Poodles, Dog Agility, Dog Training… and Knitting

Archive for March, 2011

Working below threshold

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 Posted in training | Comments Off

I consulted with Greta Kaplan several months ago about an ongoing problem with my two standard poodles, who went nuts--barking and jumping at windows--every time someone walked by, and who went especially crazy if a dog walked by. It was ...

Weekend Report…

Monday, March 21st, 2011 Posted in life with poodles | Comments Off

In teeter news, for those of you who've been waiting, YES... Dancer did do the teeter. Once. Five tries, once. 20% is not zero. It was a weekend of highs and lows. We started with a fast run in Excellent ...

Slightly less anxiety…

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 Posted in training | Comments Off

Debbie said today that she would expect Dancer to do the teeter at the trial this weekend. She reminded me to take her out quietly and calmly if she doesn't. She reminded me not to overhandle--don't crowd her, just expect ...

Teeter optimism…

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 Posted in training | Comments Off

Dancer and I have a three-day AKC trial coming up this weekend, and I am optimistic that this will be the trial where she does the teeter with confidence. In practice, in both barns, she is happy to do the ...

The pursuit of excellence

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 Posted in training | Comments Off

I've been thinking about methods of climbing up off the OK Plateau--wouldn't want to fall down off it!--and I went back to a few business books that I've read recently for ideas. The first one is Talent Is Overrated: What ...

The OK Plateau…

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 Posted in training | Comments Off

Don't ask me why the idea of the OK Plateau has stuck so firmly with me. But it has. I went to my barn time yesterday with the idea that not one minute of my training time would be merely ...

4:21 AM

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 Posted in life with poodles | Comments Off

At precisely 4:21 in the morning, Elly started barking furiously. I startled awake. I was alarmed, worried that we were going to have a repeat of the recent night from hell. Then I realized she wasn't standing at the door, ...