Before Starting Agility Classes

[Cosmolo]

Lovely round Vickie!

[Erny]

A shift from running beside a handler to working independently of handler positon is more than weaning off a lure.

In our instance I haven't seen this as a "shift" but more of a natural progression that has occurred through training. Initially on-lead and working very basic - as Megan as described (thanks Megan ) .... just one obstacle and then maybe a couple at a time. During this, learning body language, its impact on the dog, and practicing that. As all of these things moved on they became better. With that the dogs began to pick up speed. By then the owners were becoming better in their body language. And by then the dogs were able to move towards more off-lead than on-lead. There has been no "shift" or adjustment from one thing (ie on-lead) to another (ie off-lead). It's been quite a smooth transition IMO and from what I see. Now that Megan has joined the discussion (thanks again, Megan) perhaps she might step in to contradict me if she thinks it is necessary. She would know it more so than I as she is an active participant in our Agility Classes. I am often pre-occupied with other classes and/or my attention is interrupted by some requirement or other.

Are any of your handlers trialling yet?

This not directed to me but if it were my answer would be no, not yet. Although if they desire it (), they're not terribly far away from being ready to, but there is more work to detail required just yet.

[Erny]

Very nice rounds - each of them. And good work Vicki. Your dog is very fast. What was the time on that run?

[JulesP]

This has got pretty off topic.

Zug Zug I think the handler needs to suck it up a bit. Slight handler boredom in the lower levels is normal for an advanced handler. The puppy hasn't done it before though You can be giving the handler more advanced things to do in the class. I do this if I see that a handler is quite a bit more advanced then the others.

Whilst I might have found it boring to listen to the same instruction for the third time in as many years (I kept getting puppies just as I had finished going through our levels) I never found training the dog boring.

[poodlefan]

This has got pretty off topic.

Zug Zug I think the handler needs to suck it up a bit. Slight handler boredom in the lower levels is normal for an advanced handler. The puppy hasn't done it before though You can be giving the handler more advanced things to do in the class. I do this if I see that a handler is quite a bit more advanced then the others.

Whilst I might have found it boring to listen to the same instruction for the third time in as many years (I kept getting puppies just as I had finished going through our levels) I never found training the dog boring.

I agree. Given that offleash control appears to be an issue, the handler wouldn't appear to have a dog as advanced in its obedience training as the handler appears to believe.

Proofing that at a lower level class would be a good goal.

[Vickie]

Very nice rounds - each of them. And good work Vicki. Your dog is very fast. What was the time on that run?

I can't remember the times, but I do remember that there was just over a second between 1st & 5th place. Pretty nail biting stuff for a final

If I hadn't tripped after the weaves I think we could have come close, but doubt we would have gotten them.

You shouldn't sell yourself short Vickie -nice round!

;) Thank you, we have some great runs, but are just not quite as consistent as R&T...working on it though

Edited February 20, 2011 by Vickie

[Vickie]

Whilst I might have found it boring to listen to the same instruction for the third time in as many years (I kept getting puppies just as I had finished going through our levels) I never found training the dog boring.

That's a good point

[Zug Zug]

Yes it is a good point. I think I will talk with her before class next week and try to identify some training goals. And yes, her handling is pretty good but her dog is young and still learning the basics.