Weekend went well working Flash.  He IS doing his drops, and he is staying!  I have also been working on some "crate games" trying to build some focus when he comes out.  He is SO smart!  He got it in about 2 tries.  Heeling good too.  All in all I am pleased.  I took Cat over to the building to work her a bit in conformation.  She is looking good too!  She is so pretty!
Also went to a Collie Club meeting.  It was nice to see old friends that I hadn't seen in a long time.  Still not sure that I want to join..I am feeling positive about the club now.

18 days till vacation....but who's counting!

Well, the exercises my "coach" has given me appear to be helping....imagine that!  SO, I am crossing my fingers things will work out.  He is looking good, so again I am hopeful.  I think the hardest thing for me is that I need to chillax a bit, play more in the ring, and be patient!  I REALLY need to get up to Nashville, just not so sure that is going to work out before Atlanta shows.  He is showing every weekend until then, and I have stuff going on too.  I HAVE decided that even though it is a long drive, (and well worth it!) I NEED to get up there at least once a month.  I "get it" better when I see it.  So, since I have decided that I want to learn to understand Flash better and Curt doesn't really get a chance to actually see us working, it will be best.  I could sit for hours with Curt, his understanding of the dog is amazing!  I would love to get him and Bonnie in a room....OMG I think I would be in heaven! 

As usual, got my entries in at the last possible minute!  I love procrastination!  haha  Flash- decided to enter just one day, see where we are and what ELSE we can work on.  Cat- entered all 3 days in conformation.  Keep your fingers crossed 1-she wins, and 2-there is a major!  Flirt-entered 2 days, hopefully Katie will get another leg, and MAYBE her title!  Then off to open with her!! :)

In an effort to help Katie with Flirt's "love" of the dumbbell and retrieving in general, I have been on a search to find a better way.  I met a person in Greenville that had similar issues with her dog.  Flirt does not respond well to a forced retrieve. My friends dog, was the same, and now bounces off the wall when he evens sees the dumbbell.  I ordered the book she told me about and after reading a bit, I am SO excited to get home and try it.  I think that all the collies will benefit from this totally positive and fun training.  
I think Catalina in particular is going to really get pumped when I begin training her with this method.  It is a training method geared towards retrievers and Field training, so I will tweek it a little for obedience.  I think even Flash may find this more fun!  
I need to work on getting him pumped up a bit more, this may do it!!  "Motivational Training for the Field" by Lorie Jolly

Work out yesterday with Flash was great!  Curt wanted anticipation...and I have it!  Flash is such a smart boy.  It didn't take him long to figure it out.  We are going to work some more tonight on our drops and then we have drill team practice.  I imagine that he will be a tired boy when we get back 

Well the good news is that Michelle and Casey got their Open Title!!  Katie and Flirt not only got their first leg in Grad Novice, but placed too!!
 I am SO proud of both of them!  Flash and I did not qualify, but the runs were good and I learned a few more things.  I am studing and documenting every thing I do, and what Flash does.  That way I wil eventually have a routine for showing.  Some things work, some don't.  Every show is a learning experience.  Curt was there so I was under a little more self inflicted stress!  But in reality, it was awesome having him there for support and help.  He is truly amazing!  He is SO in the dogs head, the psychology of the dogs thinking, I am in awe.  He did tell me something that was kinda like a smack in the face, but I appreciated it!  
Flash was connected with me, transitions that we were working on worked.  I watched and learned from others in the ring, and have a couple new ideas to try.  Flash took the high jumps all 3 days!!  Awesome boy!  He didn't drop at all and broke his sits.  We have a plan for that now.  
Also, my good friend and handler saw Cat.  She hadn't seen her in about a year.  She wants to take her to the Nationals next year.  She told me several times she was pretty.  That is HIGH praise from her! heehee  I love to give her a hard time!!  So now I am highly motivated to get her ready for Novice.  Will show in BOTH at the Nationals!!  How exciting!! Well, gotta check the calendar and see where we are going next, probably our shows here in Atlanta!

What a wonderful birthday I am having!!  My computers crashed BIG time at work.  Running the repair will take 3 hours!  I can't work without them, so here I sit!  Apparently I missed out on some fireworks after I left yesterday.  A patient came in and cussed out and threatened a staff member with death yesterday.  I swear I would have marched my ass right out in the waiting room and smacked a bitch!  So, all I am hearing here today is the girls bitching (rightly so) and now the computers....forget the Calgon...Grey Goose take me AWAY!

We went to drill team practice this morning, and I had time before we started to do an Open run-thru.  Both were awesome! :)  The Drill team is really coming together and will be a sight to see!  Once we have it down solid, I will put a video up.  Flash's run was great.  Except one thing.  I went to set him up for the high...he blew me off, for about 5 seconds.  A quick poke got his attention back however!  He did the jumps with no problem.  I am excited to see what will happen in Greenville.  We have been working hard, and I will be busting both of our butts this week!


Anyway.....back to HOT...Sean and Ingrid gave me this really neat dog treat.  It has a stand to put in the ground.  Then you dump toys, treats, whatever into a bowl, and freeze it.  The result was the smooths attacked it.  For the most part they shared.  Flash took the top where the grapes, carrots and chick peas were.  Cat took the bottom, where the kibble was.  They were ok until they got to the middle, where there were some BIG cookies.  I had to take it away as they were both trying to take control.  Flirt could have cared less.  She walked over, sniffed it, then went and laid in the sun!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=247AqBt7tR0

I just got my judging program.  I am SO excited!  The past few years, I have noticed a decline in entries for obedience.  All classes, but in the "A's" where I am never more than maybe 10.  Sometimes the Novice A class only has 2-3.  I am SO excited to see that in ALL the A Classes, even the new titling classes the entries are in the 20's!!  While this makes for a looong day....it is awesome to see that kind of entry!  
I myself have tried to make a special effort to encourage all our students to compete.  I think as competitors that it is important to do so, to have our sport grow.
I hope that those of you that have not thought about it, do!  There is no bond stronger that the connection you have with the dog doing obedience.  It is intense and totally awesome.  I can't really describe it, but it is a bond like no other.  This "connection" is obvious if you go and watch an obedience trial.  I may not be blogging much this week, as every extra minute I have this week will be training.  We are in competition mode. See you in Greenville. Happy Training!!

Well....I have been working really hard, intense workouts with Flash, for the past several weeks.  I have taken a couple days off.  Don't get me wrong, I train with him EVERY day!  It has just been SO hot, the building is miserable!!  So, I have been just doing a few things at home.  I will probably set the jumps up this evening (if it isn't raining) and do some of that today.  Starting this weekend, however, we will be busting it out every night until Greenville!  
Things I will be doing/expecting in Greenville:  I want to see smooth transitions between the exercises, at least I want to see an improvement!, Solid jumping!  good attention.  I will also be watching and learning from other handlers.  I will be making a list of what transitions other people use, and working on Flash's list of odds and ends I watch and learn at each show, for my "Book-O-Tricks".
I understand that Greenville is the regional qualifier for the SE for the obedience invitationals.  So, I will for sure be watching the handlers!!  I am so excited!!