Oxymoron of Agility: Pumped Up Kicks and Deceleration

Jefferson admiring my pumped up kicks!

Since the last trial, we have been trouble-shooting a few of our handling moves, specifically deceleration.  Here is a three-jump exercise I used (I added a tunnel on the other side of the two jumps as a distraction....got this from http://baddogagility.com/versatile-setup-for-small-spaces-beginner-drills/):  

First - Run fast with your dog to cue extension

Second - Stand at the 2nd jump to cue deceleration

Third - Run with your dog to cue deceleration

Jefferson did well with these drills and I believe working on these type of set-ups will help us better communicate during our runs.  These skill will better help me determine the better handling movements to use whenever I tackle different courses.  For example, I am still using a running start as opposed to a start line stay in order to keep Jefferson better engaged in our runs.  During last Thursday's class exercise, it was very difficult for me to get into position for a front cross so I had to rely on our deceleration cue and that did not go very well.  Now that I have gotten past Jefferson shutting down during his runs (knock on wood!), he is now running quite a bit faster so I am having to work harder on communicating deceleration.  We are still a work in progress and have much left to learn about making better handling choices for our team.  I am more excited about our agility journey than ever before....and about trying out my pumped up kicks!!

"The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes."
~Jonathan Swift

 

 

Cocker Spaniels are Always #1 in My Book!

This morning, the AKC released “The Most Popular Breeds in the United States.”  The Cocker Spaniel was listed as #27 for the year 2012.  The #1 breed is the Labrador Retriever.  Click here to see the list:  http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm

Although I am disappointed that the Cocker Spaniel did not merit a “Top 10” ranking, I am partly relieved because the Most Popular breeds are typically bred by back-yard  breeders motivated to cash in on the selling of the dog, and not breeding a dog “true to the breed characteristics.” 

The "Tramp" and "Lady" (Cocker Spaniel)

Historically, the Cocker Spaniel has been a more popular breed reaching its height of popularity some 50 years ago thanks to “Lady” from the Disney cartoon, “Lady and the Tramp.”  As a result, many Cockers during the past 50 years have been bred without maintaining the breed characteristics.  Some cockers bred by back-yard breeders or puppy mills have timid or fearful temperaments, nippy tendencies and do not get along well with children or other pets.  Here is the AKC description of the Cocker Spaniel:

General Appearance
”The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Sporting Group. He has a sturdy, compact body and a cleanly chiseled and refined head, with the overall dog in complete balance and of ideal size. He stands well up at the shoulder on straight forelegs with a topline sloping slightly toward strong, moderately bent, muscular quarters. He is a dog capable of considerable speed, combined with great endurance. Above all, he must be free and merry, sound, well balanced throughout and in action show a keen inclination to work. A dog well balanced in all parts is more desirable than a dog with strongly contrasting good points and faults.”

I am so fortunate to have done my research and found a good breeder with Jefferson.  He really does meet the breed characteristics quite nicely.  According to the physical description, he has a compact body, chiseled head and muscular quarters.  This is so true!  Last spring, my veterinarian commented that he had never seen a Cocker Spaniel with such well-developed butt and leg muscles.  Agility has helped develop his muscles by his jumping, running and taking obstacles during our weekly agility practices, close to three or four times during a week.  We also take walks, play every day at home and I do quite a bit of daily stretching exercises with him as well.

Also, he is a dog of "considerable speed combined with great endurance."  His speed on the agility course has increased lately due to my being more confident in my handling and he learning to trust my direction more.  As for the endurance part, we are doing quite well in lasting throughout a long day of agility – even performing some of our best runs at the end of an 8 hour or longer day.  This is given that the outside temperature is not in the upper 80s or 90s.  My boy still likes the cooler weather best and is not very fond to run agility in excessive heat (yet more to work to accomplish here…)

Lastly, Jefferson is definitely “free and merry, sound, well balanced throughout.”  Whenever I went to the breeder to meet the Cocker Spaniel puppies, I had my heart set on a buff, female puppy.  However, once I met Jefferson ("Sonic" at the time) and his litter mates, I knew that he was the Cocker Spaniel for me.   He gleefully romped around with his litter mates.  Being on the smaller side, he was not timid and played nicely with all the larger pups as well as the adult dogs.  His merry disposition is true to the Cocker Spaniel ideal and I am so glad that he is my first dog.  He can play with tugs, toys and balls for hours and then roll around in the dirt and grass even longer!  

The one infamous Cocker Spaniel trait omitted from this list involves their voracious appetite!  Jefferson will eat anything and has not met a cheese product he does not like (Cheetos and Cheezits included here!)

So, even though the Cocker Spaniel is not the #1 dog according to the AKC, the Cocker Spaniel is definitely #1 in my book!!! 

"Becoming number one is easier then remaining number one."

~Unknown 

Practice Makes Perfect!

Team J-Dawg made a few improvements and accomplishments during last weekend’s trial.  I was thrilled with our Snooker run on Saturday.  First place AND a Q…46 points!  Yippee!!  This was a major accomplishment because Snooker is our most challenging game since Jefferson is not handler focused but obstacle focused and has trouble running past obstacles without taking them. 

But, after our trial last month in Perry, Georgia I was determined to get a clean Snooker run.  During last month’s trial, he had a beautiful run, up until the closing…he ran smoothly up through #6.  #7 was a weave pole-jump combination, and he blew right past the weave poles (#6 was the A-frame).  Yes, he understands how to perform the weave poles but hates to slow down to collect to enter the weaves.  The training I needed to do was to work on him going top speed and then collecting to take the weave poles.  So, I worked Jefferson running fast from a straight tunnel and collecting into 6 weave poles.  I also worked on Jefferson running fast over his A-frame and collecting into 6 weave poles.  We worked these exercises a couple times a week since the late December trial.  At the first practice session upon the return from the trial, he ran top-speed over the A-frame and also bypassed the 6 weaves just like he did during the trial.  Eureka…this is what I needed to train so I did.  And, it paid off. 

Here’s the map from this weekend’s Snooker course:

My plan was 1-4; 1-6; 1-6; and then the closing.  I planned it so I would have 39 points through #6 so in case we did not get the weaves, we would still have enough points.  Our challenges would be wrapping around the 2^nd #1 but then I would have a straight shot to the #6 tunnel.  Another challenge for us would be after the final #6 in the opening, for me to re-send Jefferson back into the tunnel.  But, I felt confident in our plan and that I had chosen a path with enough running and flow to make it doable for Jefferson.  Of course as luck would have it, I forgot to have our last run recorded.  It is a shame, because this is one of our best runs to date!  Jefferson was fast, did not pause and ran with me the entire time!  And, he hit his weave pole entry beautifully!!!  Yay!  I was so excited that I let out a squeal of joy while he completed the weave poles.  I was actually cheering because I felt like we were never going to have another clean Snooker run again…and we finally did!

We have had quite a bit of struggles during the last year – mostly brought on by my wanting do well but unable to properly handle the courses so Jefferson would gain enough information from me.  The better I wanted to perform at a trial, the worse we would actually do.  Whenever this would happen, Jefferson would stop and stare at me whenever I got flustered and made a mistake.  And, I am not lucky enough to have one of “those” dogs who will follow their handler no matter what the handler does.  Jefferson is not so forgiving of my mistakes but we are working on that and he is getting tons better.  Jefferson is running fast, confidently and with enthusiasm.  As a result, we have made great strides since the October trial.  

Here we are in an "almost" Jumpers run and I got him back running with me after my timing was off in giving him the information for the last turn (we would've Q'd if I got him in the right end of the tunnel!):

Here's our clean Advanced Pairs Run:

We had some moments of greatness this weekend and quite a few moments of “cocker” speed.  He had a great time and loved playing agility.  I now really enjoy running Jumpers and Snooker as much as I do Gamblers.  Who would have thought?!  Our next training sessions will focus on how to make doing a down on a table “fun” after running top-speed through the Standard course.  

"Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong."

- Unknown

 

 

 

 

Just Breathe...

Have I shared lately how much FUN I am having participating in agility?  Today was a long and difficult day at school – grading finals, inputting grades, preparing for the new semester, meeting after school for 2 hours (YES…2 hours the day BEFORE we are off school until next week!).  And that is just my school responsibilities.  In addition to all this, I am the trial secretary for the trial this weekend.  It is my first time as trial secretary, so I have been taking care of entries, running orders, gate sheets, scribe sheets, and a whole litany of other dog “sheets” I have never seen before but have learned how to create!  Needless to say, I have been VERY busy.

Despite all these stressors (both good and bad), I am really looking forward to going to agility class tonight to have FUN with Jefferson.   At first I was not going to go, but after such a rough start to the week at school, I want to kick-back, relax and enjoy my dog.  It has taken me a bit of practice and work on my mental game for agility, but now I am at a good place with Team J-Dawg.  I am just amazed at how liberating it is to feel the joy and excitement of agility like I did when I first started training Jefferson.  

How did I change my attitude from dog agility being a stress creator to a stress reliever?  First off, I am focused on the process and not the outcome.  This truly is the key to my change.  Like a Tony Robbins “Breakthrough” moment, I have grown to enjoy the process and actually relish in the fun I am having with Jefferson.   Rather than view a NQ or an off-course as a failure, I have chosen to view these runs as an opportunity to learn how to become a better handler for my teammate.  I have control over my thoughts, so I am choosing to view my runs from a whole new perspective.  So, if I am having FUN, why wouldn’t I want to play the game with my dog?

Also, I have learned to gain a healthy perspective on agility.  Heck, nothing drastic or life-threatening is going to happen to Team J-Dawg if we blow a run.  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing earth shattering occurs!  Does our NQ or missed contact result in the start of an international war?  Increase the national debt?  Raise taxes?  Of course not!  It is merely a sport I enjoy playing with my dog.  Yes, agility is still important to me but it is surely not the end of the world if something goes awry.   Perspective.   I am so lucky to be healthy enough to run with my healthy dog.   He is getting faster so I need to get healthier to keep up with that cocker speed!

Enjoy a little R.E.M. (It's the End of the World As We Know It...And I Feel Fine..)

 

Lastly, as Oprah would say …”Breathe”….

"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one."
Hans Selye

My Cocker Spaniel is Smarter Than Your 8th Grader!

This week has flown by and I am getting excited about next weekend’s trial.   We have not practiced too much this week, but I am ever amazed with Jefferson’s antics.  When I took Jefferson for a walk today after work, he was heeling really nice next to me and was focused.   A neighborhood boy was skate boarding on the sidewalk and commented to me, “He is very smart.”  So, I channeled my best Victoria Stillwell (Animal Planet’s “It’s Me or the Dog” trainer) skills and commanded Jefferson to perform his tricks for the 8 year old.  Then the boy grinned and exclaimed, “Wow!  You REALLY are a dog trainer!”  And I was beaming with pride and replied, “Thank you…I am.”

After I continued my walk, I thought about what the boy had said.  I have never considered myself a “dog trainer” but I am one.  From the moment I brought Jefferson home as a 14 week old puppy, I have continually taught him.  We have taken a few puppy classes and obedience classes; he even earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen before he was two years old.  For example, I have him wait patiently before he eats.  He expects this and never “dives right in" to his dinner. This is great impulse control and transfers into the agility ring for a start line stay or a down on a table.  I have taught him to “leave it” so he will not eat a jelly fish at the beach nor chase his kitty sister Madison around the house.  A few more fun parlor tricks include “high five” and spin “left or right.”   He can even fetch his toys by name – tug, ball, and squeaky.  So, I am confident that he is one smart dog.  As long as I take the time to continue to train him, he will continue to learn.

As far as agility goes, we have taken TONS of classes and seminars from local handlers to world team members.  With my instructors help and guidance, I have trained Jefferson to confidently perform the obstacles.  More importantly, I have trained him to trust that my handling is going to give him accurate communication about where to go on course.  We have worked hard to grow together as a team, and our success depends on my ability to be a good dog trainer:  to be consistent and open to try new ways of handling.  So, thank you, neighborhood boy for reminding me that I REALLY am a dog trainer.  

"Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend." - Corey Ford