Flyball class today...long post.

Weight pull, Protection, Agility, Flyball... you name it!

Postby pitbullmamaliz » September 30th, 2006, 6:08 pm

Ack. It was disastrous. I take that back - it wasn't disastrous, just potentially so. And stressful. I'm mainly posting just 'cause I need to vent, but if anybody has helpful suggestions, please let me know! I just need to accept the fact that Inara is hitting her horrid adolescence, and in the long run I would regret killing her...I think... :x

So she'd been doing really well in her flyball classes, performing phenomenal recalls over all four jumps and hitting the box beautifully. The instructor is totally in love with her and keeps raving about how great she is. Today though she was a holy terror. I think it's a combo of her age (she'll be one year old on 10/22) and the recent move. But she just wouldn't/couldn't focus on anything today. She was barking nonstop at the other dogs, acted like she'd never seen the flyball box before, and worst of all, put a tiny Jack Russell Terrier's head in her mouth. :o We were doing restrained recalls over the jumps, and she came flying over all four, grabbed her treat, and then before I could get the leash went zipping over to this little dog and put her head in her mouth. I knew she was playing, but she's too big to play like that. I went racing over and yanked her about 15 feet away, front feet off the ground, dangling from her martingale (thank God Hoyden's collars are strong!). The other dog was just fine, and the owner was sooooo understanding and said she's actually glad Inara did that because maybe her dog will stop antagonizing big dogs. Susanna, the instructor, came over to me where I was working on getting Inara's attention back on me by doing sits and downs. I was so frazzled - I just started blurting out how sorry I was, that I swear she wasn't attacking the other dog, etc. Susanna was so calm - she just said, "Liz, I know she was playing. Trust me, if she hadn't been, Bella would have been dead before any of us knew what was happening. Just relax, it's okay." God, I was just so frazzled and embarrassed. I almost left class early. But I didn't, and Inara went over the jumps a few more times, actually doing the best she's ever done. Normally she just lollygags over them, but she FLEW over them today. Susanna and a couple other people commented how fast Inara was flying over them. After class I once again apologized to Bella's owner, who still was totally unconcerned. And I apologized to Susanna, telling her how Inara's just been a terror lately. Susanna said it will pass, and told me Inara has so much potential as a flyball dog. So that was nice to hear.

So I was just super-stressed and needed to vent. I'm just horrified at Inara's behavior. Again, I know she's entering a horrible age, and she's stressed from the move. *sigh* I just really need to get her focusing on me. Thanks for listening!
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Postby mnp13 » September 30th, 2006, 6:17 pm

Listen to what they are telling you - it's not a big deal and it will pass.

Your instructor is right - had she wanted to kill that dog it would have been dead before you took one single step.

She'll get better. She's just testing you!
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » September 30th, 2006, 10:12 pm

I was telling the president of my rescue today that I now understand why so many people give pups to the shelter when they hit this age. She was horrified and I had to hurriedly remind her that I would never do such a thing. I just can understand. :wink: It's just a pain in the ass.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference."

*deep cleansing breath* God when is this stage over??? :evil:
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Postby mnp13 » September 30th, 2006, 10:24 pm

Over?

Riggs is five... not over yet...
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Postby Jenn » September 30th, 2006, 11:33 pm

:hug3: It will be OK!
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Postby Malli » October 1st, 2006, 3:50 am

It happens less, but it isn't over with Oscar yet.

It sounds like your reprimand really got her brain back on track though, so you had just the right level of the correction and obed.

Now next time she acts like an ass you can curb it before it gets outta hand. Or if you're like I was, it'll take you a few more doggies spazes before you catch on and "nip it in the bud" :lol3:

totally, hang in there!


My own boy at 5.5 yrs has been doing a LOT of testing (both myself and my bf) since the move to the new house (and the move in with the bf), disobedience, spaziness, pushiness, just when I thought he might be settling down :lol3:
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » October 1st, 2006, 8:49 am

Thanks for the reassurances, everybody! I would have been happier if you had all said "oh this phase is only a couple weeks long," not "oh Riggs is 5 and still going through it!" Ugh. :o

I'm just so confused about why she went after the JRT so suddenly. It was just SO out of the blue. It had been barking at her a little, but so were all the other dogs. I just want to know what triggered that "play" so I can watch for it better the next time. :|
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 8th, 2010, 3:25 pm

I know this is a really old post, but last night I ran into my old flyball instructor and the woman who owns the dog Inara tried to swallow! Both of them were really excited to see me and my old instructor said she remembers how crazy fast Inara was and how great she would have been at flyball. And the other owner and I both had a good sheepish laugh - me over Inara's behavior, and her over the fact that Inara wasn't the first nor the last dog to do that.

It was just funny seeing both of them! And I was pleased that my old instructor had fond memories of Inara's speed and skill. :)
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby TheRedQueen » February 8th, 2010, 4:36 pm

pitbullmamaliz wrote:
It was just funny seeing both of them! And I was pleased that my old instructor had fond memories of Inara's speed and skill. :)


yes, we always remember the dogs with speed potential! :D
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Postby tiva » February 8th, 2010, 10:52 pm

Why did you take her out of flyball? Dog reactivity as she matured?
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 9th, 2010, 8:09 am

Yeah, didn't want to have any more incidents of her running off course to stick a dog's head in her mouth. We did private lessons for a bit and I think she might have been able to be focused enough on the game to ignore other dogs, but I ran out of money for privates! Also, I'm noto sure I'd ever be able to stop worrying about what would happen if another dog ran into her lane or barrelled into her.

*sigh* Such a shame. She'd be able to do 4 second runs I bet.
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby TheRedQueen » February 9th, 2010, 10:04 am

I do thank you for taking her out of flyball...;) As a long-time flyball competitor, I've seen many an aggressive dog race, and it doesn't usually end well. I've seen injuries and problems that could have been avoided by not letting an aggressive dog play the game. Because it is only a game. ;) We had a DA pit bull on our team for a while...but she wasn't reactive, and never had a problem. She did her job, and never messed with anyone else. That concerns me less than a reactive dog that can't handle the stimulation of the tournament environment for some reason.
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Postby furever_pit » February 9th, 2010, 4:28 pm

At first when I was reading this thread I was soo confused. I was like Inara is almost one? What?
lol

Regardless, I think that you did the right thing by taking Inara out of flyball. I think one of the most important things we can do as owners is to recognize our dog's TRUE potential, not just what *we want* them to be. This is something I am learning now with my puppy who is neither the dog I expected or the dog I wanted, but he has his charm and since I basically stopped expecting anything from him work-wise I can just be happy with the fact that he thinks it is a game.

Unfortunately I have seen too many people squash the crap out of their dogs as they try to mold them into whatever perfect dog ideal the owner has.
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Postby maberi » February 9th, 2010, 4:36 pm

Have you ever thought about doing disc with Inara? Sounds like she is fast and agile :wink:
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 9th, 2010, 5:26 pm

She is extremely fast and agile, Matt! However, I cannot throw a disc if my life depends on it. Seriously, it's ugly! lol
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Postby maberi » February 9th, 2010, 5:36 pm

pitbullmamaliz wrote:She is extremely fast and agile, Matt! However, I cannot throw a disc if my life depends on it. Seriously, it's ugly! lol


Good disc dogs make us look pretty :wink: You should honestly give it a shot. It has been an amazing outlet for Kayden's endless energy and he has learned so many new tricks. It really helped to improve on our communication too.

It's also one of the few sports out there you can really do on your own out away from others without having to worry.
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 9th, 2010, 5:52 pm

Are there websites you recommend on how to get started? Or possibly how to throw a frisbee w/o maiming yourself, your dog or innocent bystanders? :giggle:

I would think it'd be a fantastic energy outlet with all the running back and forth.
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby maberi » February 9th, 2010, 5:54 pm

pitbullmamaliz wrote:Are there websites you recommend on how to get started? Or possibly how to throw a frisbee w/o maiming yourself, your dog or innocent bystanders? :giggle:

I would think it'd be a fantastic energy outlet with all the running back and forth.


k9athlete.com is a great place to start. The owner of the site is an amazing disc dog and clicker trainer. He is also very pit friendly :wink:

I'm on there. If you sign up friend me and I'll point you to some good articles and videos
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » February 9th, 2010, 6:12 pm

Thanks, Matt!
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby TheRedQueen » February 10th, 2010, 11:47 am

Forgot to ask you what club you were training with...now that I know some of the OH groups... :D
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