Agility Run Thrus

[manymuddypaws]

Good Job Susan! It sounds like you and Tucker are a great team- it is always a great feeling when you and your dog start working together.
Wicca is just three years old and we are finally on the same page on course. Sam has been that way from the get go- it is funny how they are so different. I am sure you will see that with Tucker and Lulu....

Love your new avatar by the way...I love Lulu....Is her body mostly white aswell?

-amanda

[Michael Romanos]

Amanda - the only Corgi I have actually seen in action in agility is my own. Two of my agility instructers (husband and wife) attended the 2006 world agility champs in Europe and there were several Corgis who competed and all with some distinction. At least one was a Japanese entry and most of the others were American. But I can't recall either of them telling me how they were or were not handled. They did say that the Corgis were thin! I must ask them on Wednesday night. These people are of the opinion that the leading New Zealand dogs in agility could hold their own at world champs.
I must say this though: the very top agility handlers in NZ (apart frpm one) keep very much with their dogs on a course and they are the most athletic and speedy handlers - the very top handler is a 15 year old girl who had clear rounds with her owned trained dogs at age seven. OUr top performing dogs are usually Border Collies or farm type dogs called heading dogs who all have some Border Collie in their makeup.

[Hayashi_eri]

It is so great to be able to see them going thru the agility runs...I can never get Buta to move unless I hang bags of treats on me & run before her

[Michael Romanos]

I'd love to see that. You running as fast as your legs can go and your breath can hold out (I hope you don't smoke) with a ribbon of pinned treats trailing behind you and your Buta in hot pursuit intent of grabbing at least one of the treats as it slides along the ground pulled along by her half laughing, half exhausted, heavily panting owner. Go gals.

[milles2]

Lulu is black and white once you get past the white face. She has a black saddle, black tail with white tip, and four white socks. I have individual pics of them taken that day but ran out of time last night and didn't get them posted.

Tucker is totally treat motivated. I noticed almost every other dog Saturday, the handler had a toy and occasionally used it as a lure. W/ TYucker, it's all about the treats. Toys, balls, whatever - just give him the treat!

He will run an entire course and wait until the end for the treat. But when weave poles are involved, I have to lure him thru the weaves w/ a treat.

Since CPE Level 1 doesn't include weave polls, maybe we would do fine with that since treats are not allowed on the course.

My instructor does a special 8 week session on weave poles and we will sign up for that next time it's offered. We need work!

[Fluffypants]

The weave poles do seem (to me) like they are the toughest part of the course. Good luck Susan!

And I understand completely about the food motivation - Jackie is the same way . . . praise, toys, that's nice, blah blah blah . . . GIVE ME A TREAT!

Can't wait to see those new pics!!!

[manymuddypaws]

Weaves def. are the longest thing to teach. It takes alot of repetition for the dog to understand what the whole process is- and there are as many ways to teach the weavepoles as there are poles!

If you want to teach Tucker about toy motivation I can give you a great article. Let me know if you would be interested.

-amanda

[milles2]

Amanda!

I would love the article on toy motivation!

Last night in obedience class ( we have a huge class including 3 Newfie puppies! picture a wet frloor form Newfiedrool!) I used saying hello to the other dogs as ,otivation for Lulu. First half of the class kept her very focused but she would break and to go meet the other dogs. so 2nd half of class I let her go exchange quick sniffs w/ other dogs! She got right back to business!

[Fluffypants]

Would you mind sending it to me too, please, Amanda? I would love to use something other than food to motivate Jackie.

[Dillydoodle]

Dillon's obedience class had 4 Newfoundlands in it and all that drool was what he was most interested in! forget the yummy treats, he was looking for drool...nothing like trying to do a run through with a dog who's attention is on the floor rather than me...sigh

Emilie

[Chip's Mom]

Susan

It sounds like you had a great time. That is the best part just having fun. Chip used to love the tunnel until a dog peed in it and now he will not give it the time of day so we are going to start Rally O next Monday.

[manymuddypaws]

Here is the link to the article.
http://www.powerpawsagility.com/articles/tugntreat.html
the link below is where you can get the actual "tug 'n treat" toy but you can also use basically anything that has an opening (the Dr.Noys plush toys work really well, Q-Tease toys work too- )
http://www.cleanrun.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=946

It is really amazing how well this can work. I have had dogs in my classes who wound not dream of putting their lips on a toy- in a matter of a few weeks they are absolutely crazy for this toy....
The big key to remember is that the dog only gets it when they've earned it. And it's your job to make a big deal of it to bring the excitement up.
Also- clean run has come out with a new tow that is similar- except that it is kind of the second step to getting your dog to tug..
http://www.cleanrun.com/moreinfo.cfm...ct_ID=2010#top

It is a good thing to teach toy drive- even if you're not doing agility. It is useful for obedience, rally...whatever....

Let me know how it goes!

-amanda