Agility

by TR75 Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:52 pm

Jake just completed his agility class tonight. Over a 5 week period (just one hour a week) we learned 8 obstacles and tonight was a competition. Each dog got 3 runs. He didn't come close to the fastest but he was one of only two dogs to not have any faults during any of the runs. E.T.

That was the biggest shocker to me because I swear that every time we did the A-Frame he missed the contact point on the way up. The other dog that didn't have any faults was a Corgi. Ultimate Air Elation

The dog that won was (I believe) an Australian Sheppard or a mix. Are they ones that have the blue eyes? I think she was about 10 seconds faster than Jakers.

It looks like Gunther will be taking the course soon. I took him to a couple practices so he tried everything very briefly but he seemed to like it a lot more than Jake. Of course he is VERY food motivated.

by Kel Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:07 pm

Go Jake!

Don't worry, Matt... in a regular competition, Jake (or the Corgi, whichever was fastest of the two) would have actually won! A slower clean run beats a fast time with faults!

So, Jake's the winner in my book! Just kidding!

Good luck with Gunther once he gets started! I'm sure he'll make you and his older brother proud. Sweet!

by Kel Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:10 pm

Oh, I forgot... Aussies can have blue eyes, yes (or just one blue eye). Of course, not all of them do.

by TR75 Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:13 pm

That's good to know Kel. I know Jake was faster than the Corgi. Ultimate Air Elation

We lost our time on the pause table and the see-saw. He wouldn't down on the table as soon as he it and all of the sudden at practice on Saturday he started not liking the see-saw anymore.

by TR75 Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:13 pm

The Aussies move like Border Collies, correct?

by Kel Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:27 pm

Well, you don't loose points for a dog taking forever to down on the table... unless they're stalling puts you over the SCT (standard course time), then you'll either lose points (time faults) or automatically NQ (depending on the org). As long as you don't touch your dog getting them to down or yell at them for it or something, you can still be clean. Just kidding!

As for the Aussie's movement... well, most Aussies are a bit more square/boxey and move with a less "crouched" look than BCs. They also tend to keep a higher head set while moving than BCs. They tend to have a more square head than a BC, with a more pronounced stop. Of course, that's not *always* the case... just fairly typical.

One pretty dead giveaway is that near all Aussies do not have tails... while BCs, of course, do.

by Ann DHondt Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:56 pm

YEAH JAKE!!!
I love agility. Belle will never be the fastest dog, but she runs pretty clean and if I can keep from making mistakes she should do just fine. Our trainer said, with the size of Belle's stride she doesn't need to run fast that way she can turn faster after the jumps anyway.

Do you think you will keep up with Jake too? I just think it is another fun way to play with my dog.

Ann

by TR75 Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:08 pm

I think we will probably keep doing it. This was 8 obstacles in not that big of a room so it wasn't the easiest course to negotiate. Out on an actual course I can see him liking it more. It was hard to go very fast in that room anyway.

For this class they did allow us to touch them to get them to "down" on the pause table.

His times were 35.60, 34.38 and 33.75. He did get faster each time but like I said, the pause table and see-saw slowed us down every time. I bet he easily lost 10 seconds there.

I would love to focus him on the weave poles so he could do the 60 foot weaves but at this beginning stage it doesn't look promising. I do realize though that it has only been 5 weeks and a total of about 7 hours between class and practice so I am sure he will excel if we stick to it.

by bigyellowdog Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:12 pm

Very cool!

by flyingbcs Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:25 pm

Congrats Matt and Jake -- maybe we'll run into you two at an agility trial in the near future.

And don't worry about Jake's speed right now...that will come. running dog

Oh, and when I first started Chase in agility he was terrified of the Teeter Totter and now it may be his favorite obstacle. It just took a lot of patience and love, both of which I know you have an overabundance of for your two dogs. luv

by LynnSWD Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:26 pm

Great job Matt - wave

it has been my experience that the dogs never mess up - it is the human that messes the dog up in agility!!! What a great sport for you and your four legged kid(s) to do together. running dog

Lynn

by stephz Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:42 pm

I couldn't agree with Lynn more!! I am without a doubt the one that messes Scout up in agility - it's always fun to have your dog turn and give you the look that says "you have no idea what you are talking about" in a room full of people!

by TR75 Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:45 pm

I can easily see me screwing him up or me falling. dancin dog

by Kel Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:49 am

Lol... totally agreed. We're always the weak link in the chain, never the dogs. Just kidding!

As for falling... I have some funny pictures of friends doing just that in the middle of competition runs. Hehe. Probably the funniest was when a friend slipped and fell on her butt right before the last obstacle... her dog had been running clean to that point on a rather difficult course, and stood a very good chance of taking the class. Her dog turned around and started to trot back to her owner, to see if she was okay... to which her handler started yelling and pointing/waving her arms wildly, "No! Go chute! Go chute! I'm fine! Go chute!" The dog gave her a "shrug of the shoulders, eyes rolling" kind of look, turned, shot through the chute and across the line... and did end up winning the class. Lol.

by Laszlo's Botond Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:28 am

Congrats. The Down stay on the table and Bo dont do real well. For that amount of time in classes sounds like he is doing great.

by FG167 Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:13 am

How many weaves are you currently doing? Midas is the fastest dog in our class, probably second cleanest I would say - although no serious faults by any means. The weaves are our worst though. Luckily, they've been at the end of the course so we can FLY through and then stumble through the weaves. We're only doing about 5-6 right now and I have to lead him through. I love agility though!

by Sara Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:27 am

Go Jake!!! I'd love to see him doing agility one of these days!

by TR75 Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:33 am

Falon -
I believe there were just 6 weave poles.

by Chessies on the Dock Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:10 pm

Yeah Jake

by Big Sky Chesapeakes Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:33 pm

I not sure how Dakota would do in agility, but jumping from the cargo area in the Envoy over three children to the front seat and without touching them count. :lol!:Congrats Jake!!

by Kel Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:32 pm

Hey Falon,

Which training method are you using on the weaves? There are several out there... so maybe a different one might suit Midas's style better?

Oh, btw, I also sent you a PM about some pics you have on your website I'm hoping I can get the fullsize copies of. Thanks!

by TR75 Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:19 pm

Nylabone actually sent me three agility books and I haven't looked at them yet. Golly Gee!

I think I should probably open them up some day and read. Ultimate Air Elation

by Ann DHondt Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:13 pm

I can easily see me screwing him up or me falling.

There is a facility very near where I train and ride, that has events almost every week. I went there to watch one, they have big support beams in the agility area. Now they are very careful to put the jumps where these beams should not be a problem. HOWEVER they don't know me, I just know my first event there I will go SPLAT right into one! Laugin' out loud!