Yup that is how I went when teaching my girl with channel weaves. Took the full set and removed every other pole as MaggieRoseLee says.

 

I have weaving question: Kali does them fine now, but entrances are tricky. She will wrap around from the opposite site (yeh! very awesome) but when we start sending from the side of the entrance I can only send her from about a 10 degree angle and then she starts hitting the 2nd entrance. What is a good way to get her onto this, other than indicating that she hit it wrong and calling her back repeatedly?

 

She needs to never be wrong.

But DOES get the click/reward when she's 'right'.

Also, I learned to teach entries by pulling off all but the first 3 poles. Getting the clicker out and really yummy treats. Then starting a few steps back with a straight on entry.

When she would get that, then I would start an 'around the clock' handler method to start making the entry at a bit of an angle. So still from a few steps back (you want the dog to THINK and figure out what's earning the click/treat, if you shape it too much so they are 'forced' to do it right, there is no THINKING. And I want my dogs to be THINKING). So maybe just a 1/2 step to the right and then tell her to weave. When she gets that, then another 1/2 step or so. ONLY progress so they are getting it RIGHT (the 'setting them up to succeed thing').

And once you do a bit from one side then make sure you ALWAYS then start around the clock the other direction. If you notice they seem to have more trouble with one side then the other, then you need to make sure you use MORE treats, more rewards and practice that side much more than the other to start with their learning.

I use the 3 poles cause I want the instant feed back of the 'YES' the click gives and the ability to feed without also accidentally teaching my dog that I am constantly going to be pullling them out of a real set when they are weaving right. Instead I really can teach just the entry, and how to weave a set of 3 poles. Just as I also sometimes use 6 and 12 poles. For ALL the entry is the same and you weave to the end.

 

when you say "straight on entry" do you mean sending her at 90 degrees so the opening is at the widest (does this make sense? wish i could draw a picture). I have been starting with sending her from almost 180 degrees (so she is looking at the first pole) and trying to work around from there.
I will try the "3 pole method" and see how that works.
thanks

 

Quote: when you say "straight on entry"

I mean start with the EASIEST entry and only gradually adding an angle by adjusting your position.

Ok, I only have a CanonPowershot still camera but it will do teeny videos (60 sec), so I had to 'rush' the training with what I'm trying to describe. Keep in mind, I've been doing entry training with Bretta for years, so there is NO WAY you'd expect this from a dog you just started. You'd progress much slower 'around the clock'.

ALWAYS stop with the dog succeeding. If they aren't getting a particular angle, back up and make it easier. Click when the dogs nose goes around the first pole for the entry (I was clicking with my word 'click' cause the clicker wasn't loud enough for you to hear). I'm also using a toy as a reward. Much better to use food initially, faster reward and they can think better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43Oi4rLbcKg

 

OK! will do. I think the 3-pole will help it be more visually obvious for her, which will make success much easier.

 

I like the way you use the toy with the weaves.

 

MRL - good video! Bretta is so good

When Aster was first learning entries we used the set of three. Its pretty easy to build a metal base for a set of three if you just get some aluminum bars and drill through to set your poles. My dad built me two of them. I liked the set of three because then you're just focused on the entry and not the other 9 poles.

We've actually been missing a couple entries recently... hmmm this might be today's training exercise

 

Since I'm a huge proponent of using a toy in training to get the crazy 'drive' and joy for the game going, I always try to progress to using a toy.

But I can't use it as well in the preliminary stages cause Bretta gets SO excited she loses her mind and the 'teaching' something new isn't near as good. So I start with tons of teeny real food treats until I can see she's getting it. Then add the toy to get her to do the same behavior with the 'stress' and excitment of the toy in the mix. It's a big 'distraction' as well as a reward, but she has learned she needs to listen, do what's asked and THEN get the toy!

 

The nice thing about starting with channel weaves is as Jen says the dog learns better to focus straight ahead not on the handler. I also trained Kahlua with me at a distance from her - I knew I would need good weave control at distances up to 22' for AAC Gamblers so never got in her face or close to her at the start. I tried using the treat stick (or whatever its called) that Jane Simmons Moake recommended to me at her seminar I took but Kahlua was too fast for me to manage that so gave it up quickly.

I've always had speed from her so the channels allowed her to keep speed and learn to drive ahead.

Pat

 

:bump:

 

MRL, did you like the shaping method you used with Glory? How do you find her weaves to compare with the channel method?

 

MRL, did you like the shaping method you used with Glory? How do you find her weaves to compare with the channel method?

I started the training knowing it wouldn't hurt, to humor the instructor , and knowing I had channel weaves at home to 'really' train.

Well wouldn't you know, she learned to weave really well WITHOUT the channels! Cause it was winter and the channels were under snow and ice I just was using the weekly in class shaping. And by the time the channels were out of the snow she pretty much had it!

I think I MAYBE had the channels with a tiny bit of split for a brief time in my yard, but not sure if that did anything to help or not.

Will say that having the instructor there made a difference cause there are timing issues with the clicker that helps, and the fact you go to clicking each time the dog goes away (to the next pole) with NO treats until you toss it along the ground as they exit was a bit confusing for a brief time to the dog.

 

How much do these weave bars usually cost if I wanted to get one at my house? Not too much I wouldn't think?

 

I modeled my DIY set after these which you can see cost $180: Agility Weave Poles, Bases and Wires

Doing it myself, they probably cost me about $100. They could of course be built much cheaper if you decide to build them from PVC. The issue with PVC is that they are super light and a dog with any kind of drive at all will push them around. You can see that happening here:
Two x Two Weave Pole Training

Personally- I say don't waste your money on PVC ones. Just build or buy steel based ones.

 

Love this trainer (jenny damm), her goal is fun and fast, not so much the exact method!

http://www.lotuseducation.se/sv/blog/slalom-what-best-method#.USJ-ro5UPUf <--click that

 

Love this trainer (jenny damm), her goal is fun and fast, not so much the exact method!

Slalom - what is the best method? | Lotus Education - agility träning för din hund <--click that

Miss Lilli - slalom - YouTube

Cool! my dog teddy is loving agility! i have been doing agility for almost 2 years but me and teddy have been doing for about 6 months. on a level 1 CPE agility course teddy got 14 seconds!!! the trick with teddy is use toys