Fun Match Mai 2009 Partie 2

Watching this gives me a good feeling. Plus je le regarde, plus je suis contente.

fun match May 2009

Part 1

It feels soooo good

It feels so good to do a fun match with a dog who cooperates. Today's goal is to practice our start line stays as well as put into practice the techniques learned during our lessons.

In my opinion, the results are quite good. Of course there are zoomies but one of them happens after a tunnel where jasmine has no directions from me, because I wanted to reward her at the exit. Unfortunately, she keeps on going straight, which is the normal thing to do and off she goes. At our second try, she does a blind cross before the table but I correct her right away and restart the sequence 2 obstacles away. Success.

I'm so proud of her right now.

2 x 2 20 mai 2009 0001

The roads to 2 x 2

The roads to 2 x 2

Please note that this video was made before a training session with CB. You'll see a lot of mistakes along the way which, I hope, I'll be able to correct later on this weekend. As it's the case this Spring, it's still a windy day. Not only did Jasmine had to focus on me, but most importantly, ignore the gusts of wind. For my part, I'm still surprised that the camera and the tripod stayed upright.

We're still beginners at this method. I'm using the Go! command but that's a huge mistake. We musn't use any commands at this stage since I'm using shaping to train Jasmine to 2 x 2s. The dog makes her own decision to take the entry and it's up to us to help them gain speed. Jasmine still hesitates in her entry but once she's off, she takes speed.

More news to follow....

Let’s not waste this good weather so I joined the weekly practice at the Krazy Kanines Dogs Club. Environment Canada is forcasting rain for tomorrow. My goal is to attempt Gregg Darrett’s diagrams 3 and 4 (see previous posts). I also remember CB’s advice to always keep Jasmine within my sight.

Please note that I’m not including the images of the diagrams from the DVD because, quite frankly, I prefer to respect the copyright.

Diagram 3 & 4 from the DVD "Great Dog, shame about the handler".

Diagram 3, 1st attempt: Success

Diagram 3, 2nd attempt: Jasmine leaves me to zoom so I take her in my arms and give my spot to someone else.

Diagram 4, 1st attempt: Everything goes well, except I set up my front cross too soon between jumps 3 and 4 so Jasmine doesn’t complete her 180 but follows my body and does a threadle instead. In my opinion, that’s worth a “screw-up cookie”. ; )

By the way, I’m now knowledgeable enough in the sport to understand why she didn’t do her 180. Wow! I’m getting good at this eh? (wink, wink) I take a few minutes to pat myself on the back.

Ahem, Ahem.

Diagram 4, 2nd attempt: Success!

I finish the practice with a 2 x 2 session. The poles are set in the 8 o’clock and 2 o’clock position. I use the command “Allez” to signal Jasmine to cross the poles.

Success: When Jasmine is on my right and must cross the poles from the left.

Must improve: When Jasmine in on my left and must cross the poles from the right.

Note: We were at the field maybe 1 hour but worked maybe a total of 8 minutes. I gave Jazz a lot of breaks in her crate.

Slowly but surely...

Another plateau has been conquered I think. CB kept us very busy during our lesson yesterday, but with great results! Last winter, we had attempted Diagrams 1, 2, and 3 from Greg Darrett’s “Great Dog, Shame about the Handler”. At that time, Jasmine wasn’t capable of doing more than 2 to 3 jumps without zooming.

What changes winter and practices can bring. Yesterday, we did those same diagrams. I was so confident that Jasmine would zoom away, that I didn’t take the time to program my head to remember the sequence after the third jump. Was I ever wrong! Yet again, I underestimated my mutt and sure enough, she zoomed away alright, but only after I hesitated in the sequence.

At our second try, Jasmine leaves me to join one of her boyfriends, Fidget, who was working close by. She had to say hello, didn’t she?

We hit jackpot at our third try. I don’t lose her and we completed the sequence.

Reason for our success: Keep my eye on her and don’t hesitate.

What a great day!

Other improvements :

She can now keep her balance on two dyna discs.
She comes back to me when I call her during a zoomie.

Must work on:

Jasmine has trouble staying in her crate when the door is closed (or open for that matter). She even tore the netting on the crate. Bad Jasmine!
We’re still having trouble with the basket. Yes, CB, it’s a new one with lower edges.
Keep an eye on Jasmine during sequences. Always.

Anecdote:

I think I’m now part of the hard core agility crowd. The lesson was outside and we kept on working even when it got dark. The moon was out and here I was taking notes by the light of the barn, which isn’t very useful by the way. If there’s no movement, it shuts off.

Homework for the week (time and venue permitting)

Keep working with the basket
Find an extra dyna disc from someone
Try diagram 3 from the DVD
Try the exercice CB explained called « slicing ».Start working on the 2 x 2
More crate games