Measurable progress

After a week of training weaves without a toy, this week we had success at Derby show of 5 / 6 weaves. Additionally the success was in both 6 & 12 poles (as indicated a couple weeks ago, 6 was a real issue). Talking to a few people whose dogs are at a similar stage it appears they experience a similar issue with dogs not recognising 6 pole weave configuration.

During the week I had done some training at our local park, where I had never done any training before. So in essence, like a show, it was a neutral venue. Jaidi’s weaves were just like competition, skipping #2. So we worked through and had a couple of successful attempts (too hot to do any more). Then at training the following night, had +50% success rate in the course.

I must admit I was surprised just how quick the turnaround had come, considering a week ago we had to avoid the weaves in the course!

This means I can now work on some other training aspects, with priority being grid work.

So we left the show this weekend looking forward to next weekend.

Our agility dogs: 24th July, Jude injury and Jaidi weaves update

Our agility dogs: 24th July, Jude injury and Jaidi weaves update: "Jude – Injury update Jude is doing her re-hab, working on her proprioception (always easier to write than say) exercises. I also noticed th..."

24th July, Jude injury and Jaidi weaves update

Jude – Injury update

Jude is doing her re-hab, working on her proprioception (always easier to write than say) exercises. I also noticed that over the last few days she has been more willing to play ‘give paw’ games using both legs. This indicates to me more strength back in her right leg (where the tricep injury is), although the muscle here still feels softer than on left. My goal is to be competing again at Festival in a few weeks, but this will depend on the muscle tone over the next few weeks.

Jaidi – Still working on our weaves in the ring!

We have completed a couple of shows since I outlined our primary competition issue, coming out of the weaves. I had identified the symptoms of what was happening, but needed to really understand the ‘why’?

I was convinced this is not a ‘weave’ issue for a few reasons:

·         At training they are very good

·         Jaidi can find and complete the weaves on a simple ‘weave’ command

·         He enters from any angle and any side

·         In first shows he weaved as natural as doing any other obstacle

So what was the difference?

We always trained / train weaves with a toy. It was used to shape entries and provide the drive for completing 12 poles. It appeared that by not having the toy he ‘couldn’t’ weave, almost like a comfort blanket!

To prove my theory I went into a round with a toy in my pocket. As soon as Jaidi missed a weave pole, I showed him the toy and he executed with a simple command. The next round we achieved good weaves.

At next training I did not use a toy and his weaves were like competition (missing 2 and 3rd)! So we have a basis to work with. This is going to take a few sessions before we ascertain if this theory proved correct and to see if we can transfer (the fading) to the ring.

On a positive note!

Over time I had dogs like Jude, Joe and Robbie who didn't have a ‘major’ ring issue. But I’ve also had some dogs (Matty, just nervous of agility) and Jamie (spent best part of a year running under every jump) who tested my training plan resolve. In both cases, time, using the feedback to adjust training sessions and keeping fixed on the desired goal overcame the problems (Jamie was a very good Advanced dog and Matty exceeded expectations by being competitive in grade 6). So with this experience, coupled with help from friends, we are working through this issue.

Plus that Jaidi is such a happy dog :-)

SmartPaws and Gardner Dogs Agility Blog spot

SmartPaws and Gardner Dogs Agility Blog spot: "Follow this link to keep updated with our dogs agility careers"

July 11th

Jude – Injury update

Jude has had 2 weeks off any agility now. She is fine in herself, but was confirmed with a small muscle tear in right tricep last week. Next week she will see physio. This will confirm the state / extent of her injury, work out the rehab plan and when she can start working again.

Jaidi – One month into show season

So we have a few shows under our belt now and can really understand what is going well and, not so well. The 3 main areas for improvement are:

1. Weave poles, skipping between 2 & 3
2. See saw, particularly when dog is on left
3. Knocking a pole following a turn

I have to balance these with 2 conflicting requirements (i) the need to allow Jaidi to drive forward and work independently (ii) to gain experience and clear rounds as part of self confidence building. The reason why there is a conflict is that reducing drive would probably improve the issues (short term) above but at the long term detriment of natural speed. Therefore the strategy is to train within the natural drive and motivation (which he has in abundance), by breaking the issues into component parts.

I also have to look at the positive points. When striving for long term goals it is easy to get caught up in the short term issues. But these are the things going well (at the moment)!

1. Waits – 100% now for 3 consecutive shows
2. RX – Jaidi response on RX is excellent, allowing me to work behind
3. DW & AF – Covering obstacle at speed, really stopping well at bottom and forward focusing
4. FX – Jaidi doing well, but sometimes I lack conviction in my visual signals
5. Flick flack and pull throughs – part of FX work, Jaidi really watches my arm signals to cue collection and turn

Weaves – Jaidi has excellent weaves in training (as individual and part of a course), but is having problems in competition. His weaves were built in a combination of 2 x 2 and channels. All the training was shaped, to which he readily responds if presented with weaves and no command / his ‘weave’ command.

I can break the issue down further (note as we are in grade 3, they are typically straight entries):

·         Left hand side: Skipping between poles 2 & 3

·         Right hand side: not picking up poles 2 & 3

So each requires different method. For the former I will work with toy out of hand, for the latter with toy on floor (see it and drive). I am not generally seeing the issue in training as we have always used toys. This is the route of the problem, in that no toy in ring leads to a lack of focus from Jaidi, (coupled with the show excitement).

To compliment the above, I will vary the reward intervals and only use 6 weaves as Jaidi does not recognise 6 weaves in a course at all!

See saw – Massive improvement! With Jaidi on right it is executed brilliantly, quick and stop. On the left however he feels compelled to take me out by doubling back. This is part of no toy in the ring. So our training plan here is to have toy out of hand (RHS) and toy on floor (LHS). I also need to be cognisant of varying reward (see above).

This leads to another interesting point about Jaidi. He is very right side orientated, compared to every other dog I’ve had which are LH orientated. In lead training and walking I have done little different. I shall have to test Jaidi, Jude and Matty for L or R handedness!

Jump down – Any dog at any time can knock a jump down. So one has to balance an attitude to ‘we had a jump down’ with ‘why’. For me the answer is to keep a record, look for a pattern and then synthesise the why. I have always done this since I had Robbie (Midnight Chocolate Robin 1988 – 2002) and possibly explains my high level of competitiveness in jumping classes for over 20 years?

For Jaidi there appears a pattern at this early stage, even though he is pretty good at this time. If he is having a jump is usually after a turn and then the next jump. This says to me that:

a)      He is turning in collection

b)      He is extending out of turn and powering on in forward motion

The (b) is a good thing, I want my dogs in extension in forward motion, but Jaidi is not pacing himself and working out distance (he tends to hit front on, not rear as in turning jump down).

So the most obvious work here seems to be grid work out of a turn and working out a realistic and consistent cue until Jaidi’s experience takes over. However being in front of dog and permanently cueing collection is not a universal option, as Jaidi is quicker then me!