Agility training

[Shai]

Originally Posted by Panzerotti

Thanks, we really are! I think she's going to turn out half-decent. I'm happy with the speed she's offering while learning and I'm assuming it'll increase once she "gets" everything. I'm also relearning handling as we go... it's been years since I've done agility with Solo.

Yeah it's funny how different dogs change in speed over time. Mira started out superfast then as she learned it's to some degree like she figured how much there was to know and slowed down a bit as she was thinking and figuring things out. Now she's back up to superspeed in practice. Her trial speed is someone slower as I think I run a bit differently in trials (something I'm working on with myself!) and a lot of our trials are indoors on mats even though we virtually never train on mats so she is trying to adjust to the different surface at the same time. I'm loving seeing the babydog learn and advance with every run.

Agility is so much fun Pan is going to be a nice competition dog for you!

[PWCorgi]

This thread has too much malinois. It makes me want, even though I know I will never own one. They're so pretty!

Pan, are you training in a hockey rink? That is where Frodo and I will be working too.

[MandyPug]

Just a few reps through the weave poles with Izzie, trying to switch it up and do different things while she does them like videoing from farther away. She's really learned what her job is and the speed is coming in.

http://youtu.be/gVKFSTRLGhM

Not to shabby for a partially blind little Pug!

[Panzerotti]

Originally Posted by PWCorgi

This thread has too much malinois. It makes me want, even though I know I will never own one. They're so pretty!

Pan, are you training in a hockey rink? That is where Frodo and I will be working too.

There's never too much Malinois!

I train all over the place! One of my spots is at a high school, sometimes I set up loose on the grounds but a popular walking trail ends nearby so I tried out the rink. It was nice to not have to worry about loose dogs running over to us, but the footing wasn't quite as nice as grass. It will definitely be nice for you and Frodo though to not have to worry about other dogs.

[Panzerotti]

Originally Posted by MandyPug

Just a few reps through the weave poles with Izzie, trying to switch it up and do different things while she does them like videoing from farther away. She's really learned what her job is and the speed is coming in.

http://youtu.be/gVKFSTRLGhM

Not to shabby for a partially blind little Pug!

She's even partially blind?! Holy crap, she IS a WonderPug!

[MandyPug]

Originally Posted by Panzerotti

She's even partially blind?! Holy crap, she IS a WonderPug!

Yeah, around 6 months old she suffered a nasty cat scratch to the eye and her iris prolapsed out of the wound. $2500 later she can see some but not well, it's like looking through a drinking straw so no peripheral in that eye which has caused issues with weaving and heeling where she needs to use that peripheral vision. It's taken some work to get her comfortable, moreso with heeling than anything else though, she doesn't like to look up at me because she can't see where she's going.

[Aleron]

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

He started barking in the last run, and spinning, which at least told me he was thinking enough to be frustrated, maybe I am taking that wrong though. I did however put him in a down stay outside of the ring to bring him back down. If I run him with a toy of any sort he'll behave that way. I had to remove the use of targets (lids) because he can make those into toys as well, if we need a target in the future we'll try an actual dinner plate to deter picking it up. Again though, I am really happy with this run. To be honest I started walking the course like I would with Sloan and had to think, no... stop, this is for him but he really impressed me. He's starting to click... that or tomorrow I'll swear again he's a moron and I want to die. LOL

Indoors you can try a piece of duct tape on the floor. Not that he won't still try to pick it up LOL

In all the videos you've posted of him, he really seems like he's a good boy! I think within another few months, you'll be even more impressed with him


I think Ziggy and Backup struggle with a lot of the same things actually. I wish we

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

Yeah, I'm sure why but I venture it's the obed that either hurts the right OR laid foundation for being used to being on my left, basically meaning I'm not sure he even likes to be on my left but he tolerates it because he's been doing it with me since 8 months old.

It could very well seem to him that being on your right side is wrong and weird. You're changing the rules!

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

I'll do that. It's funny, I feel so clumsy, after years of obed, trying to train a dog to heel on my right. I finally got Sloan in but for her it was me totally, she had minimal trouble and I had motor skills izzues.

LOL I almost said in the last post that obedience handlers often struggle with the right hand side thing as much or more than the dogs! Obedience gets you so used to be left side oriented when working your dog that it seems weird and wrong to you as well.

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

I'm spending most of my time trying to figure out his weaves these days. If we can champion those then we'll address the fact his Aframe isn't very nice. He hits the aframe up like he's going to do a wall turn (which he'll sometimes offer) and then flies off the down. He will offer a 2o2o if he's going slowly but with any speed we lose it, plus because he's long in the loin I'm not sure I want his 2o2o on the aframe. So we have been trying using a stride regulator or loose hoop to pop him over the top and a board (obed broad jump segment) at the floor 3 feet out which he avoids with a mission but it doesn't seem to be curing things just yet.

Are you thinking of trying a running contact with him? Or a just a running aframe? He looks like he definitely has the idea on his DW and teeter. I haven't had much luck with untrained running contacts or running contacts influenced by outside things (me moving a certain way, stride regulators, hoops, etc) with fast drive-y dogs. Often it seems to work until the dog gains speed or it works in a training setting but not in a trial. I struggled for years with my GSD's contacts and never got the issue resolved. When all was said and done, I ended up having to try to race her to the end of the contact and block her LOL And of course...the faster I tried to get to the end of the contact, the faster she tried to and it was truly a race! I have high hopes for the Silvia Trkman method and I know for a running Aframe, a lot of people like Rachel Sander's method. I've heard Susan Garrett is teaching her running contacts using a foot target on the floor.


[/QUOTE]
This isn't the best, or even okay, handling but I wanted a video.

He normally finds his 2o2o much faster and with more confidence (for some reason that is usually something that clicks nicely for him) but I think I was weirding him out holding my phone and not moving with him.

http://youtu.be/ZU6ycUORVRk[/QUOTE]

I loved his release into the tunnel from the teeter! He is giving you a "why are you so weird?" look though LOL

The issue with trying to train things slow than hoping to get speed (or getting it because the dog develops a better understanding/more confidence) is that it's a different behavior when the dog is running full speed than when they are practicing slowly. So you should aim to work at speed as soon as possible because I suspect he's going to be fast Even if it means going back to making things very, very easy so that he can successfully do what you're asking...and without killing himself LOL

Savvy has been in a foundation class for probably 9 months? And we're still doing low equipment and mostly just single obstacles with small amounts of sequencing. For the single obstacle work we do different things, such as lead outs, crosses, sends, etc and all done at speed with rewards after every successful try. Sequencing is very simple - table, tunnel, tunnel. Contacts are done only individually right and will be until they are fully trained, at full speed. I have done some additional sequencing with Savvy because I start my dogs on jumps differently than the instructor does. But he's done no sequences involving contacts at all because they aren't trained yet. He is the first dog I have trained this way, I usually try to start sequencing very early and use appropriately lowered contacts for puppies/beginners. However, I can also see with my dogs how working contacts in this manner didn't work out as ideally as not including contacts until they are trained. Jora of course had the flying off issue, as does Ziggy. Jagger has creeping problems on the downside of the contacts, especially the aframe. Whimsy is pretty good but it took awhile to get her doing full height aframes with her 2o2o at speed and her teeter has required regular maintenance. I feel some of these issues could have been avoided by completely training the contact away from the other obstacles before using it in sequences/courses. The way Savvy is being trained, all obstacles are having a lot of value built into them individually and he's learning way more about proper performance of those obstacles from the start than my previous dogs have.

I still think there are advantages to introducing easy sequencing from the start but easy is key and using appropriate obstacles. Tunnels, tables and jumps are good to start with. I really like Silvia Trkman's idea of developing sequences around favorite obstacles. For example, she suggests building a lot of value in the tunnel then doing sequences that revolve around the tunnel. First very, very simple (tunnel, jump, tunnel) but very gradually more obstacles and more difficult. This person has some info on ST Foundation class exercises on her blog:

http://justatibetanpup.blogspot.com/...-one-week.html

http://justatibetanpup.blogspot.com/...ss-lesson.html

[Aleron]

Originally Posted by Panzerotti

I've also started RC from scratch and am going to get a super thin board this weekend....I've had her running a carpet for the past few sessions.

I was just wondering how your RC training was going and kept forgetting to ask. What made you start over?

I'm about knee high or a bit more with Savvy now. I actually had him on a low DW but I think I increased the height too much and was getting a lot of jumping...some good hits but too much jumping. So we're back to the raise plank. I abandoned RC with Whim for the time being. I have been looking forward to agility the BSCA National (this week!!!) and decided it wasn't a good time to be retraining. Plus her weaves really needed attention, so I wanted to focus on getting those up to par before the National. And now her 2o2o has come along so nicely over the past couple months that I'm wondering if I should retrain at all. She is finally to where she has a great understanding of it and is fast and confident on her way to the position, so I worry about confusion with retraining. Guess I can decide at any time though!

Originally Posted by Panzerotti

Thanks, we really are! I think she's going to turn out half-decent. I'm happy with the speed she's offering while learning and I'm assuming it'll increase once she "gets" everything. I'm also relearning handling as we go... it's been years since I've done agility with Solo.

She's looking great! And I'm sure she'll only get faster

Originally Posted by MandyPug

http://youtu.be/gVKFSTRLGhM

Not to shabby for a partially blind little Pug!

Go Izzie! Not bad at all

[AdrianneIsabel]

Originally Posted by Aleron

Indoors you can try a piece of duct tape on the floor. Not that he won't still try to pick it up LOL

hahahaha, that's actually a great idea though. We have a ton of gaffers and duct tape here.

Originally Posted by Aleron

In all the videos you've posted of him, he really seems like he's a good boy! I think within another few months, you'll be even more impressed with him

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Aleron

I think Ziggy and Backup struggle with a lot of the same things actually. I wish we

It helps having someone who's gone through this and came out alive then. LOL I know now that he has the potential for being a good dog, I'm struggling with if we'll ever get there.

Originally Posted by Aleron

LOL I almost said in the last post that obedience handlers often struggle with the right hand side thing as much or more than the dogs! Obedience gets you so used to be left side oriented when working your dog that it seems weird and wrong to you as well.

Totally!

Originally Posted by Aleron

Are you thinking of trying a running contact with him? Or a just a running aframe? He looks like he definitely has the idea on his DW and teeter.

I would like a running Aframe for his structure but I am not opposed to a stop, maybe a 4 on the floor? Anything to let me catch a second with him may help. LOL

Originally Posted by Aleron

I loved his release into the tunnel from the teeter! He is giving you a "why are you so weird?" look though LOL

He and I both share that look of "Man, you're a freak".

Originally Posted by Aleron

The issue with trying to train things slow than hoping to get speed (or getting it because the dog develops a better understanding/more confidence) is that it's a different behavior when the dog is running full speed than when they are practicing slowly. So you should aim to work at speed as soon as possible because I suspect he's going to be fast Even if it means going back to making things very, very easy so that he can successfully do what you're asking...and without killing himself LOL

I'll try, sometimes I find his brain doesn't even work when it's full speed though. I mean he's coming along with his weaves but if I let him get too fast and send him he'll blow past them and not look back til he's hit the wall. Also today I tried some one and two jump exercises and one jump he did well, two if I held his paw, but if I set him up and let him rip he'd do one and circle the other in confusion, I guess that tells me he needs more intel but it's frustrating for me.

Originally Posted by Aleron

Savvy has been in a foundation class for probably 9 months? And we're still doing low equipment and mostly just single obstacles with small amounts of sequencing. For the single obstacle work we do different things, such as lead outs, crosses, sends, etc and all done at speed with rewards after every successful try Sequencing is very simple - table, tunnel, tunnel. Contacts are done only individually right and will be until they are fully trained, at full speed.

We have a puppy class like that but it's not offered for adults. Unfortunately most of our adult classes on lower level are geared towards getting pet dogs up and running, then we back peddle and re-foundation with our upper level classes. It's backwards and I don't like it but it's how the boss wants it. :/

Originally Posted by Aleron

I have done some additional sequencing with Savvy because I start my dogs on jumps differently than the instructor does. But he's done no sequences involving contacts at all because they aren't trained yet.

Yeah, I really need to hold off on letting him on the aframe until I figure out what I want for a contact.

Originally Posted by Aleron

He is the first dog I have trained this way, I usually try to start sequencing very early and use appropriately lowered contacts for puppies/beginners. However, I can also see with my dogs how working contacts in this manner didn't work out as ideally as not including contacts until they are trained. Jora of course had the flying off issue, as does Ziggy. Jagger has creeping problems on the downside of the contacts, especially the aframe. Whimsy is pretty good but it took awhile to get her doing full height aframes with her 2o2o at speed and her teeter has required regular maintenance. I feel some of these issues could have been avoided by completely training the contact away from the other obstacles before using it in sequences/courses. The way Savvy is being trained, all obstacles are having a lot of value built into them individually and he's learning way more about proper performance of those obstacles from the start than my previous dogs have.

Sounds like you really have it together and Savvy will benefit from this! Thank you so much for taking the time to walk me through some of this, it really does help. It's hard, I know, when no one on here has seen him in action really but I'm so tired of asking people for help and them just sighing or cringing or getting those bewildered eyes that I'm really gun shy about even attempting the big bucks to go to a seminar or privates with any of the big names and this kind of help really does make me feel like we're not just a waste of time.

Originally Posted by Aleron

I still think there are advantages to introducing easy sequencing from the start but easy is key and using appropriate obstacles. Tunnels, tables and jumps are good to start with. I really like Silvia Trkman's idea of developing sequences around favorite obstacles. For example, she suggests building a lot of value in the tunnel then doing sequences that revolve around the tunnel. First very, very simple (tunnel, jump, tunnel) but very gradually more obstacles and more difficult. This person has some info on ST Foundation class exercises on her blog:

http://justatibetanpup.blogspot.com/...-one-week.html

http://justatibetanpup.blogspot.com/...ss-lesson.html

Thank you, I'll check these out. I'm not sure but I think the teeter may be Backups favorite obstacle, strange but true. LOL

[Panzerotti]

Originally Posted by Aleron

I was just wondering how your RC training was going and kept forgetting to ask. What made you start over?

I wasn't able to train outside while the snow melted because our field was all swampy, so we had to take quite a few weeks off. When I went back to it she was convinced that only one crazy leap off the board was required, lol. Since I skipped the carpet stage the first time I decided to go back and really imprint the "running" concept in her mind.

Originally Posted by Aleron

I'm about knee high or a bit more with Savvy now. I actually had him on a low DW but I think I increased the height too much and was getting a lot of jumping...some good hits but too much jumping. So we're back to the raise plank.

Yeah, it's so tempting to advance things quickly, especially when they're doing well!

I'm in the process of painting my brand new teeter as well, so we'll be starting that soon. I've been going back and forth about how I'm going to teach it....I'm leaning toward Silvia's method though.....keep it simple.