Agility training

Shai

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Hurray Lola, Zuma, and Zinga! Well done!

What a nice debut for the little spotty dog :)
 

yv0nne

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Can't go back& edit my post ..here's our video from this weekend away!
Good weekend for everyone who was competing apparently :) Now, bring on winter training& March when Penn makes her debut!

[YOUTUBE]FSG3ujmxh60[/YOUTUBE]
 

Laurelin

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Well, we had our first practice today since the disaster-trial. And.... we all did AWESOME!

Sigh. Silly girls. Mia was.... amazing. My trainer just keeps saying when she's not afraid, she's really good. She also told me I run really fast compared to most her students (lololol, hahahaha)

Of course that has me thinking looking back at the trial, I was not running well at all. I think that was a problem.

I think.... I need to stop really wanting to prove something. It's silly. I want everyone to think my dogs are amazing but... they're already amazing. I don't need to rack up titles to prove that.

Mia's not ready to trial. I'm going to still take her and just not run her. I've also been told for the time being to not take her to petco or anything since it's freaking her out. She was so HAPPY tonight. When she's happy, she's so much fun to work with. I am realizing that 1) If I am unclear in my handling, she starts shutting down. We worked wraps and my handling was poor and she lost interest. 2) I need to reward more frequently for speed. She's figuring out sometimes there's no food and she still needs more rewards than I was giving her.

If we never title, we never title. But I know Mia is making me a darn better and more thoughtful trainer in so many ways.
 

Finkie_Mom

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Well, we had our first practice today since the disaster-trial. And.... we all did AWESOME!

Sigh. Silly girls. Mia was.... amazing. My trainer just keeps saying when she's not afraid, she's really good. She also told me I run really fast compared to most her students (lololol, hahahaha)

Of course that has me thinking looking back at the trial, I was not running well at all. I think that was a problem.

I think.... I need to stop really wanting to prove something. It's silly. I want everyone to think my dogs are amazing but... they're already amazing. I don't need to rack up titles to prove that.

Mia's not ready to trial. I'm going to still take her and just not run her. I've also been told for the time being to not take her to petco or anything since it's freaking her out. She was so HAPPY tonight. When she's happy, she's so much fun to work with. I am realizing that 1) If I am unclear in my handling, she starts shutting down. We worked wraps and my handling was poor and she lost interest. 2) I need to reward more frequently for speed. She's figuring out sometimes there's no food and she still needs more rewards than I was giving her.

If we never title, we never title. But I know Mia is making me a darn better and more thoughtful trainer in so many ways.
I think you are just the trainer they both need. You will get there, and I'm sure that things will start coming together soon enough!
 

Beanie

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I think.... I need to stop really wanting to prove something. It's silly. I want everyone to think my dogs are amazing but... they're already amazing. I don't need to rack up titles to prove that.
:hail::hail::hail::hail::hail:
Took me a few years to figure that out. Congrats, you're way ahead of me. ;>
 

Laurelin

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:hail::hail::hail::hail::hail:
Took me a few years to figure that out. Congrats, you're way ahead of me. ;>
I think it is easy to get caught up in that thought that so and so started at the same time/after you and they're already at _______ level or whatever. And that so and so doesn't have to like my dogs or think they're super hardcore or whatever....

I had so much fun running Mia today and was a lot more aware of myself and what I was doing than I have been. Mia still needs things broken down more and that's fine. I'd much rather run a happy dog on shorter sequences than a stressed dog on a full course.

I've got to keep on and keep on reminding myself.
 

iriskai

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Class today.. Mimi is fantastic. She really is.. We're definitely both still green, but we're coming along. First course of the class.. we had a couple nice front crosses and a rear (go us, I suck at rears..). The last three obstacles were a triple, a tunnel in the corner and then the a-frame. I think this was a combination of inexperience and energy but Mimi must have jumped a good 12 feet in distance, and HIGH. I felt her at my shoulder, I'm 5'4". She BARELY made the tunnel since she landed so close and I'm thrilled it worked out the way it did without her crashing. We need to work on not overestimating the size of a triple jump. That or I need to redirect her energy. She just has so much fun running.

Second course we ran was more complex and included a number of lead changes which I struggle with. Also set up 6 V weaves. Our first run was scary good. I don't think I have enough confidence in myself or my dog quite yet.. She read my cues and I actually handled the way I should have. Second run wasn't as good. I got out of position and overhandled on the second lead change and was waaay too close to the jump. Mimi read it anyway and did what I asked. My trainer commented that she's going to save my butt when we start trialing. Love this dog.

Stayed late for the following Agility 1 class and played in the weaves with the class. Had a good talk with my trainer about how 2x2 may not be the best option for Mimi right now unless I can get out to the training facility on a regular basis since I don't have the space at home to practice her regularly. I'm going to see how she does with the WOMs a few times a week, then maybe go back to 2x2 if we need work on entrances...
 

Shai

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I would love to see some Mimi vid. She sounds like a cool girl and whippets in agility are always fun :)

Glad you're able to discuss and work out a plan with your instructor :) Good luck!
 

SaraB

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Stayed late for the following Agility 1 class and played in the weaves with the class. Had a good talk with my trainer about how 2x2 may not be the best option for Mimi right now unless I can get out to the training facility on a regular basis since I don't have the space at home to practice her regularly. I'm going to see how she does with the WOMs a few times a week, then maybe go back to 2x2 if we need work on entrances...
Sounds like a great plan! I have a lot of students that initially teach weaves with one method and then go back and try another method to fix a certain problem. Best of both worlds. :D
 

Shai

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Little agility update...

Kim proved she can actually function in an agility trial at our last event by taking 4th in Jumpers and 2nd in Standard in competitive 24" master classes. The second place about knocked my socks off considered the dogs she outran. Unfortunately those Qs weren't on the same day so no QQ but still really happy with her effort especially given that she was off for well over a year. Her weaves continue to be her weakest obstacle but I know that and it's due to her poor foundation and just not being worked enough in the last two years so just cheered whatever attempt she made even when it was the fourth entry :p. Paid off as she nailed three tough entries (one was accompanied by an off course tunnel elsewhere on the course hence 2 Qs not 3. She also decided 2o2o is cool again on the dogwalk, teeters are fun, etc. Really having a lot of fun with her on course and she is so very glowy and happy to be back. Love it.

Mira and I clicked again as a team after 10 weeks away from agility...we were pretty rusty at first and our communication was more jolty than smooth but we feel like partners again and she is running wonderfully. Too bad she's about to go into heat :p. She finished up her MXB (lifetime bronze standard) and MJB (lifetime bronze jumpers) at the same trial with a 1st and 2nd place, also in a very competitive 24" masters class. Lots of fun.

BC-boy was over stimmed for me one day and pretty much left PVC carnage in his wake but we did a lot of self control work with him before runnkng the next day and he was one W away from a clean and blazing standard run. He's a good boy just green. No sure if I'll get a chance to run him again but it sure was fun.
 

Beanie

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Well... I just booked a hotel room for the Louisville cluster on the off chance I decide I can afford it and want to take the boys.

Yeouch. I could get away cheaper if I stayed in the RV with Auggie's breeder but I really want a hotel this time. I joked that I would just get an SUV and camp in that, sleeping in the folded down backseats with the boys LOL. I'm pretty sure that's not allowed at the campgrounds. XD
My mom would fork over some cash to help if I took Georgie with me too, maybe I can convince her to let me do that, hahaha.


I need to start back up with some foundations stuff. I'm going to start doing a lot of this stuff with Auggie too and see how it goes, how he seems to be feeling. I want to go ahead and enter him in something and see what happens. I just miss running my boy. Louisville never went spectacularly for us as far as Qs went, but he seemed to run pretty nicely there. I think he would like it if I entered him again.

My mom has been reading all the agility foundation books I gave her, but I don't think she's putting anything into practice yet. I'm working on a set of foundation exercise flash cards to give her so she can just pick a card and work on that.
 

JacksonsMom

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Sounds like a great plan! I have a lot of students that initially teach weaves with one method and then go back and try another method to fix a certain problem. Best of both worlds. :D
Jackson rocked the 2x2 weaves today, this is definitely the better method for him than channel weaves. It just 'clicked' a lot more and he is doing fantastic doing it from all different angles, etc. He knows what I'm wanting him to do which is awesome, he's not just staring at me or my hand for where to go next!
 

iriskai

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Well... I just booked a hotel room for the Louisville cluster on the off chance I decide I can afford it and want to take the boys.
When is Louisville? My only thought is conformation Louisville in March. :) My parents are near Louisville so it's always a possibility to go.
 

Beanie

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When is Louisville? My only thought is conformation Louisville in March. :) My parents are near Louisville so it's always a possibility to go.
It's the same show! The big Kentuckiana cluster or whatever they call it, haha. Confo, agility, ob, and rally all. I've considered putting Auggie in rally there too, but it's already a bit of a nightmare trying to figure out conflicts in rings to add something else to it. Payton's breeder has been there showing before in confo - I think it would be neat to let her see my big boy in person, hahaha.
March 14-17th in 2014 I think are the dates!
 

iriskai

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That makes it easy. :) I'll be there! Ez was entered 4 days this past year but he was too puppy to do anything. Mimi was entered 1 day and my younger sister showed her for kicks and giggles.... she ended up with a G4!!! It was ridiculous to see them. G1, professional handler, G2 professional handler, G3 professional handler... G4 MY sister at her FIRST show with MY dog!

This year.. I'm hoping to be trialing by then, but I'll be there in any aspect. :) That'll probably be the last show I hit before the Whippet National in Maryland.
 

k9krazee

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We had an awesome private lesson today. I wanted to get an idea of where we are and what we should work on. And to see if a trial in December was actually feasible with how little we've actually trained throughout the year...with the Lyme, lameness & wedding.

Crossbone was freakishly amazing and the trainer saw a lot of penitential. I'm so proud of my monster.


What do you guys think of having different contact requirements for A-frame, dog walk & teeter?

I have to actually get serious and think about what kind of contacts I want and work on them. Ideally, I want to do 2o2o on dogwalk, four on the teeter & running A.

Also, when practicing -- what jump height do you use? Below, at or higher than they'd jump at trials?
 

Beanie

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What do you guys think of having different contact requirements for A-frame, dog walk & teeter?
Some people say dogs can't do different contact behaviours on the different obstacles. I think that's underestimating a dog's intelligence. That said, all of mine do 2o2o for each, though the teeter is usually a quick release, especially with Georgie so it doesn't bounce up on her and flip her off.

Also, when practicing -- what jump height do you use? Below, at or higher than they'd jump at trials?
It depends. Auggie jumps 8" at trials and that's what I jump him at in practice, but he really benefits from consistency. He will happily take higher jumps if they are set up that way, but I never put him over any intending to have him jump a 12" or 16".
Georgie jumps at 12" and usually I jump her at that, though for new challenges I usually put the jumps down to 8".
Payton jumps 16" but in practice we most often use 12". He doesn't have any issues with the difference. Neither does Georgie.
 

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