So every time that Jordan has gone out to do standard courses at Dream Park, Maverick has refused the chute. Now he does them in practice just perfect with no hesitation but in competition pokes his head in the chute and bounces back out repeatedly. Heres an example from this weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq5kZcOFZKo
So I thought I figured out what was wrong. The new chutes from MAD Agility have a FLAT BOTTOM instead of a completely round opening. Well it was as if Maverick had no idea what the obstacle was and was scared of what might be at the other end. Week after week now of refusals and NQ's. So this past Sunday I finally broke down and bought the chute(without the fabric) from them. I bought the actual chute he was refusing at a discount since it was used.
We brought it home and Jordan put it in her bedroom so that the dogs had to pass through it to get in her room. So that was a fun game
On Monday I took the chute outside and we strapped a king size bed sheet around it with a ratcheting tie like they use in the ring. I was so scared that he'd act like it was no big deal and run right through it 
, but sure enough he refused it the same way as in competition! Funny enough, I was relieved, because I knew that we could solve it at home then. I held the sheet open...nope wouldn't do it! I held it open more and put my head in...nope still wouldn't! I rolled it up some...NOPE! I rolled it up some more and finally success!!! Once he went through it a few times I was able to extend the fabric all the way back down and the light bulb went off in his head that, "Oh wait! This is a Chute! I know Chute!!!" 
So last night we went to our private lesson and we brought our new chute with us. My instructor had a chute fabric to give me for free so we strapped it on and he is going through it just fine!! Phew! To make it even better, that light bulb just got brighter and brighter as class went on! He was searching out the weaves even at a fast pace and finishing both 6 poles and 12 poles without hesitation. As you can see in the above video, he doesn't want to stop long enough to finish the poles and normally pops out. Well last night was just amazing! My instructor ran over to me and hugged me and said, "This might be the week!!! He's putting it all together!"
So cross your fingers and say a prayer and maybe, hopefully, Maverick can get his first AKC Q this weekend!
So I thought I figured out what was wrong. The new chutes from MAD Agility have a FLAT BOTTOM instead of a completely round opening. Well it was as if Maverick had no idea what the obstacle was and was scared of what might be at the other end. Week after week now of refusals and NQ's. So this past Sunday I finally broke down and bought the chute(without the fabric) from them. I bought the actual chute he was refusing at a discount since it was used.
We brought it home and Jordan put it in her bedroom so that the dogs had to pass through it to get in her room. So that was a fun game
On Monday I took the chute outside and we strapped a king size bed sheet around it with a ratcheting tie like they use in the ring. I was so scared that he'd act like it was no big deal and run right through it , but sure enough he refused it the same way as in competition! Funny enough, I was relieved, because I knew that we could solve it at home then. I held the sheet open...nope wouldn't do it! I held it open more and put my head in...nope still wouldn't! I rolled it up some...NOPE! I rolled it up some more and finally success!!! Once he went through it a few times I was able to extend the fabric all the way back down and the light bulb went off in his head that, "Oh wait! This is a Chute! I know Chute!!!" So last night we went to our private lesson and we brought our new chute with us. My instructor had a chute fabric to give me for free so we strapped it on and he is going through it just fine!! Phew! To make it even better, that light bulb just got brighter and brighter as class went on! He was searching out the weaves even at a fast pace and finishing both 6 poles and 12 poles without hesitation. As you can see in the above video, he doesn't want to stop long enough to finish the poles and normally pops out. Well last night was just amazing! My instructor ran over to me and hugged me and said, "This might be the week!!! He's putting it all together!"
So cross your fingers and say a prayer and maybe, hopefully, Maverick can get his first AKC Q this weekend!
