I just got back from an agility trial in La Crosse, WI - we had some fabulous successes! This was our third trial, and I'm so proud of my pup.
Here's the rundown of our big successes:
Starr hit every single one of his running contacts - this is something we've been working on since the spring.
His runs were fast and smooth, which I love. I didn't use many rear crosses at the first few trials, but the courses this judge designed were fabulous for rear crosses, so we worked a lot on them this weekend - he didn't miss one! He didn't break any of his start line stays, and there were a few times I moved ahead 3 - 4 obstacles in front of him. He was under the time allowed every single time (and these course times were fast - tons of dogs missed the Q b/c of time). Another big success was being able to pull him off a tunnel - we did a series of jumps that led straight to a tunnel. He headed for the tunnel, but I called his name and he skidded and turned around, avoided the tunnel entrance by (maybe) two inches, and went back on course.
His YPS has improved as well. For his regular runs, at his first trial in March his qualifying course was 3.88 yps. At this trial, for his qualifying regular runs, his average yps was 4.3 yps. At the March trial, his average YPS for jumpers was 4.35 , and at the trial this weekend it averaged 4.66 yps. To me, this indicates a far greater level of confidence.
We finished off the trial with 10 out of a possible 14 Qs, and a new title.
I already have a list of things in my head we need to work on, and at the top of the list is obstacle differentiation - we've worked on it a lot, but when the adrenaline hits in an agility trial, especially if the jumps are lined up towards a tunnel, the tunnel just sucks him in every time. In the Chances run they had 6 weaves set up, and that threw him off - when it was twelve weaves he entered correctly every time, but when it was six weaves, he had trouble adjusting, and started entering from the wrong side or entering in the second weave. Another reason to love trials - I always have something to work on after we go to one.
I can see he's loving agility trials, which makes me so happy. We have one in Thunder Bay in August (y'all are welcome to come!), and then we'll head back to Isanti in October before breaking for the winter.
Here's the rundown of our big successes:
Starr hit every single one of his running contacts - this is something we've been working on since the spring.
His runs were fast and smooth, which I love. I didn't use many rear crosses at the first few trials, but the courses this judge designed were fabulous for rear crosses, so we worked a lot on them this weekend - he didn't miss one! He didn't break any of his start line stays, and there were a few times I moved ahead 3 - 4 obstacles in front of him. He was under the time allowed every single time (and these course times were fast - tons of dogs missed the Q b/c of time). Another big success was being able to pull him off a tunnel - we did a series of jumps that led straight to a tunnel. He headed for the tunnel, but I called his name and he skidded and turned around, avoided the tunnel entrance by (maybe) two inches, and went back on course. His YPS has improved as well. For his regular runs, at his first trial in March his qualifying course was 3.88 yps. At this trial, for his qualifying regular runs, his average yps was 4.3 yps. At the March trial, his average YPS for jumpers was 4.35 , and at the trial this weekend it averaged 4.66 yps. To me, this indicates a far greater level of confidence.
We finished off the trial with 10 out of a possible 14 Qs, and a new title.
I already have a list of things in my head we need to work on, and at the top of the list is obstacle differentiation - we've worked on it a lot, but when the adrenaline hits in an agility trial, especially if the jumps are lined up towards a tunnel, the tunnel just sucks him in every time. In the Chances run they had 6 weaves set up, and that threw him off - when it was twelve weaves he entered correctly every time, but when it was six weaves, he had trouble adjusting, and started entering from the wrong side or entering in the second weave. Another reason to love trials - I always have something to work on after we go to one.
I can see he's loving agility trials, which makes me so happy. We have one in Thunder Bay in August (y'all are welcome to come!
), and then we'll head back to Isanti in October before breaking for the winter.
I absolutely hate being videoed/photographed. 
