Agility classes....

Squeeker · 04-24-2009, 09:52 PM

We had a really good class this week! We started with the teeter again, and Libby did really well. Still with the pause table under the end.

Next we did the weaves again. This week we started removing some of the barriers, and all of the dogs did FANTASTIC! Here is a photo! You can see that all of the barriers on the side closest to the camera has no barriers left!

Then we did two big sequences. They were both designed to be fast runs for the dogs, to teach us how to manage our movements to be efficient and save time on the course. Libby is too darn fast!

Can't wait til next week!

agility collie mom · 04-25-2009, 05:29 AM

I like the barrier idea! I've never seen that done. Might try it with Savannah. Maybe she'll actually see the poles and not boing into them lol. I agree when they have speed it's tough to keep up. Sometimes when they are green you will get a spin like "where you at mom, what are we doing next?" Glad to hear that things are progressing well for both of you.

Squeeker · 05-05-2009, 08:54 PM

Yay, more videos from this past week's class!

First up - the teeter. We've progressed to using the shorter pause table under the end.

Weave poles, removing the other 3 barriers.

First sequence - fast one!

And the second sequence:

Squeeker · 05-05-2009, 09:04 PM

...and a photo of Libby waiting oh-so-patiently (and cutely) while I walked the course.

Shaina · 05-05-2009, 10:02 PM

Very nice ~ looks like you guys are doing great, Squeeker!

agility collie mom · 05-05-2009, 11:07 PM

What a great job you are doing together. Beautiful teamwork! We are off for two weeks. Maybe I'll finally get a chance to take photos of Rio and get his ILP registration done so we can start trialing this year.

Solid Mutt · 05-06-2009, 11:06 AM

More great Videos! Thanks so much for sharing. It looks like Libby is doing great! What a great team you two are.

We finished our intro course last week. I was tickled with the compliments the instructors said about Voodoo. It was very encouraging. I was debating on taking the fundamentals class or taking the next level obedience. The fundamentals class starts in a couple weeks. I am leaning toward the agility because of the encouraging things they had to say and they only offer these in the spring/summer/fall, I could do obedeince in the winter. LOL

It is weird thinking I don't have dog class tonight. Oh well I will just practice some at home.

Squeeker · 05-08-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

I am leaning toward the agility because of the encouraging things they had to say and they only offer these in the spring/summer/fall, I could do obedeince in the winter. LOL

Haha, we did the same thing

Annnnnnd, here is a video of this week's sequence. Didn't video the weaves/teeter etc. as it was pretty much the same as last week.

I rewarded Libby after the chute in the sequence because we hadn't done it in AGES - probably 3-4 months at least. She did it without hesitation, so I thought she deserved a reward!

Solid Mutt · 05-14-2009, 08:08 AM

[QUOTE=Squeeker;539186]Haha, we did the same thing

QUOTE]

I am so glad I am not the only one that thought about doing that.

Libby looks great! I just love to see the progress.

I signed Voodoo and I up for Agility fundementals/Level 2 Agility it starts next Wednesday. I was waiting to find out from the instructor if the GSD that was such a problem was going to go on. I have been informed that she will not be going on. Whew, LOL. So, I am pretty stoked about starting the next level.

MissMutt · 05-15-2009, 11:36 AM

We're through three weeks of Beginner Agility class. Marge loves it and out of all the dogs is probably doing the best on jumping and paw targeting. She is not afraid of the a-frame or dogwalk at all, and is getting better at the tunnel. We only did the chute once, with it open.

We started weave poles and she seems to be doing well with the slanted poles method. She can take about three poles at a time. I wish I had poles in my backyard to practice more. (Question: my instructor says to stand IN FRONT OF the dog while they are doing the poles such that the dog is basically weaving their way up to you. She said not to run alongside them because then you create a dog who will only weave with you next to them. Does this sound right? I can't really find the logic in it)

Teeter is coming next week, along with the broad jump and I think one other thing that I'm forgetting right now. I have been laying a slightly unstable long plastic plank down in my backyard and have got her accustomed to moving across it even though it moves under her feet.

I've been saying I'm going to get pictures, but my sister, AKA designated camerawoman, has been unable to come with me.

Squeeker · 05-15-2009, 02:23 PM

We finally did the full-sized teeter in last night's class, with no tables under the end! Libby did fine and didn't even notice the difference! It was very exciting for everyone in the class! No videos or photos this week, we forgot the camera!

Quote:

Question: my instructor says to stand IN FRONT OF the dog while they are doing the poles such that the dog is basically weaving their way up to you. She said not to run alongside them because then you create a dog who will only weave with you next to them. Does this sound right? I can't really find the logic in it.

This may be true, but there are so many different methods of teaching the weaves, so who knows who is right? The problem I see with the method your are learning is that the dog may end up only being able to weave with you standing in front of the weaves (similara problem to what your instructor is trying to avoid!), which IMO is no better than having to run alongside them, and potentially even worse for competition when you would have to outrun your dog to get to the end of the poles before they even start weaving. I don't know about your dog, but with mine that would be impossible! I would be interested in seeing what your instructor has to say about that. I would imagine that in both methods, the presence of the handler will be faded as you and your dog progress.

Our agility club teaches the weaves while walking beside the dog and with the wooden barriers seen in my videos, but they are also starting a new technique from Clean Run called 2x2 weaves. I have no idea what it entails, but a friend of mine is taking the new class so I will find out from her.

MissMutt · 05-15-2009, 04:10 PM

I looked at your pictures and I really like the barrier idea. Would trying different techniques confuse her? I just feel like if sometimes I'm in front, sometimes I'm alongside, etc., it will make her less reliant on me in the end.

I want to purchase a set of weaves for my backyard, but I'm leary because I don't want to screw her up by practicing the wrong way.

I looked up the 2x2 method, my teacher said she's currently learning it too, but it confuses me a little bit.

MyCharlie · 05-15-2009, 11:11 PM

We started beginner agility (obility) this week with Kaya and she did great! There are only three dogs in the class and since I have already done agility with Charlie the instructor is focusing more on the other two (which is fine with me). We just did jumps and the pause table.

But at the end of class when we were standing around talking, I was standing next to the A-frame and she ran up it!!

I was like, "sorry!! I didn't tell her to do it!" So I guess that's a good sign, that she isn't afraid of it. I'm guessing she must have thought it looked like fun or she wouldn't have done it! It still surprised me though!

We'll see how she does Monday night at our next class. I know we're supposed to introduce targeting and I've been meaning to get started ahead of time, but I've been procrastinating.

I don't know about the weave pole standing in front thing - it seems like unless you are doing some sort of jackpot or gamble you usually ARE next to your dog as they enter the weaves? So it wouldn't seem like a negative to teach it that way, then work up to moving around. But that was one obstacle Charlie got the hang of real well, so I'm not sure.

Squeeker · 05-16-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

I looked at your pictures and I really like the barrier idea. Would trying different techniques confuse her? I just feel like if sometimes I'm in front, sometimes I'm alongside, etc., it will make her less reliant on me in the end.

I want to purchase a set of weaves for my backyard, but I'm leary because I don't want to screw her up by practicing the wrong way.

I looked up the 2x2 method, my teacher said she's currently learning it too, but it confuses me a little bit.

Personally, this being my first dog, I think I am going to go along with what the teachers say and see how it turns out for now. Libby is doing really well, and I am afraid to mess things up. I can only hope that as we progress, the instructors will phase out the handler's position.

I want to check out the 2x2 method as well, but haven't had the time.

agility collie mom · 05-16-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissMutt

We're through three weeks of Beginner Agility class. Marge loves it and out of all the dogs is probably doing the best on jumping and paw targeting. She is not afraid of the a-frame or dogwalk at all, and is getting better at the tunnel. We only did the chute once, with it open.

We started weave poles and she seems to be doing well with the slanted poles method. She can take about three poles at a time. I wish I had poles in my backyard to practice more. (Question: my instructor says to stand IN FRONT OF the dog while they are doing the poles such that the dog is basically weaving their way up to you. She said not to run alongside them because then you create a dog who will only weave with you next to them. Does this sound right? I can't really find the logic in it)

Teeter is coming next week, along with the broad jump and I think one other thing that I'm forgetting right now. I have been laying a slightly unstable long plastic plank down in my backyard and have got her accustomed to moving across it even though it moves under her feet.

I've been saying I'm going to get pictures, but my sister, AKA designated camerawoman, has been unable to come with me.

I guess every instructor has their own method of teaching weave poles. When I taught Rio to weave I taught on both side of the weave poles and used a frisbee as bait. That way I could kind-of "body block" him when I was teaching. Later I used the frisbee to obtain speed. I can send him through the weave poles or call him through the weave poles so I don't really think that the way I taught had a big effect in the end. But then again who knows.

MissMutt · 05-16-2009, 08:37 PM

The one big thing is to never to lure through the weaves, right? Or is that a myth?

Squeeker · 05-17-2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

The one big thing is to never to lure through the weaves, right? Or is that a myth?

Dunno, never heard that one... you have to start somewhere. We lured Libby the first time or two through the poles, but we faded that pretty quickly as she got the idea. I think that luring is fine, as long as it is faded quickly.

MyCharlie · 05-18-2009, 09:26 AM

Why would luring be bad?

MissMutt · 05-18-2009, 09:27 AM

I don't know. I thought I heard that somewhere. Guess maybe I misinterpreted. I don't think it was my instructor who said that.

agility collie mom · 05-18-2009, 09:57 AM

Here is Rio last summer doing weaves..

I am standing at the end of the weaves calling him through.