep! Okay...maybe she did...but just a tiny little bit.
And Libby got a Reserve JAM in the Derby (5th place). It was a very fun Derby to run and I really enjoyed it. Libby needs big water tests to really shine, and unfortunately for us we ran three land series and a little water series. She is becoming more focused every day and takes her job very seriously. She does not take life seriously at all though. She does get happy feet on her land marks, but her hunts are becoming better all the time. The judge called her a "pocket rocket" which made me laugh...that's my Wibbs.
Darbi finished the Open with a JAM. She was in very good shape going into the last series, but had a big hunt on the last bird of the trial. I was very proud of her...and told her so. She did a few things that made me especially proud.
She tried very hard and went very tight to obstacles (gunner and flyer crates) on the double land blind. Darbi does not like going tight to anything she thinks may get her in trouble...so I was so happy that she trusted me and took the great cast she took to slide by the crates.
She ran an excellent water blind. The initial line was past water...another thing that makes her squeamish. And there were several dicey water re-entries that she took on her own. A dog needed to be seeking water on this blind, as they were out of sight at several critical moments. She was balanced enough to run past water and then hit every piece of water afterwards. And she did it in only 4 whistles!
I was most proud of her last series. She went off line on her own going to the last bird TRYING to be a good girl and take an extra piece of water. Some dogs did this and never recovered. She ended up deep and upwind of the bird and worked in out on her own. A real effort on her part.
She didn't even creep! Okay...maybe she did...but just a tiny little bit.
And Libby got a Reserve JAM in the Derby (5th place). It was a very fun Derby to run and I really enjoyed it. Libby needs big water tests to really shine, and unfortunately for us we ran three land series and a little water series. She is becoming more focused every day and takes her job very seriously. She does not take life seriously at all though. She does get happy feet on her land marks, but her hunts are becoming better all the time. The judge called her a "pocket rocket" which made me laugh...that's my Wibbs.
June 2, 2011
Miikka's Leg
Poor Peanut.
Although she doesn't look too bad today, I thought I would share a quick video of what her leg looks like.
Classic Achilles Injury: dropped hock and curled toes.
We're consulting with an ortho specialist to see what we can do for her.
Ahti the brat
A neat photo of Darbi's daughter Meg with her BLUE ribbon from this past week-end!!
And speaking of Darbi daughters...I haven't posted about Ahti in a while. I thought it was time for a little update. As much as Libby is her mother's daughter, so is Ahti. She is an "easy" puppy, just like Darbi was and is so much fun to have around.
I tried to take a nice picture of Darbi to celebrate her third place in the Open two weeks ago...
but Ahti decided SHE needed to be the center of attention.
Darbi looks like she's actually laughing at her daughter (or is wondering how she ever gave birth to such a brat).
One day Ahti...one day.
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