Since last posting, I spent four months recovering from a kidney transplant. So Asher's training was put on hold. We have slowly begun to train again, and when we got back to it, I found he had lost quite a bit of skill. This is to be expected when laying off of training with a young dog. So we spent a good amount of time rebuilding the skills to where we were before. We are still working on that, and making progress.

In short, we've taken a few steps back. But Asher has taken...

agilityk9trainer

Asher is 15 months old now, and now is technically old enough to show in AKC Agility - my main venue. However, while technically old enough, he isn't emotionally mature enough. I started Aslan at about 18 months old, and even then, I think he might have been a hair too young. But I'm hoping Asher will mature enough that sometime this Spring, we can hit the show ring.

His skills are up to par. I won't make a list because now the list is so long, I won't even begin to remember all...

agilityk9trainer

Asher is becoming quite the companion. A few stories from our weekend at the agility trial.

Asher didn't show as he's not ready, but he has to go with anyway. We stayed at a Comfort Inn this trip. He's becoming a very good hotel dog. He barked very little and was as well mannered as an overly active adolescent can be.

When unloading my luggage, I used one of those luggage trolleys they have at hotels. When it was emptied in my hotel room, I decided to take Asher with...

agilityk9trainer

Asher had his first agility Fun Run today. No pics or video. Just commentary. [IMG]http://*************.net/vb/images/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]

He got two minute runs. This was his first time on another teeter, weaves and other equipment than his own. I thought he'd balk at the different "feel" of the new teeter, which is common, but figured he'd do the weaves pretty easily. Dogs never do what you "figure." [IMG]http://*************.net/vb/images/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]...

agilityk9trainer

What a big improvement Asher's been making the last few days!! I'm getting rather excited and beginning to believe we may be trialing in agility by December when he turns 15 months.

Asher has his weave poles down. I'm thrilled!! He does 12 regularly without popping. We have to work weave entrances at odd angles, but the weaves themselves are conquered. He's moderately fast right now, and I'm hoping he will speed up a bit more with confidence. It's always a great feeling to see...

agilityk9trainer