Morgan's Training

Okay, it has been months since I wrote last and at least two people have called me on it so here it is, Morgan's latest training notes. I have been working on a freestyle routine for her because we are having a freestyle competition next weekend in our own training building. Morgan was supposed to be entered but I sent her entry to the wrong e-mail address. ARRGGG! She will show at the match and do a demo during the competition--maybe.

Anyway she has learned most of the tricks for the routine in the last month. I'll describe her routine. Our music is "What a Feelin'" from the first FAME movie. On the slow part, she heels (kinda) in a circle to the left and changes sides and heels in a circle to the right. She has gotten right side heeling down pretty well but I have to have treats for her to do anything so far. She is still learning how to stand on her hind legs and spin in a circle. She does it better turning to the left than she does turning to the right. I think I will skip doing the right spin for the match this weekend and start working on it after the competition. Then, we do the rally 1, step, 2 step, 3 steps front and she does a right finish just as the faster music starts. I skip around in a circle, stop and then she circles around me as I turn in the opposite direction. Then she weaves through my legs. We have had to work on getting her to put her head down. If she lifts it up, she can knock me down--not good. I tell her 'head down' and she knows that from the grooming table :-) After the weaves, I skip in the opposite direction, go down on one knee and she cicles around me. I struggle up and bring her toward me and she leaps over my left leg and then my right leg--she does that twice, finally she does a half spin to the right (on all fours) and backs up between my legs and then we back up together. She does a half finish and comes in through my legs from the back and stops--I throw my hands in the air--times up!

This has been a great routine to train but I'm still luring her half the time. I have NOT taught this dog to offer behaviors and I do need to back up and have her learn that becuase the cookies are all too important to her. She learns and REALLY fast but we are both dependent on treats and I HATE that. I just have to stop it.

Okay, more later. I have a really early morning tomorrow at a conference and I have no idea what I'm going to wear.