Agility training

adojrts said:
Sooooooo have you started your conditoning and sprint/running training yet? Your going to need it, to keep up :)
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Ugh, I need to do this too. I about die after a 16 obstacle course.. I don't even want to think about the 20+ courses. I may look fit, but am seriously slacking in the endurance aspect. My boss just laughs at me as I'm curled up on the floor dying.
 
Another stage of Who's teeter rebuild. For those that don't know she got launched off a teeter by another dog stepping on the end and she has had a problem on and off since then (over a year). It has effected her overall agility performance and had stopped any plans on trialing her. Until now.........she is doing my teeter again, driving and accelerating towards it, running through the pivot point and riding it down in the contact zone with a high wagging tail. Last weekend at House League, she offered the teeter there and was very proud of herself, she did that teeter several times with a wagging tail. It also has rubberized contacts, so very different from mine.

I picked up a loaner teeter from a friend today, one that she uses at the trials she hosts (she has several teeters). Just another teeter to train on here at home, I expect she'll be fine but a great chance to make sure. Then we are off to a lovely facility a couple of hours away to rent for an hour. They typically don't do outside rentals but she was nice enough to help me, help Who get over her issue. I plan on goin there within the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, that also goes well and I can enter her in a trial there next month. Crossing fingers that this rebuild of the teeter performance is solid and will last. It has been a long time, but if nothing else Who's other agility skills are much higher now, certainly trained well beyond novice/starters level and can handle most Masters skills needed (hopefully in the near future). About the only thing I am not happy with at this point is her contacts for the DW and Frame, solid contacts but only an average performance in regards to speed. Started to rework that too, not horrible just not ideal and what I want :) Oh almost forgot, have her entered in a fun match next weekend at a new venue, another test the waters venue. Plus I have another lesson next Friday here with 2010 FCI World Agility Champion Jess Martin (she comes to my place to give lessons) and also doing a workshop at another location with Jess this Sunday. So lots of wonderful opportunities to work different teeters and venues in the next few weeks before some trials.
 
Shai said:
Hurray Who!

Also, can I borrow your instructor? :):p
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Thanks :) I love training with Jess. I have trained with some good instructors in the past and none of them hold a candle to her. Not only has she done very well, she can teach.
 
I can see why, just in that clip -- she did a great job of catching a nuance, explaining what and why with the fewest words and a succinct demo...an instructor with a good eye and ability to convey info is such gold...I really miss working with the gal I took a few privates from before moving, and your clip reminded me just how much!

Looking forward to seeing more of Miss Who :)
 
adojrts said:
Here is a vid of Who, still pacing me but happy with where we are in our training :)
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Nice! What a little cutie!

And lucky you for having such an awesome coach! I trained very briefly with her and Adrian years ago, before my big old guy was injured and retired from agility....they are amazing.
 
Alright so I have a question regarding weave poles.

When you're teaching 2x2's, do you throw the toy before the dog goes through the weaves, as they are going through, or after they already went through as a reward type thing? I just started with Sam today and I was throwing before to get him to go through, but I just wanted to check :)
 
Samsonyte! said:
Alright so I have a question regarding weave poles.

When you're teaching 2x2's, do you throw the toy before the dog goes through the weaves, as they are going through, or after they already went through as a reward type thing? I just started with Sam today and I was throwing before to get him to go through, but I just wanted to check :)
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I don't do 2x2's, but it's shaping. Throwing beforehand is luring, so you want to avoid that as much as possible, or else the toss becomes the cue. When we shape the tire or jumps, we click at the moment of commitment, and then toss the treat when they're through.
 
Samsonyte! said:
Okay thanks! So I would toss the toy after he's gone through as a reward right?
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The way I understand it is that as the dog commits to entering the poles, you click and toss. So if you're shaping, you could start by clicking/tossing when he looks at the poles, then starts to move towards them, then when he is actually committing to going through. Waiting until after he's gone through would be a too late.

I have not used the 2x2 method either but I have looked into it quite a bit and my understand is that the delivery of the reward is pretty important, as well as that you are not luring the behavior.
 
You guys are so awesome! No clue who/what/where half of what everyone is talking about, and feel like a noob again (even after 5 years doing agility).
 
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