Agility progress post

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Simba13

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It has been a long time since I posted about simbas agility progress. This was our first season competing and we did about 10 shows over the summer with 3 more to go before the end of the year. At our first show we won out of grade 1 :) We where of to a great start. Simba hit a bit of a rough patch mid summer and ran out of the ring for the first time in all of his runs at one show so I went back to basics with him and made sure he was enjoying what he was doing and not just doing it for me. That involved a lot of playing and treats but it worked and he was back on track by the next show a few weeks later.

We are still having a bit of trouble with the weaves but the 2x2 training is going very well :) Touch points are a hit and miss but that is also training in progress. Simba is only 2 so we still have plenty of time to work on those.

We aren't the fastest team and I am not a great handler but Simba loves his time in the ring and barks his way around the course. Here is a video from our most recent show last week.

https://www.facebook.com/emer.page/videos/vb.595457175/10154664292522176/?type=3&theater
 
Simba13 said:
It has been a long time since I posted about simbas agility progress. This was our first season competing and we did about 10 shows over the summer with 3 more to go before the end of the year. At our first show we won out of grade 1 :) We where of to a great start. Simba hit a bit of a rough patch mid summer and ran out of the ring for the first time in all of his runs at one show so I went back to basics with him and made sure he was enjoying what he was doing and not just doing it for me. That involved a lot of playing and treats but it worked and he was back on track by the next show a few weeks later.

We are still having a bit of trouble with the weaves but the 2x2 training is going very well :) Touch points are a hit and miss but that is also training in progress. Simba is only 2 so we still have plenty of time to work on those.

We aren't the fastest team and I am not a great handler but Simba loves his time in the ring and barks his way around the course. Here is a video from our most recent show last week.

https://www.facebook.com/emer.page/videos/vb.595457175/10154664292522176/?type=3&theater
Click to expand...
Why do you think you aren't a great handler? I thought you 2 looked awesome. One thing I've recently figured out is that you're never done training. I thought we were all set. We'd gotten 4 titles and suddenly she decided that the teeter is a diving board and great fun to jump off of before it even tips (sighs and rolls eyes). I've been told many times in the last few weeks that things will fall apart and you just go back to the basics and work through it. Just keep it fun :)
 
Lanie said:
I've been told many times in the last few weeks that things will fall apart and you just go back to the basics and work through it. Just keep it fun :)
Click to expand...
I can totally vouch for that! BUT, most dogs do seem to work through it and come out fine in the end :-)
 
Lanie said:
Why do you think you aren't a great handler? I thought you 2 looked awesome. One thing I've recently figured out is that you're never done training. I thought we were all set. We'd gotten 4 titles and suddenly she decided that the teeter is a diving board and great fun to jump off of before it even tips (sighs and rolls eyes). I've been told many times in the last few weeks that things will fall apart and you just go back to the basics and work through it. Just keep it fun :)
Click to expand...

Thanks a million :) I don't think I'm a natural agility handler but Simba puts up with me so I must not be too bad haha. I'm enjoying learning with Simba and will enjoy it for as long as he is happy enough to do it. Poor Simba is my first agility dog so we are learning everything together but my younger 12 month old sheltie is lucky because I have more of an idea of what I'm doing now :D

We had a very successful day today :D two firsts in agility and a 3rd in jumping and Shoka 4th place in beginners obedience :D
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154684599102176&set=pcb.10154684610647176&type=3&theater
 
Well that looked like a run to be proud of - fast and neat!! My journey was similar to yours, first agility dog, out of G1 at first show, struggling (continuously!) to be a better handler for my dog.:lol: (Oh yes and our contacts are still hit and miss - literally!! :gaah) There are always rough patches to work through whatever stage they are in their career, it's just a learning curve and being shelties (being animals!) things don't always go to plan. But for every problem encountered and overcome, it's a new bit of knowledge and experience for the team. Agility is great for the mind as well as the body :wink2:

Congratulations on your wins from today!! Your shelties are gorgeous!!! Would love to meet up if you ever come over to any English agility shows :yes:
 
seashel said:
Well that looked like a run to be proud of - fast and neat!! My journey was similar to yours, first agility dog, out of G1 at first show, struggling (continuously!) to be a better handler for my dog.:lol: (Oh yes and our contacts are still hit and miss - literally!! :gaah) There are always rough patches to work through whatever stage they are in their career, it's just a learning curve and being shelties (being animals!) things don't always go to plan. But for every problem encountered and overcome, it's a new bit of knowledge and experience for the team. Agility is great for the mind as well as the body :wink2:

Congratulations on your wins from today!! Your shelties are gorgeous!!! Would love to meet up if you ever come over to any English agility shows :yes:
Click to expand...

Thank you :) Simba has come on so much in the past few months. I never did any foundation work with him and never had a clue how to teach weaves, contacts or anything really but I started a foundation class with Shoka a few months ago and have been able to apply the things I learn with Shoka to Simba.

I am hoping to go to kci next year or dinas or maybe even both. I'd love to meet you if you are heading to either of those shows. Feel free to add me on facebook (if you are on facebook). I have made a few new fellow sheltie owner friends through facebook lately and love seeing all of their updates and pictures :)
 
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