My *Oh Crap* Moment !

[LuvourGSDs]

Well, might have been a great run till............. the dang end ! I guess it could have been worse & been a bar. Anyway, Q'd & 2nd, but her time was better than dog that got 1st.

Ok, MRL, I know always handling error so, what did I do ?

YouTube - Sable AKC Mar.13, 2011 (Novice Reg Std)

YouTube - Sable AKC Mar.13, 2011 (Novice Reg Std)

[wildo]

I'm hardly qualified to make these claims, but I wanted to throw my theory in before the experienced folks to see if I'm learning or not!

I took a couple screenshots right as your dog was exiting the weave poles. I recall a recent article MRL linked to stating:

The handler’s goal is to always let the dog know the direction to next obstacle before they commit to the current obstacle.

When I look at your dog exiting the poles, she is definitely not looking at the next obstacle. Also notice you aren't either, nor are you pointing to it. In these sequential screenshots, you can see that your dog went exactly the direction your hand and shoulders pointed. Also (though I know practically nothing about this) your right hand is behind your back in these captures. Couldn't you use it to support the dog- meaning bring them to you?

...That's just my guess.

[pyratemom]

Actually I know nothing at all about Agility rules but it was fun to watch your run. I have had a few of those "oh crap" moments in the Rally ring when I suddenly didn't know where the next station was. Sometimes they lay the course out strangely. The last one I was in had the course set up so that at the end we had to go back and forth 3 times before exiting. I know Raina was confused but we Q'd anyway. I do know that the dogs read body language best so maybe you were giving the wrong body directional language. Either way that is a very nice looking dog you have.

[LuvourGSDs]

Thanks both !

Willy, makes perfect sense to me. That's why I video, to catch the mistakes, because I know there is gonna be some........... LOL

[selzer]

Congratulations on a good run, qualify and placement.

You had to redo that last jump. The dog looked like he was having fun. So how do you improve for the next time?

I am not to the point of fine tuning agility runs. We have done some very basic agility, but not anywhere near trialing. I almost think you might have been thinking finish prior to that last jump though, and the dog picked up on it. I could be wrong.

Anyhow it was fun to watch.

[JakodaCD OA]

I agree with Willy's assessment, in the first frame he froze, I would have been yelling HERE to pull her in,,(she's just exiting weaves, and the "here" would have lined her right up with that last jump if she turned..By the second frozen frame, she's already heading straight ahead vs turning into you The third frame, note your shoulders (as willy said) your pushing her out vs coming in..

But hey, nice run !! timing is everything) and Congrats on the Q !

[wildo]

Originally Posted by JakodaCD OA

But hey, nice run !! timing is everything) and Congrats on the Q !

I didn't say this in my initial reply and entirely meant to! It was still a great run, and much better than we could do! Congrats on the qualify!

[LuvourGSDs]

Aw, thanks guys.........................

Yes, I see it now, my shoulders........ I so need to pay attention to my body language as these darn GSD's pick up on that big time! I normally do have a loud (LOL) & good *HERE*, but sometimes I do tend to get shy at trials.

That's why I have my friend video, for you all to catch & point out my issues & mistakes.

So would be cool to be like MRL & Bretta though................

[JakodaCD OA]

body movement is very important, (altho we all mess up!! so no biggy!)..

Here's a simple experiment you can try to see how body language can affect a run..

Set up a couple of obstacles straight on,,say an aframe, a tunnel, a jump,,all in a row.. Head straight on for ONE of them but yell the 'obstacle name' of another..such as head straight for the aframe, but yell tunnel..your dog I think you'll find is going to head in the direction YOU are going vs the obstacle your telling him..

If you watch the experienced handlers run a border collie for example, you will notice one "little" twitch of body movement in a certain direction that may be off course, or to soon, is going to send that dog where your moving, especially the shoulders..

[LuvourGSDs]

Originally Posted by JakodaCD OA

body movement is very important, (altho we all mess up!! so no biggy!)..

Here's a simple experiment you can try to see how body language can affect a run..

Set up a couple of obstacles straight on,,say an aframe, a tunnel, a jump,,all in a row.. Head straight on for ONE of them but yell the 'obstacle name' of another..such as head straight for the aframe, but yell tunnel..your dog I think you'll find is going to head in the direction YOU are going vs the obstacle your telling him..

If you watch the experienced handlers run a border collie for example, you will notice one "little" twitch of body movement in a certain direction that may be off course, or to soon, is going to send that dog where your moving, especially the shoulders..

Oh yea........... I know 100% my crew follows me more than prob knowing what I'm saying. I just don't realize I'm not doing it right.......... This is the dept I so want to do better with, *handling* movements & distance work, big time, hard with velco GSD's............

Thanks again all, keep advice coming.......