Kezs 3rd year

Sorry we havent uploaded a video since March, we have been so busy. Oh, and my cameras broke so this will be the last video for a while now! It was a 7 year old camera that had been through a lot so it was a matter of a time. At least I got these last bits before it was too late ;).

So, the video basically explains it all. Kez is incredible. If you watch previous videos you will see she is darting her head round a lot, very insecure. Even the one in March she is still not as confident. She hated being handled, putting a harness on was impossible and even touching her feet was difficult. In June she suddenly started running circles round me and refusing to come back, one day getting so bad that I had to phone my mum to come to the park to help get her back. For a couple of months she was back on the line, something had caused her to lose trust in me and this is what she used to do with her old owner. She also had an obsession with chasing other dogs due to walking with 7 other dogs everyday in her old home and this being her only stimulation other than flyball once a week.

Well shes a different dog now. We beat her circling problems pretty quickly after about a month and a bit on the long line. Her hatred of being handled has practically gone, she has a harness put on and off her everyday now. She used to run on sight of another dog which was pretty scary as she didnt care where she was going as long as it was away from the other dog. She still chases Ernie sometimes when the temptation is too much, but she can now walk along happily and confidently. She no longer constantly looks around worrying about everything around her. Due to ttouch and lots of counter conditioning she no longer runs on sight of another dog. She will diverge if one comes running at her, and she will react if one comes too close but if they ignore her, she mostly ignores them now. Generally she is a much happier dog.

In June we started competing. She did her first agility shows and even though they werent as good as she could be, she'd only been training since April. She still did all the courses and just lost focus a bit. In July was when things got interesting. At the end of July she got her Bronze Good Citizen Award in which she had to do heel on lead, recall, stays with other dogs lying next to her, heel on lead with distractions, setlle while you talk to someone, examination which meant feet, tail, stomach all had to be examined and brushing which meant everything had to be brushed. Not bad for a dog who used to freak out just having a harness put on her. At the end of July she did her first obedience show. Unforunately she broke everything ;). It was her first show, and a big one at that. We learnt a lot from it.
Then in August she did her 2nd obedience show. She held everything. A 1 minute down stay in a ring with about 10 other dogs all lying near eachother. Waits with dogs walking around her, people and dogs everywhere. Heelwork being completely focused on me the whole time even with everything around her. She qualified for Crufts in the YKC starters obedience and came 2nd in the Special Pre-Beginner class, a half mark away from qualifying for Discover Dogs too. What a difference!
And then last weekend she did a double weekend of agility and an obedience class at paws in the park. She came 2nd in the obedience, having to hold stays with dogs much closer together and anyone who went to paws in the park knows how busy it was! She wasnt even phased. In the agility she had to run in one of the central rings of the show with people and dogs watching on all sides... and she got her first ever clear round! No getting distracted this time, she was 100% focused and incredibly fast :). Because it was unaffiliated they mixed all the heights together so she didnt place, if it had just been against just the mediums she would have placed!

So, after 7 months of training she's done pretty well :). Because I cant drive and my nan does so much flyball still getting to competitions is our biggest obstacle. But maybe in a couple of years we'll be competing more :). She has still achieved a lot not doing lots of shows so Im very excited what the future holds. Everyone tells me how good her heelwork is, how far shes come and how well I've done.

Together we have accomplished so much, who would have known when I first met her before she was even mine?! Shes incredible and teaching me so much. Very difficult at times, but lots of new lessons :).

Now to prepare for Crufts in March!

I do not own the music!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Dog training
• agility
• obedience
• Crufts
• dog tricks
• handstand

[JessieTheJack]

The way you've turned Kez around is just inspiring, and I really can't say much more than that, Haha! You've really done such an incredible job! Sorry for such a late reply, haven't been on here for ages. Oh, btw, her beg is one of the cutest things ever :)

[jessethejack]

he looks just like jesse but black!

[fickla01]

Go Kez! It's amazing what the two of you have accomplished. Good luck at Crufts!