We have been working on Lexi's teeter using Wendy Pape's teeter training method. We don't have a finished product yet, but all of the steps can be found in her DVD, Teeter From Start to Finish, available here:
http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1891&ParentCat=222
Here is Lexi's work thus far. You will note that we did not video all the steps..and we don't yet have a finished product!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Dogwalk work
Went out, and lowered the dogwalk maybe 6 inches or so (10 links, whatever that is!) I still didn't see the improvement I wanted to see. I think we're going to start doing the down side only until Bentley can do the down side quickly without leaping. I'm a little disappointing, but I knew this task wouldn't be easy.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
A fun post
Enough boring agility! How about some play?
Lexi learns to swim! This is her second time in the pool:
Lexi and Bentley try to play with Bimmer (the cat):
More playing in the house:
Lexi learns to swim! This is her second time in the pool:
Lexi and Bentley try to play with Bimmer (the cat):
More playing in the house:
Dogwalk Regression
I mentioned in my last update that we've seen a regression in Bentley's dogwalk performance. Here's one of our latest attempts, showing his launches at the end.
It's frustrating, but I think towards the end of our training we pushed him too far. We've now decided we're going to go back and lower the dogwalk a little bit, and allow him to be successful.
We probably won't get to it until at least September. Not only are we busy, but it's still so hot here. It's not fair to expect him to work too hard when it's that uncomfortable outside.
We're entering a trial in September (our first away trial!), and won't be entering Standard at that time.
It's frustrating, but I think towards the end of our training we pushed him too far. We've now decided we're going to go back and lower the dogwalk a little bit, and allow him to be successful.
We probably won't get to it until at least September. Not only are we busy, but it's still so hot here. It's not fair to expect him to work too hard when it's that uncomfortable outside.
We're entering a trial in September (our first away trial!), and won't be entering Standard at that time.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Catching up
I only have a few short videos today. The heat has kept us from doing much outside of a few short sessions a week. We go to class, but handling two dogs is already too much to handle, so the camera doesn't quite make the cut.
The first is some work that we've been doing with Lexi on handling. I really don't want to make the same mistake we made with Bentley. Bentley was never taught to learn patterns since we babysat him through all (rounds, outs, pinwheels, serpentines). It has taken us some time to go back and teach it and it has made our lives a lot easier. We are now working these things with Lexi. Here's a short video of Lexi's second attempt at a serpentine (we've been doing rounds with her previously).
I have a video that I wanted to post, but my computer's being difficult. He hits about 50% of his dogwalk contacts--an example of the regression we've seen. I'm sure it's because we just haven't been able to put the time in at the field. We get up there twice a week, but sometimes after class it's just too hot, and he's too tired to focus. I don't want to set him up to do poorly, but now we have a dog who has "forgotten" the stride. We may need to go back and lower it to start again.
And here's a video of his A-frame. I've actually been really pleased with his A-frame, but in this video he misses the second contact. It's the ONLY time I've seen him miss his contact on this obstacle...ever! I hope it was just a fluke, as he was very tired (we had class, then worked dogwalk, then a-frames).
The first is some work that we've been doing with Lexi on handling. I really don't want to make the same mistake we made with Bentley. Bentley was never taught to learn patterns since we babysat him through all (rounds, outs, pinwheels, serpentines). It has taken us some time to go back and teach it and it has made our lives a lot easier. We are now working these things with Lexi. Here's a short video of Lexi's second attempt at a serpentine (we've been doing rounds with her previously).
I have a video that I wanted to post, but my computer's being difficult. He hits about 50% of his dogwalk contacts--an example of the regression we've seen. I'm sure it's because we just haven't been able to put the time in at the field. We get up there twice a week, but sometimes after class it's just too hot, and he's too tired to focus. I don't want to set him up to do poorly, but now we have a dog who has "forgotten" the stride. We may need to go back and lower it to start again.
And here's a video of his A-frame. I've actually been really pleased with his A-frame, but in this video he misses the second contact. It's the ONLY time I've seen him miss his contact on this obstacle...ever! I hope it was just a fluke, as he was very tired (we had class, then worked dogwalk, then a-frames).
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Extra dogwalk practice
Bentley turned 3 on Monday --yay! But we did head up to the field for a bit of practice.
He hit EVERY SINGLE dogwalk contact. I couldn't believe it. And we were doing them in short sequences (5-10 obstacles). I don't know how he knows it's practice vs. a trial, but he does.
Our goal is to get a trial-like atmosphere for him to practice in. He's sometimes too smart!
He hit EVERY SINGLE dogwalk contact. I couldn't believe it. And we were doing them in short sequences (5-10 obstacles). I don't know how he knows it's practice vs. a trial, but he does.
Our goal is to get a trial-like atmosphere for him to practice in. He's sometimes too smart!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Trial Day 3
Proud of our little guy today. He did some really great things this weekend. As usual, lots of work to do, but he did some great things.
Jumpers:
I was so tired this morning (Bentley was up at 5:30!), but I had a good feeling about this run. He handled really well, but DARN IT if he didn't drop the first bar. I have no idea what happened, I may have set him up too close. The angle was funny, but I didn't think it would phase him. Again, so proud of his out to a pinwheel. It makes my job so much easier! He also had another nice tandem turn towards the end. He was pretty fast for him, and ran it in about 34 seconds (the timer didn't work, so they just gave us SCT--41 seconds, but I watched the video and timed it out of curiosity).
Steeplechase Finals:
Unfortunately you can't Q in finals, so it was just for placement/money. I was very proud of Bentley. A couple pinwheels, front crosses, and weaves. His weaves (once he got in!) were nice, and his pinwheels too. Knocked a bar, but that was Jonathan's fault from his cross. Not too quick, about 40 seconds (then add on his 5 second fault), but he came in second and won $15!
Next step in training is more dogwalk work (obviously), weave pole entries, and speed.
Jumpers:
I was so tired this morning (Bentley was up at 5:30!), but I had a good feeling about this run. He handled really well, but DARN IT if he didn't drop the first bar. I have no idea what happened, I may have set him up too close. The angle was funny, but I didn't think it would phase him. Again, so proud of his out to a pinwheel. It makes my job so much easier! He also had another nice tandem turn towards the end. He was pretty fast for him, and ran it in about 34 seconds (the timer didn't work, so they just gave us SCT--41 seconds, but I watched the video and timed it out of curiosity).
Steeplechase Finals:
Unfortunately you can't Q in finals, so it was just for placement/money. I was very proud of Bentley. A couple pinwheels, front crosses, and weaves. His weaves (once he got in!) were nice, and his pinwheels too. Knocked a bar, but that was Jonathan's fault from his cross. Not too quick, about 40 seconds (then add on his 5 second fault), but he came in second and won $15!
Next step in training is more dogwalk work (obviously), weave pole entries, and speed.
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