IPO 2 - Page 1

Today Gina passed her IPO 2, Scores  89 - 80 - 87   Not fantastic scores, but much of the problem was the keeness of the handler she had been training hard the last two weeks every day and i think this was the mistake she left her form behind in her training as she was really top class the last week so i cannot blame the dog for the scores she got, but a lesson learned and it will not happen again. A lot of pressure was put on the dog the last two weeks and perhaps a break of a couple of days before the event should have taken place but she was trained right up including the day before that i think was the mistake she had gone over the top and did not show the dog that she really is. So here is a rough breakdown
On the Tracking she was on for 100 points no question, She was sharp on the corners and downed in a straight line  when she came to 10 yards off the finish of the track she turned left went about 6 yards turned came back then went back on the same wrong track again? she turned came back got the right track 10 yards later laid down in a straight line, it was hard to take in but she scented another track for around the 6 yards going off her true tracking line something had gone over it plus to get to the start of the track it was a 400 to 500 yard walk. For that mistake the judge stopped 11 points, but that was an unusual mistake from the dog, but i felt sure she was on for a 100 points before that mistake
Onto the Obedience the heeling was okay thought the group, then the sit was okay then the down she decided to turn her head to the crowd behind her, when recalled she did not hear the command and was called a second time she went straight by and sat in the right postition without sitting in front? for that she was stopped 10 points. The Block work was good except the reaching out once for the block but points gone. the sendaway was okay she downed okay but could have been a little sharper on the run up.
On Protection She went around the blinds okay fast could not see her how she barked in the blind but it sounded sharp and strong as you are waiting to be called in by the judge? the recall was okay as was the heel to the escape postition. She was fast and the bite full. on the side transport she wandered off the leg a foot for two or three paces before coming back in. on the long attack the Helper i thought came at her with the sleeve held a little low and it seems she did not bite it full in the correct way but being so far away you could not tell, the release was okay each time and the bark and hold good. but she lost 13 points for the work. one thing is certain in this sport we do not know what will happen on the day The venue was no problem having trained her on it some 12 to 14 times before the event, so i think the case was over training, a bit of a learning curve for me and perhaps others she got what she earned and that is fair, and in the future for the IPO 3 take a break a few days before the event? We all live and learn by our mistakes i hope.
Steve1

Congrats!
Mistakes always happen, that´s life.... and I made a lot of mistakes in my life...

Too much training, trying to become perfect, well known by a lot of handlers...

Congrats to both of you. 

 Job well done, Steve!! Congratulations to you and Gina.

Congratulations Steve and Gina  .

Congrats to You and Gina, she passed. Sounds to me like a success!! 

Congratulations Steve and Gina!!

It is the hardest thing to do, given the ramp up of trial nerves and all but I firmly believe in what I have been roundly told by my training director for years now; to put the dog up for at least 4 days, better for a week before the trial. 

It is so very hard, especially when we want to tweak this or fix that but have to keep telling yourself you're not going to fix anything in a week before the trial.

This year I managed to stop completely on my dog 5 days before I trialed and it was difficult no doubt about it but the reward was a high tracking and high IPO 2 because when we came on the field he was definitely ready and eager to work.

Thanks Guys RLHAR on tracking something had crossed the track shortly before she did it, normally a track of say 20 minutes long and as many turns and with as many items as we care to lay is no object to her she seldom has an off day or makes mistakes she loves tracking.  but she sure got the scent of something but it stopped after the 6 yards perhaps it back tracked itself we will never know. Susie is correct you try and perfect every detail but do not see as we put it the wood for the trees, too much work is as bad as not enough a lesson well learned i think, better to learn it at this stage than later on
I am happy she got through so now on to the 3
Steve 1
 

Congratulations, steve1 & Gina!  High scores or not, it's an achievement none the less!