Viewing Single Post From: Working Trials

Viewing Single Post From: Working Trials
RJL	Feb 15 2009, 08:51 PM
Chatterbox Posts: 1,387 Group: Full Members Member #179 Joined: January 25, 2006	Today, it was cold again and spitting. However, we bravely set up all the jumps and markers while our pampered dogs sat in the cars. When it was time to release Dill, he flung himself at the door of the crate and did his egg-laying noise - a sure sign he is ready to go :hyper: The sendaway went well, although there is something very comical about watching a heeler trying to sprint over really wet, muddy and uneven ground. His friend, Scooby the lurcher just flies around gracefully with a sort of happy hippy look on his face no matter what the occasion or the terrian. To Dill, some of the ruts were half way up his little legs! A search square was being set up behind the jumps, so of course, being a nosey little beggar, Dill had to keep glancing back to watch the proceedings! He lined up beautifully, flew through the air, landed (eventually: he has the muscles to launch himself without the sufficient mass to land sometimes on the long jump :unsure: ) but after one perfect round, his curiosity got the better of him and he attempted to try something clever and turn his head to look behind him while in mid-air. This resulted in him somehow floating off-course half way over the long jump and landing way out to the side. I have no idea how me managed it! He defies science sometimes. His sausage-marching is coming on a treat, although his silly handler still had to learn left from right. It is such a relief to be enjoying heelwork again and doing it in a way that makes sense to me. The best news of all :yippee: he managed the 10 minute down-stay out of sight. This amazed me so much I lost track of time and before I knew it, I had less than an hour to get back to the house, have lunch and drive down to the shooting ground :yikes: However, as Dill had been so good, the bite-sleeve came out and he got to catch his criminal. First, he had to find the criminal :ph43r: who was hiding behind the scale - and bark. Usually this goes smoothly but someone ( :doh: ) had dropped a treat by the scale, so he went from doing his best big fierce dog impression to 'oh look! :) - I'll just eat that and then I'll bark again!' After that minor hiccough, the criminal made a run for it and was duly caught :yay: by a flying heeler. His leave command is really good now because he has actually consented to sit by my left leg and not the criminal's ;) Poor little doglet then got bundled back in his box and subjected to my awful driving before being deposited in his pen in the kitchen while I went off to attempt to be trained in the art of clay-shooting. I just wish I could say I pick things up as quickly as my dog, or had an ounce of his focus. I have to resort to Irish Terrier tactics and smile and try to look appealing (difficult when you are in a wooly hat and wellies) so at least the poor man who has taken it upon himself to try to teach me laughs at me rather than shouts :rolleyes: ;)


Working Trials · Working dogs