SOPHIE PASSED THE SCHUTZHUND BH EXERCISE!

I am so proud of my dog. All in all she passed, it was great but she did good. I made a couple of mistakes which threw her off but at least she passed. Next year we will be trying for a Schutzhund 1 degree.

I am extremely exhausted so I will tell you about the trials later. I just wanted people to know she passed.

TODAY IS "D" DAY, TRIAL DAY THAT IS

TODAY IS SOPHIE'S BIG DAY

We went through her routine briefly this morning. She looks good, confident and happy. I on the other hand am a nervous wreck. Wish us luck!

SUNDAY IS THE LAST PRACTICE AT THE TRIAL FIELD

I once again forgot part of her routine. Ted had just got through telling me do the whole pattern off leash. I walked to the start of the pattern, stood there for a moment. I actually went blank, I was standing there thinking what do I do next. Then it came to me, the walking sit/walking down. Of course that was wrong which messed Sophie up for the rest of the routine.

It has taken me two days to undo that screw up. I have all the faith in the world Sophie will do just fine. It's ME I'm worried about.

Practice tomorrow at our field, then Friday, the big day. Wish me luck and hope that I don't screw it up for Sophie!

THE TRIALS ARE NEXT WEEK FRIDAY

Life has been a little hectic this last month. Sophie injured her paw amongst other things. I had a horrible migraine last week, this week I have a bad cold.  I'd like to tell you what has been going on with what I now call practice, since we are only doing the obedience part of her training. If things are a little muddled, it's because of my cold.

A few Sundays ago we went to the field where the trials are being held to practice. We do this so the dogs can get familiar with the field. With the exception of sniffing the ground, Sophie did just fine, I on the other hand, not so good. I was so nervous because were practicing with the Schutzhund Hawaii club, these are people I have never worked in front of before. I actually forgot to do one part of the routine. I was so embarrassed, at one point Ted told me to breath. While Sophie was doing her long down, I said to Ted "I"m sorry I'm so nervous, it's because we are practicing in front of people I don't know." His answer was something like this, " You shouldn't be nervous because of them, you should be nervous because of the people you know." I looked at him and said "Why, they've seen me fall down several times." We both just laughed at that.

The following Sunday was much better. I had relaxed a little, but, I did get a little confused with the pattern. I'm thinking, on our field doing the routine is second nature. I'm in a new area and actually have to think about what I am doing. 

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Last Wednesday was, I want to say, the best practice I have ever had. Ted paid us both compliments. Sophie did her routine so perfect. I got complimented for how well I have been doing with her. He was happy with me for giving the commands correctly and praising her at the right moments. He said he could tell I have been working really hard with her these last few months. 

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END

Thursday, everything seemed fine. We practice and she looked good. Friday, not a good day. Sophie was once again limping, only this time it was really bad. I had taken her up to the National Park to practice in the ball field, we stopped by to see Mr. Aloha. He helped me check her out, as this is a very difficult thing to do by myself. She's a big dog and I'm a small person. Unlike the last time she was limping, this time we found a cut on her pad on her right paw. I think she may have cut it on a rock in our drive way.  I sprayed her paw with a topical antiseptic called Gentocin which heals sores quickly. I also kept her crated until practice last Sunday.   I have to say, by Sunday, her paw looked much better.

This past Sunday was an even better day for us. No mistakes, well that's not exactly true, I may have made one or two. I really don't remember, I just know I did the pattern correctly.

Here are some videos of Sunday's practice.

   
Checking in with the Judge

In this video, the dogs who are competing in the BH obedience segment of the trials must walk together up to the Judge. You are to introduce yourself to the Judge, (your dog should be sitting properly at your side) give the dogs name and what Phase of Schutzhund you are doing. You then decide who is going to do what first. It will either be the Long Down or Field Exercise

The Long Down                                                     

An explanation of the Long Down: You walk to the other end of the field, when you come to a stop your dog is supposed to sit without you telling it to. You take the lead off, tell your dog "down", then walk 30 paces away from your dog, stand with you back to him/her for about 7 minutes. When the judge tell you to return to your dog, you walk back all the while your dog is to be in the "down" position. Tell him/her sit, put the lead back, have him/her heel then start the Field Exercise upon the Judges say so. If you have completed both the Long Down and the Field Exercise you then return to the Judge  to check out.

   HEEL ON LEAD (problem loading video)

In the heeling on lead, your dog should go willing with you, be attentive and close to you. Your dogs shoulder blade should be approximately at or near knee-height through all of the changes in pace, turns and in the group. Once you have gone through the group with the leash on, you take the leash off go through the group again, and do the field exercise again.

Starting from the sit position, give the command heel, you walk down the field roughly 50 paces. Make an about turn, give your dog the heel command, walk 10 to 15 normal paces, 10 to 15 fast paces, 10 to 15 slow paces, 10 to 15 normal paces (you give the heel command each time you change paces). Make a right turn, walk 10 to 15 paces, turn right, walk 10 to 15 paces, about turn, walk 7 paces come to an abrupt stop. Your dog should be sitting at your side. 

Wait 3 seconds, give the heel command then walk 7 paces, turn and walk into the group making a right turn and then a left turn, stopping by one of the people in the group. Your dog should be sitting at your side. 

Walk out of the group, take your dog off leash, walk through the group again, then do the field exercise again with the dog off leash.

Once you are done with this exercise, you go on to the next exercise. The walking sit/walking down.

 

WALKING SIT/WALKING DOWN

Here you start from the basic position, the sit. Tell your dog to heel, walk 15 paces, while in motion tell your dog to sit. Walk about 35 paces away from your dog, face your dog. Wait for the Judge to tell you, you can return to your dog. Walk back to your dogs side, give the command heel, walk 15 pace, while in motion tell your dog down. Walk to the end of the field, wait for the Judge to tell you to call your dog. Give the command here. Your dog should run to you fast, stop close and sit in front of you, wait 3 seconds give the command heel. Your dog should be sitting close and straight on your left side.

So, there you have it in a nut shell. It's a lot to remember. Hope I didn't confuse any of you.

GREAT NEWS!

Sophie has been to training off and on for the last couple of weeks. She still limps now and then so I don't push her. Besides, she knows the routine, I'm the one who needs work.

SOPHIE HAS A HUSBAND

Above is a picture of Whiskey, he is the perfect mate for Sophie. He has wonderful drive just like Sophie and a good disposition. As soon as she goes into  heat sometime at the end of this year, they will meet and mate.........hopefully. Will keep you posted. If you  or anyone you know would like to purchase a high drive working German Shepherd, leave a comment.

 Also, Sophie's hips and elbows are now certified which means no hip dysplasia.

LOOKS LIKE NO TRAINING FOR A WHILE

Sophie is not getting any better. Not only that she is getting.....frustrated? Due to no playing. 

How do you explain to a dog, you cannot play with her until she is better? I've checked her over so many times, I can't seem to find out why she is limping. Looks like a trip to the vet.

SOPHIE'S HURT

I thought it looked like Sophie was limping as she was running back to me after getting the ball. As she got closer, she looked fine. I threw the ball once again she looked to be limping. I watched as she returned with the ball, through the yard. She looked fine. I then thought to myself maybe the driveway isn't a good place to play ball with her. Our driveway is not paved. 


Later that evening Mr. Aloha and I were outside, I let Sophie out of her kennel to go potty. I asked Mr. Aloha if she looked like she was limping. Of course at the time I asked the question, she was in the yard. After he watched her for a while, he said it kind of looked like she was limping.


I hadn't been feeling good all weekend and really didn't feel like going to practice. We went anyway, when it was our turn, I mentioned to Ted I thought Sophie was limping would he take a look at her. He knew she was the minute he saw her walking. He asked if I checked her paws. I told him I checked her paws, gently squeezed her legs from her shoulder down to her paws. She didn't wince or act like anything was wrong. He said not to work her hard, just practice with food instead of her ball (which is high drive work). We did sits and downs for a while, then her dumbbell work. 

It was raining real hard, which didn't make me feel any better. After a while I took Sophie to the truck. I walked back told Ted I was leaving, I really didn't see the point in being there. She really couldn't do anything and what she could do, I could do at home.  He said to keep her crated at night and walk her on a leash whenever I let her out so she avoids getting hurt any further.  Let her rest for a few days. I said okay. As I was walking back to the truck, I couldn't help but think "Let a high drive dog rest for a few days, how am I going to accomplish that without Sophie going bonkers with pent up energy!"

So basically we drove 30 miles (60 round trip) for nothing. Not really nothing, I wasn't sure if she was hurt or not. Believe it or not, our dog Ginger limps when she wants attention. She is so funny, she will be limping on one leg, we shower her with attention then go back to whatever we were doing. Next time we look at her she is limping on the other leg. When we let her know she's been caught faking, she walks normal with a huge grin on her face. Dogs can be just as funny as humans.