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Summary
Some further developments with Sleuth-Hounds. I finished the Notes and Photographs section and got the rough sketch maps sent off to the Edinburgh designer to be made presentable. I also got a logo for the Rooskie Press.But despite this January was very much a Rooskie month. A very successful HTM Event at Coventry at the beginning of the month which was followed by encouraging training sessions at home. A long weekend in Southerness during the worst of the storm.
Sleuth-Hounds. Notes and Photographs. Sketch Maps. Late decision to change Sawney's pony from a cob to a Galloway. Rooskie Press logo.
I continued working on The Facts behind the Story section and I finished the Notes and Photographs section. Then I just had to do the rough sketch maps. I really struggled with them. I managed the actual maps but I could not get the lettering to look professional. And then I suddenly realised that I did not need to do it all myself. I could send them to the Edinburgh designer who could make them look presentable.
These two sections really took up a lot of time. The Notes and Photographs -- I am never happy working with graphics. As for the sketch maps -- as well as the sketch maps I had to check the facts. I had an old map of Dumfries around 1819 to use as a rough guide. But Sleuth-Hounds is set in 1793. I had to make sure that I did not include anything which was built after 1793. I knew the dates of the New Bridge and the Theatre but what about the Windmill? I wasted time trying to find out when it was built but all I could find was late eighteenth century. Then I phoned the Museum and was told that they were not quite sure but they believed the 1780s or 1790s. I mentioned 1793 and was told that they thought it would have been built by then. That was good enough for me. I decided to leave the Windmill on the sketch map of Dumfries in 1793.
Text change. Sawney's pony.
I also decided on a late text change. Sawney's pony Alibi or Ally is a coloured cob like Gretna's. This is all right as cobs have always been traditional gypsy horses but it would be better if Sawney had a different breed. And the Galloway was the native breed of the area. But I have seen cobs and I have never seen a Galloway. I did an internet search and soon found out why. The Galloway breed is now extinct. But I still found out a lot of information about them. They were used by drovers and smugglers. Ideal for Solway Sleuth-Hounds. As for being extinct -- well they were very similar to the modern Fell pony. In fact the Galloway is thought to be one of the ancestors of the Fell pony. So I can use what information I can find about the Galloway pony and supplement it by what I can find out about modern Fell ponies.
Rooskie Press Logo
I now have a logo for the Rooskie Press. I gave my designer a copy of my photograph of Rooskie doing the HTM play bow and he made a very good logo from that photograph.
Southerness. Heavy rain and gales.
Flooding in Carlisle.
When I came back from Coventry I managed to get down to Southerness for a long weekend. It was the weekend of the storms and so I did not stray far from the chalet but I got it aired and heated and checked. Actually it heats up very quickly. And now having internet access in the chalet lets me keep in touch with the outside world.
There were intervals when the gales died down for a while and then I took Rooskie for walks. I just walked him through the caravan site. I thought that the caravans would give some protection from the wind. Also I preferred to walk on tarmac rather than wet grass. And my chalet is just behind the caravan site.
Once I met Wendy who had just driven to check on a friend's caravan and she was the first to tell me that Carlisle was flooded. Then I saw on the internet just how bad the storms had been.
They did not affect me much. The flimsy little Southerness chalets have always stood up remarkably well to the Solway gales with their 100 mph gusts. As to flooding -- my chalet is well away from the beach. And my Dumfries house is well away from the River Nith. Actually Dumfries is not affected by flooding too badly. This is because the town slopes upwards from the river on both sides -- which means that the only part to suffer from periodic flooding is the area around the Whitesands.
But the news about Carlisle was really bad. Extensive floods and people having to be evacuated. The Police Station was unusable and a temporary station had to be set up in ther town centre. The Fire Station was also affected and much equipment ruined.
For a time Carlisle was completely cut off as all the roads into the town were blocked. Also the railway station was closed.
Of course Carlisle is much flatter than Dumfries but I was told that the situation had been made worse by the fact that there had been building on flood plains.
Knitting
I make a lot of my own clothes on my knitting machine and I get most of my machine knitting wool from the Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Carlisle. I thought it would be all right but I decided to phone just in case. When I got through I found that the couple I had always dealt with in the past had now retired but the new people were going to keep on with the knitting wool. Much to my relief. I said I would call in once the trains were running again.
I was told that the new people had been very lucky. They had moved in just after New Year and if they had still been in their old premises they would have lost everything.
Housework
I got a lucky aid to clearing up the house. I sometimes get review books by mistake -- books which I cannot review as I review only children's historical fiction. I keep pointing this out to the publishers but I still get sent a number of fantasy. And I often have numbers of magazines which take up far too much space. Not being able to drive makes it difficult for me to get to the charity shops. I recently found out that the British Heart Foundation collect. So I gathered together a pile of books and magazines and phoned the British Heart Foundation and their driver phoned me when she was ready.
So she collected two large bags. And now I can go ahead with tidying up secure in the knowledge that there will be no problem in getting the stuff to the charity shop.
Rooskie
Heelwork to Music Event. Travel
Rooskie had a big HTM Event in Coventry on Sunday the 2nd January. I left on the Friday as I did not want to travel on New Year's Day. And it was a good job that I did. I found the journey very tiring. I could not get a train going right through from Carlisle to Coventry and I had to change at Birmingham. I also found the journey back very tiring and I have decided that in future I will go Carlisle-Settle-Leeds and spend the night in the Ibis Hotel, Leeds and travel Leeds-Coventry the next day. That will give me two easy days travelling. It will also mean that for part of the journey I am on my favourite railway train -- the Catrlisle-Settle-Leeds. And I shall be on it on the return journey too.
The actual Event
The HTM Event was held by the Paws and Music Association. It started on a solemn note with a one minute's silence for the victims of the tsumani.
I was entered in one of their extra classes -- Dances with Dogs. As this was not an official Kennel Club class I was able to work Rooskie on the lead. I worked him with the lead trailing to Tommy Scott singing The Monster in Loch Ness.
Rooskie did well and worked to his standard. As the lead was trailing and I was not holding it he was able to work at a distance from me and he did his big circles.
Afterwards everybody was very kind and supportive. I was told to keep working him like that and not be in a hurry to take the lead off too quickly. I was told to shorten it by an inch a month. It was explained to me that I could still work him like that in a Kennel Club class. It would just mean that I would not be marked.
People told me how much they had enjoyed the routine and another Scottish handler commented on the music and said it was nice that I had chosen a Scottish tune. An advanced handler told me that now people would know that Rooskie was not just a small dog who ran off but a small dog who could do quite a lot.
The judges gave me a special prize -- a lovely medallion. I was also placed second in the class. (There were only two in the class). This means that I am now in Novice Dances with Dogs.
I can't wait to see the video/DVD.
Photographs
There was also a professional photographer at the Event. He did not take photographs of the dogs in the ring. Instead he took photgraphs of dogs doing various exercises. He had a kind of miniature studio. I got him to take some photgraphs of me with Rooskie. But the best ones were of Rooskie himself practising Highs -- or standing on his hind legs. The photographer gave me the photographs on a CD.
Rooskie. Training at home. Hopeful signs.
I continued with Watch and the grilled pieces of steak. I am a vegetarian and to me they look awful but Rooskie seems to think that they are great.
I had a few short sessions on a quiet part of the caravan site at Southerness. I worked him with a short cord trailing. I had used this cord before and now I am going to get him reliable with it before making it any shorter. He ran off a couple of times and so I put him back on his ordinary lead. Then after a short time I switched again to the short cord -- and he was all right.
I also kept the short cord on as well as the lead. Then he would get used to me taking off the lead and yet still being on the cord. The point is he would get used to working when the lead was taken off.
He would also get used to working with the cord flapping about -- which does not seem to bother him. I have greyhound tassels and if I can get him down to the tassels they will come under the rule dogs may only wear collars which may be dressed.
Dumfries. I had a short session in the railway booking office which went quite well.
Then the dog class. The first night at the big dog class. We did not do much in the Obedience part but the agility turned out to be very useful. First of all we practised on the indivual pieces of apparatus. Then we did a complete course. I worked Rooskie with the short cord trailing. He jumped beautifully. He got ahead of me but he waited for me to tell him what to do next. Then he did a recall over two jumps.
Even more important. After the class I worked him a bit myself. This was when the caretaker was putting away the chairs so he was working in the open hall. He was fine so at the end I took off the cord. I let him see me put the titbits on a ledge and then we were off -- and he was fine. At the end he ran off to the titbits so he realised that he was going to be fed only at the end of the round.
The next week he did even better. When practising on the various jumps etc I had him off lead. But I kept him on the short cord for the big round.
The week after that he did the big agility round off the lead too.
And this was in the hall where the trouble all started!
The small dog class. The APDT one. Rooskie did not do so well but at least he did not run off. And the circumstances were different. Rooskie has never worked well in close proximity to other dogs. He was not so attentive -- and he is much better at Touch (our Recall command) than Watch.
I think the fact that he is now doing the Novice Recall rather than the Good Citizen Recall is helping a lot. Taking Rooskie to the centre of the hall and letting him off the lead and letting him wander and then calling him was the last thing Rooskie needed.
But the Novice Recall -- making him sit and wait and then calling him -- that is really helping. And we also incorporated a little Heel Free with no problems. And this was without the cord.
Rooskie's instructor is no longer at the class as it has been taken over by the assistant instructor. This means that the Heelwork to Music class is no longer running. But Rooskie has a private session booked with her at the Rescue Kennels at the beginning of February.
I told Rooskie's instructor that he is now doing agility off lead and she said she would bring some small jumps to the private training session. But she said we must also work on his heelwork.
I would never have thought that agility would prove to be the way in which Rooskie would work through his problems.
Plans for Routines
I have also thinking about future routines.
Rooskie can jump over his oblong travelling box. And he looks good doing it too. I suddenly realised that I could incorporate this into a routine. Blackpool Belle. That is about a train which goes to Blackpool. All right then. Come into ring carrying luggage.
Also Loch Ness Monster. Throw a piece of green cloth over it and make a stuffed head for the front and the travelling box becomes the Loch Ness Monster. Would it be possible to have a short floor routine at end and get him to go into it -- been swallowed by the Monster?
Collapsible walking stick. He works at a distance if I use it. Could do for Happy Wanderer. Or for a keep fit routine.
In started to think of portable jumps and an agility freestyle routine. I managed to buy A Mouse lived in Old Amsterdam fromm Amazon. (Well mice go down tunnels and Rooskie could always weave through a pair of clogs. Also Doris Day The Tunnel of Love.
Then I thought about a haunted house routine. I searched Amazon and found both Ghosterbusters and also The Adams Family.
Summary
A fairly quiet month. Sleuth-Hounds. I got on with the final revision. Rooskie. Training and planning routines. Some exciting news. I was contacted about a big new dog show to be held in Glasgow in 2006.
Sleuth-Hounds.
I managed to get a full fortnight down at Southerness. I completed the final check of the main part of the text. Just a little to complete about The Facts behind the Story section.
Next, I shall have to consider whether I am going to convert to pdf myself or get the printer to do it for me. On their web site the printer gives full instructions. I shall consider this. I might get my computer consultant to come over to check that I do not mess the computer up. On the other hand the printers do convert a Microsoft Word file to pdf.
Southerness
I managed to get a full fortnight down at Southerness. This is where I get most of my work done and I was able to get the main body of the text of Sleuth-Hounds checked. (See above).
The weather was dry but very cold. It was not windy but it was still cold. But we escaped the snow and blizzards which theyn had elsewhere.
Knitting.
I need respectable clothes for HTM Events. At home I had completed a pair if trousers and a turquoise tunic on my knitting machine. I managed to get them both sewn up at Southerness. For the tunic I had made another pattern and I think it is going to look much better.
Historical Novel Society
I even got some HNS work done. I completed my reviews for the new HNS online review section and sent them off to the co-ordinating editor by e-mail.
New Dog Show
Some very exciting news. A lady contacted me via my web site. She arranges exhibitions for an exhibition centre and she is going to organise a Scottish Dog Show. She saw the word heelwork on my web site and contacted me. I explained the difference between ordinary heelwork and heelwork to music. She had seen HTM at Crufts but she had not realised that that was its official name. She at once decided to add an HTM competition.
The show is intended mainly for pet owners with some obedience, agility etc and also demonstrations.
I told some of the HTM people but I also told the lady that if they could not help then I would step into the breach myself. After all it is not like organising a show from scratch. Here there is a professional organisation which will be taking care of the insurance, performing rights license etc.
Rooskie
Event DVD.
I got the DVD of the January Event and I was able to watch Rooskie’s routine to the Monster in Loch Ness. Certainly the best yet.
Newsletter
In the January Newsletter of the Paws and Music Association there was a very encouraging mention of Rooskie
Training
Rooskie had been going very well at the two dog classes which he attends. And he had done so very well at his training session at the Rescue Centre with Lynn. (see January) But how would he do at Southerness?
We trained on the golf course. We had it completely to ourselves. The golfers were hibernating and it was too cold for other dog walkers.
I took Rooskie from tee to tee practising the beginning of routines. At first he did well and then he started running off and I began to be afraid that I was losing him again.
I kept a short cord on him all the time. I worked him with his lead trailing and rewarded him and then I heeled him to a different part of the tee (the ring) took off the lead and did a short routine.
He was better than he had ever been on the golf course before but there were still a few problems. I found that if his attention began to wander then it helped to put in a few moves – like a few spins.
The last day I tried starting him off with a Novice Recall--to Touch. Then into a routine. I began to learn how to watch him for any lapses in attention and at once give a command of Watch or Touch or Spin or Sit. And it worked. I also finished the routine with another Novice Recall.
And he started to do the Novice Recall – which he had not done before. (Before he would never wait to be called).
Titbits.
For Touch I am still using cooked sausage which I grill which makes it keep.
I was using grilled steak for Watch but Rooskie had an upset stomach and was very sick. I wondered if it had been the steak. Anyway by that time I had finished the steak which I had brought with me and so I started using garlic cheese. And it seemed to work just as well. I shall finish the steak which I have at home but after that I think I shall go back to the cheese.
Summary
Sleuth-Hounds. Cover design at last. Also change in title from Gretna to The First Recruit. Southerness. I had a fortnight in the chalet at the end of the month. Very much a working fortnight but I still enjoyed the break. Rooskie. Another session in the training barn at the rescue centre. A routine decided on and props and music organised.
Solway Sleuth-Hounds
Right at the beginning of the month my designer sent me the file for the cover. On the whole I was very pleased with it but there was one big flaw. He had given prominence to the title Gretna whereas I wanted the series title –– Solway Sleuth-Hounds –– to be more prominent. After all it is Solway which is the target and selling word.
I also decided to change the title. The front cover simply shouted saga –– and it definitely is not a saga.
I decided on Solway Sleuth-Hounds and The First Recruit. That is more of a neutral title and is more in line with the Sleuth-Hounds idea. I talked this over with the designer.
When I explained to the designer that SOLWAY SLEUTH--HOUNDS were the important words in the title he made adjustments. I was absolutely delighted with his second attempt.The words SOLWAY SLEUTH--HOUNDS were striking and really caught the attention and expressed exactly what I was trying to say.
The change of the subtitle from Gretna to The First Recruit also helped a great deal.
The whole thing was enhanced by the logo of Rooskie in the play bow. And the designer had even taken the small picture of Rooskie on the front cover and put it on the back cover too. So that was a relief. To have a cover at last.
All I was waiting for was one extra drawing from the American artist and her biographical note.
A Problem. Pagination.
I hit a snag at the beginning of the month. I started to paginate Sleuth-Hounds. I just could not get the computer to start the pagination at the beginning of the book proper. It insisted on including the title page, contents etc.
I e-mailed my computer consultant. Fortunately his wife knew and he e-mailed me back. I still could not get it right so he came round and showed me and I finally got it right. Which was a great relief.
Next, I shall have to consider whether I am going to convert to pdf myself or get the printer to do it for me. On their web site the printer gives full instructions. I shall consider this. I might get my computer consultant to come over to check that I do not mess the computer up. On the other hand they do convert a Microsoft Word file to pdf. So I shall probably get them to do it for me.
Southerness
I managed to get a fortnight down at the Southerness chalet. Although it was very much a working fortnight I still managed to get a break. I did some HNS work and spring cleaned the chalet.
Rooskie
Training
Back home after Southerness.The Loreburn Hall dog class. I had wondered how Rooskie would do at the class after a fortnight’s absence. He was fine. I kept the short cord trailing the whole time. That got him used to me taking off the lead and still working him. I don’t think the cord trailing made any difference to Rooskie but it made me feel more secure
We did more agility and Rooskie worked with the short cord trailing. Then some Obedience. When doing the HW all together we removed the leads – and Rooskie worked beautifully.
Rooskie at the training barn at the Rescue Centre
Rooskie had his second private Heelwork to Music session at the Rescue Centre with his instructor. This time one of her friends was with her. Her friend made friends with Rooskie – with the result that he tended to try to go to her.
He was not as good as he had been the month before as he tended to run off more. Also Lynn thought that the portable tunnel which I had painstakingly made from equipment which I had bought at the garden centre did not suit Rooskie so well. He was much happier with the bigger one. So I shall be bringing that next time – the Argos play tunnel.
I had put my music on cassette and we were able to go through the whole routine. At first Rooskie went through the tunnel and then round it and back through to me – in other words incorporating a little sendaway. He repeated this a few times. Then the music changed to High Hopes. While the music was changing I walked backwards and then walked forwards with Rooskie making circles around me. When it came to the High Hopes Rooskie got up on his hind legs.
The finish. Leg weaving and then a reverse through my legs and a spin in front. The first time I forgot this and Lynn said how could I forget the best move.
Lynn pointed out that he is most likely to run off at the beginning and I must find a way of getting his attention at the very start. She still thought that the best way would be to start him off from sitting on a chair and giving me a paw.
It was a delightful afternoon. I really liked the sessions in the Training Barn. I enjoyed everything about it. The journey down in the taxi through Glencaple at the mouth of the Nith. It was the first time that I had seen Glencaple. Then the Rescue Centre itself in the middle of beautiful countryside. I would arrive early and walk Rooskie around. There was a fenced in exercise field and I asked the manageress if I could exercise Rooskie there if there were no other dogs there and she said that I could. And it was lovely being among doggy people.
Tunnels
I also thought a lot about the tunnel. I made a kind of covering for it to protect it while travelling. At least it will go over the handle of my shopping trolley. But I shall worry about it being left on a station platform.
And then I thought of a back-up tunnel in case the worst happened. I found Rooskie was quite happy doing the same thing with a chair. I can do a cover for the back of a chair – with a heart on it. And I can throw a cover over the seat of the chair and make a tunnel. Of course it would not be as good as the Argos tunnel but it would be a good back-up and mean that I could still do the routine even if the Argos tunnel had an accident.
I also began to think of other tunnel routines and other tunnel music.
Training at Southerness
Although it was quite cold I trained Rooskie on the golf course in the late evening. He was going reasonably well but still running off a bit.
Then I discovered something. He was all eyes and ears if I carried and let him see the cheese container. It is not enough for him to know it is in my pocket or that he will be fed at the end. He seems to need to see the container while he is working.
So to substitute something for the container which I can take into the ring. EMPTY of course. I started to experiment with a trainer liner and as scrunchie worn on the wrist like a bracelet.
Summary
Very much a Rooskie month
Sleuth-Hounds
The designer sent back the proofs of the four maps. Three need only minor adjustments but the fourth will have to be recast completely.
Rooskie at the training barn at the Rescue Centre
Rooskie got an extra Heelwork to Music session at the Rescue Centre with his instructor. This time we were alone -- no spectators at all.
We concentrated on the routine. I thought that the best way to start him off was to put him right through the tunnel. Lynn asked about him sitting waiting for the music to start at an Event and I said I was not going to wait for it to start but just to get hm working right away. So that is what I did. And it worked -- apart from him having a little sniff on the round and back through at first. Then he got into the way of it and was really focussed on the tunnel part.
Then when I moved onto the High Hopes part and started moving round the room he started running off a bit. And with the versing at the end -- he tended not to go right round but just do three quarters. Lynn said I would probably get off with it but we would still try to get the full round.
Then we worked on the different parts of the routine. The tunnel. I also showed Lynn what I had been doing with a chair -- with material thrown over it. I had also been able to get him to go round and back through to me and then go backwards through the tunnel and round to me again.
Lynn put two chairs together with the two seats together and the two backs making the different ends of the tunnel. She said that if he would back through the length of the two chairs then he would back through the Argos play tunnel. He learned it quite quickly.
I also showed her how Rooskie could do leg weaving through my legs and also through the length of one chair. Something to keep for another routine along with the paw work while sitting on a chair.
I also discussed another routine for later. I had found an American children's song -- Through the Gates of Town. It is on a CD Children's Games and it is played twice -- once vocal version and once orchestral. And since medieval towns had four gates -- north, south, east and west -- I would have two tunnels -- a one chair tunnel and a two chair tunnel. Lynn pointed out that the Argos tunnel looks good as it is partly mesh and Rooskie can be seen going through it. But I pointed out that I could use netting or that transparent curtain material. For the chair backs I would make covers of red material with a brick pattern embroidered on it.
Using the shorter tunnel would let me introduce leg weaving through the tunnel as well as through my legs and also enable Rooskie to verse right round a chair.
Then back to the current Tunnel of Love routine. He had been tending to run off when I started to move round the room. Something to work on. Lynn said to keep introducing extra moves to keep his attention -- spins etc.
We had also to work on the verse at the end. (I quickly solved that problem once I got home. I went back to doing it in the corner the way I had trained him at the start and he soon got the idea).
That was an extra session. I would also be seeing Lynn next week.
His second session at the Training Barn on the 10th April
Before I tried out both the big tunnel and the smaller one made with two chairs. I got some nylonised mesh from the garden centre for the tunnel and the backs. I put my two St Valentines Day dashunds on the chair backs. I also got two folding chairs from Argos to practise with.
At the session at the training barn it was more difficult because Evie was taking another dog in the bottom half of the barn. It was blocked off with a row of chairs but it was still a distraction. We used the two chairs and not the big tunnel.
Rooskie did his routine and the first time it was excellent. He went through the tunnel and did the leg weaving and also reversed right round it -- which looked really good.
Then he went off the boil and he worked very slowly. And he ran off now and then to a distraction.
Lynn said she was very disappointed and decided to change his training schedules. We have to work on building up his stamina. And also work on the distractions.
He is to have one 5 minute training session a day where he works on the individual moves and another training session where he just does his routine. And the routine to be sometimes with food and sometimes with jackpot.
After the training session I took Rooskie a walk in the secure fenced in field. It was a beautiful spring day and I was able to look across to the sparkling waters of the Nith -- and a different view of Criffel. On the other side, the side road leading up to the Rescue Centre was lined on both sides with daffodils.
His third training session at the training barn on the 24th April
Rooskie had been all right at dog class and on Southerness Golf course so I was quite optimistic. But right at the start he ran off and sniffed his way round the barn. After a struggle I got him working. Lynn insisted on him being fed from feeding stations. He was much better than the last time. He was quite cheerful whereas before he had packed it in completely. But running off again.
I also learned something about my props. The chairs were different and my I love you this much dashunds would not stay on the top of the chair backs. So I replaced one with my two small dashunds and put the other large one across the chair seats. This means that for the Event I have to take only one big dashund in my luggage -- which should help a little.
But at least it was a beautiful spring day and I enjoyed the run down through Glencaple. The tide was in. After the training session I took Rooskie for a short time into the fenced in exercise field. It was lovely. Rooskie had his freedom to enjoy it. The road up to the Centre was lined with daffodils and, behind the fence on the other side, was the gold of the gorse bushes. And at the foot of the slope could be seen the shining waters of the Nith estuary.
When I got home I tried him in the drive using Jackpot and feeding from the kitchen. He started to lose interest and I started feeding from the drive -- from a windowsill -- and he perked up at once. So it seems that the distance of the feeding station has to be built up.
I also remembered something. At dog class and on the golf course I had been using a short cord trailing. It was really too short to be much use but it made me feel better. Maybe it does make some difference to Rooskie and I should keep on using it. I have some silver braid which I could use in the ring under the dogs may only wear collars which may be dressed rule. Of course it would be shorter than the one I have been using but even so ...
Rooskie at the Dog Class
After the extra HTM session there was no big dog class as the hall was being used for a concert the next day and the seats were being set out. So his next class was the small dog class -- and I decided to make the most of it.
Right from the start I saw that Rooskie was not at his best. Sniffing a bit. And the new floral target stick was only a very limited success. But when Simone was doing the door control, as usual, she let us practise by ourselves. I at once got a chair and covered it with netting -- which I saw at once was too light so a trip to the garden centre was called for.
But the very sight of the chair had a magical effect on Rooskie. He trotted through it automatically. And he was completely focussed. Even better, this carried over to when I started to move round the room.
So that seems to be the answer. Get him used to working with props.
Dog training and theory
This month I have also learned much about modern theories of dog training. I do not usually buy dog magazines but I bought two. One had an article about conditioned suppression -- about all the dominance and pack leader theory which I have had drummed into me. When I mentioned this to Lynn she said that this pack leader theory is years out-of-date. I also read about the very exciting Bridge and Target theory. Lynn told me that it is not new but has been on the go for some time.
The Dog Class after his third session in the Training Barn
Back from the Training Barn I tried him out briefly at home. He worked enthusiastically in my front room and then was very reluctant to work at all in my drive. Where there were distractions of course. So I decided to give him a rest.
Back at the two dog classes. He was fine at the big dog class on Tuesday. Actually we did quite a lot. Agility and a bit of obedience. Rooskie was working with a short cord trailing -- and it was the first time it had been shortened to this length. He even did the Novice Recall. He also worked very well in the bank the next day -- again with the short cord trailing. So perhaps he does need the cord after all. Incidentally the next time it is shortened it will be to the KC dressed collar length.
He also did very well at the small dog class on Thursday. But I worked him more FunDay than KC regs. He worked with a short cord trailing nearly the whole time. The NEW short length. It is too short to be any use for catching but it seems to have an effect on him regardless. When Simone took the dogs out for the road walk I stayed in the hall. The minute he was working with the whole empty hall he was off but I got him back and he worked well.
I tried the chair. He was reluctant at first then I got him through and I walked backwards so that he had to run towards me. And that perked him up.
So I think with the tunnel the thing to do is to have very short spells in the front room -- and make sure that he is HAPPY doing it. And not to bother about the drive where he gets distracted.
My feeling is that we have rather been pushing Rooskie. True he can do the work but he is a dog who has to be brought on carefully and he does not take to being pushed on too quickly. Also I think I was getting too serious and tense in the training barn.
The short cord trailing seems to be working. But Atilla told me that if I go to a strange place then I must lengthen the cord again. Not good for Brentwood I wish now we had persevered with the trailing lead. We tried it two years ago and then abandoned it whereas if we had stuck at it then now ...
New Routine
I have just worked out a terrific KC routine to the Monster in Loch Ness. Me wearing my comic tartan tammy with red hair hanging down. Props. Loch Ness Monster which Rooskie jumps over. Chair with cloth flung over it and notice -- Photographers Hide. This gives us a chance to do Rooskie's chair moves -- when he is back on them again. And Loch Nesds Monster. I can make one from an old pair of trousers stuffed with a child's sleeping bag.
But I think the main thing is not to work Rooskie where he is reluctant to work as that will just get him into bad habits.
Glasgow Rodeo
On the last day of the month (saturday 30th April) was the Fun Day and Rodeo at the Glasgow Vet School. And I had been asked to help with the judging! Which I found rather alarming.
I worried about what to do with Rooskie. I was worried about him being stolen while I was judging. So I decided not to take him but to leave him at home where he would be safe. So I got up at 4 am and got the 6.50 train into Glasgow.
This was a big mistake. When I got there I found that Rooskie would have been all right as he could have stayed under the table when I was judging.
There were not many people there but, as the organiser said, it was a start and there will be more next year. Perhaps we might even get KC regulations and a marquee.
We also did a group deminstration in the main ring and I was given a German Spitz (Klein) to work. To me that is a big dog!
It was good meeting the few Scottish HTM people again. I was given a lift to Kilmarnock where I was able to catch the train from Glasgow to Dumfries.
I was absolutely exhausted. Next year I shall take Rooskie and go up to Glasgow on the Friday and stay overnight in the Ibis Hotel.
Summary
Very much another Rooskie month. The big Event at Brentwood in the middle of the month. An attempt at routines which did not work out and finally routines which were very successful and which gave pointers to the way ahead. I started on the final revision of Sleuth-Hounds and I had a few days in Southerness at the end of the month.
Sleuth-Hounds
I am still waiting for the fourth map from the designer. When I went down to Southerness at the end of the month I started work on the final revision.
Southerness
I had a few days in Southerness at the end of the month. Weather very mixed. Cold and very windy followed by two days of sunny spring days followed by rain. I managed to practise Rooskie's new jump routine on the golf course. (See below).
Rooskie at the training barn at the Rescue Centre
Rooskie got an extra Heelwork to Music session at the Rescue Centre. He was still off form -- and the Event was only a fe weeks away. I decided to continue resting him and to do very little training. This was very difficult for me to do as I kept wanting to work with him. But I knew that that would just make things worse.
Idea for new Routine -- One which did not work out.
I had been looking at the schedules for the Paws and Music FunDay Tea Dance and I began to get ideas. I had one particular one for a completely new routine.
Simone had mentioned distance control at the APDT dog class. Rooskie does not do the obedience distance control but he does do the HTM distance control. For example if placed behind a rope etc he will spin, do highs and paw waves and bows at the end of a\ target stick. I suddenly realised that I could use this for Alma Cogan singing The Railroad runs through the Middle of the House. Props. Two black water hoses from the garden centre to represent railroad tracks. I wear a check shirt and a cowboy hat.
I make Rooskie sit behind the 'railroad tracks.' Then I make him spin etc at the end of a target stick. Then I call him to me, do a little Heelwork and then I throw my hat on the floor and Rooskie does a circle routine round it. He circles it while I run the other way round it. Then he circles it and I call him and take him the other direction and send him round me and then back to the hat and figure of eights etc.
Then I take him back to the 'railroad tracks' and sit down on the floor and get him to crawl under my legs. Whe the song comes to the bit 'I'm singing this song in the middle of the house' I throw up my hands and fling myself backwards on the floor and lie there prostrate for the closing chords.
Practising the Verse. Still problems in bgetting started. Obviously some confusion there. Then I discovered that he would do it if I started him from Aa Sit. This also had the advantage that he was not always half expecting the command "Verse."
Second training session in barn at rescue centre
I tried out the new routine and it did not work. So another needed for PNM
The rest of the training session did not go well. Rooskie was completely uninterested.
And Brentwood was getting nearer. At home I continued my policy of not working him too much. Indeed I was practically resting him.
Brentwood
At last it was time to pack for the long journey to Brentwood. (Just outside London and to the north east). A long journey with a dog who was completely off form. This time the journey was not too bad. Day one Dumfries to Carlisle and then Carlisle - Settle -Leeds over the north Yorkashire moors and the nightmin the Leeds Ibis. Day two Leeds - Peterborough and Peterborough - Ipswich from where I got a lift. But for future reference - and the way back - I discovered that I could gfet a train right through from Peterborough - Shenfield.
The Event. All About Dogs. A huge dog show on the Brentwood Show Ground. And loads of agility rings. There was one right next to the HTM marquee. It was a Have-a-Go ring and members of an agiklity club took dogs and handlers round. I had a go. I thought it might help to settle Rooskie down beforwe going into the ring. I took him round with leasd trailing. He was fine and I wondered if he would have done it off lead. I would have liked to have tried later but there always seemed to be such long queues.
I gave Rooskie the odd try out and he did not seem very interested. So I just walked him around and looked at some of the trade stands -- and met Lynn and Evie. Then back to the marquee.
I was not on until the afternoon as all the HTM was done together leaving Freestyle for the afternoon. I got into the ring at lunchtime. Walking Rooskie around he was completely uninterested in doing anything at all. Then I got the tunnel and practised his tunnel routine and he perked up. The only problem was the leg weaving through it and I discovered that I was saying "Tween" (the leg weaving command) when I should have been saying "Through" (the tunnel command). After I got that sorted he was fine. He went through the tunnel, away from me to the end of it and back through it to me and also did ther leg weaving through the length of the tunnel. I even got a clap from the spectators when practising! Then I decided we had done enough and took him out of the ring. I was lucky to get that practise session because right afterwards a number of people took their dogs into the ring -- and Rooskie would not have worked among them.
Rooskie's actual round. To Doris Day singing Tunnel of Love and High Hopes. I decided not to risk doing it off lead. On grass and in a marquee and Rooskie had been off form. I decided to do it with lead trailing -- which would be a Not for Competition round. I started off with him in the Sit. And then I got him to verse around me -- which he did very well. Then I picked up the lead and led him to the tunnel and sent him through it and called him back to me. Then I sent him away and back through it and finally did leg weaving through the length of the tunnel.
Then the other part of the routine where I moved round the ring. He got his nose down for a sniff and I gave a little tug on the lead and he was back working again and the rest of the routine was all right and I got him up on his hind legs for the High Hopes bit.
Lynn was sitting in the front row at the far side and at the end of the round I stole a quick look at her -- and she was clapping furiously. Afterwards she told me she felt annoyed when she saw me taking him in on the lead but she said she realised I had made the correct decision beca\use I would have lost him when he got his nose down. She said she was really proud of him and that he worked his little heart out. Together with Evie she later sent me an internet Congratulations card. Which I printed out, scanned and saved to my hard disc.
The next day -- the Fun Day -- I did a waltz to Tulips from Amsterdam and the Tunnel of Love routine again.
The way ahead
Rooskie seems to need props to focus on. In this case the Argos tunnel. It was when I moved away from it that the trouble started. Also he had been working wellm all year at the Loreburn Hall agility. He seemed to realise what he was meant to do when he saw the agility course. And I remembered the Have-a-Go agility round I had done before doing the HTM. So perhaps if I could incorporate some agility into his routines....
New Routine. Jump Routine
Then I worked out a new routine which really worked. And it was based on my idea of incorporating Agility into his HTM.
I managed to make a little portable jump. Plastic wire baskets for the supports. If I tied two small ones together then that gave me 6 inches -- which was high enough for the routine. Also I found that I could put knitting cones with flowers inside the topmost basket -- which would help for the routine. For the pole I experimented with a joiner's foot rule. This did not work out so I ended up using a collapsible walking stick. The weight helped to keep it steady but it may have to be disguised for routines.
I worked out the routine. Rooskie goes over the jump and back to me and round and over it again. I also stand at one end and send him round me and over the jump in circles. I also stand in front of the jump with Rooskie at the other side and call him over and then get him to do leg weaving. I also move away from the jump and get him to go round something. Later I may also remove the pole and get him to do circles around it. I may also stand on the opposite side of the jump from him and do distance control.
It is a very versatile routine which can be adapted and done done to different music. It is mainly freestyle but can be adapted to an HTM routine too.
Trying it Out
Now to try it out in an unfamiliar environment. I took him to Southerness golf course late at night. It was cold and very windy but I managed to find some shelter from a friendly gorse bush. For security I worked Rooskie on a short cord trailing. Fantastic. The jump meant something to him in a way Heelwork did not. He was focussed and working eagerly.
The next evening I went back and things did not go so well. And then I realised why. I had not tied the baskets and they kept falling down. And then joiners foot rule kept bending in the middle.
The next evening was milder and less windy. And I had the baskets tied firmly together. And I had the walking stick for a pole. Much better. I made Rooskie sit and I held the cord while I did so. Then I sent him over and let go of the cord.
Fantastic. He gave me his full attention and worked like a dream. And continued to do so when I heeled him away from the jump. And it was having a knock on effect because I gave him a mini routine without the jump and he did it all right.
It was as if he was PLEASED that he was being given something to do which he UNDERSTOOD. In this case food was a secondary reward. The primary one was just working and understanding what he was supposed to be doing.
My Theory
And why was it going so well? Obedience dogs are doing Heel Free constantly and they soon relise what is expected of them. But Rooskie waqs not given the opportunity to do Obedience. Instead he was given the Good Citizen where he was hardly ever off the lead. And he was introduced to his off lead work too quickly.
Then he was given the chance of fun agility. Once a week. Gradually he came to realise that if he saw a jump he was to go over it. And if he came to a tunnel he was to go through it etc. At first I worked him on the lead and then with a short cord trailing. And eventually he realised that he was to do this when off lead too.
Future Routines
I shall keep the Tunnel routine. But I am not going to do it to death. I shall do it a few times and then put it away. That way I shall be able to bring it out again later and do it again. Meanwhile I shall do variations on the Jump routine. I find it easier and I am more confident -- probably because Rooskie is not working at a distance the way he is with the tunnel routine.
Summary
Yet another Rooskie month. A Companion Dog Show in Dumfries at the beginning of the month followed a week later with a course at Wood Green Animal Shelter -- a very useful course. And ending with a fabulous Paws and Music Event.
Sleuth-Hounds
I finally got the Rooskie drawing from the American artist -- and it was well worth waiting for. Also the proof of the final map from my designer. So all I have to do now is to press on with the final revision.
Battered and bruised
In the middle of the month I stumbled while going through a doorway. I grabbed the door and stopped myself from falling but I gave my leg a dreadful wrench and bruised it badly and I was crippled for a few days. I actually ended up using my four wheeled shopping trolley -- with Rooskie's gypsy basket strapped on to it -- as a kind of walking frame.
Rooskie
The Dumfries Companion Dog Show
The first Saturday of the month there was a Companion Dog Show held in aid of Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue. It was held at the Technical College, Heathhall.
The HTM was in the small ring. There were only two other competitors -- and they had come all the way from Aberdeen. Some of the others had dropped out.
I was going to do a simple version of my new jump routine. The ring was not fenced. Just posts and ropes so Rooskie would have to be on lead. As I had found out in practice that the proper lead knocked the jump pole down I hoped he would work with a light cord. I took him to a quiet part and gave him a little practice. He ran off at once. I caught him and started again -- and he began to get the idea. Then into the ring.
For the jump, for the supports I had two small plastic wire baskets tied together and the pole was a collapsible walking stick. Making a jump of six inches -- which was high enough as he was going over it a lot. My routine. I sent him over the jump, and then round and back to me and round me and over again. Then a little Heel Free and back to the jump. Then I stood at one end and got him to go round behind me in a circle and when he came to the front he went over the jump again. Then more Heelwork and then back to the jump where I stood in front of the middle and got him to do leg weaving over the jump and round the ends. Then more Heelwork and a verse (where he goes right round me moving backwards) -- this brought a clap from the spectators -- and a high (standing on his hind legs with his little paws stretched right above his head). Rooskie finished with a bow. I did the routine to Wooden Heart.
I worked Rooskie with a light cord trailing -- shorter than a lead. I had cheese in my hand but I did not feed him while he was working. Although I must admit that at the start I put him over the jump and gave him cheese. But that was before we actually started. And he was attentive. And remember that we were outdoors and there were plenty of distractions.
I was told that he is coming on. The judge said that he was really working with me. She really liked the leg weaving over and round the jump. Some people who had known me at dog class came up to me and said how much better he is doing. But I must get rid of the trailing cord somehow for KC regulations.
We were placed third and I received my rosette in the main ring at the end of the show. In her report the judge said 'A partners routine which Rooskie obviously enjoyed.'
We were lucky with the weather. The forecast had been for rain but it held off and it was a good day for the dogs working. Not too warm. So that was the local Fun Day.
The Syn Alia Course at Wood Green Animal Shelter
Right after the Dumfries Fun Day I had to get ready to go down to Cambridgeshire for the Kayce Cover Syn Alia course. I did the journey in stages. I took the Carlisle-Settle-Leeds train over the north Yorkshire moors and spent the night in the Leeds Ibis. Then travelled onto Cambridge the next day.
It was a two day course and it was very useful indeed. It was just fabulous. It is too early to tell yet but it may be just what Rooskie is needing. As well as the course itself it was interesting seeing all the Wood Green trainers in practice.
The course was divided up into sections. I was most interested in the Bridge and Target. This is a developement from clicker training. Instead of the click the handler gives a sharp X sound. More important is the Bridge. This is a quiet sound constantly repeated so that the dog knows that it is doing the right thing and to keep going. Something like dededede or kekekeke. There were a number of Syn Alia qualified trainers there and I had a mini one-to-one session with one of them. We worked on the Recall. We worked on the concrete just down from the training barn.
Once again. The Syn Alia training system. Basically instead of clicking you say X. And you have a quiet keep going signal like de-de-de-de and then terminate with X or GOOD DOG. The trainer showed me with Rooskie and it seemed to go well. And it has great advantages. She said not to use food but praise instead and then Jackpot him at the end. And if his attention wanders I have to work harder or, if in the garden, just take him indoors. She also said to watch him carefully because if he once gets his nose down I have lost him. And she thinks it a bit much to expect him to work in my drive when the High School are coming out.
I heard one man who runs his own class saying to his neighbour that a lot of it seemed more or less the same as what we are doing already. In a way yes. But -- and important for competition -- food is not used so much. And the Bridge seems to mean more to the dog. It seems a sound which Rooskie understands more than words.
It all comes down to the jump and tunnel routines. Rooskie does them because he UNDERSTANDS them -- in a way in which he does not fully understand other things. I am fervently hoping that Kayce's Bridge is going to turn out to be something which he will understand too. Fingers crossed. Everything crossed.
It can also be used for Heelwork. Kayce Cover took Rooskie herself and showed me Heelwork but that is where I would have liked to have seen more of it. Incidentally she also thinks he is very intelligent.
Unfortunately I had an accident at Wood Green. On the morning of the first day I stumbled while going through a doorway. I grapped the door and stopped myself from falling but I wrenched the muscles in my leg and I was absolutely crippled for most of the two days. I ended up using my 4 wheeled shopping trolley with Rooskie's basket strapped onto it as a kind of walking frame. But I could walk only very slowly. (Fortunately although bruised it cleared up quite quickly.)
For part of the course we were working with the Wood Green dogs. But I just went to the kennels the first time. The Kennels were all colour coded and we worked only with the green dogs. There was one Akita in a blue kennel -- that meant that special restrictions applied -- and Kayce worked with that dog herself. It growled whenever she went up to the bars. She showed us what to do and within ten minutes she was able to go right up to the kennel and it accepted her. Very impressive.
It was on the afternoon of the second day that they went down to the kennels again but I stayed in the barn and Kayce did too. That was when she took Rooskie and did Heelwork with him. (The course was held in a large barn next to the restaurant. I had to get one of the trainers to look after Rooskie when I went into the restaurant. But I was also able to use the toilet in the dog reception area where I could take Rooskie).
I mean to practise with Rooskie and I hope I get the chance to go to another Kayce Cover course.
The Paws and Music HTM Event at the end of the month
At the end of the month was the Paws and Music two day Heelwork to Music Event. The first day was a competition held under KC rules. The second day -- there were Progress Awards in the morning and a Tea Dance or Fun Day in the afternoon.
I was worried that I might not be able to go. My leg got better slowly and then I had some back pasin. Fortunately it did not last long and I improved enough to go to the Event. I made it easy for myself. On the Thursday I got a taxi to Carlisle and got the train just after two direct to Coventry. Then I had a lazy day in the Ibis on Friday. Also Sunday was an easy day because I was not doing a Progress Award and did not have to be there until lunch time.
Saturday I was in Starters Freestyle. I arrived before the Event had started and so was able to let Rooskie get the feel of the ring. This time it was carpeted. I walked Rooskie round with the lead trailing and tried the de-de-de and I was pleased with Rooskie's reaction. Then the Event started. I walked Rooskie around outside. I also practised in a little corner of the hall. But not much.
I was doing Tunnel of Love and High Hopes. Earlier I had asked permission for a not-for-competition round. I asked for two chairs to keep the Argos Tunnel from rolling around. I started with Rooskie (re)versing around me. Then onto the tunnel pasrt of the routine. I sent Rooskie throughn the tunnel and then back to me and round me and away to the far side of the tunnel and back through it to me again. Then a sequence of leg weaving through the tunnel. Then round the ring and up on his hind legs at the High Hopes part. The spectators liked it. As well as clapping they also cheered. Afterwards many people came and told me how ell we had done.
At the end I was actually awarded a judges' special.
Sunday. I arrived just as the Progress Awards were finishing. I had a quick practice in the corner over the little jump. With ther light cord trailing. Rooskie ran off at first but came back to me when I went de-de-de. Then into the ring for a short time -- again with lead trailing.
I was doing two mini routines. Target Trotters to Wooden Heart and Ballroom Dance to Tulips from Amsterdam. Wooden Heart I did my jump routine. I had a short silver ribbon on his collar. Just a fraction too long for KC rules. I took off the lead and worked him just with the silver ribbon. He went over the jump and then ran off but came back to me when I went de-de-de. Then he did the rest of the routine no bother. He was not at his best because it was a very warm day -- much warmer than the Saturday -- and Rooskie has a bvery thick coat for his breed. Tulips from Amsterdam. This was supposed to be a waltz. I left the silver ribbon on. I also started off with a long light cord through the split ring on his collar. I got him started and got his attention then I pulled the cord through and got it in my hand and Rooskie was working off lead. I did a series of circles and a sequence of leg weaving where he went through my legs and I stepped away and he went through my legs again -- meaning that part of the time I could not see him. I was still not quite steady on my feet and I stumbled along but it felt great to have him working off lead at last. And I was going de-de-de all the time.
Afterwards I was told that he never looked like running off.
After all three routines -- the one on the Saturday and the two on the Sunday -- I said Jackpot and hurried him off and gave him a whole tin of gourmet cat food in his metal dish.
But for future reference, my jump made from wire baskets is too cumbersome and I am thinking of investing in Kay Laurence's cavaletti.
A terrific Event. Apart from Rooskie doing so well it was good meeting up with old friends again.
Summary
A lot of catching up to do. Unpacking after the PNM Event. Filling in entry forms for future Events. Also HNS work. Sleuth-Hounds Very real progress with the final revision. Southerness. A fortnight in the chalet at the end of the month -- three weeks counting the first week of August. Work on both Sleuth-Hounds and also on my talk for the Moffat Society. Rooskie. Progress with his training. Also walks on Southerness beach and golf course.
I managed to get down to Southerness the last fortnight. (It was actually three weeeks because I stayed into the first week of August). I made a determined effort to finish the final revision of Sleuth-Hounds. I finished the actual story and moved on to The Facts behind the Story. I organised my photographs for it. I found I needed more -- both for Sleuth-Hounds and also for my talk for the Moffat Society. With some difficulty I managed to take them at Southerness. (See below). And then I decided that I had better put the photographs in a special file for the printer.
There was the question of the last map. My designer sent it back to me -- by e-mail -- but it still was not quite right. I do not have a scanner at Southerness but I had the old map I had photocopied at the Library on my hard disc and I cropped it and sent the designer two jpegs. This let him see what was wanted and he sent me back another which was much better. Unfortunately the Bridgend was not in exactly the right place. But he should soon be able to put that right.
Then I went into the web site of Antony Rowe again. It did look rather daunting. Especially all the stuff about pdf etc. But I phoned them up and was assured that they could convert a pdf file. Also that I did not need to download a submissions form. Just send them all the material and they would take it from there.
So things seem to be moving at last.
It is getting near the time for my talk on the Solway Firth and the American War of Independence to the Moffat Society. I managed to get extra photographs and then I organised them in a file.
I got down to Southerness for the last fortnight of the month.
Garden. I found that the gravel chips were fine with no weeds. Of course I had asked that the grass be left. The result. The grass stops the weeds from growing and the membrane and the gravel stops the grass from growing -- although it would soon come again if the chips were removed. But there were some rank grasses and weeds growing through the membrane and birch bark -- although I was able to pull them up. (This was in the border and in the patch in front of the patio).
Photographs. I needed extra photographs of the Mersehead Sands both for Sleuth-Hounds and also for my talk to the Moffat Society. One afternoon I got down to the old lime kiln and took some photos from the top of it. They were useful but I still needed something from another angle. And preferably in the morning light. So I got up very early onre morning and got some photos of the vast expanse of the sands with the Sandyhills cliffs in the distance. For the Moffat Society talk I also took some of the Oswald Crescent street sign etc.
When I organised The Facts behind the Story section I left in the photo of Moff on the Mersehead Sands at the end of that part. I called it Fun on the Sands and it just completed the Mersehead section.
Rooskie. Walks on the golf course and beach. Also training.
Rooskie
The session in the Training Barn at he beginning of the month.
A very hot day. And Rooskie has a very thick coat for a Papillon. But at least we were indoors.
There were various things I wanted to try with him. I tried to get him settled and then tried the first routine -- HTM to Summer Holiday. (This is not one of his main routines but it will give him practice in the ring). He ran off. I told Lynn to stop the music and started again. I walked him round more and went de-de-de and used the light cord and pulled it through when I thought I had his attention. (Lynn later expressed reservations about the cord). I got him settled and he did quite a good routine.
Then I tried the Halloween routine to Trick or Treat. Again he ran off but again I told Lynn to stop the music and started again and I got him to settle and he worked quite well. Lynn made suggestions about the routine and we decided to try having the chair with the black material with the silver stars and moons in the centre of the room. Rooskie will go round it and through it and then I will heel him to one corner and get him to do his backspins. Then back to the chair. And then heel him to a different corner of the room and again backspins. Also I have a skull on a stick as a target stick and Rooskie circles round it. And jumps over it. Also Highs, spins, bows, leg weaves and paw work.
Props. For the jump, instead of using the cavaletti I used the beach pails with a target stick. I may cover the pails with black bin bag plastic or I may be able to use the skull masks. I later decided to miss this out.
I also did the new Blackpool Belle routine where I start off working Rooskie from a chair. Lynn did not think it particularly difficult and she thought Trick or Treat was better.
One problem. Rooskie had gone off his verses round me or round the chair. But he was doing his verses in front -- his backspins -- beautifully. At least Lynn got that sorted out. To verse around he has got to be in the corret position. But I do not need another command for his backspin. Just use verse when there is nothing for him to verse around. That makes things much simpler.
I went home and tried it again. And he versed around the chair beautifully. I shall just have to practise it again until he gets his confidence back.
I also decided that I needed a new hand signal for the Verse and I ended up with a sweeping backwards movement of my left hand -- which meant much more to Rooskie.
Lynn also told me I was not bridging properly. I was not using X enough.
On the whole Rooskie worked very well. The only problem was that he was unsettled at the start. But once I got him to settle he worked very well. He was slow and he lacked his usual verve but that was probably because it was so very hot. But I was concerned about him running off at the start. If he had done that at an Event I would have lost him.
I worked him at home in the front drive and got the hand signal for the Verse worked out. I also worked out a new move in the front room. I had been trying for some time to get him to come in front of me and go back through my legs and back to the heel or side position. I eventually got him to do this. Then I managed to turn this into a weave. I would send him back through my legs and to my left side. Then I would bring him forward and back again but this time to my right side. And repeated this gave a weave sequence. And -- with my bad balance -- it was easier for me than the more conventional backwards weaving.
And then I got him to do a kind of extended backwards weave through my legs using cones.
I continued work on the extended backwards weave in the sun lounge using cones. Then I got him to do it using a chair.
The only problem here was getting started. Some confusion. Eventually I would get him to Turn (like a spin unfortunately) and keep my hand at his nose and gently push him backwards when he was in the correct position.
I did not work him for any length of time. I would just do a few weaves at a time. But I did them frequently and he kept his enthusiasm.
I took him on the golf course in the late evening and tried him out as if he was in the ring with a series of half routines. I would start him off by getting his attention and pulling the cord through and go into a routine always remembering de-de-de. He still ran off a little but he was certainly much better. And he was also better at coming back to me. I would do this only twice in an evening walk.
I also worked out my Trick or Treat routine. I also worked out another routine to The Happy Wanderer.
Past Mistakes. I had made some bad mistakes in the past. I had been told that he should be able to work anywhere. With the result that I tried all over the place. I had tried on Southerness beach one hot summer. And he would run off. I tried and tried and made things worse. And then I found that there were distractions like barbeque debris -- and on the caravan site -- the bit just above the path to the beach -- there were sheep droppings etc.
Eventually I learned not to let him off the lead where the distractions were too strong. I was told this both by some HTM people and also at the Bridge and Target course.
Then once this time when I was down at Southerness I was going to just walk him to the end of the caravan site so I did not take any titbits. But once I was out I changed my mind and decided to go down on the beach after all. It was a dull day and the beach was quiet. I kept Rooskie on the lead until I got to the part beyond the caravan site. I walked along beside the reeds and decided to let him off the lead. (I kept one lead trailing).
He did not run off. He just ran about investigating and kept coming back to me. I turned and walked back and when I got to the caravan site part of the beach I still let him run free. When he was too far away I called him and he came back to me at once -- although I did not have any titbits. It saeemed as if he was quite content to work for Praise. Then people with dogs started to appear and I put Rooskie back on the lead again.
And I had learned a great deal. When off the lead Rooskie should always be like that. And if he is not then put him back on the lead at once.
Another time. He was up on grass above beach and I wanted to put the lead on prior to going home. I called Touch but he paid no attention and went on sniffing. Then I went de-de-de and he turned at once and bounded towards me.
Summary
Progress with Sleuth-Hounds. An important three day HTM Event with Rooskie at the end of the month.
Finally finished the revision. Made enquiries about when Antony Rowe could go ahead with setting it up electronically. Got some idea of time schedule and started thinking of filling in form for ISBN number.
Spent the first week of the month in the chalet and wished it could have been much longer as I needed more time to relax. It was while I was at Southerness that I finished the revision of Sleuth-Hounds.
I also took more photographs for the presentation for my talk for the Clan Moffat Society. Photographs of the Lighthouse and the cottages, of the old lime kiln and of the flooded mine shaft. Also of the Mersehead Sands. Also relaxing walks with Rooskie and some training.
Then I had to go back to Dumfries to get ready for my talk for the Clan Moffat Symposium. My talk was on The Solway Firth and the American War of Independence.
There was a digital projector and I had a large number of photographs. I started by setting the scene with maps showing the position of the Solway. And then close-ups showing the position of Southerness and Arbigland etc. Then pictures of Southerness and the beaches. Then I showed the street sign saying Oswald Crescent. And this took me directly on to Richard Oswald who could be said to have founded Southerness and who also was an agent for the British Government at the negotiations for the Treaty of Paris which came at the end of the American War of Independence. Then I showed the Lighthouse and the old cottages which Richard Oswald built. And then his limekiln and the mine shaft which is now flooded.
Then back to the map and on to Arbigland and James Craik, a natural son of William Craik of Arbigland. James became personal physician to George Washington.
Finally another picture of Gillfoot Bay where I pointed out where the John Paul Jones birthplace cottage is. Then pictures of the Paul Jones cave and a little about his childhood. Then more maps. References to the murder charge and his arrest and stay in Kirkcudbright Jail. Then the voyage of the Ranger. The raid on Whitehaven and St Mary's Isle. I ended by showing the pictures I had scanned from the brochure of the birthplace cottage museum. Finally a photograph of the Paul Jones Hotel Southernees and right at the end Criffel.
The Americans in the audience seemed the most interested. Aftewards some of them came and told me how much they had enjoyed the talk. One lady told me she had visited his grave last year.
The Symposium was on the Saturday. I did not go to the Clan gathering on the Sunday. Instead I went to Glencaple for another training session with Lynn. Rooskie was not at his best. There was a very strong scent at one end of the training barn and Rooskie kept going to it. So we decided to keep the short cord on. I eventually got him to settle and work.
At the end of the month -- the August bank holiday -- Rooskie had a three day Event at Stoneleigh Park. It was part of the Town and Country Fair.
I was able to stay at my favourite hotel -- the Ibis Coventry South. I had an early start for each of the three days. The Town and Country Fair was huge -- and rather overwhelming. The first day I got lost and ended up at the main gate but I got to the HTM barn in good time. The second day I found the proper HTM entrance at Gate 5.
The HTM was held in a large cattle barn which was shared with the Young Kennel Club. There was plenty of room for crates and for warming up. The ring was carpeted -- which suited Rooskie.
Before the Event Rooskie had gone off some of his best exercises -- particularly backing through my legs.
The Saturday. I was doing Freestyle to The Tunnel of Love. And this time I was going to do it without the lead. I was very, very nervous. Before going into the ring I put Rooskie's dish and a can of the gourmet cat food on the floor at the entrance and showed it to Rooskie. Hoping he would realise that it was his jackpot which he would get if he did a good round.Then into the ring. The Show organiser went into the ring with me. I took off the lead and gave it to her. Then I said Ready to the judges and just started at once. Rooskie did not do what he was really meant to do. He did not do his leg weaving through the Tunnel. But he did go through it all right. Then he made off -- but he came back when I called him. I sent him through the tunnel a few times and then started to move round the ring. Rooskie did not do all I told him to but he stayed with me. Sometimes he went through the tunnel of his own accord. He finished with his back spins. When the round was finished he got excited and pranced about a bit before I could get the lead on.
His marks were a fantastic 14.49. Later a judge said that my face was a picture when he finished his round and that he really loved his tunnel.
The Sunday. Here I was entered in Heelwork to Music. The difficult one as there were no props. We were doing it to Summer Holiday. Right from the start Rooskie was more settled. I did ordinary heelwork and kept stepping backwards and calling him to me. In between times Rooskie did Verses and Highs. The I made him Sit and walked round him in a circle. And he also circled round me. He finished with his backspins. The round went well and Rooskie scored a fabulous 17.17. Everyone was very supportive and said it was the best they had seen him and how much he had improved.
The Monday. Lynn -- who had been judging the advanced classes -- had said that he had done well so far but that he would be getting tired and I was not to worry if he did not do very well on the Monday. Actually I was only worried about one thing. If he were to run out I would feel that I was back to square one.
This was to be my Halloween routine to Trick or Treat. Into the ring. I started by trying to get him to do his backwards leg weaving. He refused and ran off but came back to me the moment I called him. I was remembering de-de-de. I at once abandoned the leg weaving and moved onto the chair which was covered with the star material. Rooskie was meant to go away and back through it. Instead he went round and round it. I should have just accepterd this but instead I made the mistake of trying to get him to come back through it -- which he did eventually. And he also versed right round it -- which looked good. Then I heard the music and decided I had better start moving round the ring. And my mind rather went blank and I forgot what to do. Then I heard the orchestral bit of the music and moved quickly to the basket which was covered to look like a pumpkin. I drew back the cover and Rooskie ended the routine by jumping into it.
Despite all our mistakes we scored 14.6
I was delighted that Rooskie had stayed with me while off the lead. But I was a little worried that he was still running off at the beginning -- although he was now coming back to me when I called him. But it was still nerve wracking.
Also Trick and Treat had not worked out very well and I was thinking of how best to redraft the routine.
Lynn told me not to take any chances. When working him at a Fun Day when there might be food on the floor I was to put him back on the short cord.
I was completely drained and exhausted after the Event. Emotional and physical pressure. I am going to be under pressure until I can be sure of him not running off at the start. I need to find a core of exercises at which he is rock solid and use them for the start.
There was a terrific atmosphere at the Event and all the competitors were very friendly and supportive. I caught up with old friends and made some new ones. Also it was really good Lynn and Evie being there judging. It was super having them around.
And the judges knew me well and told me how well I had done. (Of course some of them remembered the times Rooskie had made the PNM Progress aweards look like something out of Tom and Jerry.)
Summary
A very eventful month. Progress with Sleuth-Hounds. Rooskie went to a big HTM Event and did very well. I managed a few days down at Southerness. And Rooskie received an invitation to take part in a concert.
I posted my application form for an ISBN number. And I received my ISBN numbers complete with my log book.
I also received the art work for the cover from my designer. Both a hard copy and a CD disc.
Then at the end of the month I parcelled everything up and sent it to the printer. At last! It was a good job I recently got a new mono laser printer as it printed out all the 400 pages quite quickly. IOt would have taken ages with the old one.
It is going to be using the new technology of Print on Demand and I have sent them the printers so that they can set the book up electronically.
And when this is done books will be able to be literally printed off and bound in a matter of minutes. So no problems about print runs and warehousing.
Sleuth-Hounds is going to the leading digital short run printer in the country.
The Mid Steeple
An important section of the book is called The Facts behind the Story. This is important as I hope to market myself as a fun way to learn history.
In this section I have notes and photographs about the Mid Steeple. No sooner had I sent the parcel away than I saw in the local paper thast the Mid Steeple had been condemned as dangerous. It was feared that the Steeple could come crashing down on someone's head. The Mid Steeple was fenced off -- and so was part of the town centre. This meant that some shops had to be closed and it will cost ther town council millions in compensation.
Of course work had been proceeding on the Steeple before this. But it had not been realised just how bad the problem was or just how much the building had been neglected.
The trouble is that I have photographs of Tthe Mid Steeple in Sleuth-Hounds. And now I do not know what the Steeple will look like in a few months time. The building is a focal point of the centre of Dumfries and it is a tourist attraction. And surely the stone tower will be all right? Surely whatever happens the tower will remain. And they might be able to replace the actual Steeple.
Even so I wonder if I should add a note about this restoration to the Sleuth-Hounds file before it is too late. Or whather I should just leave it and wait and see what happens.
I only managed down for a couple of days. But it let me check the chalet. And I did a little training with Rooskie on the golf course.
Props
I also paid a visit to the craft shop in Southerness -- Island Crafts. The son of the owner of one of the caravan sites at Southerness married a girl from the Phillipines. He goes back there every year and brings back craft work.
I was thinking of a routine based on the Pacific Islands. I searched Amazon.com and found some good tunes such as Coconut Island -- fast and cheery and good for Rooskie -- and Hilo March. Also Aloha which is slower but a lovely tune and could be used for part of the routine. I also found the Hula Hoop Song.
In the craft shop I bought some coconut bird feeders. If I put them in two lines Rooskie will be able to do his backwards weave through them. I also bought some collapsible lanterns which I shall be able to hang from my trolley and Rooskie will be able to circle around it. I also bought a pair of maracas. Rooskie will be able to touch one with his paw and also jump over it. I also bought a small woven fan.
And I shall be able to buy a Hawaian shirt in the fancy dress shop in Carlisle.
Later when I started thinking of the Hula Hoop Song I decided that I would be better with some small size hula hoops. I triesd Woolworths but they had sent back all their hula hoops for the summer. But an assistant told me that they had them in the fishing and fancy shop in the Vennel -- and I got half a dozen small size hoops a couple of days later.
For these routines --because I have two or three planned -- I shall have authentic props and authentic tunes.
Routine Planning (See also Southerness above).
After Stoneleigh I started to plan how I could redraft Trick and Treat. I decided to scrap the chair. Instead I would use the props I bought in the York Dungeon gift shop. I would get Rooskie to do figure of eights round the skulls.
I found that he seemed to like the big furry spider. I would get him to do big circles around it and also Verses.
Also Rooskie bowing while I moved in a circle around him. Also Rooskie moving round me while I moved in the opposite direction.
Also I would do what I did in Summer Holiday. I would do more Heelwork. I would move round the ring and just intersperse the Heelwork with his Freestyle moves. And there were enough of them for it to be all right.
Costume
I also decided on a better costume. I went into Carlisle to the fancy dress shop and had a good look around. Eventually I got a red cloak and a witch's hat. It was slightly padded and was black with silver stars.
I also planned a South Sea Islands routine. See above under Southerness.
I made it a practise for the CFGB Event at the weekend. I used the props of the spider, the two skulls and the basket covered to look like a pumpkin. I also wore my red cloak and black and silver witch's hat.
It started badly. Rooskie tended to scamper about. Lynn said that he does not work well in the Barn.
Then we practised Starts. Eventually I decided that the Verse will make a good start. I made him Sit and walked round him. And then I stopped and made him Verse around me. Then Lynn said to get him to do something else -- like jumping over the skull on the stick -- before going into Heelwork.
Eventually -- right at the end of the session -- he did a really good round.
I also learned that it took me ages to assemble all my props etc. I might miss out the two skulls.
On the KC day I was entered in Starters Freestyle. I was doing Trick or Treat. I was nervous but not as bad as at Stoneleigh. But Rooskie did not run off he stayed with me. At the end the ring steward carried him off in his basket/pumpkin.
Rooskie's routine was very well received and everyone was very supportive. Someone said the routine was "entertaining."
Rooskie's marks were 16.8.
I wore my new red cloak and black and silver witch's hat. There was a photographer at the Event and he took some photographs of us in the ring. One in particular was very good. I am standing in front of Rooskie in my cloak and hat and Rooskie is standing up on his hind legs.
At the end of the day we were presented with the Popular Choice Peggie Allen Memorial Trophy. This was unexpected, rather emotional and touching.
As well as working Rooskie I also helped at the end. I wrote the reports. for Intermediate and Advanced Freestyle. Rooskie was in a cage behind me.
The next day was a Fun Day. I did Tunnel of Love and Blackpool Belle. I decided to work with the lead trailing and it was a good job I did. Rooskie was trying to find food on the floor and I had to pick up the lead and work him on the lead normally.
Once again there was a very friendly atmosphere at the Event.
Rooskie I think I am getting somewhere at last. I have worked out how to train him. With him and distraction it is mainly scent distraction. Which means that I do not know if there are distractions in the training area. I have now started this. I clip on a fairly heavy lead. Then I clip on a lighter lead and leave it trailing. I then go to the training area and let Rooskie see me taking off the heavy lead. That is important as, when the trouble started, Rooskie would run off the minute the lead was taken off. But this way he realizes he still has to work even when the lead is taken off.
I then work him with the light lead trailing. Important. The lead is just for security and emergencies. I try not to use it. If I did he would just learn to work with a lead trailing.
If he works well with the lead trailing and is attentive I reward him and then take the lead off and work him without it. But if he is distracted and runs off and I have to struggle to keep his attention then I keep the light lead on. And if the distractions are too much then I just give up and call it a day.
I finally worked it out. I cut down a lead and tied a knot at the end. I measured the cut-down lead. It was 20 inches. This was long enough to grab if he ran off and short enough to enable me to do leg weaving with no problems.
And the weight of the lead meant that it worked better than the light cord.
I cancelled the Event at Poole. I was reluctant to do this but I had far too much to do. But because of this I was able to go to the small dog class on Thursday. I saw a notice hanging up and I read it. It said that there was going to be a concert featuring the groups which use the Locharbriggs Community Centre.
I went home and phoned the man in charge of the Locharbriggs Community Centr. I explained that I was one of the members of the dog training class and volunteered Rooskie. I was told that there was going to be a committee meeting on Tuesday. I wrote a letter and included some of Rooskie's HTM photographs and sent it off. Later I received a phone call saying that the committee were quite excited about Rooskie and I would be hearing more about the arrangements in due course.
So something to work for.
I plan to do my Halloween routine to Trick or Treat and also a Scottish waltz to The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen.
Props
I went into the Heathhall Garden Centre and bought a birds' nesting box in the shape of a lighthouse for The Northen Lights of Old Aberdeen. It is made of wood but it is not too heavy and it should travel in my luggage to Events all right.
Summary
A quiet month for Sleuth-Hounds. It was at the printer's and so it was just a case of waiting. Attended a choreography course. Had a fortnight at Southerness. Very real progress with Rooskie's training. Also routine planning.