Ready to Play Agility

I'm ready to play!

This past week has been wonderful – one full week off school for Thanksgiving break.  Gotta love it!!  It was especially nice to have the extra days to recover from the last cold and rainy agility trial.  But, all good things must come to an end, so I went back to school on Monday and am counting down the days (17….) until Christmas break.  

So, with time to devote to training being of short supply, I have focused on a few training goals before this weekend’s trial.  Since Jefferson did not have a “down” during our beautiful Standard run two weeks ago, I wanted to troubleshoot the table.  I have proofed the table – practicing Saturday, Monday and this evening.  Jefferson is going to an immediate and quick “down” on the table, so I am confident that he understands the criteria.  But, with all the excitement of a trial, it is difficult for him to exhibit impulse control especially if he is running "full steam ahead" from the prior obstacle.  I am not expecting miracles and we need to put in more work on reinforcing the immediate “down” for his table performance.  

Yep!  I can go to a fast down!

Another training goal I have from the last trial is to work on front crosses and gaining more lateral distance from Jefferson when he commits to a jump.  This way, I am better able to get ahead of him on the course to give him more information about where he is going.  I set up a few three and four jump drills to work on my getting lateral motion while he makes his commitment to the jumps.  We also continued to practice the very basic front cross moves with one and two jumps.  These types of training drills may not be very “sexy,” but this has helped me to better communicate with Jefferson when we are running a course.  Additionally, I still work to maintain his weave poles and running dogwalk and A-frame, but my main focus has been on better communicating to Jefferson.

I wish she'd give me the cheese already....

This week’s blog is fairly short – as I have been busy with school, decorating for Christmas and goofing around with my new Samsung Galaxy SIII phone (my first droid after giving up a four- year-old, outdated Blackberry).  I can truly say that this phone is da’ bomb and now I feel like one of the cool kids! 

Looking forward to taking pictures and video-taping my agility runs during this weekend’s trial.  My goals for this trial:  start together, finish together and have fun (all being documented on my new phone!)   

Did I say how much I love this phone!??!!

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

~ Arthur C. Clark

Teamwork!

Team J-Dawg had a successful trial this weekend- the first in quite a long time.  First off, for those who measure their success by Q’s alone, we earned our first ever Advanced Q in Gamblers and a respectable 2^nd place to boot!  He was running really fast and I had to abort my plan after the first tunnel pass, but I got him back on track to earn his points and get the gamble:  teeter – jump – jump.  Yay!  Here’s the video that shows his great running A-frame:

Although we earned a Q in Advanced Gamblers, I was more proud of our NQ runs than ever before.  I ran him in Grand Prix for the first time (tournament with Master’s Rules) and he did great at staying with me.  I had a handler miscue before/after the chute but I got him back in the game and we finished up the course.  What a good boy!  I had another handler error at the end (do not know why I rear crossed so awkwardly before the double/teeter!?) but the beauty of this is that he could have checked out when he took an off-course after the chute, but I elected to get him back running with me.  This would not have been possible a mere month ago!

Another run was our Standard runs from both days.  Saturday’s Standard resulted in an E, but he ran with me and a beautifully fast running dogwalk to a fast weave pole entry.  Jefferson even went to a down on the table…such a good boy.  But, after the A-frame – jump combo into a pinwheel, he read my shoulders facing front (in such a brief second before I was able to make a complete rotation to complete the pinwheel) and ran to the chute.  This run was over but I was so happy that he and I had worked so hard together as a team for almost all the course. 

Finally, on Sunday we had to run for the first time in the rain (all day long…yuck!) Luckily, I wore a new rain suit coupled with a pair of great Gore-Tex trail runners by Brooks that kept my toes warm and dry.  It seemed like every time our class had to run, the rain came down harder…Our first run was Starters Jumpers, and it was a mud pit out there!  We started out together with Jefferson running faster than I expected.  We did well until I rear-crossed him on the flat, cueing him to make a turn into the wrong end of the tunnel and bypassing the double jump.  We ended up Eliminated from the run, but rather than let it deteriorate from there, I managed to handle him to finish off with a tunnel – jump – jump.  This was a big accomplishment for me to not “give up” and handle him to the very end.  I want him to trust my handling so this is the proper choice for me to always  make.  No corrections.

Our next run was Advanced Gamblers and we had a nice run on this one.  Even though we earned a 3^rd and NQ, I handled Jefferson from his meltdown point and got him back in the game to run with me.  Another milestone for Team J-Dawg!  It seemed as if he was going to get off track when he did not take the jump I wanted, rather than fret over this, I took Stuart Mah’s advice and handled the way I needed to at this moment.  I went to him and got him back on track so we finished the course together and took the gamble.  He bi-passed the first jump in the gamble, but got the A-frame – jump – jump.  Heck, we almost Q’d…but almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades…

The last run of the day was our best one of the entire weekend.  Again, NQ, but I felt like we ran together as a strong team for the very first time.  It was our standard run.  I knew there were a few tricky spots – tunnel to teeter; running dogwalk to table (when the starting jump was positioned for an off-course) and weave poles to tunnel.  Luckily for me, I was able to use a blind cross after the tunnel to teeter; a version of a RFP and verbal command on the running dogwalk; and a front cross after the weave poles.  We started off together and in synch.  I almost lost him after the running dogwalk, but he read my turn into him and came my way to get his table!  YAY!  He was going so fast that this was a major handling accomplishment.  I even heard a friend in the crowd gasp in disbelief!  Unfortunately, after he got on the table, he would not go “down” on the table.  I tried a couple of times and he just looked at me like he was NOT going to go “down.”  So, rather than fight for a Q, I chose to keep my pup in the fun game of agility and commanded him to “go tunnel” and we finished the course.  Together.  Fast.  Clean.  (I even front crossed after the weave poles to direct him into the tunnel.)  This was a great day for Team J-Dawg (too bad my friend failed to capture our run on video).

I am so proud of Jefferson for running with me all weekend, but I am more proud of myself for not giving up on our running together as a team.  Agility is a sport and like any sport, it is primarily a mind game.  It has been difficult for me to run Jefferson when the dogs in front of us Q.  It has been difficult for me to run in a trial without comparing our success to everyone else’s success and number of Q’s earned.  For the very first time during a trial, I did not even pay attention to other competitor’s and how they and their doggies performed.  My only concern was how my dog and I were going to tackle the challenges of the courses.  

My goal was simple:  start together, finish together and have fun. We accomplished our trial goals and I could not be more proud of Team J-Dawg!

Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success.  ~Henry Ford

 

Learning to Stop the Snowball Effect

Jefferson multi-tasking:  playing with 2 balls at once!

What a week this has been!  Whew…I am mentally exhausted and cannot wait until school is out for Thanksgiving break.   (That is a topic for entirely different blog that I have no desire to write!)  Team J-Dawg attended an 8 hour seminar with Stuart Mah on Sunday – and without a doubt, THAT has been the highlight of my week.

This is the second seminar we have attended with Stuart Mah, in addition to private lessons we have had with him over the past few years.  Stuart has been a GREAT mentor and I sure wish he lived closer so he could see more of us.  He has such a positive zen energy.

First off, Stuart had our seminar teams run ultra courses - not to be mistaken with a Michelob Ultra.   

The first ultra course consisted of 24 obstacles; and the second ultra consisted of 26 obstacles.  Since the most obstacles you encounter during a Masters course would be 20, training you and your dog to run 24 – 26 then makes the trial easier.  I really am sold on this concept – train hard and with high intensity so that the trial then becomes easier for you and your dog.  Also, Stuart set-up difficult sequences in the courses so that the teams would make mistakes.  In fact, mistakes were encouraged because that is how you and your team learn.

 

The learning for us happened whenever Jefferson took an off-course due to my handling mistakes.  Rather than stop and think about it and analyze the situation (we humans tend to do WAY too much of that), Stuart wanted us to react quickly and have another handling option.  He shared with us the handling errors that he has made (yes, Stuart makes mistakes!) and that he then has to react quickly and use another handling technique to get through the course.  He reminded us that the doggies do not know what comes next on the course and are depending on us to tell them.   It is imperative that handlers do not let the doggies even know there was a “mistake” but to keep on going.

 

His point really hit home for Team J-Dawg because we have had many of these such moments.   Stuart suggested that when an off-course is made, do NOT give up or give in to make more handling errors.  He warned us to not let one error turn into six.  Accept the one error, and have the positive mindset that you and your doggie will run clean the rest of the way.  Do not let the one error “snow ball” into multiple errors – gain control and direct your dog to finish the course.   I love it!  This is also true about the obstacles we face off the dog agility course...

Another great tip he gave me was to practice with high energy and a purpose.  If I practice this way, then this becomes a habit that I will take with me to a trial.  I have already been working on keeping my energy level high, and boy, is it difficult!  Practice has been wearing me out because I am consciously making the effort to be enthusiastic and play the game with Jefferson.  Heck, if I cannot be in the game, how can I expect my dog to want to play with me?!    So far, we have had positive results and it has been more fun for both of us.

Sunday was a great day.  We learned so much and had to do quite a bit of thinking with Stuart (since he is notorious for not numbering obstacle sequences).  Team J-Dawg worked hard:  running from 8:30 a.m. until after 5 p.m.  Jefferson did not shut down and only had a couple glitches when he was hot (it was 80 degrees) and during our last exercise because he was tired.  What a good boy!  Stuart even commented to me about how much better Jefferson was doing and getting some tough sequences.  Yay!  

I am so proud of Team J-Dawg!  

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.
- William James

 

Just Keep Playin'

Waiting on the election results is making me very, very sleepy......

Team J-Dawg participated in the AKC Fun Match on Saturday afternoon and Open FAST and Novice JWW on Sunday morning.  We had a fun time and I was pleased with our performance.  First off, on Saturday, the weather was perfect for agility – around 70 degrees, sunny with a slight breeze.  Jefferson does not run as well in the heat so the weather was definitely in our favor.  The rules for the Fun Match is that there is a course set up and you have 75 seconds in the ring with your dog – no food/treats allowed, but toys are okay.  I did not take any toys with me but had treats (pepperoni sticks) waiting when we finished our run.  

Our first run was JWW and we accomplished our goal of starting together, but after taking about 9 jumps, he ran past the 6 weave poles.  Argh…those darn 6 weaves!  But, I reconnected with Jefferson, front crossed and wrapped him around the exit jump and went back to retry the 6 weaves.  He ran with me and got his weaves and then I took him over a few more jumps, front crossed and went back for a second time to get the weave poles.  Yay – he was looking good, staying with me, fast and happy.  Pepperoni sticks for J-Dawg!  

Next up, we ran the Time to Beat Fun Match.  This course had 19 obstacles, including the A-frame and 12 weave poles.  It was more complicated than the JWW course, but Jefferson and I both enjoy a course that covers in the entire field.  Originally, I had planned to just run a loopy, flowy course of my own design, but the course had been changed while we were running JWW.  So, I opted to actually run the Time to Beat course since it flowed well and had the obstacles I know that Jefferson enjoys.  We went in and he broke his start line stay and took the first jump.  Rather than go on, I called him back and we restarted.  And what a good boy he was!  He ran the entire Time to Beat course fast and clean!   This was one of our best runs we have ever had outside of practice.  It was almost like there was an invisible string attached to us while we ran because we were so connected and in synch.  I was so proud of both of us for staying in tune with each other, running fast and having a great time!  Yay!!  We did so well that I should have known to stop while I was ahead.  But, when we finished, someone yelled for me to take him back in since we had 75 seconds and I had only used less than half my time.  I was not thinking, so I hurriedly ran back with him to take the A-frame, weaves, etc.  It was a poor choice by me, but I learned not to do that again!  He did run with me, did not disengage but was not having as much fun as we had during our actually running the Time to Beat course.  However, I am glad we went back in so now I learned to stick with my own plan.  If I do not make mistakes, how will I ever learn?

Open FAST

Sunday was a new day.  It was hot – 80 degrees in November – and it was not even noon.  Ugh!  The heat is always a de-motivator for Jefferson (me too, truth be told) so I knew I had to work around the higher temps.  I crated Jefferson in the car (in the shade) since it was cooler and kept him in there until it was almost time for our run.  First up was Open FAST.  The send was very doable – jump - jump - tunnel (1-5-6) OR tunnel -  jump - jump (6-5-1).  I had a great plan to perform the "Send" in the 1-5-6 order.  Of course, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry…”   The start line was quite a distance from the first jump so I awkwardly sat Jefferson down for the start line; but, lo, it was not meant to be!  Before I could even turn around to face the course, Jefferson hot-tailed it out of there and ran!  Off I went to chase him down, frantically yelling, “A-frame!” as he ran up the obstacle.  Yikes!  So, I tried to direct him back to me, and I sent him to tunnel - jump - jump (6-5-1) for the “Send” portion of the run.  He got it, but I think he may have dropped the last bar, not sure because it all was a blur!  I ran him out of the field and somehow managed to accumulate 34 points (55 needed) from this crazy run.  Oh, well…at least he was not shutting down.  Again, I learned the importance of us starting together – on my terms, not his!  LOL!

Novice JWW

The final run was our JWW and it was a deceptively easy course to run.  Only two front crosses – one after the tunnel and one between jump #9 and #10.  So, I walked the course, felt pretty confident in my “plan” and was ready to run Jefferson.  I had decided that the start line stay was probably not going to happen (I did not need one for this course) so I was going to just place him down, say “Sit” and then “Okay” and run.  (A mish-mash between a running start and a start line stay).  We ran beautifully until the tunnel to weaves.  As he exited the tunnel, Jefferson ran past the weaves and ran on to take some other jump.  Yikes!  So, I caught up, attempted my planned front cross, which he did not read, but got him back and then directed him over the closest set of jumps I could find (#3 - #2 - #1) and ran like hell to the exit.  Fun times!  Yes, I made a big handling mistake that led to our disconnect before the 6 weaves.  I thought that it was an easy entrance to the weaves and did not support his exit from the tunnel to show him the weaves.  Rather, I sloppily handled his exit, not realizing that he did not have a clear understanding of what obstacle was next.  My fault. But, I learned a HUGE lesson – walk the course from the dog’s perspective, not the handler’s.  If I would have walked the course seeing what Jefferson what have seen when he was running out of the tunnel, I would have been better able to handle his exit from the tunnel and support the weave entry.  

Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable weekend.  I had set our goals:  start and finish a course together; run fast; and have fun.  The best part:  spending time with my doggie and knowing that he ran without stress and had a good time!

"It doesn't matter if you break down.  Just keep playing." 

~UK Coach John Calipari