"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.

Video of Training Sequence.

Video taken at training.  We had practiced shorter sequences during the session.  Then put them altogether at the end.

Understandably I was very pleased with how this went - it felt really good that he understood what I was asking and responded with enthusiasm.

Finn's Training: Index of Posts

A couple of people have asked about how I started working Finn from the scooter, and about the work I've done with him to encourage distance handling. So these are links to posts I wrote at the time, with a few comments added from today's perspective.

July 2012
Introducing Finn, My Collie Pup
Finn -Checking out his new world

Sept 2013

Having Fun with Finn 

Throughout his puppyhood, I obviously did a lot of just playing with Finn.  Things like encouraging him to chase a ball, and bring it back.  And to put the ball back in my hand rather than just drop it at my feet.  I also wanted a reliable wait, so started introducing a wait into our play sessions.

December 2013:
Finn's Lessons
Finn Scooter Training
Finn on Video. Wait! Go! & Back!
Some Finn Special?
Starting a few Jumps with Finn
Photo series: Wait and Jump

Really, I was just keeping up with a few short minutes most days.  At this stage Finn still hadn't started formal classes, but I thought that a little bit of work in advance of the class would help us cope, because obviously I'll not be able to run along side him like everyone else.

I didn't keep repeating the same stuff all the time either.  For example although he mastered the tunnel as quite a small puppy, it was put away for sometime while working on other little things.  "Wait" however I kept reinforcing and practicing in new environments.

February 2014:
Patsy and Finn on Video
Finn doing some Distance Work
Just 5 Minutes Most Days

March 2014: 
Now some Channel Weaves for Finn

A Note on Weaves: I thought I'd teach him using the channel weave method.  He learned very quickly to run down the channel.  However, I have currently had to stop, because our weave poles are only stuck into the ground, and trying to bring them into a straighter line has resulted in him ploughing through them.  So although we made this excellent start, I am now only working his weaves on the club training set that cannot be sent flying!!!

April 2014:
First Agility Class for Finn
Pictures from Puppy Agility Class
Contacts? "Touch" or Running?
Thinking about Right and Left commands.
Training Round for Finn

May 2014:
Training Sequence - Feeling Proud!
Why do I use Wheels?

June 2014: 
Finn - Training Update
Not a Velcro Dog!
Finn Learning See-Saw

November 2014
First Competitive Outing for Finn

I'll try to update this sequence periodically to show Finn's progress.  

Patsy's First Clear Round Win!!

Great day out today!  And Patsy surprised us all, by gettting a lovely clear round win with Shona!

The setting was beautiful.  Indeed this is the pond that Patsy ran off to last year when she jilted me and left me in the ring while she went and chased ducks!!

I even managed to get a wee video clip of the round too.

Go Patsy!

Finn Learning See-Saw

Recently we have been working on contacts.  I started with a bit of wood in the garden...

I called this position "see-saw", and kept putting the wood in different places and asking for the behaviour, before throwing the ball for reward.

The video shows what happened as we transferred this "see-saw" command from the wood to our training see-saw in the garden.  (It was made for terriers, so narrower than ideal for Finn.)

I have a barrel under the end of the down slope, to make a more distinct difference to the end of the contact.  I am aiming here for all 4 paws to remain on the see-saw before releasing him.

Anyway, he learns quickly and subsequent sessions have resulted in the correct behaviour almost every time - and also with me in a variety of positions away from him.

Very pleased with my boy.

...and doesn't he know it!

Agility for ALL - Dogs for Disabled Demo

Philippa Armstrong has been an inspiration to many who have had to deal with challenges affecting their ability to do agility in the conventional sense.

Recently Philippa ran an agility demonstration ring at the Dogs for Disabled Show.  She produced this video of the dog and handler combinations who took part.

I was very flattered to have been invited to take part in this, but the dates fell right in the middle of Shona's A2 exams so a trip to England was not going to work.  Perhaps next year Philippa?

In the mean time plenty of inspiration here for all of us, no matter how we handle our dogs.  Thank you Philippa.

Not a Velcro Dog!

Today there was a Fun Day at our training grounds.  The first class was just jumps and tunnels so most of the beginner class entered.

I entered Finn for medium height, and told the judge that we weren't going to attempt the whole course, as we don't yet have the skills to follow the correct route.

However - I am SO proud of him because, although we did a totally random course:
- he did a fantastic "wait" at the start for me
- he was really enjoying the course
- he wasn't distracted by the spectators in tents all up one side, nor the judge in the ring, nor the big wide open barley field beyond
- he was thinking about what I was asking him to do - we just haven't perfected a common language yet.

We attempted two equally hectic rounds...

.... but I was so pleased with him, just for trying so hard to please!