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. :)

Just hanging with my BFF* Lucille

Since I've been a "cat person" for so many years, people usually are curious how Henry gets along with my two cats.

I suppose the best proof that things are going well is that after a year of high-energy Henry, both cats are still alive and well.

Their relationships with Henry, however, are quite different. Henry and Lucille (pictured) have a friendship, if you will, that's sort of like warring siblings. They torture one another relentlessly (Henry chases, Lucille hides and smacks him with her paw as he passes). But when it's time to rest or gather around for treat distribution, they're OK being close. Lucille, of course, is always confident that she is in charge -- not just of Henry, but of me and everything else in the house. That's her attitude. I think she actually enjoys having a dog to harass.

* Best Feline Friend

Chute Success

The last two classes of this session went MUCH better than the one I wrote about below. (Thank goodness!)

At the grand finale -- a course of 10 obstacles -- Henry shocked me by not only dashing through the chute like it was nothing, but also by going right into the weaves. He wasn't fast by any means, but he got the entry right and didn't hesitate.

We did two runs of the 10 obstacle course. Our first run was good, except we almost ran into each other as he came down the A-frame and I did a front cross. On the second run, the A-frame was smoother, but I screwed up the entry to the tunnel, so that wasn't at all smooth. What most amazes me is his focus when he gets started, and that he maintains a sit-stay at the start line with all the other dogs and people around -- dogs and people that he is very aware of until he starts the course.

So, one of my two goals for this class were met. Henry's now doing the chute completely closed. Woohoo!

You'll Have That

This week's class wasn't our finest hour.

I signaled with one hand when I should have used two. I stopped when I should have kept going. I got too far ahead (a rare occurrence with Henry's speed, but wrong nonetheless).

On and on.

I got really frustrated with myself, and then with Henry, and that is never a good thing.

It was in this frame of mind that I did the most horrible thing you can ever do at dog class, the one thing that conveys to all in attendance that you are, indeed, a truly EVIL human being.

I said, "No."

Saying "no" to your dog during happy, happy agility time is like unleashing an expletive-laced tirade on your toddler in the grocery store. Of course I got scolded. For the record, it wasn't a really stern "no," but still, I was sorry and acted perky and happy for a good five minutes or so to make up for it.

Then, to torture my last remaining nerve -- if indeed I had any left at that point -- we tried to learn the weave poles all over again using a completely different method. The weave poles have been really ticking me off anyway because Henry zips right through the ones we have at home, but at class he hesitates and then walks through them very slowly, if at all. Henry seemed more befuddled by this method than the previous three, but I will keep trying at home.

It was one of those nights when I walked out feeling like this has all been a stupid and expensive mistake.

Left

Part of our homework for class is for Henry to learn left and right commands. The idea is to be able to signal to him which direction to go. Eventually, if I point left, he should turn over his left shoulder and go left -- and, of course, go right when I point to the right.

So far, he has left down very well because that's the one we started with. He'll turn to the left when I point left -- and he turns left about half the time when I point right. :) But we're working on fixing that.

Henry did the chute!

Henry really surprised me at class by running through the chute without anyone holding up the end.

First we made several runs through while the teacher held up the end a bit so he could see daylight. Then we took a break and did some contact exercises -- the A-frame, board, etc. When we went back to the chute, the teacher was busy somewhere else, so I thought, "Oh what the heck..." and gave it a try. And what do you know, the little rascal went through with the chute completely closed.

I quickly got him to do it again and made a HUGE deal each time. It seemed like he really had it and was super-excited to be doing it right and getting lots of praise.

On the third try, he backed out of the tunnel and wouldn't run through.

*SIGH*