Well, yesterday was exactly two weeks since Daisy first was introduced to the back pile of her single T.  During that time we've started to become more of a team rather than a trainer trying to contain a 60 pound butterfly. It wasn't but a few days into this sequence when the old training axiom of "train a fast dog slow" became the main priority. With a very active and smart pup that wants to do twenty things at the same time, it was a test. Last Saturday, it appeared the light may have come on as Daisy was a bit more willing and relaxed. 

During these two weeks her marking had taken a turn for the worse and my read was some of the pressure of single T was being internalized. She is a young pup and tries so very hard to please, but sometimes the physical and mental aspects aren't exactly at the same stage. Therefore, working slowly allows one to catch up with the other. Last week, the marking returned and she started stepping on everything and those that she missed by a bit did not result in the huge, wild hunts we were seeing. 

We didn't do any single T Sunday because some Badger State HRC members were invited to look at the old Orin Benson property now "owned" by the Wisconsin DNR. Our input was asked to see if it could be restored to a public dog training site. We did do some Retriever-R-Trainer singles at the Eagle DTA (near the Benson property).  Daisy stepped on everything while matching Kooly and Taffey....mark for mark.

Back to work on Monday.....the first order of the day was to run Daisy on the single T. I usually plan what I'd like to see her do and accept improvement. Monday called for her to run three back pile bumpers (100 yards with bumpers she can't see from the line) with the side piles off each side which include a Kwick Bumper standing on end. She can see them so they are tempting suction. After the three backs, the next step is a whistle sit at the apex and another left back cast (her dominant turn is right). After that another clear run to the back pile was to be next. The second from the last run was to be a whistle sit at the apex and a left over cast, and lastly a full run to the back pile to finish it off. At least that was the plan, if things didn't go that way attrition and/or moving up would be used to get the process across. 

Well, it was one of those magic, break through sessions. Not only did she do everything without needing any corrections, but her whistles sits were awesome (immediate wheel, sit facing/staring at me and zero hint of a pre-cast notion), her response to the back was a sharp turn and "fly" (no loop), the over cast was immediate and the final go to the back pile showed no hesitation at the apex.

How often does a drill go exactly as planned? I was pumped!  

Daisy danced around me as we headed back to the van. I usually do OB "stuff" on the way. Her body language was clearly, "I must have done real good, huh?"