Bully Break Through

So I was TOLD that this deserved its own blog...I won't say by whom. Personally I would rather wait to blog about this when it is a fait accompli but I am nothing if not accommodating (ok all you who know me can get off the floor from laughter now).

We decided to brave the sweltering heat last night and do some flyball training. There were only a few of us there due to holidays and the like so we kept it short. Our main goal was to see if Jet could learn to overcome her Shaq obsession - that love-of-her-life border collie. If you have never seen them together you can't really appreciate how much of a challenge this presents but trust me...it is our Mount Everest.

We started by doing some "Shaq walk-bys". As simple as can you walk anywhere in his vicinity and leave him alone and focus on mom? The first few attempts - not so much - but we did get to the point where the mackerel cakes won out over Shaq.

Next - can you go to the box and get your ball with Shaq just standing in the other lane in your peripheral vision - success after two attempts. Ok deep breath - next level - can you do it if Shaq is going for his ball at the box at the same time...of course this might work better if Shaq didn't decide he wanted Jet's ball out of her box and crossed over to get it...thanks Shaq - I guess he didn't get the memo...I am sure he was just trying to help her out by showing her how it was done :)

Ok - now for the big test - can you do it from two hurdles back to the box  and the full down the lane on return after listening to Shaq come flying down the other lane and smash into the box  - have to get the timing right - don't let her go until her boy toy is off the box on his way back (btw - this takes about a blink of the eye as Shaq is a speed demon). SUCCESS!!!! I could have picked her up and hugged her - oh wait I think I did!!
Of course like any good trainer we quit there...well just one more since we were on a roll. Even better the second time (with me whispering into her ear - leave it, leave it, get your ball, where's your ball the entire time).

This does not a flyball bully make, but we are on our way and I can smell the racing lanes (well almost).