2nd Lesson

Morgan and I had our second lesson on Thursday. It was a rainy ikky day but the lesson is inside in a beautiful building so no problem! Anyway, we didn't practice but one time since the previous lesson so we didn't make much progress. We may have the same problem next week. I had more edits on my book yesterday and today and I have a grant proposal that is due on Monday. Anyhoo, here is the scoop.

Morgan was knocking down bars when she made the turn towards me at the end of the jump chute. I couldn't figure out why but according to Meagan, I was dropping my hand and, of course, Morgan's nose went down with my hand. Duh! When I remembered to keep my hand up, she didn't knock a bar. (It's usually the handler, right?).

I was doing the 2X2 thing wrong too. She was supposed to go through the poles and then I was to throw the food, not being lured by the food by throwing it first. Got it!

Morgan has the worst time on the dogwalk. This was not a problem in the past, that I recall, but now she has absolutely no idea where her hind legs are or that they exist. As a result, it is very difficult to teach her to put just her hind legs on the dogwalk plank. So I'm supposed to put her through her paces with a ladder and her pedestal so that she has more rear awareness. I did that long ago but obviously the lesson did not stick :-) I never was consistent in training this dog. I feel so bad about that.

One thing we did that was successful was the pinwheel with four jumps. Meagan back chains everything so we did the pinwheel with a back chain and Morgan caught on quickly. Once I stopped being so frantic about getting her to look ahead, she actually did it -- "Chill, Mom!"

I've got to teach Morgan to come to my right side. I think I'm going to call it something besides 'place' because it sounds way too much like 'close' which is what I use for heel position. Maybe I'll call it side. It sounds like right so if I teach her directions she won't be that confused :-)

The last thing we did was the A-frame box thingy. Morgan is supposed to pounce in the middle. She is supposed to get in there and then I drop the food for her and then throw it off the front. The idea is for her to pounce in the box and then bounce out. Silly girl spends all her time looking for the cookie. I think I am going to get some of those big cheese balls and see how they work--especially since we're working on grass. I KNOW she can see those things.

Well that's the scoop. I might try to get a little training in before it gets too dark tomorrow after the poodle club meeting.