weaving: the good, the bad, the ugly
I'm still going with the channel method and wires. Not perfect, but there are many things I like about it such as dog learns to view the entire set of weaves as a single, continuous obstacles. Looks something like this in the beginning stages:    Apologies for funky photography, bad lighting and funny lookin' dog. This was taken a couple of years ago as I recall. Kristine |
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I like the channel weaves best. You can start out with the dog doing a recall thu the channel, wide enough so he feels comfortable. Plus you aren't running along side the dog with them looking to the side to see you. José (and we KNOW how big he is) is going thru them at about 3-1/2 to 4" wide right now. He likes them well enough that returning from doing something else in agility he'll go for the weaves & go thru them. We've tried the other kinds & he's sorta confused when he sees them. Doesn't know where he's supposed to go & where to put his feet. My hardest part is getting him to sit & stay until I get to the other end to call him  |
| I am avidly waiting for all replies. As Tiggy hasnt seen weaves yet. I thought "cute muppet" dog.  |
Funny I was watching a tape of Sybil runing past some weaves this morning  I have to get that edited btw.We just decided to go back to some training with Marley and of course Morgan has no weaves to mention. We are working with 2x's for the "tune ups". I really think the 2X's gave Marley some wonderful entrances, we did use channels to work on speed. |
| You have tape of Sybil? I pulled her from competition for not limiting herself to running past the weaves, but buzzing the ring, rolling on the weaves, detouring to kiss barsetters, I forget all of her interpretations of the word weave  She was really stressing. We had a period of months where she insisted the entry was after the second pole, even in practice. Sue even put a wing jump up at one point so she couldn't make a mistake. Dog ran smack up to the wing and refused to move. Once she gets something in her head...   Why she had decided that was the correct entry only Sybil knows. It appears to be behind us now  But it took months of hitting every run-thru I could find. With her I also struggled with the rythym when going between 20" and 24" poles. I will be so happy when 24" is universally mandated. I think that may be the biggest challenge I've had with channels - working the entry. You really have to be meticulous about working it from around the clock and I end up spending so much time focusing on getting the rythm and motion and wait far too long to really challenge them in that regard. Mace has nice entries, I trained her pretty much the same way, so I have no idea why the difference except that Mace is much more deliberate. Of course, Sybil has better contacts than Mace. Not sure why the difference there either. I seriously debated incorporating the 2 x 2 method, but there are too many things I like about the channels. With Dazz I've had great speed and rythm from day 1 and can bring the poles in very quickly, the advantage of not having much width I guess But I've been working her in my living room no real way to practice entries in a meaningful way. Spring will be interesting. Che is an idiot and will forget himself and jump the wires instead  Anybody else trying 2 x 2s or any other methods? Have the slanted poles gone completely out of style? They helped Belle a lot with speed - she was taught the old straight method, luring and wires and had slow poles because she had to think her way through it forever and a day. Kristine |
| We started channels with wires, 12 long. Did recalls through a few times, but moved quickly to running beside, and on both sides (dog on left and right).  Then narrowed the gap. Mine are just stick in the grounds, so by last fall we made it to all 12 with a 1-2 inch gap and no wires. At class over the winter we basically maintained our ground - which was fine, actually. We only saw them every few weeks and he still hit entrances pretty reliably. We did lose speed however. This week my lawn should be firmed up enought to start outside again. And I just ordered a 24" competition set of 6 (fixed) so we will have other options and not be weather dependant. PS - grandchildren also learn to weave well w/ channels too!  Good topic! |
| I was really hoping this would be the method we were going to be learning the weave poles. Instead, they are starting with the weave poles on the floor and are slowly raising them. Right now, I don't think Asterisk notices them... she just steps over the poles. I'll be interested to see what happens as the poles raise. |
| Last year I attended 1 day of a 2 day seminar - and the day I went the focus was weaves. We were introduced to the various methods and the logic and tried all of them with our dogs. It was very interesting and totally worth my time. I had already made a good start on the channels, and didn't end up changing. What it did do was reinforce that there are many ways to teach the same outcome (as usual) and upped all the attendees awarenes and reminded us there are options out there. Most of the dogs had a start in some form of weaves. Every single one of them (all breeds and all sizes) were able to execute the weaves in all forms. The instructor pointed out what we were doing correct and incorrect to run each version, so if we wanted to try a different way, we hopefully would do it correctly! (It's always the humans that need the extra help!) I know I read somewhere that a weave survey of sorts was done. It basically turned out that no matter the method, dogs all learned to weave with the same amount of skill and accuracy, and in the same amount of time, no matter what method they used. I see it as the owner hopefully has the insight into their dog and how they tick - and choose training methods that maximize their own dog's learning style. |
| Can I just say that I MISS AGILITY. I'm on enforced rest time because 1)Simon is misbehaving in the ring,2)I have sciatica and can't run, 3)I have gallbladder surgery coming up and will be unable to run for at least 2 weeks. I'm still doing the CGC class with Simon and he's doing pretty well(!) so at least thats something. |
Miss you and Randy too, Pam  Get better soon! KB |
| well perfect time to watch videos and learn all the nuances for when you get back on your feet. And yes Kristine I have video for St louis last year which I am slowly learning how to get into my Corel video editor - once its cleaned up (some niice shots of the fence) I will share with you. |
* Capt. Obvious Danger wrote: I was really hoping this would be the method we were going to be learning the weave poles. Instead, they are starting with the weave poles on the floor and are slowly raising them. Right now, I don't think Asterisk notices them... she just steps over the poles. I'll be interested to see what happens as the poles raise. Down on the floor is overkill to me - my dogs tend not to notice them either or treat them as cavalettis but it won't last long. The WAM or slanted pole method is perfectly viable. It resembles the channel method in a lot of ways. I made a set at one point and used them to speed Belle up (before I got my channel weaves, though I think of all of my dogs she probably liked the slanted poles the best) I've since dismantled the set, but I still had them when Sybil and her litter were pups and used them as things for the litter to step over (or sleep on ): Don't mind the filthy, wet puppy. It was a hot day and we had just set up a wading pool for them. They had a blast playing with that and the hose and looked a real treat afterwards Kristine |
kerry wrote: well perfect time to watch videos and learn all the nuances for when you get back on your feet. And yes Kristine I have video for St louis last year which I am slowly learning how to get into my Corel video editor - once its cleaned up (some niice shots of the fence) I will share with you. Oh, yippee!!  As I recall back then she was not only missing entries but also skimming poles Well she's still come a long way from sleeping on them, sopping wet What a head case. KB |
| As you can see in the picture I posted, my stick in the ground ones end up like WOM's after a few runs through..... especially after a rain.... PS - baby Sybil...how sweet!!!  |
Simon's Mom wrote: Can I just say that I MISS AGILITY. I'm on enforced rest time because 1)Simon is misbehaving in the ring,2)I have sciatica and can't run, 3)I have gallbladder surgery coming up and will be unable to run for at least 2 weeks. I'm still doing the CGC class with Simon and he's doing pretty well(!) so at least thats something. Pam, this may not be a bad thing. A break (forced or by choice) is often beneficial. It lets bad habits fade and the love of a sport be refreshed for the dogs. Us too! |
got sheep wrote: As you can see in the picture I posted, my stick in the ground ones end up like WOM's after a few runs through..... especially after a rain.... Well, that's were running the grandson instead is a lot less detrimental to the equipment KB |
| I had to take a break for nearly 3 months from late Nov as Tiggy had a nail bed infection on her front foot and it was quiet leash walking only, no running or lunging at other dogs. She has just turned two, so maybe its age, but she has come back to obedience class much more behaved around the other young sillies that she used to muck up with and she's stopped harassing our Dalmo at the off lead park, well nearly stopped. So even though I was grumpy at the time I think it may have been beneficial. |
Mad Dog wrote: got sheep wrote: As you can see in the picture I posted, my stick in the ground ones end up like WOM's after a few runs through..... especially after a rain.... Well, that's were running the grandson instead is a lot less detrimental to the equipment KB Well, the weaves are safe. Can't say the same for the jumps.  Maybe it's Will who has a future in agility....  |
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