Agility Equipment

I found it the most challenging to shape the end behaviours for contacts
It got easier once I SAW and understood the progression and the need for not skipping steps, lol
I was very grateful for a couple of good workshops, I think the next time will be easier for me, cuz I know more of why I am doing what, lol
 
On the obstical front For Cosmo Its the Chute, and with storm the weaves, Cosmo just doesn't like the chute period and it take constant proding and coaxing to get him to go thru it. Strom does weaves good if she gets the entry down right the problem seems to be getting a consistant entry every time especially on the off side even though we have been practicing doing entry poles for LIke forever ....well that's what it seems like anyway really its only been since May.

Non Obstical wise with Storm the biggest chalange so far has been to try and coral the speed some in order to maintain control and direction but not stifle it, if you let her go full flat out then she gets too wild still at this point, so trying to find a good balance between speed and control has been a struggle.

With Cosmo its been getting him to run again after his shoulder injury and weight issues and making it fun for him again.
 
I dunno. It seemed like every obstacle was a big challenge for Koji. He was afraid of everything! Now, it's just contacts. This is the longest challenge, so maybe it is my most challenging.
 
Running contacts (I can see myself having to go back and reinforce this for the foreseeable future). Sometimes it's as if he forgets, and as soon as I put any type of visual on the A-frame to remind him, he's got it back again.

Consistent weaves with entries from a wide variety of angles - we're still working on this too. He's getting better and better with it, but I have SO much proofing to do. Last night I had my friend walking, running, and skipping while singing loudly within 4 feet of the weaves, moving in the opposite direction of Starr. I'm sure we looked like idiots - but it was great proofing, and a lot of fun! :lol:
 
Justicemom said:
You are teaching "obstacles" whether you call it that are not. The performance of a piece of equipment in a course of agility is what you are teaching and likely your end goal.

Very few people go "gee I am going to teach the teeter today and take the dog and run it over a full height teeter with no prep. If they do than they are likely to have issues. The same goes for any agility skill ie weave poles, jumps, tunnels etc etc. .

I have taught my dogs the equipment using the very same breakbown of teaching skills. It isn't anything unique to your "system".

As for as the hardest skill to put together- weaves for Justice and Diva, teeter for Ember. Birch nothing to this point because he has all his skills in place.:wink2:
Click to expand...
I agree, component training is not unique, it all comes down from Bob Bailey and Bob has been mentor and coach to many trainers and professional people.
Having been to several agility foundation classes I have found locally that while many would lower the equipment and try to break things in parts there still a lot of "lumping" goes on when expectations set high and frustration creeps in... as dog is not doing what handler asks... partially I would say it is people who come in and want to do it "all" right away partially because it is next to impossible to expect everyone in the class to be on same page regarding skills levels they have prior to coming to class. Taking private classes with detailed explanations might be best option for beginners IMHO.
And as you say, the more you break down obstacles in small skills the easier dog gets it, glad to hear that your "neck of woods" seems to be pretty advanced.
 
Toffee's Mom said:
I found it the most challenging to shape the end behaviours for contacts
It got easier once I SAW and understood the progression and the need for not skipping steps, lol
I was very grateful for a couple of good workshops, I think the next time will be easier for me, cuz I know more of why I am doing what, lol
Click to expand...

I have found it to be huge PITA to shape nose touch. I have seen and understand the progression but my mechanics are crap. Not that I can not shape NT but I can not shape it with criteria I need to shape it with... whaaa:lol:
taking a break by learning running contact training my eye thing...
it is really really hard at my age to consistently see which paw hit that bed first... was just watching Daisy Peel video clips and she was working with sound- when dog running right it sounds right she says... I think I got that:yes:
 
The way it should look is how a Thoroughbred looks when it is charging down the stretch. It's harder to see on some dogs than others, as some seem to have trouble hitting their own personal speed to do it, and some are built in such a way that it is less obvious. A dog who naturally runs choppy with a very up and down stride is harder to see it on than onoe who stretches out like a race horse and runs correctly.
There was an article a while back on younger people being able to pick it up and see it easier. It was an interesting read. I like to think my Saddlebred stride watching from my photography gives me an edge when watching contact striding for training purposes. I can time their strides just right.
 
You horse people have huge advantage here!
I have figured out that both my boys do change their lead leg when they run in opposite directions and thankfully they are not choppy, I do have huge problem with being late to mark so I get a lot of head turns to me and shortening stride as result.
If you know any good video clips or site to help I would be very grateful!
 
Teeter. Lexi got scared and we had to start completely over with running on a plank on the ground. Now she can do teeter 2 notches up. The rest of her class is at full height.
 
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