HopeShelties
Forums Enthusiast
Glad to hear the Susan Salo dvds compliment the aphs well. I've always wondered and have been considering getting the salo dvds.
Alphabet drills book
- Thread starter SheltieChe
- Start date
I'm going to get this book too now, especially after reading these posts. Would be interesting to hear how you found the drills SheltieChe - did they come up to expectation? I have been watching some videos on YouTube and am hoping these will help us (me) with handling skills.
Currently we are doing Silvia Trkman foundations but there is a downside with these that tunnel plus wraps (especially multi wraps) causes barking and as the majority of time I'm training in the evening in the garden I don't feel I can inflict too much on the neighbours. Jumping/weaving is almost barkless so more opportunities to play without worry. Unfortunatly my Movie maker software is malfunctioning as I was hoping to post some progress videos. I'm thrilled with Epic but wish I could be a better handler for him. He's very patient but sometimes I'm sure he's thinking "Why is it so hard to remember what comes after jump 2??!!!"
Corbinam, I really liked watching your videos and was deeply impressed with the wraps. I find Epic does OK when turning towards me but turning away just isn't happening. I notice you didn't seem to use a cue word?
Currently we are doing Silvia Trkman foundations but there is a downside with these that tunnel plus wraps (especially multi wraps) causes barking and as the majority of time I'm training in the evening in the garden I don't feel I can inflict too much on the neighbours. Jumping/weaving is almost barkless so more opportunities to play without worry. Unfortunatly my Movie maker software is malfunctioning as I was hoping to post some progress videos. I'm thrilled with Epic but wish I could be a better handler for him. He's very patient but sometimes I'm sure he's thinking "Why is it so hard to remember what comes after jump 2??!!!"
Corbinam, I really liked watching your videos and was deeply impressed with the wraps. I find Epic does OK when turning towards me but turning away just isn't happening. I notice you didn't seem to use a cue word?
corbinam
Moderator
Oh my! Thank you! Are we talking about the same dog? Curious what video you're watching?
(I say that because tight turns is NOT our forte!)No, I don't use a cue word for wraps, but it's only because I wasn't sure how to work it. I'm taking Silvia Trkman's foundation class online, and teaching cik/cap. Unfortunately, I'm woefully behind (full time job makes it impossible to keep up), but I'm hoping that eventually I'll name the turns. As for now, it's all based on deceleration. So that means when she goes wide, it's my fault because I'm not decelerating soon enough.
Are you teaching cik/cap as well? (I saw you mentioned Silvia).
SheltieChe
Forums Sage
The book is great, I have only used it briefly so far. Spring is not my best time as I have extensive gardens
Anyway, book is very good for someone with well established handling, to practice things. It does not provide any understanding how to put crosses, when to do it, which one you would prefer at any given drill and why, how to evaluate results of your drills etc, it expects you to be somewhat good at knowing all that and able to evaluate results independently.
As for handling part, I am oscillating between Skills and Drills from Linda Mecklenburg/published Clean Run 2012/ which I am working now and keep drifting on the wrong line during the front cross so lots of handling with imaginary dog with closed blinds at home
and when I go completely nutty from mathematical precision Linda wants I switch to Silvia and just have fun with my punkins
Corbinam, you are not alone, full time work and lots of gardening slowed us on all classes too. I have been posting small things on what we have done however unfinished we are, I find Silvia´s comments valuable help.
Anyway, book is very good for someone with well established handling, to practice things. It does not provide any understanding how to put crosses, when to do it, which one you would prefer at any given drill and why, how to evaluate results of your drills etc, it expects you to be somewhat good at knowing all that and able to evaluate results independently.
As for handling part, I am oscillating between Skills and Drills from Linda Mecklenburg/published Clean Run 2012/ which I am working now and keep drifting on the wrong line during the front cross so lots of handling with imaginary dog with closed blinds at home
and when I go completely nutty from mathematical precision Linda wants I switch to Silvia and just have fun with my punkinsCorbinam, you are not alone, full time work and lots of gardening slowed us on all classes too. I have been posting small things on what we have done however unfinished we are, I find Silvia´s comments valuable help.
It was Lexi doing the 'L' drills. 
I'm struggling rather with cik/cap, it does seem to be a bark inducing excersise
but my real problem is trying to remember which one to use when!! At speed I just can't seem to think fast enough and have frequently given the wrong command which I'm sure isn't good 
. However, learning the wrap technique is proving invaluable as I have noticed him making some tight turns. For now I'm settling for the 'here' command to call him round and just trying to make my handling better. Having less to think about is definitely better. There's only so much my little brain can process! 
Like you guys I'm finding it's a now a case of garden vs agility training but tonight we tried some of the easy 'E' drills I have seen on YouTube and had a blast. In the last couple of days I have just started feeling we are coming together as a team rather than Epic running wild and me doing windmill impressions in his wake!
I'm struggling rather with cik/cap, it does seem to be a bark inducing excersise
but my real problem is trying to remember which one to use when!! At speed I just can't seem to think fast enough and have frequently given the wrong command which I'm sure isn't good . However, learning the wrap technique is proving invaluable as I have noticed him making some tight turns. For now I'm settling for the 'here' command to call him round and just trying to make my handling better. Having less to think about is definitely better. There's only so much my little brain can process! Like you guys I'm finding it's a now a case of garden vs agility training but tonight we tried some of the easy 'E' drills I have seen on YouTube and had a blast. In the last couple of days I have just started feeling we are coming together as a team rather than Epic running wild and me doing windmill impressions in his wake!
corbinam
Moderator
It was Lexi doing the 'L' drills.
I'm struggling rather with cik/cap, it does seem to be a bark inducing excersise
Like you guys I'm finding it's a now a case of garden vs agility training but tonight we tried some of the easy 'E' drills I have seen on YouTube and had a blast. In the last couple of days I have just started feeling we are coming together as a team rather than Epic running wild and me doing windmill impressions in his wake!
I can say that Lexi used to bark almost constantly in the beginning stages of teaching Cik and cap. I think it was more frustration barking "IS THIS IT IS THIS IT ARGHHHHH!" Now that she understands what I'm asking, she doesn't bark nearly as much.
Also, in the class several people have said the same thing about remembering which side is which. Silvia has said you can just use one cue word, and it means find the jump and turn tight, the side being based on your body position.