Great workout for the dogs yesterday

Hello Folks

Well, its one tired and sore owner today but I feel better then I could I guess, LOL

What a great day yesterday was, the weather was amazing, a bit hotter then I would have liked, given that the dogs had to spend parts of the day in the truck, but, we were able to keep all windows open and to make sure a bucket of water was available at all times, plus I check the temp, there was a nice cool breeze, but its clearly time to crack out the crate fans..

So morning was spent getting thing ready for me to be gone from the farm for the afternoon/evening, and the truck was loaded with four dogs by noon and we were on the road..

So Zander had obedance class at 1pm, and he did really good, his heeling and recalls where right on, still a bit weak on the far sit stay, he wants to be with me so badly, and I was losing my voice at the time, which so didn't help matters. Still it was a good class and lots of great work done.

Then came my privates, so one of the issues we had at the last show with Freyja was she was great with Linda until she had to work behind myself and Zander in the ring, and then she was focused on myself to much, and wanted to work with me instead.. so this was one of the thing we practised in privates was working the dogs, me in front with Zander and Freyja and Kim directly behind etc..

Then I noticed that Freyja didn't seem to be having as good of reach and drive as normal.. so we started gaiting her and realize that although so very minor that walking around, you can't see it, that she was just the tinyest bit lame on the front right leg.. so we stopped there, and no agility training for her, so in truth by now, I am totally fried, so Kim says well lets train Freyja's brain.. and she goes and get her bell..

Well, I love watching kim work, she is so amazing.. now some of the credit goes to Freyja for being a very smart cookie, and some goes to me, for clicker training her since she could walk :) but within ten minutes Kim had her trained to walk over and ring the bell with her foot, and was up to two rings by the end :) What a team!!

Now I am going to have to go buy my own bell to keep the practise up LOL but its a very cute trick for children.

So for the next two weeks, no agility training, no real major runs etc, so it will be all about trick training for Freyja while we make sure that leg heals well. I admit that I am hoping that it will be healed enough that she can still be shown this weekend, that gives her four days.. before the first show.. should work..

So I was to have supper with Nat and Jason, and I decided that I really need to rest, not doing my walmart shopping as planned before picking up Jason at the bus stop, and heading out for dinner with Nat as well.. So showed up a extra hour and half at Nat's and we moved all the dogs into the backyard to hang out with us, well company just kept arriving( it was game night) and we ordered in Pizza, so it was a nice visit with friends, and the dogs worked the deck from person to person :)

So on to advanced Agiltiy training at 6:30 and it was both good and bad.. I honestly don't know what happened to Dalla last night, she was a nut!, when focused and working, great as always but I don't know if it was me or Dalla or a combo of both, but we had a hard time with it.. Not my best night, and while I would like to place all blame on myself, Dalla for the first time in years, decided to not have a solid come recall, and ring zoomies, now to a point if she had not just had lose time for three hours in the backyard, I might have cut slack on been in the truck all afternoon but that was not the case.. I truly don't know what got into her, but by about half way though class, we had worked out a number of the issues, but still didn't really hit our groove..

Jason and Ada on the other hand, other then a break in start line stay's, where grooving right along, they did really well, and I had to laugh at Jason, he does not work the dogs at home, that is my job, and so he had not really worked with Ada for awhile, (since the last class) and she has come along way since then in both inhome and private training and so she has a great deal more speed, and he was needing to RUN to get to the ends to say, "spot" which is great, I want that speed to keep coming up..

So then off to walmart for the required items (including new flipflops as my old ones, ended up in a game of puppy keep away last week and came out the worse for it), and then home, last of the chores that I could not do before leaving and bed.. ah, heavenly soft, comfy bed..until 3 am, when for some unknown reason, (we were both sound alseep) CRASH! and SMASH, and the lamp got knocked over, and we were up for the next ten min cleaning and vacooming so that no little pieces of glass where left behind and then back to bed..

Hope you guys all had a great day as well

Barks

Agiltiy Work Shop with Lynda Orton-Hill April 22nd

Lynda Orton-Hill, member of the 2007 CKC Canadian Agility Team and one of Susan Garrett's instructors at Say Yes Dog Training in Alberton Ontario will be in Ottawa from April 19-22.

The Greenstone Kennel has signed up for the day long seminar and training course

Foundation Day:Beginnings in Brilliance...Say Yes Dog Training Foundation Games....One day discussing and progressing the games of Its Yer Choice, Crate Games, Hand Targeting, Tugging and Play, Rewarding and Relationship Building ideas as well as more Shaping!

I am going to be taking my little Gal, Greenstone Black Pearl Aka Freyja for the day, she is just over seven months so this seemed like the perfect day for her. I am looking forward to learning more and new training games for the dogs.

Updates to Follow.

Barks

Icelandic Sheepdogs were Rocking! in Class yesterday

Hello Folks

A few things new, first check out the great line drawing of Tofra Dalla above, I think its a very good likeness of her..

So yesterday was very busy but a blast! I had three classes back to back, so dog training from 1 o'clock to 4 o'clock, got to love it.. so we had obedance class from one to two and then we had privates from 2 to 3 for Zander (show training, agility training) and then 3 to 4 for Freyja, and they all did really well, I was so proud of my Zander, he has come such a long way in regards to his show training, and I can't wait to see what he can do in the ring.. If he can hold it together as well as he did in training, he looks good..

Freyja rocked though her show training and we moved right into aglity training, she was working tunnels, table-auto down, but our main work was on weaves and I have decided that I just can't drive two hours each way to dream fields for a one hour class, when the dog in question is working at a much!! more advanced level. Jason's advice was take the 60 dollar tank of gas and have another private lesson each week with kim if you want and spend two or more extra hours training at home.

Have to agree that it makes more sense to do that then go back to training for a click and reward per paw on the low ground board.. on the other hand, Frejya did very well on her two on two off, and I was able to do a nice two step lead away and come back and release her at that point.

So last night was quiet and today is rainy, tons of rain coming down and lots of water everywhere, so I guess its a good day for laundry and maybe some baking.. and some indoor doggy games.

Trying to teach a new trick to Freyja, I am trying to teach, show teeth.. when I get it right I will take a photo of it for you.

Barks

Icelandic Sheepdogs Agility and herding update.

Hello Folks

Well, It would be fair to say I am busy at this time :) I am backed up about a week on email so if you have wrote me, I will be working my way thought it today and tomorrow, As you know we have been lambing and kidding, so alot more time out in the barn lately. We have also been getting ready for the coming dog show, so daily grooming session and I am thrilled with how good my little girls coat looks!, plus 3 short times a day training sessions, one on the grooming table, One free stacks on the ground and one hand stacking on the ground.. Plus three dogs getting three agility mini trains per day..

Although they said it was going to be nasty and stormy this weekend, it was in fact fairly mild with some snow, so lots of dog runs, and barn work as well as indoor house work, it was mild enough to throw the windows open and do some spring cleaning, (lots more of that needed as always LOL) but it was a good start anyway.. many wheel barrols of compost from the stalls of the barn later, the time as always just flew by.. snuck in time on Saturday for a new hair cut and color for the coming dog show :)

Ok, so on to dog related things, well we had Frejya have her first regular Agility training class, she has a eight other dogs in class, all bigger then her but one.. Very nice group of folks, and nice dogs, it was very good, normally Freyja does most of her training in my privates and so getting her into a formal class is good, she starts Puppy agility at Dream Fields, check it out on the link if you would like. The rest of my classes are at my normal training school, Best Friends

http://www.bfdogtraining.ca/

http://www.dreamfields.com/

Anyway, it was a very good class, and I was able to practise for show training with stacks and holds etc, while waiting my turn, always a good thing. Freyja did well, she did every tasks asked and while she does slow down while learning something new, she will pick up her speed again after she understands what you are asking for.

So the lambs are so cute, I will admit to being guilty of maybe spending a few resting min just watching the lambs play.. amazing to me how they bunch together already, and I had Freyja out with me in the barn, as I always say to Jason, the dogs can't learn manners around the barn and critters if they don't get to come with us and learn what is considered proper or not.. Freyja lately has wanted to really chase the chickens and turkeys, so we have been working on that..

Needless to say, I did wonder if the adult sheep would be more on edge with the little wee ones, and until they are older, no working the sheep but I did introduce Freyja to some very interested lambs, it was very calm and controlled but of course she could move them with the slightest movement.. I can see that I will have a great deal of fun with the lambs when bigger working them with the dogs.. my older girls are so dog broke, that it will be a pleasure to work with some new fresh blood so to speak..

Barks

Icelandic Sheepdogs in Agility

Hello Folks

Iceland Sheepdogs and Agility just seems to go together, a well-breed, healthy active Icelandic normally has agility to spare in their day to day life and with their keen willingness to work with their owners, Dog Agility is sport and Game that they certainly seem to enjoy..

A number of Greenstone Icelandics are in Agility training, and I am looking forward to more Agility classes and starting AAC and CKC Trials this year. I am also thinking about heading across the border for some AKC trials.

The largest Agility club in Canada is the AAC, to learn more about this club and related information, please check out their website

http://www.aac.ca/

The Canadian Kennel Club also offers Agility, and to learn more about that please check out their website..

http://www.ckc.ca/en/

A few training photos of Greenstone Ada and Belglen Runa of Greenstone last summer. Tofra Dalla is without a doubt the most advanced of the dogs (which makes sense as she is the oldest)

Greenstone Icelandic's kennel has a number of puppies now growing up in active agility homes in both Canada and the United States, If you are interested in a Icelandic as both a loving pet and as a active Agility partner, feel free to speak with me.

I love agility, and so do my dogs but I will fully admit that I enjoy playing at agility, I love the training time with the dogs, I love the look of thinking in the dogs eyes when we hit that magic moment of understanding between us. I love the joy of a Icelandic that is flying over a jump, or a A-Frame. I love the happy wag of the tail as they come flying out of a tunnel.. I just like spending time with my dogs in a way that I believe is fun for all involved.

I hope that some of you will give agility a try, you don't need to ever go to trial if you don't want to, but it will help increase your bond with your dog, help with your training on commands and off-leash work.

The only thing to make sure, is that your dog is old enough to be doing the jumps, (growth plates needed to have closed) and that they are Healthy, Lean and Fit, with well trimmed toe nails..

Otherwise, bring yourself, your time and your smiles and laughs and go enjoy a wonderful time with your favorite ISD.

Barks

Training updates to follow, Dalla/Ada both in active adult training, and Freyja starting puppy building blocks training. AJay is in at home training.

Icelandic Sheepdog Agility updated June 1st

Hi Folks

Well we just got back from three hours worth of agility training with four dogs, Bella my yellowknife rescue and oldest Agility star, for ISD, we had Dalla and Ada out in private and Runa in class..

It was a ton of fun and despite the heat, lots was learned.. boy can that Ada move!!

Sent Runa in with Jason for class, and she was such a good girl, she did everything he asked her to, and with grace and bounce to her step.. There was a contest tonight to see who could do the fastest time for the A-frame, clock started when dog went up, and stopped when dog was two on /two off..

Four runs, one warm up, and then the next three counted, Runa took 2.9 2.3 and 2 seconds, the fastest three runs and I will tell you right now, she was not at a full out burn, she was still in control and will someday be alot faster, but as the rest of the class of eight was in the 3 second plus mark, I was still very proud of her times..

She really seems to like the weave polls, not have that in a dog before, but will take it as good sign..

Great night had by all..

Barks

Belglen Runa of Greenstone-Agility Classes

Hello

BelglenRuna has started beginner Agility classes on thursday nights, and she loves it! What a good girl she is, she really liked the other dogs in class, we have a great mix, some big dogs, some really small dogs and a few in the middle. Like most Icelandic Sheepdogs, she is a natural at dog Agility..

Runa started her heat this week and so she will have to wear panty to come to class with for the next few weeks, this should be interesting to train with :)

Will keep you posted and updated on her progress in training. Jason will take photos of her in class next week.

Barks