Molo and I went to a "day school" today - run by our usual Agility trainer, but designed to concentrate on specific techniques and skills
It was an early start - 9 am - on the local park near to my home, but a nice stroll in the morning mist
. There were 8 dogs/handlers, and we all knew each other from weekly classes, which made for a nice, relaxed atmosphere
We started by learning how to train our dogs to achieve their contacts - we all got the chance to practice on the A-frame, Dog Walk and seesaw. We moved on to practice front cross overs and other transitional handling techniques
After lunch, we discussed how to walk a course and work out the best way to run the dog and then did a practical exercise; walking the course and then running it the way we thought was best
Later we did some fun relay races, and let the dogs relax a bit
I was so proud of Molo - he ran his first truly clear round, and remained focused on me for the entire day - he did not roam or wander off even though we were in a busy park with lots of distractions and spectators
I think the tuna bread that I cooked last night helped
It was an amazing day; Molo is pooped, and I am sunburnt
But both of us are greatly improved as a team as this day gave us a chance to improve our skills and bond with each other in a way that we may not otherwise have done
