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    Saturday, Rusch Park, a few hundred dogs and their owners out for a morning of practice and preparation.  We were there for obedience, conformation, rally, Canine Good Citizen, you name it. 

    The event is put on every year by the Doberman Pinscher Club of Sacramento, and they do a very fine job.  Lots of rings, knowledgeable match judges, good organization.  All that and a gorgeous day to boot.  Spur and I were ready for bear!

    Or something like that.

    After the April show mishaps, I am ready to get into some fine tuning. 

    With that in mind, I carted a babygate along, and set it up in front of some understanding friends.  The idea was to have Spur do go outs, running directly at a group of seated folks and their dogs.  He did it nicely - once he realized a cookie was hidden there.

    So the go outs remain an issue.  Spur will do them beautifully in a familiar setting.  Read:  a setting in which he knows a cookie is likely to be had.  My job is to build his confidence that no matter what the setting, when I point in a direction, and then tell him to "Go!" - he is very likely heading to a wonderful reward.

    This must be possible.  After all, week after week, I buy a Lotto ticket in hopes of hitting a big, or even a not-so-big win.  I've done it for years.  Hope springs eternal.

    In Spur's case, the vast majority of times, the cookie actually is there.  Hooray!  I know he is an optimist.  He is always hopeful that I am about to hand a cookie over.  The complication with the goes is that he must run away from me to get it.  At this point, for him, seeing is believing.   Getting beyond that is the challenge.

    Alas, it is not the only one.  We did an in-ring utility run-through twice, and both times he blew the second article.  In each case, he got the first article nicely, then ran out and grabbed any article at all on the second effort.  Hmmmmm.  My trainer, Mary Vogler, thinks this may be a symptom of basic stress.  Experience in the ring is the eventual cure for that.  In the meantime, I must do all I can to build his confidence.

    Finally, for whatever reason, although he is usually solid on the group exercises, on this day he chose to go down on the sit.  Rats.  This must be nipped in the bud, before it grows into a significant issue.  On Saturday, I had him do a long sit while the other dogs did their downs - he seemed to get the message.

    As did I.  The message being, our work is still cut out for us.  Spur knows all the exercises.  He has enthusiasm and drive.  But I can't fool myself.  He is far from solid.

    I recently got wind that a good friend's dog just earned his UD - after about 20 tries.  My friend is far more experienced than I, and dog training is her occupation.  The complexities and challenges involved in earning a Utility Dog title are pretty daunting.

    That is why some people call it a "Futility Dog" title. 

    Our next date in the trial ring will be May 17.  We have a lot to work on!