Some backyard agility practice...

wildo · 08-30-2011, 12:26 AM

My instructor competed at this event, and showed us the course map at class last week:

The first seven obstacles intrigued me big time. Looks crazy hard, and the way through it is not obvious to me. I decided to set up just this section (well- I did the first 16 obstacles, but only the first 9 are set to the proper spacing, not to mention I only have one tunnel right now).

I did find this section VERY challenging, and I don't think I could have competed at something like this. Yeah, yeah- I know- I shouldn't even be worried about competing at ExB/A when I'm currently only doing CPE Level 1- but that's just the way I am...

I really do hope though that when we get to ExA, I can look back on this course and think how easy it is. Enjoy. (We do run it clean at the end.)

8-29-2011 Backyard Practice - YouTube

[EDIT]- By the way- I had just gotten home from work. Pimg is amped and ready to go. I love her enthusiasm!!

LuvourGSDs · 08-30-2011, 10:05 AM

Wowsa, tricky to me also! Not looking forward to excellent runs & one reason I went from preferred to reg.

You both look good.

wildo · 08-30-2011, 10:28 AM

Yeah Jen- it's crazy hard! You can see in the course map that those first few jumps + tunnel are about 65' worth of space. My yard is 85' wide and I'm about 15' in from one side and 10' in from the other. So I set it up at about 60' of room... Really- I think I set it up as close as possible to the course map without using an actual tape...

I didn't expect Pimg to run it so fast, and although it looked tricky- I didn't expect it to be hard. But it was. Very difficult in fact. I have no idea how you could run a fast dog through a course like this an nail it the first time (like you are required to in a trial). I have no idea the results from this trial, but I suspect a lot of people went home without their Q's...

LuvourGSDs · 08-30-2011, 11:56 AM

Well, if you have a kick butt dog, you just stand in middle of the ring, point to equipnent, & dog does!!!

I have seen it done & get chills thinking omg, how awesome!!! Not us by far!

wildo · 08-30-2011, 12:06 PM

Do you happen to have the Greg Derrett Agility Foundations dvd? He has a jump grid in there and "shows off" his steering control. It's insane. I mean- jaw dropping, amazing, insanity... He stands at one end of the figure 8 and sends the do through doing serpentines, treadles, the whole nine yards. It's like "herding agility." Crazyness... I've thought so often about bootlegging that section so I can share it with you all! lol!

**MaggieRoseLee** · 08-30-2011, 12:57 PM

CRAZY hard setup! LOVE the way you used the toy to reward while you were trying to figure out what handler move to try next to get thru the course!

wildo · 08-30-2011, 01:12 PM

Thanks MRL- yeah, it was so hard! It really stumped me, and I think you can see a number of spots in the video where I'm just kinda looking at it thinking, "...what in the world!?"

I'm glad you noticed the toy play; that was a bit of a revelation for me. You can see in the first two runs- I'm pretty late to reward. That's because I wasn't going to. But it hit me- Pimg doesn't know she didn't do the course right, and she sure as

was giving it her all! Like I said, I was floored (and stoked!) that she was sprinting so hard throughout. So it hit me that although she didn't get the course, she should absolutely without question still be rewarded with tug...

I did notice a couple things other things about the video-

Pimg's start line stays are getting a lot better, but I am not rewarding them enough (or at all!) Bad move on my part.
Her line-ups rock but I need to work the sit into the command better. Not important for agility, but I think I might like to pursue a CD or BH sometime.
I say "HERE!" a lot- how annoying!

wildo · 08-30-2011, 01:17 PM

Wanted to add- this course would be a piece of cake with steering commands. Lead out push for 1 & 2 going into 3. Then a "right! tunnel!" for 4 with a front cross over 5. A push out to 6 (maybe coupled with a "right!") and then smooth sailing...

I have NO directional commands right now, but this course makes me want to start teaching some.

Xeph · 08-30-2011, 02:10 PM

There will be several responses before mine shows up, I'm sure, as I'm watching the vid over and over and over to see what you're doing, and what P is doing.

Will, I think the first attempt at the jump to the opposite tunnel was a bit a matter of timing. Your timing was good on your "hier", but the rear cross served as a "push" to her to continue her line on into the tunnel (which she did).

Strauss would have done the same thing.

The way you set her up the second time is exactly how I would have run it the first time. Crossing into that line will push Strauss out and over that jump, but his focus is still going to come back to his right side, where I am, which means I can call him, he WILL turn, and I can send him into the correct end of the tunnel.

When she went from the tunnel into the weaves, I think it's because you got ahead of her, she didn't get feedback quickly enough, and so she made a choice.

I think you got it the third(?) time, and it looked very nice.

She really is a very nice running dog.

wildo · 08-30-2011, 02:24 PM

Thanks Jackie! I appreciate you (and everyone) watching and commenting. That's how I learn! I agree with you for the most part on the lead out pull. I really didn't think that was the best way to handle it (due to the rear cross it creates) but the idea jumped into my head and I wanted to test it. I didn't feel quite right and I definitely liked the lead out push better. I wanted to test it though because for my handling system- a cross of any kind means we are turning. So I thought that a rear cross might turn her to the proper end of the tunnel. It didn't.

However, for me- I *always* want a rear cross to indicate a turn for my dog. If I cross her, she better respond with a turn. Otherwise- I will find another way to indicate she should stay on her line. Well that's all well and good in theory, but we have more work to do. In reality, we are both still really green at agility and both learning so much still. I was surprised that she maintained her course and went straight after I rear crossed. For me, it tells me that she doesn't quite get the SG school of thought yet: "A change of arms means a change of direction." But we will continue to work this. [EDIT]- Actually I think this is a Greg Derrett concept that SG adopted.

And I think you are totally right when she exited the tunnel, took the #5 jump, but continued on to the weaves. She didn't see my direction, but it is because I was totally unclear. I didn't expect her to actually take the tunnel in the first place, and she kinda caught me off guard as she exited. I am confident I was late in signaling. Really- in thinking about it- I was front crossing her yet I didn't change my arms either. I signaled with my right arm as if I had already crossed. Had I picked her up out of the tunnel with my left hand and then switched to my right arm- I would have been way earlier and way more clear.

We're still learning but having so much fun. This sequence was so hard, but I enjoyed it. I also love this video because Pimg is clearly having fun. She's extra enthusiastic and that makes me super happy. She's always seemed to enjoy agility but I think she's really starting to show even more joy in it.

08-30-2011, 10:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
LuvourGSDs Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OH Posts: 5,578	Wowsa, tricky to me also! Not looking forward to excellent runs & one reason I went from preferred to reg. You both look good. __________________ ~Jen~ Sable~ GSD 7 yrs. NJP, OJP, NAP, NAJ, NA, TN-N, NAC, NJC, CGC Shadow~ BGSD Adopted 6 yrs. RN, CGC Storm~ GSD 5 yrs. RA, TN-N, CGC Skyrah~ GSD Fun Sable Puppy "Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail."

08-30-2011, 10:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
wildo Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,229	Yeah Jen- it's crazy hard! You can see in the course map that those first few jumps + tunnel are about 65' worth of space. My yard is 85' wide and I'm about 15' in from one side and 10' in from the other. So I set it up at about 60' of room... Really- I think I set it up as close as possible to the course map without using an actual tape... I didn't expect Pimg to run it so fast, and although it looked tricky- I didn't expect it to be hard. But it was. Very difficult in fact. I have no idea how you could run a fast dog through a course like this an nail it the first time (like you are required to in a trial). I have no idea the results from this trial, but I suspect a lot of people went home without their Q's... __________________ Willy Pimg - DOB: 2/06, CL1-R, CL1-S, CL1-F, CGC

08-30-2011, 11:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
LuvourGSDs Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OH Posts: 5,578	Well, if you have a kick butt dog, you just stand in middle of the ring, point to equipnent, & dog does!!! I have seen it done & get chills thinking omg, how awesome!!! Not us by far! __________________ ~Jen~ Sable~ GSD 7 yrs. NJP, OJP, NAP, NAJ, NA, TN-N, NAC, NJC, CGC Shadow~ BGSD Adopted 6 yrs. RN, CGC Storm~ GSD 5 yrs. RA, TN-N, CGC Skyrah~ GSD Fun Sable Puppy "Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail."

08-30-2011, 12:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
wildo Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,229	Do you happen to have the Greg Derrett Agility Foundations dvd? He has a jump grid in there and "shows off" his steering control. It's insane. I mean- jaw dropping, amazing, insanity... He stands at one end of the figure 8 and sends the do through doing serpentines, treadles, the whole nine yards. It's like "herding agility." Crazyness... I've thought so often about bootlegging that section so I can share it with you all! lol! __________________ Willy Pimg - DOB: 2/06, CL1-R, CL1-S, CL1-F, CGC

08-30-2011, 12:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,199	CRAZY hard setup! LOVE the way you used the toy to reward while you were trying to figure out what handler move to try next to get thru the course! __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

08-30-2011, 01:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
wildo Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,229	Thanks MRL- yeah, it was so hard! It really stumped me, and I think you can see a number of spots in the video where I'm just kinda looking at it thinking, "...what in the world!?" I'm glad you noticed the toy play; that was a bit of a revelation for me. You can see in the first two runs- I'm pretty late to reward. That's because I wasn't going to. But it hit me- Pimg doesn't know she didn't do the course right, and she sure as was giving it her all! Like I said, I was floored (and stoked!) that she was sprinting so hard throughout. So it hit me that although she didn't get the course, she should absolutely without question still be rewarded with tug... I did notice a couple things other things about the video- Pimg's start line stays are getting a lot better, but I am not rewarding them enough (or at all!) Bad move on my part. Her line-ups rock but I need to work the sit into the command better. Not important for agility, but I think I might like to pursue a CD or BH sometime. I say "HERE!" a lot- how annoying! __________________ Willy Pimg - DOB: 2/06, CL1-R, CL1-S, CL1-F, CGC

08-30-2011, 01:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
wildo Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,229	Wanted to add- this course would be a piece of cake with steering commands. Lead out push for 1 & 2 going into 3. Then a "right! tunnel!" for 4 with a front cross over 5. A push out to 6 (maybe coupled with a "right!") and then smooth sailing... I have NO directional commands right now, but this course makes me want to start teaching some. __________________ Willy Pimg - DOB: 2/06, CL1-R, CL1-S, CL1-F, CGC

08-30-2011, 02:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Xeph Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Castle, PA Posts: 4,764	There will be several responses before mine shows up, I'm sure, as I'm watching the vid over and over and over to see what you're doing, and what P is doing. Will, I think the first attempt at the jump to the opposite tunnel was a bit a matter of timing. Your timing was good on your "hier", but the rear cross served as a "push" to her to continue her line on into the tunnel (which she did). Strauss would have done the same thing. The way you set her up the second time is exactly how I would have run it the first time. Crossing into that line will push Strauss out and over that jump, but his focus is still going to come back to his right side, where I am, which means I can call him, he WILL turn, and I can send him into the correct end of the tunnel. When she went from the tunnel into the weaves, I think it's because you got ahead of her, she didn't get feedback quickly enough, and so she made a choice. I think you got it the third(?) time, and it looked very nice. She really is a very nice running dog. __________________ Jackie S Konzert vom Drachenberg CD, RN, CGC, Service Dog "Strauss" Joplin von Eichenluft SDIT "Mahler" Mana's 5 Cents for Advice Marcato "Wesson" Devine's Gunpowder N Lead RN "Mirada" Barrett, the Woodford rescue kitty

08-30-2011, 02:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
wildo Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,229	Thanks Jackie! I appreciate you (and everyone) watching and commenting. That's how I learn! I agree with you for the most part on the lead out pull. I really didn't think that was the best way to handle it (due to the rear cross it creates) but the idea jumped into my head and I wanted to test it. I didn't feel quite right and I definitely liked the lead out push better. I wanted to test it though because for my handling system- a cross of any kind means we are turning. So I thought that a rear cross might turn her to the proper end of the tunnel. It didn't. However, for me- I always want a rear cross to indicate a turn for my dog. If I cross her, she better respond with a turn. Otherwise- I will find another way to indicate she should stay on her line. Well that's all well and good in theory, but we have more work to do. In reality, we are both still really green at agility and both learning so much still. I was surprised that she maintained her course and went straight after I rear crossed. For me, it tells me that she doesn't quite get the SG school of thought yet: "A change of arms means a change of direction." But we will continue to work this. [EDIT]- Actually I think this is a Greg Derrett concept that SG adopted. And I think you are totally right when she exited the tunnel, took the #5 jump, but continued on to the weaves. She didn't see my direction, but it is because I was totally unclear. I didn't expect her to actually take the tunnel in the first place, and she kinda caught me off guard as she exited. I am confident I was late in signaling. Really- in thinking about it- I was front crossing her yet I didn't change my arms either. I signaled with my right arm as if I had already crossed. Had I picked her up out of the tunnel with my left hand and then switched to my right arm- I would have been way earlier and way more clear. We're still learning but having so much fun. This sequence was so hard, but I enjoyed it. I also love this video because Pimg is clearly having fun. She's extra enthusiastic and that makes me super happy. She's always seemed to enjoy agility but I think she's really starting to show even more joy in it. __________________ Willy Pimg - DOB: 2/06, CL1-R, CL1-S, CL1-F, CGC Last edited by wildo; 08-30-2011 at 02:26 PM.

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