This 'old dog' STILL got it ;)

[Toffee's Mom]

Speaking of people you admire, I really do admire Greg Derret, he's still got it in my books :D Him and Detox, what a team!

Also think that Britain seems to have more empty space in between jumps like we do in North America than they do in the rest of Europe?
http://youtu.be/dnVb9ONy7Ng

[SheltieChe]

Outstandingly elegant team!
does anyone knows where the names came from? Detox and Rehab?
I have noticed how much tugging his dogs do, have heard that he does not teach any puppy jump bumps or shaping puppy tricks, just tug and tug and more tug... would be hard to do it with many dogs I think.

[Jaynie]

Oh how I miss my Borders.

[Hurtseverywhere]

Originally Posted by Jaynie

Oh how I miss my Borders.

Me too but I could never even possibly keep up to them now but living with 3 BC's was just a tad bit crazy at times. There was one at the trial last week that reminded me so much of my BC Auzzie it was scarry. But I am not unhappy that we decided to downsize either.

Make you realise just how far you have to go, to get where you would like to be, always a pleasure to watch.

[Phebe*DD]

Lovely, and not a single blind cross. I don't point that out because I there's anything wrong with blind crosses, but because I honestly don't think one handling system is superior to another. IMO, you need to choose a handling system that makes sense to you and works for your team.

[seashel]

I watched this live (at home on the TV as couldn't get to Olympia this year) but watching again on YouTube with new eyes having learned a lot more since December - at the time I just thought 'FAST' but now I'm seeing FAST and some of the skills I'm learning about too which makes it even more impressive.

Couple of questions now of course Is having more space between jumps better/easier - I imagine it would be?

Also regarding tugging, Yogi is a crazy tugger so much that it hurts my hands but although Epic does play tug, he really prefers to have a good chew on the toy so loses interest sfter a minute or two. I have thought about teaching him to be more tug orientated (as I know his ring isn't giving a lot of handler interaction once thrown) but in reality how necessary is it for agility?

I know a lot of BC obedience handlers are obsessive about the importance of tug but shelties aren't usually as up for it as BCs - Yogi seems quite unusual.
I watched the World Cup obedience at Crufts and virtually all the dogs were doing the introduction lap round the ring backwards and sideways - tugging - which made me wonder if they could actually walk nicely on a loose lead outside competition.

[celloyogi]

I haven't started any agility with Olive yet so all I know is what I see in videos and the practice matches I go watch. I loved the handler in this video - he seemed so relaxed it felt like he was going slower than the super-speed he actually was. Bucketloads of confidence, and it sure shows in his dogs.

[Toffee's Mom]

Originally Posted by celloyogi

I haven't started any agility with Olive yet so all I know is what I see in videos and the practice matches I go watch. I loved the handler in this video - he seemed so relaxed it felt like he was going slower than the super-speed he actually was. Bucketloads of confidence, and it sure shows in his dogs.

he is one of THE best in the world
and I agree Margaret... not a blind cross in sight... lol

I would guess that a smaller spaced, tighter course with crazy angles is tougher to navigate at highest speeds... But I would love to see if the dogs and handlers only running these types of courses would be able to have dogs that drive lines like the NorthAmerican/british dogs?
It would be very interesting to see, I think?

[SheltieChe]

Originally Posted by Toffee's Mom

he is one of THE best in the world
and I agree Margaret... not a blind cross in sight... lol

I would guess that a smaller spaced, tighter course with crazy angles is tougher to navigate at highest speeds... But I would love to see if the dogs and handlers only running these types of courses would be able to have dogs that drive lines like the NorthAmerican/british dogs?
It would be very interesting to see, I think?

overseas, agility viewed quite differently by many, the demographics tend to be younger/ like MUCH younger/, more men, more athletic... And according to Daisy whose Solar was national champion here in US and came 5th in the world last year, europeans tend to focus more on just being there than training the dog to do things by themselves.
I posted this clip in some other topic, this is dude who is relative newbie to agility, been doing only for 1,5 years- does anyone has ANY doubt that he can run and outrun our North American/british courses?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=pLPjmWeG6Yc
you can also see the difference in international courses

[2GoodDogs]

In that first link, absolutely nothing was wasted! AWESOME to watch!