Kavik

I am excited but also a bit apprehensive about the weather - my first trial isn't until next weekend but still it is expected to reach 43 degress tomorrow

Ok I have watched the 2x2 weave pole DVD and now watching it again to get a better understanding of the steps and when you move to the next step. I am a bit confused about when you move them to straight. I get that you do 2 o'clock and 8 o'clock with 2 then 4 poles then move the poles closer together, then rotate again? and then close the distance again. Do you close the distance so that they are at competition distnce while they are at say 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock and then rotate them to straight or later? Just a bit confused as in the DVD the dog gets it so fast Does that make sense?

Quickasyou can it didn't come across that way to me? More that since you have now found it, you may spend a lot of time checking it out and reading stuff on there. It is easy to get carried away looking on some sites. (my choice seems to be clean run )

Cesar Milan's DVDs are interesting to watch to see how he deals with dogs with extreme problems. They are NOT instructional DVDs and I think are of limited use (if any at all) for training purposes, especially as you are starting with a puppy. I agree with poodlefan that face to face training would be more useful. There are other DVDs that would be MUCH more useful for specific sports (agility, obedience, etc).

Looks interesting but way out of my price range.

I have a reasonably low drive dog and two high drive dogs. My low drive dog CAN get excited to the point where he works well, but it is unreliable, he will only do it sometimes in locations where he is comfortable and that are not too distracting. Which is pretty useless for competing.

In this case though I don't think you should be using a clicker OR you should be leaving him in the pounce position (effectively a stay) for a greater period of time and then using the toy as the reward that follows the click. Sounds to me like you are rewarding the entire chain of behaviour and not just the end position. IMO a click means - you have done your job and are now free to do what you will. Chances are they will come to you becuase they know a treat is coming. I think it comes down to placement of reward. If you always click and give the treat from your hand your dog will look to your hand when you click. If you always throw the treat away from you when you click, the dog will go forward in the direction you throw. I have moved away from using an actual clicker with this exercise and am using a verbal marker instead.

I don't work on everything at once obviously I might do weave entries with the Kelpies one day, and heeling with Diesel for example or jumping with everyone. I rotate things to keep them interesting

I guess it depends on whether you want the dog running to you after he has done the behaviour? In my case, I want the dog to negotiate the obstacle, hit his 'pounce' contact position and then stay there until released by verbal command. So I reward in position by placing or throwing the food as close as I can to him when he is in position after I mark and also when I release him (throw it forward as I want him to go forward and I want him to focus forward)

In the agility instructor's seminar I attended last year this was brought up as correct - that the behaviour between the marker and teh reinforcer was also rewarded. Would explain one of the problems I am having with my contact training - after I mark the behaviour he tends to turn his head and look at me (even when I throw the reward) - so it has been incorporated into his performance. Trying to fix that to looking forward or at the target instead is proving a bit tricky

Kaos: Weave pole entries Weave pole footwork, speed and independence New 'pouncing' foot target for contacts (starting on plank now) Being able to find his 'line' between obstacles at an angle (and to look at the line/direction of travel and not at me) Sending over one and two jumps Tunnel entries To do more work on soon: Wrapping jumps and tight turning after jumps Improve speed on seesaw and contacts in general Zoe: Weave pole entries Nose touch target for contacts sending over one and two jumps tunnel entries Diesel: Shaping a drop into a PVC box Sending over and two jumps tunnel entries nose touch for heeling position - stationary and a couple of steps or right about turn - aim for precision, focus and animation Send to ball Come fore with nice close front and animation swing finish

While I don't want my dog to field, in agility I sometimes actually want my dog to focus on where he thinks the ball will land instead of on me - as I want my dog to drive ahead of me, and complete obstacles regardless of what I am doing, and know where the reward will land.

Abbey Alika Alchemy Amber Amelia Amy x 2 Anais Anastacia (Annie) Angel X2 Anishinaabe Annabelle Annabella April Arizona Asante sana Ashka Askari Astro Audrey Aura Ayla Baba Baci Bailey Becky Bella x2 Bit Blossom Bonny Bree Bridie Buffy Cally Cassie Cedar Chelsea Chloe x 2 Charlotte Cinta CJ Claire Claudia Clover Cleoparta Coco x2 Daisy Delilah Delta Dexta Durham Dyzney Ebony Echo Elizabeth Ella Ellie Ellie Emily Emma Erin Fanta Finta Glitter Grace Griffin Gypsy x2 Harlow Hayley x2 Heddy Heidi Holly x 4 Honey Honour Imogen - Imy Jay Jay Jessie Jezebel Jodie Kara Karma Karmen Katie Katy Kayla Kenzie Kiesha Kizzey Krissy Kuean - (Queen) Lacey Layla Lea (lele) Lily Lobo Logan Lottie Lucy x3 Mable Marie Claudette Marlo Meg Merrique Mia Millie x2 Minnie Mischka Molly x2 Molly Coddle Mya Nala Narla Natasha Ness Pearl Peggie Pebbles Pip Popcorn Porridge Reba Rebel Rogue Rommi Rosey Roxy Ruby x3 Sabrina Sally Sascha x 2 Satu Shae Shandy Sharnie Sheba Shine Sinta Skye Sophie x2 Springy Spook Stella x2 Stimpy Storm Sue Tara Tayla Teegan Tess Tessa Tia Tilly x3 Tinny (tin tin) Tori Tully Vada Voodoo Winter Wilhelmina Xanthe Ziva Zoe x 3

Armand Balou Baxter Benny Brock Brockie Brody Bud Caramel Charlie x 2 Chip Coco Cooper Cowan x 2 Cuba Danny Darcy Dash Diesel Digger Dumas Dylan FlashBazil Gandor Greedy Harrison Hudson Ivan Jack Judd Juggie Kasper Kaos Kiba Kisho Kyzer Lestat Lukas MacKenzie Max Maxie Merry Milosh Minook Mistral Nammu Nova Onslow Oz Payton Piikki Raffy Reeve Riku Rover Rupert Scout Shadow Sterling Storm Tazz Tey Dog Tirra Tusca Tye Ulf Watson Willy Zedley Zephyr Zeus

I've actually found this thread very interesting and informative (even if you have found it frustrating corvus) so thank you to everyone else who has posted photos/videos and explanations.

What is the price?

Yes but not all dogs are good Schutzhund prospects and just because your GSD doesn't shut down doesn't mean someone's Whippet wouldn't shut down or even that my Kelpie wouldn't shut down.

I have also seen people use compulsion to get a dog go through a tunnel and even helped (not competition agility training). However especially after an agility instructing seminar I attended last year where the tunnel was specifically mentioned, I feel that you can find a way to make a small enough step so that you should not need to use compulsion. Breaking the tunnel down into a hoop even for the first step if the dog is really scared. My main point was that in agility you want independence and a lot of the training is about CHOICE. Shaping is very important in agility.

Great shot Terranik! Makes me wish I wasn't so useless with a camera

I don't know of any agility dogs that lead a life such as this. All that I know are family pets that go for walks/romps/runs/swims etc like any other dog. I didn't say that corrections are never warrented in training life skills.

Non-sporting does not mean they don't need much exercise :rolleyes: It is merely a classification based on original usage, and I think? covers breeds that do not fit in the hunting/herding/guarding classifications of the other categories. You would be best off looking at dogs that are primarily companions. What are your other requirements? What type of temperament are you interested in? How much exercise could you provide? Light build or chunky? Friendly, aloof? Easy to train or independent? Oops posted at same time as SBT and forgot Toys

There is no place for compulsion/physical corrections as explained by Erny (guide show place) and Diablo in agility training.

Gorgeous little man!

Love the lure coursing photos Nekhbet

GSD x Lab looks more likely to me