Agility training

BostonBanker

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I'm sorry :( It really does suck when you have one of those days where you barely recognize the dog you are (trying to) run.

You can join my new proofing party. I'm going to get a small jump to keep in my car, and once I do, I'm setting a new goal for myself of finding somewhere new, every single day for 30 days where we will go, set the jump up, do our start line, and get the jump for a big reward. Which will NOT be on me when asking for it, because part of my issue is that when I drop the toy/treats outside the ring and walk in, he knows rewards are gone.

I will find places so unbelievably distracting that doing a focused start line at an agility trial is going to be the easiest thing ever.

I spent the entire winter watching a training buddy proof weave poles in her Masters dog who couldn't weave in trials. We had dogs barking and doing recalls along the weaves, squeaking toys, people running, banging the walls, shouting...everything. Watching that made me really motivated to start proofing Gusto.

It's been a lot of discussion about proofing, dealing with the dog with the weaving issue and some other stuff. The general idea we've come up with is that we wait way too long to start proofing skills, and don't do it hard enough. So I'm going to try and see what we can do in 30 days.
 

CaliTerp07

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I like that idea, BB. Just start lines, 1 jump or 1 hoop all around town. That's manageable. You just inspired me to send out a message to my trainer's list serve, asking for suggestions of places to go.

School ends June 19th (get out of here, kiddies!) and then I need to seriously commit to this--else I'm just wasting money.
 

BostonBanker

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I'm going to start with just field and yards for the first week. I need to make sure I'm going to get enough focus that I'm comfortable with him off leash the other places I'm thinking about. My list so far:

park (like a kid park)
little league fields (outside them while games are going on)
grass by parking area of McDonalds (hello, distracting smells)
behind Oil'n'Go (huge flapping flag out front)
outside the furniture place (one of those big flapping weird men things)
outside movie theater
outside outlet stores

Really, anywhere I can find a patch of grass and a relatively car-free area. We have a night or two a week of agility practice as well, when I'm going to ask people to really push his start line. Walking up behind him like a judge might, calling things out like a timer (and calling his name like rude gate people), having their dogs bark behind him.
 

Shai

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I don't think I've updated our trial news lately and have probably skipped a trial or something, but we had a two-day AKC trial last weekend which was a lot of fun :)



We went 7 for 8 on the weekend, running some truly interesting, challenging courses that I really enjoyed.

Webby went 4-for-4, picking up another 2 QQs and really turning in some very nice courses. Unfortunately his highest placements were 5th, 5th, and 6th out of his class of 30 putting him just outside the rosettes. He really did a great job this weekend and ran his little heart out.

Mira went 3-for-4, picking up another QQ as well as placing in every class she qualified. She too turned in some really nice runs this weekend, and we seem to be coming back together as a team after her time off. I'm very proud of her and excited to see how our teamwork grows. The one bobble we had, which cost us that final Q and the second QQ, was a dogwalk/tunnel flip. Unfortunately I haven't had access to the equipment to train that skill and so she only sees that concept once every six months or so. I should have, knowing she didn't have the skill, let her run off the end, turned on the flat, then come back at the tunnel but I wanted the Blue and pushed for a tight dive in the tunnel. She wasn't sure what I wanted but ran down the plank, turned, and dove into the tunnel...stepping back on the DW plank as she went. W. Oops.

Both dogs had really nice serps, 180, lat sends, start lines, obstacle performance, etc. It was just one of those weekends where everything comes together :)

Aaaand of course the only video I have is me running a friend's dog at a match the night before the trial. Taken by my hubby. I'm apparently video handicapped.

Still... *happy*
 

SaraB

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Awesome!! Go Webby and Mira!!

We ran a trial yesterday. First time back at the big indoor facility since last year. Zuma had a crazy dog moment so our standard run was dedicated to reminding her that this a team sport and she needs to have control. It paid off because her JWW and T2B runs were much, much nicer. No Q's, but that's ok. We have a three day trial this weekend, so I'm crossing my fingers for that one.
 

Beanie

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Whoo-hoo! That's awesome and the photo is hilarious haha.

Congrats everybody on your successes!


Baby Payton is still learning to be enthusiastic about wraps. We're coming up on another catch-up break in Trkman's class which is good because I am obviously SUPER behind on EVERYTHING. As in I haven't even posted a single video. This week is all about serpentines. Payton and I already started these (in fact last week I made my students do them because I wanted to be working on them with my dogs so BOOM this is our lesson for today!) so maybe I can at least squeak in a relevant video!!
Our new adjustable teeter might be finished by this weekend too which I am needing. I'm not sure when I might be able to get him out to our trainer's house and put him on her full-size equipment but really he's probably not ready. His 2o2o still needs more work before he sees a full-size a-frame and dog walk...

oh God so much to do still. I have to remember that it's not until the end of July I need contacts on him... I have two months... two...
fffffffffffffffffffffff
 

CaliTerp07

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I can't open the PDF rule book on my phone, does anyone know how big a room must be to hold a CPE trial? I know it's more accommodating or rather smaller than other venues.
AGILITY TRIAL SHOW SITE
The Host Club Committee holding a CPE trial, and the Judge(s) of record, has full authority within CPE rules and the Host Club rules set within the premium, at the site for the duration of that trial. Duration of a trial begins when the first club member arrives for set up, and the last club member leaves the show grounds on the last day of the event.

The Agility Trial ring area should measure at least 100’x100’. If the ring area will be less than this, size and description must be sent with the Trial Application, and with approval, sent to the Judge(s). Ring Sizes effective July 1, 2012 for current clubs with established sites, January 1, 2012 for new clubs/sites

Note: sites that do not meet the new ring sizes that are in use for already approved dates and date(s) that are repeated week(s) from the previous year are grandfathered in (length cannot exceed 110’). Date changes/new dates will not be approved.

Minimum ring sizes - New trial dates, moving a trial date, moving to a new site, or a new host club must adhere to the requirements below, regardless if the site was previously used and/or approved for another date or club.

Outdoor sites – ideally, 100x100; no length is longer than 110’ on any given side. Minimum approvable outdoor sites must be at least 80x90 with no obstructions or unusable areas.

Indoor sites: no more than 3 structural support columns/poles within the ring; length is not to exceed 110’
•If the Width is at least 70’: Length is no less than 90’ for games only, 100’ for trials with standard offered on any day.
•If the Width is at least 80’: Length is no less than 80’ for games only, 90’ for trials with standard offered on any day.
•If the Width is 90’ – 110’: Length is no more than 110’ for any trial

These measurements include no obstructions or unusable areas. Rings that are not square/rectangle in shape must have a grid pre-approved before contracting with the site for new or changing dates or changing to a new site
for a previously held date.

Note: At no time shall a club make plans to hold a trial for a date that is new to the club or a new site for a previously held date, if the show ring is less than 100x100 without obstructions, before the trial and/or site is approved by CPE. If a previously used site does not meet the current ring size/obstructions rules, it cannot be used for a new/changed date for a club or new site for a different club.
Looks like 100x100--isn't that the same as other venues?
 

Dogs6

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I pulled out my weave poles today for the first time in around 2 years :eek:

Fudge did really well! I was sending him out to them and he was doing 6. I need to get better with rewarding him though because he was stopping at looking back at me at the 5th pole to see if . Was throwing his ball.

was a lot slower than I'd like as well but I'd already exercised him and it was a warn day. I managed to get a video but can't post from my phone.
 

CaliTerp07

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Alright, here's my 30 for 30 update. Today on our walk I lugged a jump along with me, and threw spray cheese in a backpack with our slip lead. Along the walk, we stopped at:

  • An empty tennis court. We practice sit/stays here a ton, because it is fenced (so if she breaks it, no biggie), and it's surround by woods, so I have to believe she sees/hears/smells things. I was hoping someone would walk their dogs or ride their bike past while we were practicing, but I think we were too early.
  • A basketball court. I pushed my luck and moved to the land of unfenced areas surrounded by woods. Still no one in sight. Sit/stay/leash off/jump/leash on/run across the court to get the treats out of my bag. We got 3 or 4 of them in before she took off after a rustling in the leaves on the ground (squirrel? bird?) but she eventually came back, I sent her over a jump, and we continued our practice.
  • A children's playground I wanted this as much for the weird surface under her feet as anything else (it's all mulch). As we were walking up the hill, someone came by with two dogs who reacted to Lucy, who responded back with RAWR RAWR RAWR I AM LEASH REACTIVE in return. I waited for them to get far enough away, played some attention games, and we managed to get in another half dozen start line practices. She'd look in the direction the other dogs went, but she took the jump, let me leash her, and ran straight for the treats.
I'm happy for several reasons. 1) I'm actually doing this (thank you, BB). 2) She didn't fixate on the treats and refuse to work (she broke one of those remote treat things in 10 minutes when I tried this before), and 3) She did pretty well, despite there not being any huge distractions.

Tomorrow I am going to try out in front of the townhouses at the entrance to my neighborhood (there are usually lots of small children running around)

Hope no one minds me cluttering the thread with my baby steps training...but i think it will help hold me accountable.
 

BostonBanker

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Good for you! I like seeing the updates because I need some ideas of where to work, too. Unfortunately the two jumps I have right now are huge and cumbersome. I'm thinking of ordering one of those cute travel ones when I get paid this week. After all, that's why I worked all holiday weekend - to have agility money!

Gusto gets to go to practice tonight for the first time since he got hurt. I'm half dreading it, because it is a group practice (multiple dogs running at the same time) and he had a lot of trouble with that last summer. But he got really good about working with another dog running in the barn this winter, so I'm *hoping* it will transfer over. This isn't the nicest, most helpful group of people at this practice, so I know they get annoyed if anyone's dog isn't 100% under control. We shall see how he handles it! Mostly I'm just so relieved that the vet proclaimed him healed.
 

Shai

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Looks like 100x100--isn't that the same as other venues?
From your link, I think the relevant part for minimum sizes is

Indoor sites: no more than 3 structural support columns/poles within the ring; length is not to exceed 110’
•If the Width is at least 70’: Length is no less than 90’ for games only, 100’ for trials with standard offered on any day.
•If the Width is at least 80’: Length is no less than 80’ for games only, 90’ for trials with standard offered on any day.
•If the Width is 90’ – 110’: Length is no more than 110’ for any trial

So if you want to do all the course types, you're looking at least 70x100 or 80x90 with no more than 3 pillars obstructing.
 

DJEtzel

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I ordered a set of weave spikes that should be arriving monday. I am so excited to get Frag's weaves going again and trial sometime this year. lol.

Also, holy crap for diversity in a beginning agility foundations class that I'm teaching Saturday mornings... We don't get a lot of diversity around here, especially in the way of purebred dogs, but we have an English Shepherd, Malinois, German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Brittany Spaniel, Sheltie, Portuguese Water Dog, and a Husky mix...

Weird combo... I'm excited for these guys to continue on, though... a lot of them show great potential AND want to trial! XD

Frag has agility at a student's house tonight led by our trainer from Grand Rapids... I am very excited as he did SO well two weeks ago.

Starting some core strengthening exercises with Recon to help him out a little when we start back in agility next month. I can't believe he's almost a year old! :(
 

Beanie

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Since my contact obstacles are nearly done being built, I've decided to start this Phenomenal Stopped Contacts in 30 Days program. I have two months so we'll see.

I'm giving it THE PAYTON TEST.
Hopefully I'll remember to blog about it.

I want to get a smart phone so it reminds me to write in my blog.
 

CaliTerp07

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We did a CPE trial for the first time yesterday. Played level 3 Jackpot, standard, wild card and colors. Snooker was last, but it was 95* and in a non-air conditioned barn/tent thing...we were too melted to stay.

SO RELIEVED THAT I STILL HAVE AN AGILITY DOG.

She look AWESOME the first run of the day (Jackpot). We needed 22 points to go get the gamble, and she got 47 (+20 for the gamble). She was focused on the start, read the crosses beautifully, and ran like a pro. It helped that I was able to make my own course, so I could set straight lines to contacts and tunnels, and we skipped the weaves entirely. She was just incredible though. I could have cried at the end of the run, I was so happy.

The rest of the day she was fantastic too, but she wouldn't do a single set of weaves all day, so we never again Q'd. I DON'T CARE. She was focused, working for me, and looked awesome. I chalk half the weaves to stress, but at least half is to the heat. She can't crate inside (too reactive), so we car crate. I draped shade cloth, gave her a cooling mat, frozen kongs, fans, etc...but it was still hot.

By colors, she was just dead. The course started jump/weaves. I called her too me, turned, and sent her straight to the weaves, easiest entry ever...and she trotted right by them. I told her I understood, it was hot, and we ran the rest of the course perfectly, despite the heat. Then we packed up and headed home.

SO SO SO SO HAPPY with her performance!
 

Finkie_Mom

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YAY! Officially all in Excellent! Kimma got her OAJ yesterday with a really nice run. It was 94-degrees out and sunny and muggy, and I honestly didn't even expect her to run much of anything - but she had a clean run, and got a first place out of the deal! Our last first place, I'm sure, now that we've moved up :p

WOO!
 

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