Comment

Comment by Nancy Geddes on March 21, 2010 at 3:44pm

We attended our flyball lesson after two week's vacation at the Hatteras seashore. Our instructors (almost the entire team) rally to teach Linus. Expandable gates are placed alongside the hurdles now because Linus is not jumping all jumps but sometimes cheating and swinging wide. He is improving upon hurdling with another dog in opposition and did quite well in his first encounters with the ball platform. I need to get him into the tug work, too. One of the many benefits of our lessons is expanding Linus' canine social skills. We are meeting Golden Retrievers, Aussies, standard poodles and everyone is bigger than Linus, the flyball fluffy!

Comment by Nancy Geddes on February 26, 2010 at 10:32pm

This evening, a young man used clicker training to help Linus with his ball retrieval. Right now, Linus will touch the ball with his nose but not return with it is his mouth. It was amazing to watch Michael, a 14 year old, patiently work with Linus. Next time, I'm not going to feed the dogs dinner before practice - Linus made out like a snackies bandit tonight!!!!

Comment by Nancy Geddes on February 21, 2010 at 7:03pm

The third flyball lesson continued with more hurdling exercises! A veteran and vocal black lab was hurdling in opposition so Linus decided to take a hard right and booked! He continues to have good platform work, too! I scented the tugtoy with parmesan cheese!!! I was also able to bring Tasha into the facility for about ten minutes of evaluation. My little girl was estatic to be "doing" something again - she quivered with excitement. Tasha took the hurdles like a pro and quickly jumped on and off the slanted platform. John, the instructor, noted that Tasha and I communicate much more animatedly than I with Linus. Tash and I have spent many hours together herding, agility practice and obedience....I know she would be formidible at flyball.

Comment by Nancy Geddes on February 15, 2010 at 7:42am

Linus has now attended two flyball lessons! We are working on learning to pivot on a moderately slanted platform (in preparation for the ball dispenser); continue to practice the hurdles with an adjacent dog approaching; eye and mouth coordination with a bouncing ball and more tug toy use. Actually, it was recommended to "scent" the tug - perhaps sprinkle with chicken broth (the tug is always put away after flyball and only used during the sport). I hope to take Tasha along too next Friday to introduce her to the class. She is such a speeding bullet in agility that I suspect she'll show interest in flyball, too. I wish I had nothing else to do but play with my corgis!

Comment by Nancy Geddes on February 1, 2010 at 9:25am

I am going to make a flyball tug toy. The streets are relatively cleared of snow and I will purchase fleece with which to make the braid. The tug toy is kept out of sight and used only for flyball. It represents the ultimate reward, a game where dog will always win and is also used for the target after dropping the relay ball, energize their beeline attitude and acts as a lead rope. So, my first prototype was made from Kate's college sweats and measured perhaps two feet once braided. Too short to be of much use. Anyway, we look forward to our next lesson. We have homework and we have more than a foot of snow. Bear, Tasha and Linus really benefit from the workout that snow brings! Everyone have a fabulous day! Corgi high fives from Linus (the Fabio of Flyball), Tasha and Bear

Comment by Nancy Geddes on January 31, 2010 at 4:21pm

Linus attended his first flyball lesson Friday evening! We are taking the relay and breaking it into components: touching a pad, determining which way he will turn after getting a ball, hurdles, the tug toy, hurdling while another dog is coming in the opposite direction and being comfortable around other dogs not in his family pack. He was upset about leaving the house during the car trip into Richmond, VA; apprehensive about the sounds and smells at the facility; warmed up quickly to the battery of tasks; enjoyed the admiration of the humans and, of course, all the tiny cubes of Emmanthaler cheese. Linus showed excellent drive across the hurdles even though he is only up to three consecutive jumps. I am going to braid a longer tug toy and get a harness with a top handle. My pedometer indicated that I "walked" two miles during the class!!

Comment by Nancy Geddes on January 28, 2010 at 6:53pm

We would love to hear from flyball corgis! A sport where you can be as loud as you want to be and every team wants a corgi!

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