Training up (agility)

[MafiaPrincess]

Miss Cider is apparently on fire, and I'm not sure I can keep up.. We're now in advanced standard, need a Q of advanced snooker and gamblers, and both advanced team Qs..

So I see Masters looming on the horizon and I'm a little scared. There was a large cocker contingent at this past weekend's trial, they tried to get me to run master jumpers, I've been sitting on it, I haven't run it ever yet. I looked at the course map, it scared me it was so twisty..

I know we need to work weave entrances from other equipment.. Doing only weaves she usually nails them.. Doing it from something else, it's hit and miss. It'll be our new 5 fault oopsie issue.

Any other suggestions on what to work on that I may not have thought of. Or just find master courses set them up and work on them? Kinda sucks being winter.. We have no where to play till spring... Think I want 2x2 weaves though to play with at least in the house..

[adojrts]

Threadles, serpentines and 270's are a must for Masters. When training there are several different exercises and double box work that I do.
Oh yeah, and you ll need to have RVP's down pat as well, they are often needed for discrimations, stride control etc. Lead out Pivots are also good to have. Layering is always a benefit. Front crosses on the landing side of a jump. And lateral distances. But all that you need at least several jumps, best number is at least 7.
270's are certainly the most difficult and typically causes many people trouble.

Hope that helps
Lynn

[Brandyb]

OOOOO, sounds like you're doing fantastic right now - congrats!!!
I had the same issue, needed to work on weaves coming off other equipment. Since I don't have a lot of resources either, I used my 6 poles, and practiced at every angle possible. When she was mostly reliable, I added in a jump before the poles, at different angles. When I had the time, I would work on sequences at the arena. Ie. jump to walk-it to pole, jump jump poles, jump table poles, a frame poles - etc etc. And built off that. Back chaining worked well in this case. I also noticed that I needed to collect her before the entrance, and this helps her to weave much better and not pop out. I realized that the way I taught her originally was a collect before the poles, and neglected to do this on course. When I finally realized this, her weaves greatly improved.
Hope this helps a bit. :)
PS. Saw you were at the acton trial on the Friday. I was there, sat, are you doing the Jan or feb one? Maybe we'll see you there.

[MafiaPrincess]

It's work related.. I **had** sundays off all winter so I could hit some trials.. Work *beeped* me.. And we're now fighting as I'm missing 11 hours a week.. If they fix it, the fix includes working tuesday, friday saturday and sunday.. but, I think I'll be taking some sundays off to trial. Not sure it'll be the january one, as it closes a little early for me to have this all worked out, but we'll see.

Everyone went the saturday.. I was sad to miss so many people I know, or semi know and would like to meet.. I'm still a ribbon freak though.. and I'm a little sad they only hand out the pretty Q ribbons for starters classes at Acton. But.. we got our last starters ribbon ever there :)

I was looking at royackers and ratpack.. Both don't offer enough on sundays.. I'll loose the least money from work taking a sunday off. But it seems to have the least offered in advanced at all the trials I've looked at.. :(
Thank you both. Gives me some sort of a game plan to work towards.. Just sadly nowhere to do it. I'd really like 2x2 weaves now, for the ease of brining them inside for winter and putting them away when in the way.. She doesn't bump the poles really, so I think we could use them lined up without staking and they'd be alright. Only I'm oh so broke till we have enough snow to ski on.

270 degree turns on the flat, or over jumps.. like just a direction change together on the flat? Everything else we've touched on, but it's nice to know we've started in a good direction.. we just need to keep going there.

[adojrts]

Mafia;
The 270's, are done with jumps, there are a couple of different ways to handle them, which of course depends on the running style of the dog, speed, momentum and length of stride. It also depends on where you are coming from and where you are going.
Look, after the new year and after I get back on my feet from this health issue (once they figure out what is wrong and then what they are going to do....), we'll be back in the arena (where the fun matches were held). You are more than welcome to come down sometime and I can show you the 270's, if you want.
I find trying to describe them and especially how to train them, very difficult in text lol.

Lynn

[adojrts]

I had another thought :yikes:, even without equipment, you can work on distance skills or a 'go on', 'get out' etc. Trees, bushes, trash cans etc, If I can get my dogs to send out and around a tree that is several hundred feet way, I m happy :D
Lynn

[MafiaPrincess]

LOL, No worries. I hope you feel better. It would be awesome if we both had time free to come and see what you can teach us :)

Oh that's a great idea. When we first trained out I used chairs and stuff.. then never used them again.. only equipment. No reason not to go back again.