A Beautiful Sunday

Everyone did a great job setting bars and getting to the line on time yesterday. Hope you enjoyed the rest of a beautiful day.

Remember to mark April 15 on your calendar for the Focus Class. Let us know in a comment if you are planning to attend. If you have a suggestion for future topics/skills let us know. For example: weave entries, contacts, rear crosses etc.

Here's a photo of the Tandem Dogs taken last year. Donna will be adding a youngster very soon to the mix of colors/breeds.

Focus Class

Focus class - We are going to be adding something new, Focus classes. We will be offering a focus class outside of the regular classes. During these classes we will focus on things like Contacts, Weave pole entrances, Serpentines, etc. If you have something you would like to see a focus done on, let us know. Suggestions always welcomed.
The first focus session will be April 15th at 6 pm, This class will focus on Starts. Running with, LOP, push, Front cross, and others. Length of the class will be 1 hour to 1.5 hours. Once we move to evening classes, we will most likely move these classes to Fridays. We will do at least 1 a month possibly 2. Cost will be $10.00 if dog is already enrolled in a class, or $18.00 if dog is not enrolled in a class.

Weekend Report

Rain managed to stay away from the trials this weekend although the wind and cold remained. I think everyone was surprised to find the sun out today!

We've heard from most who attended the agility trial. On the whole handlers were pleased with their dog's performances. Some q's, some not, but I think everyone went away knowing where work/practice needs to be done. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we'll have time to practice before the Davis weekend.

Several went to obedience/rally trials on Sunday. Christy and Zorro came away with two blue ribbons in advanced! - Congratulations.

See everyone on Sunday.

Evening Classes

When you respond to your day of the week preference, please indicate the other evening as to if you can make it that night or if it is impossible, (choices 1 is Monday, my choice 2 is Wednesday. or #1 is Monday, #2 Wednesday, can not make). It will make the planning easier. Thank you!!

Class Dates for Next Session

Because of a rain make up, the new session starts on Sunday March 29 and will be only 5 weeks. Dates are March 29, April 12, 19, 26 and May 10. Cost is $75. Please make checks out to either Donna or Sydney. Thank you Katherine, Dick and Helen Marie for paying in advance.

EVENING CLASSES
After the May 10 Sunday class, we will be switching to evenings. Both classes will be on the same night. Would you prefer Monday or Wednesday. Please reply in the comment section and list your preferences as #1 & #2.

Can the first class come at 5:30 and the second at 6:30? Let us know.

It was a Cold and Windy Weekend!

But the rain stayed away!

Echo and I had just plain fun on Saturday stretching our legs. Sunday we were more in sync and started the day by earning our Open Fast title with a 2nd place. Our Standard run was very pretty except the dw contact to weaves. Besides the ribbons, I also came away with some nice photos from Mt. Diablo and Vallejo's trials. Be sure to purchase photos of your dog. Once your dog is no longer with you, you will wish you had more photos to remember your times together. The ribbons won't mean that much anymore.

Saturday I ran Inc in Standard for Donna. If he hadn't run by the A-frame looking for "mom" we would have had a clean run! Sunday he ran with me in Fast but then decided he'd rather be Donna's dog.

Kerry, Magnum, Merlot and Riley were also at the trial. Their handlers can comment on their runs, but I have it on good authority that Kerry earned his first leg in JWW!

Class Reminders -

Reminders just want to take a moment to remind people to try to arrive early enough to class to potty your dogs and to have them on the arena at the start of class in their crates and handler ready to walk the first course. You should also have water in your dogs crate available to them at all times. We try to supply some water bowls, but you can also bring one for home for your dog. When I go to a class I always bring water and a bowl with me.

We strive to start class on time, and probably have a 94% rate for doing so. Also, when it is time to change bar heights everyone should be helping but the dog that just ran and the dog to run next. We have decided to acknowledge Peggy with a 50% off certificate for one session. Peggy is ALWAYS setting the bars and at times is the only one doing so. It is the responsibility of people in class to set the bars.

We are planning in June to have a weekend workout. We plan to set up a day of box work and a day of course work. We will let you know the dates. This will be a no-charge weekend, but we may ask that you participate both days. As it gets closer, we can plan a lunch either ordering pizza, or pot luck. Details to follow. Also if there is something specific that you want to work on, let us know.

For those of you entered in the trial this weekend - GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, AND PRAISE YOUR DOG!!!!

Dogwalk - Tunnel

Click on the link below for a real shocker. It's Sydney and Pei in Sonora 2002. Can you believe I never purchased that video clip. Silvina still has it on her website and sent me the link.

http://www.agilityinmotion.com/movies/030906-Pei.html

I don't think we'll find anything this weekend that challenging.

Romp in the Grass

Since the rain is gone for now, take the time and take your dog(s) our for a run. It a good time of the year to do it. No fox tails yet, or bad weeds or snakes!! Let the dogs play and run and just have fun. Attached is a picture of Cricket, you can see the smile on her face. It's good exercise for the dogs, it gives you a chance for a walk in the fresh air, and time with your dog. Enjoy!!! We do!!

Record Keeping -

If you are just starting to trial you want to think about saving those course maps. i use to keep all of the maps in a folder. Now I scan them and keep a computer file on them. I also mark the map as to what we did, where I crossed, type of cross, errors on my part. If the dog did all of his contact, weave poles, etc.......... Reason to do this - If you start NQ'ing, you have a resource to see if there's a pattern. I'm attaching one of my maps for you to see.

Besides keeping records this way, you should keep track of legs earned in a record book. Sydney and I have books that are available through Clean Run. I note in this book our legs, with important information such as the judge. Since when you earn a title you have to have at least 2 different judges. There are also computer programs for this purpose. Another think to calculate is yards per second, but we'll get into that later. You could also keep am Excel spreadsheet. I like the book because I take it to the trials with me and write the information in at the time. I have also started putting green stars on the qualifying runs, and colored blue, red, yellow or silver to designate a placement.

One last comments, you can also check out your dogs standing on the AKC web site.

Trial Weekend - Trial in Dixon, Saturday dry, breeze and cool. Sunday - Rain!!!
Because of the rain Sydney and I decided to stay home, inside where it was dry. We have done our share or rainy trials, and decided to not do this one. On Saturday, Inc and I had two good runs. No Q but good runs. In standard we did all of your contacts, our not qualifing was Inc not picking up on my rear cross. Actually that is what happened in both classes. I need to watch the video to see what I did. I repeat what I did. After I watch the video, if I see anything worth posting I will add it to the post. Sydney can comment on Echo's run.
But Jeniffer and Kerry came home with the BIG GREEN. They worked together as a team, and qualified in Novice Standard. This is the teams first of many green ribbons. Good job, Jennifer and Kerry.

Training Tips

If you are not signed up for Susan Garrett's e-mail newsletter, you may want to do so before March 1. The newsletter is free. She will be sending her subscribers a training tip a day for the month of March. You can read about it on her blog: susangarrett.wordpress.com or go directly to her website: clickerdogs.com to sign up. The subscription button is top right corner of her web page.

Good luck to those trialing this weekend! Let's hope for dry weather.

Ticket To Ride

For those who never knew him and for those who did, here's a glimpse of my boy Pei. You've heard Donna and me mention him and now you'll know why! No matter how the run went, we always had a fun time. Donna called him an E-Ticket. That he was!

Thank you Donna for the videos. Now include one of you running Standard with Pei.

Class February 21th

We will have class on Saturday, First class at 9:30, the second class will start at 10:30, earlier then normal.

CLASS THIS WEEKEND

Rain is in the forecast for Sunday. So we thought we would offer classes on Saturday. Same time, same place. Please respond on the blog or email if you can attend. At approximately 8pm this evening we will post on the blog if there is class on Saturday and the times.

More Rain Games

Check out Susan Garrett's blog for today.
http://susangarrett.wordpress.com/
She mentions the many benefits of crate games.
The puppy pictures are SO CUTE!

10 Ideas

for indoor training

Crate Games - use them to:
1. Practice the stay with the door open
2. Put leash on dog, drop leash, stand up, walk away. Dog should still be in crate!
3. Send to the crate from distance and angles. It could be the tunnel!

Travel Board
4. 2 on 2 off with nose touching
5. Getting on from angles
6. Lateral distance
7. Run ahead and Front cross, dog should be 2 on 2 off!

Miscellaneous
8. Fast Sit or Down
9. Teach a trick
10. Set Goals

Be sure to reward correct responses, especially after any incorrect ones.

RAIN & Drawing

In case someone is in doubt, here's the verdict. Class is canceled due to rain. We need the rain but let's hope next Sunday morning is dry.

We will draw one of the 5 names for the Valentine Drawing next Sunday. Sneak peek: 1 hour private lesson and doggie treats!

Prize Week, Class Schedule

Since this week is Valentine Day, we are going to do another prize. Leave a comment before Sunday morning, to be eligible for the drawing. Another nice prize may await you!!!

Class Schedule: the next session class dates will be: March 8, 29, April 12, 19 and 26, May 10th. The current session has two weeks remaining. Subject to change due to rain. Times to remain the same. In May we will return to evening classes. The weekend that we are not doing classes are trial weekends If you're interested in watching, let us know and we'll give you information and what where and when.

Also, purpose of the blog, I have been saying for a long time that we needed to do a web page. But, I just never took the time to do it. Then in one week’s time, I got two notices to look at different people’s blog, and I decided that Tandem should do one. So…………….that’s how it started.

What do we want to see the blog used for? Many things a means to communicate with students, for students to post their accomplishments, but mainly, I hope to get students more motivated and perhaps inspired to work and train their dogs. Setting goals is important, work on a cross that you have problems with, make it a positive not a negative. We hope by our setting goals, meeting them and sharing them with you to motivate you. Improve your sit stays, downs on tables, lead out pivots, etc. All of these are small goals which help us reach the larger goal. By sharing we hope to inspire you to set and reach new goals. What can I do to help inspire you?? Let me know!!!

What would you like to see in the blog? We are open to all comments. if you don't want to post your comment on the site, then email us.

Goal - To Roll!!!

GOALS!! I stated in the newsletter that my short term goal was to teach Inc to roll. Here it is:
Doing a roll from a down, sit and stand.

So we have actually completed two of our goals already the roll and our Open Fast title. I need to come up with another short term goal. I'll keep you posted. Let us know how your coming along with your goals. Catch you later!!