Finding the Groove

This fall has been super busy.  The crew and I have been working hard on trial-related issues, which included some FEO runs in ASCA, training in NADAC, and some foundation training on the side.  Zoe has been much more confident with the teeter.  Ever since I splurged on my own personal teeter, we have done short practices a few times per week to build up her confidence.  No longer does she flinch when the teeter hits the ground for the return.  Instead, she perks up knowing that she can do it again!  In trials, she seems to be about 80% there.  I have gotten more solid performances than meek ones, so I know that things are getting better.  I suspect that her confidence issues with the teeter will never completely disappear, but for now, I am happy with where we are at.

My goal for Breeze has been contact retraining.  I have gotten too loose with my criteria at trials and now it's time to get serious.  CPE doesn't allow for training in the ring, so I thought it would be way too demotivating to continually end the run for a poor contact performance.  Instead, we have trialed in venues that do allow training so that I can go back and get the performance I want.  This has been very helpful and I will need to continue to avoid settling for less at trials.  Unfortunately, competition will have to wait for Breeze for a bit since she is out with a calf muscle strain.  It is nothing serious, but I need to give her some time off from high activity to heal.  In the mean time, we have been polishing our obedience and I plan to do a rally obedience class with her so that I can keep her mind active and give us a chance to work through distractions in a class environment.  

All in all, I am happy with where we are at in our journey.  Zoe is getting back to her consistent, happy self and the timing of Breeze's injury worked out well in the sense that training is more important right now than trialing.  Winter is arriving, which means clearing the yard of agility equipment and keeping a vigilant eye on the weather before traveling to trials.  I know we need the snow this winter, but I am hoping that travel will be less treacherous than it has in the past!