Rip training progress

I haven't done an update on Rip's training in a while. He is in our level 2 agility classes on Monday nights, which is where we begin some sequencing, focusing on crosses, as well as more obstacle familiarization and contact position training. Since we are already competing with Skye, we don't have to worry about the crosses and handling aspects so much, though I do have to drive in further to ensure Rip takes an obstacle, and don't run a sequence as though I am running Skye.
I am happy to say that Rip is really coming along well as an agility dog. His drive is ever increasing. Rip has come a long way from his original fears as he will now volunteer a fullheight teeter, which we havent trained in class. He's gone over full height dogwalks and AFrames without concern too.
Another cool development is Rip's interest in toys. He has graduated to constantly playing with a ball and bringing it to me to throw, which is huge. I have done a practice session with just a squeeky rabbit toy as reward.
During my daily practice sessions, I am working with the weaveamatics, doing contact positions, table, teeter, some light sequencing, some drive building, startline stay, jumping with wraps, etc.

Rip plays with himself

Ok, he plays by himself quite a bit - much more so than any of our other dogs. He will pick up a tennis ball or a shoe or he will take an insert from a shoe, cap from a plastic bottle, anything really, and he starts tossing it around.
He discovered this purple squeeky ball in the doggie toybox and started having fun with it. Then his sister Rush came along to see what he was doing. Rip is more "class clown" where Rush is more "fun police".
Ok, check out the funny video

Handsome Rip boy

Some pictures from today of my boy..

Rip weigh-in today

I weighed Rip today and he's at 40.5lbs now. I weighed him last week too and he was 39.5lbs. As a comparison, my Skye-boy weighs 44lbs and is 21.25" at the withers.

Still need to check on Rip's height.

Rip and his sister Rush

Here's a shot of Rip and his sister, though she looks like she's planning a getaway.

Rip triaining update.

I've been taking Rip to two training classes a week for the last couple weeks - he is in an Agility 1 class and also participating in the Puppy class, though he really is outside the "puppy" classification.

I am really happy with his progress. As I had mentioned, when he arrived to me just over a month ago, he had no interest in any toys, tennis balls, or any kind of "play" interaction. He has really come along and will play quite a bit now. I bought a stuffed rabbit toy that he really likes, and he will tug and play with a cow udder toy, as well as run and get a tennis ball and bring it back to me. Good boy! Funny thing is he thought the greatest toy ever was this roll of duct tape that was about used up. He was tossing it and chasing, generally being a goofy puppy with it.
We've been working on a lot of foundation and its going well. He even will happily get on the wobble board and is OK with its movement - he wouldnt get on it at all before.

Though I am planning on teaching a running contact with Rip, we have done some work on locating 2o2o contact positioning.

I am still working on his confidence, especially when meeting new people. He is still crouching down and acting a little afraid, but when they bend down to meet him, he will be a snuggle boy.

He went with us to the USDAA show in Laramie, and he did good on the 3.5 hr ride in the truck, though he spent a lot of time sitting and watching instead of sleeping like the other dogs. At the USDAA show, he was very intent on watching the agility action just like he does here. One time I asked Katrina to hold his leash while I got something and she somehow had the leash slip out, and Rip went tearing into the ring while someone was running. Ugh! The judge let the person rerun, and they Q'd so no love lost, but that was not a good moment.

I'll update with a weigh-in tomorrow. I am hoping he is closing in on 40lbs.

Rip training.

Rip has gone to a few level 1 agility classes now and is learning some new skills. I am working on improving his confidence and drive, as he is a bit "soft". He was not brought up in an agility home, so for them, a soft dog was a good thing - very well behaved, but I want him to be a lot more rambunctious.

When he first arrived a few weeks ago, he had no interest in toys or balls. This has improved considerably and he is now running to get a toy, playing some tug and tossing a mini tennis ball around. He really likes this particular cow udder on a rope toy. I am still working on his desire to bring the toys back to me when he runs out and grabs them, so I need to pick up a couple identical toys that he likes and play games with him.

He is getting very good at Perch work and is perching and circling around for rear awareness. Funny thing is I brought out a higher perch (3rd height change) but it was made of slippery metal (an old popcorn tin) and he didn't want to perch it. I need one of similar height that is made of plastic or something.

Today I took him out to the building for some simple jump training, as he wasn't too interested in doing the jump when we tried in class two weeks ago. This time he was jumping and having a lot of speed and drive which I was quite happy with. He was even seeking it out and jumping to earn a treat. I am keeping the jumps low for now (12") as he is still young and inexperienced.

Rip's brothers

Here's a few pictures of two of Rip's brothers. Both of them are big, so I am hoping Rip keeps growing and gets to their size. Kelty is 44lbs and Debit is about 50lbs and nearly 22".

This one is Kelty




This one is Debit

Rip gains a little weight

I weighed Rip today and he is just under 39lbs. Thats good because he was a little thin when he came to us about two weeks ago, so he's put on 3 or 4 lbs since he got here. His brother Kelty weighed about 48 lbs a month ago - a big boy. I will see if I can locate the picture of his brother.

So Rip certainly enjoys breakfast and dinnertime and eats very fast. You can see that he's making sure we didn't leave any kibbles behind in this bag...


I've been teaching him to "perch", first on an upside down food bowl, and then on a plastic box that is about 6" high. I want him comfortable stepping up on things, such as when I am asking for the teeter bang. Boy is this pup smart. It took him all of about 15 seconds to figure out what I wanted him to do, and on our second session I could already get him to perch and move all the way around to the left or right while staying on the perch.

Tired Rip boy!

Rip just couldnt keep his eyes open after a busy day yesterday.

On Monday night, I took him to his first agility class and he did great - he went through a tunnel and did the chute after a little coaxing. He did some ladder work for rear foot awareness, began targeting and was introduced to the weave-a-matics.

I have been working on left & right commands which he caught onto quickly. He is not liking the wobble board and isnt wanting to do "bang it" on the teeter, so I am going to work on some "perch" work in the house to get him more comfortable about getting up on things.

Rhett (now Rip) and his sister

Brought the camera outside today when taking the dogs out. Here's Rip and his sister Rush together.

Also, I weighed Rip yesterday for a baseline. He is a skinny 35.8 lbs. I havent measured his height yet, but its probably close to 21". Supposedly he is going to be 22" tall - that'd be great by me!