Wish us luck!

Cassie Nova · 03-21-2008, 01:53 PM

Cassie and I are taking our evaluation to move from agility basics to the next level tomorrow. She's been doing great with LOTS of improvement but still no luck on a 1 minute down-stay. She can do everything else effortlessly. We've been working hard this week and she HAS gotten better (adding more distractions and having her sit-stay to politely let a dog/person/biker pass us on walks) but it's not good enough. She has done 80 second down-stays before with mild distractions so I know she can do this, it's just a matter of whether or not she will.

Wish us luck!!

dleggs15 · 03-21-2008, 01:59 PM

oh wow good luck! i have a feeling it will all work out and she will be great at it =0)

Chelsea and Oskar · 03-21-2008, 04:09 PM

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

terryjeanne · 03-21-2008, 08:23 PM

Don't you love it when you know they can do it except for the one time you want them to

C'mon Cassie....down and stay!

This might sound dumb, when we do down/stays or sit/stays at obedience and I'm standing about 8-10 ft away, I have a picture in my head of her butt on the ground in the stay. Sometimes I'm sure my girl can read my simple mind.

MyCharlie · 03-21-2008, 08:28 PM

Good luck!! Let us know how it goes!

Cassie Nova · 03-21-2008, 10:24 PM

Thanks guys...I'm getting all my nerves out tonight so they won't rub off on her tomorrow morning!

Cassie Nova · 03-22-2008, 11:49 AM

Hey guys, guess what!?

SHE PASSED!!!!!!!!!

We had to re-do the down-stay and when we did of COURSE a BIG truck had to come barreling through but Cassie didn't budge an inch - didn't even shift in her position! I was so proud!!!!!

digits mama · 03-22-2008, 12:10 PM

Wonderful News Cassie!

Congrats to you and give Cassie a scritch from me.

Chelsea and Oskar · 03-22-2008, 02:34 PM

Wonderful! How old is Cassie? How long have you had her?
I wanna do this test with Oskar, hes not ready just yet.

MyCharlie · 03-22-2008, 05:41 PM

Woot!Woot! Yippee for Cassie! Maybe she just wanted to wait for the big truck to show how good she really CAN do! Haha Congratulations!

Cassie Nova · 03-22-2008, 08:13 PM

LOL!! Thanks guys! Cassie is 2 and I've had her since she was 9 months old. She's improved so much - she used to get extremely nervous the minute we stepped outside and the minute something scared her, she went into freak-out mode and wouldn't calm down until we got home again. Now if I can catch a stressor before she does (assuming it's moving and is passing us) and put her in a sit-stay, she is fine. Ignores it totally. But if I don't she freaks out, or if it's stationary, like a parked car or discarded appliances, etc.

Chelsea - enroll in an agility class! If I remember right, Oskar is just a wee puppy...how old is he? If he's younger than 6 months, he will go into a puppy class (may not be agility though - probably just obedience) which is basically learning to play with other pups. If he is older, he can start an agility class and go through "obility" which is a mix of the two. Trust me - if you do your homework, you WILL pass. Everyone in my class did and only one of them has taken agility before. I highly recommend it! It's SO fun and you'll notice these crazy improvements before the first class is even over!

Chelsea and Oskar · 03-23-2008, 11:07 PM

I think I may be thinking of the good canine citizen test. Although, I really want to do agility or something with Oskar when he gets bigger. Hes about 4 1/2 months, so I have time.
Thanks for the info!