After a quick romp on the field we left the big dogs in the air-conditioned RV (it's 89 here today) and headed to Billie's for Boogie to participate in earthdog practice. Normally there are five or six people and a total of about 15 dogs. But today there were at least 15 people here and well over 30 dogs. I thought since there was a practice here last week that there wouldn't be many people here. I guess everyone wants to have one last practice before the big test in two weeks.
We were excited for Boogie to show off his new found skills. And he was ready - no doubt about it.
Like always, he zoomed into the tunnel and ran directly to the rats. He immediately started working...yippee. So we started the timer.
But only ten seconds in, he abruptly turned around and just silently laid in the tunnel with his tail toward the rat. HUH?! What's up with that! He just failed. So we took him out and let him watch the next dog from close up to hopefully get him all revved up to work.
We gave him another turn and once again he burst into the tunnel and got to the rats at record speed. But this time he immediately went into the silent death stare. Argg. So we had to help encourage him by taking out a couple dowels so he could get close to the rat.
That worked - he finally started working the rat. As his reward he got to have the rat.
And he wasn't about to give it up!
Well, we've taken a step backwards. We're not nearly so encouraged about the upcoming test now. But Boogie did have fun - and I'm guessing he got full as he didn't just kill his rats - he ate both of them. Quickly down the hatch! Yucky.
After the earthdog practice ended, Billie was really kind and offered to give Boogie and me an agility lesson. She is just so kind! Boogie did really well. I'm so pleased at how well he is doing with such limited practice. I think he enjoys it...at least I sure hope he does. I'm doing everything I can to make it fun for him.
Debbie
3/24/08
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