Day 2 into Weaving ...

You never realised how 'dumb' westies are when you start teaching them new tricks and then remember how many repeitions you have to do it before they 'get' it! 

 This is Day 002 into his 'Weaving' training.

Luckily TOto can follow simple 'Finger' pointing instruction, so on the first day we have to keep repeating with finger pointing 'left', 'right' ,'left', 'right'. Without the finger cue, he will walk off , missed poles or just look at us with this 'blur' look!

It is so much better on the 2nd day, and sometimes he can 'weave' without us giving any 'prompts'! Hopefully the next class at home, will be so much better. But we realised TOto needs at least 3 days of repeitition before he 'understand' any new tricks! 'Understanding' doesn't mean he will do on cue, but his body will respond when cued but not correctly all the time.

Simple 'Back up' took 3 days, let see how long he needs to learn to Weave.

  

Our westie TOto @ Level 1 Fun Xdog Agility Lesson 4

TOto doesn't seems to enjoy 'Agility' as much as we wants him to! When we mention the word to him; his eyes doesn't light up like the word 'Dog Park' or 'Walk walk'. He will gives you a 'Huh, ok' look and look away immediately! I hate to see TOto being pull about by his leash too. I guess if we want TOto to perform well and enjoy the game it has to be at our own pace and practises without distraction. In my opinion, I think TOto can sense Dadddeee itsy-bitsy annoyance or frustration and plus TOto is so condition to think that they are 'free-falling' treats everywhere, he just couldn't focus and concentrate on his 'Job'!

But when TOto gets to play with the gigantic 100+lbs Leonberger in class, he suddenly turns into a active happy puppy rolling about. We should start considering other 'Sports' for TOto.

Today's video has 2 part; 1st is his agility run through and 2nd part is how TOto play with a 100+lbs leonberger! This is the first time I have seen this breed of dog, and they are so GIGANTIC but so gentle. They looks like they are playing with hamster when they play with TOto, so funny!

It all about TOto (Sat) Pt 1 - Fun XDog Agility Pt. 3/6

It is so difficult for TOto to concentrate!
TOto have to sniff out all corners and because he has found treats before he thinks that there are treats everywhere! Even his own treats/biscuits cannot make him FOCUS! I mean how can "dehydrated lamb" and "chewy treat" win over 'Oily Tuna' and 'Cheesy bits'!? The other participants drop the 'Tuna oil' everywhere!! But it is unfair to blame others because some dogs are just so focus they don't really care what is on the ground!

But we realized TOto perform better with Mammeee because of my 'Happy Voice' that help motivated him to run with me! Maybe Hubs get so 'tense' and 'frustrated', TOto can sense them somehow.  And Hub refused to use his 'Gayish Happy Voice'! He says it is so embarrassing to use the 'Happy girly voice' to motivate TOto. Too bad, Mammeee just doesn't has the stamina to run the obstacle with TOto.

Well I may try it out next week!


Guess TOto cannot win Mammeee a Medal :(
But he compensates everything with his kissessss ...

That is so unfair!

Level 1 - Fun XDog Agility Pt. 2/6

TOto perform so much better in his 2nd lesson, but still he gets distracted easily! He doesn'tget distracted by other dogs! He get distracted by all the treats that has fallen on the ground. Hopefully as the class progress he gets better!

Today is the 2nd day of 'Fall' and the weather is GOOD; abit chilly in the morning too.

When TOto knows that both of us are going with him, he won't walk down the stairs with only ONE OF US. He has to wait till the both of us walk down the staircase! He won't come down with me no matter how I tug him!!

That long long sharp sharp thing is TOto's tail!

Ready, GET SET ...

GO!

This MAT Is the most difficult for TOto because he has to run the plank and then STOP and DOWN for 5seconds! The excitment made it very difficult for TOto to stop. He will either OVER RUN or start sniffing the mat!

Half TIME breakf for TOto's breakfast ...

Compulsory shot with Mammeee!

In the end we realised, Mammeee is the BEST TREAT for TOto to finish his course! As long as Mammeee is at the of his course and shout, "TOto!" he will COME, JUMP and TUNNEL through all obstacle! Yeah but Daddeee says during compeition, there can be only ONE handler. Opps :x !!

When he reached home ...

Automatically decide to SLEEP in crate ...

Mammeee and daddeee can sneak out for date night!

Level 1 - Fun XDog Agility Pt. 1/6

TOto didn't sleep well the night before, he kept having to wake up in the middle of the night to bark and keep wanting to go patio to do his guard-duty! And my alarm rang at 6.30am, by 7am TOto is ready to go to bed!!!

Too bad we have to go out, and TOto didn't even have his breakfast ...
7.48am and we are ready to GO!

ALL the other dogs there were HUGE, GIGANTIC!

And before coming to the lesson, we were saying if all the dogs that joined are Border COllie we will leave hahaha because TOto will have no chance at winning a trophy for us! But still all the other dogs are huge; there are 2 Leon Begers, Greyhound, Bloodhound and Aussies! No similar size dog with TOto!

Hahaha TOto has NO CHANCE at ALL!

Everyone is being attentive looking at the instructor and looks what is TOto doing!??

Bottom left corner of the photographs, 'Looking for treats'?

Instructor giving instructions ...

TOto need some coaxing for the Hoops!

And by the 2nd round he is a natural ...

TOto at the mat, "DOWN for 5 seconds"!

Mammeee is happy for TOto and mammeee is very very tired with all the running about under the hothothot SUN!

TOto performed better than expected. He was very HUNGRY halfway in class and got very distracted sniffing and sniffing refusing to listen to instructions and we got to feed him halfway in class!

After that he is very tired and start to lose his focus.

But still we are happy that he had enjoyed himself.

The instructor is very impressed with TOto and says that TOto is such a 'Mellow Terrier'! I think the instructor find TOto very calm and she mentioned that TOto has a great personality and great doggie body language. She praises that we have done a good job socialising TOto.

*Beam* so proud of TOto!

When we are back home, he was totally KNOCK out!

He didn't even wake when I had to open the main door to go out!

Just a short clip showcasing, "TOto jumping the poles!"

Hmmmm so does TOto has the potential to go into some serious Dogs Agility Competition!?

Enrolled for X-agility!

We have enrolled TOto in "The X-Dog Agility Challenge" Level 1. This is not compeititive, just for fun! And poor mammeee and daddeee has to wake up at 6.30am latest to drive TOto out for his 'extra-curriculum'!
Program starts 10 September 2011 @ 8.00am every Saturday for 6 sessions, and most probably a 30minutes drive?

TOto will learn:

• Motivation and handling around distractions
• Build confidence in your dog and yourself as a trainer/handler
• Learn how to target your dog to an object
• Learn a fast down-stay and follow
• Lead your dog through jumps, hoops, tunnels and other fun obstacles.

This is TOto for the next 2 days after his daycamp and swimming session.

Sleep, stretch, sleep stretch and sleep SOME MORE!

mammeee and daddeee is HAPPY to have a tired sleepy furball!