Saturday September 30th 2006 - team practice (TTH)

(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)

Nothing much new to report other than I noticed that in the full run passing exercise, I can release her before Sammy has run all the way past. Also, she didn't fumble the ball today and the days of her crazily wide turns when there's no wing seem to be behind her.

Saturday September 23rd 2006 - team practice (TTH)

(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)

Worked some more on proofing with balls as distractions along the lane. Someone stood close to each ball and shooed her away when necessary. On one run she ignored the balls going to the box, but then on the way back dropped the one she had and picked up a loose one. Still, I think she's starting to get the idea.

Saturday September 16th 2006 - team practice (TTH)

(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)

Today's practice got off to a late start due to traffic, so it was a short practice and Lucy only did 5 or 6 runs with all four jumps and no wing. Her turns were actually pretty decent without a wing! Usually she swings way wide if there's no wing. After a few runs I tried something new: placing tennis balls along the sides of the lane. Lucy took the bait so obviously she needs some more proofing! By far the most exciting part of today's practice was Tashtego discovering how easy and fun it is to carry a small-size tennis ball compared to a normal one, and once he figured out that the whole point of running to the box is to get a ball, he couldn't get enough of it! Kenton could even send him from behind the fourth jump -- he didn't have to run along with him!

Saturday September 9th 2006 - team practice (TTH)

(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)

For the first time, Lucy did some head-to-head full runs! Sammy was in the other lane (divided by gate), and both dogs ignored each other aside from the occasional glance at the start or end of the run (three jumps, fourth as wing). Later, we did the full run "passing" exercise with Sammy. She fumbled the ball on 3 or 4 of the dozen or so of today's runs. I video recorded the whole practice just for the fun of it, and it just so happens that today was a really great practice for all of the dogs! We said farewell to Abby until the new year, but she really ended her flyball year on a strong note.

Saturday September 2nd 2006 - team practice (inside at TTH)

(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)

Today was our team's first practice at TTH and Lucy's first time there. She just keeps surprising me: when we go somewhere new I keep expecting her to want to sniff around and check things out, but no; as soon as she sees the equipment and realizes she gets to play flyball, nothing else matters and it's right down to business! We did a bunch of full runs (including some "passing" with Sammy) and I started to experiment with how far back to send her from. It's so neat now to have all that space to play with. For the first time ever we timed her runs (using a stopwatch, jumps set at the minimum height, slant board, and wings). I was a bit nervous thinking she might ring in in the 8 or 10 second range! Here are her times from the ones we timed, in order that she did them:

5.86 (sent from close to the start line)
5.7something (sent from close to the start line)
5.34 (sent from a bit back from the start line (15 feet maybe? didn't measure)

Obviously she does better with a headstart. I will keep experimenting with the distances to find what works best for her. Of note, she didn't fumble the ball at all today. Also, on one run there were no wings and she did a wide turn but corrected herself in time for the jumps.