Kat/Riley 10/2: FC Week 5 Exam 2 and RC Lesson 12 Exam

 Great day today! 

Riley and I had a great run with the pack this morning, and Roxanne recommended I get her through her String Test while she was still a little worn out from that. We stopped for a visit with Roxanne on the way to Central Valley, and then I set up for her test!

A sweet shot Roxanne shared from today's HHPR

It took me two strings and three tries. We did some fast paced heeling with quick starts and 270 degree right-halt/ double left-halt turns, and then started the first try. All of a sudden I had a dog that halted 3 steps in front of me... not sure how I managed to condition her to do that... 🤦‍♀️

Here's what I consider our successful attempt. (I will include the first to takes-bloopers-at the end of this post.) The string slipped between the opening in the snap bolt on the leash twice but did not break. It made for a little confusion but I'm still counting it as a win. 🤣

I have noticed, the past few days, that Riley has a severe case of what I am calling the 'shifty feeties' during her sit-stays. So for a couple minutes after our successful string test I decided to backwash to a 3 ft stay with the collar high and the leash held straight up behind her ears. I have decided I need to do this more (not sure how much more time I will have to do it, though 😬). 

Finally! We did our Week 12 Exam, which Niko bombed miserably a couple weeks ago. We worked against people (I SO WISHED I had started TCs with her, because she lost her marbles around ALL THE FRIENDS!) Even so, check out this AMAZING Week 12 Exam!

Confession: If this had not been an exam, I probably would have (and should have) done a dEC for (2) sloppy pickups and (2) hesitations. 

The hesitations came because the dumbbell landed so close to people, and the second time it landed behind her good friend Jürgen, so I was just overjoyed she completed the retrieve at all! I love watching her make good choices! Great job, Riley!

----BLOOPER REEL----

I remember taking at least ten takes on this with Niko. Working through it relatively fast with Riley has me curious to see if Niko would pass it with fewer takes, now, too. 

Maybe after she is done with her heat.