oh no still 6 months
I emailed the agility club that Tiggy and I want to join as its nearly 6 months since I visited them and they said a 6 to 12 month waiting list. They just got back to me now. Its another 6 months before they will have any beginners places. So I'm still with the "agility for fun" class (which I'm hoping doesnt teach us too many bad habits) and you guys here for advice. At least I can pick your brains.  |
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| FOundations Foundations Foundations - the thing I wish I knew before I started was that its not important how soon they get in the equipment or the skills you teach them. The important thing is the focus and the relationship with you. I am trying to put it into some sense for the performance list. Maybe you can be my sounding board once I get a draft:)
At a trial last weekend I did a lot of watching and so many of the novice dogs reminded me that skipping foundations is the biggest mistake we can make. From the inevitable dogs "exploring the ring", to the cicling screaming dogs on the advanced courses, to the level 2 dog who, apperently, could make their way over the equipement quickly enough to make a an occassional Q, but had absolutely no recall (I would have died if everyone outside the ring was yelling to me - run away from your dog and see if she will follow you), it just screamed to me that we should never skimp on the pre training. In fact I am dusting off my favorite DVD's to come up with some morning and evening training activities for the dogs this winter - sort of boredom busters and training in one. I didn't used to think this way - but being with a great trainer (who has the patience of job) has led me to see, if the dog trusts me and is tuned into me, my foibles as a handler are less of an issue. But yes, I would stay away from the bad trainers in all honesty - I have spent way too much time untraining things. In the mean time cross train. Work on contacts on a travel board in your kitchen before breakfast, hike and YES swim (you lucky spring time continent dweller you) to build up the muscles needed. and look around for performance people in your area- yuo never know when you might just run into the new hot trainer just setting up a couple of classes. I have PVC jumps in my yard (and basement and LR) and a tunnel - so if there isn't a class around for us to take, we make up some games, we work on skills and we walk - alot. I actually take less classes than most of the people I train with lately and my dog is doing okay  I read and watch videos to make sense of what I learn in class (I need to get it sometimes in different ways than just doing the movements)
While we need more contact training and to get back to the jump training, the most importatn thing is the foundations - my dog really never loses focus in the ring, because in all honesty I am her game Of course we didn't start the right way either and this is something I learned late in her game (she was three) but since we did a lot of obedience work and relationship work early on we unexpectadly had a leg up.
Next puppy will have the advantage of what we learned  |
| I am more than happy to be your sounding board.
And yes Tiggy and I still need to work lots on focus. Tiggy is Miss Rubber Neck extraordinaire. She is obsessed with knowing EVERYTHING that is going on around us. She's is just learning to leave that job to me.
Kristine just sent me a copy of Linda Mecklenburg's 1RTO article so I'm planning on starting on that soon. 
And some more practise of long leash recalls around other dogs is a must for Tiggy.  |
| Lord, do we know rubbernecking. I've never had a dog who perpetually scans her environment the way Sybil does
If it's any consolation it does get better, but she doesn't miss a thing. She's just getting better at multi-tasking - i.e. scanning and paying attention at the same time  The toughest place for her is the weaves which are really hard to do with half a brain on the task. Last night she did beautiful weaves during the first exercise. Then we did them with the other handlers/dogs standing within ten feet of them and another dog working almost right at the end of them and you could almost see the smoke coming out of her ears, she was workin' so hard, checking out everyone's coordinates while trying to tuck her body in between the right poles. Some times I'm amazed she doesn't run smack into a pole!
Did I mention it gets better? Honest. Kristine |
| ^^^^^^^^
Good!!!! Cant wait for it to get better. Well to be honest it is a bit better already but now that you mention it Tiggy probably is just getting better at multitasking. Weaves are not available (yet) at "agility for fun". Maybe I'm glad about that. |
| I wouldn't push the weaves - although the 2x method is easy to work at home - we learned them in the entry hall last winter And they do make for nice entries.
As fo recall - Moe Strenfel (http://www.momentumdogsports.com/)has a nice piece on that on my favorite foundations DVR. She plays tag with the dog chasing her (like I said little games ) with big rewards on the catch. it also helps focus for the dog to really be tuned into you for which way to move. Since I am terribly slow at cues, Marley has to be really really good at following where i am going - my instructor hates it when I tell her the dog has to be able to read my mind (the scary part is - I think she does!) |
| Don't sweat the wait TOO much. I had the same thing - but for a different reason. (the beginner level classes were a direct time conflict with the classes I teach. The 3 beginner levels were out d/t to conflict, we had to get to the 4th level (on a different night) to be able to go).
We worked hard at home, shamelessly pestered Kristine and other agility friends for help. Also, working in all our other sports has given Chewie and I such a strong bond, that we are able to carry our working relationship over to our new sport of agility fairly easy. So, time spent together working in another venue is never wasted.
This fall we started our 1st session of agility class ever. Because of our work outside class, we were able to start in at class level 4 (out of 6). Prior to starting the class, our only formal instruction was a 1 day seminar, a 2 day seminar and 3 private lessons (spread out over the last 1 yr+). Needless to say, we worked very hard at home getting up to speed to join the class!! It is possible, just keep working at it! |
| Yeah Dawn - I think cross training and private lessons are the key. We did a lot of private lessons last year.
BTW - I just signed Marley up for a flyball class - got to keep things interesting |
| Chewie loved his taste of flyball too - but we stopped. There is a huge difference in the jump styles.
The flyball classes we have are competitive, and they really stress the low, flat jumps needed for fast runs. The hurdles are really low, so they learn to just skim over them. Chewie would like to jump flat - he's just not that bouncy. He would go for speed over air time if given the choice! we worked really hard to get a good bounce - rounded jump in agility and I could see it go out the window if we stayed in flyball. Bummer....I like the sport. |
| The only dog I have who can catch a ball reliably (maybe) is the foster terrorist. I can see the rest of them reeling back as the ball hits them smack in the nose
Kerry, let us know how it goes. Kristine |
| Its all for fun you know that. I think the more I expose her to other things - the less she resembles the Sybil side of the family (ever vigilant ) I suspect she will stink at it - but we will get out on some cold December nights instead of sitting infront of the TV - and brushing
We are actually looking forward (well I am  ) to doing freestyle this winter. |
Mad Dog wrote: The only dog I have who can catch a ball reliably (maybe) is the foster terrorist. I can see the rest of them reeling back as the ball hits them smack in the nose
KristineTiggy is hopeless too.
I'm amazed I can through a treat to my dalmo with now warning and from anywhere vaguely in front of him and he never misses. 
Poor Tiggy NEVER catches it.  It always bounces off her nose. |
Mim wrote: Mad Dog wrote: The only dog I have who can catch a ball reliably (maybe) is the foster terrorist. I can see the rest of them reeling back as the ball hits them smack in the nose KristineTiggy is hopeless too. I'm amazed I can through a treat to my dalmo with now warning and from anywhere vaguely in front of him and he never misses. Poor Tiggy NEVER catches it. It always bounces off her nose. My instructor never believes me that Sheepdogs can't find food infront of their faces once it hits the ground. I am going to start printing these things out to show her. |
| Just read your message Kerry.
Glad its not just Tiggy and where did through for throw come from???
Its early here and I had a late night so I'll beg that as an excuse. |
Mim, how late and how was that Zindfandel (or whatever  )
Some OES who shall remain nameless have problems with targets even. I taught Belle the drop on recall (in part) by tossing cheeseballs behind her. BIG, YELLOW cheeseballs. That ROLLED. Motion they can catch. No eye-mouth coordination, in her case no nose. But at least their eyes can usually follow tossed treats and balls till it boinks off their head or something
And, yes, I had Belle CERFED as late as almost ten years old and her eyesight was allegedly perfect (think it's started to go now though). Had the three youngest CERFED in April. Perfect. And yet when I toss popcorn at them they all end up wearing it. Then they spend the rest of the evening digging it out of each other's coats. Lest you think it's the hair, the boy dog is just as bad when he's bald. Though he is one of my more talented catchers who can probably catch it 25-30% of the time
Kristine |
| I keep forgetting to say - you know it gets worse before it gets better - right? |
kerry wrote: I keep forgetting to say - you know it gets worse before it gets better - right?
SHUSH!!!!!!!! You're not supposed to reveal that part! How many bottles of wine can the woman reasonably consume and still get out of bed in the morning?
Pay not attention to her, Mim. It will be fiiinnnne. Smoooooth saaiiiiiling
Zinfandel or chardonnay? Or...? Kristine  |
| Sorry guys that I didnt get back to you. I was at my Mom's so limited time at the computer. SIGH!
For your information I was the designated driver..............for my Mom! Hey, this gives me a great sense of maturity. A false sense of maturity I'm sure.
Well as any good dog breeder knows its all in the genes. But last night I drew the short straw. Unfortunately I inherited my body clock from my Dad and unlike my Mom I am congenitally incapable of sleeping in. To really throw a spanner in the works I inherited my love of a good wine from my Mom. I'm still attempting to reconcile these apparently incompatible genetic inheritances. So despite getting to bed at 1am I was up at 5.30am as per usual. As there was no Tiggy or Rastus to walk I had to stoop to walking a small, spoilt poodle, whilst her owner (my Mom) was still happily fast asleep.
I will own up to ulteriour motives. I was working up to clipping said spoilt poodle and an exhausted poodle complains less when you touch her legs.
Anyway she's all gorgeous in her short summer clip and I left her fast asleep in her own personal bean bag. The trip back was a nightmare. Two dirversions, one off the freeway due to accidents added over half an hour to the trip. So I'm off to bed to catch up on my missed beauty sleep now. If there are any more spelling msitakes then I blame them on my advanced exhaustion. |
| LOL - good luck with those genetic incompatibilities!
I bet mom's poodle looks great in it's new summer 'do
Happy napping! |
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