Agility 1 Week 6

Jackie is continuing to gain confidence on the dog-walk, A frame, and with directional turns.

When teaching the A frame, I can't be too far behind Jackie as that made her breeze past the end of the contact to turn and look for me, so I need to stay with her as she's learning the A frame so I can promptly reinforce 2o2o contact behavior. I mustn't go too fast with the A frame as Jackie sailed into the air as she literally flew up and over the A frame today. Until she has more control and experience, we've toned it down a bit to give her confidence.

When jumping standards and directional turning around a course however, I do need to maintain speed so that Jackie stays engaged and connected with me. As long as I run and point accurately and confidently, Jackie stays more reliable and engaged on the course.

Pearls:

• We played the tire jump for the first time today with much success. To avoid injury due to rotational falls (some of the very worst types of injury are from rotational falls) it is important to play on a tire jump that has a safety break-away in the event the dog hits the tire it is designed to pop open so the dog will land safely on their feet through it
• Slow time down a bit while teaching the A frame, and be sure to stay with Jackie as she is continuing to learn 2o2o contact behavior 
• Otherwise stay speedy while running the course to keep Jackie engaged and connected

Video clips of Jackie on the A-frame; today was the second time she's ever seen an A-frame:

Rally 1 Week 1

Gunner has completed two rounds of Rally Obedience foundation classes and has started his regular Rally classes.  This week we played two mini-courses to practice signs we've seen before.

Some of the signs we played tonight:

Fast Pace: At sign, team’s speed increases at a noticeably faster than normal pace in heel position until next sign, which must be a Normal Pace sign.

Normal Pace: At sign, team’s speed returns to normal pace in heel position.

Left Turn (limit one in E, M): Team makes a 90-degree turn to the left in heel position.

Halt, Stand: Handler stops, dog sits in heel position. At handler’s command and/or signals, dog stands in heel position. Handler pauses. Team heels forward from stand. Handler may gently assist dog to stand.

Halt, Walk Around Dog: Handler stops, dog sits in heel position. Handler walks around dog and pauses in heel position while dog remains sitting. Team heels forward.

Call Dog Front 1 - 2 - 3 Backwards: Team stops heeling forward, as handler steps backwards and calls dog to front position, dog sits facing handler. Handler takes one step back with dog, dog sits facing handler. Handler takes two steps back with dog, dog sits facing handler, Handler takes three steps back with dog, dog sits facing handler. Handler has dog return to heel position by the method of choice without sitting. Team heels forward.

Pearls:

• Homework this week includes reinforcing prompt stand from a halt while in good heel position, as well as reinforcing (and practicing on my part) a brisk heeling pace