fun group
I am running Marley at 24" for this group (her AKC height) to see if we should stick with that height or drop down to preferred - the jury is still out on that, but I have learned if my handling is off the least bit making her uncertain, she will drop bars. If her cue are clear or I give her the go ahead to jump whatever she wants to - she hardly ever comes close to dropping a bar. I guess we are destined for more private handling classes 
The other reason we are doing this group is because our performance at indoor trials surrounded by so many other dogs has been - well abysmal. So far our fun group performance has been okay - for a novice dog and handler. But I have to say - getting out on a Saturday morning in the winter to do something fun is a great motivator!! |
|
|
| I used to belong to a Just For Fun league many moons ago and it was a blast. I don't think anyone around here does that much anymore, but run thrus and even fun matches seem to be on the rise, and just in time, too!
Yesterday I attended a fun match in New Munster (Pam - are you awake and reading this? You should be hitting run thrus and fun matches with Simon right about now). I ran Sybil to deal with her insistence on entering after the second pole. True to form she hit her version of the entry all gun ho. When I called her out after a few poles, she'd sneak off to take the teeter or the tunnel that was the obstacle before. I tried shaping the entry, I tried a reverse flow pivot to check her speed, no dice. Finally in desperation I hit on my version of checking her speed which was to grab onto her hair as she tried to go flying by for the umpteenth time   Hardly a sanctioned handling move by any agility organization  Then I restrained her till I could position her right before the weaves, released her and, magic of magic, she hit the entry. Once she's in, she rocks. I can't for the life of me figure out how she convinced herself her entry is the correct version. So Sybil! Other than that, she was spot on.
I also ran Mace. Had her at her first regular run-thru at another club on Friday night and she did well so I decided she was ready for an actual match. She rocked. She's hardly a speed demon, but she's efficient and she doesn't generally argue with me (be still my heart) and she nailed the weaves. She's not quite as fast as her sister yet in the weaves, though you can see her finding her rythym and starting to really get into it. More to the point, she collects and LOOKS for the entry. I was really proud of her. She'll make the run-thru/fun match rounds with her sister as I work through Sybil's weave entry issue but she's real close to making her debut. Kristine |
| ahh she is a sweetie - and more than willing to work - even for a stranger
Funny - you know your method was what Fran finally resorted to with Marley? Not for the entry - she has a solid entry and I think that had to do with the 2X method, but she would haphazardly take a few poles pop out and then take a few more. Fran said she was convinced she didn't really understand what we wanted and then resorted to holding her by the scruff (oh I did promise not to tell anyone that didn't I ?  ) to shrow her what we wanted. Once we did she was fine and loved weaves!!
Of course on Saturday she did her first ever run behind the weaves. But so many dogs did the same thing that someone asked if there was a problem with the placement of the poles and the flexie fence behind it - as if the dogs couldn't see the poles  |
| Well, and there I go and announce it to the world
It's different with dogs who are used to being restrained by their hair though. They know they can control the pressure. Marley would have hated this site. The good thing about fun matches is that they let people with green dogs get them accustomed to a more trial like setting without actually entering. The bad thing is so many of the dogs are not yet under control. And that's even ring side on lead. There was a most gorgeous Wheaton there. You rarely see a properly bred/groomed one any more so it was a real treat. Unfortunately he was short on proper dog etiquette coupled with a truly clueless owner. After he uninvited stuck his nose up Sybil's butt his owner - at the end of a six foot lead, of course - worried, asked me if Sybil was a boy or a girl. Had I had my wits about me I would have said that "Killer" was a male with other dog issues. Instead I said all the shaggy beasts there that day were female. Well, that was her cue to let him do whatever. Sybil sat down and quietly ignored him, but she wasn't entirely thrilled and would shift her butt periodically and shoot him withering looks that could kill if he wasn't so busy eyeing her other end I was fully prepared to back her up if she decided to tell Mr Rudypants off, but that's really not her style so I'd move her away and we'd focus on staying out of his reach/ignoring him.
In the mean time, Jan had Sadie there. Now, Sadie is a bit of a work in progress still with other dogs herself in the rude department. Jan's really been working to crack down on this and here comes this wheaton and mounts Sadie. Jan was furious. She was a little more to the point in telling the woman to control her dog, but the woman was absolutely oblivious. Sweet lady, too, which made it harder for me to say anything. I really should have pushed the envelope a bit. I just couldn't believe anyone could be that oblivious! And you wonder why the dog is rude!
Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: In the mean time, Jan had Sadie there. Now, Sadie is a bit of a work in progress still with other dogs herself in the rude department. Jan's really been working to crack down on this and here comes this wheaton and mounts Sadie. Jan was furious.
Kristine ahhh. so many things I could say  Yep, nothing is best.
I can tell you that when we go to these events no one that didn't know Marley before, knows she is reactive (and I have heard this through a multitude of sources). She and I have a deal, she doesn't bark her head off at other scary dogs and I will instead tell their owners to get a clue. Now, the same owners who once would have been indignant if my dog had tried to tell their darlings off, get highly insulted when I ask them to move their dog (out of the walk way) or to please control their dog (as they lunge toward a cowering Marley). Sometimes I just want to turn to her and tell her to have at it |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|