HopeShelties
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We did have some fairly tough competition over the weekend. Bruce (MACH11 Triune's The Unbreakable) beat us by a second.
Video of Aurora isn't worth posting :x She can't handle a rear cross, as the pressure is too much, and friends feel because of the dog running up behind her to grab her, she panics about the rear cross. So, over the weekend, we had some fairly ugly forced front crosses... or pulled a refusal on the first run because I had no choice but to rear cross, and it caused her to pull up (the runs were Qs, but not always pretty). You know how those novice courses are... Lots of straight lines, with very few places for front crosses (or at least here. The judges seem to think our novice dogs don't have enough skill to handle anything above running up and down the course). She did better at NADAC where we actually had some skill work out there where I could get my front crosses (there were 180s, pinwheels, serpentines, and just stuff in general other than big straight lines- surprising a novice NADAC course offered more than a novice AKC course). We'll actually be better when she gets into excellent A, as there will be more challenges, and opportunity to front cross. To be honest, it's been so long since I've been in open, I can't remember what type of courses they typically give us, other than they're often fragmented excellent courses. Once we get courses where I'm not going to be forced to only rear cross, I'll post some video of her... which will probably be in just a few months, as she I feel is going to go straight through to excellent. She's just another of those dogs who can do that.
I do want to say it's not a training issue so much as it is that she's a dog who you play by her rules, as the things that have happened to her don't allow you to run up behind her. I've tried for a long time at class, and for now, she's just not going to be comfortable with rear crosses. I may explore doing some blinds with her. Except at tunnels, I've not done them.. but it may need to be an option with her.
Video of Aurora isn't worth posting :x She can't handle a rear cross, as the pressure is too much, and friends feel because of the dog running up behind her to grab her, she panics about the rear cross. So, over the weekend, we had some fairly ugly forced front crosses... or pulled a refusal on the first run because I had no choice but to rear cross, and it caused her to pull up (the runs were Qs, but not always pretty). You know how those novice courses are... Lots of straight lines, with very few places for front crosses (or at least here. The judges seem to think our novice dogs don't have enough skill to handle anything above running up and down the course). She did better at NADAC where we actually had some skill work out there where I could get my front crosses (there were 180s, pinwheels, serpentines, and just stuff in general other than big straight lines- surprising a novice NADAC course offered more than a novice AKC course). We'll actually be better when she gets into excellent A, as there will be more challenges, and opportunity to front cross. To be honest, it's been so long since I've been in open, I can't remember what type of courses they typically give us, other than they're often fragmented excellent courses. Once we get courses where I'm not going to be forced to only rear cross, I'll post some video of her... which will probably be in just a few months, as she I feel is going to go straight through to excellent. She's just another of those dogs who can do that.
I do want to say it's not a training issue so much as it is that she's a dog who you play by her rules, as the things that have happened to her don't allow you to run up behind her. I've tried for a long time at class, and for now, she's just not going to be comfortable with rear crosses. I may explore doing some blinds with her. Except at tunnels, I've not done them.. but it may need to be an option with her.
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