Alright, here are Bentley's videos from the same weekend...
Bentley: Masters Snooker Q
Woohoo--Bentley is a Snooker Champion now! He got his 10th Masters Snooker Q with another Super Q (he didn't need it!)
Bentley: Steeplechase Q
Darn that a-frame...but still a Q!
Bentley: Masters Gamblers
Well, we all knew gamblers was not his thing! The weaves were just too far out there, and the "corrected" teeter prior to the send just didn't set him in the right mentality.
Bentley: Masters Jumpers
Bentley handled really nicely here. I ended up on the wrong side, and mishandled my RC which caused him to refuse the jump. But other than that, he was moving nicely and I felt like our crosses were nicely timed.
Bentley: Masters Standard
A good run...I was proud because you can see that he tries to slow down at the bottom of the contact, but he slips and jumps off the side. I'll take that over a flying leap, which is what we had been getting. (This is his first time on rubberized contacts)
Bentley: Masters Standard (Day 2)
Ugly. Missed both A-frame and dogwalk, then headed back to the table in a tricky section towards the weaves (Jonathan's fault as he's opened up to the table completely). Then he turned too soon off a cross and missed a jump.
Bentley: Steeplechase Finals ($22!)
And I won't post it, but I got lost on the Masters Pairs course and cost our team a Q (DUH). Can you tell I was exhausted? I've never done that before! Sorry, partner!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Trial: BRAG, Lexi
The first weekend in June was our first trial in Columbus, only a week after moving in. In retrospect, I think the dogs were a little overwhelmed by so many new things in a short time, but I was proud of the focus that they showed (some of the time!) Even I must have been tired because I actually forgot the course in Masters Pairs, costing us a Q (sorry partner!)
Originally, I didn't upload several of the videos because they were so bad...but I guess I better share the good AND the ugly. This time, I created different videos for different runs. Enjoy.
Lexi: Starters Jumpers Q
Jumpers is one of the toughest events for Lexi and me. I actually had another competitor tell me that that is normal for a dog like her (fast and obstacle focused). I am constantly "managing" her, and I think that can be frustrating. That being said, this was her best run all weekend. She listened!
Lexi: Steeplechase
If it weren't for the trouble at the weaves, she would have Qd! She handled nicely for Jonathan. We are going to retrain weaves using 2x2 to teach her to slow for her entries. She also dropped a bar at the end. The bar drop added 5 seconds to her time, and if I remember correctly, she
Lexi: Starters Jumpers
The beginning was ugly, but there was some nice parts (her getting out to those pinwheels).
Lexi: Advanced Gamblers
I'm proud of my girl for this run. It was her first Advanced level run, and she did well. In fact, if it hadn't been for the dogwalk mishaps, it would have been a Q! This was her first time on rubberized contacts, and I think the grip was different from what she was expecting, and she couldn't hang on. She was a brave girl and tried a couple times until I stopped asking her. She got the gamble (which I thought was hard--the far end of the tunnel) just didn't have the points.
Lexi: Starters Standard
Started off on a bad note when she dropped the first bar. Jonathan babysat the entrance to the dogwalk because of her issues in gamblers, and it caused her to drop the bar. Then he was late on the RC, and it just didn't go well! I'm not too upset about the teeter because this teeter is really heavy, so it takes a long time to fall. Lexi has been trained to run down the teeter until it falls...which she did! She just ended up all the way at the end before it started to fall.
Lexi: Starters Standard Q
Thank goodness for loooong course times in starters! This was a bad run as well, but because she somehow made it under time, it was enough for a Q and her AD title. Notice she has another issue with the dogwalk here. The slats are under the rubber coating, which I think made her think it was the teeter (especially after what happened on the teeter the day before). I think she slowed at the top, expecting it to drop.
Lexi: Starters Snooker
After Lexi got her AD title, any starters events were moot (just for fun) since she would be moving up afterwards. For some reason my husband decided it would be fun to try something more difficult. Didn't go so well! Our obstacle focused girl proved true to form and just picked the closest obstacles each time.
Lexi: Starters Pairs Q
Another issue with the weave entries, but other than that she did fine. I forgot the course for a brief second, so was lucky that we didn't get an off course.
Originally, I didn't upload several of the videos because they were so bad...but I guess I better share the good AND the ugly. This time, I created different videos for different runs. Enjoy.
Lexi: Starters Jumpers Q
Jumpers is one of the toughest events for Lexi and me. I actually had another competitor tell me that that is normal for a dog like her (fast and obstacle focused). I am constantly "managing" her, and I think that can be frustrating. That being said, this was her best run all weekend. She listened!
Lexi: Steeplechase
If it weren't for the trouble at the weaves, she would have Qd! She handled nicely for Jonathan. We are going to retrain weaves using 2x2 to teach her to slow for her entries. She also dropped a bar at the end. The bar drop added 5 seconds to her time, and if I remember correctly, she
Lexi: Starters Jumpers
The beginning was ugly, but there was some nice parts (her getting out to those pinwheels).
Lexi: Advanced Gamblers
I'm proud of my girl for this run. It was her first Advanced level run, and she did well. In fact, if it hadn't been for the dogwalk mishaps, it would have been a Q! This was her first time on rubberized contacts, and I think the grip was different from what she was expecting, and she couldn't hang on. She was a brave girl and tried a couple times until I stopped asking her. She got the gamble (which I thought was hard--the far end of the tunnel) just didn't have the points.
Lexi: Starters Standard
Started off on a bad note when she dropped the first bar. Jonathan babysat the entrance to the dogwalk because of her issues in gamblers, and it caused her to drop the bar. Then he was late on the RC, and it just didn't go well! I'm not too upset about the teeter because this teeter is really heavy, so it takes a long time to fall. Lexi has been trained to run down the teeter until it falls...which she did! She just ended up all the way at the end before it started to fall.
Lexi: Starters Standard Q
Thank goodness for loooong course times in starters! This was a bad run as well, but because she somehow made it under time, it was enough for a Q and her AD title. Notice she has another issue with the dogwalk here. The slats are under the rubber coating, which I think made her think it was the teeter (especially after what happened on the teeter the day before). I think she slowed at the top, expecting it to drop.
Lexi: Starters Snooker
After Lexi got her AD title, any starters events were moot (just for fun) since she would be moving up afterwards. For some reason my husband decided it would be fun to try something more difficult. Didn't go so well! Our obstacle focused girl proved true to form and just picked the closest obstacles each time.
Lexi: Starters Pairs Q
Another issue with the weave entries, but other than that she did fine. I forgot the course for a brief second, so was lucky that we didn't get an off course.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Obstacle v. Handler Focus
I love the Backyard Dogs drills found in Clean Run. Here's one by Stuart Mah that we found was really great for our dogs. Not too hard to set up (or remember!) and great for both dogs, though each have different skills to work on.
One thing that we found is that Lexi responds a bit too much to pressure. Specifically, at 1:07, she pushes out to the far jump only because Jonathan is turning, and therefore opened up a little bit to the far jump. I'm not sure how to fix this, because if I add a command for close (we use "here") then am I just babying her incorrect tendencies? Shouldn't it be the opposite...that she only goes out if I say "out", but naturally stays with us? I'm not sure. The same holds true at 4:45 (Sequence 5).
I've also noticed, from watching a lot of these, is that our timing as handlers really needs work. For Lexi, we're too slow and she turns and responds well, but we need to make sure we are asking for turns sooner. For Bentley, we tend to stomp on the brakes, and that causes him to pull in.
One thing that we found is that Lexi responds a bit too much to pressure. Specifically, at 1:07, she pushes out to the far jump only because Jonathan is turning, and therefore opened up a little bit to the far jump. I'm not sure how to fix this, because if I add a command for close (we use "here") then am I just babying her incorrect tendencies? Shouldn't it be the opposite...that she only goes out if I say "out", but naturally stays with us? I'm not sure. The same holds true at 4:45 (Sequence 5).
I've also noticed, from watching a lot of these, is that our timing as handlers really needs work. For Lexi, we're too slow and she turns and responds well, but we need to make sure we are asking for turns sooner. For Bentley, we tend to stomp on the brakes, and that causes him to pull in.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
A bit behind! May LCDA Trial
We've moved (from SC to OH!), so I've fallen very behind in my blogging. I'm going to slowly update.
In May we participated in our very last agility trial at Low Country Dog Agility. I will definitely miss all of our friends. It was so nice to be surrounded by a group of people that have been with us since the beginning of our agility journey.
Bentley:
Bentley had a nice weekend. He (finally!) got his Jumpers Master title with his 5th Masters Jumpers Q, and his Snooker Champion (10 Masters Snooker Qs which includes 3 SuperQs). He also got a Masters Pairs Q. Oh! And even better...in Masters Standard he only had 1 refusal one day! It wasn't pretty by any means, but he did get both contacts. Hooray.
When we move he is going to contact boot camp (in the yard!)
Lexi:
In the end, Lexi got her Starters Gamblers title with her 3rd Q, and she also got Qs in Starters Pairs, Starters Standard, and Starters Snooker. She now just needs 1 more Standard Q to get her AD (Agility Dog) title. And she was SO close this weekend...she misjudged a jump completely and the bar dropped.
Obviously she has some collection issues, but she honestly did great for a baby dog and I couldn't be more proud!
In May we participated in our very last agility trial at Low Country Dog Agility. I will definitely miss all of our friends. It was so nice to be surrounded by a group of people that have been with us since the beginning of our agility journey.
Bentley:
Bentley had a nice weekend. He (finally!) got his Jumpers Master title with his 5th Masters Jumpers Q, and his Snooker Champion (10 Masters Snooker Qs which includes 3 SuperQs). He also got a Masters Pairs Q. Oh! And even better...in Masters Standard he only had 1 refusal one day! It wasn't pretty by any means, but he did get both contacts. Hooray.
When we move he is going to contact boot camp (in the yard!)
Lexi:
In the end, Lexi got her Starters Gamblers title with her 3rd Q, and she also got Qs in Starters Pairs, Starters Standard, and Starters Snooker. She now just needs 1 more Standard Q to get her AD (Agility Dog) title. And she was SO close this weekend...she misjudged a jump completely and the bar dropped.
Obviously she has some collection issues, but she honestly did great for a baby dog and I couldn't be more proud!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Ketschker's turn
After reading about Ketschker's turns online I decided to give them a shot with our dogs.
First of all, the best way to describe a Ketschker is to say that it is a combination of a front cross followed by a blind cross. You set it up by starting to front cross but you don't complete it and instead finish with a blind cross. But, you don't actually switch sides of your dog.
Sounds confusing...it makes more sense to see it.
I had heard that it really benefits dogs with longer strides, which surprisingly is true of my Lexi. It is said to make turns more efficient and to increase acceleration out of the turn.
Here were our first attempts with both dogs (suffice to say that we won't be using this with Bentley--but it was fun to try!):
First of all, the best way to describe a Ketschker is to say that it is a combination of a front cross followed by a blind cross. You set it up by starting to front cross but you don't complete it and instead finish with a blind cross. But, you don't actually switch sides of your dog.
Sounds confusing...it makes more sense to see it.
I had heard that it really benefits dogs with longer strides, which surprisingly is true of my Lexi. It is said to make turns more efficient and to increase acceleration out of the turn.
Here were our first attempts with both dogs (suffice to say that we won't be using this with Bentley--but it was fun to try!):
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
April LCDA Trial
This time I made one video for each dog (not sure if that's better than 1 video per run?) so there are little comments before each one.
Here is Bentley's:
I was incredibly happy that he got a Steeplechase Q (it was ugly, but there was only one other dog that didn't get eliminated!), and a Masters Jumpers Q. He now only needs 1 more for his Jumpers Master. He also got 2 of 3 dogwalk contacts this weekend--wow! Of course the one he didn't get was the important one (Standard), but oh well. So proud. He finished the weekend with a Steeplechase Q, a Steeplechase Finals win (made $12!), a Masters Jumpers Q, and a Masters Pairs Q.
And here are Lexi's:
Here is Bentley's:
I was incredibly happy that he got a Steeplechase Q (it was ugly, but there was only one other dog that didn't get eliminated!), and a Masters Jumpers Q. He now only needs 1 more for his Jumpers Master. He also got 2 of 3 dogwalk contacts this weekend--wow! Of course the one he didn't get was the important one (Standard), but oh well. So proud. He finished the weekend with a Steeplechase Q, a Steeplechase Finals win (made $12!), a Masters Jumpers Q, and a Masters Pairs Q.
And here are Lexi's:
Lexi was great. Her attention and contacts deteriorated as the days went on, but I expected that. She still didn't miss a contact, so that's great. We can always go back to targets and holding her 2o2o in practice. She also had weave pole issues occasionally, but I expected that too. The only run that was truly ugly was her Steeplechase run, but I think it was just too much for her (wide turns, anyone?) She was such a good girl. She finished the weekend with two Starters Gamblers Qs, a Starters Standard Q, a Starters Pairs Q, and a Starters Jumpers Q.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Long time no update
It's been awhile...here's a quick recap:
Bentley still needs tons of contact work
Lexi still needs to learn to collect
Ha!
Anyways, here's a video of Lexi working some jump grids:
Bentley still needs tons of contact work
Lexi still needs to learn to collect
Ha!
Anyways, here's a video of Lexi working some jump grids:
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