• 17Aug

  Side to Side

  Dog Agility Training, Dog Training (General) No Comments

  You have two hands- remember you have two sides!

  Work your dog off both sides at every level of training. That way in a trial situation it will not be startling to your dog when you switch sides. Practice walking at your side on and off leash from both sides. Personally I have found that ‘heel’ for left and ‘side’ for right work beautifully for my dogs. I also tilt my head to where I want them to be as an additional cue.  From there, work your way up to sending over jumps and through tunnels from both sides.  After you have that down pat, try send aheads from either side! Soon you’ll have an ambidextrous dog!

  

  Tags: agility training, dog training

• 16Aug

  Quick Go Lightly

  Dog Agility Training 5 Comments

  Tonight was one of those nights that just make you love Agility. It was fast, it was fun, and other than nearly having a potty incident on the course, it was flawless.

  A Hoop was brought out for us to play with. They’re much harder to teach than I’d thought, and just as fun as I’d known they would be! Quick’s so big he keeps breaking the hoop apart. Someone is going to have tire issues, I think… I sure hope not!

  After we played with the hoop, Quick was introduced to his first half-height A-frame. He was fearless, charging up and running down, spinning himself around, and leaping over the apex. He scampered up and down, demanding his cookies.

  Speaking of cookies, thank God for an understanding trainer! My cat had broken into my dog bag without me knowing, and eaten all the treats! I didn’t realize it until we started class and it was too late to do anything but throw myself on the mercy of my trainer, who laughed and sent me inside to fetch treats. Crisis averted! I’m thinking of trying out a new treat, Quick’s not bored with his Zuke’s and liver, but I am. Any suggestions?

  After the A-frame, we worked on a lowered dogwalk! Again, Quick surprised me. I hate dogwalks. They scare me. I can’t let that show as he works on them, but honestly I just want to hold on to him every minute he’s on it. What if he falls off and hurts himself? He’s got good landing skills if he jumps, but what if he falls? Yes, I’m a worrywart. Thankfully, Quick is not- not about heights, anyway! He loved the dogwalk, but he’s already getting a bad habit of ditching the down plank halfway down. We’ll be working on that next week, I’m telling you!

  The class discussed who could learn running contacts, who could learn two on, two off, and what four on the floor was. I’m not sure, I’d like Quick to have running contacts, especially after reading that Clean Run article about how it can be hard on their shoulders, but I also am not sure he’ll ever get an effective running contact. We’ll see!

  I took my camera to class to get pictures of him being cute, but I totally forgot to take pictures! I’ll try to remember next week.

  

  Tags: agility beginners, agility training

• 09Aug

  Class Time- On Time

  Dog Agility Training No Comments

  I do my best to be punctual to classes, but this week due to a broken-down car, relatives staying at my house, inability to find anything due to the broken-down car, I was late to class. It was only my friends’ kindness that got me to class at all, for which I am so grateful. But arriving late to class made me wince. I missed setup, and about five minutes of instruction. I caught up quickly to the rest of the class, but it was a bit of a struggle! I don’t like not knowing what’s going on, no matter how short a time it is.

  First with some restrained recalls, and I have to say… Quick loves him some tunnels. He especially likes to pretend they are dogwalks and so he runs along on top of them, making happy puppy sounds. Doofus!

  Quick got his nose smacked for growling during the restrained recall. Am I harming his drive? Probably, but I’ve had about enough of his lack of manners. Next time he growls for a restrained recall, it’s going to be crate time for puppy. I realize he’s just vocalizing not liking being held on to, but sorry Quick- tough beans.

  After warmup, we went to our first set of weave poles. I need WAY more training than Quick does! We’re working with a set of channel weaves (nice metal ones like our versa weaves) and I consistently forget to walk through the weaves to get into my position! I do very well with not leaning forward (which can force a dog out of the weaves) as I call him to me. We’re progressing in little steps. We only made it through poles down, but eventually we’ll be going the whole way, no problem. I’m sure of it. I like channel weaves, since it teaches dogs the end behavior all the way along. You go straight through!

  After channel weave practice we moved on to target practice. Nobody did well on this. Quick was abysmal and a little frustrated. He wanted the freakin’ treats! NOW! Our trainer said we moved ahead to fast, and now we’re all working on ‘it’s your choice’ games. Sit down with an upright closed hand of yummy smelly treats, and wait for your dog to stop pawing, chewing, and licking your hand and for him to either look away or sit down or otherwise be polite. Open your hand and take out a treat. If the dog moves towards your hand, well then. Close it like a bank in the great depression! My hand really hurts now, though. Silly puppy was gnawing on it like a recalcitrant Kong toy. It’s going to be a fun challenge with him.

  Quick is still having tummy troubles, and I am nearing the end of my rope with him. He’s acting healthy, but nothing’s ‘sticking’ inside. Hopefully his hamburger rice diet will help…

  Edit: Quick is doing very well on his open and closed hand game. I’m not doing as great with the opening, but I’m a fast closer. We’re still working on it! Has anyone else played this game?

  

  Tags: agility training

• 01Aug

  Body Language

  Dog Agility Competing, Dog Agility Training 1 Comment

  Q. My Instructor keeps telling me that my body language is ambiguous.  Shouldn’t my collie, Billy, just do what I tell him?  He’s very fast and I’m sure he doesn’t have time to see what I’m doing with my arms.

  A. You’d be surprised how well Billy can read your body language.  When you get up off the couch, Billy knows if you are going to make a cup of tea, if you are going to fetch your coat for a walk or if you are going to switch off the television. Continue reading »

  

  Tags: agility beginners, agility competing, agility training

• 26Jul

  A Sad Class

  Dog Agility Training No Comments

  It was a sad class for me this week. Quick is sick as a dog, so no agility for him! (Don’t worry, the vet said he should be fine, he probably just ate something that made him sick. Me, I’m still worried… but that’s me!) It was so hard to go to class to watch without my baby boy with me! He looked so sad as we pulled out of the driveway.

  I was the gopher for setting up the class, which was fun and a change! I helped set up the course, watch other people with their dogs, and generally absorb as much information as possible. On a side note, I’m officially in love with jumps that have the height clearly engraved on the cup (like our competition adjustable jumps). Without it, setting the jumps is a real nightmare.

  Our trainer ran her dogs for us so we could see how contacts and handling work, up close and personal. Oh, wow. I can’t imagine!!! Quick’s going to be that good one day? It seems impossible my big boy will ever be as good, but I know it is possible.

  Agility classes without your dog are both good and bad. They’re good because you can pay close attention and plan how you’re going to use your makeup class your instructor was generous enough to give you. They’re bad because when you look down, excited to share what you just figured out the instructors’ instructions, your best friend isn’t with you, waiting for you to share your enlightenment.  There’s no answering tug on the end of the leash, no cold nose on your leg, no after-practice snuggles.

  It’s honestly a little heartbreaking. I’m looking forward to Quick being healthy enough to practice with me. I even got him extra-special treats to make up for being ill!

  

  Tags: agility beginners, agility training, dog safety & health

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