I am a few days late in writing.
Wednesday Whispy and went to class. In one of the training areas the weaves were set up but Marty didn't make me even try. I did most excellent in all the courses I ran. Marty had some trouble with positioning and due to that I had to re-do a section several times until she got her foot work right. That Marty!
On Thursday I had a private lesson. I had heard Marty and our teacher, Janet, talking and I knew that I would be doing 2 sets of 6 weave poles out in the big training area. There was a lady with two big dogs having a private lesson in part of the training room but because her dogs were noisy, as in barking, Marty waited until they finished rather than have me stress out.
Janet divided the weaves. They were set up parallel to the open overhead garage door. My first try I didn't even enter the weaves. Marty walked me down to the opposite end and told me "Get 'em!" which is my cue to enter the weaves properly and begin weaving. I did! I did the first six with no problems but had trouble with the 2nd set of 6 poles. We started over and this time I did both sets perfectly.
Janet moved the weaves closer together and I did it perfectly again! I did both sets a few more times then the gap between the sets was removed and....I DID IT!!! Yes I did! I did all 12 weave poles with no extra spacing and I was fast like I had been when in the way back training area. I am very proud of myself.
Marty took me to McDonald's and I got a special treat for doing so well.
Next week during my private lesson, I will once again be working on doing my weaves out in the big training area only this time Janet will have her agility dog and they will be working quietly in another training area as a distraction for me. I hope to do as well then as I did this time. I can't wait to try.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Friday, September 2, 2016
Private Lesson was great!
I had another private lesson on Thursday 9/1. I am still working on getting my confidence up to do my weaves in the big training area during class. This lesson we started out in the little training area next to the big training areas. The overhead door was open - fully screened with white lattice paneling to keep the dogs from running out.
Janet, my teacher, divided the weaves into 2 sets of 6 with a spacing between. I did better running with my back to the screen door the first time out. Then I figured out that I could weave toward the screen door. It only took a few runs before I was doing all 12 weaves with no extra spacing. Marty was very proud of me.
We moved to the really big training area that I ran in the day before, the one with the weave poles. I was relieved when I got to run the same course I had already run minus the weaves. It was really fun.
Then we moved up to the other training area that had the tunnels and A-frame. Marty talked with Janet, telling her of her handling problems that caused me to run back out of the tunnel. Janet suggested another way for Marty to move that wouldn't "pull" me out of the tunnel. Marty listened then did as Janet suggested and it worked! I did that 19 obstacle course with no distractions this time. I did it perfectly!
Janet then talked with Marty about the next course which we would run without using numbers just Marty remembering what to do. I did that perfectly too. It is so much fun when I get to run fast and way out ahead of Marty. All she has to do is tell me and off I go. I know the names of the different pieces of equipment and with her support I can do it correctly.
Marty set up 3 more private classes on Thursdays. I know that Marty is hoping that by the 2nd private I will be able to try the weaves in the big training area. Then on the 3rd private lesson day I heard Janet tell Marty that while I am doing my weaves and the course that Marty and I will be doing, Janet will have her agility dog Shimmer doing a course in the other training area. With Janet and Shimmer working in the other training area it will be my first really big distractions. Marty and Janet want to be confident that I can do my weaves with that kind of distraction. Shimmer and I will be the only dogs in the building.
I was so tired, mentally and physically, when Marty and I left. I had my drink of water then slept all the way home.
Janet, my teacher, divided the weaves into 2 sets of 6 with a spacing between. I did better running with my back to the screen door the first time out. Then I figured out that I could weave toward the screen door. It only took a few runs before I was doing all 12 weaves with no extra spacing. Marty was very proud of me.
We moved to the really big training area that I ran in the day before, the one with the weave poles. I was relieved when I got to run the same course I had already run minus the weaves. It was really fun.
Then we moved up to the other training area that had the tunnels and A-frame. Marty talked with Janet, telling her of her handling problems that caused me to run back out of the tunnel. Janet suggested another way for Marty to move that wouldn't "pull" me out of the tunnel. Marty listened then did as Janet suggested and it worked! I did that 19 obstacle course with no distractions this time. I did it perfectly!
Janet then talked with Marty about the next course which we would run without using numbers just Marty remembering what to do. I did that perfectly too. It is so much fun when I get to run fast and way out ahead of Marty. All she has to do is tell me and off I go. I know the names of the different pieces of equipment and with her support I can do it correctly.
Marty set up 3 more private classes on Thursdays. I know that Marty is hoping that by the 2nd private I will be able to try the weaves in the big training area. Then on the 3rd private lesson day I heard Janet tell Marty that while I am doing my weaves and the course that Marty and I will be doing, Janet will have her agility dog Shimmer doing a course in the other training area. With Janet and Shimmer working in the other training area it will be my first really big distractions. Marty and Janet want to be confident that I can do my weaves with that kind of distraction. Shimmer and I will be the only dogs in the building.
I was so tired, mentally and physically, when Marty and I left. I had my drink of water then slept all the way home.
Masters Agility class was hard!
On Wednesday, 8/31 I was in Whispy's masters agility class for the first time. It was hard!
In my previous classes I did the most obstacles but never ran a full course. I was way ahead of the other dogs in that class as we were all learning agility.
In my private classes I've run full courses but I am the only dog in the building so I can concentrate as there are no distractions or things/dogs to scare me.
There were 19 obstacles in the first course I ran. I so love the tunnels and we got to do 3 tunnels in that course plus the A-frame. There were dogs in the other training area running their courses and lots of people with their dogs sitting on the side lines. It was noisy with a lot of motion. I am the only dog in that training area running the course. Marty is there to give directions of course and the teacher is also in the training area watching both Marty and me.
The bars were set at 8" for Whispy and a sheltie. Then the bars went up to 20" to give Marty a rest while those dogs ran. The bars went down to 16", then 12" and finally down to 6" and it was my turn.
I tried to do what Marty wanted me to do but when I got down to the far end the huge overhead doors were open .... the opening is completely screened to keep the bugs out and there are white lattice panels keeping us dogs in the training area. Beyond the screen is a parking lot, a pond with tall cat tails and ducks. There are noises and smells coming through the screen that I hadn't smelled before. When the course took me close to the screen I looked out and forgot that I was doing agility. Marty had to call me several times to get me to come back to her and get back on course, literally.
The teacher talked to Marty when I was finished about her positioning as she sent me into one end of the tunnel and her turning to move to the next tunnel so when I came out I would know if I was to do that tunnel or the dog walk. Marty was stopping then turning as I went into the first tunnel. I could see her as I went into the tunnel and I came back out because I thought that is what she wanted.
We did 3 courses in that training area then we moved to the bigger training area. In that second training area there were weave poles. Marty didn't even ask me to do them. She and other other handler changed the course slightly so that we avoided the weaves all together. That was nice.
The training area was cool with the outside temps in the mid 70's and the over head doors open. I still got hot from running so hard.
When we got into the van to drive home, Marty gave Whispy and me some water then we went and got a mango pineapple smoothie which we drank until Whispy and I were shivering. Whispy and me both went to sleep and slept all the way home. It was a hard class.
In my previous classes I did the most obstacles but never ran a full course. I was way ahead of the other dogs in that class as we were all learning agility.
In my private classes I've run full courses but I am the only dog in the building so I can concentrate as there are no distractions or things/dogs to scare me.
There were 19 obstacles in the first course I ran. I so love the tunnels and we got to do 3 tunnels in that course plus the A-frame. There were dogs in the other training area running their courses and lots of people with their dogs sitting on the side lines. It was noisy with a lot of motion. I am the only dog in that training area running the course. Marty is there to give directions of course and the teacher is also in the training area watching both Marty and me.
The bars were set at 8" for Whispy and a sheltie. Then the bars went up to 20" to give Marty a rest while those dogs ran. The bars went down to 16", then 12" and finally down to 6" and it was my turn.
I tried to do what Marty wanted me to do but when I got down to the far end the huge overhead doors were open .... the opening is completely screened to keep the bugs out and there are white lattice panels keeping us dogs in the training area. Beyond the screen is a parking lot, a pond with tall cat tails and ducks. There are noises and smells coming through the screen that I hadn't smelled before. When the course took me close to the screen I looked out and forgot that I was doing agility. Marty had to call me several times to get me to come back to her and get back on course, literally.
The teacher talked to Marty when I was finished about her positioning as she sent me into one end of the tunnel and her turning to move to the next tunnel so when I came out I would know if I was to do that tunnel or the dog walk. Marty was stopping then turning as I went into the first tunnel. I could see her as I went into the tunnel and I came back out because I thought that is what she wanted.
We did 3 courses in that training area then we moved to the bigger training area. In that second training area there were weave poles. Marty didn't even ask me to do them. She and other other handler changed the course slightly so that we avoided the weaves all together. That was nice.
The training area was cool with the outside temps in the mid 70's and the over head doors open. I still got hot from running so hard.
When we got into the van to drive home, Marty gave Whispy and me some water then we went and got a mango pineapple smoothie which we drank until Whispy and I were shivering. Whispy and me both went to sleep and slept all the way home. It was a hard class.
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