Monday 23 January 2012

Weaving Bean!


I wasnt sure what to title this one! Loki is more often called Lokibean,
no idea why its just stuck!!! hence the weaving bean title....

Training update!! Loki has started on channels...after much deliberation i decided as she isnt much of a shaper when training, this will be the simpler method for her. I haven't previously trained any of my dogs using them, but have taught others :) it was a big descision between these and 2x2 method for her, being small and not really orientated by anything other than harry!! so far so good, she has had a couple of sessions, and is really running through them nicely :)





Chase & Daizy have also begun on them, chase couldnt really work out what he was doing, he just likes running!!!

both have started doing other combinations now and are starting to work ahead and use tunnels, its showing that consistency is the key, like in most things, when they werent getting weekly minimum training they werent learning as well or as fast, i know for most this is common knowlege, but for others reading it may be something you have over looked :) I know some of my trainee's read this so I like to write as honestly as i can about my own training, as last year i didnt get to do much, with one reason and another! this year ive started off right, and plan on working hard, not only with my dogs, but with myself and my family too, as harry is keen to work loki, as she is HIS dog, as he keeps remiding me!! ...funny how she is mine when she poo's!!!! I have entered Kernow using Iss, all 3 young dogs are entered too, i have gone for 2 per day with each of them, and im hoping the judges are kind and set nice courses for the grades, i have entered the lowest cominations possible ( ie no 3-4 if there is a 3!!) as both chase and dai will start grade 3, loki however will be harrys girl so starts in grade 1! SO very few graded classes for smalls, its very sad! i know when i choose classes for honiton i am careful to see every dog gets a graded run, but a lot this just happen for!! so as a new handler, my 11 year old son has no choice but to enter combined classes with his grade 1 dog :( Once they have their first show under their belt i will start looking into travelling further to graded classes for him so he knows what to expect more for his level, aswell as junior classes too :)

Terra has some hip area stiffness so will only be running in anysize, i had hoped she would one day compete, but i dont think that is a possibility now :( still she wont know any different, as she can still play in anysize with harv :)

Zig & meg have been re training on channels ( ive got channel obsessed!) so far so good, both are working well a small space apart, and are getting better with my main weakness of the dreaded right hand weaves! both dogs come out currently 2 poles before the end, no matter how many weaves there are! so im glad i have gone back to try again, both girls may only compete for this year before going into veterans ( we'll see how they cope this season first!) meg is 9 and zig is 10 next month, so they are both no spring chickens! as long as they enjoy themselves and are physically able to work in the heights and grades they are in, im happy for them to carry on :) its hard to know at what stage to retire them, as most agility dogs are kept well and have good fitness levels etc, combined with good diets, makes for good healthy dogs :) My vet has said countless times that she is amazed that ziggy does so well for her age and the condition of her heart, the murmur hasnt gotten any worse than when she started agility, so she see's no need to medicate her yet, she is fit and healthy, enjoys walks, runs, training and competing, if she had been a pet dog she said she probably wouldnt be here with us still :( so i know with her i am very glad how we keep our dogs!!

This weekend i have my first workshops being held!!! scarey but exciting at the same time! I love training and helping people learn with their dogs, so im really looking forward to it! These ones i know, but the next i wont know, so will be a new experience for me! teaching the unknown!!

1 comment:

nellie-bean's blog said...

Glad to see you are using the channels - by far the best way to teach. Time consuming yes to do it with them thoroughly but the best way to teach independence AND that it is actually all about running...
I only move to Vs later once the poles on channel weaves are so close they are starting to look like vs (that was with Nell) and with Pop I stuck with channels all through. Hen and Arch were hand lure but I retrained with Vs - they had never seen anything other than upright poles so Vs were more logical to retrain them on. Worked a treat. Good luck. Great photos!!