26.......... Mac is back!

The SADAA Boland Regional Trials weekend kicked off really well. I had opted to enter Snooker only on the first day, (there are less obstacles of choice than in Gamblers), and he clinched his 3^rd Grade 2 qualification to put us into Grade 3.

It felt just wonderful!

The next day he clinched 4 clear rounds, earning a bronze medal for one of them too. The third and last day, he was still rearing to go, but my memory genes were playing up and forgetting how I had walked some courses, handled really badly. Clearly I should have been putting myself though some sort of “handling rehab” at the same time he was going through physical rehab. His contacts are right back to slow mode again so I need to build up his confidence on those again – but he never missed a single one. His speed is definitely slower than pre-op but I should be able to push him in the new year.

My Agility Academy partners were wonderfully supportive with my revised “competing regime”. Ten minutes warm-up walk and then another ten minute walk to cool him down after he has jumped. This should be routine pre-jumping behaviour for all competitive handlers, but so few of us do it. All this walking took its toll on me and I was exhausted by the end of the weekend. It was especially difficult when I was first on line and had to ask someone else to warm him up – I was so distracted worrying that he had not been warmed up enough that I forgot the course and earned a spectacular DQ.

Cherry on the top? – no sign of any stiffness and no limping!

The following week included a follow up visit to Dawn Jones – she confirmed that everything was still in place, that he looked great and with a huge pat on the back - signed us off!

We also went to Rene for hydrotherapy who took his swimming session into her outdoor pool so that I could transfer it to any other swimming pool. They had him swimming by himself within 10 minutes and we cancelled all future appointments. (A kind neighbour has offered us the use of his pool and it is now his favourite past time).

2013 will be a real New Year for us. I still watch him carefully, too carefully, and worry constantly. I am going to have to step up the Becalms (my homeopathic Valium), concentrate more and be selective in what I enter.

Welcome back my Boy!

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

25.......... preparation

Holiday most disappointing. Weather was not great, there was no sun to sit in and being confined to floating on water is not my idea of fun. Devoured a few books that were lying around and even jogged alongside the barge a few times - but what’s the point if you don’t have a dog with you!

Being with close friends was the only plus in my diary and it was so good to be back home again!

Both my professional house-sitter as well as my daughter and family were good at sticking to the rules; both dogs and the cat were well and Mac never picked up an ounce of weight.

We picked up training back on mini height and a week later put them up to midi height. Striding slightly off in his weaves and knocking the odd bar on turns means he is definitely trying to accommodate the difference in the feeling in his knee. Hydrotherapy is now only every 10 days and his walks are longer and more varied to include different surfaces and even steps. (Boring - would love to get back to the beach but one of us is too nervous?!)

We spend a longer time on midi height and eventually progress to maxi height jumping - limited to straight lines with tunnels, weaves, see saw and dog walk. (A-frame delayed until further notice).

We progress eventually into Marlize’s classes to test him (and me) on sequences. Marked improvement in his weave pole striding and his Back On Track is becoming my own “blankie”. His tight turns are still causing the odd bar to drop but he seems to be coping better than me. I’m continually watching him and not running smoothly. Not to mention that it’s been a while since I followed numbers!

6 months post-op and a long anticipated visit to Dawn Jones confirms we can enter SADAA Boland Regionals at the end of this month. I now have to relax and work really hard on not being a nervous wreck by continually watching his striding, but at the same time let him be my guide as to what he can/can’t do - I already know what he wants to do. I also have to make sure that I warm him up really well and then cool him down too - something many handlers are careless about.

It’s going to be an interesting weekend so watch this space for news of that.

Those that have seen him at training are amazed and very glad that Mac is back!!

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

24.......... back in training

“All clear” and “go for it”, says the surgeon, 3 months post-op.

Clearly this leaves unrealistic opportunities to do too much and restraint is definitely the name of the game.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Two weeks of performing ‘tiny’ height dog jumps could now at least progress to ‘toy’ height and we have now moved up to ‘mini’ height with the odd tunnel, curved, of course, to ensure he uses his weak leg more than the undamaged one. Weaves poles is back on the list too but they are minimal and channelled. And steps, more up than down - need to work out a plan for him to do these on his own - this is exhausting! It feels like it’s been ages but he has forgotten nothing – his “left” and “right” is still instant and works if I say it at the correct instant, his start light is still sold and he still responds with eagerness. This Boy is just so excited to be back at the club again!

Interspersed with training he still goes swimming every 10 days and joins me at the chiro every third week. His weight is still a concern and now that he’s on JD Light hopefully starts dropping; need to get an entire kilogram off him. Walking 2 km to the vet once a week for a weigh-in is an option and he’s doing the entire trip (bar crossing two Main Roads), off lead!

His “in-house” behaviour has progressed to unbelievable limits (he isn’t scared of the clothes horse and is no longer banished to the study at night but sleeps in the bedroom.

With all this exciting focus on getting Mac into ‘action’, I am forced to take a 2 week break to go on an overseas holiday. I am leaving both my wonderful dogs and an irritating-can’t-live-without-it cat, with an unknown house sitter for the first week and my almost 4-year old twin grandsons and family are moving in for the second week. My ‘house sitting journal’ is detailed and probably extreme and the twins have been rehearsed in looking after the dogs.

How am I going to relax chilling in the sun while floating down a river in France on a barge with my husband and 6 close friends? Will definitely have to chance having the odd glass of wine to dilute the stress!

I pray he doesn’t regress or that he seizes the opportunity to chase a car!

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

23.......... a normal dog

A stormy day almost exactly one year ago, Mac “shut down” on both courses so badly, it would have been futile to try and keep him moving. The wind was lashing ropes against flag poles and the trains were noisy going past the competing grounds. I was asked by a well-meaning handler if Mac would ever be "a normal dog”.

What exactly is 'a normal’ dog?

·         normal dogs bite

·         normal dogs have no standards as to appropriate elimination sites with the exception of “where I sleep is out of bounds”

·         normal dogs do not come when called if something more interesting is going on

·         normal dogs default to responding to new stimuli in their environment fearfully.

Fear is a survival adaptation and keeps a dog safe.

·         normal dogs chew, dissect, and destroy things

·         normal dogs resource guard

·         normal dogs bark and growl

·         normal dogs dig holes

·         normal dogs hump legs

·         normal dogs vocalize when left alone

·         normal dogs chase squirrels, deer, and cats

·         normal dogs kill small animals

·         normal dogs pull on the leash

·         normal dogs often like to run around as fast as they can, even if they knock over small children or grandma in the process

·         normal dogs lift their legs and pee on trees, even when we bring those trees into our houses and put lights and ornaments all over them

·         normal dogs like to sniff EVERYTHING – crotches (human and canine), fire hydrants, trees,  bushes, gopher holes

·          normal dogs eat poop

·          normal dogs tear up the garbage, counter surf, and eat expensive panties or heels

·          normal dogs roll in poop and dead things

·          normal dogs do not like every dog they meet

•   normal dogs do not want to be hugged, kissed, touched, or stared at by every person they            meet in every situation
•  normal dogs don’t like having their nails trimmed, mats removed from their coat, or grooming
•  normal dogs don’t naturally love being crated

         (http://blogs.dogster.com/dog-training/the-myth-of-normal-dogs/2010/11/)

I’m mad about Mac, my "not so normal" dog!

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

22.......... 3 months post op

Just over 3 months and it feels like forever.

This poor Boy is even getting used to all the hands on attention!

Up until a month ago he was been visited weekly by Dawn Jones. This has now been reduced to once a month to make time for swimming at Rene Baard’s Pet Hydrotherapy Unit. Initial lessons were focused on getting him familiar with everything happening at the facility; the harness, the spa, the ramp, the pool, the attention and encouragement. These are weekly sessions and he now leaves the ramp in the pool independently, to swim to get the ball. Amazing things tennis ball. (Previously reluctant to shake himself, he now does it spontaneously without scaring himself). And he's mad about Arlene, Renee's assistant.

                                             

I thought I would be able to use my ladder to do his walking cavelettis, but its metal so that idea was a bad idea. Tried to do them at the club but not being able to play with all the familiar faces made him bounce up and down.

Back home his “other issues” are becoming easier for him to accept. Being confined for all this time he now stands still when we pass him in the passage and will even carry on eating. He spends less time hiding in the study and more time with us in the lounge. This gave me the chance to teach him to “nose touch” and to “talk”. And even though he almost never barks, Charlie is still not happy to hear him bark on command. He is allowed to play “catch” at a standstill and together with an improvement in his eye-ball co-ordination; he now also puts the ball onto the couch. He’s also allowed to tug and is becoming less threatened when I pull harder than usual.

From 10 minute “slow pace” walks, we were given the go ahead to start “trotting” for 30 second intervals within a 20 minute walk and to gradually increase this. Permission was granted to take him out on to different surfaces to get him to distribute his weight evenly on all 4 legs. So, at last, we are out and about and back to some of his old locations. He trots on command and slows down to “walk”. We are up to 4 x 2 minute trots within a 30 minute walk!

(This, unfortunately, means that for the first time ever, I have to leave Emma on her own as she just can’t keep up. Tied to whatever, she seems content enough to watch Mac and me jogging up and down for no apparent reason.

At times all the rehab, the exercises, the timing, the discipline, the isolation, feels never ending and there are days when I really wonder why I need to get out of bed - not being a fan of Winter and still being involved in dog-agility-dom, adds to my occasional misery.

But that all changes now that his surgeon confirmed at Mac’s 3 month post op check that it’s OK TO START TRAINING!!!!

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

21.......... close!

I’ve never been able to train Mac according to any instruction manual - habit has just become behaviour.

Mac knew exactly how long my arm was. He was always too nervous to come into my space and for his first 2 years with me, if I needed to do anything with him, I had to go into his. He would respond to his “let’s go” recall immediately but stop almost 2 metres away from me. I would then have to advance into his space and collect him. This was even the case getting to the start line. He would wait outside the ring and I would have to carry him to his measured distance before the first jump.

Because of the gap he was creating, treating him was difficult. He would stretch himself as much as possible and sniff suspiciously before accepting any. This made working with them as a reward too slow and therefore unproductive.  If he was under the slightest stress, he wouldn’t even look at a treat. I remember clearly how exited I was when he took a step towards me to accept a piece of chicken. I couldn’t let out a big yay; but he got his first “close”.

He loved retrieving but would drop whatever (obvious articles only) I had thrown and drop it a few feet away from me. Close started helping here, inch by inch.

Tugging was a definite no-no. If he picked up a tug toy and I grabbed the other end, the slightest pull would make him release it. Pressure on the other end obviously meant he wasn’t supposed to have it in his mouth.

Feeling the need to alter this “my space v his space” issue, I started revving him up so that he would jump up on me. To most other handlers this would have been against the ‘etiquette rules’ but it was all I could think of. The first time he jumped on my legs I think he got a bigger fright than me. Just touching me by choice was new to him. All he got from me was a yay! Good Boy! Again and again and again. It started paying off after a few weeks until a year later he was doing it to people he knew well, Lindsay, Chantal, Marlize, Annaret, Linda and Megan were his favourites and lucky for us they all understood and for the most part allowed it and praised him for it. That’s true support! Thank you girls.

This advance in his behaviour prompted me to teach him a few “dance moves”.

I started off with getting him to weave through my legs. With the aid of a tennis ball, this was an instant hit as he loved weaving and he loved tennis balls. He weaved while I walked, he weaved while I stood still, and he weaved for a warm up exercise and when I needed to relax him on the start line. I then introduced his left and right commands with the weaving and in a short while we had a little weave routine going.

“close” is something he now understands and albeit it sometimes a creep, he does come right up to me.

Now, how about we work on something even closer?  - "touch" or even “kiss” would be good!

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

20.......... on the home front

Progress on the home front was a lot slower. He appeared to be more relaxed outside when he was busy/occupied either while doing agility or playing with other dogs, but indoors ...............

A doorway was still a source of fear for him and was a problem for us as the 2 outside doors were on large hooks to enable dogs to go in and out at will without us having to get up each time they needed to go outside. He was convinced the doors were “out to get him” and would just stand there.

This presented yet another issue - Mac is the quietest dog ever! We don’t hear him on the laminated flooring and he would be standing waiting for a while before we noticed that he wanted to go outside. We just stopped getting up to open the doors and he eventually snuck though the gap. This was a huge step for him and was great to see after more than a year of living with us.

He almost never barks and gave us quite a scare when he eventually did - he was already 2 years old! He still only barks watching other dogs doing agility, or to coax another dog to play with him, but almost never in the house. What a pleasure!

He still spent all of his “home time” under my desk. I would have to call him outside to train or just to get some fresh air. I really wanted him to sit with me while I worked in the garden, but as soon as my attention was diverted, he would creep back inside again. I remember sending Lindsay a sms to let her know that Mac had ventured outside on his own accord and was lying down next to me. A beautiful moment and one that I could not acknowledge - a loud ‘‘yay!” would have sent him flying back inside.

Thanx to all the interaction he was getting with agility handlers, he was starting to warm to people visiting. He would come when called, and creep off again. He was still uncomfortable around Charlie who, unfortunately, made a comment every time Mac scuttled like a scared rabbit when they happened to pass each other in the passage;  re-in forcing unwanted behaviour?!

House training was still messy! I did try and give him the house at night, but the slightest noise would make him nervous and he would choose the lounge (carpet) to let me know. Many mornings were unpleasant. “Time out” meant back to sleep in a closed study and rewards a few nights later would be with the door open again. It was during one of these nights that Mac crept into our bedroom and lay down on the floor at the base of the bed. This was a huge step for him as our bedroom door was kept open only with a soft door stopper. He had to have actually pushed the door open to get into the room.

This is today his ultimate security space in the house. It’s the room furthest away from activity and no one really knows he’s in there. But just the fact that he let me know I am his security is more than OK.

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

19.......... jumping the ladder

The year following our first “Q”, I continued to grab every opportunity to compete.

Travelling presented a few new challenges. He already realised that being in the car meant something good was coming, so the actual road trip was never a problem. Staying in a strange house wasn’t too bad either as long as he had “his pack” (Lindsay’s dogs) with him. Most venues were acceptable, while on course, unless an aeroplane happened to fly overhead or the judge insisted on running alongside the contacts to judge them, he started notching up the clear rounds!

His on course speed was never in question and he has reached 4,93m/second to go clear in jumping.                                                                           

                                            

The World of Cats and Dogs came to Cape Town and entering was a huge risk. An indoor venue, a ring surrounded by vendors and cheering spectators, carpeting in place of grass underfoot, and my nerves competing against competitors from all over SA. No one was more gob-smacked than me when he won the Gamblers event.

(It was at this event that he ripped his crate for the second time trying to escape. It also made me realise that he wasn’t panicking to get out but was more excited to get to the agility ring. This did, however, mean that I would have to somehow, resort to getting him used to a metal crate).

He was being noticed and recognised as a dog with possibilities in the agility ring. Slim and trim, his build was commented on as being perfect for the sport and his demeanour towards people and other dogs was exemplary.

He was really enjoying the world of agility and the “social side” was attractive too. Dylan, the cute Brittany is still his favourite and is always responsive to his attentions. Rocket, another shy Border Collie gets him all gooey and Chinzi too - only the best for this blue-eyed boy! With his ears up high, with the tips actually touching (a sign of flirting in dogs for the un-informed), Mac would prance around the girls encouraging them to return his advances or to play. Watching this trim (he was 14kg) Tri-colour behave like a puppy at this age always made me teary.

He progressed relatively quickly through the ranks and by the end of 2010 he was in the top grade for 3 out of the 5 disciplines. A year later, he was in the top grades for the final two disciplines.

Mid 2011, it was 3 years since DAY #1 and had taken him only 2 years to conquer all his “on course issues” and not be distracted by “off-course issues”.

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

18.......... Kit-Kat

Yup, there’s a cat too..........

Kit-Kat was a 21^st birthday gift to Victoria. From D.A.R.G., he was 2 weeks old when he was saved from being crayfish bait and had to hand reared. Thinking this would make a good choice for a friendly pet he turned out to be anything but. He “disappears” when we have visitors; even regular family members don’t meet him every time.

Victoria got engaged to her Marine and was whisked away left to live permanently in USA at the beginning of 2009. Kit-Kat wan't invited to go with and was left with us.

He is indoors most days and out hunting during the night. We have been woken many times by initial squeaking noises followed by crunching sounds and have to dispose of the leftovers in the morning. If he catches something during the day, he makes a point of "screaming" at us to notice.

"Screaming"? Unfortunately, a big unfortunately - I taught him to “talk”.

Easy to do and impossible to undo. Every time he meowed, I meowed back.

Today he calls us to continually give him fresh kibble. The most expensive cat food on the market (of the light variety due to him subsidising his diet with fresh meat), he refuses to eat the pellets if they are crumbly.

He "screams" at us when he wants water and only from the bath tap in the boy’s bathroom. I have to admit that initially he did have us running between both bathrooms. I eventually decided enough was enough and ignored him calling us to the far bathroom ....... he got the message!

He also stands meowing at us in front of the cat flap.
Needing to go in/out, he would prefer that we open the door that the cat flap is in rather than him have to push it open to get in/out! Unfortunately, Charlie can’t stand the noise, so gives in. And I thought I ruled this house!

He was already 4 years old when Mac arrived and loved him from the start. “WOW another non-reactive Border Collie!” This, because, true to character, Emma ignored the cat too and would just bark at him if he came too close to her. Kit-Kat even looks like one a Black and White too!

Today Kit-Kat and Mac are great buddies. They play together (actually I’ve had to stop them playing while Mac is in rehab) and the "3 Border Collies" go together every night for their "pre-bed walk"..

(And now I gotta go. Kit-Kat wants water and I can't concentrate with the background noise).

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

17.......... Let's Go!

The very first time and each and every time thereafter that I called/fetched Mac from the day he arrived home, I had said “let’s go”. (It was almost all I said to him!) This consistency became his recall and it is phenomenal! (I emphasise regularly how important a dog’s recall is). I had no idea what to expect when a rescue dog panicked and it is impressive to see him respond to "let's go!".

We have always taken advantage of living within a 10 minute walk from the beach and Emma looked forward to this as part of her Sunday routine (if there wasn’t a show). Even now that she is retired, this is something I needed to keep up and Mac, of course, had to join in. (I don’t do “single” well.)

This turned out to be really hard work. He put his head down, dug his paws into the ground and just walked! Like a person in a bad mood – he just stormed ahead! He had no idea where he was going and just pulled in the direction I had him facing. Anything or anyone on the pavement (including dustbins fixed to poles), would make him dart into the road; if a truck/bicycle/motorbike or even a noisy car went past he darted in the other direction and down the bank on the verge. (Hout Bay is not popular with immaculate sidewalks).

Once he became familiar with the route and knew where it was headed, he was in an even bigger hurry. Not the picture book Sunday strolls. This went on for too long and was just too risky so we resorted to driving down to the beach. This is the only time he “talks” in the car. The strangest guttural sound, progressing to actual barking.

Once there, he had a wonderful time. Not near the water, but space and dogs and dogs and space; and then stupidly (or not), I combined the tennis ball with the beach. (This was some time later as I waited until he was bringing it back to my path). Stupidly: he was so focused on the ball he stopped interacting with other dogs; not stupidly, he would always leave when asked to as I had the ball.

Having a reliable recall meant I could take him anywhere for a walk and off lead. He enjoyed all the new forest and mountain walks and the dogs he met along the way. He was always immediately responsive to a “let’s go”.

Today, I can call him off a squirrel - if he knew what one was, but it works with cars!

Just like every other BC owner, mine doesn’t chase cars, he herds them: he sprints (on the verge for what it is dodging rocks/poles/molehills) alongside the car for a few metres and then “barks and drops” when it gets away = herding. Thankfully only on the Estate. This ritual has been discontinued and a strong leave gets him to down and wait until it’s out of sight.

(It has been remarked that he thinks his name is “let’s go” rather than Mac as his response to "let's go" is instant!)


Mac and Me
C’est la vie

16.......... the first Q

First time out was a fun event which he won and 11 months after Mac and I met, we entered our first official competition. During the next 7 months we entered every KUSA show and SADAA Trial that was on the calendar and each one gave us yet a new issue to work though. Different venues added to the list of “what ifs ...?” or “he’ll never....”

At our very first outing, the hazard tape cordoning off the competition ring was his first demon - who would have thought; a few weeks of hazard tape flapping on my lawn sorted this out.

Umbrellas, gazebos, banners and flags, equipment, judges wearing hats, raised voices (mine included), excessive barking and, of course, the wind. (In Cape Town the wind is relentless; in Summer it’s the South Easter and the North West in Winter.) Almost anything was a possibility to make him “shut down”. This behaviour resulted in him thankfully never running off, but rather becoming totally deaf to my on course commands. Without directional commands he would just take whatever obstacle was in his path. (Weave poles, however, were a different matter. He was obsessed and once having done them on course would inevitably do them again. Handler error would give him the opportunities – too often).

I also noticed his panic at not being able to “escape” when left tied to a stake. (This was too often at shows as I have the habit of getting involved and needed to leave him for too many minutes). All he wanted was to get into the back of the car. This was not always close enough so I investigated the advantage of crating him and bought his first crate - fabric. Crate training was attempted with the clicker again - the noise just made him jump again and again. Treats maybe? - Not interested. OK so just tell him to get in his box - done deal! He was too intimidated to disobey.

It took me a while to actually “read” when I had “lost him”.

Breaking his start line was a dead giveaway. I started asking him to weave through my legs to “get him back”. Sometimes it helped but if the admin table was set up directly behind him on the start line – it left his back exposed and was just too much for him. The tennis ball was also a bonus and could almost distract him from the current demon.

Unfortunately, a judge running alongside contacts meant creeping and side stepping off the contact area. This would become an entirely separate training issue but for now I just let him “have the contact” to get his agility confidence up.

Fellow competitors and stewards (competitors themselves), were considerate and amazed at what we were accomplishing. Every new venue was a challenge to Mac, but we took that 1 step backwards to be able to move 2 forward.

There were tears of joy (from myself and fellow competitors), when after just 7 months of competing, he clinched his first Q (qualification) in Jumping. This was followed quickly the following weekend with his first Agility Q.

It was the end of 2009 and Mac was just over 2 years old.

Mac and Me

C’est la vie

15.......... training

The builders were gone and agility equipment was once again out on the lawn = new scary stuff for Mac. He wouldn’t go anywhere near even a crossbar on the ground. Light bulb moment reminded me how he ran with Border Collie Heaven’s pack after the tennis ball, so I started throwing them near to the equipment. He would stretch himself as long as possible to get the ball without making contact with the equipment but eventually picked up a ball touching a cross bar!

Over the weeks this progressed to running between 2 uprights to get the ball, then over a cross bar lying on the ground and eventually jumping over it at the lowest height, but if anything fell/touched him/made a noise - he would dash for inside.

OK – so this could take a while and the weave poles even longer so they needed to be tackled sooner than later. Using a tennis ball, I used the “old method” and thread him through just 4. Once he was doing 4 on his own, I gave him 8 then 12. Mac had found his passion. He loves the weaves and with his very own special style, was “nailing” them, on both sides, within 3 months.

February 2009

His down came from nowhere and took me completely by surprise. It is instant and the further he is away from me, the better it worked!

At the club he was no longer dashing off and enjoyed all the dogs that were willing to interact with him. (Huge sigh of relief to know that a young dog with limited history had no “issues” with other dogs). Equipment noise was still an issue and if we had to hammer in the tunnel (metal hoops) he made a bee line for the boot. Desperately wanting the tennis ball one sunny day, I got him through a straight tunnel. I had discovered his mode of motivation – tennis balls!

He was training with Lindsay in Wynberg as well as at Agility Academy. He had no idea what was expected of him and knew exactly how long my arm was. If he got confused, he would just stand still. I was unable to physically position him and had to just keep running with a ball to place him correctly for exercises. This gave me the foresight to teach him directional commands so that he was able to work away from me, his preferred method. His left and right is awesome!

I was unforgiving with his start line behaviour and within reason, it’s pretty consistent. Away from the start line his stay was pretty good too.

Contacts were trial and error and I had to make do with whatever he would give me. Once again he wouldn’t allow me to work close to him so distance training was the norm. Bonus?
The clicker must have been deafening as he was unaccepting to any treat if I tried to use it.

"Shutting down" was often and when there was “nobody home”, no happy voice, nice treats or even the tennis ball would work. I would just let him retreat to the boot to give him some “it’s OK time”.

Mac loved playing with all other dogs and chasing a tennis ball, but his blue eyes lit up most when he saw agility equipment, so as challenging as all this was for both of us, as soon as he was eligible to compete officially, I decided to begin competing just so that he could show me what else was going to attack him!

Mac and Me

C’est la vie