6/17/16
I had a private lesson in both the small training area and the big one.  I am having trouble doing my weaves now and I can't figure out why.  Back in the small training area I am a wiz doing the weaves but when we get out to the big area I seem to have a mental block.

Marty told me it is okay, that we will continue with private lessons working in both training areas so that I become as confident in the big training area a I am in the small one.  She told me that dogs do not "generalize" and I am beginning to understand what she means when she says that.  When I go out to the big training area it is as if I'd never seen the weaves before.  They are never in the same place like they are in the small training area.  I get frustrated but Marty keeps encouraging me and giving me treats when I try.  I know that I will be able to do the weaves correctly out in the big training area again.

I say again because during my first private lesson out in the big training area, I was the only dog there. The weaves were set up along the south end by the lattice rails.  Not only did I do them correctly every time but I could enter them from a distance correctly and from the weaves run about 20' into a tunnel way ahead of Marty.  I did real good that day.

The next time I did the weave poles in the big training area it was during my Foundations 3 class.  The training area was filled with dogs, running and doing their agility courses in separate training areas and there was lots of barking.  It was so noisy I got nervous.  The weaves were set up along the lattice divider between training areas and directly on the other side was a tunnel.  When I was trying to do my weaves a big dog was racing through the tunnel.  I could see the tunnel moving and hear the dog running through it. I could see the tunnel under the lower bar that held the lattice and I didn't even had to bend my head down.  This scared me and I've had trouble with weaves out in the big area ever since.

I had a wonderful private lesson.  I ran fast and happy.  For the most part I followed Marty's directions.  I got to do jumps, teeter, A-Frame, dog walk, table and whole bunch of jumps.  I even practice the chute in the small training area before doing it in the big training area. It was so much FUN!!!  Now I know why Whispy loves it so.  Whispy looked so disappointed when we left the house because it was my lesson and she wasn't included...poor Whispy.