Wednesday, October 27, 2010

more cik/cap work, first try with TREES!




It has not been the best week, my back is still killing me, which has not made things easy and when I get all stressed out my back really starts doing these spasms, and those are killer. Agility has always been my escape and what makes me feel good. Lately I have been thinking maybe I was just not enjoying it anymore....sometimes it feels down right draining, and that really made me feel sad. I was having a particularly bad day and I took Cricket out to work at the park and guess what......it was all there again, the joy the fun and just having a great time. I had a realization that it is not agility I am not enjoying it is the classes I am in....so really glad I did not sign Cricket up for those classes even thought it is intimidating thinking of training her on my own... how ever it turns out we are going to have a good time-seriously that is the most important thing, after all this is my hobby.

Have I said lately how much I LOVE my little Crickster. I tell you she is so much fun to work with and the last few days she is such a cuddle bug that while I am lying with the heating pad on my back she cuddles right into the crook of my back and holds the heating pad in place, the heating pad and the pressure of her body and just feeling her soft, silky fur is the best medicine I can imagine! She is always right next to me, when I walk around she is always right next to me, she is such a fantastic friend-I just can not imagine living without her.

I taped our session at the park, the first time we transferred cik/cap to some trees. She is learning to use her body to do tight turns and power out, and I am trying to get my timing and my cues better, but I think she is doing pretty good!

If anyone wants to do the cik/cap turns I really would invest in the video, she really talks about what cik/cap is and what it isn't, the reward placement, etc... and that to me makes it worth buying if you are thinking of using it.

14 comments:

Chris and Ricky said...

Sorry about your back being so bad this week! I hope it is getting a little better.

Cricket looks great in the video - I can't believe that was her first time going around trees - she looks like she has done it forever! She is so fast and enthusiastic too! You are doing a fantastic job with her!

Take care and try not to stress out and feel better!

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed the video. Cricket is such a good girl. I'm sorry your back hasn't been good to you recently, but I'm glad that your doggies are making you feel better.

Sara said...

Cricket is going to be a superstar!

Sorry to hear your back has been hurting. Pain can be so depressing.

I think we've all had days where we're giving up agility for good! Then we go back out and have a blast, and say to ourselves, "what was I thinking". LOL.

Diana said...

Oh, boy, I hope you back gets better soon. Its hard to do anything when you are in pain.

You are a great trainer so I dont think you need to worry about training Cricket yourself. Great job with the clik/clack stuff. Diana

kiwichick said...

I was at Sylvia's seminar where she showed us herself her Cik and cCap turns. It was great. She is a great instructor. Very different but a lot of fun.

Morganne said...

Sorry to hear about your back. Did you injure it?

Loved the video. It looks like you are doing a forward send. Is this different than a FS?

Kathy Mocharnuk said...

You know I really appreciated your comment Morganna last post where I was asking about the cik/cap and those were my thoughts....I really thought when I was first listeing to the whole concept that no way would that fit in...until I saw that the first steps really to me looked like forward sends....something that was left out of our foundation stuff with Breeze....LOL, of all things to leave out!!! ANYWAY so the only difference might be working to teach the dogs how to power out of a tight turn too, although when you really look at forward send practice like Linda has in her article....it is genious and so simple, but the dog would be powering out of that too to get back to you, and because you practice the dog going around a really small pole, I think they get a little more body work to use their bodies physically to do tight turns?????

Sagira said...

Way to go Cricket!

I hope that your back feels better soon.

Patti and DeBoys said...

Hope your back is feeling better soon, as we all know dealing with pain is hard.

Kathy, you may not have realized this but I think Cricket is developing into a 'THERAPY DOG'! -- Patti :)

Kathy Mocharnuk said...

OMG Patti, you are SOOOO right! I had not realized that but once you say that......wow....how could I be missng the signs????? ;-)--Kathy

Dawn said...

LOVE the use of trees as training tools. We just planted a bunch, I could try that! Genius!

Lori Vicari said...

Ok Kathy I'm sending Crickets brother Moe to stay with you for awhile so you can teach him cik/cap, Cricket is amazing!!!

Kathy Mocharnuk said...

hahaha, Lori you are too funny, Cricket is pretty amazing, as is her Bro-Moe!!! Rumor has some awefully nice puppies!

Happy (2005 -2011) said...

I hoped you gets better soon. Cricket is picking up stuff really quickly for sure!