Tonight Raj (O-litter) and I met Jackie, Charlie, and the club they have formed. They have an acreage about 15 miles west of Lincoln, Nebraska, and their back yard is becoming a training site. Supposedly a regulation-size Schutzhund field will be graded this week. Tonight we were working on rather lumpy dirt. We set up lawn chairs and dogs worked as the chickens wandered around. That was a bit of a surprise for Raj, but I am expecting that by next week he won’t notice them.
Everyone was very pleasant, and it is going to be a good place to keep training. Charlie got home from work in time to do some protection before it got dark. With Raj, he was not sure (of course) about his earlier work, thought he might be affected by the new place, new dogs, new helper, etc., so told me to bring him out and we would see what he could do, maybe just play a bit.
By the end of our little session, Charlie was going behind the blind and having me turn Raj loose–Raj went right after him and came around the blind hanging from the wedge. I think this may be a step beyond where Raj was last week.
All Charlie said at the end was “Nice”–next week they will have my membership application ready. So we will be there for training next Friday night, and then there will be a two-day seminar on Saturday and Sunday. Also a DVG trial coming up at the end of September, so I will have a chance to observe and maybe start putting together what it is we are trying to learn.
They do obedience and protection, and tracking is on our own.
Good job Raj!!
Ann you are doing so well. I know from conversations with many people that they are fascinated with the sport of schutzhund and they want to do become active init but they are intimidated by it. Sharing your journey is helpful, thank you.
Maybe after this weekend we will even have a vague idea of what it is we are trying to learn?
Had you planned/trained intending to do Schuthund all along or was this a later decision?
It was not even an option here until Charlie moved back from FL and started a club. I never had a chance to do Schutzhund before, so it is all new. Raj and I are having a lot of fun, even if I have trouble erasing my old AKC commands and figuring out what it is we are doing. We plan to be at the seminar this weekend and absorb what we can.