New Agility Champion - Koji got his MACH - Updated 6/17/2013
Here is a video of Koji's first herding lesson.
It was taken by another instructor at the facility who happened to walk by while we were in the ring. She stopped because she saw a Shiba and not the usual herding breed and took the video, so she could send it to her friend who has a Shiba to prove to her friend that a Shiba can be trained.
I obviously did not know what I was doing, but Koji seems to have a better idea than I do. I wish we could go back more often for herding lessons, but with Rally, Nosework and Agility, it is just very difficult to find time to keep doing herding.
It was taken by another instructor at the facility who happened to walk by while we were in the ring. She stopped because she saw a Shiba and not the usual herding breed and took the video, so she could send it to her friend who has a Shiba to prove to her friend that a Shiba can be trained.
I obviously did not know what I was doing, but Koji seems to have a better idea than I do. I wish we could go back more often for herding lessons, but with Rally, Nosework and Agility, it is just very difficult to find time to keep doing herding.
Comments
I'm really amazed right now lol ~
As for doing multi-sports. Start with one sport, finish it and then move on to the next. =]
After what feels like a 3 day Herculean effort to convince 4 Shibas to work on/off lead with so many distractions, in horrible weather, Sandra and I proudly announce our Rally success, and introduce to you:
(Ike) San Jo Idol Eyes, RN, CGC
(Koji) San Jo Kumi Rock n Roll Banjo Boy, RN, CGC
(Maluko) San Jo Chaka Khan, RN, CGC
(Farrah) San Jo Lillith Fair, RN
We are very proud parents, and their breeder is thrilled. Maluko further wowed all of us with 2 amazing off leash Advanced A runs, where she earned 1st place both days after earning her Novice A title. Koji also earned two 1st places and a 3rd place in Novice A, and Farrah earned a 3rd place in Novice B. The entries were fairly large in Novice, around 40 each day.
We also ran into a Midnight Sun Shiba named Kenai, performing an Excellent run as only a Shiba can. He is 2/3rds of the way to a VCD1 title, and is a great little worker, too.
Videos:
Farrah_Rally_Novice_3rd_Leg_2012.1.16
Ike_Rally_Novice_3rd_Leg_2012.1.16
Maluko Rally Advanced A 2nd leg 2012.1.16
Koji_Rally_Novice_2nd_Leg_2012.1.15
By the third day, many exhibitors including our judge Chris Cornell, remarked they had never seen so many Shibas in Rally before. He is a very nice guy, but he puts together a mean course. Even he admired how well they worked and how well trained they were, as he awarded them with top placements and scores in the 90's. He was also kind enough to pose for a professional photo of both of us and all four Shibas, coming to an E-News near you! We look forward to encountering more people working with their Shibas, because Shibas can be the best little workers.
Shiba Inu Maluko and Koji posing with their ribbons
We are just very proud of all our Shibas. Not only do they qualify, but they do it with grace and dignity. It is a lot of fun to work with our little red dogs and to cheer and celebrate success with friends! What a great weekend.
Lindsay and Sandra
AKC recently started offering Coursing Ability Test (CAT) for all breeds and mix breeds, so dogs other than sighthounds can get a taste of the joy of Lure Coursing. Dogs that are over 12 inch at wither and are not a flat face breed have to run a 600 yard course with several turn chasing a plastic lure with enthusiasm under 2 minutes. Flat-faced breeds and smaller dogs (12 inch and lower at wither) will run a 300 yard course in 1 minute and 30 seconds.
Koji totally enjoyed the chase and here are two of my favorite pictures taken by a professional photographer on site.
Jesse
All in all it seems you have a lot of fun and good work with your shiba! Awesome
He did great on the first 12 sets of weave poles and missed the last pole on the 2nd try, but I am very impressed with how he could find the entry to the poles without me luring him. He also did pretty good 2 on 2 off on the dog walk and teeter for a novice dog.
Koji did really well among all the baby (newbie/green) Agility dogs there and here are a few shots of him on the course.
The sand bags are commonly used for training and competition, so the dogs can feel safe (not the tunnel moving) while they speed through it.
@lwroth
The Nihon Kens are very intelligent breeds and I wish more people will try different sports/activities with their Inus. They are agile, smart and can run pretty fast. If you make it fun and worthwhile for them, they will want to work with you and engage you doing different activities.
Koji is currently doing swimming, Rally Obedience, Nosework, Coursing and Agility. I hope we can do Competition Obedience when he is further along in his Agility training. I would also like to try Tracking with him when we are further along in Nosework training. He loves everything I put him through so far and he is truly a joy to work with!
@Jbm0024
Thank you. The volunteer of the Agility club who set up the practice was kind enough to take pictures for us. I am so glad they turned out really good. The red dog looks pretty cool with the wood chips ground in the arena.
Show picture with the judge and their ribbons should be in the mail in 7-10 days, but until then, this is Koji's puppy picture for now. Isn't he a cutie pie?
Koji was moved up to the Excellent A class after earning his Rally Advanced (RA) title with a 1st placement on Saturday. He did very well and qualified for his first leg in Excellent today with a score of 95 and 1st placement. Maluko also qualified in the same class and earned her Rally Excellent (RE) title with a 4th placement.
The courses this weekend were very challenging and the judges were demanding, but both kids did well.
Maluko started learning Rally since Aug 2011. We entered our first ever trial in Nov 2011 and she had qualified every trails we entered. I am very proud of her that in about 4 months of trialing, she got her Rally Novice (RN), Rally Advanced (RA) and Rally Excellent (RE) title.
Koji started Rally classes in November 2011 and went to his first trial in mid Jan 2012. So far, he has got his Rally Novice and Rally Advanced title. He not only qualified for every trails we entered so far, but usually gets placements. I have high hopes that he will get his Rally Excellent title soon and maybe breaking Maluko's record.
Maluko and Koji at a local dog park last summer
Great weekend for all the working Shibas! Congrats to Lindsay, Beebe and Farrah (Koji's aunt) for their achievement in Flyball and shout out to Rebekah & Colada for their new Rally Novice (RN) title and a perfect score of 100!