First KC show of 2015

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seashel

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Having gone over three months with no proper training except what I have been able to do with my own garden jumps, Epic was a little rusty when we resumed our classes at the beginning of March. It is very frustrating because other people use the winter months to work on improving skills and we just go into mothballs because the ground is too wet to run on. However, we've had a few sessions so I entered Epic at a fun show a couple of weeks ago. This was predictably rubbish as it was the first show in ages and indoors which he has little experience of, but it was a wonderful day out with Epic and Angus so the abysmal runs were of little consequence.

Then Easter Saturday we went to one of the first outdoor shows of the season. Brrr it was cold, only 8C (46F) and chilly wind didn't help. Still I was full of joy to see coloured agility equipment on grass and I think Epic felt the same way. Our first run was graded 1-5 agility and the course was reasonably straightforward. While I wasn't necessarily expecting a faultless run I wasn't expecting problems, but my worst nightmare happened:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRNx_ORcmSA

It was only after watching the video that I realised that Epic had seen the dog, it happened so fast on the course that I thought he hadn't noticed. I don't think it was going to hurt him as it ran off but it shook me up a lot. The judge was lovely and I was so grateful for her warning me and stopping the run as I hadn't seen the dog. She let me wait a for a few dogs and run again but I was still unsettled and messed up the first wrap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtu-NJnvMdg

The next run was a much trickier course, although curiously graded 1-4. I anticipated he might refuse the wall as he's only ever done one before and I thought the chute might be an issue too but Epic was really quite unsettled here and even headed to Jessica who was filming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjRUGx5NrQU

The final run of the day was Jumping Grades 1-3 and a straightforward course that I was looking forward to running. Apart from the weaves this wasn't a bad run so a good end to the day:
https://youtu.be/PcAuY4C04xw

I wonder if the incident during the first run upset Epic more than I realised as he has been making incredible weave entries during training from really hard angles (it's one of the few things we have been able to practice) so to consistently miss the weaves like this was weird, although I might have been rushing him in? However once in he did them reasonably well, apart from the repeated run. I took the poles out a couple of days later to an area we haven't used for several months and he was fine, even doing a couple of tricky entries so hopefully this is just a blip. I was so pleased that these runs were filmed because I could see exactly what happened in the first run. When I watched them all he actually ran a lot better than I thought he did so despite eliminations, I do actually feel more encouraged than I did at the end of last year - but need to work on those wide turns!! I'm also going to see if I can find an additional training venue for the winter. :wink2:
 
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I'm not sure I could run my dogs in a setup like that. that rope barrier might keep people out of the course but I'm sure most dogs wouldn't even see it, let alone stay in or out of the marked area.
having another dog show up like that- it would definitely mess things up....
think we'll stick with our horse arenas:yes:
 
Unfortunately most shows here are like that. For Epic's first year I stuck to independent shows which were fenced and when we went to the first KC one it felt very vulnerable to just have ropes separating the rings. Even in the one year I have been competing at KC shows I've seen this happen at least half a dozen times (to other people). It seems to be par for the course when you have very inexperienced dogs competing that they leave their ring and if there are other rings in the vicinity then reasonable expectation they will head over to check out the other dogs. As you say, waist high ring ropes are no deterrent to dogs.

I'm so proud though. looking at the video again in slow motion, that Epic was spooked but immediately returned to me and recovered so well. He is unrecognisable as the freaked out pup that was terrified of all other dogs when he began his agility career in September 2012. To be honest, I could not feel prouder if he had won every class because this is far more of an achievement :biggrin2:

Yesterday he even stayed calmly sitting while Angus was 'talking' to a large lurcher, which rank at the top of Epic's fear list as it was a greyhound and lurcher which attacked him. Yes I'm very proud of Epic. :yes:
 
you've worked hard with him on those issues and it has really paid off.
so even if he was distracted and not running as well as he can, he was at least running with you:yes:
 
Epic was such a good boy and immediately jumped into your arms. Way to go Epic! I wouldn't be able to run Bailey in a ring that's not fenced in.
 
I have been very lucky with my KC shows here, as all have been properly fenced, but I know that is far from the norm.

Such a shame about the collie running on the course. That would be my worst nightmare too, it would spook Merlin dreadfully and I am not sure he would run the course again at all.

I do sometimes wonder if it is a bit of a Sheltie thing to get spooked in new places? Or maybe it's an Easter thing, because Merlin was similar at his Easter KC show. I only have one video and I can't process it at the moment because my laptop is broken. But it shows him walking rather than running the course and halfway through he just left the course. Confidence is such a big thing with shelties and it doesn't take much to unsettle them in new places.

In fact, the more I watch Epic, the more I see so many of Merlin's mannerisms and quirks.

Saying all that, Epic is a smashing little dog and given time to build his confidence I am sure he will do well. He has beautiful touches, and your front crosses were spot on. So I think there is a lot to be positive about in those vids, especially how he came back from being spooked by that dog. I suspect it unnerved you rather more than it did him on this occasion:wink2:
 
It's funny you saying that Sophie because I remembered that you had similar issues with Merlin at his first KC show this year - weaves and going over to check out the person filming the run!

I have also found that Epic can be quite edgy at new venues but usually when he sees agility equipment his whole demeanour changes. Last year we went to a Country Park venue and he was walking along all subdued and cautious then saw one of the rings and his tail went up and the ears came forward and he was as happy as anything - went on to win the class.
However I have noticed that in places where he isn't too comfortable it is like he runs in forth gear not fifth gear - but I also wonder how much is down to me. I don't get nervous like I did doing obedience but I am more tense and he would pick up on that.
 
It's a complicated one. I sometimes wonder if it is me, but this year I was much calmer at the show and couldn't really blame my nerves. I knew Merlin wasn't his usual, relaxed self, like at his more familiar venues, because he didn't bark. If Merlin barks I know he is excited and ready to run.

I do feel it is just about getting them to new, different venues and building confidence. I have more outdoor shows booked this year, I think we did five last year, but spread over April to September, which didn't really give Merlin much chance to get used to them.

Running outdoors is very different, considering we are so used to training and competing indoors through the winter. I think they notice the different ground surfaces and the openness of the arenas and it worries them.

I noticed another Sheltie last weekend running slower than normal and, as I know the owner, we compared notes. We did wonder if it was because the ground was muddy. Certainly Merlin hates muddy feet and her dog was instantly cleaning its paws when it got off the course. That being said she still managed several placings, unlike my little Herbert! Lol!
 
I think probably the opposite is true for Epic, because we don't do any training indoors and hardly any indoor shows so he is a lot more comfortable running outdoors. He thinks agility rings with walls and roofs are very odd.:lol:

However I think that because he has come so far with his behaviour issues and had some successes last year that I had forgotten that attending a big, noisy agility show after nearly half a year of being away from all that might have been a bit of a culture shock for him. :o This time last year I was far more focussed on how he coped with the show environment and thoughts of getting clear rounds etc were well down the agenda. I think this has been a cautionary lesson to switch back to making the experience a good one and letting the finer points of performance take a back seat for a while. :yes:

Must just add I had an amazing practice session with him yesterday running short sequences on my own jumps and something seemed to 'click' into place that I haven't felt before. Normally I feel like my handling is really rushed as I am always struggling to be doing the right thing at the right time and kind of trying to 'beat' Epic (and Jacob the BC) to it. But yesterday it was like everything happening comfortably in slow motion and we really connected. :biggrin2:
 
Really enjoyed the videos! I am glad that the BC just seemed to want to run the course--not go after Epic. Still, a scary scenario. I think you guys looked great for having taken a little break!
 
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