Ruffs Dog Blog...

I went up to Grantham today for one of Bob Sharpes workshops. Today focused on handling techniques over purely jumping equipment (no weaves), although there was also practice ring for us to use as we pleased whilst the other dogs were working (if we weren't too busy watching that is). I was a little bit skeptical as D had been placed in the advanced group, but Lesley quite rightly pointed out that I would probably get more out of that group.

I did feel a little out of my depth when I walked the first course as it was quite tricky but I knew D would attack it with his usual gung-ho enthusiasm regardless of what I thought. It was something Pip would love but I had no idea what the best way to handle D would be. With Pippa I can usually get in front of her for front crosses, and she certainly runs better when I'm ahead. With Inca I would do flick-flack push-thru as shes got the drive towards the next jump and the nimbleness on the ground. With D I opted for playing it safe (I value my legs, lol) and went for front crosses which worked but definitely pushed him wide in a couple places. My positioning for my recall start also caused him to be quite wide also. Bob got my to try it the other way, which I've not done much with D, which was definitely tighter and, when I got my positioning right, much easier for me (less running, lol).

The next couple of courses focused on this sequence during various different parts of the course and using the different ways to handle them. One course in particular the whole thing could be handled from the middle jump using the flick-flack-push-thru method provided you could push your dog on enough to get into position at the far wing. Diesel coped really well. We had a couple refusals throughout the day but that was down to me thinking he was committed to the jump and then moving, when really he wasn't quite there. That said, he was driving on much better so his confidence is definitely on the up.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day and both me and D were suitably knackered by the end of our session. I've booked a couple more training days with D in December which I'm already looking forward to. The first is focused on contacts/weaves which should be good =D.