Agility training

Laurelin

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Anyways, I do think we're making progress both in that her stays are very slooooowly getting a bit better. Maybe. But more importantly I am realizing little things she's cuing off of that I do. She has a hair trigger. I'm still not quite sure how to handle it.

My trainer has also pointed out that watching me work both in a row, I'm a lot firmer with Summer and more consistent with her as opposed to Mia.

It's nice to have another set of eyes sometimes.
 

Shai

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Well amidst all the "real" training and trialing news, I'd just like to add...

Webster helped introduce Cookie to the low DW plank today and it was pretty much adorable. Cookie was all "Do I jump over it? Shimmy under it? Run around it? Gosh darn it gimme that cheese I'm gonna stand on it so I can steal your cheese...wait, really? All you wanted was for me to get on it? But that's so...simple? Alright! Perch on it! Hop on sideways! Make it bounce! Sit pretty on it with my front paws in the air! Look at me look at what I can do!" and I was cracking up. Webster was out with us and ran over to join in on the fun which was great since it got the board bouncing (I had no support in the middle and it's just a homemade 12" x 12' regulation style painted/sanded wood board).

When I released them and walked away, she and Webster stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the top staring after me with "But we want more cheeeeeese..." faces lol


So there's the news from the BabyDog side of things... :)
 

SaraB

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Not a whole lot new in the world of Zuma and agility. We've been doing trials just on Sundays pretty much every other weekend to every couple of weeks. Last week we did a DOT at a small CPE trial, mostly because my boss peer pressured me into it so that I wouldn't sit at home and mope all day. We both used it as a training trial, seeing as though we did 5 runs in a day versus the usual 2. Because we were doing training stuffs, ie hitting the weaves 4 times in Jackpot because Zuma has trial weave issues, we didn't have a very spectacular Q rate. 2/5. LOL. But that's ok, we did a lot of really, really good stuff that should hopefully help out at future trials.

I'm pretty excited though, it's becoming indoor trialing season which means the trials at our school are starting up again! Zuma is brilliant at our training facility, the mats are cushy and allow her to really dig in and turn sharp and she doesn't tend to loose her baby-dog brain as much. Next trial isn't until the end of October and is a 3 day USDAA, and we are entering our first team tournament with my boss! So excited, hopefully we don't disappoint them too much. From then, I think we are going to stick pretty much at our home school until next spring unless another trial catches my eye elsewhere.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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We're still having trouble with our jumping skills. He's inconsistent with his jumps. Some runs will look fantastic and some runs he'll plow through every jump. I do think it has to do with his excitement levels but I'm not sure how to fix that. I also know he was naturally flat but started in flyball (knocked boards even at 12 inches when younger) and dock dogs.

I have worked the linda mecklenburg stuff with jumps and we do a lot of figure eights to work on tight turns and jumping up but he's still a very wide, long jumper. I am still working on it but would appreciate some exercises to address this with.

Sloan is a long jumper as well but she has the ability to pop and seems to be tighter most of the time (she does get flighty and wide after long absences).

Here is Backup today though, not terrible but you can see out of the tunnel his jump starts so early. We're also building the rush to stop on the Aframe, it's so much better than it once was but it is still a work in progress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IY9O36HNio
 

Laurelin

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This is kind of boring but I've been working Mia daily on her stays with an obstacle in front of her. She's gotten a lot better at home and at the park but I will be interested to see if it translates over to the field tomorrow night.
 
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Here is Backup today though, not terrible but you can see out of the tunnel his jump starts so early. We're also building the rush to stop on the Aframe, it's so much better than it once was but it is still a work in progress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IY9O36HNio
He has come such a long way in a few short months...he's looking really good, driving forward, trusting your direction. Awesome!

As for the jumping, I think it's hard to judge when you're working on a surface with slippery footing. Do you ever train at the outdoor field anymore and does he jump the same way there?

Also, at the seminar I was at a few weeks ago with Pan, the instructor commented on the often-lacking jumping skills of the Mals she has seen in agility, even at high levels of competition. I realize now that jump grids and foundation jumping exercises are something we will always have to practice throughout her agility career.
 

SaraB

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I have worked the linda mecklenburg stuff with jumps and we do a lot of figure eights to work on tight turns and jumping up but he's still a very wide, long jumper. I am still working on it but would appreciate some exercises to address this with.
Zuma is very wide as well, mostly in trials not so much in training anymore. A problem I see when people do grid exercises or any form of jumping exercises is that they do it in a methodical, calm manner. Which is a great place to start, however you have to do the same exercises while your dog is in a higher state of mind as well. I'm not sure if this is something you've done with Backup because obviously I'm not watching you train, but I know it's something I'm having to go back and re-do with Zuma again and again. Drills bore both of us and she tends to slow down while we are doing them, so I have to take extra measures to amp her up and keep her in that "trial" state of mind.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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I usually start everything with him slowly with treats (which he has minimal drive for) and then brave a toy which bubbles him into oblivion.

I did notice last night he jumps differently on grass, I only own two jumps and they are recent so this was a first attempt but he was knocking a lot.

I appreciate the compliment. I am having a lot of fun working with him but I'm finding myself frustrated with the jumping.

Off to review jumping exercises....
 

monkeys23

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I like watching Backup's videos! Glad you two are having so much fun as well. :)

We finally drank the kool aid and started learning some aglity stuff at our private lesson on Tues. It was really fun!
 

Laurelin

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I wish Mia's toy drive would translate out onto the agility field! She'll kind of meh chase the ball, which is totally the opposite of at the park or home. I think it is because she has more food drive and she's holding out on me....

Stays were GREAT. She broke maybe 3 or 4 times all night. And they were handling errors. She was SO MUCH BETTER!

Summer is cracking me up at how enthusiastic she is. I'm so glad I decided to train with her for fun even though she's old. She's a hoot and she's having a blast, which is the best part. ;)

I'm going to try to remember to bring a camera next week. I was going to this week but was running late and forgot.
 

Shai

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I wish Mia's toy drive would translate out onto the agility field! She'll kind of meh chase the ball, which is totally the opposite of at the park or home. I think it is because she has more food drive and she's holding out on me....

Stays were GREAT. She broke maybe 3 or 4 times all night. And they were handling errors. She was SO MUCH BETTER!

Summer is cracking me up at how enthusiastic she is. I'm so glad I decided to train with her for fun even though she's old. She's a hoot and she's having a blast, which is the best part. ;)

I'm going to try to remember to bring a camera next week. I was going to this week but was running late and forgot.
Hurray Mia!

Also: NO MORE CALLING SUMMER OLD!!!

Hmph.

Glad you're having a blast. Can't wait to see vid next week!
 

Laurelin

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It's so funny because Summer is the one getting the attention for being so 'fast'. lol She was never SLOW but I did not have to run full out to keep up with her with the old training methods. She's really kicked it into high gear now.

Unfortunately she's also the most obnoxious dog in the class. BARK BARK BARK BARK every time some other dog gets to go. Zoomies like crazy. She went ballistic her first exercise today. Just RUNNING and jumping all over everything. I will admit, it made me grin from ear to ear and probably shouldn't have. I love my not so old dog. :D

Mia looks so sensible.
 

BostonBanker

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Unfortunately she's also the most obnoxious dog in the class. BARK BARK BARK BARK every time some other dog gets to go. Zoomies like crazy. She went ballistic her first exercise today. Just RUNNING and jumping all over everything. I will admit, it made me grin from ear to ear and probably shouldn't have. I love my not so old dog.
I love Summer so, so much. Her also-not-old Mountain Cur counterpart gets away with such behavior at trials now, because it makes me so happy to see Meg get "wild".

I was so excited to have actual video to share from Gusto's lesson a few weeks ago - someone sent me the DVD that I hadn't even realized they were making. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to get it to work. It might not have anything on it. Or I'm an idiot. Or both.
 

Laurelin

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I just love seeing them having a good time. It helps me to remember that's what it's really all about.

And I love Meg and Gusto so much too. Some good dogs there. :D
 

Shai

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I love Summer so, so much. Her also-not-old Mountain Cur counterpart gets away with such behavior at trials now, because it makes me so happy to see Meg get "wild".
I just love seeing them having a good time. It helps me to remember that's what it's really all about.
Can't tell you how much I would love to see Kim zoom around an agility course again. Wild eyes, wind in her ears. Would give just about anything for that. And she's not even old...

Live it up.
 
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I was so excited to have actual video to share from Gusto's lesson a few weeks ago - someone sent me the DVD that I hadn't even realized they were making. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to get it to work. It might not have anything on it. Or I'm an idiot. Or both.
Make it work! We want to see Gusto in action!
 

Finkie_Mom

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I really do love watching Backup... He's just SO in to it! I don't have much advice to give in the way of jump work as I'm definitely not an agility trainer, but I hope you find something that works for you both soon :)

I'm going to try to remember to bring a camera next week. I was going to this week but was running late and forgot.
I was so excited to have actual video to share from Gusto's lesson a few weeks ago - someone sent me the DVD that I hadn't even realized they were making. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to get it to work. It might not have anything on it. Or I'm an idiot. Or both.
HEY! YES! Videos from both of you pleeaaaasseee???? ;)
 

Laurelin

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One thing I have noticed is now that we're stringing together sequences (just 4 or so obstacles at once) my handling has reverted some back to what my old trainers had taught me. Especially my tendency to call every single obstacle. I went through one run with Summer saying 'jump! jump! tunnel! jump!' My trainer looked at me funny.

It is very interesting to me that this school doesn't call obstacles at all. Everything is just telling dogs to go out ahead or turn in to you (I'm sure it will get more complicated further in to it). My last trainer taught every obstacle by name.

I'm also not nearly as fast as my dogs. :( I need to work out. If my timing is not perfect with Mia, she's off course fast. I notice she's a lot more touchy than Summer is. If my body is not turned just the right way, she'll blow past what I want her to do.
 

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