No video today! We took Bentley up to the field to work with him after Lexi's intro class (she is such a little terror!) And it turns out that other people were there to do some run-thrus, and we didn't want to monopolize the course. So we did a quick little practice, maybe 15-20 reps sans camera.
I don't know what happened, but he didn't do too great. Probably around 75% accuracy. We didn't raise the dogwalk, and last time at the same height he did great (93% if I remember correctly). On a positive note, I was able to send him with some distance between me and the obstacle (that's a very good thing for him!)
I think that sitting in his crate barking for an hour beforehand really got him worked up, and he was very excited. I'm not sure what to think. I'll just chalk it up to a bad day...but I'm going to monitor him very closely tomorrow and the days to follow to make sure that it isn't a pattern or habit that he's getting into.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Days 17 and 18
Day 17 was at the same height as Day 16. The session was short--you can see it go from bright and sunny to very dark! It started pouring about 5 minutes after we stopped the video.
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 24
% Success: 88%
Thoughts:
1. Variation. After our Stuart Mah seminar we realized how important it was to change things up. We are now doing something different for every run. Some runs we wait at the end and send Bentley. Some runs we give him an "out" or "go on" command. Some runs he goes over a jump then on to the left--you get the idea. It's actually nice because we're working on things other than contacts there too!
Day 18 we increased the height, and he did great.
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 30
% Success: 93%
Thoughts:
1. Speed. When he gets moving (and thinking) he is still averaging around 2.1 seconds--woohoo! I'm very proud of that!
2. Front Crosses. Realized that we won't be able to get front crosses in much anymore because Bentley can make it down the dogwalk faster than I can! This will change how we run courses, so that's something we'll have to consider in the future.
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 24
% Success: 88%
Thoughts:
1. Variation. After our Stuart Mah seminar we realized how important it was to change things up. We are now doing something different for every run. Some runs we wait at the end and send Bentley. Some runs we give him an "out" or "go on" command. Some runs he goes over a jump then on to the left--you get the idea. It's actually nice because we're working on things other than contacts there too!
Day 18 we increased the height, and he did great.
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 30
% Success: 93%
Thoughts:
1. Speed. When he gets moving (and thinking) he is still averaging around 2.1 seconds--woohoo! I'm very proud of that!
2. Front Crosses. Realized that we won't be able to get front crosses in much anymore because Bentley can make it down the dogwalk faster than I can! This will change how we run courses, so that's something we'll have to consider in the future.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May Trial
This weekend was our club's May agility trial. It wasn't a great weekend for Bentley (oops we've been concentrating so much on contacts that we forgot to practice other things!), but he did eek out one Starters Pairs (Relay) Q, which was all he needed for his AD title! So that last run--at 1:30 a.m., made up for the whole weekend!
We didn't enter him in Standard to keep him off of contacts, but did enter him in Pairs thinking it would be maybe 1 contact and I really wanted him to have a chance at his AD. He also took the dogwalk during one of his Gamblers runs.
I made a quick compilation of his contacts. I was pretty sad that he didn't get his dogwalk contact, but considering we aren't up to full height yet (not even close!), I couldn't be too mad. I was pleasantly surprised at his A-frame. It's not great, he still hesitates at the top, and he jumps off at the bottom, but he didn't creep, and he did get his contact both times. I'll consider that a success. Doesn't change our training plan of lowering it almost all the way though, when we get there.
Video:
We didn't enter him in Standard to keep him off of contacts, but did enter him in Pairs thinking it would be maybe 1 contact and I really wanted him to have a chance at his AD. He also took the dogwalk during one of his Gamblers runs.
I made a quick compilation of his contacts. I was pretty sad that he didn't get his dogwalk contact, but considering we aren't up to full height yet (not even close!), I couldn't be too mad. I was pleasantly surprised at his A-frame. It's not great, he still hesitates at the top, and he jumps off at the bottom, but he didn't creep, and he did get his contact both times. I'll consider that a success. Doesn't change our training plan of lowering it almost all the way though, when we get there.
Video:
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Days 15 and 16
As you can see, I'm still behind on posting the videos! But, these are the last two for the next few days as we have a trial this weekend. We're only entering jumpers, gamblers and pairs to avoid contacts for the most part, but it will still be a long and busy weekend. Day 15 is at 36", and I didn't measure, but I would guess that Day 16 is between 38 and 40".
Day 15 video:
Stats:
Reps: 23
% Success: 88%
Thoughts:
1. Speed. He's really doing well with speed. I really like the way a lot of these look.
2. Treats. I think it's a good idea to start giving him extra treats for extra good ones (jackpot). Some of these are better than others.
3. Mistakes: Speed is a factor, and he again misses the first one.
-1:05 BIG mistake. I think it's the first really bad mistake in a while where he completely misses the yellow.
Day 16 was spent out at the field when there were about 5 other dogs on the field running, and several dogs just running and playing in the field next door. It was great practice for a trial-like scenario, but definitely proved to be difficult for Bentley's concentration. Please note that I had to edit not 1, not 2, but 3 dogs going to the bathroom that we captured on video-haha!
Day 16 video:
Stats:
Reps: 36
% Success: 81%
1. Success. I left this training session feeling a little down. In retrospect, considering everything going on, it was more stressful and full of distractions than even a trial would be. It is good practice, but was disappointing as I wasn't happy with a lot of the ones that he did correctly.
2. Mistakes. His mistakes were also significantly worse than previously. On ALL of his misses, he missed by a lot. Didn't even come close to the yellow. When we pick back up it will definitely be at this height.
Day 15 video:
Stats:
Reps: 23
% Success: 88%
Thoughts:
1. Speed. He's really doing well with speed. I really like the way a lot of these look.
2. Treats. I think it's a good idea to start giving him extra treats for extra good ones (jackpot). Some of these are better than others.
3. Mistakes: Speed is a factor, and he again misses the first one.
-1:05 BIG mistake. I think it's the first really bad mistake in a while where he completely misses the yellow.
Day 16 was spent out at the field when there were about 5 other dogs on the field running, and several dogs just running and playing in the field next door. It was great practice for a trial-like scenario, but definitely proved to be difficult for Bentley's concentration. Please note that I had to edit not 1, not 2, but 3 dogs going to the bathroom that we captured on video-haha!
Day 16 video:
Stats:
Reps: 36
% Success: 81%
1. Success. I left this training session feeling a little down. In retrospect, considering everything going on, it was more stressful and full of distractions than even a trial would be. It is good practice, but was disappointing as I wasn't happy with a lot of the ones that he did correctly.
2. Mistakes. His mistakes were also significantly worse than previously. On ALL of his misses, he missed by a lot. Didn't even come close to the yellow. When we pick back up it will definitely be at this height.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Day 14
A little behind on posts (and on training days!). Day 14 was around 36"
Video
Stats:
Reps: 30
% Success: 80%
Thoughts:
1. Success Rate. Success rate isn't as high as I want it to be, so we'll be leaving it at this height.
2. Speed. In direct correlation with his success rate...we were literally sprinting in a lot of the repetitions. The last 3 times I was going as fast as I could go. He missed every single one of them. So I'd like to leave it at this height for him to learn to use his brain when he gets over excited. I am very proud though because his speed has increased tenfold. I've now clocked him between 2.1 and 3 seconds every time he runs.
3. Mistakes. I now find it helpful to determine why he's missed some of them. I've listed the reasons (or my thoughts on them) here:
-:03 He misses the first one. I think he didn't realize the new angle, because the next 5 or so are correct. We also started him on the full dogwalk rather than just the down board.
-:24 and :33 I specifically instructed my husband before this run to "run fast and rev him up ahead of time"
-1:27 and on...I am running as fast as I can. So the sprinting was hard for him.
Video
Stats:
Reps: 30
% Success: 80%
Thoughts:
1. Success Rate. Success rate isn't as high as I want it to be, so we'll be leaving it at this height.
2. Speed. In direct correlation with his success rate...we were literally sprinting in a lot of the repetitions. The last 3 times I was going as fast as I could go. He missed every single one of them. So I'd like to leave it at this height for him to learn to use his brain when he gets over excited. I am very proud though because his speed has increased tenfold. I've now clocked him between 2.1 and 3 seconds every time he runs.
3. Mistakes. I now find it helpful to determine why he's missed some of them. I've listed the reasons (or my thoughts on them) here:
-:03 He misses the first one. I think he didn't realize the new angle, because the next 5 or so are correct. We also started him on the full dogwalk rather than just the down board.
-:24 and :33 I specifically instructed my husband before this run to "run fast and rev him up ahead of time"
-1:27 and on...I am running as fast as I can. So the sprinting was hard for him.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Day 13
30" to begin, then around 46 seconds we go up to 34". Getting closer!
Video
Stats:
Reps: 23
% Success: 91%
Thoughts:
1. Misses. In case anyone is wondering, the 2 misses are at 37 seconds and 1:12.
2. Speed. Closer to 3 seconds this time, but I also didn't clock his faster runs.
3. Distance. Really getting some great distance work in.
4. Command. We've also started using the command "climb". We had previously used "walk it" but felt like it might confuse Bentley into thinking he might need to get his 2o2o.
5. Sequencing. We ran Bentley over a couple jumps prior to getting on the dogwalk, and also put him through a tunnel a few times at the end and treated him after. (He did not get to go through the tunnel if he didn't get his stride).
Day 12
Two days ago was actually day 12, and yesterday was day 13, but the internet has been down here.
I think the height of the board is around 28" here.
Video
Stats:
Reps: 33
% Success: 85%
Thoughts:
1. Speed. I was very pleased with his speed. I know the obstacle is not at full height, but I clocked him around 2.1 seconds the couple times that I kept time. Previously he was between 3 and 4 seconds.
2. Stride. I am now noticing Bentley adjust his stride to touch farther down. I know that in the long run we want it to be a natural stride, but I am happy that he seems to understand the end goal (striding through).
3. Temptation. I am so tempted to try him at regulation height! But, we won't until I think he is ready.
4. Height. He did fairly well, but he needs more practice at this height.
I think the height of the board is around 28" here.
Video
Stats:
Reps: 33
% Success: 85%
Thoughts:
1. Speed. I was very pleased with his speed. I know the obstacle is not at full height, but I clocked him around 2.1 seconds the couple times that I kept time. Previously he was between 3 and 4 seconds.
2. Stride. I am now noticing Bentley adjust his stride to touch farther down. I know that in the long run we want it to be a natural stride, but I am happy that he seems to understand the end goal (striding through).
3. Temptation. I am so tempted to try him at regulation height! But, we won't until I think he is ready.
4. Height. He did fairly well, but he needs more practice at this height.
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