Who's the teacher?

Wrapped up another great session with Webb Anderson. It was an interesting set up - he coached through 2 days of a trial at Spot On Agility then did workshops the following day that worked on courses from the trial. I missed having a lesson with him but otherwise felt this was a very unique opportunity. Sally ran like a dream. She didn't stick her contacts solidly (especially the aframe) but she did get to the yellow every time - given the last time she saw contacts was at least 6 weeks ago I was OK with it.  I probably shouldn't have been OK with it - lots of people would have been storming off the field with their dogs - but I realized that Sally was doing what she was capable of doing in that moment. She teaches me so much. Punishing her for my education is not going to help either of us.

To learn from others you really have to listen. Watching Webb work with people he has worked with multiple times before drove that home to me too. I'm sure there were moments he wondered why he hadn't just sent up a voice recorded message for us. Running this dog? Play this section of tape. That dog? Use this piece. At one point in the workshop the only feedback he offered was "good" for a not particularly good run. I didn't ask him why but I'm quite confident the response would be "The run was better than some and that's all the person would have heard anyhow".
Being a good student is hard work. I am not a great student and the learning part of the weekend exhausted me.

I'm fortunate though - both Sally and Webb are excellent teachers. They were clear and concrete and kept things simple enough for me to follow. One big take away for me is that just because a dog has solid distance skills doesn't mean you should always use them. Driving your dog around a course can really increase speed and motivation. My old "Trust Yor Dawg" may have to update to "Work With Yor Dawg".

I hadn't played at sanctioned AAC (except for the half day in May) since April 2011 (Regionals and Nationals last summer  - but they are different!). It was great to be at a two day trial. The wicked awesome blow my mind bit of the weekend for me was TWO, count em, TWO standard Qs. Webb told me to enter standard so I did with absolutely no expectation. We did three classes .. and Sally popped off the table in her third class (her only error). She was a tiny bit overtime in one steeplechase (which I don't really get but thems the breaks), and had an off course in the other. She  happily earned advanced Qs in jumpers and gamblers.  So for folks who measure success by Qs we  had a good weekend that way too.

The venue was amazing. I get really absorbed by trial sites. Spot On is my new favourite. The views, the corn, the water tanks, the spread out yet handy setup, the pizza, the accommodating trial host, the beautiful ribbons, the field to walk around, the less doggy place provided for Wyn under the shade of the trees, the draw for great prizes... sweet sweet place.

Trust yor dawg dahling .. trust yor dawg

Trust but verify might have been our motto this week.

We started proofing Sally's contacts fairly seriously - as in trying to tug her gently off the bottoms. She stuck em hard once she understood the game. I started moving laterally and forwards on her as well. She did dogwalks, teeters and aframes with great joy and drive and never got particularly stressed about the proofing. Should be fairly easy to carry on I hope.

I worked on footwork ... and learning to SHORTEN my stride. Yah you read that right. After how many years of learning to lengthen my stride and run properly now, just like les chiens, I need to learn when (and how) to collect. Presuming I can figure it out I think it's a good problem to have.

We played agility (contacts and weaves) Friday, handling skills Saturday, building confidence and a fun match Sunday, private on proofing contacts Tuesday, course work Wednesday and handling distance Saturday. Yay for us! I'm fitter than I thought I might be quite honestly. It was work and I'm tired but it's a lovely satisfied tired. Dogs seem to be tired in a similar way.

still up to my eyeballs

in agility and thinking and running and having fun but the end is in sight - Sally will be devastated!

I'm trying to unpack a little of what I've been working on in order to make sure there is nothing that needs clarification before Webb Anderson leaves town again.

On Friday we worked on contacts and weaves. Interesting.  Found a hole in Sally's training (jump into an onside offset entry - I would have thought it was simple but it's the exact entry she had to repeat at Nationals now that I think about it). Brody is weaving like he wants to speed up and figure out footwork - he's had an epiphany it seems! Contacts are improving day by day with Sally and staying awesome with Brody.

Saturday was the handling day. Ran Thea in session one mainly - fun fun fun to have the pipsqueak out! The afternoon was a little more challenging so ran Sally mostly. (I think Brody had a turn but honestly can't recall!) Practiced smoothing out my handling .. more flow less sudden had a great afternoon but wasn't feeling great about my last run with Sally.

Sunday was building confidence. Thea had fun with nascar and drag racing. Then we ran the fun match courses. Lots of fun but lots of hard work too as many people showed up. Webb videoed for feedback but I haven't gotten feedback yet.

Tuesday was another lesson. We started seriously proofing Sally's contacts. She was a good girl! Her dog walk entry wobbled though - it's always something!! Played a few minutes with Brody's weaves again. Thinking fast foot work first - then distance - it's amazing to see him looking for the entries by himself!

Wednesday was course work. Webb set a course and everybody played on it. Sally had plenty of faults (shame about the handler stuff) and the young dogs ran beautifully. I lie ... handler was running for broke and having a blast. I figured what was the point of showing Webb a carefully executed and managed clean run? What feedback could I get from that?  Sally's contacts were pretty solid I have to admit. Brody and I ran for broke too - he is such fun to run!

Just Saturday left - starters handling in the am then a 3 person workshop in the afternoon. Not sure what we'll be doing. Know it will be fun.

recovery ....

may take awhile

two tricoloured pooches ...

One Webb weekend done

Tollers, french bulldog, sheltie and corgi - all tan!

Lots of fun; awesome food

lots of lovely schnauzers 

Hundreds and hundreds of pictures and video to process

requisite border collie (one of my favourite dogs too!)

and a new found appreciation for folks who host these events ..

Sally's sister Sophie!

didn't quite catch every dog ... but tried ...

an everlasting, verified appreciation for the fabulous trio - Thea, Brody and Sally gave so much of themselves to helping me learn .... (was excellent fun to get to work Thea 2 days in a row - nearly unheard of!) Big T was a saint about holding down the home fort. Great weekend. More to follow!

oh where oh where have my clippers gone ?

Brody is AWFULLY shaggy and Webb Anderson is coming up this weekend for a seminar  ... the crew and I will be working hard in the seminar I expect and it's getting downright HOT out. I had set aside time to start grooming wars tonight but now I can't find the clippers. Figures eh?

Also have pulled 4 ticks off Brody and 3 off Sampson. YUCK. There are down sides to this glorious weather even before one worries about how hot the summer might be!

Webb is coming to town ...

Webb Anderson is coming back to town at the end of the month.

I'd be excited anyhow but this time I'm even more involved so I'm even more excited!

Sessions include:
The first day: Handling Weaves & Contacts
Even the best trained dog appreciates thoughtful handling when performing weaves and contacts. What your dog needs to do is to enter and exit these obstacles safely, quickly and accurately no matter where they are on the course. These sessions will help you give your dog the best information possible and create a smooth path on course, with fewer missed entries or awkward approaches


The second day: Course Analysis, Strategy and Handling Challenges
Analyze courses based on understanding your dog’s path and how they would run the course if they could read the numbers. Challenge yourself to communicate effectively with your dog to create a smooth running course. Think through principles of strategizing to play to your teams strengths.

Then a day of privates ....
He may stay up in town longer - and I'd love to figure out a session working on static behaviours - start lines and tables

If there are any great ideas for workshops anybody feels an urge to share that would be awesome!
Space is going to be pretty limited but if anybody would like to come and play that would be too much fun!

Sad and Confused ...

The Webb Anderson workshop for next weekend was cancelled. I am totally bummed out as my handling improves every time I work with him. He was hit by the tornadoes that hit the southern states last month so I suspect he wants the time to repair stuff. I really would have liked to work with him before I have to decide about Nationals though. I am not sure AT ALL about going to Nationals.

On the pro side :

• fun
• amazing to watch the other handlers
• relatively local

On the con side:

• Brody hates heat
• Sally is very green
• leaving my garden (and chickens) for 4 days mid summer is really tough
• the money can always be used for other things

Have to decide by mid month. I really didn't know making all these choices was going to be one of the toughest things about agility.

Last of the Webb photos for now

Sally worked hard this past weekend but not so hard that she didn't get lots of chances to rest.

 This picture is interesting to me - the only thing really identifying which way she should go is the turn of my body and my left foot. Those two cues alone are obviously enough for her. (This picture was taken during the second video run)

 It looks like I really watch the dogs move. I'm glad to see that as I would have thought my old school horse training about watching your path might have overridden keeping my dog in sight.

Here my whole body is spinning really supporting the tight turn I quite obviously got a stride later. Everything here says TURN and I was working hard not to use verbals doing this drill.

Webb Mania - part two ...

Video footage - with huge thanks to Nancy for capturing some of the seminar on tape ... you hear how much too much I talk ... and double cue touch :(  Both these runs were Sunday afternoon - this is Sally as tired as I've seen her. (Which was not so tired as to come home and missing playing Kong with Sampson!)

this next run has a couple of moments to note (or not). Yes, that is Sally unbalancing right off the dog walk .. and it includes a huge "AHA" moment - where I realize Sally does NOT generalize a stay in 2o2o into staying in that same position on the aframe.

Sally's aframe made HUGE strides this weekend. I have a clear picture of what I want and a reasonable view of how to get there. I did at least 20 aframe bottoms every day. That's all it took - 60 reps for me to get into my brain what I wanted it to look like. Still need to work on problem solving (as you'll see) but I finally feel like there is hope on the aframe.

Webb was great - I totally enjoyed the learning  for a couple of different reasons. One is how respectful he is of different handlers and dogs. You don't ever feel badly running a different or low drive dog. Sally was the highest dog on Saturday by a long shot and I learned a lot from him with her too. Sunday I largely ran both Sally and Brody and that was great - flipping back and forth gave me a good handle on how different they are.

Webb has some good sayings too. Webbisms I think I'll call them.

Run 'Em Like You Stole 'Em


Your Ball has Brains


We Are All Builders


Slow is smooth; smooth is fast (he credits John Woods for this - whoever JW is?)


Practice Perfectly


Don't Look at the Rock


Eyes!

lots of big concepts too - like defining your primary skills; knowing what you want from the sport .. more on those later I'm thinking :)

Webb Friday

Friday with Webb Anderson
I worked in private and semi private lessons - it was nice being fresh .. we worked hard and given that we've worked together before it settled into a working groove quickly.
I actually worked Thea just a little. We worked on the concept (for me not her) that if I keep her in sight she can't drop behind ... if she does I'm to stop and quickly  move her into the right place . She seemed to get the concept too.  We also worked on six weaves. I am seriously considering putting weaves back on her. The plan is to  use a touch plate so she learns to drive to the end .. break off and do something else if she gets too confused. It is so strange working her - she is so obviously a "lured" dog. It drives me nuts but she is darling and tons of fun!!

Brody - we did 10 minutes with Brody - Webb says speed up the weaves. I tried a "good boy" half way through and B kicked into high gear. Interesting as I avoid cheer leading at all costs usually. At one point I tried to leave Brody behind me on a line of jumps and I couldn't, which I thought was hilarious.

Sally's turn included showing Webb where our contacts are at - frame is a problem - but with reps he feels she understands the job and will figure it out . The dog walk was good.  I am to wait til frame is all together too before proofing too much. The teeter was fine - he worries she'll worry if tipping point changes so I'm to put her on as many teeters as possible just to practice. He showed me some good start line stay work - turning towards her ... presenting my side.. presenting my back (sad to say the only one I'd done) She broke the second time I faced her but that was it ...
She is incorrect in the weaves and losing time ... her footwork sucks .. she is not single footing or double footing but paddling (though if she was a horse I'd be thrilled to get 11 lead changes every stride. Fixing it may be impossible ... that was the last discussion we had and it's weighing way too heavily on my mind ... we'll see - and obsess about it.

Webb was obviously getting sick - I felt very badly for him I think he's going to have a long weekend :(

'tis the night before Webb...

and all through the house
Andrea is scurrying like a wee mouse

where are the treats?
the touch plates, the shoes?

the towels and coats?
what can I lose?

It'll be a whole weekend of MAD agility - hopefully lots of thinking - and pushing myself to meet my mission .. and I'm pretty excited I'm planning to play with Thea a little bit too .. .she pretty much only runs agility at trials and a little on the lawn - she doesn't get to do lessons ever ...

Sally and Brody were wonderful on Tuesday night - Brody ran in the first class - did some nice discrimination work and some great weaves .. ran a PERFECT course. Sally was a little high but ran and worked beautifully too. Her weaves were a bit frightening - she was pushing the poles out of her way with her head. Her course was right on too. She has some real jumping/maneuvering talent.

no boxers, some briefs, a collie mix and a shimaltipoo

Puppy Ryder enjoyed meeting lots of new people and watching agility! Schnauzers, lab mixes, bcs, a portie and more - what a delightful couple of days the Webb Anderson seminar was. The Saturday morning was mostly the dogs natural path which is something I have always considered so find that work very rewarding . All of the courses over the weekend had things I hadn't seen much (if at all)- a teeter pointing at a wall; a tee bone turn into weaves; a pinwheel that repeats with a 180; a serpentine that was a tunnel, jump, aframe. First course I got lost on (this happened in the spring at the Webb seminar too) DOH. Brody was great (of course). Second course was smoother but I nearly got lost - and Webb caught my very slight hesitation. Brody saved my bacon. Good to get caught, usually I fake my way through stuff like that OK. We had a lunch break which was lovely - potluck - lots of yummy pot lucked things :) After lunch we did another course which I hardly remember - except Sally did a good job. And I didn't get lost for ONE second. Interesting huh? Webb suggests maybe I have time to think with Brody and if I think I second guess myself and I wonder if I'm on course. Webb encouraged me to run harder with Sally - and to be SURE I keep moving. Good advice. I let Sally warm up in the other hall. Threw her Frisbee and asked her to touch and weave a little. It was good - she was tired if anything. The last thing we did was a gamble line. Honestly if you'd asked me I would have said Sally would do it no issue at all. I would have been wrong. I didn't really warm her up - it was only 20 minutes between runs maybe. She was INSANE. From the minute she hit the floor til I collapsed on the floor. Her teeter was awful. Her ability to float a pinwheel vanished. She did some nice minutes (maybe just seconds) and we got some of what we wanted. The highlight of this run was letting Webb see just how bad it can be. (aka where I am afraid of going if i let things derail at all). I was exhausted. However, I brought Sally and Brody home and then took Big T out to dinner with some of the seminar folks. We had fun. The next morning was fun. We ended up spending an hour with Sally looking at her aframe, dog walk, teeter, and weaves. She was EXCELLENT. Attentive and easy to work with. (Yes, when we started talking she offered a couple of jumps, a couple of frames, a tunnel of two but it wasn't frantic, it was optimistic!) Watched a lesson, chatted, and had lunch. YUM. Next step was a lesson with Sophie. Again informative and fun. Started with a cool jumpers type course. Lots of pinwheels. I was pleased with Sally though I blew a line or two - they were honest errors. We were both on our game. we played with a couple of interesting spots until they felt great! Brody ran a flawless round. He is such a good boy. The post turn is VERY hard for me... must add it to my list to work on! Last course was also FUN. Zip, zip, flip and fly :) Brody added one jump as I built a wee bit too much momentum for the aframe but that was just fine by me. I could have called him harder and he would have listened but he was having a blast - so I let him blast! Sally was super too. It was a great note to end on. I'm ramped up and have some planning to do - and some goals to work on. What a great weekend. Webb has a perspective that is unique up here .. and it resonates with me.

Webb Anderson Clinic and Lessons ...

Interesting weekend for me - boring as could be for my ever suffering hubby I'm sure .. Webb Anderson came to town to run a clinic and lessons. For the clinic we reviewed his general principles of PATH (P- performance management, A- analysis, T - training and H - handling). We spent most of our time in the analysis/handling quadrants - walked courses in many many different ways and broke down little sections with lots of thinking. I thought a LOT; my brain still aches. I must tie back my hair when I run agility. I must stand up when I run Brody.

I ran Brody 4 times and Sally 2. Overall I was pleased with both - Sally was in a little deep but coped well. Brody was quite happy to be back at it.

Some of the things that resonated with me most strongly on Saturday were the concept of walking from the dog's perspective FIRST - reminded me of my early agility days in fact .. I began to be able to think through handling options again too - it's time to get focussed on the big picture stuff again if I want to get serious about this sport.

For me with Brody I need to get quiet, get focussed and get my brain back together.
I didn't get a ton of feedback for Sally honestly and that's ok. Not sure my brain could have absorbed too much specific information. It was informative to put things together for her.

Today was lesson day - I shared a lesson with Sophie (Sally's sister) then split one between Brody and Thea. the first lesson we ran dogwalks, aframes, teeters, wove a bit and jumped one jump a few times. Worked a LOT on foundation skills - need to drag a touch plate back out and sharpen up the contact work. Learned (maybe) how to teach the aframe properly - finally!

I like the game of having two touch plates down and rewarding her for pinging back and forth. Looking forward to trying it :)

Brody played next - Webb set up a very nice course and let me walk it til I was comfortable .. Brody ran it beautifully and then I ran it again as if Brody was Sally - adding some front courses - it was fun. We talked at length about Brody and keeping him in agility. Webb suggests keeping Brody in the game partly to give me the patience to go slowly with Sally and Thea. Thinking of him as a transition dog as it were; Webb further suggested running 2/3 of courses with Brody as if it were one of the speedy dogs. Every 3rd run for Brody and I but 2 of 3 with additional crosses to control the flow. Makes sense to me.

Thea ran last - and I warned Webb that she just needed to play - so he set up a little nascar challenge - 2 jumps at the end of a long straight tunnel - I warned him she would outrace me - he was FINE with that - and man did she ever - I am a slow old chick! We did some ping ponging aroudn the jump and just blasting - was a HOOT. I need to start working on my fitness some. We then worked on a teeter. Neat way to start - right up at the top .. 7 days+ of that then repeat in a down for 7 days+ then repeat with movement for 7 days+ then run up from bottom and start all over ... it makes a LOT of sense to me - expect further reports ;)

I had a really wonderful weekend ... very inspiring and very motivating ... wrapping my head around the idea of getting back to it ...