Happy Pappy New Year from the View from 4 Inch

Taylor contemplates his resolutions.

Where every year is the Year of the Butterfly.

Give your Papillon, agility dog or favorite furry pal a big hug for us!

Little Friends Pet Photography: Capturing the Spirit of Dogs

Revealing the nature we know,

yet somehow never even suspected about dogs.

All of us have photos of our dogs. Some snapshots, some captured in the heat of competition. Some carefully posed, or at least as much as our dogs will allow us. Many I've taken of my own dogs have been featured in my posts.

But still...when it's all said and done, few really seem to capture that extra "something" we see, or at least believe that we see in our dogs in those sly little moments they give us every day.

Today, however, I found something really special: A photographer that seems to have developed the gift for capturing in images the coy, humorous and even fierce nature of our wolfling pets...seemingly as effortlessly as capturing fireflies in a jar.

The site is innocuously named, Little Friends Lifestyle Pet Photography by Seth Casteel. But the name barely begins to describe it.

Take a virtual stroll around the gallery. You'll find many of those moments that are so similar to the ones all of us glimpse in our dogs as we travel through our days. You know. That flash of a moment that seems to capture everything about who your dog really is, and what your relationship with him is all about.

Only, you never seem to be able to quite get it on film, much less truly share it. I really love the way this "seen/unseen" nature of dogs comes through in Casteel's work. Don't wait. Take a break from your day and steal away a moment to indulge.

Teaching an Aggressive Teeter Performance

Starting with tugging at 2 on 2 off and building

to an aggressive release.

I have been fascinated in how Swedish trainer, Fanny Gott, builds drive from the earliest stages of training. One of her secrets is training a very engaged release. I will try to find the video where she teaches the very earliest stages of this, but at this time, I was thrilled to find this video that shows how she translates this skill to the teeter.

In this video, she demonstrates a back chained training progression that starts with a 2 on 2 off at the end of the teeter and releases to a reward, in this case, tugging.

The dog is backed up further on the board, until the dog is running (charging!) the length of the board to the end of the board for the release/reward.

The basic skill progression for this could also be taught on a contact board before progressing to the teeter itself. She also teaches this skill by working on stairs.

Here is Fanny's article on the subject, posted to her blog.

In the article, she asks us to note that her dog Epic's performance in this video is not entirely correct in that he is primarily releasing upwards into the toy, rather than head down and centered into the 2o2o, which is the preferred form.

Also, notice that all rewards are given straight on to the teeter, as opposed to from the side. Rewarding from the side will train the dog to curve to the side at the end, inhibiting independent obstacle performance and potentially setting up for side dismounts or an ineffective release.

The overall result of this training results in a dog whose primary goal in teeter performance is to get to the reward/release. This differs fundamentally from training that focuses on teaching the dog to "tip" the teeter by focusing on the pivot point. This hoped for result is an explosively fast teeter performance that is focused on a powerful release into the next task ahead.

Thank you, Fanny, for posting this valuable training demonstration!

Using a Contact Training Board for Strength Training

This simple set up builds strength while teaching skills.

Exercises that build core strength and stability while teaching fundamental performance "values" such as impulse control, focus and a strong release are all the rage right now. This video by Sweden's Fanny Gott is a prime example.

In this new video snippet, Fanny demonstrates a technique for teaching a dynamic stand, then transfers the technique to a contact training board.

I was sort of fascinated by how many fundamental skills and abilities are covered by this simple approach. Can you count them?

Here are a few for starters: Core strength, dynamic stand, independent leg/foot awareness, balance, impulse control, release to reward, balance on contact, foundation independent contact performance (teaching dog to drive to stay on board), release from contact.

Looks like a great idea for winter time training!

The Holy Grail of Combining Crosses

Video: The why's, why nots

and the what-can-happen

of combining front crosses.

Today, the clouds lifted and the sun has broken through the clouds on the issue of combining front crosses in dog agility.

At the time I first started exploring the topic of blended front crosses, Linda Mecklenburg posted that she would be putting together some videos that would demonstrate how this handling looks. I've referenced the initial video she produced here.

It gets better, kids: In support of the article she prepared on Combining Front Crosses for the December 2011 issue of Clean Run, she has now outlined the most comprehensive definition yet of the species, genus and phylum of the strategy of front crosses.

To support the concepts presented in the article, Clean Run has posted a series of 10 videos

in which Linda demonstrates front, blended and double front crosses, along with examples of miscued and inappropriate applications.

The visuals are shown at actual speed and then in slow motion. Linda's handling is crystal clear and the set ups are simple enough to inspire use for personal practice.

My own plan is to save a link to this page on my iPhone and to set this up for my next practice session. It will be great to have these videos on hand, both as a model and as a troubleshooting tool to help me learn the most effective use of these techniques.

Thanks to Linda and Clean Run Magazine for presenting this very professional presentation of this emerging skill set.

Crouching Shaunie, Flying Samurai

The 101st way to have fun in a hotel room.

Happy Thanksgiving from View from 4 Inch!

Samurai is thankful

On this day of plenty, we send a special greeting to all the canine family members who are always there for us, in good times and bad.

Always caring. Always hopeful. Always faithful.

If all the people of the world shared the better qualities of dogs, the world would be a much warmer place. In the spirit of the season, we hope you'll join us today in taking time out from turkey to give a big hug to the bright-eyed tail wagger that is no doubt stationed beneath your dinner table.

We extend a special thanks to the readers of View from 4 Inch. May peace, love and prosperity be yours in this season and beyond.

Angel Without Wings

Mike Across America @ Uncle Buck's Fisbowl

King of Squid

Lunch at Uncle Buck's Fishbowl

2011 AKC USA Medium Team Jumping at Worlds

Blazing fast teams show sharp handling.

Agilityvision didn't video the Worlds this year, which left spectators at home wondering whether to go with the French coverage or wait for what scraps should appear on YouTube.

Guess which one I did. Hmmmm....

Thankfully, the AKC onsite team did post this nice sequence of video capturing the US Medium Team in a Jumpers round this Saturday.

Karen is a fantastic teacher, and watching her handling here, it is great to see in the heat of world competition, the very skills she demonstrated for us this past summer at Ann Braue's summer camp. The footwork, the push back turns and so many other refinements to handling that are not commonly taught here in the US are all on display here.

Ashley has a blistering fast run in this video with with his great little Pyr Shep, Luka, and his long strides make short work of the course. I've gotten to meet him in person and he truly a nice guy. He kindly allowed me to photograph them just after they emerged as 2011 victors of the 16" class at Nats and later called me over for a big, bear hug when we ran into him in the lobby of the Natural Bridge Inn on the evening of the finals. It was a privilege as the new little 4" champions to be recognized so warmly by one of the legends of the sport. I will keep that little moment with me forever.

Quiz: Name that Agility Foundation Skill!

Can you identify the skills Dave Munnings is using

to train Strider?

Collection. Extension. Call to side. All valuable foundation skills and all shown in this video as British handler and FCI WC medalist, Dave Munnings, trains BC-in-search-of-home, Strider.

What a lucky dog to have a handler who can make learning seem so fun. The lessons are all there, but it's clear Strider thinks it's all a game.

Hope this big, blue Border Collie finds a great performance home!

Video: Turns off of Running Contacts, by Dawn Weaver

Right, left, go on, plus close angle turns.

After training the first stages of running contact, a need soon arises to find away to train accurate turns after the contact.

Many courses today are being designed as not "friendly" to running contacts, or to phrase this more positively, to test the thoroughness of the training.

The biggest challenge I've confronted lately is close angle turns after the dogwalk. These are almost devilish for a young dog as they demand a very steep transition from extension across the contact to engagement of the hindquarters and collection for the turn.

The other part of the equation is being able to cue the dog to stay in extension when the course proceeds straight ahead of the contact.

I know these are items I've only begun to address with Samurai, so I was very excited to see that British trainer, Dawn Weaver, has very nicely outlined the basic skill set that needs to be addressed for training turns of contacts and a view into how she trains them.

Thanks Dawn for this video which is yet another example of how information sharing regarding dog agility training is becoming ever more enriched by social media and video on the web.

It's almost a miracle to be able to view the style and methods of trainers in distant places from nearly anywhere on the globe. Thanks to all who are contributing to this ongoing conversation.

Out of Kindness

Bandit in repose

You weren't your mama's only boy
But her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye
And sank into your dreams

Pancho was a bandit boy
His horse was fast as polished steel
Wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel
Pancho met his match you know
On the deserts down in Mexico
Nobody heard his dying words
That's the way it goes

All the federales say
They could have had him any day
They only let him slip away
Out of kindness I suppose.

From the song, "Pancho and Lefty" by Townes Van Zandt

Linda Mecklenburg Demonstrates Blended Front Cross

A very classic presentation.

When I first posted a question about blended front crosses on the Clean Run list, Linda Mecklenburg posted a response that she would be posting a video clip that would demonstrate the technique.

Unfortunately, I somehow missed the video, until just the other day. I think this answers my original question and an provides a very clear and straightforward presentation of both the initial front cross and the following "backy uppy" performed with the same inside arm that the handler is on after the first front cross.

Thanks Linda for posting this and for your continuing efforts to share your lifetime of knowledge with the agility community.

Yay! Blind Crosses About to Emerge from the Shadows

Daisy Peel prepares to give an under-appreciated handling option its due.

It's time I came clean. I admit it. I've always enjoyed doing blind crosses. Sure, I often covered doing one as an "oops" when I couldn't quite make it to a front cross, but truth be told, I've always secretly enjoyed that little thrill of zipping out across the line, giving up sight of my dog -- just for a heartbeat -- but savoring that trust that he made the connection, understood the intention, and came in right on target for the change of side.

You'd be quite correct in guessing they didn't always work out. But more often than not, they did. However, not so long ago, it wouldn't be so uncommon that someone would almost predictably meet me ringside after a blind crossed run to point out my "mistake".

But lately, things have changed and those of us who have long been giving in to the temptation of going blind have seen the technique begin to move back out into the light, and possibly into favor.

This trend is most famously heralded by a very new, and nicely produced teaser video put out by Daisy Peel. Part of an exciting launch of a new training brand, she's hinting that she's about to take the whole issue of blind crosses -- theory, application and training -- by the horns and hopefully into a video...or maybe a series of online classes?

I guess we'll find out soon enough. I, for one will keep my eyes "Peeled".

Can we PLEEASE go for our walk now

Happy Labor Day from View from 4 Inch

Sleepers

At a certain point in the evening, even the Papillons settle in to wait for the moment when we all will go to bed.

Reactive dog training notes - week 1

Reactive dog class - week 1

Think about energy

Do watch me at least 10 times
- have 3 seconds to respond

Cup hands under chin and gently rub back along chin, one side and the other

Circles on sides, very slowly

Lavender oil

Visitors - do not let visitors look directly in the eyes

Hand touch - use to divert attention away from something that's bothering them

Peanut butter on lid- have Sam touch lid., also smear some on hand and do touches
Bring lid on walks and when dog comes toward, direct attention to lid

Exercise is important, especially for high energy dogs

Emergency U turn - Don't want dog ever to face another dog. Put yourself between other dog.

Homework:

If positives or negatives try to find out what triggered it.
Dog should turn it's head to watch wherever you are in house
Take treats on walk and practice avoidance. Last recourse is to shield dog on side of trail.

Sent from my iPhone

First legs in Open JWW and Open Standard

Taking a well deserved rest.

Samurai looks a little worn out right now, but it's well deserved.

He had his first outing in Open agility this weekend and we're very proud of how he did.

His runs weren't clean, but he held his focus through all of his runs and even made his weave poles the first time through twice.

He got one Q in Jumpers and one in Standard. Most of all, I'm so pleased that he was able to maintain his composure the whole weekend.

We've been working very hard on reactive dog training and the work is starting to pay off.

If you are out there with a dog that you think might not make it in agility, don't give up hope. Believe in yourself and your dog. Be honest about where you need help and work hard to find the right answers.

Look for help to people who are creative thinkers, who have the ability to see through to the real issues and can help you break down what you need to do into a granular training process.

Once you have a plan, remember that working toward improvement doesn't simply mean working harder. For many dogs, especially those with "issues", it's often is better to work smarter.

As for Sam and I, we're not out of the woods, but maybe at least, we finding a start.

An Example of Great Agility Footwork

Sideways running and fluid, continuous motion make this run a winner.

Adrien and Panic of cycleofmenace make a return to View from 4 Inch for the second time in a week. This time it's this very fluid, connected run. It's has some fantastic examples of sideways running, which helps prevent stalls in the action and helps keep this wonderful, young handler ahead of her dog.

As an added plus, there's a blended front cross, jump to weaves, near the start of this video. Nice to see an example of this move on something besides jumps.

You can see this team ace another beautiful BFC on my earlier post here.

Green Beans with Toasted Garlic

It's really MUCH more delicious than it sounds.

Eating healthier is part of the quest of running better to run better with our dogs.

Once in a (very) great while, I like to capture for the record one of the dishes I've tried that's both heathy and tastes really good.

This is a recipe I found in the July issue of Cooking Light Magazine -- in general, a highly recommended source if you like to cook from a fresh, interesting perspective.

This particular recipe features height-of-summer, fresh-picked green beans shot through with skillet-toasted garlic. Before you make the "eeww" face, consider that toasting brings out the sweetness of garlic and tones down the tang.

The result will really surprise you. Suggest you stick with very fresh, raw garlic, not the kind in a jar. The slices hold up to toasting better and fresher is just, well, sweeter!

Without further adieu, here is the recipe for your end of summer dining pleasure.

Green Beans with Toasted Garlic

1 pound green beans

2 teaspoons butter

1 teaspoon olive oil

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Bring large saucepan of water to a boil. Add beans, cook 5 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Drain.

2 Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and oil; swirl until butter melts. Add garlic; saute' 30 seconds. Remove garlic; set aside. Add beans; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes, tossing frequently. Top with garlic. Yield: 4 servings. (serving size about 1 cup)

Calories: 67, Fat 3.2 g, Protein 2.3 g, Carb 9.2 g, Fiber, 4 g, Chol 5 mg, Iron 1.3 mg, Sodium 169 mg, Calc 49 mg.

Blended Front Cross Practice Suggestion

Above is a great example of what a blended cross looks like thanks to Adrien and Panic @ YouTube cycleofmenace.

Tonight went back to the drawing board feeling a little bit more educated (but only a little), on the subject of blended front crosses.

Discovered Mary Ellen Barry left another Easter egg in this month's (August 2011) Clean Run. Exercises 7,8,9 & 19 contain suggestions for blended front crosses. No real explanation is provided, but it seems understandable enough once you've already gotten the basic idea.

Samurai seems to be catching the idea of some of these newer techniques pretty well recently, and is picking up some speed and confidence with them. One thing I noticed is that once you start on this route, it really emphasizes the need to keep moving throughout the exercise. It also ups the amount of responsibility for keeping motions tight, fast and accurate.

If you let up and start relaxing too much, it all falls apart very quickly. Need to stay "in the game" every step of the way or it just will not work.

As a mental refresher, I posted this neat clip from competitors Adrian and Panic of YouTube channel cycleofmenace above. This is a very clean example and shot from an angle where you can see the parts of the maneuver very well.

Thanks, Adrian, for posting this! Happy experimenting to everyone else out there who is trying out these new handling options!

Shaun Remembers Being Young

Time was when Shaun spent his beach days waiting for a stick to be thrown into the breaking waves, barking insistently until at the target of his quest floated within reach.

Greedily, he'd snatch it out and parade with his prize down the shoreline.

These days, he can't hear the waves crash and the sticks lay idly on the shore.

Even so, the memory of it all still can make him smile.

Blended Front Cross Example - Video

Two examples of the blended front cross contributed by Wendy and Cheetah.

A few weeks ago, I came across the mention of the blended front cross technique mentioned in the June Backyard Dogs article of Clean Run.

I posted on this blog examples that I thought might be blended FCs, but turned out not to be. The move Daisy Peel is seen doing at the end of the video on this page, turns out to be a Ketschker.

Thankfully, reader Wendy of the Team Cheetah blog was nice enough to help clear things up with a video of her performing two blended front crosses at a trial. She originally posted links to the video in a comment, but based on the interest generated by this post, I thought it might be helpful to give the clip a little more visibility for people who are looking for a visual example.

The thing that's really nice about this clip is that Wendy shows the technique at both actual speed and a slowed down version so that the viewer can really follow the sequence of events.

She has also annotated the video with some notes to supply additional clarification. Thanks Wendy, for taking the time to put this together. If you are reading this, please thank Wendy by clicking over to take a look a her blog, where it appears Cheetah has earned her MACH2.

Big congratulations, Cheetah!

As for Samurai and I, I think we're beginning to get the hang of some of this stuff, at least in practice. Sam pulled off a very nice Ketschker off a startline last weekend, and I was thrilled. It's just the most fun thing in the world to see something you've come to grasp in theory actually come to life on a course. Brings back all the reasons we all started in this sport to begin with.

I would love to see some other great videos of some of the "newer" handling maneuvers that are coming out lately. If you have a post or a video about your efforts or successes in training these, please leave me a comment!

Thanks!

Dana Pike Contacts and Weaves Seminars + Private Lessons @ TCKC, Oct. 29-30, 2011

Prevent lost Qs. Build your foundation for success!

Download forms here.

Filling fast!! Do you lose Qs due to blown contacts and pokey weaves? Do you suffer from pop outs, bad entries and "sightseeing"? Do you wish you could save course time and entry fees by losing fewer Qs to obstacle faults and slow performance?

Or, do you hope to get your new dog on the right track and "train right the first time"?

Then, you won't want to miss the half-dayContacts and Weaves seminars that Dana Pike will be hosting at Town & Country Kennel Club in Bloomington, Illinois, Oct. 29-30.

Two half-day seminars will be on Saturday. The morning seminar will focus on contacts, and the afternoon seminar will focus on weaves.

Dana will evaluate the performance and goals of each working team, and will demonstrate some new and proven techniques to build a stronger foundation, improve reliability and build speed.

Once again, we will be hosting a Halloween costume contest during lunchtime at the seminar, so be sure to bring your dog's cutest disguise!

On Sunday, Dana is offering Private Lessons. We've kept the cost very reasonable for today's tighter budgets. Private lessons are nearly filled, so if you are interested in those, get your registration form in today. If you are not a TCKC club member, please email me ahead of time to check if there are openings if you are interested in a private lesson.

Taylor weaving: Solid, consistent weaves helped him maintain a very high Q rate throughout his career.

Fees for private lessons will be paid directly to Dana on the day of your lesson. Payment for the seminars must accompany your registration form to reserve your spot. Registrations close Oct. 9.

There are separate forms for the seminar and private lessons. Download them at www.tckc.org. Click on the blue buttons.

A pasta lunch from Avanti's will be served at the seminar. If you are interested, please check the box provided and include your lunch fee with your seminar check.

Bloomington is located in the middle of Illinois in easy driving distance from St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis and Quad Cities. The seminar will be held in a new, fully matted climate-controlled building. Equipment is well maintained and there is plenty of parking and grassy areas.

One other request. I would greatly appreciate it if you could forward news of this seminar to your training clubs and agility friends. Thanks much, and hope to see you at the seminar!

Seminar with Ketschker turn

Lots of examples to think about.

Basically, a Ketschker turn is defined as front cross followed by a blind. It is a stationery turn, so no motion is indicated at the point of the turn.

Here is some video taken at a European seminars of various teams and assorted breeds of dog executing the turn on a course that appears to have been designed to include lots of opportunities for Ketschkers.

What do you think? Is this something we should be teaching more of in the U.S? Are you seeing more opportunities for European style turns showing up in your local trials?

If you have video of yourself or others teaching these turns, I would love to see them. Email me or post the link in the comments section below. Thanks!

Dawn Weaver and Dancer - Off to a Great Start!

A great example of keeping the fun in training.

Watching talented people work with their dogs is a wonderful way of gaining a vision of what great training really looks like. Here we see a video posted by Great Britain's Dawn Weaver of her new Papillon, Dancer, on her first outing with jumps and weaves.

From this little clip, you get a glimpse of some of the foundation steps that must have set the stage for this moment to fall into place -- seemingly so easily.

You see the target, and you see that Dawn has already built an amazing relationship with this little Pap. She has already taught her important lessons on attention,how to seek rewards, motion cues and how to both focus on her handler and work independently.

Most of all, you can see how much fun both Dawn and her puppy are having in this little episode. The little girl is learning lots, but she is obviously gleeful as she bounds toward each new lesson.

I'm sure little Dancer thinks all of this is just a very fun game. She doesn't seem troubled by worries of failure or about making mistakes. What a great way to build a winning attitude and the confidence to take great goals in stride.

It's a lesson for all of us to keep fun in the forefront and happy surprises at every turn.

Looking South

Greeting the Day

Mid-Morning

Sam listens to cicadas outside the open window as he contemplates his day.

First Morning

Waking up at the cottage where we have come to celebrate a birthday. Samurai hears car wheels rumbling down the gravel road.

Celebrating Taylor's PACH and PACH2

Thanks to the American Kennel Club for recognizing its Preferred Agility Champions. Thanks to Taylor for being the best little dog in the world.

Samurai Earns NA NAJ

Samurai brings home his first AKC titles.

Samurai attended a very nice Novice/Open Agility trial this weekend. He brought along plenty of surprises, as well as his first AKC titles. Samurai’s Saturday Standard was flawed, but a Q, and I messed up our Saturday’s Jumpers by trying to put a front cross where a rear cross should have been.

Sami’s wrapped a very nice Sunday Standard Q in a quick, 39 seconds. We squeaked by in Jumpers with some balky weaves and a run by on the jump after. The “scream of the Samurai” he let loose during this episode sent the whole house up in laughter so loud it was heard outside in the RV where scoring was being done. Regardless of his antics, he is now Wingssong The Seventh Samurai NA NAJ TG1 TBAD.

The Art of Running Sideways

Karen Holik performs the threadle at :30.

At summer camp, one of my favorite lessons was threadles. Which came as a surprise to me, because ordinarily, threadles are not one of my favorite agility maneuvers. Serpentines, yes. Threadles, no.

It just always seemed so "against the flow" and so apt to be met with a "wouldn't this be better as a serp?" face from Taylor, and an "I hate broccoli" face from Samurai.

Even at camp, I stumbled and bumbled through my whole first session of them with Karen Holik. But thank goodness, she got to the root of the problem, and scheduled an evening of movement training (or in my case, remedial movement) the next evening.

We learned to run a little better, and more importantly learned to run sideways. Turns out it's an essential skill in performing an efficient threadle.

You can see Karen herself performing the movement in the video above. Occurs at the :30 mark.

From this demonstration, I would guess that she has actually polished the mechanics of this move since when this video was taken at a World Team Tryouts event in 2009.

When performed as directed, her method gives a very clear indication of the handler's intention a stride or maybe two before the dog even commits to the first jump of the threadle. It also literally sidesteps the need to do any counter-motioning with the arms, which could tend to be ineffective, unclear and unnecessarily costly to speed and confidence.

I've been practicing these with Samurai since camp, and after the first few bumbling attempts, we seem to be getting it into our repertoire.

I guess the best thing that it shows is that the difference between considering something "fun" in agility and having something you dislike about it is often about having a clear way of doing it.

Once that's been settled, it's clear sailing (or at least that one part). And that's where the fun begins.

You can learn more about Karen and her superstar Sheltie, Sizzle, at oncourseagility.com.

What We Did on Our Summer Vacation

Happy Campers

For our summer vacation, Mike and the dogs and I headed up to Anne Braue's summer camp, where we indulged in three days of intensive focus on various aspects of agility training and handling. My "date" for the event was Samurai, however, Anne graciously invited Taylor to work in her facility during the off hours. Taylor was having some back trouble at the time, so we didn't get to work, but I certainly appreciate the sense of honor that Anne extended to little PNAC Taylor.

I have to say, Anne's facility is probably the nicest I've ever seen. Being in marketing, I appreciate the her sense of "branding" that she has instilled throughout her facility, and her organization. Excellent does show through at every touchpoint.

Anne has one indoor ring and two outdoor rings. All of them, including the equipment, were in pristine condition, and we were lucky enough to run on Anne's newly installed carpeting in her indoor arena. Sam ran really nicely on the carpet and immediately picked up on how to use his claws to get a tight grip on it.

The instruction was excellent across the board, with Anne, Karen Holik and Jennifer Crank leading the sessions. We also got a preview of Karen's fiance's upcoming running and movement for agility training, which will be featured in a soon-to-be-released video.

If you know Karen, bug her about it, because this kind of training could be very valuable to a lot of us "weekend warriors" who could benefit by learning to move more naturally and efficiently with our dogs.

We sampled some of the instruction at a night event, where we all got to try out the moves, and even have ourselves timed to see if by running more efficiently, we could run faster (almost everyone did). We had a lot of fun trying out the moves in what was almost a party atmosphere. The only thing lacking was music!

Some other important takeaways from the event were:

• Learning to threadle. Yes we can do this with certainty now, about as easily as we can serpentine. Thanks Karen!
• Learned the forward motion front cross. Great for working with the more difficult threadle situations.
• Got a new understanding of rear crosses on the flat, and on jumps. Thanks Jen!
• Got a new view of working with, and managing reactive dogs. Thanks Anne!
• Learning some great ideas in course strategy. Thanks Anne!
• Learned how to do push back turns. With our new footwork, Sam aces these now. Thanks Karen!

In general, I can see my handling with Samurai has tightened up a bit from what we learned. We have also improved Sam's ability to come to the appropriate side and to read my intention's sooner.

Thanks to my Champaign club member friends, Mary, Lisa, Dina and Charlotte, who were with us at camp and who started us on this journey.

Thanks to Anne and her wonderful crew for hosting this event. With any luck, we hope to see you next year!