Agility Run Thrus

[milles2]

A question for Agility handlers...

Tuck is still somewhat of a green novice at Agility. Although - frankly - I think he is doing great. We completed Beginers Agility and we are now in a class called Beyond Beginners. We've been taking classes since last April. I believe the next step up is Competition Agility at our training center.

Is there any reason not to attend Agility Run Thrus? I asked the instructor and she said fine but I had a funny feeling ....

Don't know if this is something one waits to be invited to? We go to class once a week and I feel like if we practiced more we would work better as a team.

I'm seeing some really good things from Tucker. He is watching me more closely. He is way faster than me but he has been slowing down waiting for my commands.

I have all I can do to walk and chew gum at the same time, Running him, remembering the course, thinking of where I want him to go and where I need to be, voice command, hand signals, body position... I need the practice probably more than he does!

He runs courses and completes them. He's not wild and all over the place. I believe a big shortcoming is my lack of experience. We both need to improve.

So what do you folks do?

[Michael Romanos]

I think it is important to be able to at least keep up with your Corgi so as you are guiding him around the course and he is not slowing and looking around wondering where next to go. I am quicker than Taylor - afterall he is jumping etc while I am only running. Thankfully he is not racing at the speed he is capable of. We had problems when he was a rookie and if I went too far ahead it would make him stretch out and that would often mean him knocking over a hurdle rail. But that is not the case now that he is more experienced. Our hurdle heights for Corgis is 38cm whereas in the USA (in 'proper' competition conditions) they are set at 30cm, so it is more difficult here in New Zealand for Corgis to successfully clear hurdles. Corgis are much like German Shepherds - both breeds look to their handlers for instructions in agility so there is a need to stay up with them If you can get an exception, well and good. You may need to get fitter.

[Fluffypants]

Hi Susan,
I don't go to your school and I don't do agility, so not sure how helpful this info will be at all. I do have rally run-thrus at my school (which I participate in), and it's not by invitation. You just have to fill out a form and send in the fee. You don't even have to be an active competitor. If you apply and pay, you are in. I would think it would be the same with your school and with agility.

Maybe your instructor was distracted when you talked to her or something. People are weird. And I find that (sometimes) when I talk to my instructors, they give me a weird vibe too (of course, I am easily intimidated ). Have you made friends with any of your classmates? Maybe they can give you some info on it.

I have other things I would like to type here, but am showing restraint (New Years resolution).

[milles2]

Yes, it's a very different group of humans in my Agility Class than I typically deal with. And there are some definate " 'tudes " that come out.

I don't want to confuse ability with a "clique" (no pun intended). Tuck and I are not ready for competition, not sure if we ever will be. But he and I have a ball and that's all I'm looking for. My goals clearly aren't the same as some people in the class.

I know what you mean about instructors. I have two great instructors. I like to think I have thick skin but the male instructor tends to be a bit heavy handed w/ me (not Tucker, me). And I know his points are valid but sometimes I want to say "did you even see what he did? He did great!" and the instructor is criticizing my perfect angel..... Ha!

Suck it up! Be tough! I'm going to charge into those run thrus (!) ... and just hope Tucker doesn't pee on anything!

I'm Kidding!

Thanks!

Susan

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by milles2@rpi.edu

A question for Agility handlers...

You might want to join Preformance Corgis at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/P...guid=129341596

They discuss all the preformance stuff and there are lots of very knowlegeable people on that list.

Peggy

[Jane Austen]

I shouldn't even be commenting, for all I know about agility. But..... Would it be any value to "visualize" the routine like athletes do?

[Michael Romanos]

Absolutely, Jane. That's why handlers go over a course before the event up to several times, so they can store in their memory box, the layout of the course and the way they and their dogs are going to approach each obstacle.
I even practice the commands I am going to give at each of the obstacles - like many people I sometimes give the wrong command at the heat of the moment, but with experienced dogs, it doesn't much matter what you say (within reason of course).

[Janet]

Hi Susan

I am going to my first run thru on Sunday - I'll let you know how it goes. Gigi has been doing agility training for almost a year, I think - lost track of the start date so I'm quite excited about this event. We will be going again the last Sunday in Feb.

Janet

[manymuddypaws]

Sorry I am a bit late on this thread but I haven't been around in the last few days.

As an agility instructor myself, I know that sometimes people can be in a bit of a rush to run off to an agility trial and if the handler and/or dog isn't ready for the stress, the distraction and so forth it can be a pretty horrible experience for both the dog and the handler.

But it is a whole different story at a run thru (around here we call them funmatches. ) Fumatches are all about learning and practicing and I see no reason for you not to go and have fun with your dog! My advice to you would be make sure that you don't attempt to run a course that you and your dog aren't ready to run! Break it up into smaller sequences- reward often and celebrate small successes! The club or training centre should be more than willing to accomadate you and you shouldn't feel intimidated.

By the way I probably am much like your male instructor- I push my students and their dogs but I do it because I see the potential! so perhaps he is just looking out for your best interests!?

on a side note

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

I think it is important to be able to at least keep up with your Corgi so as you are guiding him around the course and he is not slowing and looking around wondering where next to go.

I disagree with Micheal here- There is no need to keep up with your dog, nor is there ANY reason you should try to slow your dog down. I am not a very fit agility handler yet my dog and I have faster times than Border Collies (almost always on a jumpers course) The secret is "handling" I can handle Wicca or Sam from four or five obstacles behind. I tell her where she needs to go and how to get there. I admit we are not always perfect but it is possible to be an unfit handler and have a fast dog. If you teach your dog how to read your body language properly and train them to safely complete each obstacle without then there is no need for you to be running alongside your dog. Just my .02cents....


Have fun Susan and Janet at your run thru's! They are GREAT learning tools!

[milles2]

Thanks Amanda!

This morning it started snowing just before the run thrus. The Agility ring is over the hills and out in the middle of nowhere. Tuck and I were running late but when we got there, we were the first to arrive.

We ended up with 9 dogs and interestingly, 5 junior handlers! And we had a blast.

Tucker did really well. We had a novice and expert course set up, we stuck to the novice course. I managed to remember the course, Tuck did great w/ all obstacles including weave poles, and all the Junior handlers had to love on him. So a good time was had by all!

What was reallyy great was talking to some of the advanced handlers. One man seemed willing to chat and he had tought his 2 border collies "duck". A great idea for Tuck and Lu.

I had a chance to chat more w/ my instructor and she suggested Tucker start competing. Apparently the basic level doesn't require teeters or weave poles. Teeters are not a problems but no way are we ready for weave poles.

So our training center had a trial in March and I think we will enter but I really want to find run thrus at other sites to get him used to other locations.

But tons of fun!

[manymuddypaws]

I am glad you had a good time and congrats to you and Tucker!

Competing is a lot of fun- you meet a lot of nice people and can learn a ton from just watching the more advanced classes!

What organisation does your club run in?

[Michael Romanos]

Amanda - there are most certainly exceptions as I said, but I think that generally speaking, Corgis are not one of the breeds that allows you the luxury of standing in one spot and directing them over a whole host of obstacles. I am happy to be corrected on this. At an event start, I can stand several obstacles in front of Taylor (lets say three jumps and a tunnel) and call him through the lot and we can finish a course with me stopped and him powering on to the finish and we have been successful in in Gamblers events where the last several obstacles are accomplished with the handler not able to go past a 'sideline.' But if I was taking a measured handling approach I'd keep to where he is at or a little ahead at all times. It is one thing to slacken reins on Corgis on novice type courses but when one gets to the top level, the Corgi needs to be more strictly guided over the more complicated courses.