2022 Dog Achievements and 2023 aims

Karran

Karran

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For everyone! Not just the sporting/working/showing dog bods amongst us! Have you got plans to introduce a new family member next year?
Tell us all about it! :D
I do like making this thread each year as it keeps me accountable for what i'm aiming for with the dogs rather than meandering around aimlessly and a nice reminder looking back that we are getting somewhere with the problem child collie.

Last years Thread here - https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...t-and-2022-goals-thread.813003/#post-14801207


Mrs Collie
  • Make that elusive Flyball open Debut! TICK! We debuted in April, took our time with just doing warm ups or running as the fifth dog. It took us ages to be settled in the ring - with a low of getting red-carded for "aggressive chasing" in July and worries about a BFA investigation in her very next show after that when she got into a fight in the ring (a green dog mistake by her and the dog in the other team took HUGE exception to it and she wasn't prepared to apologise for her mistake...) But we're settled now as an end dog, somehow she's the second fastest in the team, consistent as a last dog and the internal terror that she might show us up is slowly disappearing.
  • Attend a few more Obedience Introductory shows - I've got a vague idea about aiming her some of the Pre-Beginners Crufts Qualifiers either next year or year after. FAIL. We only managed two more intro shows this year coming away with a 10th place after a large run off with 6 others dogs. Our last show wasn't in ideal conditions for her and she was stressed and unable to settle and work for me.
  • Start committing properly to agility classes and look to some camps/training sessions that involve booking time off of work to attend! FAIL - We found another venue at the start of the year which was closer than the 50 mile round trip we were doing, however in May they lost their training ground and we only managed to get ourselves back into starter classes (for the third time!) in November. Hopefully this time we'll be able to stick with it!
  • Making an agility debut that doesn't involve rugby tackling the judge. Does this count as a TICK? o_O
    We were horrific BUT no judge was harmed!
  • Finally being on top of our chase impulses and not offering round up assistance to passers-by. TICK So proud of this one. We still have the odd iffy moments if someone comes up behind us but she makes it more than obvious now how conflicted she is about wanting to stay with me and not go chasing, I still do lots of praise and distraction work when I see her struggle but there is an almost visible sigh of relief when she makes the right decision
  • More work around the horses! I'd love to hack out and have them both with me, where as at the moment only Mrs Spaniel is safe enough to take out. FAIL I had a nasty fail this time last year and walked (and rode) in increasing pain for 8 weeks before a GP took me seriously and referred me for X-rays and MRI's and I stopped riding ShareMare. Cost of living is preventing me from picking it up again and so we have had no more work around horses.

Mrs Spaniel.

  • Try to ensure in the summer at least, that I walk her at least once a week, without Mrs Collie for some 1 to 1 time. She does get jealous and overshadowed a bit by her. Half a Tick - we struggled to achieve this with the heatwave and the petrol cost to drive them individually to a park for 1-2-1

  • Continue being an epic little flyball machine, get the box work up to what she shows at home and at training and stay consistent with our times. TICK - She still loves her flyball, is a consistent albeit slow dog, although still a bit sloppy with her boxwork.

  • Agility Grade 2? If we can commit to some more training that is! I think if I can reach that dizzy height with her, I will retire her to focus on the flyball as she loves it more. I might retire her regardless at the end of next year and just take her to training classes. FAIL - She also had to stop classes in May, but was able to resume in September at the new venue. We managed two shows this year, neither of which were worth talking about, although she scored a clear round in her jumping classes.
 
2023 goals.​

Mrs Collie.
• To break the 4.00 second flyball barrier. We are so close with a best time of 4.04 and consistent 4.10 times. Hopefully now she is fully settled to her job we can do this!
  • To make a proper agility debut with no rugby tackling of judges, and no losing her head and making up her own courses.
• I’ve seen a link to herding classes which I would KILL to do with her but thought out of our reach being in London so in the New Year I’m going to investigate those some more for her.

• More obedience shows – we’re not going to mess about anymore with Intro and dip our toes into pre-beginner with aims of Beginner comps. As much as I’d love her to do the Crufts Good Citizen Pre-Beginner comps, I’ve realised that she wouldn’t cope at all with everything around her so we’ll shelve that idea until the next dog comes along!

Mrs Spaniel.
She’ll be 9 in April so everything needs to start to slow down a little for her, she has 3 monthly physio check ups and so far has gotten a clean bill of health each time but I don’t want to hammer her so our main goal will be keeping fit and healthy so she can flyball for as long as possible.
We will continue our agility classes as she practises over small jumps (measures medium) and perhaps we will enter a few anysize classes for fun if Mrs Collie reaches competition level, but i am going to start to wind that down this year. Its hard as she is still super fit and healthy but I dont want to push my luck as she ages.
I might pick up some obedience classes with her towards the end of the year and stop agility. She’s never had any formal training and she still loves to be busy and working so perhaps that would be a nice thing to do with her or perhaps look into hoopers.
 
That's quite a lot you've been up to in the last year! Good luck for next year's objectives!

Monster and I have taken up hoopers this year and he seems to be really enjoying it. We only started in august and have irregular attendance due to riding comps, but he's slowly catching up with the rest of the group (we're the newbies). His behaviour with the other dogs has improved in leaps and bounds to the point where when one of the other dogs decided to aggressively chase him, instead of turning around and accepting the fight, he grabbed his toy and took off in a "catch me if you can" run (he was definitely enjoying himself and not running scared). We need to keep on working on not running the fence line barking at the dogs on the other side, but he's improving slowly. Main objective increase distance between him and me for hoopers.
In fact we'll add not barking at people, dogs, horses on the other side of the fence (any fence!) to next years objectives.
I would love to get a second dog, but realistically, I think that will probably be a 2024 business. I can't even decide if I want a rescue, a puppy or on a breed (I'm attracted to high energy breeds and I'm not sure how good an idea that is!). There will most likely be a post at some point asking for advice on this. I'm looking after my sister's dog (and chickens) while she's away for her honeymoon, so I get to test out the practicalities of looking after two dogs.
 
The boys: Keep eating, sleeping, farting and staying alive.

From last year's post:

.....OK, so my youngster turned out to be incredibly bendy/pulls insane shapes so I'm waiting until she's 18-24 months and she firms up a bit so will get her health tests done in 2022.
HD/ED normal, LUW: 0 - very happy with that and she was a brilliant girl at the vets. Colour me shocked on both counts.

Tracking very nicely but uses her eyes a bit too much. Need to get some help but that requires a ten hour round trip ?
Did a seminar in the February with someone who has regularly scored 100pt tracks at world level and was very happy with her - the only issue I forsee is that she does not want to put her bum down fully in the wet/mud when indicating an article...but trying to get around that socially with very high value reward.

She's focus heeling without a visible target, starting to sit in front, has a really nice down, sit is getting there, starting to work on flipping from 'here' to 'heel' and about turns. Going from point A to B very fast and now over a very small jump.
Has a nice dumbbell hold but shows a bit of pressure because of the way I trained it so no actual retrieve yet until I can get someone more experienced to observed.
Long down stay coming.
Would prefer a bit more ball drive.
Heeling nice style but would prefer a bit more contact - I kept her away from my body for too long because her father pushed/crabbed/crowded dreadfully and I was scared of it happening again. Retraining the finishes (from sitting in front to heel) and the about turns as she is jumping up to my face in the former and drifting away from me in the latter. Low jump OK and just started A-frame but needs to work on style, her genetics is take off and land on all four feet and I hate it. Trying to add collagen to her diet to see if it helps the landing as she sometimes crumples.
Retrieves OK, fast, grip could be better but no chewing. Downstay OK, she does have a good look around but not going anywhere. Ball drive not amazing but working nicely for a tug under the arm and I mostly use a food bag.

Has really found her voice, nice barking and less screaming/bouncing/being hectic. Nice flights but bit too 'on the man'/civil so have to be very careful and focus more on prey work. Good grips but really need to develop her initial strike as she has had so little work in this area, she still isn't quite sure what to do with her mouth yet. Bit grumbly on the sleeve.
But overall, a feisty little bitch ;)
Really haven't done enough bitework. Going back to basics and working entirely in prey as she is still too keen to switch straight into defence mode when it is not warranted.

Socially she likes to risk assess everything and does not trust me to handle situations, she is clearly a bit insecure so there is a gap in our training/relationship somewhere which I need to figure out.
Once she knows someone she is climbing all over them and likes to come up on your knee for cuddles. She's extremely affectionate.
I have put a tonne of work into this and know it will be a lifelong process.

That's all with relatively very little work, ten or fifteen minutes a couple of times a day, if that.
Two of her siblings are on the ladder already with relatively inexperienced handlers, making lovely work, which is great to see.
Next year, well, will see what happens!! I have her totally spoiled and she is still very babyish.
Her sister made a very nice IGPI with no marks lost at all in tracking, low SG in obedience and SG in protection, one point off a V.
Handler of brother is having problems in protection, which I know all about from their father, whether he will take advice from a female, despite having been there and done it, remains to be seen ;)

I entered her for a BH in a club five hours away on a whim and we passed. A lot of people were shocked at seeing the change in her in eight months, her first visit to that club she was extremely uneasy and on edge, but like I say I have worked very hard on getting her out and about.
Hopefully IGPI in New Year, or at least the tracking part as I do not know if I have enough protection done.
I have ballsed up a previously very nice sendaway so am working on rebuilding that at the moment.

She is still a total bitch with other dogs around the property and walking in what she sees as 'her patch' (fine at training/in trial) and we are working on it, best way is to make her lie down and feed her as if it was an article indication as the other dog passes. A bit odd, but it works.

Overall I have trained very small elements of every exercise and have put them together slowly and I am pleased with how that is working out. Just hopefully make my way up through the qualifications and if I think she is more than a club level dog I will try for bigger things in 2024/25.
Plus she is a very funny dog and makes me laugh every day.
 
For 2022

Fizz

  1. Keep her healthy and sound, she's 8yo next year so keeping her healthy is always going to be my priority Half done She had a shoulder tweak which kept her out of indoor champs but she's back to fighting fitness and no other issues
  2. Get her to use the bigger box, she runs better in our faster team but currently won't touch the box they use Done We didn't get a 4 paw turn outside of training on it but she was happily and obviously triggering the bigger box however that box then box, teams changed around BUT we have had 4 paw turns consistently at training on the smaller box and consistent 3 paw turns and a sneaky 4 paw turn at a competition. The club has a new box which will mean retraining her again in the new year but she's finally getting more consistent.
Dobby

  1. Get him racing in open outdoors and get some pre cadet time for him indoors Done Granted he's only done a few as 5th dog towards the end of the year as they brought in runback netting. He started off doing warm ups to get his head in the game but he ran as 4th dog for the last race of the day in a fast division.....no visiting the team we were racing and bringing home a win for his team. We've gone back into starters since to get him back into running lead dog and really racing a dog as he will need to go into lead dog for the team he will need to go into but massive progress with a change in handling and handler for him. I am there to reward and catch him but someone else releases him so my nerves don't feed to him. He only went and won singles in starters at the indoor champs despite the heat (which normally increases the idiot behaviour) and he ignored a dog chasing him.
  2. Get to a fun agility show at the local indoor venue Fail Our trainer moved away early in the year and we've don't done any agility since.
  3. Get a full disc routine sorted that he can do off his long line (in an enclosed space) Fail We've just not done as much disc this year in general but he's now only on a trailing short lead for toss and fetch which is a massive achievement.
Ginny

  1. Get her running at starter comps Done and exceeded She's not only done as many starters as we could, including overall second place at indoor champs but she's moved into open. We are going to take her back into starters at the beginning of the year as we've had some issues at the last 2 comps but we don't know if it's an indoors issue or an actual issue.
  2. Finish getting her measured so she's ready for open (for a dog that hates strangers we have to pick and choose where we get her measured and by who) Done She was a star for all her measures and didn't react at all
  3. Get her catching discs so she can do catches in toss and fetch Fail She hasn't been doing toss and fetch so disc in general for her as gone on the back burner.
 
For 2023

Fizz

  1. Get Fizz to 10,000 points. It's not likely, more likely to be early 2024 just with the amount of comps running next year but she loves her sport and deserves her last award before retirement.
  2. Get her turning on the new box without aids at training aids
  3. Rebuild her confidence with a dog going into her. She currently has to run last dog after a training incident a few years ago but as she ages I want her running down the line if we can.
Dobby

  1. Get him racing head to head as lead dog in starters indoors
  2. Get him racing in open outdoors...I am going to be selective about comps and where there is runback netting but he's nearly there.
  3. Get a disc routine ready for Dogfest - we've been asked to go back so we need a routine and no longline this time.
Ginny

  1. Get her confident running indoors
  2. Build her confidence going into and accepting a change the bigger/faster dogs. She's almost there but she will duck out of tight changes.
  3. Get her first flyball award
  4. Get her to a barn hunt event
 
2022 goals have been met! We’ve continued with agility all year, we’ve trained with the same teachers at three different venues, including outdoors. In October we started low level competitions just for fun and Rew has done very well, although a bit too exuberant at times he looks to me a lot. I’d like to steady him up to a solid trot, aiming for clear rounds rather than speed and mistakes, maybe that will improve.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a load of secondhand professional agility kit and am looking forward to getting that up in the garden (especially weaves, our nemesis).
 
Some very busy bees here! Amazing achievements and plans. Hopefully next year I'll be coming back with some proper aims but for now

Achievements: settling Fodhla in to the point where it honestly feels like she's always been part of our family.

Aims:
Building her tolerance for being alone.We have taken professional advice on this and have a plan to follow but it will be slow progress, as she got harder to leave alone the more she bonded to us.

Attempt agility again.

Hopefully will be back next year with lots of achievements and new aims.
 
Doesn't look like I did last year's but clicked back to 2020 which was still in strange covid times:

Go up a grade in agility when competitions are back - did 2 to 5 in his first season

Go to Crufts if it's on - it was and he won his class in very good company

Herding - he proved to have no interest in herding ducks and the sheep have no interest in being herded, they come when they're called!

Goals for 2023:

Get to grade 7 - with the intention of running champ in 2024. 9 wins to go ?

Win a CC or RCC - bit pie in the sky but he's done some winning this year and one of the top winning dogs of the last couple of years didn't come to anything until he was six, his immensely successful grandfather was also a late bloomer and has won more in veteran than he ever did as a youngster. I don't foresee him titling but an RCC and a stud book number would be nice

We sadly lost both the wolefs this year which has been very hard. I am just about ready for another large ABC dog but am looking for a moderately sized, athletic type of dog in a sea of adverts proclaiming how enormous, chunky and thick-boned their puppies are so it might be some time.
 
Achievements:
Got my first dog after waiting many, many years and she’s turning into the sweetest little girl

Aims:
We have our first gundog test in January so obviously I’d like to pass that and continue with her gundog training as long as she’s enjoying it.

We’re also booked to start mantrailing in February and would love to continue to do that and build a proper partnership if she enjoys it.

Main aim is to have fun and to enjoy my gorgeous little dog.
 
I didn’t post on last years thread but this year we did our first working tests and managed to place in our last one. We’ve also been out picking up on a few small days.

Next years plans are -

keep training ? we love it and have access to some great trainers

I would like to reliably get a retrieve from water without shaking before delivery.

Build more confidence on blind retrieves.

Work more on split retrieves and taking direction at a bigger distance.

I would also like to place in a novice working test but that is quite subjective depending on who else is there obviously so I’d really like to be really happy with our performance at novice tests.

and for myself I’d like to get better at working the wind and my overall handling ability ?

Get out picking up more as it’s great fun

but overall I want to continue having fun and getting out and about together
 
I’m so excited I can be a part of this one- only in a minor way this year but I can’t wait to start!

1) acquire puppy in January

2) try to ensure said puppy doesn’t turn into a total delinquent, socialising +++

3) basic HPR gundog training

4) discover dogs at the game fair and the excel

5) some ringcraft, showing and attempt to qualify for crufts 2024 ??(thankfully there are bugger all GLPs about esp in the show ring so may actually achieve this!)
 
Don't think I posted in last years thread but this year the Hooligan has

Become a slightly less obsessive car chaser. We probably do still need some more sessions working with a behaviourist on this when funds allow & diaries align as he definitely still has his moments, especially in strange places / with very loud or fast cars

Has improved his recall. Still not perfect (leaves blowing in the wind are his main obsession & he still goes into stalking mode when he sees them) but he doesn't try to run up to random strangers & will greet other off lead dogs politely & then come back & come with me rather than trying to follow them, which means I don't have to put him back onlead every single time we meet someone else anymore.

Started agility training. Mainly for fun right now but maybe might have a go at some low key competitions towards end of next year (I think the biggest limiting factor on this will be how long it takes to train weaving to a standard where he can do it in a strange environment & also me remembering courses & directing him properly, everything else is progressing really well)

Would like to keep chipping away at convincing him that I am actually waaaay more interesting than boring old leaves, carry on with the agility stuff, get him to be a little bit nicer to his brother (although tbf they're both as bad... The cat literally sat on his face earlier as revenge for dog nearly laying on top of him)
 
Great thread and can join in more on this one than one pony related :D
Sadly went from 2 to 1 agility dogs this year with my 6(now 7) yo homebred BC injuring her shoulder and having a (failed) surgery after she won the States. Almost definitely retired from agility now :(
My little dog has been absolutely amazing and won jumping Dog of the year which is an overall award, so she beat dogs double her height. She is also very close to her Agility Champion title, and will be my 5th dog to get it.
My Foster fail BC has had some massive health challenges this year, eventually (11k later) being diagnosed with IBD. Thankfully, touch wood, she appears to be stable currently. She's also quite challenging behaviourally in the house which is still a WIP.
Next year we have the nationals here in Perth, for the 1st time in years and years, so our focus is on that. Should have 2 dogs competing there, and I suspect my little dog will also make the state team.
 
I didnt post in last years thread but during 2022 we have managed to achieve the following with my extremely sensitive and crazy BC.
. referral at last to a veterinary hospital pain clinic who have confirmed that she is in pain, somewhere in her hip, but nothing showing on xray. She is on two different lots of pain medication now and her reactivity to dogs has improved a lot.
. worked on lunging at cars and in past 6 weeks we have only had one incident
. continue to work with agility trainer in outside venue without Ripley running off chasing birds, yesterday she managed to put together 5 stations, 3 jumps (there is no jump just pole on ground for her) and two tunnels without then losing her head.
. We have nearly cracked loose lead walking
. We started trick training to keep her brain occupied , only simple ones to start so she can now wave, high five, roll over, play dead and bow.


For 2023 the aim is to
. join group beginners agility class , as long as we can just have poles just off the ground for Rip's jumps - it will always be low impact stuff for Rip but I think she enjoys it
. Work on not chasing squirrels and cats! I want recall off these, first I reckon i can crack quite easily the second is more problematic as she is seriously wound up by cats
. Start muzzle training as I think she will always have some reactivity regardless of pain and we dont seem to be able to stop off lead dogs running into us.
. Work on being able to be in a calm settle on a mat when in other peoples houses or when we have visitors.
.Carry on doing trick training and aim to do some harder tricks
.Keep working on car chasing so that she doesnt revert back to this, still got a bit of work to do - at the moment we just stop and I feed her, but we need to get to her being able to keep walking and ignore the movement next to her (although its mainly the noise that is the problem for her I think).
. Get her to think before reacting and trust me to get her out of a situation - really dont know how to go about this (CC can you advise....?)


If I can do half of the above I will be very happy, but thanks for the thread as its good to have some goals to work toward.
 
I didn't post last year, but this year has seen some good and bad points.

My youngest Lancashire Heeler had surgery at the end of last year to correct a limb deformity. This involved his leg being cut in 2 places and a metal plate inserted. My wonderful vet assured me there was no reason he couldn't go on to do agility but I would have been happy to just have a dog who could have an active life. After a year of physio and hydrotherapy, and very cautiously starting agility training, he went to his first competition just over a year after the surgery and came 2nd, a month later and he won his agility class !
Aims for 2023 are for me to try and run a bit faster to keep up with my speedy little guy, hopefully gain a few more rosettes but just seeing him enjoying his agility so much is enough really.

I made the decision that last year would be my older heelers last competing at full height in agility, as he is 12 in May. He finished on a high winning 2 x 1sts at his last show, and has now done a couple of veteran classes, placing 2nd and 4th.
For 2023 aim is to keep doing veterans as long as he is enjoying it.
The horrible point of the year was losing my GSD Freya very suddenly to a ruptured spleen due to hemangiosarcoma. Being without a GSD for the first time in my life was awful, but it took a while for me to face having another. Zenya joined us in September and I have been reminded what hard work pups are - she is a delight though and gained her KC Bronze Good Citizens last week at 7 months old. I've also started tracking with her.
Aims for her for next year is to work on the tracking and also maybe get KC Silver and Gold, but more importantly to continue her education in every day life.
 
On the Hoof said:
. Get her to think before reacting and trust me to get her out of a situation - really dont know how to go about this (CC can you advise....?)
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I'd look at an MRI re the pain. I'd maybe look at a sport like hoopers or scentwork something where there will be little impact on the joints.

There are a few things you can do, use your body a lot, get in front of her/place yourself between her and the scary thing, try to get in there before she has a chance to think about reacting, teach her to go between your legs, make her lie down so that you are big and she is smaller, do not let her go out in front so she feels exposed to danger, basically physically show her that you are in control.
The most important thing is for you to perceive the 'threat' before she does and start to get into distraction or control mode, once she is on alert and already reacting it is too late and we are pouring petrol on the fire.
Like I say for my own dog, I will make her lie down and stand beside or over her and feed her while another dog passes her in what she perceives to be her territory.
Added to that, free-shaping exercises where she makes a behaviour and you mark and reward, this can for a confident and independent dog, there should be plenty of exercises on Youtube.

As a collie and having read your post, she will probably be hyper-fixated on movement so you can channel that with lots of types of toys and prey movement to snap her out of focussing on the things she should not be.
For instance if I know my bitch has seen a squirrel or cat or bird that she wants to chase, well the blood is up and she's in that frame of mind anyway, why fight her, so I start throwing food from side to side across the path, behind me, in front of me, back to me, for more food, and get her onto that instead. So it's fulfilling that need to chase but in a different and less antisocial way and gets the focus back on me a bit ;)
 
Ivy's 2022: settled in after a house move (twice if you count us getting her in November 2021), got really good at stairs, sampled human bed for the first time, own bed collection up to 2, weight up to target and vet happy with her overall condition, learned to navigate a new neighbourhood, enjoyed having house guests to fuss over her, rekindled love for previously destroyed toys and joy of flinging the whole basket of them everywhere, learned 'paw' and 'other one', enjoyed being a house guest (with my mum, better sofa, better garden!), was a Good Dog at some horse events (if we ignore the squawking at Cornbury...), enjoyed first bit of pub roast dinner, been on the train.

Ivy's 2023: no more house moves!, find more houndy walking buddies, increase number of beds to 3, catch one of those pesky squirrels, finish destuffing the last toy to have any stuff left in it, plot demise of Henry hoover...

My ideas for Ivy's 2023: practice more recall proofing so we can expand our off-lead time (in carefully selected locations, the squirrels will be safe!), keep building confidence slowly in places like pubs/cafes, practice 'leave it' and seek advice for strategy to work on theft/destruction of soft/stuffy things with aim to have clearer 'these are your things, these are not your things' (we manage this but I'd like to train for it too)
 
I can’t remember if I posted in this thread last year but probably not as I’m not a planner, I tend to just see how things pan out.
For 2023 I definitely want to continue sheep work with my GSD bitch Tay, but only so much we can expect to achieve as she has a certain level of natural ability and the rest has to be trained. It’s an uphill battle when you don’t have the natural instincts to work with but we enjoy ourselves anyway and it all helps make her more reliable around livestock so a big plus.
I’m working on my relationship with my rehome collie girl. She is bonding more to me. I think having been passed around a wee bit in her previous home (dog walkers, dog day care) and then coming here and being part of a larger pack of kennelled working dogs she hasn’t formed a strong bond with anyone yet. She’s more fixated on the other dogs. Coming out with just me and also with the two shepherds, she’s learning I’m “her person” I think and she’s warming up and asking for attention and responding more to cues, rather than just doing her own thing all the time. I’m also hoping to possibly integrate her into the house once Christmas and New Year is out of the way.
I have joined an online Sheepdog School to glean hints and tips for her working life as you can never stop learning. She will definitely work and it’s not an aim to attend sheepdog trials or anything heady like that, just so we can be set off on jobs to do ourselves around the farm. I’m training her on our well dogged training sheep with help from Allan too and he has promised to make me a round pen so we can practice alone when he’s too busy.
Sadly no plans for any new puppies as we are very busy with the ones we have. In fact the two beardie x pups we had as service pups will likely get some training and then be looking for suitable working homes in the new year as with the pressure of work and so many young dogs it’s just not possible to keep them all.
I’d love to kick my backside back into gear and get back tracking with my older GSD as he loves it but I detest laying tracks so unless I can find someone to do it for me we’ll just kee playing at Mantrailing for fun instead (he enjoys finding my son who hides for him).
 
Don't think I post in 2021

Too many dogs....

Springers
Little trial bitch needs to get an Open FT win. She's a multiple Open FT award winner but the top spot has been elusive. She is only 2yo. She's also due to have a litter next year (close to 3yo - her mother wasn't the most straightforward cycle wise so I want to start early as she is my dog of a lifetime). Off to Crufts again and desperately want to go one better and win our class this year :oops: No pressure

Stud dog - maybe pull him back out for tests, but at 7yo and a FTCh he owes no one anything really

Giant dog pup - I've done my bit, he's off to boarding school in January with one of the top triallers in UK. I'm crossing everything he lives up to his promise here for his owners.

Little reprobate dog pup - learn to focus and tidy up his retrieves so he can be a nice peg dog for his owners

The rest of the pack have little to prove and work their butts off in shooting season

Mannies
Finn - (Loki's brother!) If he isn't an Irish Champion, Junior champion and Crufts qualified by end of 2023 I'd be very disappointed. Judges have raved about him so far :D Int Ch title the next aim. Then he can join the bikejor team!

Lucy - try to retain her Irish reserve champion bikejor title for 22/23 season

GLP
Acquire one.....
 
I love this thread and reading how you are all doing.
Last year I said…
Clodagh said:
I didn't do any targets last year but this year it is to go for a days picking up and not having to come home via the vets for stitches. :(.

Which means I can continue to pick up, and get more dogs for same. The alternative being...well I just don't know.
!
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Well (touch wood frantically) I’ve only had one lot of stitches so far. I shouldn’t even say it. ?.
I got more dogs, now have 4 of full working age and ability. I’m out picking up four days a week and living my best life.
For 2023 I would like to polish the rough edges off Scout and get to see a trainer regularly.
 
CorvusCorax said:
The boys: Keep eating, sleeping, farting and staying alive.

From last year's post:

.....OK, so my youngster turned out to be incredibly bendy/pulls insane shapes so I'm waiting until she's 18-24 months and she firms up a bit so will get her health tests done in 2022.
HD/ED normal, LUW: 0 - very happy with that and she was a brilliant girl at the vets. Colour me shocked on both counts.

Tracking very nicely but uses her eyes a bit too much. Need to get some help but that requires a ten hour round trip ?
Did a seminar in the February with someone who has regularly scored 100pt tracks at world level and was very happy with her - the only issue I forsee is that she does not want to put her bum down fully in the wet/mud when indicating an article...but trying to get around that socially with very high value reward.

She's focus heeling without a visible target, starting to sit in front, has a really nice down, sit is getting there, starting to work on flipping from 'here' to 'heel' and about turns. Going from point A to B very fast and now over a very small jump.
Has a nice dumbbell hold but shows a bit of pressure because of the way I trained it so no actual retrieve yet until I can get someone more experienced to observed.
Long down stay coming.
Would prefer a bit more ball drive.
Heeling nice style but would prefer a bit more contact - I kept her away from my body for too long because her father pushed/crabbed/crowded dreadfully and I was scared of it happening again. Retraining the finishes (from sitting in front to heel) and the about turns as she is jumping up to my face in the former and drifting away from me in the latter. Low jump OK and just started A-frame but needs to work on style, her genetics is take off and land on all four feet and I hate it. Trying to add collagen to her diet to see if it helps the landing as she sometimes crumples.
Retrieves OK, fast, grip could be better but no chewing. Downstay OK, she does have a good look around but not going anywhere. Ball drive not amazing but working nicely for a tug under the arm and I mostly use a food bag.

Has really found her voice, nice barking and less screaming/bouncing/being hectic. Nice flights but bit too 'on the man'/civil so have to be very careful and focus more on prey work. Good grips but really need to develop her initial strike as she has had so little work in this area, she still isn't quite sure what to do with her mouth yet. Bit grumbly on the sleeve.
But overall, a feisty little bitch ;)
Really haven't done enough bitework. Going back to basics and working entirely in prey as she is still too keen to switch straight into defence mode when it is not warranted.

Socially she likes to risk assess everything and does not trust me to handle situations, she is clearly a bit insecure so there is a gap in our training/relationship somewhere which I need to figure out.
Once she knows someone she is climbing all over them and likes to come up on your knee for cuddles. She's extremely affectionate.
I have put a tonne of work into this and know it will be a lifelong process.

That's all with relatively very little work, ten or fifteen minutes a couple of times a day, if that.
Two of her siblings are on the ladder already with relatively inexperienced handlers, making lovely work, which is great to see.
Next year, well, will see what happens!! I have her totally spoiled and she is still very babyish.
Her sister made a very nice IGPI with no marks lost at all in tracking, low SG in obedience and SG in protection, one point off a V.
Handler of brother is having problems in protection, which I know all about from their father, whether he will take advice from a female, despite having been there and done it, remains to be seen ;)

I entered her for a BH in a club five hours away on a whim and we passed. A lot of people were shocked at seeing the change in her in eight months, her first visit to that club she was extremely uneasy and on edge, but like I say I have worked very hard on getting her out and about.
Hopefully IGPI in New Year, or at least the tracking part as I do not know if I have enough protection done.
I have ballsed up a previously very nice sendaway so am working on rebuilding that at the moment.

She is still a total bitch with other dogs around the property and walking in what she sees as 'her patch' (fine at training/in trial) and we are working on it, best way is to make her lie down and feed her as if it was an article indication as the other dog passes. A bit odd, but it works.

Overall I have trained very small elements of every exercise and have put them together slowly and I am pleased with how that is working out. Just hopefully make my way up through the qualifications and if I think she is more than a club level dog I will try for bigger things in 2024/25.
Plus she is a very funny dog and makes me laugh every day.
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this all sounds great, super interesting!! Please may I ask what went wrong with your dogs send away - I’m fairly happy with mine but it’s really interesting for me to know what to avoid etc. hope you don’t mind me asking, I’m fairly new to the game and trying to learn!
 
11bluewolf said:
this all sounds great, super interesting!! Please may I ask what went wrong with your dogs send away - I’m fairly happy with mine but it’s really interesting for me to know what to avoid etc. hope you don’t mind me asking, I’m fairly new to the game and trying to learn!
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I told her to down, she didn't/continued sniffing the ground, I shouted NO/AH-AH and came towards her and she dicked off, thinking she was in trouble. She's now a bit worried about downing in that particular spot and is trying to go for a run instead so I'm just doing lots of send outs with rewards and working on downing beside a pole with high reward elsewhere.

Sensitive dog, I lost my temper, stupid.

Her speed going out is phenomenal and she can do a very nice down so she's capable of a very nice exercise.
 
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