Jemma:
Jumping Combined 1-7
I would have estimated this was set at about grade 3-5, with some really flowy bits but also some more tricky bits, well bless little Jem, on the second to last jump I didn't dink her in - I had misjudged where she would land - and so when she ran forwards she ran round the wing!! It was such a shame as we were clear up to then, I felt very guilty - sorry bear!!
Agility Graded 1-2
This course gutted me - it was jump weaves at the start so she managed to do all six of them!!, then came the gutting bit, she knocked the pole on the next jump!! She worked the rest of the course really nicely, although the dog walk and seesaw contacts were quite slow but I think that was because I had decided to work them and so was dawdling and she was confused - the a-frame was lovely tho!! Lel did get this on video on her phone so I don't know if it will make it to the internet but if it does I shall inform you :)
Jumping Graded 1-2
Yay, we did it - our first clear round of the weekend!!! We had one small deviation but other than that it was lovely!
Elliot:
Practise Ring:
I only went in once today and did weaves and contacts, his weaves took three attempts, but then he did them right three times in a row :) We then moved on to contacts and he was good on the aframe (very nice) but ran off the dog walk and seesaw but we sorted this :)
Agility Graded 1-2
Wow can this boy weave!!! I sat him before the weaves but he did not wana wait and so took himself off and did the six of them, super speedy and super correct :D so then off I ran!!! He ran out of the tunnel and I stupidly forgot to actually say seesaw and so he ran past it!! When I put him back on though he wasa good boy and did it nicely, although he stopped with his front paws on the end (rather than on the floor) for a little while until I encouraged him a little further!! I then held him there for a few seconds before releasing him, he was then a naughty boy and ran off the bottom of the dog walk and then aframe (ran, didnt jump though so was happy), I put him back and held him on the bottom of both before releasing him like a good girl!!
Jumping Combined 1-7
He was a naughty boy - He went before I told him (did a beautiful two jumps and long jump before realising I wasn't around!) so I put him back (despite being very tempted to carry on but shhh about that bit!!) and then he decided to do it again!!!! so back he went again, I then went just past the first jump and released him, we just did two jumps and then went to the finish (which he ran under!!!)!!!
Jumping Graded 1-2
Yay again, he went clear too!!!! He was really wide on the wing wrap though bless him - something for us to work on with his jumping at last!!!
Jumping Graded 1-2 Results
As they both went clear I thought I would do a seperate section for the results!! Well, I finished up with 2nd and a 3rd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Elliot had the 2nd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The winners time was 23.527, with Elliot being 0.681 seconds behind this - the wide wing wrap, and also because he got a bit stuck in the cloth tunnel - I managed to catch up and get ahead of him he got that stuck!!, and Jem was 0.176 seconds behind him - the slight deviation maybe?? I was really pleased with these results, especially as last time they both went clear Jem beat Elliot which shows that what we have been working on with his jumping style is working!! The trophies were really nice picture frames with a plaque at the bottom and a voucher for a photograph which you had taken in the practise ring - I had one of both of them weaving :)
Going up
I have decided after this weekend to take Jem up to Grade 2 on points! My fear that Elliot will do it before her is slowly becoming more likely and as the courses are always the same for the two grades I feel it won't put them at a disadvantage - I had to make the decision knowing that I wouldn't regret it and I have decided that I will regret it more if I didn't do it and then Elliot won out! However, because she is going up on points I can't change her grades on the competitions where the entries have already closed, so she I have changed my entry for Caerphilly as this is the only one that I could - who knows maybe now I have made a decision and the pressure is off she might win out!!
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Saturday, 29 May 2010
SWAT Day 1 - I Don't Believe It!!!!!!!!!!!
Jemma:
Combined 1-2 Jumping
She knocked a pole in this on the middle pole of a 3 point star, I then sent her in the wrong end of the tunnel because I wasn't concentrating, however, she did do 12 weaves, first time, after a three point star (with a steady command though), so I was pleased with this round :)
Graded 1-2 Agility
This was the most disappointing round of the day for us - clear apart from the weaves!!!! There were only six but they were at a slight angle from the jump before but quite a big gap, however because of this I had decided not to steady her and maybe she needed it, or maybe I left her to find the weaves by herself too much, it did however take three attempts to do them, and that was only after I sat her down!!!!
Combined 1-7 Jumping
Another beautiful round until we reached the weaves, took two attempts despite there only being 6 and it being bend and me saying steady!!! She then knocked a pole in the rest of the course but it was nice!
Graded 1-2 Jumping
This time it was me that lost us the clear, I pulled away from a jump too early because I was worrying too much about the next long straight line and so Jem also pulled of it and so came round it! I then just ran, really fast and so so did she and she knocked a pole! She did however do 6 weaves first time - they were after a tunnel but at 90 degrees so I was facing her as she came out and then turned her on to them but this slowed her down enough that she could do them!!
Elliot
First Practise Ring Visit
We just did weaves this visit, we did 12 of them and he did them right first time!!!! The only time he didn't do it right was when we did four jumps and then a sit, but he got them right second time :)
Combined 1-2 Jumping
He knocked a pole (can't remember why) but then bless him, he fell over in the tunnel and came out sideways and so completely crashed the jump after it! BUT....he did TWELVE weaves first time!!!!!!!!!!!!! Admitedly with a sit before them but hey it was twelve weaves in a course!!! I was very very pleased with him!!!!
Graded 1-2 Agility
The most AMAZING course of the day!!!!!! - he went CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The important bits went: aframe, weaves, dogwalk, seesaw!!! On the a-frame he came down really slowly but I made sure I just walked along side it and said stop really clearly but I was really naughty and said go as soon as his feet hit the floor - I could tell he wasn't going to actually stop and so if I didn't say go he would have anyway and then I would have had to put him back and I didn't want to have to correct him when he had done it so much better than normal!! I then sat him before the weaves again but he did the six of them soooooooo fast it took me a while to realise he had actually done them right!!! The dog walk, again he crept down it but I did make him pause for a bit longer on the bottom, still not as long as I should have!!! The seesaw was the one I held him on least time for because it was only two obstacles from the end and I couldn't believe he was clear so far!!!! He did still go right to the bottom and wait for it to hit the floor before I told him go!! He also never went before I told him go, it was just I was saying go early!!! He finished 8th!!! with a time of 34.246 -7.18 seconds behind the winner, I would have thought most of this time was spent sitting before the weaves!!!! This is why I desperately want Jem to get the win she deserves soon otherwise it will be Elliot that wins us out of Grade 1!!!
Combined 1-7 Jumping
He was a naughty boy in this class and went under the first jump and into the tunnel so we restarted and he went really nicely until the weaves, it took us three attempts this time to do the six - they were right handed and the other two sets had been left! he then proceeded to knock the two poles after the tunnel becuase I was running too fast I think - I was conscious of how long we had been in the ring!!
Graded 1-2 Jumping
Sadly he knocked a pole in this and then took two attempts on the weaves but it was a nice course - lots of running and shouting "go" for me but he loved it!!!
Second Practise Ring Visit
We did contacts this time, he crept down the aframe but then ran off, after a reminder he did some really nice stops, he then also did some lovely dogwalks straight off, he decided though that doing four jumps before the aframe was too much and he ran off it, I just had time to put him back before time was up!! I shall try to go back in here before our class tomorrow!!
So all in all a bit of a frustrating day for Jemma but a really good day for Elliot :) Hopefully Jem will have a better day tomorrow and Elliot will have just as good day!! :)
Combined 1-2 Jumping
She knocked a pole in this on the middle pole of a 3 point star, I then sent her in the wrong end of the tunnel because I wasn't concentrating, however, she did do 12 weaves, first time, after a three point star (with a steady command though), so I was pleased with this round :)
Graded 1-2 Agility
This was the most disappointing round of the day for us - clear apart from the weaves!!!! There were only six but they were at a slight angle from the jump before but quite a big gap, however because of this I had decided not to steady her and maybe she needed it, or maybe I left her to find the weaves by herself too much, it did however take three attempts to do them, and that was only after I sat her down!!!!
Combined 1-7 Jumping
Another beautiful round until we reached the weaves, took two attempts despite there only being 6 and it being bend and me saying steady!!! She then knocked a pole in the rest of the course but it was nice!
Graded 1-2 Jumping
This time it was me that lost us the clear, I pulled away from a jump too early because I was worrying too much about the next long straight line and so Jem also pulled of it and so came round it! I then just ran, really fast and so so did she and she knocked a pole! She did however do 6 weaves first time - they were after a tunnel but at 90 degrees so I was facing her as she came out and then turned her on to them but this slowed her down enough that she could do them!!
Elliot
First Practise Ring Visit
We just did weaves this visit, we did 12 of them and he did them right first time!!!! The only time he didn't do it right was when we did four jumps and then a sit, but he got them right second time :)
Combined 1-2 Jumping
He knocked a pole (can't remember why) but then bless him, he fell over in the tunnel and came out sideways and so completely crashed the jump after it! BUT....he did TWELVE weaves first time!!!!!!!!!!!!! Admitedly with a sit before them but hey it was twelve weaves in a course!!! I was very very pleased with him!!!!
Graded 1-2 Agility
The most AMAZING course of the day!!!!!! - he went CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The important bits went: aframe, weaves, dogwalk, seesaw!!! On the a-frame he came down really slowly but I made sure I just walked along side it and said stop really clearly but I was really naughty and said go as soon as his feet hit the floor - I could tell he wasn't going to actually stop and so if I didn't say go he would have anyway and then I would have had to put him back and I didn't want to have to correct him when he had done it so much better than normal!! I then sat him before the weaves again but he did the six of them soooooooo fast it took me a while to realise he had actually done them right!!! The dog walk, again he crept down it but I did make him pause for a bit longer on the bottom, still not as long as I should have!!! The seesaw was the one I held him on least time for because it was only two obstacles from the end and I couldn't believe he was clear so far!!!! He did still go right to the bottom and wait for it to hit the floor before I told him go!! He also never went before I told him go, it was just I was saying go early!!! He finished 8th!!! with a time of 34.246 -7.18 seconds behind the winner, I would have thought most of this time was spent sitting before the weaves!!!! This is why I desperately want Jem to get the win she deserves soon otherwise it will be Elliot that wins us out of Grade 1!!!
Combined 1-7 Jumping
He was a naughty boy in this class and went under the first jump and into the tunnel so we restarted and he went really nicely until the weaves, it took us three attempts this time to do the six - they were right handed and the other two sets had been left! he then proceeded to knock the two poles after the tunnel becuase I was running too fast I think - I was conscious of how long we had been in the ring!!
Graded 1-2 Jumping
Sadly he knocked a pole in this and then took two attempts on the weaves but it was a nice course - lots of running and shouting "go" for me but he loved it!!!
Second Practise Ring Visit
We did contacts this time, he crept down the aframe but then ran off, after a reminder he did some really nice stops, he then also did some lovely dogwalks straight off, he decided though that doing four jumps before the aframe was too much and he ran off it, I just had time to put him back before time was up!! I shall try to go back in here before our class tomorrow!!
So all in all a bit of a frustrating day for Jemma but a really good day for Elliot :) Hopefully Jem will have a better day tomorrow and Elliot will have just as good day!! :)
Friday, 28 May 2010
Running mummy = Running contacts
Jemma:
She was really good today, OK, it took two attempts at the weaves but then she did the rest of the course really nicely, only knocking one pole when I got in her way!! We then worked on tightening some bits of it up though and tried it again, sadly this time the weaves took us LOTs of attempts!! So then we finished on some weave work, and she is getting better, it is all now down to my timing with the steady and then commanding her to weave too!! Her contacts were all really nice, until the end when she started dawdling down the dog walk for some reason, but her seesaw and a-frame were beautiful all session - fingers crossed she works like this is weekend, but manages the weaves first time too!!
Elliot:
We started on contacts today and he was good when I stopped at the bottom and didn't race him too much (what I will do in competition) but then we started pushing him and I raced alongside the contact and past the end without stopping - this did the trick of increasing his excitement and consequently he ran off the end, he did however not do jumping, just running off!! This meant we could correct him and show him what we wanted and it worked, by the end he was doing nice contacts, clever boy :) We then moved on to weaves and he did twelve really nicely without a jump, but with the jump we cut it down to 10 but he is still struggling with the second gap, we did get one nice one though and then we finished on a little course and then me stopping him before the weaves and then doing them and he did them beautifully - this will be the plan this weekend. We did some see-saws to finish and he did them all very nicely, although I can't guarantee he would in the ring, we shall just see what happens this weekend!!
She was really good today, OK, it took two attempts at the weaves but then she did the rest of the course really nicely, only knocking one pole when I got in her way!! We then worked on tightening some bits of it up though and tried it again, sadly this time the weaves took us LOTs of attempts!! So then we finished on some weave work, and she is getting better, it is all now down to my timing with the steady and then commanding her to weave too!! Her contacts were all really nice, until the end when she started dawdling down the dog walk for some reason, but her seesaw and a-frame were beautiful all session - fingers crossed she works like this is weekend, but manages the weaves first time too!!
Elliot:
We started on contacts today and he was good when I stopped at the bottom and didn't race him too much (what I will do in competition) but then we started pushing him and I raced alongside the contact and past the end without stopping - this did the trick of increasing his excitement and consequently he ran off the end, he did however not do jumping, just running off!! This meant we could correct him and show him what we wanted and it worked, by the end he was doing nice contacts, clever boy :) We then moved on to weaves and he did twelve really nicely without a jump, but with the jump we cut it down to 10 but he is still struggling with the second gap, we did get one nice one though and then we finished on a little course and then me stopping him before the weaves and then doing them and he did them beautifully - this will be the plan this weekend. We did some see-saws to finish and he did them all very nicely, although I can't guarantee he would in the ring, we shall just see what happens this weekend!!
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Weaves, Contacts, Pull Throughs and Wing Wraps
Elliot:
He got his go first today because Jane kindly stayed for a few minutes and brought Welly in to bark at Elliot when doing his contacts to try and get him wound up a bit - it worked, he came off the end of the contact a couple of times but apart from that did them really nice and really fast :) We then worked on our weaves, he did 10 with me on the right and left and a jump before and he only got them wrong once or twice! We then tried 4 jumps into the weaves to see what he did and he tried really hard but just missed the second weave so we moved on to 12 weaves with no jump and he did them on left and right, and finished on a nice set with a jump :) We then did some jump work, with contacts in the sequence too and he was being a bit lazy to start as I think he was tired (it even took Lesley a few times to get it right) but he then got better and finished quite nicely :) All in all a good lesson for him - I also found out today that SWAT has a practise ring at the weekend so we shall be using that to practise our contacts in the competition environment!
Jemma:
Well she was a bit of a nutter when she came out and wouldn't concentrate as she doesn't like having her lesson second!! She did do the course quite nicely though :) We worked on weaves and still had some issues when she was coming at speed, however she is steadying well I tell her so it is all down to my timing with the command, however we ended up doing a sequence before the weaves that involved a pull through which I kept messing up and we consequently spent longer doing this than we would have liked!! We did a few seesaws to remind her she needs to stop at the bottom and not just near the bottom!! We finished on some wing wraps, where I realised if I used the command I taught her "back" she does them much tighter and is much happier and goes faster as she knows where she is going :) Lots for mummy to learn from todays lesson and lots of improvements made to us both! :)
He got his go first today because Jane kindly stayed for a few minutes and brought Welly in to bark at Elliot when doing his contacts to try and get him wound up a bit - it worked, he came off the end of the contact a couple of times but apart from that did them really nice and really fast :) We then worked on our weaves, he did 10 with me on the right and left and a jump before and he only got them wrong once or twice! We then tried 4 jumps into the weaves to see what he did and he tried really hard but just missed the second weave so we moved on to 12 weaves with no jump and he did them on left and right, and finished on a nice set with a jump :) We then did some jump work, with contacts in the sequence too and he was being a bit lazy to start as I think he was tired (it even took Lesley a few times to get it right) but he then got better and finished quite nicely :) All in all a good lesson for him - I also found out today that SWAT has a practise ring at the weekend so we shall be using that to practise our contacts in the competition environment!
Jemma:
Well she was a bit of a nutter when she came out and wouldn't concentrate as she doesn't like having her lesson second!! She did do the course quite nicely though :) We worked on weaves and still had some issues when she was coming at speed, however she is steadying well I tell her so it is all down to my timing with the command, however we ended up doing a sequence before the weaves that involved a pull through which I kept messing up and we consequently spent longer doing this than we would have liked!! We did a few seesaws to remind her she needs to stop at the bottom and not just near the bottom!! We finished on some wing wraps, where I realised if I used the command I taught her "back" she does them much tighter and is much happier and goes faster as she knows where she is going :) Lots for mummy to learn from todays lesson and lots of improvements made to us both! :)
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Alpha Dogz Flyball
Both dogs did really well today in the heat, Jem ran in all the legs in our two blue lane races and Elliot swapped in and out, but did run alot, with him being run by me, Nat and Carol and going first and third bless him!! However, I was crap today, don't know what was wrong with me, I had about 4 false starts with Jem, 3 with Elliot and most of my changeovers were really late!! I think it is me that needs training more than them!! We ended up finishing 2nd in the division, the one race we lost was tight anyway but was the one where I kept doing late changeovers, don't know if they were enough to loose us the race but I feel bad anyway!! At least we still got a rosette and the rest of the team were good :) Elliot also got his Flyball Dog Award today which was a nice surprise as last time I checked the points hadn't been put on the website! :D I have just checked and Jem is currently on 195!!! points and Elliot is on 330!!! The last Acremead comp hasn't been put on yet so Jem will have her Flyball Dog by the time that is put on - that means I can retire her now and be happy :P
Saturday, 22 May 2010
Phoenix UKA
Here is the vid of todays runs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgK19cj9pyg
Jemma
Agility
I was really pleased with her a-frame contact :) Her dog walk wasn't great but I did slow down a lot when I got there, I think she also released herself a tad early but I cant be sure, I obviously didn't run fast enought alongside the cloth tunnel, I think it was because I didn't want her rushing off to the weaves, she then dropped the pole because I told her steady too early-doh! As for the seesaw, she is stubborn on this one, although watching it back she did start move down it more as I went towards her, on the whole though I was really pleased with how she worked in this :)
Jumping
I was really pleased with the top bit in this as I wasn't sure i would manage to get the front cross in but I was really pleased with how she worked this. I think the jump before the tunnel came down because she took the jump sideways, although why she did this I can't be sure. I don't know if I pulled away too early on the bit after the tunnel and that is why she came towards me. Anyway, I was really really pleased with the weaves - I got my steady in the right place and she listened and it was lovely to handle, he even kept going when I ran on :)
Steeplechase
What a shame about the pole, I think she took off too early, althought it was her back legs that brought it down, the rest was really nice though, although she did stutter when I stopped on the tight turn because I think she lost her confidence, again was nice to work :)
Elliot
Agility
OMG!!! His contacts were appalling, I was so disappointed in him! Him coming off the a-frame I could kind of understand as the tunnel was infront of him bute didn't even stop when I put him back on the a-frame, sadly the judge wouldn't let me send him back over the whole thing! :( I had predicted he would go under the next jump, because he was so focused on the tunnel and at the bottom of the a-frame, but then with the dog walk there was no excuse, I made sure I didn't panic because of what had happened on the a-frame and felt I worked it the same as I had in training, at least he stopped second time, even if he did then go carering through the jump! The weaves however I was really pleased with, the fact they were on the right and he only missed the last one I think because I moved off at an angle too soon. As for the seesaw, I can't watch this without cringing, sadly we then ran out of course time so were asked to leave :( I think I might need to try and take him to some group lessons, or do something to try and get his excitment up in training so we can practise them when he is in this frame of mind!
Jumping
I wasn't sure if he would take the tyre or not, hence why I had hung back, but he was a good boy and so then I was miles behind him!! With the front cross I think I just waited until I was in the right position before turning instead of turning when he needed to turn - more my fault than his I think! I then got all mixed up and confused but we sorted it out and then I discovered that he understands the meaning of the word "go" as I was so far behind him I just had to keep shouting it and it worked to get him going on nicely :) Not sure why he knocked the pole before the tunnel, he looked like he tried to kangaroo it a bit too much. Well, the weaves, I think he forgot first time what he was doing but then after the little bit of encouragment he remembered :) I let him off the end few as we have only done 10 for the first time yesterday! I think the main problem I am going to have with getting him to do weaves in competition is the fact that he is so fast and I will struggle to be there with him first time round!!
Steeplechase
What a naughty boy, I don't know where he was off to start with. After that it was so beautiful and lovely to work with him :) It was such a shame he went under that jump, I think he was jsut gradually getting closer and closer to them and so just couldn't get up enough to get over it, made me feel a bit better about putting him back at the start though!!
Jemma
Agility
I was really pleased with her a-frame contact :) Her dog walk wasn't great but I did slow down a lot when I got there, I think she also released herself a tad early but I cant be sure, I obviously didn't run fast enought alongside the cloth tunnel, I think it was because I didn't want her rushing off to the weaves, she then dropped the pole because I told her steady too early-doh! As for the seesaw, she is stubborn on this one, although watching it back she did start move down it more as I went towards her, on the whole though I was really pleased with how she worked in this :)
Jumping
I was really pleased with the top bit in this as I wasn't sure i would manage to get the front cross in but I was really pleased with how she worked this. I think the jump before the tunnel came down because she took the jump sideways, although why she did this I can't be sure. I don't know if I pulled away too early on the bit after the tunnel and that is why she came towards me. Anyway, I was really really pleased with the weaves - I got my steady in the right place and she listened and it was lovely to handle, he even kept going when I ran on :)
Steeplechase
What a shame about the pole, I think she took off too early, althought it was her back legs that brought it down, the rest was really nice though, although she did stutter when I stopped on the tight turn because I think she lost her confidence, again was nice to work :)
Elliot
Agility
OMG!!! His contacts were appalling, I was so disappointed in him! Him coming off the a-frame I could kind of understand as the tunnel was infront of him bute didn't even stop when I put him back on the a-frame, sadly the judge wouldn't let me send him back over the whole thing! :( I had predicted he would go under the next jump, because he was so focused on the tunnel and at the bottom of the a-frame, but then with the dog walk there was no excuse, I made sure I didn't panic because of what had happened on the a-frame and felt I worked it the same as I had in training, at least he stopped second time, even if he did then go carering through the jump! The weaves however I was really pleased with, the fact they were on the right and he only missed the last one I think because I moved off at an angle too soon. As for the seesaw, I can't watch this without cringing, sadly we then ran out of course time so were asked to leave :( I think I might need to try and take him to some group lessons, or do something to try and get his excitment up in training so we can practise them when he is in this frame of mind!
Jumping
I wasn't sure if he would take the tyre or not, hence why I had hung back, but he was a good boy and so then I was miles behind him!! With the front cross I think I just waited until I was in the right position before turning instead of turning when he needed to turn - more my fault than his I think! I then got all mixed up and confused but we sorted it out and then I discovered that he understands the meaning of the word "go" as I was so far behind him I just had to keep shouting it and it worked to get him going on nicely :) Not sure why he knocked the pole before the tunnel, he looked like he tried to kangaroo it a bit too much. Well, the weaves, I think he forgot first time what he was doing but then after the little bit of encouragment he remembered :) I let him off the end few as we have only done 10 for the first time yesterday! I think the main problem I am going to have with getting him to do weaves in competition is the fact that he is so fast and I will struggle to be there with him first time round!!
Steeplechase
What a naughty boy, I don't know where he was off to start with. After that it was so beautiful and lovely to work with him :) It was such a shame he went under that jump, I think he was jsut gradually getting closer and closer to them and so just couldn't get up enough to get over it, made me feel a bit better about putting him back at the start though!!
Friday, 21 May 2010
Hot Hot Hot!!!
It was ridiculously hot at training today so we had to split both dogs lesson in half as they were struggling slightly!!
Jemma:
She did the course nicely on the whole, although I got in the way for the pull through again - I think it is me that needs more practice at these rather than her and she didn't get her weaves first time! We worked on her contacts as she had been stopping just above the yellow but after a few reminders she was doing them beautifully again :) We then did some work on my handling and I got better (luckily!!). The second half of her lesson we worked on the pescy weaves, I have sadly had to go to our last resort and tell her steady before them! She seems to already have an understanding of what it means (I used to use it on the seesaw and she obviously remembers it!) so that helped, however the biggest problem now is me - I have to get the timing of the steady command right and have to remember to say it firmly, when I do say it you can visibly see her slow down and check herself, so provided I get in before she reaches the weaves she does it right :) We are at the UKA show tomorrow so I shall be really working her contacts in the agility and making her wait nicely at the bottom, and make sure I really work her weaves too!!
Elliot:
Hehe, well today we did the course in parts to start with - including the contacts!!!! and he was really good :) He only ran off the end of the dog walk once and that is because he was looking at the tunnel and I said stop too early and too quitely! We then did the whole course, finishing just before the weaves (obstacle 21!) and he did it really really nicely!!! I can't wait until tomorrow when he will be doing them for the first time in competition!!! i just have to remember to do them the same as I do in training! I predict he will run off the first one but then after a reminder will stop - I won't mind this too much, the one thing I am really hoping he doesn't do is go back to jumping off half way down!! We did weaves in his second half too and after about 5mins we got him doing jump weave!! :D he just needed reminding that he couldn't miss the second one out when he went faster, and he had a lightbulb moment and got it :) We then did 10 weaves without a jump and he did them all beautifully straight away (he needed two commands first time after he had done six), he was then doing them really nicely on both the left and right, and he even did them all when I got ahead of him (only a little bit and I was just walking) - I am no longer having to use my hands or legs :) I shall be giving them a go in the course tomorrow if there are six but will sit him before them as he is not really ready yet to do them in a course when he is very very excited!!
Jemma:
She did the course nicely on the whole, although I got in the way for the pull through again - I think it is me that needs more practice at these rather than her and she didn't get her weaves first time! We worked on her contacts as she had been stopping just above the yellow but after a few reminders she was doing them beautifully again :) We then did some work on my handling and I got better (luckily!!). The second half of her lesson we worked on the pescy weaves, I have sadly had to go to our last resort and tell her steady before them! She seems to already have an understanding of what it means (I used to use it on the seesaw and she obviously remembers it!) so that helped, however the biggest problem now is me - I have to get the timing of the steady command right and have to remember to say it firmly, when I do say it you can visibly see her slow down and check herself, so provided I get in before she reaches the weaves she does it right :) We are at the UKA show tomorrow so I shall be really working her contacts in the agility and making her wait nicely at the bottom, and make sure I really work her weaves too!!
Elliot:
Hehe, well today we did the course in parts to start with - including the contacts!!!! and he was really good :) He only ran off the end of the dog walk once and that is because he was looking at the tunnel and I said stop too early and too quitely! We then did the whole course, finishing just before the weaves (obstacle 21!) and he did it really really nicely!!! I can't wait until tomorrow when he will be doing them for the first time in competition!!! i just have to remember to do them the same as I do in training! I predict he will run off the first one but then after a reminder will stop - I won't mind this too much, the one thing I am really hoping he doesn't do is go back to jumping off half way down!! We did weaves in his second half too and after about 5mins we got him doing jump weave!! :D he just needed reminding that he couldn't miss the second one out when he went faster, and he had a lightbulb moment and got it :) We then did 10 weaves without a jump and he did them all beautifully straight away (he needed two commands first time after he had done six), he was then doing them really nicely on both the left and right, and he even did them all when I got ahead of him (only a little bit and I was just walking) - I am no longer having to use my hands or legs :) I shall be giving them a go in the course tomorrow if there are six but will sit him before them as he is not really ready yet to do them in a course when he is very very excited!!
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
OMG Jemma!!!
Jemma:
Well she worked the course as a whole really nicely but there was one bit we worked on which was something I forgot to put on my list - pull throughs!! She finished doing some really nice ones though so we shall see if she remembers them on Friday! The main thing we worked on was weaves, which were pretty good until the end when we tried to do jump, through a big space with jumps either side, jump, weaves, it must have taken us about 30 attempts to get this right, she kept insisting on taking on e of the jumps to the side, either side, no matter what I did, and then when she did do the right jumps she would mess up the weaves!! Bless her!! We just need to work on going through jumps and not taking any as well!! Also need to do a little bit of contact work as she keeps stopping before the bottom!!
Elliot:
Contacts are getting really good, we only had one where he didnt stop (he did do a beautiful running contact however!) but all the others were great, can't wait to try them on Sat!! We did some more work on the see saw and he got better, although still isn't consistently breaking in the right place - we shall get there :) Weaves, hmm, they are now really good on their own, with me just using my legs as guidance and not my hand, however when a jump is introduced he does the same thing as Jemma and doesn't break so although he goes in the right place he then misses out the next weave - he did it when lel stood their as a barrier though, hopefully we will get there soon!!
Well she worked the course as a whole really nicely but there was one bit we worked on which was something I forgot to put on my list - pull throughs!! She finished doing some really nice ones though so we shall see if she remembers them on Friday! The main thing we worked on was weaves, which were pretty good until the end when we tried to do jump, through a big space with jumps either side, jump, weaves, it must have taken us about 30 attempts to get this right, she kept insisting on taking on e of the jumps to the side, either side, no matter what I did, and then when she did do the right jumps she would mess up the weaves!! Bless her!! We just need to work on going through jumps and not taking any as well!! Also need to do a little bit of contact work as she keeps stopping before the bottom!!
Elliot:
Contacts are getting really good, we only had one where he didnt stop (he did do a beautiful running contact however!) but all the others were great, can't wait to try them on Sat!! We did some more work on the see saw and he got better, although still isn't consistently breaking in the right place - we shall get there :) Weaves, hmm, they are now really good on their own, with me just using my legs as guidance and not my hand, however when a jump is introduced he does the same thing as Jemma and doesn't break so although he goes in the right place he then misses out the next weave - he did it when lel stood their as a barrier though, hopefully we will get there soon!!
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Worcester Agility Show
Video Link is below, it also includes Ashers runs as I couldnt be bothered to do two separate videos as they take so long to upload!!! I do however apologise for how bad the filming is of his runs, I was hanging on to Elliot and so couldn't zoom/focus!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85FSeqEbVZ8
Jemma:
Jumping Graded 1-2
I don't know what was wrong with her on this course, she was being really naughty on the start line and was barking and wouldn't concentrate. However the course ran really nicely until the weaves, I think she lost the plot completely here, hence why I gave up. The end bit I had ummmed and arrghed about how to do for ages and finally decided on doing the two front crosses but I forgot I needed to get further across for the second one and so I left her no option but to go behind me, sorry bear!!
Jumping Combined 1-2
What a shame, I am really dissapointed about this round, after all the work we put in all week! I think I did forget to say weave as she came out the tunnel and left it until she was taking the jump, although this gave her enough time to brake really before the weaves!! Hmmmm, more work needed and possibly an introduction of the naughty word - "steady"!!
Elliot:
Jumping Graded 1-2
I am not sure why he went under jump number three, possibly as it was a short stride, although if it was not by much, I am sure I will be informed!! Quite what happened at the end I don't know, I completely lost the plot so no wonder he did strange things too!!! Cant wait until the weaves are sorted so I can stop getting so confused!!
Jumping Combined 1-2
I felt this ran really nicely with him too, it was a real shame about the wing that he knocked, I think it was because I stopped. Again, the rest was lovely, just the pesky weaves!!
We shall see how training goes next week as to what our plan of action is for next weekend, hopefully we will be doing whole courses before the end of the season!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85FSeqEbVZ8
Jemma:
Jumping Graded 1-2
I don't know what was wrong with her on this course, she was being really naughty on the start line and was barking and wouldn't concentrate. However the course ran really nicely until the weaves, I think she lost the plot completely here, hence why I gave up. The end bit I had ummmed and arrghed about how to do for ages and finally decided on doing the two front crosses but I forgot I needed to get further across for the second one and so I left her no option but to go behind me, sorry bear!!
Jumping Combined 1-2
What a shame, I am really dissapointed about this round, after all the work we put in all week! I think I did forget to say weave as she came out the tunnel and left it until she was taking the jump, although this gave her enough time to brake really before the weaves!! Hmmmm, more work needed and possibly an introduction of the naughty word - "steady"!!
Elliot:
Jumping Graded 1-2
I am not sure why he went under jump number three, possibly as it was a short stride, although if it was not by much, I am sure I will be informed!! Quite what happened at the end I don't know, I completely lost the plot so no wonder he did strange things too!!! Cant wait until the weaves are sorted so I can stop getting so confused!!
Jumping Combined 1-2
I felt this ran really nicely with him too, it was a real shame about the wing that he knocked, I think it was because I stopped. Again, the rest was lovely, just the pesky weaves!!
We shall see how training goes next week as to what our plan of action is for next weekend, hopefully we will be doing whole courses before the end of the season!!
Friday, 14 May 2010
Video Evidence
I have video clips from todays lesson so to prove I don't lie and that they can do it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9dPGMWwTsU
Jemma:
She did LOADS better on her weaves today, only getting it wrong once I think!! She worked really nicely as well overall, although her seesaw clearly still needs work!! Where she clattered the pole she did do that really nicely not in the vid but then I kept handling it not quite right and we changed the way we did it (to the second way on the vid) which I don't think helped me!! But yeh all in all it was a good session for her today :)
Elliot:
We did some jumping to start with (which wasn't on vid) and he did it all really nicely!! Then it was on to conacts - a lot of this is on the vid, we plan to retrain his seesaw as he isnt really breaking at all and so just hangs on at the end. His a frame and dog walk were really good tho, he is pretty independent on them now which is good :) His weaves were also good today, we tried doing jump weaves but he isn't quite ready yet to do them at this level of excitment/speed so we just added a few more weaves instead!! I shall give them a go at the comp tomorrow but will sit him before them and only do them on the left!!
All in all a good day but I have a bit of revision brain at the mo which didn't help me with what I was doing!!! So much so I managed to run over the eggs I bought and had put under my car so they didnt get hot!! Ooops!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9dPGMWwTsU
Jemma:
She did LOADS better on her weaves today, only getting it wrong once I think!! She worked really nicely as well overall, although her seesaw clearly still needs work!! Where she clattered the pole she did do that really nicely not in the vid but then I kept handling it not quite right and we changed the way we did it (to the second way on the vid) which I don't think helped me!! But yeh all in all it was a good session for her today :)
Elliot:
We did some jumping to start with (which wasn't on vid) and he did it all really nicely!! Then it was on to conacts - a lot of this is on the vid, we plan to retrain his seesaw as he isnt really breaking at all and so just hangs on at the end. His a frame and dog walk were really good tho, he is pretty independent on them now which is good :) His weaves were also good today, we tried doing jump weaves but he isn't quite ready yet to do them at this level of excitment/speed so we just added a few more weaves instead!! I shall give them a go at the comp tomorrow but will sit him before them and only do them on the left!!
All in all a good day but I have a bit of revision brain at the mo which didn't help me with what I was doing!!! So much so I managed to run over the eggs I bought and had put under my car so they didnt get hot!! Ooops!!!
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Contacts getting good!!
Jemma:
We split her lesson into two today (I trained Elliot in the middle) as we spent the whole time (apart from a run round the course to start) working on weaves and so it was a lot of work for her. She is really struggling with the 2nd/3rd poles when she is coming at speed to them and this is because she just doesn't brake, we improved them a little by me giving her three loud firm weave commands before them to get her to slow down abit. She still wasn't right as often as I would like though, I am very worried I am going to have to commit the cardinal sin of teaching her a steady command!!
Elliot:
Well I have had a look and it has been three and a half weeks since we started training 2o2o contacts and today he did the whole dog walk and whole a frame off lead and in a little mini course and had a perfect stop everytime (apart from the first time he did the aframe off lead and he forgot to brake and flew over the top and so fell off sideways when he tried to stop at the bottom!!)!!!!! I am so happy, and desperately trying not to think about what we have missed out on by not starting this way, it looks like our target of doing them in the ring on 22nd May will be reached, I can't wait!!! I shall try and get a video of them on Friday to prove I am not lying!! It was only 2 weeks ago that we started retraining his weaves and they were really good today too, he only did them wrong once!! I am still guiding him through with my hand but without a treat in it and without touching him and he wasn't fighting with me today, instead he was doing them nice and calm and relaxed as we want. We even did it with me leaving him in a wait behind a jump and being at the weaves to guide him in the first one, and also with me setting off with him from just before the weaves and having to catch up with him with my hand. It was a really lovely lesson with him today, I really enjoyed myself - Thanks lel :)
We still have three training sessions to work on his contacts before the UKA show and this weekend I managed to mess up my entry for worcester and not enter the agility with either dog so I wont be tempted!!
We split her lesson into two today (I trained Elliot in the middle) as we spent the whole time (apart from a run round the course to start) working on weaves and so it was a lot of work for her. She is really struggling with the 2nd/3rd poles when she is coming at speed to them and this is because she just doesn't brake, we improved them a little by me giving her three loud firm weave commands before them to get her to slow down abit. She still wasn't right as often as I would like though, I am very worried I am going to have to commit the cardinal sin of teaching her a steady command!!
Elliot:
Well I have had a look and it has been three and a half weeks since we started training 2o2o contacts and today he did the whole dog walk and whole a frame off lead and in a little mini course and had a perfect stop everytime (apart from the first time he did the aframe off lead and he forgot to brake and flew over the top and so fell off sideways when he tried to stop at the bottom!!)!!!!! I am so happy, and desperately trying not to think about what we have missed out on by not starting this way, it looks like our target of doing them in the ring on 22nd May will be reached, I can't wait!!! I shall try and get a video of them on Friday to prove I am not lying!! It was only 2 weeks ago that we started retraining his weaves and they were really good today too, he only did them wrong once!! I am still guiding him through with my hand but without a treat in it and without touching him and he wasn't fighting with me today, instead he was doing them nice and calm and relaxed as we want. We even did it with me leaving him in a wait behind a jump and being at the weaves to guide him in the first one, and also with me setting off with him from just before the weaves and having to catch up with him with my hand. It was a really lovely lesson with him today, I really enjoyed myself - Thanks lel :)
We still have three training sessions to work on his contacts before the UKA show and this weekend I managed to mess up my entry for worcester and not enter the agility with either dog so I wont be tempted!!
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Blackdown - To go up on points?
I only got one round for each of them on vid, here is the link, I will mumble about the rest below :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVZyqn3gv_Y
Jemma
Jumping Graded 1-2
What a shame about the weaves, this is obviously something that needs to go on our list of things to work on - weaves in a straight line!!! Bless her though, she got really stuck in the tunnel, I am wondering if there is something we can do training wise to stop her from running up the side of them and not along the bottom of them - I am sure I will be informed if there is or not!!
Helter Skelter Combined 1-3
I am not sure why I entered that class with her, I didn't see on the schedule that there were two large grade one jumping classes!! Anyway, we got eliminated in this because I took my eye off her, before the tunnel I just called her name and then turned to check I wasn't going to run into a jump in which time she went in the tunnel, I forgot that I also needed the command here!! Sorry bear!!
Agility Graded 1-2
What a shame this one wasn't on vid, it was our first beautiful clear round with no dithering bits or anything, she even did 12 weaves with me front crossing before them!!! Sadly there were two dogs speedier than her so she finished 3rd with a time of 30.960 and the winner a time of 28.835, hmm rocket fuel for breakfast next time!! Seriously though I was really pleased with her, and as pointed out, the more rounds like this we can have the more likely it will be we get our red one!! She could however now go up to Grade 2 on points as she has 84 but I am going to hang out as long as I can for a win because she has shown she has got it there!!
Elliot:
Jumping Graded 1-2
I was really pleased with him in this one, his wait was brill which was really good for saying it was the first class of the day. He also didn't go under the jump before the tunnel. It was a shame about his weaves but he still isn't really ready to do them in a course, and we have been practising them a bit more on the left as well. He always goes a bit loopy after the weaves and I think it was the tight angle in the top corner that meant he went under that jump and he went round the jump at the bottom because I forget that he focuses really far ahead and so he was looking at the end jump and I left it too late to turn him!! The end was really nice, although I think we could do with some working on after the cloth tunnel as he always comes out at a really bad angle, although just the command go made him look for the next jump and turn himself back in :)
Helter Skelter Combined 1-3
This was lovely to run with him, it flowed really nicely although I was really careful on all the corners and bits I needed to sort of pull him off other jumps/tunnelsas I so wanted him to get a clear round, which he did, with a time of 24.32 and 4th place (winners time was 23.09) - not bad in a combined class I didn't think - definately need to sort our weaves out!!
Agility Graded 1-2
I didn't take him in this class as he is still not ready and his waits had been really nice all day so thought it wasn't worth it - was very annoyed again I didn't see the second jumping class otherwise he would have been in that!!
All in all a good day I think, with still a few bits and pieces for us to work on - Elliots weaves and contacts as normal, jems weaves still, elliots cloth tunnels and long jumps and possibly jems tunnels.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVZyqn3gv_Y
Jemma
Jumping Graded 1-2
What a shame about the weaves, this is obviously something that needs to go on our list of things to work on - weaves in a straight line!!! Bless her though, she got really stuck in the tunnel, I am wondering if there is something we can do training wise to stop her from running up the side of them and not along the bottom of them - I am sure I will be informed if there is or not!!
Helter Skelter Combined 1-3
I am not sure why I entered that class with her, I didn't see on the schedule that there were two large grade one jumping classes!! Anyway, we got eliminated in this because I took my eye off her, before the tunnel I just called her name and then turned to check I wasn't going to run into a jump in which time she went in the tunnel, I forgot that I also needed the command here!! Sorry bear!!
Agility Graded 1-2
What a shame this one wasn't on vid, it was our first beautiful clear round with no dithering bits or anything, she even did 12 weaves with me front crossing before them!!! Sadly there were two dogs speedier than her so she finished 3rd with a time of 30.960 and the winner a time of 28.835, hmm rocket fuel for breakfast next time!! Seriously though I was really pleased with her, and as pointed out, the more rounds like this we can have the more likely it will be we get our red one!! She could however now go up to Grade 2 on points as she has 84 but I am going to hang out as long as I can for a win because she has shown she has got it there!!
Elliot:
Jumping Graded 1-2
I was really pleased with him in this one, his wait was brill which was really good for saying it was the first class of the day. He also didn't go under the jump before the tunnel. It was a shame about his weaves but he still isn't really ready to do them in a course, and we have been practising them a bit more on the left as well. He always goes a bit loopy after the weaves and I think it was the tight angle in the top corner that meant he went under that jump and he went round the jump at the bottom because I forget that he focuses really far ahead and so he was looking at the end jump and I left it too late to turn him!! The end was really nice, although I think we could do with some working on after the cloth tunnel as he always comes out at a really bad angle, although just the command go made him look for the next jump and turn himself back in :)
Helter Skelter Combined 1-3
This was lovely to run with him, it flowed really nicely although I was really careful on all the corners and bits I needed to sort of pull him off other jumps/tunnelsas I so wanted him to get a clear round, which he did, with a time of 24.32 and 4th place (winners time was 23.09) - not bad in a combined class I didn't think - definately need to sort our weaves out!!
Agility Graded 1-2
I didn't take him in this class as he is still not ready and his waits had been really nice all day so thought it wasn't worth it - was very annoyed again I didn't see the second jumping class otherwise he would have been in that!!
All in all a good day I think, with still a few bits and pieces for us to work on - Elliots weaves and contacts as normal, jems weaves still, elliots cloth tunnels and long jumps and possibly jems tunnels.
Friday, 7 May 2010
Weaves, weaves, contacts and more weaves :)
Jemma:
We worked on her weave angles today and she was good when slow but once we built up her speed she struggled with the beginning of the weaves, but with more dinking from me she picked them up in the end and Lel reckoned she was doing the weaves the fastest she has ever seen and I was running on past the end of the weaves leaving her in them and she did them :) We finished on some contact work and they were all really nice, am looking forward to sunday with her :)
Elliot:
Weaves were REALLY good today, after a little while of him trying to fight my hand he did some really beautiful ones, fast as well but still following my hand, we even managed a few where he wasn't even touching my hand so hopefully soon we can do some sort of weaves in competition soon, but not just yet! We did some contacts too and he is getting really really really good at doing the end bits and waiting whilst I go on and wave my arms around etc. Today we even did some full dog walks on lead and again he stopped really nicely at the bottom, we were only jogging though so hopefully he can keep it up when we going faster!! We have a new aim now because I am doing a UKA show on 22nd May where I can reward him for stopping at the bottom so we shall see how we are getting on by then, but if he is ready this might be his first chance at doing contacts in the ring :) We finished with some jumping which he did really nicely when mummy got it right :)
Next stop Blackdown comp on Sunday :)
We worked on her weave angles today and she was good when slow but once we built up her speed she struggled with the beginning of the weaves, but with more dinking from me she picked them up in the end and Lel reckoned she was doing the weaves the fastest she has ever seen and I was running on past the end of the weaves leaving her in them and she did them :) We finished on some contact work and they were all really nice, am looking forward to sunday with her :)
Elliot:
Weaves were REALLY good today, after a little while of him trying to fight my hand he did some really beautiful ones, fast as well but still following my hand, we even managed a few where he wasn't even touching my hand so hopefully soon we can do some sort of weaves in competition soon, but not just yet! We did some contacts too and he is getting really really really good at doing the end bits and waiting whilst I go on and wave my arms around etc. Today we even did some full dog walks on lead and again he stopped really nicely at the bottom, we were only jogging though so hopefully he can keep it up when we going faster!! We have a new aim now because I am doing a UKA show on 22nd May where I can reward him for stopping at the bottom so we shall see how we are getting on by then, but if he is ready this might be his first chance at doing contacts in the ring :) We finished with some jumping which he did really nicely when mummy got it right :)
Next stop Blackdown comp on Sunday :)
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Getting better :)
Jemma:
She ran the course really nicely today, struggled on the weave entry first time and then stopped just off the seesaw instead of on it!! We did some work on our contacts and they were nice :) We also worked on our weave entries and she did a lot better than normal, the main thing we were working on was where I stood to get her in - ideally something we shouldn't have to work on as I would like her to find the entrance herself but as we are already in our busy competition season we will have to work with what I have until winter :) We also worked on the three ways to do the end part of the combined 1-2 jumping course from yesterday - two front crosses, using my lefts and rights and wraping her round the wing (the way that I did it yesterday, only today we did it more smoothly:P)!!
Elliot:
We worked on the jumping sequences with him and he did them all beautifully, didn't put a foot wrong bless him :) Then we went on to weaves and he was really stroppy to start with, having a right paddy with my hand getting in the way and stopping him being speedy but by the end of it he was doing them really nicely, we probably got 10 in a row good ones :) Then it was onto contacts and wow, why I didn't start this way with him!! In the three/four weeks it has been since we started he is almost ready to do the full equipment - we did lost today with me running him onto the contact and running on whilst he stopped on the bottom, he was brill at this (after a couple of slow ones to remind him what to do), I was really pleased with him and am enjoying seeing the improvements in him, it won't be long before he is flying round the ring doing all the equipment correctly :)
She ran the course really nicely today, struggled on the weave entry first time and then stopped just off the seesaw instead of on it!! We did some work on our contacts and they were nice :) We also worked on our weave entries and she did a lot better than normal, the main thing we were working on was where I stood to get her in - ideally something we shouldn't have to work on as I would like her to find the entrance herself but as we are already in our busy competition season we will have to work with what I have until winter :) We also worked on the three ways to do the end part of the combined 1-2 jumping course from yesterday - two front crosses, using my lefts and rights and wraping her round the wing (the way that I did it yesterday, only today we did it more smoothly:P)!!
Elliot:
We worked on the jumping sequences with him and he did them all beautifully, didn't put a foot wrong bless him :) Then we went on to weaves and he was really stroppy to start with, having a right paddy with my hand getting in the way and stopping him being speedy but by the end of it he was doing them really nicely, we probably got 10 in a row good ones :) Then it was onto contacts and wow, why I didn't start this way with him!! In the three/four weeks it has been since we started he is almost ready to do the full equipment - we did lost today with me running him onto the contact and running on whilst he stopped on the bottom, he was brill at this (after a couple of slow ones to remind him what to do), I was really pleased with him and am enjoying seeing the improvements in him, it won't be long before he is flying round the ring doing all the equipment correctly :)
Monday, 3 May 2010
Severnside - 3/5/10
Here are our videos of the day, so it is just my musings below :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBfV1R8ExYY
Jemma:
Agility Graded 1&2
Was really pleased with this round, she did all 12 weaves really nicely first time, and did some very nice contacts, although I am not sure I waited until she was definately at the bottom before saying go - naughty mummy!! I was annoyed about her dithering moment I have looked on the video and she goes the wrong way when I bring my right arm in to dink her in, I think I had got ahead of myself and dinked her in for the seesaw too early, I'm not sure therefore whether she was good at listening to me or whether she was naughty cuz she should have taken the jump - I am sure I will be adivised!! I am sure it was this that cost her the 2.562 between her time and the winner, giving her yet another 2nd in agility!!!
Jumping Graded 1&2
I don't know why she decided she couldn't do six weaves first time round but I thought that seeing as she wasn't clear anyway I should start again as she definately should be able to manage jump-weave!!! The bit on the star that went wrong was probably my fault for turning in too soon but is still a bit annoying, and I am not sure why she knocked the pole on the snake as I am just out of the picture but I think maybe I moved my arm to send her back again too quickly - no excuse though!!! :p
Jumping Combined 1&2
This was really nice until I decided to play silly buggers - the bit at the end, I did what I always do and went to cross behind her before she had started to jump and so pushed her off the jump, grrr!!! I then decided to take her the long way round as that was the way she was now facing!! Again, it was this dithering that cost us the 1.511 between 7th and 1st place!!
Elliot
Agility Graded 1&2
This wasn't on the video - I used this to practise his wait because of the nice start, he did a beautifully wait and sat until I told him to go (from 2 and a half jumps away) , he then went under the jump before the tunnel. So I sat him back before this jump and he did it again, third time lucky though he went over it :) then he went in the tunnel and over no. 10 the wrong way as directed by his mummy :)
Jumping Graded 1&2
Well he started off as a naughty boy going before I said AND going under the first jump!! Third time lucky again though!!! I was naughty with his weaves and let him get away with missing out the middle one, I thought we had wasted enough time doing the first jump three times!!! The reason he missed the top one of the star was I think because I just didn't support him enough, he is not Jem and doesn't have the confidence to take the jumps by himself!! As for the snake, again, my fault for not turning early enough and not being clear enough with my turn either, the rest of the round was really nice though and i was really pleased with him!!
Jumping Combined 1&2
At least this time he waited to be released and went over the first jump :) he clearly sees weaves as an inconvenience and wants to get on as quickly as possible, hence missing the end one on his second attempt at them!!! I am not sure why he took the wrong jump before the tunnel, maybe I didn't turn my shoulders quickly enough, but I probably also forgot to use my voice (shocking I know!!!) I think the reason he ran round the jump on the star was because he jumped very long and consequently I didn't move my arms soon enough to pull him towards me. Working on after cloth tunnels is obviously something else for us to work on, mummy just doesn't run fast enough!! He finished the course really nicely though :)
All in all I was pleased with today, Elliots problems were the same as usual - weaves!!! I feel his other problems were because mummy forgets he is a baby and also because he makes baby mistakes!! As for Jem, we still just need to get a smooth clear, be that my fault or hers who knows but I am sure we will get there very soon!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBfV1R8ExYY
Jemma:
Agility Graded 1&2
Was really pleased with this round, she did all 12 weaves really nicely first time, and did some very nice contacts, although I am not sure I waited until she was definately at the bottom before saying go - naughty mummy!! I was annoyed about her dithering moment I have looked on the video and she goes the wrong way when I bring my right arm in to dink her in, I think I had got ahead of myself and dinked her in for the seesaw too early, I'm not sure therefore whether she was good at listening to me or whether she was naughty cuz she should have taken the jump - I am sure I will be adivised!! I am sure it was this that cost her the 2.562 between her time and the winner, giving her yet another 2nd in agility!!!
Jumping Graded 1&2
I don't know why she decided she couldn't do six weaves first time round but I thought that seeing as she wasn't clear anyway I should start again as she definately should be able to manage jump-weave!!! The bit on the star that went wrong was probably my fault for turning in too soon but is still a bit annoying, and I am not sure why she knocked the pole on the snake as I am just out of the picture but I think maybe I moved my arm to send her back again too quickly - no excuse though!!! :p
Jumping Combined 1&2
This was really nice until I decided to play silly buggers - the bit at the end, I did what I always do and went to cross behind her before she had started to jump and so pushed her off the jump, grrr!!! I then decided to take her the long way round as that was the way she was now facing!! Again, it was this dithering that cost us the 1.511 between 7th and 1st place!!
Elliot
Agility Graded 1&2
This wasn't on the video - I used this to practise his wait because of the nice start, he did a beautifully wait and sat until I told him to go (from 2 and a half jumps away) , he then went under the jump before the tunnel. So I sat him back before this jump and he did it again, third time lucky though he went over it :) then he went in the tunnel and over no. 10 the wrong way as directed by his mummy :)
Jumping Graded 1&2
Well he started off as a naughty boy going before I said AND going under the first jump!! Third time lucky again though!!! I was naughty with his weaves and let him get away with missing out the middle one, I thought we had wasted enough time doing the first jump three times!!! The reason he missed the top one of the star was I think because I just didn't support him enough, he is not Jem and doesn't have the confidence to take the jumps by himself!! As for the snake, again, my fault for not turning early enough and not being clear enough with my turn either, the rest of the round was really nice though and i was really pleased with him!!
Jumping Combined 1&2
At least this time he waited to be released and went over the first jump :) he clearly sees weaves as an inconvenience and wants to get on as quickly as possible, hence missing the end one on his second attempt at them!!! I am not sure why he took the wrong jump before the tunnel, maybe I didn't turn my shoulders quickly enough, but I probably also forgot to use my voice (shocking I know!!!) I think the reason he ran round the jump on the star was because he jumped very long and consequently I didn't move my arms soon enough to pull him towards me. Working on after cloth tunnels is obviously something else for us to work on, mummy just doesn't run fast enough!! He finished the course really nicely though :)
All in all I was pleased with today, Elliots problems were the same as usual - weaves!!! I feel his other problems were because mummy forgets he is a baby and also because he makes baby mistakes!! As for Jem, we still just need to get a smooth clear, be that my fault or hers who knows but I am sure we will get there very soon!!
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Acremead - wow what a day :)
Well both dogs were on the Extra-set team. We had a declared time of 21 seconds because we hadn't ran this team before. We had a cracking time, and broke out on one leg with a time of 20.16!! This meant we then had to just keep back on our changes. For me there were three amazing things that came out of today, first was that Jem ran every single leg in the blue and looked like she actually knew what she was doing and that she was having fun staying in our lane!! She got one run back on the red lane and then on our last race we did a warm up run with her - she was being a pain in the bum on the start line, wouldn't look up our lane and just wanted to bark at the other team warming up, but after Katie stood in her way and Nat had words with her (she loves her aunty Nat but is very scared of her at flyball for some reason!!) she looked up our lane and then ran up and back and stayed in our lane even though there were dogs in the blue lane!!!!!! :D :D :D The Second amazing thing was Elliot, he ended up running for Carol as Nat ran Perry and he didn't bat an eyelid, he ran exactly the same for her as for Nat and me, he well and truly proved my point that he will run for whoever has the tuggy!! The third amazing thing was that we won the division!!! :) Heres hoping this is this is a good start to an even better season that by the end of Jem will be as good in the red lane as in the blue!!!
Below are three vids that my flatmate took for us which prove that Jem was actually doing it!!! Just a word of warning though, you might want to turn down/off the sound when watching them!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiR82Evxiz0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmXBfYE9UIM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmp3zHnVqRw
I shall give some times once Nat has watched the vids and got me some - the lights didnt have timers on and everyone was really busy trying to make sure we didn't break out again so we didnt manage to get any whilst racing!!
Below are three vids that my flatmate took for us which prove that Jem was actually doing it!!! Just a word of warning though, you might want to turn down/off the sound when watching them!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiR82Evxiz0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmXBfYE9UIM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmp3zHnVqRw
I shall give some times once Nat has watched the vids and got me some - the lights didnt have timers on and everyone was really busy trying to make sure we didn't break out again so we didnt manage to get any whilst racing!!
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