Rascal & the Teeter

This story is part of a series of adventures submitted by Sharon Burnett on KerryBlues-L. Sharon and her Kerry Rascal are having fun with their agility training.

For several months now, I have been working with Rascal to get her over her fear of the Teeter Totter. It is the only piece of agility equipment that we have left to have even a remote glimmer of success. Weaves are coming. Her drive is high and my handling shows that there may be hope for us yet!

Last night was the brightest hope of all. Our first practice exercise revolved around the teeter. Oh joy thought I. We're here in the freezing cold and now I get to play chase the Kerry. At least I'll stay warm!

The exercise was jump, tunnel, teeter and then weaves. Of course Rascal gladly takes the jump runs through the tunnel, avoids me standing there waiting to catch her to guide her by the collar over the teeter. She reverses, runs back through the tunnel, reverses again and repeats the tunnel, runs through yet another tunnel. I finally catch her and help her over the teeter. She does a careful touch at the end and then almost correctly enters the weaves.

Second time out is an exact repeat of the first try except Rascal runs around, does half the weaves and then goes to visit her friend Lucy the Red Bone Hound. Everyone is laughing. I notice the more they laugh the sillier she becomes (no offense at the laughter on my part...Rascal is a Kerry on parade, showing off as only a Kerry can). Fifth time out, I asked the group to cheer her on once we get her on the teeter. Our course pattern is now more elaborate, suitable to a dog with some speed (jump, tunnel, tunnel, teeter, tunnel, jump & off-side weaves...its all in a have moon shape, teeter in the center). Cheers seem to help and along with our trainer, Doug, lending a hand Rascal was more willing to mount the teeter and ride it down. Her tail wagging 90 mph!

Okay...its 4 down and 10, 2 minute warning...last real good shot...I start her back at weaves just because she seems to want to do them. Its jump, tunnel, tunnel...I give an up-beat "here" turning my shoulders in a very
exaggerated move...she's coming to me, not taking a tour...I give the command "teeter" and she's on it!!! All by herself!!! Okay, the crowd goes crazy...we finish with tunnel, jump, weaves...Rascal is about 8 feet ahead of me and I have long past said go weave...will she hit the weaves off-side? Yes, she's perfect!! And our classmates went nuts. Much celebrating, squeaking of toys and an outpouring of treats. And I'll tell you what , there was one little Kerry girl with the biggest grin on her face that I've ever seen!

Last Update: 11/08/07, 10:35:15  Terms of Use and Disclaimer.