Agi-JFF

Yesterday, we did try Agi-JFF gain. With Happy, is it always a bit difficult to motivate him to run faster (o.k., hop faster – certainly, he does not have to WALK) and to got out, especially sending him straight away from me. At the moment, Iīm trying to work out a program for the weekly dog meeting, so I start at Zero and try to incorporate some body language, like a belgian change (I donīt know whether thatīs actually called like this in English) etc etc. I brought the chew-me rope for Tarik, to reinforce a straight go out.

Tarik did all the plan for the day – sending around two poles without changing direction, figure 8 around two poles with a belgian and a japanese change (no problems there), jumping one low hurdle, jumping two low hurdles- calling him over, running by on both sides and sending him over (straight away and angled). Tarik enjoyed it a lot, and we were having big fun.

Then, I changed dogs. Happy was as always a bit slow to start with, but at least, trotting and not walking around the poles. Then I took out the chew-me rope. After the fluffy bone, it is his second favourite to play chase with (well, to tell the truth, he plays chase only with these toys).

To my surprise, Happy really woke up. He started running after the toy, really eager to catch it. I let him catch it several times, clicked and gave him a treat as he touched it with his nose. He did not take it, but he was so … donīt know, playful, keen to get it, really wide awake, tail wagging. We did the hurdles with it as well – I showed him the rope, the jump, threw the rope over and he ran after it. Tarik volunteered in bringing the rope back. At the last try, Happy PICKED IT UP AND BROUGHT IT BACK. He lost it over the jump, turned, picked it up and carried it over to me. He got a big jackpot, lots of praise and we finished, because that was the best moment he had the whole day, adn I wanted him to finish with a feeling of being clever and strong and fast and not with a feeling of being overworked. But he wanted to go on, he hopped around me and invited me to play. I let him rush over to Bagīs End to look out for cats, he loves to do that. It had started raining as well, I donīt know whether it was because of the rainhe was so eager? He was so much fun to "work" with, we really enjoyed training.

I keep on asking him holding objects in his mouth a bit longer. He holds nicely the fluffy bone, the chew-me rope, the big rubber bone, and in the evening, Iīll ask him to take the flat rubber bone. After that, weīll switch to wood and then to metal. Letīs see how it works. But I think if he still makes a disgusted face holdng metal, Iīll leave that metal affair. I can always restart in the future, if necessary – and as long he does a more or less reliable retrieve with softer objects, and enjoys it, thatīs enough for me.