Agility classes....

Squeeker · 10-30-2009, 07:00 PM

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Squeeker, you are Libby sound like you all are doing great! It makes it even better when you just go and have a blast! She is such a good girl! Is her skin still doing well?

Thanks!! Her allergies are starting to subside with the change in the weather. We are weaning her off the meds, and it is going smoothly. Hopefully she'll be off in a few more weeks.

Solid Mutt, that is a fabulous teeter!! I can't wait until I have enough room for agility equipment... JEALOUS!

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Cherokee is doing great in agility since I started coming in the back door

Haha, whatever works! Dogs are so funny... Cherokee's girlfriend is a cutie!

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Well, Marge dunnit again..

Proved me wrong.. did GREAT at the run-thru. Vid to come later.

Fantastic!! Can't wait to see videos and hear how it goes this weekend!

We had a good class again this week! It was the last class of the session, and to start we pulled out the official dog measurer and measured all of the dogs. It is confirmed: Libby will be running 22". Glad I measured right at home, lol!

We did 12 weaves, and Libby did all 12 with no barriers! 3 times! WOOHOO!

We did two short sequences, as well. Both included many wraps and crosses, and both were very tight courses. My timing was a bit off last night, but otherwise we had a blast!

Our next session starts next week. Same time, day, and instructor. Yay!

MissMutt · 10-30-2009, 11:41 PM

Squeeker, great to hear about the weaves. It has been a long and slow process but it sounds like it's all coming together with those darn poles.

Here is the video from today. My handling was AWFUL, my arms were flailing all over the place and I really didn't strategize or anything while I was walking the course because I was so nervous and had Marge out there with me so that she could sniff and get comfortable. So I definitely think the couple of errors that there are had a lot to do with me.

She had NO 2o2o, especially not on the A-Frame, thanks to her speed, I think.

I decided to carry a toy, but honestly, she really didn't look like she was "running for the toy" or anything..she was driving ahead better than I think I've ever see her do, and, although she was a little bit reckless with the A-Frame and in a couple of other spots, she was having fun.

The one time she broke from me is because she was coughing.. I think she had a piece of treat or something stuck in her throat. Other than that, the only time she broke from me (in my other run) was to sniff the tunnel bags that were laying just beyond the weave poles.

This is a NADAC Elite Regular course, BTW.

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Please send us your good vibes for Sunday.. it's going to be a whole different ballgame because I will have none of those things like toys and a leash or a collar to make me feel safer. Fortunately she showed NO sign that she wanted to run out of the ring like she does at class, and, even though there were noises and distractions going on in the background (setting up tents, whining dog, mowing the lawn) she really didn't look scared. Hope you see the same thing from her when you watch the video.

Squeeker · 10-31-2009, 08:56 AM

Great video! She didn't look scared at all!

I think the two of you did very well! I'm so excited for you guys for Sunday! Just keep yourself calm and great things will happen!

Solid Mutt · 10-31-2009, 08:13 PM

Squeeker - That is excellent news about the weaves this week. WOO HOO go Libby. It is wonderful her allergies too.

Miss Mutt - Awesome Video! squeeker is right, she did not looked scared at all. Voodoo and I are sending Good Vibes your way for tomorrow. We can wait for an update of how it goes!

MissMutt · 10-31-2009, 08:19 PM

Getting the jitters now big time.. I'm heading to sleep in a couple of hours so I can really rest up.

It's raining right now and supposed to shower on and off during the night. Marge hates running on wet grass, so I really hope we still get to run. I'm not going to run her if it's soaked, because I feel that her first trial experience should be amazingly fun and awesome.

I originally wanted to enter the Touch N Go class as a day of show entry because it's the first class, but I have a feeling the grass is going to be very wet in the morning so it's probably not a good idea. I'll have to wait for Regular 1, which is the third class to go, and they're running Elite to Novice so we'll have a good bit of dogs ahead of us.. any idea how long it usually takes to move through the classes? Apparently the classes are a "nice size" and not very big at all.

Shaina · 10-31-2009, 10:23 PM

Looking good, MM -- good luck tomorrow!

MissMutt · 11-01-2009, 10:25 PM

Oh boy I am SO tired lol.

We are not doing this again for a LONG time. I'm happy we ran today because it was a great learning experience and it came together after a rocky start, but we definitely need some work.

First off all, Marge wasn't scared at all. I thought she was going to be, so I purposely left her pretty "fresh" for the trial. I decided to enter her in Touch n Go because they were taking Day of Show entries and it was the first class.

What a major disaster, LOL. She had no concept of the hoops and I think found them downright boring. She took off doing zoomies. Not once, twice, but three times. The third time she left the ring, went over to my boyfriend to play bow to him and convince him to continue rebelling with her LOL.

I wasn't that scared, but in retrospect I'm terrified playing it over in my head. Next time, I am going to walk her and run her all over to make sure she doesn't get the zoomies. Of all the scenarios I considered, zoomies were not one of them.

After that, I didn't know whether or not to run her in Regular, which is what I signed up for earlier, but ultimately after a lot of walking, more running around with her, practicing recalls, etc., I decided to give it a shot.

The result:

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My handling was AWFUL which is I think the reason we had that off course at the jump. I was supposed to front cross after the 180 but I think I just kind of froze and forgot about it. VERY happy about how she handled those two tunnels.. it's obvious that she was listening to me. The failed weaves were a combination of speed coming from the tunnel and me sending her too late. Not her fault at all, and I didn't want to break her momentum to have her run off again.

She ran like a crazy girl down the line but I think she looks really drivey.. went out ahead with no problem (up to the little boy leash runner!) and finished without bolting off lol. Obviously it was an NQ, but even with all of the mistakes she was a good 7-8 seconds under course time and wound up 8th out of 11.

I can't stop thinking about the zoomies.. I was expecting her to be slightly timid and want to stick right by me, but honestly she just seemed to be having a grand old time with herself lol. At least we ended better than we started rather than vice versa. I think we'll run the speedy classes like Tunnelers and Touch n Go in the summer months.

Shaina · 11-02-2009, 06:31 AM

But did you both have fun (I know Marge did lol)?

As I would have said this weekend...the Spirit of Kim is strong in this one

We hit our first course Saturday...first time on a packed dirt course...Kim started the course, then stopped, grinned, playbowed HARD, then zoomed like a maniac. She came back and we finished but she was definitely on a joyride for about 5 seconds...seemed like an eternity...lol

Basically, I feel your pain

agility collie mom · 11-02-2009, 07:24 AM

Miss Mutt,
You and Marge did a wonderful job. I know how nervous you were but, Marge did great! They do tend to get the "zoomies" especially if it is cool out. Rio had them when we went to the demo. But they tend to settle down after they are there a while. (Either that or we are not as nervous and they sense it!) Great first trial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9NIZOvfKpc

MissMutt · 11-02-2009, 07:25 AM

We definitely did both have fun, Shaina. She was more comfortable at the trial than I ever imagined she would be, and it made for some really goofy moments. I really had fun on the Regular course, too.

Thank you, ACM! Maybe I''ll post the video of it.. people keep asking me to see it lol. I honestly wasn't all that nervous going in, but it was definitely a more-jittery moment than a regular class.

MegaMuttMom · 11-02-2009, 11:30 AM

I love the video of Marge, she looks so happy and motivated! Even though mistakes were made, you finished and, from my perspective, it was very successful

Way to go!!

Solid Mutt · 11-02-2009, 01:43 PM

Miss Mutt - WOO HOO, you both did GREAT! I think it sounds like it was sucessful and you all gained experience. It sounds like Marge was really feeling good and no worries about being scared. That is GREAT NEWS! I love the video, you two did so good for your first time! You should be so proud! The best and most important thing is you BOTH HAD FUN!

So are you ready to go again? lol

Squeeker · 11-02-2009, 08:36 PM

I was waiting for this!!! Wow, great job! The two of you did a great job! Marge wasn't nervous at ALL, which is fantastic!

I think it was a very successful meet for you! You both learned a lot about each other, and had fun doing it! Can't ask for much more than that! The Q's will come.

When's your next meet?

MissMutt · 11-02-2009, 09:49 PM

It probably won't be for a while. I'd like to do some more run-throughs (especially ones where I can use treats) because I don't want to push her too hard, and I want to make sure it stays really fun for her. I'm looking at some trials between March and June of next year. There are some indoor ones coming up, but I think I should do a few indoor run-throughs with lots of cookies before entering a real trial, because I know it'll be very different for her.

The pictures are up on the photographer's website. The only pics he got from Touch n Go are from the dog walk and she doesn't look happy in them at all! These are two from the Regular run. The tunnel one is my favorite, and I think I'll order it as an 8x10 print and a mousepad

Solid Mutt · 11-03-2009, 08:34 AM

Miss Mutt - GREAT PICTURES! I LOVE THEM, she LOOKS AWESOME! I would order an 8 x 10 as well... I like the mouse pad idea too. Makes me think I need a mouse pad at work with Voodoo on it. lol

agility collie mom · 11-03-2009, 11:26 PM

Well everyone Rio and I had our last class of the year tonight. We will be starting up again in Jan. It was a bittersweet night however. I have posted about my friend's dog Toby before. He is the wonderful little sheltie friend of Rio's. He was diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this year, he is not doing well. He has been through quit a few rounds of chemo but unfortunately his liver is shutting down. He came over to me tonight and just leaned against me so that I could rub, pet and kiss him. I had tears in my eyes. I could just see the sadness in his face. His Mom Lucy looked so tired and sad. I wish so much that there was something I could do for both of them. Every time I read the next new medical report (I work for Toby's vet) I just want to cry. Please keep Toby and Lucy in your thoughts and prayers.

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http://www.keystonecanine.com/Brags/Brags.htm

Shaina · 11-04-2009, 05:39 PM

A few pics from a recent trial:

(yes she hit her 2o2o)

Might have a vid from our latest trial sometime soon if I can get a copy of it.

MissMutt · 11-04-2009, 07:35 PM

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Originally Posted by agility collie mom

Well everyone Rio and I had our last class of the year tonight. We will be starting up again in Jan. It was a bittersweet night however. I have posted about my friend's dog Toby before. He is the wonderful little sheltie friend of Rio's. He was diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this year, he is not doing well. He has been through quit a few rounds of chemo but unfortunately his liver is shutting down. He came over to me tonight and just leaned against me so that I could rub, pet and kiss him. I had tears in my eyes. I could just see the sadness in his face. His Mom Lucy looked so tired and sad. I wish so much that there was something I could do for both of them. Every time I read the next new medical report (I work for Toby's vet) I just want to cry. Please keep Toby and Lucy in your thoughts and prayers.

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http://www.keystonecanine.com/Brags/Brags.htm

So sad about the little guy. Hoping for a miracle, somehow.

Great pics, Shaina. I would love to do an indoor trial but I'm just so worried about pushing Marge too hard. Also all the indoor trials are CPE so there will be the added stress of measuring. (Speaking of which, does CPE use wickets or something else?)

Shaina · 11-04-2009, 07:52 PM

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Originally Posted by MissMutt

(Speaking of which, does CPE use wickets or something else?)

Yeah I've seen this kind:

And ones that are basically pvc U's of different heights which are placed over the dog. Kim wasn't a fan of those at all.

MissMutt · 11-04-2009, 10:10 PM

Yeah, I'm a little worried about that. I know she's not going to want to stand with one over her.. I'm actually thinking of making one out of PVC to desensitize her to it.