Agility classes....

MissMutt · 07-03-2009, 01:19 PM

True, didn't think of that

MyCharlie · 07-03-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaina

Could also just stick two poles in the ground each side but still have the bar supported on the rocks...just for visual effect.

That's exactly what I was thinking!

Solid Mutt · 07-03-2009, 03:17 PM

Hi all!

It seems like everyone is doing so GREAT!

CorgiKarma & ara28 Welcome to the group! You both will get addicted trust me! LOL I look forward to hear all about your classes!

I don't have much time to much.

I am almost done work and we are headed out of town for the weekend!

I just wanted to drop in and say " HAPPY 4TH of July Everyone"

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday!

MyCharlie · 07-04-2009, 08:15 PM

Thanks Solid Mutt, hope you have a great holiday too!

We went out and practiced today and it was a little disappointing, in the aspect that I think Kaya is going to take a lot more work to train than Charlie did! I think she is just slower to "get it." But that's my issue, not hers haha!! She loves the contacts and does the tunnel fine, but keeps running around the jumps!

I'm planning on setting up a private lesson with the trainer to get us straightened out.

CorgiKarma · 07-06-2009, 01:41 AM

How many of you use a clicker? I never have but I will be when I start classes.

MissMutt · 07-06-2009, 06:59 AM

I use one on and off. It's good for contact training.

Shaina · 07-06-2009, 10:34 AM

@CorgiKarma - Yes I use it (or an equivalent since the actual physical "clicker" is banned from my classes) for teaching new behaviors and refining existing behaviors.

--------------------------

Kim starts advanced-level agility class tonight...heading off to the club to do a quick refresher on weaves and teeter so we are prepared...not really sure what this class is going to all entail...wish us luck lol

Webster's taking the summer off of classes and we will be working agility stuff on our own, but his main focus is going to be obedience & rally to prep for an upcoming trial. Kim's going to the obe and rally trials too but she has a longer history of obedience work and doesn't need quite as much work to be trial-ready.

MyCharlie · 07-06-2009, 12:23 PM

Good luck Shaina, Web, and Kim (with class tonight AND with the upcoming trials)! How soon are the obe/rally trials? My plan is to do that with Charlie but we haven't been to any trials yet (there are NONE near us anytime soon

)

Corgimama - I don't use the clicker regularly but want to incorporate it more (I'm a horrible procrastinator and can sometimes be lazy when it comes to doing what I know I need to do). The clicker is a wonderful, magical tool!

Shaina · 07-06-2009, 06:10 PM

A couple pics from this morning's trip...most of the time was spent with Webster running...Kim just did a few refresher items that she either needs extra practice on or that she hasn't done in a while.

This is what poor (for a camera) lighting conditions and a person unfamiliar with the camera they are using do to agility pictures lol...

Kim flying through the straight weaves:

Webster looking for a little reassurance:

Kim being reminded that even though she hasn't done a broad jump in a few months and it looks like something to walk on, it is in fact not a contact:

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyCharlie

Good luck Shaina, Web, and Kim (with class tonight AND with the upcoming trials)! How soon are the obe/rally trials? My plan is to do that with Charlie but we haven't been to any trials yet (there are NONE near us anytime soon

)

Next month and approaching fast!

MissMutt · 07-06-2009, 08:13 PM

I love the pictures, even with bad lighting and an inexperienced photog.

Hope to get some from my class tomorrow night.

MyCharlie · 07-08-2009, 07:39 AM

I love the pics too! Kim has awesome form.

MissMutt · 07-08-2009, 01:51 PM

We had an interesting night last night. Not much got done, at least compared to last week, when we were the only ones there.

We worked on going over the Dog Walk.. she's much more controlled than she has been and I don't have to run with my hand in front of her face anymore. She targeted a lid on the floor at the bottom of the off ramp, too, on the way down. Never did that before. She hasn't generalized it to the A-Frame though. Think it might be the steepness.

Did the teeter a couple of times, both with the table and without the table at low height, and although she is going over it, she is bracing herself in the middle rather than coming on to the yellow contact while it comes down. Not as good as last week, but she is showing enthusiasm to go over it. She tried to jump up the wrong side of it. LOL

Our jump sequences were awful, she was very easily distractible (too many darn people around!) and we need to work on our back crosses more. Oh well, there's always next week!

agility collie mom · 07-08-2009, 09:36 PM

Class again was pretty good tonight for Savannah and I. She only was distracted once. I think that was really good for the rah rah girl. I have to keep reminding myself that she is still very young (not even two yet). She jumped 20" tonight but I prefer to only jump her 16" until she is two. (Hard on the joints.) This was the final class in this session. We will be off for two weeks and than resume classes. We are staying in intermediate agility. I am not willing to rush her. I think that it would be a big mistake. I am in the process of making a teeter for home. Then I would like to make a table. (So that I can use it in conjunction with the teeter.) Savannah loves the teeter just runs too fast and I am afraid that she will fly off and get scared. So we need to practice two on two off.

Shaina · 07-08-2009, 09:58 PM

Thanks for the pics comments, guys

MM and acm -- glad to hear your classes are going well

Kim started advanced Monday, it was a breeze after the stuff my agility sport group and our little group of friends have been attempting (open course elements or worse). It was basically a big oval with 3 jumps in a straight line on each side and curved tunnels at each end...first ran around it, then used front crossed and reverse flow pivots to switch it up (having the dogs enter different sides of the tunnels after patterning them the other way, etc.). I think the main idea was for the instructor (who did not teach the previous class) to have a chance to assess everyone in the class.

Kim was SUPER amped up...she stayed totally focused (even when a BC got loose and started stalking her as she started her run), but man was she fired up. On one sequence we ran a line of 3 jumps, entered the off side of the tunnel with a pivot, then ran back down the same line to enter the off side of the opposite tunnel with a front cross. The pivot was not problem since I started with a 2-jump lead out, but on the return even though I was nearing jump 2 when she came out of the tunnel I was barely ahead of her going over the third jump, making the front cross tough to pull off. Fortunately she saw my indicator arm in time and jumped the last jump with collection so we were able to pull off the tight turn without a collision or me falling on my face lol. Given my handling choice I would do a rear cross here but I wanted to see if we were up to the challenge.

We've been kind of ho-humming it during the break, just doing drills and such, so it was an absolute blast to handle her all wired up like that again. She's such a fun girl to work with

especially when she's in the zone.

Oh and they pulled out 12 straight weaves at the end for us to run...after only going 6 *channel* weaves at the hardest in the previous class level. We've been working on weaves a lot on our own so Kim was fine and nailed it, but I felt really bad for those in the class who didn't have that option or didn't take advantage of it because that was a really ridiculous increase in difficulty.

All equipment in the class will be full height...including the teeter. Kim's improving steadily and we are slowing raising the teeter, but if they use it in the class before I think we are ready we won't do it...and I have a feeling (based on a comment by the instructor) that I will likely have to fight to stand by that decision. But maybe we'll be ready by then...who knows. *Not* going to rush!

Okay whew that was a long update lol...thanks for reading

Lonewolfblue · 07-08-2009, 10:48 PM

Looks like everyone is doing well, and great pics. Nell starts up again tomorrow night. I can't wait. They are doing something different this time, not sure the reasoning for it. But for the first class, they are only having 2 class times, and it's going to be all Agility levels combined for the first day (both novice and competition levels), and the class is going to be an hour and a half rather than the hour. So we get our choice as to which class time we want to go to. After that class, then it's back to the normal class times for each individual level. Maybe they are going to see where everyone is at and move people up that need to be in a higher level, who knows, lol. But it will be interesting. I can't wait. I had Chloe's class tonight and all went very well.

ara28 · 07-11-2009, 05:43 PM

Well, we were supposed to have our very first class this morning but it was cancelled due to the heat advisory

so we start next saturday hopefully. I was really hoping I would have something to report this week, but maybe next week!

Shaina · 07-13-2009, 09:04 PM

Last week Kim was at the top of the class.

This week I'm not even sure she was really IN the class. Totally insane. Beyond insane. Through the roof spastic. Herding drive overflowing to a degree I haven't seen even in most border collies. Retrieving drive not far behind.

The next person that comes on the forum saying that mixed breeds have "tempered" characteristics of the breeds that comprise them is going to get an earful...

We got through...we did all the courses (and with great enthusiasm), but my word I think I need a nap...

Solid Mutt · 07-13-2009, 09:08 PM

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it has been a few days. I am filling in for someone at work and when I get home and finally done outside I am exhausted. LOL

It sounds like Everyone is doing really GREAT! That is wonderful news. Keep up the good work.

Shaina - I loved the pictures!

ACM- It sounds like Savannah is doing great! I think it is great you are not rusing her and are keeping her in intermediate at this moment. No need to rush.

All is well here. We start Level 3 (Nov. Comp agility) Wednesday evening. I am pretty excited. I can't wait to get back at it. In the mail we got our "Graduation" gift. LOL

I have a Martingale collar on Voodoo makes her look like she is suspended from the tire doesn't it? HA HA There is a Show 'N Go this weekend I would love to take Voodoo to. So we shall see. LOL I have just been practicing some things here at home with her to keep her busy. LOL I am getting ready to send off for her CPE number. YEAH!

Ok I will hush for now!

CorgiKarma · 07-13-2009, 09:09 PM

Bailey and I have our first class tomorrow at 7:45! I'm so excited!

Shaina · 07-13-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solid Mutt

LOL I am getting ready to send off for her CPE number. YEAH!

Looking great

very nice pic! Just wanted to say...if you have your eye on an upcoming trial do NOT hesitate to get that CPE app in...it took me about a month to receive my registration #s and such from the time I sent it in.

@CorgiKarma - Good luck!