Training Weaves w/ Bella?

[AgilityPup]

So, Bella will be a year old tomorrow, how crazy would it be for me to start teaching her v-weaves. Not closing them up straight or anything, but teaching her to get the speed, then when she's old enough, brining them in...

Do you think it'd be okay for me to start her now?

[Dekka]

sure..but why not try 2X2s they are supposed to be the best way to train weaves. (I personally don't like th V method as it doesn't train a thinking dog) But if she is a year you should be fine. Some venues even allow dogs to start competing at one

[AgilityPup]

Cool, thank you Dekka.

I may try 2x2s with her, I can since I've got weaves that can be straight, v-weaves, or 2x2s... I like v-weaves thought because it really tought Zoey her speed...

I don't know, we may just give both a try, and see what happens..

[Dekka]

2 X 2 are supposed to teach the fastest and most accurate weaves (I will be doing that with the whippets) I shaped my weaves with my guys.

[AgilityPup]

Hmm.... I dunno... What ever Bella seems to get... (She's pretty smart, actualy, amazing, I know!)... :)

[Dekka]

I comes down to two things, what will work for your dog, and how competative you want to be. I personally don't know of anyone who still uses the v set method to start dogs on weave poles. All I have heard of is problems and how long it takes to teach them. That is how most people were doing it when I first got into agility.

But hey if it works for you thats great. (lol I don't want to take that long, I am such an agility junkie)

[AgilityPup]

Haha, well, I was training Zoey with 2x2s, and she just wasn't getting it. I started her v-weaves, and she understood within days.

Really, we're in it for the fun. I know Bella isn't going to be an A+++ agility dog, but she'll be fun! :p

[Bear Luv]

I taught using 3x3's with Bear. She really got it down fast, she would make a C motion, and I would click and treat, and she just did that over and over until I could send her into them. Then I added another 3x3 set. She got the weaves down in a day of three 5 minute training sessions. The next day I tried to get speed on her, and held her back and told her basically she COULDNT weave, and boy did that make her want it xD. She had some trouble when she got speed, skipping poles. Right now she does 12 in about 3 seconds. She is a big dog, like Bella.

I dont recommend v-weaves, just because they take to long. I believe speed and proper footing come with time and practice. One thing is for sure, Bear has never had problems with entries. I know the V-weaves sometimes cause that confusion. Anyway, there are a lot of methods out there, I would look into more then just the v-weaves and go with what you think is best. What worked for Zoey probably wont work for Bella. Every dog is different :)

Diane

[AgilityPup]

^^ Thank you.

Hhhmmm... I may just send Zoey back to 2x2s (She's skipping a few bars)...... And train Bella like that. I don't know. :p

[mrose_s]

dumb question

whats the 2x2 method?

[milos_mommy]

OH MROSE! Haha i am so excited to explain this because i had it explained to me a while ago...

Okay, so you set up weaves like...here i'll make a paint diagram

NO ELSE SHOW HER WHILE I'M MAKING MY DIAGRAM I WANT TO!!!

[milos_mommy]

k don't laugh at my picture:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f264/formatted2fit/2x2diagram.jpg

Xs are weave poles, blue line is the dog.

You start out by making sort of a square with the weave poles and get the dog to move between the two sets, c/t, etc. Then you just keep moving them slowly closer and up or down so they resemble more of a line of weaves, c/t all the way, eventually the dog will start moving their body in a weave-ish manner in order to get through them, (if the dog is skipping or something you've gone too fast) and then they weave!!

[adojrts]

I would just like to add, when the 2x2 poles are in the first position, one of the first goals is to teach entry from different angles for each the dog and the handler, sending, call throughs. As the dog prgogress, to each stage proper entry is the main goal. I know trainers that don't add handler movement until the dog is weaving on at least 6 if not 12 weaves and then the dog is taught to keep weaving no matter where or what the handler is doing, including running in the opposite direction............that is when a dog is fully trained to weave.

[AgilityPup]

I'm going to do 2x2s... :) I've decided :p...

Good job, Milos_mommy, very good picture! :)

[Dasher's Mom]

Its funny I guess everyone is different, I taught my Dal 13 years ago using the Weave o' matic and he had great weaves. I taught Dasher mainly with WOM and some channel and his weaves are awesome. Zip is also learning WOM and has progressed very well. If I am consistent I have been able to get my guys weaving within 2 weeks or so. Personally the 2x2 is my least favorite method. I guess it really just depends on the dog and how they learn. If I had a dog that wasn't "getting it" using the WOM or channel I would try the 2x2 but it would not be my first choice. I have not heard good feedback from those who have tried the 2x2, manly they complain of their dogs popping out of the weaves. Again, I think it depends on the dog. I don't believe that using the WOM does not teach a dog to "think". Dasher unquestionably understands the behavior. :)

[Dekka]

2X2 taught properly will actually ensure that your dog doesn't pop out, as the dog actually understands what is expected ie weave every pole, vs a pattern trained dog.

And who is saying 2x2s are bad. Pretty much all the leading trainers (talking the people training dogs who go to the worlds, and have students who go to the worlds) are now using this method from what I hear. Now I will agree its a harder method to train from the humans part. Most people that I have seen (not saying anything about you cause I have not seen you) that have issues training 2x2s have bad timing. If you have really bad timing with a clicker then yes WOM or offset would be fine. But really I don't know how this 'couldn't' work.

[Storee's Mom]

ShayLee,

As long as you're not doing hundreds and hundreds of reps, you should be ok to start weaves now. Depends of course on how much more growing your pup has to do. My one year old will be starting the weaves soon, she's a golden but is a shrimp and pretty much her full grown size or close to it. I won't be doing a ton of work on the weaves yet, the plan is to start with the 2 x 2 in the living room and work on entries and control (we just now have a down where she will wait for a cue before going to a target.... unlike her bro who got his WC at 7 months). I don't see her getting into the ring until fall anyhow, so I'm not in a huge rush. When it warms up we'll do more work outside and have the option of weaves with wires as well, she comes to work with me and there is an agility field under the snow somewhere there.

Lana

[AgilityPup]

Lana,
She's a one year old, German Shepherd Dog, who is 26 inches at the shoulder. I hope she's done growing! :p

As for the 2x2s vs. W-a-M, I used WAM because I had herd nothing but good about it. I know a lot of people who taught with v-weaves, or heck, even luring, and they have awsome dogs...

I don't know which I'll use, I'm going to try both, and see what she's better at...

I plan on using 2x2s (well, one "set" (two bars)) for the entries anyway... Because Zoey won't do offside weaves.

[Dasher's Mom]

But really I don't know how this 'couldn't' work.

Oh I never said it "couldn't" work, I was just saying I prefer other methods besides the 2x2 and I think a lot depends on the individual dog. Not saying one method is better than the other.