3rd in Beginners

We still haven't quite managed a red one, but Jesse and I got 3rd in Beginners today at Surrey! I am really pleased, particularly also because he did a lovely Novice training round too with lots of enthusiasm and working nicely. So I think we are on the right track and I can't wait till next Sunday for the Training Bonanza - a training day with various trainers... that should help pushing me towards the red one.

 

And here is the Group picture (by Dave Scott)

 

 

And added on 29th June 2013: the show report

 

3rd. Ms. V. Marney and WEIAMBEA JESSE JAMES. American Cocker. Losing 4.3/4 and winning r/o with the following dog. When Jesse puts his mind to it he can do some lovely high stepping heelwork, not as good as I have seen him work but good enough to get this place. Also a very big 'step in' on the heelfree probably cost you 2nd place. However, it is lovely to see other breeds in this sport and you have worked jolly hard with Jesse. Well done.

 

Teaching something useful

On Sunday, I thought I'd teach the spaniels something useful in the park... searching for my keys. LOL

Starting the season with a red one

SEDTS had a 3-way match on Sunday. Jesse was working in Beginners of course and ....... he got the red one. I was really pleased with him. He was keen and happy, a bit wide on the heelwork, but great attitude and his tail never stopped wagging! Here's a few pictures that Chris too of us:

Just a picture

We had a lovely walk in the country park today - finally it has dried out a bit and the dogs are not covered in mud anymore when we get home.

Some pictures

This morning... Hello, good morning, mummy!

 

 

And some pictures I took on our snowy walk a couple of week ago at Addington Hills.

 

 

 

 

 

Training Week-end with Kamal Fernandez

Jesse and I went to a training week-end with Kamal Fernandez. We had a fantastic time and learnt lots. Most of the training is done the same way as we do it with Pat and Michael, but a couple of techniques were different. Some of the things that stuck in my mind particularly:

• Difference between handling and training! Posture in handling needs to be upright and straight, in training it can be different to help the dog. 

• Work for drive! Get the dog excited enough that they are super keen to do whatever they are asked. This is done with playing and treats (throwing them so the dog moves).

• Vary rewards depending on quality of work! Ok performance gets verbal praise, good performance a treat and super performance a crazy game or whatever the dog loves best.

• Don't be happy with average, expect super! Aim for great performance, not just ok performance... this ties in with drive and rewards!

• Get your footwork right, woman! LOL I have finally found a way to do turns that suits me by keeping my feet within touching distance when turning. I have been practising loads and it works better for me than any other turns I have tried so far.

• Proofing, proofing, proofing! Proofing exercises for all eventualities in the ring (or indeed in real life) will prevent losing valuable points if something unexpected or unusual happens in the ring and will also give the dog more overall confidence because they are used to all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff going on around them whilst they are working. I am proud to say that Jesse's attention was really good, I guess he is used to working with three others dogs in his space etc. 

Kamal was great. Jesse and I were the odd one out for various reasons: we were the only ones that had never trained with him as it was a training week-end with his regular group, and Jesse was the only small dog and I was one of the least experienced handlers there. But we were made to feel very welcome by everyone and we had a great time!

Happy 6th Birthday, Jesse James

I can't quite believe that it is already 6 years since this little bundle of fluff came into this world and my life! Happy 6th Birthday, my beautiful boy!

Well... Tunbridge Wells obedience show

Well, I entered Jesse in one more obedience show which was Tunbridge Wells. It was yesterday and I am so pleased that Jesse was really enthusiastic and happy during both the Novice round (which I trained) and the Beginners! His heelwork wasn't very close, but it was consistent. He came 2nd! I am disappointed that we still didn't manage that red rosette but I am over the moon that he is happy and cheerful in the ring.

I have also booked into a week-end course with Kamal Fernandez end of January. And I am really, really looking forward to that. I hope that with another pair of eyes and more tips, I will be able to get Jesse out of Beginners next year.

Great Baddow Obedience show and others

I have done a couple more obedience shows with Jesse, but it looks like he has lost his mojo... His heelwork is sluggish, though recall and retrieve is great! Really need to work on that and do more training rounds with just short bits of heelwork to get him enthusiastic about it again.

He came 7th today, which was a shame as not in the cards, but he really didn't work great - so deserved. :-(

Never mind, we'll try again next Sunday at our last show of the season BAGSD.

Jesse's new hair-do

About three weeks ago, Jesse needed antibotics as he had a skin infection. It still hasn't cleared up, so we are probably off to the vet's again this week for another course...

Today, I have bathed and clipped Jesse, and I clipped him shorter for the first time. I am not sure yet whether I like it or not, but we'll see whether I get used to it. I can always let it grow to full coat again if I want to... though Jesse I suspect will be cooler now that it's a bit shorter. I took a huge amount of coat off LOL

You allright up there?