The plank and weaves

I was able to get outside this weekend and work the plank again. It has been a couple or few weeks since we worked them. Saturday was a really good day. I like what I saw. They are challenging though. I only have the plank at 10 inches now. I am going to attend a Daisy Peel workshop soon. I am excited.

I worked Juice with 6 weaves and had a jump 5 feet from the weaves. The first time she didn't know how to slow herself down and ran right by them. The second time she goy in the entrance and almost lost it but was able to catch herself and stay in. I was impressed by it. Next week we go to Kansas for another Stacey Goudy seminar. I'm looking forward to it. Juice and Annie are entered in the USDAA trial in Glen Carbon and my only desire is to relax, enjoy the girsl, and have fun. If there is a Q it is icing and if not, maybe next time. What's the hurray.

Lateral and Front Sends

It is freezing here in St. Louis but I had to get outside and do some lateral and front sends with Juice and Annie. I also worked weave entries. I had J go over 3 jumps with speed and hit her entry. I had the 3rd jump 20 feet away initially and gradually moved it to 5 feet. She did well.

Workshop in Tennessee

I had a good time in Oakland learning more from Stacy. I audited one day of Excellent and Masters and then worked the other day with Juice. The first time we got out to run a course it was a train wreck. I was way late on my cues and Juice was all over the place. With the help of Stacy I was able to eventually make a good run. JDawg is good. I am learning how to become good myself. I see how much potential this dog has and it excites me.

I am realizing there is no need to rush. We will get there when we get there. I have entered the USDAA trial at the end of the year in Jumper's and Gambler's. If I don't think we can run the course well then I will focus on a section of it to try to do well. When we are successful I will run off the course and play tug.

Workshop with Stacey Goudy

Juice and I will be heading to one more agility workshop this year. In a couple of weeks we will be going to Memphis to see Stacey again. I really liked her and how she helped me. I believe once I cue Juice more effectively she will collect better. I'm not to happy about the time change because I won't be able to do any outside work until the weekend.

The Plank

IT SUCKS

Back to the Plank

I recently when to a Stacey Goudy workshop in Columbia, MO. I was to late to get a spot for Juice but I was able to work her in once on Annie's time. Stacey was very helpful. I enjoyed her workshop. She was extremely helpful with both girls. I liked it so much that I am attending another one in Memphis in November and was able to get Juice in one day. While in Columbia I took advantage of a 2 foot dog walk and 4 foot A-Frame with the JDawg. She did well and did not leap. I was quite happy. I realized later that she was not outright running but it still looked good. So, I am back to work now to get her full out running. I have 2/3 of a 2 foot dogwalk in my back yard now. I built it last night. To get her to have some speed I will have to have her run and do a push off of the side of the house and then run the dogwalk. It was dark when I finished so I'll see how she does once I get home.

Plank work sucks

I did some work with Juice last night and she acted like we had never done it before. Then I got frustrated and eventually quit. I should have stopped sooner. What's new about that. I am just having a heck of a time with it. If I am behind her she runs and turns my direction well but if I am with her or in front of her she leaps. Back to the beginning.

October Agility

Juice will run in AKC for the very 1st time. I have her entered in JWW and FAST. It will be good to see where she and I are at. She is so fast! I am still working on the teeter, dogwalk, and A-Frame so we won't be in Standard for a while.

I was at Westinn Kennels and did some work with her on Sunday. She comes flying blind out of the chute and the tunnel and I caught myself standing still saying OMG. So, lets see where we are.

The Plank

I worked the plank a few more times and raised it up to 1 foot. I have a jump before and after it. She wraps one jump runs the plank and wraps the other jump. She is looking good at this. I might raise it a couple of inches. Maybe I should just leave it where it is. She has been 80% accurate so we'll see. I am somewhat indecisive lately. I've been working with a heavy heart after having to let my 14 1/2 year old cocker spaniel go. Rudy led me to this dog world that I enjoy so much now. RIP Rudy!

I have been working the wrap to get her to turn tight. Initially I just had her wrap around a single weave pole. I then put the jump at 4 inches and have moved up to 10 inches. I'll see what she looks like later today and decide what to do next. I might regress and make sure I keep her getting the idea of making her body curve.

The Plank

I worked the plank with Juice over the weekend with the tunnel about 15 feet away. She did really well. I raised the plank to 1 foot by Sunday evening and then had a jump before and after the plank. I was very happy with how she was looking. Will keep at it.

Worked the running A-Frame at 4.6 feet Sunday. She did a nice job. Had her coming out of a tunnel to it or going through a tire to it. I was happy with what I saw.

The Plank

I put out the plank last night flat on the ground and worked running contacts. This morning I put a tunnel at the end of it and if Juice was in the zone she got to take the tunnel and then reward with play. She does well when I am behind her but when I am in front of her she still would like to leap. She becomes so focused on me and the reward that she doesn't focus on the job of the moment. So I put the tunnel there to pull her and then it is my job to get her to focus on the end of the plank..She is catching on and when she thinks she knows exactly what to do but when she gets in that crazed place I lose her..............

Later

Working the wrap

I rewatched Susan Garrett and Greg Derrett to see how they teach the tight turns. I've done some work with Juice over the last couple of days with the jump height at 4-6 inches. I even have her just wrap a weave pole so she is curving her body. I'm confident over a period of time she will learn to understand this.

I have worked the elevator game, the fly off and the nose touch (BAM) with the teeter a couple of times this week.

I think I will go back to the running contact on a plank this weekend and keep the variety. Maybe we'll do a jump to the tunnel and then a wrap after coming out of the tunnel to see if she collects.

Stay tuned

Tight Turns

I put a jump close to the house to get Juice to collect and turn tight. She didn't know that was what I wanted so she jumped 22 inches and did a turn off of the house. Mixing up flyball and agility! I'm trying to get her to curve her body and wrap around the jump. I had to move the jump somewhere else so she could figure out what I wanted. Stay tuned..........

Will do some elevator work and bang game today.............

Elevator game and nose touch

Wasn't able to do much last night because of rain but I did get out long enough to play with the teeter. Juice is comfortable jumping on the teeter and staring over the end. She knows she is going to get a treat so she doesn't stare as long as I want her to. I will up the criteria for that now. I'm dropping the teeter low to the ground right now for her to quickly nose touch. She is getting better but not as fast as I want yet. We will keep working. She is doing a great job!

Wednesday night

Worked some recall to heel on the flat. I'm planning on using the curved tunnel and a couple of jumps to work with collection after the speed. I am helping her learn what to do if I am on the take off side or the landing side of one jump and/or 2 jumps and a tunnel. So cool this agility stuff is. It is great for someone as anal as me.

We played the elevator game again and a few nose touches. Still not as fast as I want but we will get there. She and Annie both did some double box work.

I did the A-Frame out at Westinn Kennels on Sunday. I had it at about 4 feet and she looked pretty good with the running contact. I hope to do more when I am out there next week.

Labor Day Weekend

I had a great few days with the girls. I worked with the straight tunnel with positioning and recall to heel. The most recent edition of clean run had an article about it from APHS. Later in the day I worked more collection and extension with one jump and the curved tunnel. On Monday I went back to the straight tunnel.

I also did some work with Greg Derrett's double box. Played the elevator game on the teeter to get J to stare over the edge and be ready to nose touch fast. I am trying to get her to nose touch faster than she is when the teeter drops.

Collection & Extension

Last night I used the tunnel for some collection - extension - collection work. I need to help Juice learn to read what to do on her own. It was fun. Annie likes it too!

I put out 12 weave poles at 24 inches to work on over the next few days.

We are going to play the bang game, elevator game, and the fly off game this weekend. I need to do some A-Frame workalso. Hopefully, I can do that on Monday out at Westinn Kennels.

Running Dogwalk

I practiced last night at 20 inches and then moved up to 21 then 23. I will stay at this for a few days or more and see where we are at. It is time to start working with the tunnel and also more Linda Mecklenberg's collection exercises.

I don't have Juice turning tight. She turns wide. I need to practice more collection so she knows when she needs too. She knows how to hit the weaves after coming blind out of the tunnel. She is able to read what to do to get herself in the 1st set of poles.

It is raining now and I have really been working J-Dawg hard (what's new) so I think a night of rest is deserved. Let's see how that works!

Running Dogwalk

I have the plank up to 20 inches now. I have Juice working at a few different angles and going over a jump. I am liking what I see right now. I went out to youtube today and saw some great running contacts. It keeps me excited about getting Juice to do them. I was frustrated for a while and started over. I made my own box like Rachel Sanders and the box method for the frame. Initially it was too small so I made it the size of the yellow and gave her room to run instead of collect to fit into the smaller one. I have had her run without it a few times and she is in the zone. To be continued. I am determined to get this.

24 inch weaves

I have been working with poles at 24 inches with the 2x2 method. I have them at 1 & 6 and she looked good. I am just working 6 right now. I moved them even closer together but just shy of a straight line. She looks good from all angles. I have a tunnel now so I will get to do more proofing.

J Dawgs first AKC Agility Trial

We are in the Oct. Trial in JWW, and FAST. I'm excited to get in that enviroment with her. She has only competed once and that was Jumpers and Gamblers in USDAA. She took second in Gamblers both days and that was without any dogwalk, A-Frame, or teeter. In Jumpers we didn't Q but they were good runs both days.

Stay tuned!

I am now officially an agility Nerd

I am having so much fun learning agility. I attended the Lori Michaels and Sturart Mah workshop a few weeks back. I am in a workshop with Annie in Columbia MO. in October with Stacy Peardot-Goudy. I am on a WAIT list with Juice and I hope I can get in. If not I will audit. Yesterday Linda, D, and I went and watched a few hours of agiliy.

I have been working on running contacts with Juice and it has been difficult. I decided to back track and start over. It is taking time but it is coming along and I think I can get this figured out.

A few of us from Bi-State are going to Kentucky to see the Championships.

J-Dawgs Debut

WOO HOO! Juice did a nice job on her debut. Her first run she was handler focused which is not the norm. Since she was focused on me her collection was really good. Her 2nd time out she was back to obstacle focused and ran like she does in practice or class. I ran her in gambler's and jumper's. She did well on both gamble's. She works well away from me. When she was going throught the tunnel I told her right and she did it. This was the 1st time we ever ran a full course. In class we would run 4-5 obstacles at a time. To be continued.................gotta go

Agility Class 6/30/2010

I had class with the girls yesterday. My last warm up before Indiana. Juice and I were doing well and learning. She went to the pool to cool off and when she came back she wouldn't put weight on her right leg. Big OMG! Neither Deb nor I knew what happened. She didn't want me to touch it. I stopped at the vet and got rimadyl for the inflammation and iced it at home last night. Crate rest and going out to potty on a flexi. This am she acted like it was fine. Will keep and eye on her and see if all is okay for Saturday.

I am loving Agility

Who knew this agility stuff could be more fun than Flyball? :)) I want to make sure that Juice has a solid foundation and understanding so I need to make sure I get it right. I had a session with Deb Frank yesterday and it was a blast. The set up was a jump straight to the chute, then immediately into the right side of the the tunnel, 180 to a jump, double jump and then the table. Juice went through the chute like a bullet. It was so fast and I was so surprised all I did was say "Oh my god" and froze in my tracks. Deb said she was one of the fastest dogs she has seen going through the chute.

Later we worked on a pinwheel with a wrap to the weaves. It was a tough entrance and Juice had a difficult time with it. She had so much of a hard time that I put the weave poles back up in my yard last night. I am going to work tough entries.

I have decided to enter her in her first trial. It's not to go out and be awesome and qualify (that will come later when she and I are more seasoned) but it is to see where she is at and what she will do in that enviroment. I have her entered in Gambler's and Jumper's in Lebanon Indiana the 4th of July weekend. Wish us Luck!

Jennifer Crank Seminar

I attended a work shop at Jennifer McDonald's this past weekend. It was quite impressive and I learned much. It would take a lot of time to write down everything that I learned in one sitting. So, I'll just talk about one aspect. I learned about 6 different positions for recall to heel.
1) foundation, 2) sepentine, 3) 270, 4) backy uppy, 5) extension and 6) directional. We learned them on the flat and with obstacles. I enjoyed the worshop so much I ordered Linda Mecklenburg's book, "Developing Jumping Skills". I want to learn to be a better handler.

Rachel Sanders Running A-Frame

I have been practicing the running contacts at home with Juice. I went to Angie and Chris' a couple of weeks ago and practiced there. Juice didn't do as well there as she did at home but we've all heard that story. It was a good learning experience to see how the hype got to her, So we have practiced at home with the wubba and the tennis ball for the hype. She is doing well right now. I started having having her do weaves again. It had been some time since she had done them. They look good. I will be anxious to see how she does with them in class.

Greg Derrett Box Work

I had not been doing any sequence work with Juice until last week. I had some fun with the first 3 sequences. When I get better at handling this dog will be great. Or, this dog is already great, I just have to figure out how to get me better. It is fun figuring out her commitment point and then moving from there. More later...................

Woof Agility Practice

I did some work with Juice after flyball practice yesterday. I practiced with a jump in front of a tunnel with both open ends facing the jump. She had to check in with me to see which side I was directing her to. It worked pretty well and she was much more successful than not. We practiced the running contact with the down plank flat and then up on an incline. She ran down it, through a tire, and to a wubba. We practiced the bang game with the teeter low and she was able to handle it hitting the floor without jumping off. That is a nice improvement. We did some stride regulator work with the jump in front of the tire. It was a good day of agility work.

Juice at an Agility Trial

I had a fun weekend at the agility trial with Annie. I took Juice to start getting her comfortable with the enviroment. I thought she would be a handful. She did very well. I practiced measuring her and got her somewhat comfortable with it. We sat in the stands and watched people run their dogs and she was good. I practiced the warm up jumps with her without a leash and praise god she didn't take off running anywhere. I took her both days and had fun. Yes, FUN!

Sunday at K9 Bed and Breakfast

Linda and I worked our dogs at the same time as a distraction. Linda was doing set point and stay work with a wubba. I had Juice on a down and wait less than 5 feet lateral to Hala. She was tempted to break and started to get up when Linda released Hala with free. Ireminded her to not do that and we repeated the same thing a few times. Worked some rear crosses and front crosses and also did some collection work. I had the jump at 20 and had Juice 20 feet away. She is getting better. At home we did some plank work and again some right and lefts outside.

Weekend Work

Saturday the weather was nice so Juice and I did some work. What's new? We worked weaves. I started to pull away laterally at the end of the poles and she came out of the weaves before the last pole. BAD dog! BAD handler! We are working rights and lefts over the jumps. She is good with rights and lefts on my right side but on the heel side she has trouble with lefts. We will fix it. In the house I am working the plank and my own version of A-Frame running contacts. So far so good. She does well with treats right now. I went out in the yard to do the same with a toy but she had to much excitement to think so I moved it back into the house for some more repetition. I have started to raise the plank. I will do so slowly.

Back Yard Work

I worked with Juice last night with the plank again. It will take some time and repetition but that is all we have anyway so no hurry. Still working entrances to the weaves from different angles. Some rear crosses and front crosses also. She seems to be turning wide so I am doing some collection exercises with her from a distance. She is figuring it out. Worked on some right and lefts also.

Plank Work with box turn

Too funny! One of these days I will buy a cam corder to tape my sessions and post them. This dog is just a hoot. It was a nice evening weather wise to get out in the yard with all the dogs and play. The plank just happened to be close to the house so Juice got all excited and started turning off the wall and then running on the plank. She cracks me up. We also practiced some left and rights. I set her up over one jump and then had 2 jumps slightly angled to the right or left. She had some difficulties. She gets really worked up and then just doesn't think. Reminds me of flyball and how I have trained her. We worked 6 weave poles totally straight with some hard angles.

Back at it tonight!

4th Agility Class (March 22nd)

Before Juice and I went to practice I watched Rachel Sanders dvd on Reliable Running A-Frames. I like it. It reminds me of Susan Garrett and Susan Salo in some instances and I love there stuff. I also did some reading on Silvia Trkman and running contacts.

Much fun again tonight. I got to practice the A-Frame with a stride regulator and put a wubba right at the bottom and Juice did nice strides. I will start using the box method as soon as Angie gets it for me. We worked the dog walk with the wubba and I have a box at home I am using for her to step in and through. I lowered the teeter and got her slamming it down and tugging. I need to keep it low and bounce the end of up while feeding her to keep her comfortable. It worked well. I also worked her on weaves. I'm looking forward to more.

Running Contacts

I just watched Rachel Sanders DVD on Reliable Running A-Frames. I have also been reading about Silvia Trkman's running contacts. Pretty cool! That's my plan these days. It is a whole lot of piece work and I love that kind of stuff. Some of it reminds me of Susan Garretts 2 X 2's.

Gotta go...........agility tonight........imagine that!

Nice weekend of practice

Saturday I did many different things at home in the back yard with Juice. Jumps with rear crosses and front crosses. We practiced right and lefts, hard angled weave entrances, and then ready, steady, go and some get out. I went out and bought a piece of lumbar for the down side of the dog walk. I also have a piece of material to use for her to run down the walk and through it for running contacts. On sunday we worked stride regulation with me 10 feet lateral to the jumps and she did it. Juice did a serpentine for the first time. It was kinda cool. I had never attempted it before.

Contacts OR Not

I have been thinking about this topic all along. I have practiced with contacts and without. I like the dog best without them but I also know that there will be times I might need them. After speaking with my bff Angie I have decided that I am going to go with the running contacts. I am in no hurry with Juice to compete and I have time to learn where I need to be position wise and better handling skills as time goes on. I am going to go to audit a handling workshop in April and will continue to learn more from others. This is all a lot of fun.

Stay tuned!

3rd Agility Class (March 8)

It was much fun last night! Juice did a series of 6 jumps with one front cross and one rear cross. She doesn't know how to read the rear cross yet so I have some practice work to do. Jennifer showed me a couple of things to do at home to help her read it. I can practice that at home in the living room with one jump. Juice did a nice job on reading my movement. Later I had her do a series of a double jump, 3 single jumps, weaves and tire. It was good. I also had her do a triple jump, tire, weaves, 3 singles and a double jump. That was good also. We practiced teeter at a lower height. I liked it better than the week before. We practiced all obstacles and tunnel work. What fun I am having in this class! I can't wait to learn more. How cool agility is!

2nd Agility Class (March 1)

We learned how to help the dog navigate into the appropriate end of the tunnel. It was pretty cool! When our turn was over with the instructor we could work on anything we wanted too. I spent time working individually on the tire, table (automatic down), weave poles, teeter, and then touch on the A-Frame and dog walk. I was able to get much done with the different obstacles. I want to be able to have Juice fly on the dog walk, A-Frame, and teeter. It will happen. We haven't focused on the teeter and the dog walk yet. We did the A-Frame but I need more time with it.

Beginning Agility Class #1

I'm glad Angie taught me what recall to heel was because that is what we started out with last night. We also did some work on the A-Frame with stride regulators. Juice didn't do well with the 2 on 2 off. We need work on that. She did really well with the sequence of table, tire, and weave. I liked the look on the weaves. I practiced 2 on and 2 off with her on the dog walk while Jennifer was working with others. She did well even when I ran away from her. All in all it was fun but we have a long way to go. I am starting to enjoy the ride. I am really liking agility more than flyball. It is much easier when it is just me and my dog.

Susan Galo Grid Work

I did grid work with Juice after flyball class on Sunday and she was very successful. She did straight line grid with no height and then with height. She also did variable distance from 9 ft. to 13 ft. and then back to 9. She was successful every time but one. When I did this last with her we were out at WOOF and she could not figure out what I wanted. Linda, Denise, and I couldn't figure out how to help her. I think she will mess up when I start to put motion in so I will reinforce this for awhile.

I did some push throughs with her this morning before coming to work.

Always Working

This agility stuff is a major blast! I am totally psyched by it. J-dawg and I are still working at home with the one jump and set point. I have included the bend and slice work. She was having trouble with the slice as the jump height went higher but last night she was very successful. I'm doing the pull and push through just like I am for Annie and it seems to be going well. I am looking forward to beginning agility class starting on February 22.

I like the piece work. Imagine that!

Set Point

I've been doing one jump work at home with Juice. I have used the stride regular for straight on, bend, and slice practice. The slice was difficult for Juice as the height raised so I will continue to mix it in. I am liking the agility more than I thought I would. There are so many different things to work on. I'm glad I knew Juice had stride issues previously with flyball so I can work on them now and not realize it when it is too late.

Juice and I will be taking an agility class starting the end of this month. I'm looking forward to learning more about how Juice and I can work together effectively. We are a work in progress. Just wait to be impressed when we start competing.

Greg Derrett

I just finished watching Greg's DVD.........I am in the agility mode!

Watching disc #2

I'm watching Susan Garrett's," Success with One Jump" disc 2 with front and rear crosses today. I worked with Juice this am on some of what I saw on the 1st disc. Focus and close up work. I'm making sure that sit means sit properly and do not move. It was a fun short session.

Success with One Jump

I just watched Susan Garrett's DVD on this. I like it! It was fun to watch. I am such a NERD I even took notes on it. I'll keep you posted.

Agility Class

Flyball is ruining my agility dog! I went to a session last night and WOW do I need work. Juice was running all over the place. :) It was like I was saying READY but I wasn't. She was having a BLAST. It was fun to see. I was able to laugh.

I am having much fun learning the agility game.