Where have I been? Battling zoomies, that's where.

I named this blog after Henry’s love of running. I didn’t realize that his running was going to be a major obstacle to him performing agility.

I have not posted in such a very long time because we have been battling chronic, tornadic zoomies. These zoomies were of the spectacular variety and were highly entertaining for the Novice crowd, but not for me, of course.

It has been a miserable two years of agility.

You see, Henry never once zoomed in practice. We had been taking classes for over a year, and he did great in class. At the suggestion of our instructor, I entered him in his first trial in October 2011. On his first run, he stayed nicely at the start line, but when released, he took two jumps and zoomed around the ring in huge circles. He ran at top speed, like there was a predator after him (an "imaginary cheetah," I liked to say). And so his zoomies started and continued for over a year -- almost two years.

During that time, I tried everything that was suggested to me:

• Running him and trying to get him tired before his first run 
• Practicing stay/release 
• Tugging before a run
• Running the course without him while he zoomed
• Dabbing vanilla extract under my nose. This was supposed to block signs of my own stress so Henry wouldn't pick up on it. (yes, I did it, and would have gladly continued doing it if it had worked) 
• Anti-anxiety meds (had no effect) 
• Rescue Remedy (again, no effect) 
• Training tricks to build confidence
• Private sessions with a trainer specializing in behavioral issues 
• Massage, which led to a round of hip x-rays and doggie physical therapy, plus daily doses of a joint supplement. No effect on zoomies. 
• Control Unleashed exercises to reduce reactivity to other dogs
• Practicing in a large facility where trials were held
• Creating a pre-run routine that was the same every time
• Practicing sequences of just a few jumps at a time on leash so he could not zoom (while at the large trial facility) 
• Choose-to-work exercises 
• Stopping the run as soon as he zoomed and walking off. Put him in the crate with no treats. 

So what finally worked?

Not sure, but my best guess is it was a combination of many of the things above, especially practicing over and over in the large facility (about weekly for five months) and doing various exercises and training sessions to reduce his anxiety and reactivity toward other dogs. It also might have been a matter of him growing up a little and just learning to trust me more.

Really, I don't know why I didn't quit long ago. It would have been far easier and cheaper. Watching him zoom and hearing people laugh at him ... well, it made me determined that I would not stop this until he could show at a trial what he is really capable of.  And finally he is starting to do it!

A Splurge: Teeter Base

After about six months of vowing to build my own PVC teeter base, I finally faced reality and ordered an adjustable one online.

I'm quite pleased with it. It was easy to put together and folds flat, just as promised. Now I'm regretting that I didn't use a regulation size board.

And how does Henry like it?

Well, immediately after we set up the new base, Henry took right to the teeter. He hadn't been very confident on it in class, but the new home teeter seemed to do the trick. And then a few days later he decided that he was scared of the teeter once again!

So, I started all over. This time I'm doing the two-paws-on two-paws-off finish (and we're doing the same on the A-frame). We're only practicing the finish at home, but in class we're working on the regulation height teeter. He's improving gradually and not showing as many avoidance behaviors when he sees the teeter. Before, he'd do just about anything to avoid the teeter -- running all over the room sniffing, sitting down and scratching, having a sneezing fit, going to visit the instructor, etc.

Making New Friends, Plus a Little Recreational Digging

We headed south for Easter this year, and while we were there, Henry met a couple of new friends – a dachshund and a dachshund mix. Plus he got to see his buddy, a possible Ridgeback mix.

Henry and “Big Dog” are old friends. They knew each other before Henry came to live with me, and it seems Henry respects him more than any other dog (or human). All it takes is one firm bark from Big Dog to shut Henry up. It's truly a miraculous thing to witness.

By the time we left, Henry and the dachshund were playing pretty well. She's quick, sassy, and adept at leaping onto laps for cover -- and to conduct some friendly taunting.

I was very happy and relieved by how Henry got along so well with the new dogs. Sure, there was some jealousy because both Henry and the dachshund considered R their person, but they worked that out in a reasonable, canine fashion.

So, since he'd been behaving and had managed not to eat any sand or a single carcass, I let him dig when he found a spot where he was sure a treasure was buried. He dug and dug until he was exhausted.

And luckily, I got him cleaned up just before the water went off!

Opportunity Wasted

We visit my dad regularly, and he has a very large fenced enclosure which would be the perfect place for Henry to practice jumping.

There is, however, one problem. Or rather, many problems.

Birds.

Birds in the bushes, birds at the birdfeeders just outside the fence, and – most tempting of all – birds flying from the bushes on one side over the fenced yard to the birdfeeders.

Not even cubes of hot dog can compete with that.

So usually it goes something like this: I drag the jumps out and fetch the bait, Henry commences bird-chasing, I play with Blitz (who is completely attentive), and then Henry sees Blitz getting treats and breezes through and does the jumps once, grabs a treat, and goes back to tormenting the birds.

Spectating, and...Um...Buying

I'm back from watching my first agility trial this weekend. Wow, I learned a lot. Perhaps the greatest lesson is to avoid the vendors, as their wares are far too tempting.

(not pictured: Henry's new leather collar)

I was feeling rather stupid about the fuzzy mat thingy because Henry's initial reaction was to treat it as a chew toy. But then I walked in the bedroom and saw this, so I think we're going to be OK:

High Rocks

We've been coming to this area of Virginia for years, but somehow, until now, we missed this fairly short trail with a great view of the valley.


Hike Details & Directions

Henry was pleased to find just enough water and mud to ruin the bath he'd had not 24 hours earlier. He was also really into rock climbing when we reached the summit.

My Sunshine

Henry's current favorite toy is his new happy-faced sunshine.

Everyone got to pick out a toy on the last night of class, which was definitely a fun way to end things.

For some reason, this cheery little sunshine toy seemed appropriate for Henry. :)