First Proper Competitive Outing for Finn

I'm still struggling with my health, so this was a short outing to do one round of Jumping.

We arrived in good time, and Finn and I did a few warm up jumps in the practice ring.  We also worked on "ignoring other dogs - while being fed treats" - which went well, although he still finds other dogs approaching the scooter a bit stressful.

So after "walking" the course, we were the 2nd competitor into the ring... & yes it was that wet!!  The mud you see was produced just from folk walking the course!!

Anyway, Finn's first round in competition resulted in an elimination, but I came out of the ring on an absolute high because of how attentive he was, and the fact that we "got" that complicated wee combination of jumps after the first black tunnel.

Watching this however, I can see two times where I've obviously used the wrong arm to signal.

Now that I don't spin on the spot (as runners can do when doing a front cross), I should use the "other" arm (ie away from the side the dog is on) to push his line on, so he doesn't curve back towards me ....

For example after the last tunnel: I think I should have used my right arm to signal onwards, not my left which made him sweep round to his right....

Lots to learn.  Such fun.  Can't wait til next Winter League session!

Weaves from a Distance

Finn's weave training is progressing well.  My previous post describes the work I did using the Two by Two training method.  Finn quickly learned to weave a set of four poles this way.

I continued with this approach,also sending him from awkward angles.

Some days however, he would repeatedly try out other behaviours - such as just running alongside the four poles with his nose down - to see if I would reward that.  Anyway, I consistently brought him back to where he was comfortable and repeated what he could achieve, before once again challenging him.

Soon I was able to add two more poles and have him do six poles.

Once he was comfortable with that, I set up TWO sets of six about 5 metres apart. After doing each of these singly, I then sent him through both sets one after the other.

In only a few sessions I was then able to bring the two sets of six together and suddenly he was doing twelve weave poles in sequence!!!

WOW... I have to admit I'm a convert to this method of teaching weaves.  He really got the idea very quickly.

However he seemed to be taking the poles very slowly and not learning that rhythm that fast dogs develop through the poles.  So I re-introduced channels.  (The fact that our club now train here and they'd left the channel weaves set up in the field was also irresistible!)

This time channels were much more successful.  Instead of just bashing through he was now weaving, and also gathering some speed.  On top of that he is getting (mostly) good remote entries.

I took this video the other day - the weaves are open in a channel.  I sat on my scooter facing the middle of the set of channel weaves, and sent him through them first one way the the other.  He misses one entry, but got it the next time for his reward.

I'm really pleased with how this is coming on.  

Two by Two Weave Training for Finn

So we started with Channel Weaves and he got the idea of a dash through the length of the channel very quickly.

However as we started to bring the poles more in line, Finn still just dashed (or bashed) in a straight line down the length of the poles. This led to a couple of problems:

1. If I was using the home poles, which are the stick in the ground variety, they just flew everywhere like so many matchsticks!
2. If we were at club training, using the more solid channel weaves, he bashed through hitting his face and sides, and not really thinking it was much fun.

So either way weave training was not progressing well, and certainly not to the point where he got the idea he should actually weave!

In his mind it was all about running in straight lines.

So I came across the Two by Two idea originally put forward by Susan Garrett of teaching weaves by introducing only two poles first, and then adding more.  The idea is to make the dogs look for each pair of poles.

I started this about 10 days ago.  First by just rewarding him for going between two poles.
Then by adding a second pair off-set as shown in the section labelled 1.

.
Over time the second pair is gradually moved into line with the first pair (2 &3) and then brought closer so that all poles are at the correct distance apart.

At the moment Finn can achieve 4 poles in a straight line at the end of a practice session, however I still usually start with the poles spaced as they are in step 3 when we first go out.  I'm doing about ten repetitions each time, and then doing something else.

My aim this week is to have him reliably running 4 poles from where ever I ask.

Next post on Weaves:  Weaves from a Distance

Last of the Summer Shine Fun Day at Cooperhill

Great Fun Day at Cooperhill today!

Nearly all our agility class were there and testing out new skills.

I was pleased with Finn, as he did nice "waits" at the start of each round, and then willingly ran on for the distant lines I attempted.

Amy took a video:

We still need to refine some of our turn commands, but this was a huge leap forward from the last Fun Day at Cooperhill where he just ran over random obstacles - only sometimes listening to my directions.

Anyway, it was a lovely day and some of the barley had been cut up behind the grounds so we got a wee spin up there too: 

Finn's sister, Pixie, had a really successful day with Amy getting a clear round in the Jumps and Tunnels round, and picking up a Judge's Special Rosette.

Here's a video of her round:

  Wee Patsy was flying today too

And she and Shona won a class...

And were also videoed: 

All in all a great day out:

For me, my friends and my favourite pup!

PS His earlier round at Cooperhill can be seen here: Not a Velcro Dog

Outside the Ring - Gamblers and Addicts!

"Outside the Ring" is the theme for this Dog Agility Blogger Event. Other posts on the same theme can be found here:  http://dogagilityblogevents.wordpress.com/outside-the-ring/

GAMBLERS AND ADDICTS!

As soon as think about my "outside the ring" activities, my brain immediately swings to the reasons I do that stuff, and it is all to do with what goes on "inside the ring"!

Even now, as I think about an agility round, I start to feel that wonderful thrum of excitement in my heart and a slightly wide-eyed, "in the moment" focus.

Every time we enter the ring we hold out hope for that perfect round - one of those moments of understanding between dog and handler that transcends all our real world concerns.

Nothing is guaranteed, of course, and every competition has champions taking falls and novices celebrating surprise wins.  It is all part of what brings us out to compete again and again: the gamble of each and every round.

The "outside the ring" stuff just helps us to load the dice in our favour.

We all have our pet training routines, queuing tips, and health advice for dogs and handlers. And we also have that "other stuff" that goes on outside the ring: perhaps those bills to be paid, work worries, emotional entanglements and so on.

Yet inside the ring, we can leave all that behind, and take another gamble on finding that perfect moment.  It's like a drug, and we keep going back for more.  And so much of what goes on outside the ring is to feed that habit.

So:

"Hello, my name is Sally, and I am addicted to Gambling - Agility Gambling."  

Somehow, I suspect I am not the only Agility Gambling Addict!

Poor Finn!

Well Finn has finally had his wee operation.  I debated for sometime whether to neuter him - there are strong views both for and against.  Finally, went with the vet's recommendation and booked him in.  

He is recovering well but not one bit impressed to have to stay on the lead for all his exercise for a whole week!  Nor by the collar that he must wear  - licking a certain area is just too irresistible!

On a more cheerful note, at our last training session before "that" day, Finn was jumping full height and going really well.

Just watch his tail!  Makes me laugh...

"Mind to Win" Beginners Course

Kathrine McAleese runs an agility fun day each year after her "Mind to Win" training camp.


This year she introduced a course of jumps and tunnels especially for dogs who had not yet competed in KC competitions.

Ronnie McAleese designed a flowing course with just a couple of little challenges:

So Finn and I attempted the course as a training round at medium height.  It didn't go entirely to plan.... the purple arrows show where we messed up.  (And Ronnie, I'm really sorry Finn lifted his leg on your tunnel.)

However despite the bungle in the middle, I was very pleased with Finn this time.  The last sequence felt totally exhilarating!

Thanks for a fun day Kathrine and co.