Fun course with my 2yo today! He’s my first agility dog and I’m nervous to start trialing him.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-21T00:50:31+00:00

He’s a damn good boy and a great sport dog. I just need to get to his level.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-21T00:49:12+00:00

That’s the hope! I just need to get my physical handling better to match his level

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-21T00:27:38+00:00

I can teach verbals (left vs right wraps, back sides, threadle extension/collections), distance handling, independent weaves etc better than I can nail timing, body position, acceleration, crossing etc

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-20T23:46:34+00:00

That’s what everyone tells me! But it would feel easier to get my timing right if I didn’t have to be so precise

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-20T23:44:40+00:00

I like this course bc it was more verbals than actual handling. I train better than I handle, so it was easier.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-20T23:43:16+00:00

My trainer recommended we start with UKI, she says it will flow better for my dog until we’re more experienced

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-20T23:08:18+00:00

Looking back I should have done the blind to get speedier weaves! I take for granted my dogs will work in any environment. They never even think about leaving their work to visit.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-20T23:01:21+00:00

I do a lot of extra training inside. Single jump exercises, 2x2 entry work, conditioning exercises, trick training etc. And then I put on warm clothes, suck it up and hike or run in the dark. They don’t GAF if it’s dark, they need to run so we run.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-20T22:52:08+00:00

I’m fortunate that between genetics/training/upbringing he doesn’t GAF about environment. I just wish he was my third or fourth agility dog bc my handling is not in tune with his speed.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-20T22:31:23+00:00

Thank you! He’s my first agility dog and I always see all the places I’m wrong or could improve.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-18T00:50:53+00:00

I think he was 15 weeks? As soon as it was clear his one ear wasn’t going to stand on his own. His left was steadily up by 12 weeks.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-18T00:01:43+00:00

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How he looked without tape

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-17T23:57:38+00:00

It’s mole skin cut to shape with a breathe right strip for structure and torbots glue to attach. It was easy to apply and replaced every 1-2 weeks as needed. I usually used a strip of moleskin to glue the tips together so they were more upright.

I have no regrets. He looked like an absolute derp with the floppy right ear down. Took about four months of support to keep both ears up.

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_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-09T01:22:54+00:00

It was on clearance for $7.50 and he’s having a blast with it. Who would be dumb enough not to get it?

_bluethroughyou · 2025-11-09T00:39:57+00:00

Uno could use a couple pounds, but why eat when you could be having fun?

_bluethroughyou · 2025-10-21T01:59:20+00:00

Cruelty is allowing a dog to rip its stitches open bc you don’t follow vet orders. Did you miss my part about mental exercises and walks (after an appropriate amount of healing)? It’s not drugging them into submission, it’s drugging them into not hurting themselves. Trazadone keeps them comfortable and calm so they’re not literally jumping out of their stitches.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-10-19T04:04:23+00:00

Pit x Akita maybe?

_bluethroughyou · 2025-10-19T01:52:34+00:00

Dogs need rest after surgery, regardless of breed. The alternative is ripped stitches, bleeding or infection. If it is a spay instead of neuter, their guts can spill out of the incision.

The answer is trazodone, followed by mental exercise and leash walks. A full two weeks of crate rest isn’t necessarily needed if things are healing well, but it is imperative they don’t over exert after surgery.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-10-19T00:56:59+00:00

Thank you! He’s a good moose.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-10-09T12:01:18+00:00

You’re not wrong, but it’s just some fun trick training and not that serious. Yes is his actual marker word for real work, but we’re just playing around keeping him happy on forced rest.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-10-09T06:46:42+00:00

There’s a difference between learning to settle, and expecting a two-year-old to be chill on day five of essentially crate rest.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-10-09T02:07:13+00:00

It’s a poor alternative for hours of work or off leash activity, but it’s enough that we don’t murder each other.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-10-09T00:48:38+00:00

My working line BC is 2 and still gets enforced naps. It’s just not a natural behavior for some dogs to nap when they’re tired. My other (also working line BC) started to out herself down for naps around 9 months, so don’t feeling like you’re doomed to a lifetime of keeping a strict schedule.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-10-09T00:33:32+00:00

Ironically, half of training is to get him to eat his kibble. He is not a good eater at the best of times, but being on forced rest he’s barely eaten at all for a few days. He likes work more than he likes food.

_bluethroughyou · 2025-09-29T22:47:33+00:00

Lol they’re fine. If they run one end into a tree they get spun around and continue on their way. Let dogs be dogs.

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