Agility Brag!!!!

Belle had her second trial today and she got her first "double Q". She won both her standard and her jumpers with weaves classes, with perfect scores!

We had a great time there were a lot of people from our current training facility, some from Belle's class, and people we have met a long the way. The trainer we started with was there and he was amazed how well Belle is doing. He didn't think she could run that fast!

Ann

WooHoo!!! Way to go, Belle!!

NICE JOB BELLA!! (and Ann)

Lynn

Way to go Belle!

That is awesome!!!! Congrats!!!

Congrats!

Congratulations!!!!!

Congrats! Ann and Belle on your "Double Q"


Barb and Rock

Woohooo congrats....Although I have no idea what a double q is

YAY for Belle!

Must be going around-Hobie did very well a few weeks ago, too!

Thom,

In agility you want to "qualify" for a leg towards a title, or "q". There are only a couple of opportunities to do this a day. Belle got a "q" in her standard agility class, and another "q" in her jumpers with weaves class. She now after 2 trials has 2 "q's" towards her jumpers title, and 1 "q" towards her standard title. My understanding is she needs 3 legs to title. So hopefully if all goes well next weekend Belle will have her AKC Novice Jumpers with Weaves title (and one more leg towards her standard title)

Hope that explains it.

Congrats Ann and Belle!

Yes it does and thank you....again congrats

Well Belle did it! She completed her jumpers title on Saturday and won her class again. Go Belle!!!! She will have new letters after her name once I figure out what they should be.

Unfortunately we did NOT qualify in her standard class, I was late again telling her to make sure she hit the down contact on the A frame and she jumped off. OOPS. She ran the course other than that really well. I have GOT to figure out how when she is running to make sure she hits it. I can do it in her class, but she is not running there.

Next weekend Belle will try her paw at UKC agility.

Ann

Ann, do you normally do running contacts, two-on-two-off, or stop her at the bottom of the obstacle?

If you're doing running contacts, you may want to train for a brief stop (can be done with just voice or with the use of a target... I prefer targetting, as it seems to get a faster down plank... as opposed to creeping to a stop). I used to do strictly running contacts, but have since switched. Two-on-two-off works great... but not for big dogs. Soooo... we go with the next best thing. In regular competitions, you release with a "yes" for hitting the right spot. In big events where you're trying to shave seconds, though, release just a hair early with a "ok" and go from there.

There is also a lady who teaches a running contact method that apparently works very well for hitting the contact while still keeping the speed of a running contact. I haven't had a chance to look at her training recommendations and style in depth though. I'll have to check it out soon. Of course, she has Shelties... so I don't know how well her methods would transfer to large dogs.

We train with the stop at the bottom. We "try" for butt on front feet off, but usually we settle for Belle stopping 2 on 2off. The problem is she is MUCH faster at trials than she is at home, and my timing is just not right! I thought I would be ok because it was near the end of the course (opposed to the beginning where I know I have big problems), but she just flew off the jump before the A frame and rocketed up. I "think" I did not say my wait command until she was at the top where it was too late, her momentum was behind her.

I may take a contact class and work on it. I want my own A frame so I can practice!!!! There was an 8' A frame for sale at the trial for $400 I just don't have the money. I know I will never find one cheaper.

Great Job girls!!!
I made my agility obsticles out of PVC pipe...except for the tetter, A- frame, dog walk......I couldn't figure out how to make them with just PVC

Lynn

Lynn big dogs and PVC contacts could be a bad thing. I am not sure how much your dog weighs but all the stuff we read when we made ours was if you dog is 70lbs do not use PVC for teeters and dog walks. Art has made our jumps, weaves, and tire with PVC. He did do the table out of PVC for the legs but it is reinforced pretty significantly. He made our teeter completely of wood, and it is adjustable (not that easily but we can). Just a thought.

I just started using wickets for running contacts (although they could be used for two-on/off as well) with Jack last night and they worked great. Maybe you'd want to try that with Belle? If anything, it'd help build muscle memory for the contacts.

Another option would be to have her target something at the bottom. I may start doing that with Baako... just to see how it goes.

Another thing to keep in mind is that two on/off is way harder for big dogs (especially if they are fast and/or long bodied as well). Since they have way more momentum behind that size, it's difficult to bring it to a full stop at the bottom without loosing some speed prior. It's also harder on their backs because of their larger build and longer spines. So, that's always something I have to be careful about and keep in mind. Probably would go for Belle as well, considering her size and speed in agility.

Hey Kel, what are wickets?

Our trainer has been talking about being careful with a large dogs spine practicing two on two off so I understand what you are saying. She sometimes uses a device kind of like a portion of a hula hoop, to encourage the dog to drop their head, shift their weight back and go under the device. It is supposed to help reduce injury.

Maybe someday we can get together and you can help me too Kel!

Heh... I'd be happy to meet up with you whenever for some practice if you'd like. We can have "bog dog agility time." Lol.

The device you're describing sounds awfully like a wicket... I'll try to find a pic to post...