Flyball Murph....Part Two

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Today Murph and I started Intermediate Flyball.  For some strange reason he was one of the dogs that they decided to move into the next level.  Remember me telling you about the Boxer and how her Mom said that she would never expect a Doodle to be in Flyball....well the Boxer will not be moving on.  When I asked the Instructor why she said....that dog was not cut out for this sport.  Woo Hoo!

So it was pretty much the afternoon from He$% for me with Murph.  We got there a little early and the dogs from the Beginning Class were just leaving.  Murphy reacted to each and every dog as they passed us in the waiting room.  Remember there are no correction collars allowed...so I just had Murph on a slip lead.  There was barking, lunging, and even a few growls.....of course there was.  Okay, so those dogs were out and the dogs in Murph's class started to arrive (two Labs and two Border Collies).  Here we go again, Murph reacted to each and every one.

Then we go into the Flyball "room", and the games begin.  Now that it's Intermediate the dogs run together.  So there is an Instructor on one end of the lane and another Instructor on the opposite end of a different lane (no barriers between) and they let the dogs go at the same time.  I have to run beside Murph's lane encouraging him to run as fast as he can.  Well half way through the run Murph figures out that there's another dog running right toward him.  I'll bet you can guess what he did.  You're right, he crossed right over and chased the other dog barking and lunging.  Well of course that ruined the run for both dogs....I'm sure the owners were really pleased with that.  It took three times before he gave that up, but by the end he had stopped, although he always let out a quick bark as they passed.

Then there was the really special moment for me when he nipped the Instructor...oh yes he did.  I had him by the flat collar and passed him off to her.  She would hold him for a minute as I started to run down the lane.  As soon as I passed the collar and started to run he turned around and nipped her...I guess he didn't want me to leave him.  I was so embarrassed.  She gave him the correction of a lifetime and he really looked sorry and ashamed.  Of course he did.  The interesting thing was that it didn't even phase her.  She said he's learning and this was just one of the many lessons. I heard the other Instructor say to her...."Do you think it was separation anxiety"?  She said "I don't care what the  he*& it was, he's not getting away with it". 

At that point I was convinced he would be formally expelled from Flyball class.  Not the case.  When he's actually "doing his thing" he is awesome at it.  Today he was so fast, and he hits that box and grabs the ball, does his turn and is running as fast as he can back to me.  I love watching him.  He is beautiful and amazing....and I think that's why both Instructors really want him to continue.

The class is 90 minutes and with only five dogs now it's fast.  Murph and I are running for most of that time....except when he's barking and lunging.  He has an incredible prey drive so whenever another dog ran (which was all the time) he would react.  I'm guessing there were at least 50 serious reactions today.  My hands are all "rope burns" from the slip lead.  I finally gave that up and just held him by the flat collar.

So at the end of the class I asked the two Instructors if they thought this was just not the right fit for Murph because of his reactiveness.  The both said they thought it was perfect, and that he would get a lot more out of it than learning Flyball.  They both believe that there would be no better way to condition him to dealing with other dogs in the most stressful of circumstances.  They think that both he and I will continue to gain confidence as a team and that he will ultimately figure out that there is nothing to fear from other dogs and he has nothing to gain by his "bully responses".  I hope they're right.  I'm as committed as ever...but my hands and back hurt.  No classes for three weeks because the Instructor is in tournaments with her own dogs.  More to come.....

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, I think this is good for Murphy. Maybe not for you, but for Murphy :) You have a lot of guts for sticking with this and I bet it won't be long and Murphy will stop reacting. or you will be in a body cast LOL  I admire you for doing this, because I know how embarrassing it is when they react to other dogs.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

LOL Laurie about the body cast! 

[BG and Gavin]

Wow Jane, I was on the edge of my seat!  I like your trainer's attitude, that's for sure.  50 reactions OMD your arm must be aching from holding him.  If your speed demon can get totally focused on the task at hand, there will be no stopping him.  I as always, admire your commitment.  Make sure you update once you debrief with your regular tainer.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks BG.  My regular trainer is actually really in favor of this for Murphy, especially since there is a trainer right there running the class who he knows well....and they follow the same basic philosophy.  He says there is no way that he can replicate this situation for Murphy.  We've gone a month now with no dog reactions on our walks, but that is in a very controlled situation.  Flyball is as uncontrolled as it gets, and he has to learn how to behave in those situations as well.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow, I can't even imagine how exhausted you must be.  I would love to see him run because as you said he was beautiful and I can just imagine how he must of looked.  I applaud you for sticking it out.  Hopefully this will be Murphys thing!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks, I hope so too!

[Leslie and Halas]

Way to stick with it. I agree that it will be good for Murphy. If he can learn not to be reactive in that environment, then he can be non-reactive anywhere. There is a ton of energy and excitement that he's sure to be sensing from the other dogs, not to mention his own excitement. When Halas is in his kennel at flyball, he barks at other dogs around him that he thinks are getting too worked up, and Halas isn't generally reactive towards other dogs. There is a lot going on at flyball, so it's a lot to deal with it. It's amazing that Murphy is at the level he's at so quickly! Just doing a full run alone this quickly is really impressive! And I know you said he was reactive, but to already try to run with dogs in another lane is great! It takes a long time to get to that point. Murphy sounds like a natural! Now I'm off to start my own discussion of Halas' day at flyball.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks Leslie....now I'm off to read your blog.  I'm so glad you turned me on to Flyball!

[GBK]

I think it is soooo great that you have trainers that are willing to work through the difficulties and encourage you on Jane!!!  You both are in the right place at the right time with people that understand.  I can't wait to hear how he does on the next run.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks GBK!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

What an exhilarating and exhausting day for you and Murph!  I really do think this sounds like a perfect activity for Murphy for all the reasons stated! I just wish I could see him "doing his thing"!

I hope all this exercise turns out to be good for you too, in spite of the rope burns, and please take care of your back!!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Karen, when you come to visit we can arrange for you to see him "do his thing"!