another fun work out at the training hall last night
I'm missing lessons very much but my schedule is so erratic this year there is no way I could commit for 6 weeks in a row ... three chances to do agility in seven nights is a miracle!
That Thea got to play twice is mind blowing! She was very cute thinking her way through 12 weave poles! She worried on the dog walk again but for a shorter period of time than last week.
Brody had fun - we did nothing serious although we did a couple of weave entries without steadying him just letting him find the entrance. He is such a good boy.
Sally had a riot. I did the toy scattering thing which she wanted to fall for very badly - and then dropped her flyer as she was weaving - she pulled out twice then realized I was trying to trick her - that was the end of that!
The yelling you hear is Thea saying she wants another turn!!
Showing posts with label weaves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weaves. Show all posts
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
dream weaves .. and house league report ...
Good dogs sums it up well
Sally was a little high in the second class (and I was a little scattered - always a tough combo) but she pulled herself together to do a JUST BEAUTIFUL set of weaves while I was inside the gamble box (we were playing a non traditional jackpot course).
Brody ran like the superstar he is. Quick and thoughtful - he wasn't setting speed records but he put "smooth is fast" to work. Sally was great - one bar on a jump after a triple on a long line I thought might get her strung out but otherwise a lovely jumpers run!
The first game was fun - snakes and ladders - twist your way up and back until you run out of time. Brody wasn't happy weaving the first time- we did them ok but I had to work harder than usual. We played Jackpot in the second game - both dogs were great - I wish I had a better plan for Sally. Brody's worked perfectly! Jumpers was lovely smooth and open - the dogs both appreciated it!
Lucky to have such a neat venue to play in. Enjoyed my judging too!
Sally was a little high in the second class (and I was a little scattered - always a tough combo) but she pulled herself together to do a JUST BEAUTIFUL set of weaves while I was inside the gamble box (we were playing a non traditional jackpot course).
Brody ran like the superstar he is. Quick and thoughtful - he wasn't setting speed records but he put "smooth is fast" to work. Sally was great - one bar on a jump after a triple on a long line I thought might get her strung out but otherwise a lovely jumpers run!
The first game was fun - snakes and ladders - twist your way up and back until you run out of time. Brody wasn't happy weaving the first time- we did them ok but I had to work harder than usual. We played Jackpot in the second game - both dogs were great - I wish I had a better plan for Sally. Brody's worked perfectly! Jumpers was lovely smooth and open - the dogs both appreciated it!
Lucky to have such a neat venue to play in. Enjoyed my judging too!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
weave mania ...
stole the idea from Ricky's mom who lifted it from agility adventure and am having some fun with it. Seriously wish I could find a camera so we could show you.
making adjustments for Brody's issues (he needs support and wants me onside- so we aren't realy doing it right - I do my crosses aroudn the jumps) the dogs have been doing great with it - Sally is thrilled to be working..
Quiz happily putters around on the lawn while we weave -she followed Brody through a tunnel yesterday - three times - so I guess she likes it!
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Terrific Tuesday
Great runs last night!! Interspersed with some Webb photos (with thanks to AFJ for taking them!)
Warm up was three stations - one a little jump circle (with teeter and a couple of tunnels) that gave opportunities to practise gambling skills ... Brody LOVED it ... Sally nailed it too.
Three was tunnel aframe jump weaves (or tunnel tire weaves for a straight approach) Sally was NAILING all her entries - from anywhere .. she is awesome. Also worked on the aframe and did a few full aframes - LOVELY work ... just lovely :)
Then all the elements got put together in a course. Hilarious course. Some good questions but lots of flow and GO. Brody ran nicely - as the pathfinder he and I nearly missed a tunnel entry - but he was a good boy and gave it to me - I had more confidence to leave him once I saw him commit to the tunnels which let me be in a much better position for the weaves. I ran the outside of the tunnel to aframe and that let him build a whack of speed for the frame. He was excellent! Sally ran a "Brody" run; she was faster (of course) but as fluid and with me as he is usually. Poetry - it was one of those runs that just makes you feel warm and happy right through your core.
Warm up was three stations - one a little jump circle (with teeter and a couple of tunnels) that gave opportunities to practise gambling skills ... Brody LOVED it ... Sally nailed it too.
 |
| finding balance points for tight turns |
Two was dog walk then a jump then a little serp line ..it was interesting to play with my position to see how that smoothed out the line. Turns out being ahead of the dog s they can see where to go next helps a lot - figures but trying it both ways helped me feel it :) Only did this one with Sally
Three was tunnel aframe jump weaves (or tunnel tire weaves for a straight approach) Sally was NAILING all her entries - from anywhere .. she is awesome. Also worked on the aframe and did a few full aframes - LOVELY work ... just lovely :)
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| Sally wants to GO - NOW - enough thinking already! |
Monday, April 04, 2011
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 :(
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 :(
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
I snapped a picture of a jump standard tonight. Not just any jump standard but THE jump standard from last week. Then I realized you might not know how tall the average jump was so I asked Sally to sit beside "her" standard for the photo op. Kind of like a celebrity.
Sally was good tonight. We had an interesting experience entering weave poles. There was a tight tunnel in front of them which made a left to right lead change needed to enter at speed. The other dogs trotted in - a good choice for them but it took a little thinking to get Sally to flip leads. Turned out I could use the "right" command and she'd switch - how terribly educated of her eh? I was shocked - had never thought of using the turn command on the flat really. Handy!
Brody was excellent - speedy to the point of missing a down contact on a frame - but it was a full size frame so I wasn't too stressed - the angle is much harder for him that way! His weaves were speedy - and he had fun.
A good night all round.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I nearly did it
I had EVERY intention of taking a day off agility today - which would be the first agilityless day since July 1st.
I still did dog stuff (of course): downs with Thea; GO with Sally; the never ending wait with Sally; some fitness and balancing work with the Brodster; some drop it stuff with Sammo; cleaning up half eaten road kill with Sally (oh yes that was SOME Spesul) but I didn't do a table, tunnel or jump. I did calculate the cost of the agility equipment I want. ***
I did garden stuff. Rabbit stuff. Chicken stuff. Housecleaning stuff. Ate dinner.
Then our house guest Lily asked to go out. So we all went out. And I SWEAR my weave poles called my name. They were lonely. We hadn't used them since Saturday.
So Sally worked weaves for her disc and was FABULOUS. Brody worked weaves for chicken - also fabulous. And I finally pulled a 2x2 set out and worked Thea on entries a little. She was getting it. The little Princess of Lure was actually shaping a wee bit. And Brody showed off.
So I'll have to try an agility free day some other time- like in September!
*** anybody have a few thousand dollars they don't want or need lying around?
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
dog days??
Sally is NOT buying what the net tells me "dog days" means.
"the hottest most humid days of the year"
"The term itself was coined by the ancient Romans, who referred to these days as "caniculares dies" (days of the dogs), after the constellation Canis Major, of which Sirius is a part of. As these days coincided with the time when Sirius was visible they believed that Sirius was increasing the heat."
"Dog days can also define a time period or event that is very hot or stagnant."
Stagnant? Sally?
You really haven't met her have you?
Today, the second day of a blistering heat wave, the first day in 6 Sally hasn't done agility in the am, run like a wild child at the farm and done more agility at night ( yes I am a lazy/add soul - I often work in short increments), Sally was frantic to WORK. She threw herself into the send out to the jump, tunnel, jump. Blasted the weaves with me both on and off side. (All this for a ratty old throw stick)
She's a firecracker, a ball of energy, a going concern, and hilarious. As always I am grateful for the joy the gang brings to our house. (Brody is heartedly unimpressed today - I've misplaced the clippers but he NEEDS a haircut so he's getting scissored. Have I mentioned before he HATES being groomed more than anything? He'd rather be polite to a PUPPY for Pete's sake!)
"the hottest most humid days of the year"
"The term itself was coined by the ancient Romans, who referred to these days as "caniculares dies" (days of the dogs), after the constellation Canis Major, of which Sirius is a part of. As these days coincided with the time when Sirius was visible they believed that Sirius was increasing the heat."
"Dog days can also define a time period or event that is very hot or stagnant."
Stagnant? Sally?
You really haven't met her have you?
Today, the second day of a blistering heat wave, the first day in 6 Sally hasn't done agility in the am, run like a wild child at the farm and done more agility at night ( yes I am a lazy/add soul - I often work in short increments), Sally was frantic to WORK. She threw herself into the send out to the jump, tunnel, jump. Blasted the weaves with me both on and off side. (All this for a ratty old throw stick)
She's a firecracker, a ball of energy, a going concern, and hilarious. As always I am grateful for the joy the gang brings to our house. (Brody is heartedly unimpressed today - I've misplaced the clippers but he NEEDS a haircut so he's getting scissored. Have I mentioned before he HATES being groomed more than anything? He'd rather be polite to a PUPPY for Pete's sake!)
Saturday, June 19, 2010
what a tangled weave we weave sometimes..
Sally has rocking weaves - truly rocking - they swing back and forth if they aren't driven into the ground .. she can find a TOTALLY independent entry and if I am "on side" she blasts through them without much fuss at all - occasionally she'll pop out but usually not and usually she is quite quick - I can run with her, hang behind her be close or laterally 10 feet or more out no problem. Her off side weaves are More difficult for her - and I'm not sure why. She wants more support and guidance. If I start on side and rear cross she's fine - if she's running a line hard she tends to be fine too but if she has time to think about it - FORGET it ...
Today we worked a pinwheel - 2 jumps, a tunnel and 6 weaves - quite straight forward as I wanted her blasting weaves both directions ... it worked ..
I used a ratty old stick as her reward and she thought that was the BEST ..lately I've been using food as I don't want her over aroused all the time.
I need to work more more more off side weaves though - her style should be the same either way
Today we worked a pinwheel - 2 jumps, a tunnel and 6 weaves - quite straight forward as I wanted her blasting weaves both directions ... it worked ..
I used a ratty old stick as her reward and she thought that was the BEST ..lately I've been using food as I don't want her over aroused all the time.
I need to work more more more off side weaves though - her style should be the same either way
Saturday, April 18, 2009
gearing up to work
Building a shed today and grabbing moments in time to run weaves with Brody and Sally.
The floor for the shed was a ladder of sorts so all the dogs did some footwork.
Miss Sally worked on wait and GO. She also decided the shed side up against the woodpile made a good stand in for the aframe and went up and over the wood pile. Crazy girl!
Everybody had fun leaping on and downing on the table. I lef tit very wobbly on purpose and it didn't phase anybody for one second.
It was nice to be fooling around with equipment a little. Brody LOVED it. 6 weaves as if he'd been working them all winter. Amazing really.
The floor for the shed was a ladder of sorts so all the dogs did some footwork.
Miss Sally worked on wait and GO. She also decided the shed side up against the woodpile made a good stand in for the aframe and went up and over the wood pile. Crazy girl!
Everybody had fun leaping on and downing on the table. I lef tit very wobbly on purpose and it didn't phase anybody for one second.
It was nice to be fooling around with equipment a little. Brody LOVED it. 6 weaves as if he'd been working them all winter. Amazing really.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
What do you value?
Food above everything? Being warm and cosy?
perhaps a sheepy tug toy on a bungee cord?
if so you'd relate well to either Sally, Thea or Brody. They are so different to each other it's astounding! (In case you are new to this blog - Sally is the toy worshipper, Brody thinks anything is worth doing if you get paid in food, and Thea is all about creature comforts!)
I was working Sally a little today with the fleecy and wow - talk about a motivator .. I had to actually alternate with kibble as she was TOO ON.. especially with the little bit of table work we did. Ran the 2x2 a couple of times - BAM WHAM flying through them - tomorrow I'll have to get 6 poles up for both Brody and Sally if the weather holds ... Sally's enthusiasm motivates me!
We worked wait - she wants the fleecy so badly she'll even let me tug with Hank with it and hold her stay ... AMAZING.. or maybe she's finally growing up?
It was fun to work a little .. actually great!
Monday, March 30, 2009
weaving mania
set up one pair of 2x2 s to see what Sally thought of them - she saw them and RAN a straight line right past them - looked at me and I must admit I LAUGHED at her. She thought for a second then flung herself through the poles properly and barked at me.
She did it again without the bark and I rewarded her fast.. then she did it again and again. I had to take the poles down to stop her. Her obsessions fascinate me.
She did it again without the bark and I rewarded her fast.. then she did it again and again. I had to take the poles down to stop her. Her obsessions fascinate me.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
reflections on practise and training
I am not a dog trainer - no siree Bob not a training bone in my body
however it seems I spend a LOT of time dispensing training, and training advise
I think about behaviours and how to modify them for dogs and cats, occasionally parrots and rabbits and in my day job I get paid to "train" teenagers ..
and none of it feels like training to me - I facilitate, I demonstrate, I discuss, I rehearse and I apply knowledge and skills...
it's just as true in agility as anywhere
I need to know my audience even within the dogs I work regularly (or semi regularly as the week may unfold) they need different approaches and have since the day they began agility. All my dogs have been shaped to do the various obstacles - though one "trainer" tried to lure Thea on a dog walk - that still causes me issues some days ...
Brody would have been lured too if he had needed to be lured but he went with me from the first time he saw an obstacle - I guess he was sort of lured through weaves to start - and GEEZ no shock here - weaves can be our downfall some trials!
The degree of work each dog can take seems to vary an incedible amount too.
Brody just does stuff - even early on I was careful not to run back to back in class more than once (as we were often the smallest dog in class I'd do it once then be asked to repeat so we didn't have to change heights). If he had a blip with something I just kept going - had I stopped to "WORK" on the "problem" Brody would have checked out without a doubt. Now that he knows what he is doing I can try a line a bunch of times in a bunch of ways as long as there is no implication he got anything wrong.. He knows it's all my fault if things go south...
Thea needs to do things until she's confident .. if she does it once but not well and then goes away she'll worry about the error until it becomes HUGE .. but push her past her comfort point and she'll slip away to her crate
everything needs to be planned with her - winging it is not her style at all ...
Sally just goes and goes - she'll repeat something 50 times just because she can .. for example she did 12 weaves this fall (that were on the lawn for Brody to work) I laughed at her blasting through them so she turned around and did them again (and again) with no cue and no support. When we started working her as a little puppy I told my trainer that I was worried about nose touches - as there was no cue for her to lift her head off .. she laughed at me and said that would NOT be a problem .. that Christmas Sally STUCK to the nose touch plate at the bottom of the stairs so hard I had to actually pick her up to break the touch - then I taught her a release for that behaviour. Sally has been wholly shaped so offering behaviours comes very naturally to her. If it pays she repeats and repeats. She is a much more independant thinker than either Brody or Thea as well - which is both a blessing and curse. I think I could see her shut down if she was DRILLED without joy but working with her brings me such joy I can't imagine that happening any time soon.
however it seems I spend a LOT of time dispensing training, and training advise
I think about behaviours and how to modify them for dogs and cats, occasionally parrots and rabbits and in my day job I get paid to "train" teenagers ..
and none of it feels like training to me - I facilitate, I demonstrate, I discuss, I rehearse and I apply knowledge and skills...
it's just as true in agility as anywhere
I need to know my audience even within the dogs I work regularly (or semi regularly as the week may unfold) they need different approaches and have since the day they began agility. All my dogs have been shaped to do the various obstacles - though one "trainer" tried to lure Thea on a dog walk - that still causes me issues some days ...
Brody would have been lured too if he had needed to be lured but he went with me from the first time he saw an obstacle - I guess he was sort of lured through weaves to start - and GEEZ no shock here - weaves can be our downfall some trials!
The degree of work each dog can take seems to vary an incedible amount too.
Brody just does stuff - even early on I was careful not to run back to back in class more than once (as we were often the smallest dog in class I'd do it once then be asked to repeat so we didn't have to change heights). If he had a blip with something I just kept going - had I stopped to "WORK" on the "problem" Brody would have checked out without a doubt. Now that he knows what he is doing I can try a line a bunch of times in a bunch of ways as long as there is no implication he got anything wrong.. He knows it's all my fault if things go south...
Thea needs to do things until she's confident .. if she does it once but not well and then goes away she'll worry about the error until it becomes HUGE .. but push her past her comfort point and she'll slip away to her crate
everything needs to be planned with her - winging it is not her style at all ...
Sally just goes and goes - she'll repeat something 50 times just because she can .. for example she did 12 weaves this fall (that were on the lawn for Brody to work) I laughed at her blasting through them so she turned around and did them again (and again) with no cue and no support. When we started working her as a little puppy I told my trainer that I was worried about nose touches - as there was no cue for her to lift her head off .. she laughed at me and said that would NOT be a problem .. that Christmas Sally STUCK to the nose touch plate at the bottom of the stairs so hard I had to actually pick her up to break the touch - then I taught her a release for that behaviour. Sally has been wholly shaped so offering behaviours comes very naturally to her. If it pays she repeats and repeats. She is a much more independant thinker than either Brody or Thea as well - which is both a blessing and curse. I think I could see her shut down if she was DRILLED without joy but working with her brings me such joy I can't imagine that happening any time soon.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
rainy rainy days
I deliberately left the 12 weave poles here last week when I packed up the agility equipment to take to the church for the winter ... so I could work them.
OF COURSE it rained HARD all day yesterday - Brody was cold and wet and I decided that running weaves when he was so miserable was probably not going to put the joy back in them.
He actually didn't even want to go for our second walk ... unlike the other twerps who all thought puddle splashing was amazing! I made him come and rewarded him heavily but he was not a happy fellow.
It isn’t pouring yet so maybe I’ll get to do a few sets before I have to pack the 2x2s up for the season (the 6 set doesn’t fit in the truck easily so it will stay here)
Sally is a little sore on her left front – I hope Hank just slammed into her too hard ..but I have faint memories of her being sore at this time last year too …yikes!
OF COURSE it rained HARD all day yesterday - Brody was cold and wet and I decided that running weaves when he was so miserable was probably not going to put the joy back in them.
He actually didn't even want to go for our second walk ... unlike the other twerps who all thought puddle splashing was amazing! I made him come and rewarded him heavily but he was not a happy fellow.
It isn’t pouring yet so maybe I’ll get to do a few sets before I have to pack the 2x2s up for the season (the 6 set doesn’t fit in the truck easily so it will stay here)
Sally is a little sore on her left front – I hope Hank just slammed into her too hard ..but I have faint memories of her being sore at this time last year too …yikes!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesday and Sally is wired
After a week of running and being with us 24/7 - a trial on the weekend, practise Monday and a lesson Tuesday I don't know how the wild child can be quite so wild ;)
But she is - she's ripping tops of bottles and bringing the bottle to me to replace the top so she can do it again - she's eviserated a teddy and played ball for half and hour - somedays I wish she was a lab ;)
Brody is also full of himself - happy, cheerful saucy fellow :)
Practise Monday was short and sweet for both of them... Brody was REVED and blasting through and over everything in his path - he positively glues himself to the teeter for surfing which is great for a little guy who has been known to do a fly off ;)
Sally did some AWESOME weave work and some lovely distance tunnel work :)
In Sally's lesson she was a bit sniffy at first but settled down to work nicely after a couple of inquiries... she needs a break from trials and a refocousing - I like taking her with me though ... tough to back off from even a gambelrs class...
But she is - she's ripping tops of bottles and bringing the bottle to me to replace the top so she can do it again - she's eviserated a teddy and played ball for half and hour - somedays I wish she was a lab ;)
Brody is also full of himself - happy, cheerful saucy fellow :)
Practise Monday was short and sweet for both of them... Brody was REVED and blasting through and over everything in his path - he positively glues himself to the teeter for surfing which is great for a little guy who has been known to do a fly off ;)
Sally did some AWESOME weave work and some lovely distance tunnel work :)
In Sally's lesson she was a bit sniffy at first but settled down to work nicely after a couple of inquiries... she needs a break from trials and a refocousing - I like taking her with me though ... tough to back off from even a gambelrs class...
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