A New Begining of something Awesome!

 So if you keep up with my posts, you know that I got a new hip and I am retiring from barrel racing. life is a bit different now. I am still giving riding lessons. I still love my horses. I am just turning the page. Duke, my blue heeler, is now old enough to compete! We went to our first FASTCAT and he was super fast! We joined a disc league in Forney and he is doing so good! I taught him to go around me with ease. In fact, I taught it to him then just sort of forgot about it and realized he does it on his own!!! See, I am left handed. So my dog needs to be on my left side in "go" position! well he now drops the toy at my feet on my right side and goes behind me to line up on the left side. to teach this,I used a ball on the chuck-it stick and a barrel then swapped to my body with the same command. Its important for disc but not for fetch. We play fetch daily. Sometimes multiple times a day! I was playing fetch yesterday and realized he does it without me asking! When we went to Disc club on Tuesday, he did it without me asking! The head of our club complemented us on the "around" traiining! Honestly, since it is timmed, I didnt even ask. My job is to get as many throws in as possible in 60 seconds! So my focus was getting him to bring it all the way back and me throwing a roller as far as I can! My boy was throwing the disc at my feet and getting into position all by himself! Im super proud of this dog! 

Duke Flying Low

Duke Lining Up!

So we have been working really hard to stay in shape! Sadly, unlike barrel racing, I am not getting in shape but I can! My hip is doing better and I think we might start walking as soon as my new shoes get here! Tomorrow and Sunday, we will be competing in our second FASTCAT and Kolton will be my "catch person". I think he is enjoying our dog as well! Now, he wants to do more with Duke but I told him that he needs to work with him at home as I have worked really hard to get Duke to listen to me. In fact, Duke no longer needs his e-collar at home! His recall has gotten amazing! I can now call him off the water trough (Duke loves to dunk in the trough) with just a command! I still put it on him for disc as its in a big pasture and there are other dogs. I dont have to use it much but its a safety thing for me. Eventually we will get back to the dock diving (rain has been canceling our dog training sessions) and we will have our first dock diving competion at the end of May! 

So while I might not be competitive on my horses, I am still competitive with my dog! I so happy that I have a fetch dog again! I haven't had a fetch dog since Ruger. I missed it! We even invite Gunther out to play if its not too hot! Gunther is my lab/dachshund that is now 13. He only ever played fetch in the house! But now, he wants to play! Sometimes I feel bad for Cole and Slick. But Cole does not fetch and gets very aggresive. Slick does not fetch and just runs around like the village idiot. I can teach Slick but he has to listen to me. Maybe I will get more time with him this summer. Right now I am trying to keep up with Duke and his needs! So lets all enjoy my big Australian Cattle Dog doing his thing!