The puppies turned 6 months old yesterday, and we celebrated with baths and grooming and then a few photos. The formal stacked side shots didn't turn out as they're just so wiggly but I'll try again as I need them for their ASCA registration. A few candids, however, came out nicely. Their coats are so glossy and their colors so bold and rich. I am loving how these kids are growing up! Owners from Indiana who have "Blair" and also Nancy of Buff Cap who has Mindy, also sent photos and I must say, this is a lovely, very consistent litter of beautiful Aussies. So proud.
We started out the week with a formal herding lesson for Capri and also for Will. He has so much interest in the sheep here at home but was a little apprehensive about formal exposure with a stranger, though did settle down and had a few brilliant moments for a baby. Capri did very well but again, was a little concerned with where I was (watching from outside the pen) but I'm sure that will improve with time.
Aspen and I attended her first formal handling class also this week, and she was amazing. With my conformation dogs, I usually teach stand stand stand and not so much sit sit sit, and I pay for it later when I switch to some Rally or obedience training as the other maneuvers tend to then come a little slower. With Will and Aspen, I've worked on "sit" and "down", and now am teaching a hand stack and free-baiting, and although she sat the first couple of times, within 3 or 4 corrections, she was standing and by the end of class was even starting to self-correct. She usually walks quite nicely on a leash, and amazed me with how quickly she also began gaiting beside me. On the group go-rounds, she seemed a little concerned with the dog behind her but quickly let that go as well. A month from now, her first CKC show will already be under her belt. Aspen will debut at the Alberta Kennel Club show in Calgary the first weekend in February. Should be fun ... I haven't had a class dog in a year!
And, not to be left out, next week Capri and I start formal Rally Novice training with Kim down at Hyper Hounds http://hyperhounds.ca/ and hope to "maybe" be ready to trial by summertime. On the same evening, Aspen and I will begin her 6 weeks of training for the CGN test (Canine Good Neighbor). Such a busy time coming up!
Happy Trails ... Theresa
We started out the week with a formal herding lesson for Capri and also for Will. He has so much interest in the sheep here at home but was a little apprehensive about formal exposure with a stranger, though did settle down and had a few brilliant moments for a baby. Capri did very well but again, was a little concerned with where I was (watching from outside the pen) but I'm sure that will improve with time.
Aspen and I attended her first formal handling class also this week, and she was amazing. With my conformation dogs, I usually teach stand stand stand and not so much sit sit sit, and I pay for it later when I switch to some Rally or obedience training as the other maneuvers tend to then come a little slower. With Will and Aspen, I've worked on "sit" and "down", and now am teaching a hand stack and free-baiting, and although she sat the first couple of times, within 3 or 4 corrections, she was standing and by the end of class was even starting to self-correct. She usually walks quite nicely on a leash, and amazed me with how quickly she also began gaiting beside me. On the group go-rounds, she seemed a little concerned with the dog behind her but quickly let that go as well. A month from now, her first CKC show will already be under her belt. Aspen will debut at the Alberta Kennel Club show in Calgary the first weekend in February. Should be fun ... I haven't had a class dog in a year!
And, not to be left out, next week Capri and I start formal Rally Novice training with Kim down at Hyper Hounds http://hyperhounds.ca/ and hope to "maybe" be ready to trial by summertime. On the same evening, Aspen and I will begin her 6 weeks of training for the CGN test (Canine Good Neighbor). Such a busy time coming up!
Happy Trails ... Theresa
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