Before we started in agility classes, I had worked with Yoshi over simple things to get him a head start before he was old enough to go to classes. I got him to sit, stay, come, run next to me, simple things like that. Then I put a little length of 2"x12" board down on bricks and got him used to "walking the plank." After a few sessions of that I put it up higher and he seemed to like it. Also I started working him over small jumps...he LOVES jumping and I started working on sending him over jumps. Our only problem is he wants to go and jump whatever he feels like and make his own course sometime... but more of that in a little bit. So we signed up for classes...which kept getting rained out...finally we got to go to one and Yoshi really did well.. he did seem a bit bored because most of the stuff was old hat because of the things I had worked with him on. The classes got rained out again...which ended up being four months of classes (with the exception of the one we got to go to.) I finally went to practice on the competition level night and they let me do a few exercises with him... I got him to do some nice entries into the tunnel..straight and curved. I also sent him towards the tunnel and he did pretty good. Anyways, I found another place to train and it is INDOORS... so it will NEVER get rained out!!!! I have taken a couple of private lessons (to get him ready for the Tuesday night class...its not the basic basic class because me and Rachel, who is the trainer and owner of the indoor facility, thinks that he is far ahead enough to not have to do the first time beginner class.) He has started doing slightly lower than standard heights of the A frame and dogwalk and he is doing fairly well. She has given me lots of homework after both classes. A lot of it is working him with the clicker and small step exercises to give him the best start as possible. One thing we are working on is getting him to touch the target and I will click and treat.. he is doing fairly ok with this. I havent put it on the ground yet..but is doing ok with it close. Hopefully he will be doing this exercise like an old pro in a week or two. We are also doing the walking forward and backward exercise. I am teaching him how to spin because he is not as flexible as we would like... he tends to like to turn to the left better than the right...... hmmmmm... hope this won't be a problem. She also wants me to work with him on getting him to come to my side when I ask when we are jumping since he wants to go do his own course. She also gave me some handler exercises with some front crosses and spins.... (I have never done fronts...only backs..so this is totally new for me!!) I just need to spend a few mini sessions doing these small, mind stimulating exercises for him and I hope he learns them great. We are supposed to have class at the other place tonight (finally night rained out.) I will also be taking another lesson at Rachel's on Monday. I have video from a week ago with Yoshi going over some jumps so I will try to post that soon!!!!
We are starting to look at apartments too! Dustin got a $2 RAISE!!!! Thank GOD!!!! We just need to pay off a few things and then it is hopefully on to our own place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You don't know how bad I want this to happen...... Anyways...I just am not sure how much everything is going to cost in addition to rent..so I am a little worried.
MTV is coming down on Tuesday for my interview. Their flight got cancelled last night so they couldnt make it in today :( which is such a shame because we had COOLER weather today and it was sooooo beautiful!!!! Anyways, that's all for now.
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