January Ramblings

I generally like to write on topics or do updates but today I just want to ramble.  I have been thinking about this for a while and wanted to share it.  It’s not anything new or amazing, it’s just on my mind.  We all have tendencies in life and as trainers.  I find that our dogs while different tend to have some similar strengths due to what I would call our confident skills.  I watch some of the top disc dog teams and their routines sort of seem the same from event to event.  They have their trademark moves and skill sets.  It makes sense and I am not saying that there are not constant tweaks and innovations.  Moreso i am wondering what skills my dogs have that i have not discovered due to habits or routines I may have formed in training and play.  Flipping for example could be a place where someone else could throw the disc and get an entirely different motion from my dog.  I will wrap this up with a pledge to seek out new life on new planets by forcing myself out of routine.  Like closing one eye or throwing all lefty or copying someone else’s routine. Ron Watson and Apryl Lea have a cool idea to write the skills and sequences on note cards, mix them up and go.   This doesn’t address skills i do not know but does change flow.

We are working on a footstall.  We have spent about 6 minutes on it and I am sure our dogs will do it pretty soon.  Not sure I want them to though.  I love that other people do it just not sure I want to copy that particular skill.  The one we are missing that I want is the reverses.  Like anything else we just need to spend some time figuring it out or get some guidance and then practice with the pups.

I saw Abby Cline on discdoggerweekly and I really like her creative flow with the dogs.  I’d like to see her do a full routine once.  I have only seen her practice.  I saw a video of a (this could be way off) Japanese dog handler who was a ninja/breakdancer.  He had so much flair and movement with his dog. THAT is what I want.  Not sure I am in shape to match his moves though.  Anyone have that video handy?

It’s cold so the dogs are geeked and I am freezing.  In South Florida no less.  Despite my hate relationship with arctic temps I have been out with the dogs twice a day.  Learned a new vault for Lilli and Kai just needs some experience.  She is quite good for just a few months of play.

This weekend we have a toss and fetch at Markham park. Did I mention I hate the cold?   Andrea is going to run Lilli and I will run Kai.  Andrea wants to beat me but her chances are slim.  Sorry buttercup but daddy has the thunder arm. As long as Kai can catch them and get them back within 5 feet of me   Then Sunday we are doing some Ren fest thing.  I guess we will show up and play with our dogs for a few minutes for 3 different shows.  Andrea posted it on the Florida disc dog site.

I am really excited about the coming year.  We are not in the top 10 percent but I think top 25% is fair. We have great dogs, good disc skills, and motivation to play and enjoy the sport with our dogs. We also have great friends and teachers and mentors who help us grow.  Hopefully we can grow the florida disc dog club and have a strong weekly jam club of our own.

There are a lot of different types of teams in the sport.  Some people mostly rescue dogs and play with crazy cool mutts.  Some people are particular about the breed they play with.  Some handlers are way better than their dogs, and some dogs are way better than their handlers.  Some people play to innovate and other just imitate what they appreciate.  I think the best possible presentation is a ninja breakdancer.  So I am going to go watch  Kill Bill and start practicing my splits.