"Flyball Dood" - It's Going to "Make Him" or "Break Him"

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

WEEK THREE UPDATE....

Today was our third Flyball class....eventful as always with Murphy.  Today was actually less about Flyball and more about Murphy's other "issues".  When we first got there I took a seat with Murph, and another owner with a Border Collie approached us.  As this dog got within a couple of feet of us, Murph attacked.  Standing right next to me was the owner of the Daycare where the classes are being held.  She responded immediately and grabbed Murph by his collar...and got right in his face.  She verbally corrected him like nothing I can really describe.  It worked....he was "put in his place".  She put him right in a down/stay....he was whining and totally submissive.  Then the class started and Murph did great.  He totally "gets" everything he has to do with Flyball...he still needs to gain speed.  He was awesome...although we had one mishap which resulted in me having a bit of a bruised and swollen finger.  He lunged for a "loose ball" while I had the slip lead wrapped around my finger....not pretty.  At the end of the class, the Daycare owner got me aside and explained her thoughts and why she reacted the way she did.  She said Murph was guarding me.  This Border Collie is his "best buddy" in Daycare....they play together all the time.  He just didn't want him getting near me.  She explained that she had to take control of this, since she is the Alpha in Daycare....and all the dogs know that.  She could not let Murph get away with this, or it would be a problem for her going forward whenever he's there for Daycare.  She also told me some things that our trainer has said, but I didn't want to hear.  She feels that Murph is considering me to be "his resource".....thus the guarding.  Ben has told me this before.  She strongly encouraged me to put an end to this.  She said I need to stop him from constantly needing to be touching me....no more petting when he puts his head in my lap....no more letting him lean on me....no more acknowledging him when he runs to me because he hears an unfamiliar sound outside....no more "lovin" except on my terms.  So now this is two trainers telling me the same thing...but it's so hard to do. 

WEEK TWO UPDATE...

Yesterday was Murphy's second Flyball class...so much fun!  He's doing great.  He had no fear of hitting the box, and he had a perfect swimmer's turn on the first try.  So now he can run the lane, take all the jumps, hit the box and retrieve the ball, make the turn, and run the ball back and drop it.  The only thing we have to work on now is speed.  He's fast, but he needs to be even faster.  He did a good job yesterday of handling his dog reactiveness, except when another dog actually had a ball....he thinks all the balls in the room are his.  That's his dominance showing through.  We're working on that.  The instructor was really happy with Murph (or "Fluffy" as she calls him) and said it took her Border Collie many more lessons to get to where Murphy is after just two classes.  Lots and lots of running for Mom...good for me I'm thinking.  So that's the latest from the "Adventures of Flyball Dood".

Today was Murph's first Flyball class, and I just can't seem to stop laughing since I got home.  It was a truly crazy experience....good, but totally nuts.  You all know more than you'd even like to about Murphy's reactiveness to other dogs.  So taking him to this class today was enough to put him right over the edge...and me right along with him.  Let's say he didn't disappoint...but not to worry, it ended well.  When we got there there were several other leashed dogs and owners getting out of their vehicles.  I "put on my big girl pants", leashed him up, and took him out of the car.  Did he react?....of course he did.  No training collars were allowed...just flat collars of slip leads.  He was on a slip lead. I managed to keep him controlled, got him inside and put him in a sit while I wrote the check...all these other dogs passing by.  Every hair on his body was standing at attention, but he did not "flip out".  So in we go and take a seat....the seats were all really close together.  I had a Boxer on my right and a Black Lab on my left....within striking distance of Murph.  At that point the sweat was starting to pour off of me and I started taking off the first few layers of clothes, while holding the slip lead with a death grip.  Murph had no idea what was going on...he just knew he was as uncomfortable as it gets.  None of these dogs were "well behaved"...they were all as nutty as Murph....and that was just the beginning.  The noise level was indescribable...every dog (except Murph) was barking.  Okay, then we start.

The first exercise was to have the instructor hold your dog back at the beginning of the "run" which was gated in and included around seven jumps.  I had to run along the side with the ball and when I got about a quarter of the way up the run call Murph...and the instructor would release him.  I'm supposed to get to the end of the run at the same time as him and then bounce the ball which he then catches.  On his first run Murph was really amazing...it was like he never even saw those jumps and he was flying.  Well that was a problem because he got to the end before I did.  At that point the instructor nicely asked me "can you run any faster?".  When I breathlessly answered..."no", she said okay well then I'll make an adjustment from my end....meaning releasing him a little later...like when I was at the end of the run.  So we made the "adjustment" and for the rest of the time it was perfect.  Murph is really fast, and beautiful to watch.  When I wasn't gasping for air, I was really proud of him.

We did that several times, and he got faster and faster....I got slower and slower.  The problem was that Murph decided he liked this so much that he wanted to be the one to run EVERY time.  So as each dog took his turn, Murph tried to get to the "starting gate" himself.  I expect to need shoulder surgery before this is over.  When I tried to discipline him, the instructor told me not to...."we want him excited and ready to go"....easy for her to say. 

He also rocked the next exercise.  The instructor was at one end of the room and Murph and I were at the other end.  She would drop the ball and I would release him.  He had to run, grab the ball, bring it right back to me and immediately drop it at my feet.  No problem...we've been working on this and he did it perfectly every time.  This was my favorite exercise....I didn't have to run at all.

He had one minor "altercation" with the Black Lab.  When Murph finished his run (before I could leash him) the Lab also finished his run and was barking and running while his owner was chasing him.  Murph went after him...barking and cornering him.  I went after Murph and the instructor told me to stop and calm down.  Her take was that Murph was just reacting to the energy, and it would be fine.  She was right....they both calmed down.  There was one bad incident when a Boxer went after a Jack Russell Terrier...there was a bite involved in this one.  It's amazing to see all these dogs at the highest level of excitement I've ever seen all in one room.

So, Murph and I are both exhausted.  I think we like it, but I'm still a bit "shell shocked".  I had to laugh when I first got there and the Boxer owner said to me "I never thought of a Poodle as a Flyball dog" (idiot).  I said, "well he's a Labradoodle, and let's wait and see if he makes a good Flyball dog".  At the end of the class she came and apologized to me.  Her Boxer would not drop the ball...hahaha.

So this is as close to "flooding" as it comes for a dog reactive guy like Murph.  He clearly loves to run, and he's definitely "in love" with the ball.  Putting him around this much excitement, noise, and other reactive dogs will either help him through his issues...or not.  If I think it's too much for him, we'll stop, but today I think he was proud of himself....and I could not be any prouder of him.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Yay Murphy! Way to represent the doodles! I am sure you and your mom will be on the pro flyable circuit in no time!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh Suzann, don't count on that....I'll feel like it's a huge success if I don't injure myself and Murph doesn't attack any other doggies.

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Murphy and Jane - you are both amazing!  I was watching our boys trot after the ball today and thought well flyball boys they are not!  I can't wait to see a video of big Murph...in his purple jacket, of course.

 

How did Guinness do at agility?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks, Kim.  Guinness's Agility starts in two weeks.  Hopefully his Mom won't have to do any running....

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Wait a minute....isn't agility the one I always see the human running along with the dog??  Is your husband going to do that?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Holy Doodles.....I think you're telling me there IS running????  I did puppy agility with Guinness when he was about six months old, and there really wasn't any actual running involved.  This is the "real agility" so I'm thinking you're right.  This is just what I need...Flyball on Sat and Agility on Sun.  Seeing that I just got my Medicare card I should be in great shape for Health Insurance....LOL.  I do run with the boys all the time when we're doing obedience....just not very fast.  If speed is an actual "requirement" this could be a problem.

[BG and Gavin]

Oh noooo...you won't have to do any running at all....bahahaha!

[Leslie and Halas]

No running.  LOL.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so proud of you!!!!  You must be in great shape or if not you soon will be!  It sounds like Murph did a great job.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Jane I have to say that Murphy never ceases to amaze me!!!  He just  proved once again that Doodles Rule!!!!

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Yea BIG :o) Murph!  Good for you - I bet you will end up being the best fly doodle ever!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

"Boxer Lady" had a whole different attitude about Murph at our class on Saturday!  She was nice as can be, and full of compliments...the Boxer still won't drop the ball.  They have to spray his mouth with Bitter Apple to get him to let go.  Two of the class participants dropped out...now I'm a little worried there won't be enough dogs to form an actual team.  I hope that's not the case because Murphy loves it so much.  I put the weekly update in the actual discussion text.