Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
I took my monster and my sister's fluff-butt to hoopers yesterday and they were both brilliant.
Monster has been really struggling both to work with distractions (particularly other dogs on the other side of the fence) and to turn around the barrels. Well it so happens that fluff-butt is the perfect distraction, running about on the other side of the fence: definitely distracting, but also very familiar, so can be ignored while working. Monster was almost perfect, getting his figures of eight around the barrels easily and nearly every single time (apart from when I was a bit to quick to give the order for the other direction, so he turned around mid barrel!). Now I need to keep working on the distance between us. I kept him on to do the obedience class afterwards as it allows him to encounter other dogs in a controlled setting and he was just as good (though I think hoopers first definitely helps keep the energy levels manageable).
Fluff-butt did her third hoopers session and is already getting the idea of the hoops and barrels (including figures of eight). She seemed to really enjoy "working" and the amount of focus and energy directed at me was just incredible. Shame I've got to give her back when my sister gets back from her holidays. I've always said I didn't want an australian shepherd because they're too hairy - I'm lazy when it comes to brushing. (I also have some serious doubts about some of the breeding going on, they are extremely popular in France, but so many seem really nervous and many end up in shelters). But this little lady could definitely change my mind. Do auzzie shepherds come in short-haired?
Monster has been really struggling both to work with distractions (particularly other dogs on the other side of the fence) and to turn around the barrels. Well it so happens that fluff-butt is the perfect distraction, running about on the other side of the fence: definitely distracting, but also very familiar, so can be ignored while working. Monster was almost perfect, getting his figures of eight around the barrels easily and nearly every single time (apart from when I was a bit to quick to give the order for the other direction, so he turned around mid barrel!). Now I need to keep working on the distance between us. I kept him on to do the obedience class afterwards as it allows him to encounter other dogs in a controlled setting and he was just as good (though I think hoopers first definitely helps keep the energy levels manageable).
Fluff-butt did her third hoopers session and is already getting the idea of the hoops and barrels (including figures of eight). She seemed to really enjoy "working" and the amount of focus and energy directed at me was just incredible. Shame I've got to give her back when my sister gets back from her holidays. I've always said I didn't want an australian shepherd because they're too hairy - I'm lazy when it comes to brushing. (I also have some serious doubts about some of the breeding going on, they are extremely popular in France, but so many seem really nervous and many end up in shelters). But this little lady could definitely change my mind. Do auzzie shepherds come in short-haired?