Apparently the May MMBC NADAC trial is notorious for bad weather. That is why I bought water-proof shoes last year and ran out and invested in rain pants last week. It turns out that those were the best purchases ever. Saturday started with an already soaked field with a few sprinkles mixed in. I'm thinking "Not bad, glad I have my rain gear." Zoe was jazzed by the cool wet weather and for the first time made elite time and earned her first two elite Q's and first open weavers Q. So now I'm thinking, "Wow, my dog thinks this is awesome...we are going to have a great weekend." Little did I know, it was all downhill from there.
After a brief respite from the rain, it started to rain hard. Three dogs before our run, the trial was on hold and I was stuck scarfing down my lunch with Zoe at my side in a crowded tent. No big deal...I didn't want to savor my food anyway. So then the trial begins again and it's finally our turn. We start our run and Zoe looks unusually distracted and even starts to veer away from me. Crap. Quite literally actually as she never got a proper walk and chance to eliminate with all of the steady rain. So our run ended with an E....there is definitely a first time for everything. At least I couldn't blame her given the conditions and in the end, she was a happy camper.
The rest of the day was a wash - no pun intended. As the rain persisted, the ground got soggier and soggier. Zoe became less enthused about the weather and had to slow down to avoid slipping...good girl. No more Qs for us, but we had a good time braving the elements.
Sunday came and I thought it would be a new day. Instead, it was a repeat of Saturday plus severe weather. We ran our first 4 runs, NQed in all. Mostly chalking that up to soggy fields and bad footing. Ok, there was some tunnel discriminations Zoe and I had to sort through as well. But mostly the soggy fields. By noon, the weather turned south and we headed back to the comfort of home. It was no longer about the Qs...just staying safe and dry.
All in all, I can't say it was a terrible weekend. There was good teamwork, excited dogs, and fun conversations. I am quite pleased with Zoe's effort, especially showing that she can make elite time. After that, it didn't really matter how we did. I am just glad that we got through the weekend safe and that it will go down as a very memorable agility trial!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Riding the Wave
I really cannot complain about the past two months. I could highlight our stellar Q-rate, but what I've really been impressed with is how focused and consistent Zoe has become. I also think I have improved greatly in reading what makes her run better and being where I need to be to help support her. I enjoy the fact that CPE agility is challenging, but never so much that I doubt we can meet the challenge. Right now, we are 8 runs away from our C-ATCH, which is CPE's Agility Trial Champion title. If Zoe keeps up her pace, we should be able to accomplish this towards the end of the summer. It would have been really exciting to get our CATCH at the CPE Nationals event next month, but we would need at least one more trial before that to do so. Either way, the Nationals event should be a blast and I am really looking forward to meeting more people who enjoy the sport of agility.
This past weekend I also got the opportunity to run Breeze at a Fun Run again. She did great this time and being on turf, there were far fewer distractions than in the horse arena. She hit her contacts beautifully and did a nice job following my lead. I can really see the difference, however, between her and Zoe because our teamwork is not quite solid yet. I am still learning what handling works for her and she is still learning how to read my cues. At this point, it's just going to take practice. She seems to really be enjoying the game and I am excited to start her in competition this summer. Thankfully, spring is finally here and we can start practicing in the back yard again!!
This past weekend I also got the opportunity to run Breeze at a Fun Run again. She did great this time and being on turf, there were far fewer distractions than in the horse arena. She hit her contacts beautifully and did a nice job following my lead. I can really see the difference, however, between her and Zoe because our teamwork is not quite solid yet. I am still learning what handling works for her and she is still learning how to read my cues. At this point, it's just going to take practice. She seems to really be enjoying the game and I am excited to start her in competition this summer. Thankfully, spring is finally here and we can start practicing in the back yard again!!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Gearing Up for Nationals
I couldn't have been happier with my little black dog at our last trial a couple of weeks ago. We went a perfect 10 for 10 that weekend and earned our last two titles in Level 4 CPE. It was our first perfect weekend and extended Zoe's streak of being a steady, consistent dog. Though I am very satisfied with how Zoe has been running, there are definitely a few key things that we still need to work on.
Our main goal is to ramp up Zoe's speed. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being fast), Zoe typically runs at a 6. I know she can get faster, and she has over time as she gains confidence. Last week, we visited a new trainer who I think will be a big help with this. Unsurprisingly, it will be me who will have to do most of the work. I have always fought a balance between cheerleading Zoe and letting her do her thing. On one hand, I need to encourage her to keep going, but on the other, I don't want praise to lose its meaning. She actually does a nice job running on her own, so I need to learn to give her more efficient feedback. We will also be working on her teeter confidence. Zoe had an unfortunately quick learning experience with the teeter, so now we are going back and teaching her that the teeter is not so scary and can actually be a fun game.
Though I am excited about this new class, it means a big transition in our training. I've really gotten comfortable in my current class and have developed a great relationship with the trainer and other students. It's hard to know when to move on, but in any sport, change is a necessity. Zoe and I have become such a better team over the past year, and I owe a lot of that to the things I have learned from my current trainer. Namely, I've learned a lot about how to think outside of the box. The most obvious course path isn't always the easiest. Also, I need to be aware of my voice: my pitch and tone, the commands I use and how often I use them.
It's wonderful to do well in trials, earn titles, and collect ribbons. But what excites me most is how far we've come and discovering just how much there is to learn in the world of dog sports. Like most hobbies, there is a sense of fulfillment and pride as you achieve small accomplishments along the way towards a long-term goal. But what makes agility really special is that you get a relationship in return - both with your dog and with others who share your passion. Maybe that is what makes it so addicting!
Our main goal is to ramp up Zoe's speed. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being fast), Zoe typically runs at a 6. I know she can get faster, and she has over time as she gains confidence. Last week, we visited a new trainer who I think will be a big help with this. Unsurprisingly, it will be me who will have to do most of the work. I have always fought a balance between cheerleading Zoe and letting her do her thing. On one hand, I need to encourage her to keep going, but on the other, I don't want praise to lose its meaning. She actually does a nice job running on her own, so I need to learn to give her more efficient feedback. We will also be working on her teeter confidence. Zoe had an unfortunately quick learning experience with the teeter, so now we are going back and teaching her that the teeter is not so scary and can actually be a fun game.
Though I am excited about this new class, it means a big transition in our training. I've really gotten comfortable in my current class and have developed a great relationship with the trainer and other students. It's hard to know when to move on, but in any sport, change is a necessity. Zoe and I have become such a better team over the past year, and I owe a lot of that to the things I have learned from my current trainer. Namely, I've learned a lot about how to think outside of the box. The most obvious course path isn't always the easiest. Also, I need to be aware of my voice: my pitch and tone, the commands I use and how often I use them.
It's wonderful to do well in trials, earn titles, and collect ribbons. But what excites me most is how far we've come and discovering just how much there is to learn in the world of dog sports. Like most hobbies, there is a sense of fulfillment and pride as you achieve small accomplishments along the way towards a long-term goal. But what makes agility really special is that you get a relationship in return - both with your dog and with others who share your passion. Maybe that is what makes it so addicting!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Spring Agility
Well, the agility spring season is in full swing. Zoe and I went down to La Crosse, WI earlier this month and also traveled to Isanti, MN last weekend for agility competitions. Zoe did wonderful both weekends and had a perfect day in Isanti, going 4/4! The weekend in Isanti was particularly special since one year ago Zoe was struggling to come back to competing after her injury. One year later, she is now having fun and becoming a consistent competitor. She is truly a great teammate to have - she has a nice combo of handler and obstacle focus, is a hard worker, and seems to enjoy the sport. I am hoping that things continue to go well until the CPE Nationals event in June!
Meanwhile, Breeze is progressing in her agility training. Her style is completely different than Zoe and is thus making me a much better handler. Where I need to encourage Zoe, I need to subdue Breeze. She goes at things will full force and needs to learn how to control her young body. She lives to work and let's nothing get in the way, even when she gets caught up in the cords of the tire jump :) She'll make a fantastic agility partner, but we've got lots of work to do before she competes.
Meanwhile, Breeze is progressing in her agility training. Her style is completely different than Zoe and is thus making me a much better handler. Where I need to encourage Zoe, I need to subdue Breeze. She goes at things will full force and needs to learn how to control her young body. She lives to work and let's nothing get in the way, even when she gets caught up in the cords of the tire jump :) She'll make a fantastic agility partner, but we've got lots of work to do before she competes.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Fire and Ice Frisbee Competition
Breeze made her competition debut last weekend, but it wasn't in the agility ring. Twin Cities Disc Dog Club held their annual frisbee competition out in Plymouth last weekend where we got to finally show off our skills. It has been pretty darn cold lately, but luckily the weather warmed up a little just in time!
So basically, disc comps work like this...you get two 1-minute rounds to get in as many throws as you can. The further your dog catches the disc, the more points you get. Extra credit for jumping catches. There are two divisions - novice and pro. The novice competitors get to throw five yards closer than the pro competitors.
There were 11 dogs in novice and we ended up in 2nd place! Breeze did absolutely great except when it was time to pry the disc from her jaws :) We took the conservative route, trying to get in more accurate shorter throws. Turns out it paid off and we now get to move up to the pro division next time!
All in all, the day was really fun. The event was actually a part of a larger city-wide festival, so there were lots of people watching and wanting to pet the dogs. Breeze did a nice job behaving herself and didn't jump up on anyone. She showed nice control and played nice with the other dogs. She has really matured leaps and bounds over the past few months.
I'm not sure when the next disc comp will be, but I am excited to try it again on green grass :)
So basically, disc comps work like this...you get two 1-minute rounds to get in as many throws as you can. The further your dog catches the disc, the more points you get. Extra credit for jumping catches. There are two divisions - novice and pro. The novice competitors get to throw five yards closer than the pro competitors.
There were 11 dogs in novice and we ended up in 2nd place! Breeze did absolutely great except when it was time to pry the disc from her jaws :) We took the conservative route, trying to get in more accurate shorter throws. Turns out it paid off and we now get to move up to the pro division next time!
All in all, the day was really fun. The event was actually a part of a larger city-wide festival, so there were lots of people watching and wanting to pet the dogs. Breeze did a nice job behaving herself and didn't jump up on anyone. She showed nice control and played nice with the other dogs. She has really matured leaps and bounds over the past few months.
I'm not sure when the next disc comp will be, but I am excited to try it again on green grass :)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Trick Training: Chores Aren't Just for Humans
So here I am in the dead of winter. The backyard is frozen, agility trials are scarce, and the dogs are going crazy. I usually try to fit in a training session each night, but to be honest, I've been a bit lazy, so we keep practicing the same tricks over and over. I decided it was time to get our brains in gear and try some new stuff.
When I was thinking of what to teach, I figured it might be a good idea to teach something useful. Why not teach the dogs to put their toys away?? Chad's always complaining that I don't clean up as much as I should, so I'll just pass that duty along to the dogs!
Trick training is a great mental workout for dogs, but it is also equally challenging for the human. Each dog learns differently and has unique strengths and weaknesses. Shaping is like a puzzle: you need to figure out how to split the behaviors just right so that the dog can be successful and maintain motivation.
I first started this endeavor with Breeze. Breeze is a workaholic and a quick learner. She generalizes well and has a very good memory. The main challenge with putting toys away is that it requires the dog to manipulate another object. So far, most of my training has revolved around Breeze moving her body. When I give a cue, it usually means to do something with her body. When I tell her to go out and jump, it means run towards the obstacle, jump over the obstacle, and come back. Not run to the obstacle, move the obstacle 5 feet away, and come back.
The closest thing Breeze knows about manipulating an object is fetch, so I started with this. I put a basket in front of me, threw a toy, and when she brought it back, I clicked for dropping it close to the basket. Now one tiny hiccup in this matter is that previously, I had trained Breeze to put her feet in a bowl. Unfortunately (or fortunately) she generalized this to the basket and whenever she came back, she put her front feet in the basket. After a few sessions, the toy was dropping in the basket along with her feet, but she wasn't really understanding that it was the toy that was supposed to be in the basket, not her feet. Finally, after about a week of training, she finally got this concept and the rest was downhill. I added distance between myself and the basket and added more toys. She generalized beautifully to other objects and this is what I got:
Zoe was a different story and challenge. Zoe is a confident but inhibited dog. She plays with her toys gently whereas Breeze tears them apart. She fetches, but only with objects that really excite her. Bring in the squeaky tennis ball! Zoe is very paw oriented and when I ask her to interact with a toy, she is more likely to paw it than mouth it. But a ball that squeaks is much more fun to chomp on, so I started with this. Zoe didn't grow up with shaping training (due to a novice trainer), so she will wait and wait and wait patiently until asked to do something. I wanted her to get the idea that a ball dropping in the basket equals treats. So I literally had to sit there with the ball above the basket, have her grab it, and let gravity drop it in the basket. Over and over and over and over again. This lasted for quite a few sessions and for a while there, I was a little worried she wasn't going to get it. But SLOWLY I moved the basket away to the side and low and behold she turned her head to drop it in. Once she made a solid connection that ball in basket = treat, it became much easier to increase the distance of the basket and have success. We are now at the point where I can throw the ball a few feet and she will retrieve it and bring it to the basket. Yay! Success! However, when I introduced a NEW object (i.e. a stuffed toy), we practically had to start over at step A and repeat the whole process. I am sure the process will be speedier, but it still demonstrates the vast differences in how my two dogs learn. Here is Zoe's progress so far:
My goal is to continue teaching new tricks regularly. For me, the hardest part is choosing a trick and figuring out where to start with the training. For Breeze, the next trick will be wrapping herself in a blanket and after one session, she is catching on fast!
When I was thinking of what to teach, I figured it might be a good idea to teach something useful. Why not teach the dogs to put their toys away?? Chad's always complaining that I don't clean up as much as I should, so I'll just pass that duty along to the dogs!
Trick training is a great mental workout for dogs, but it is also equally challenging for the human. Each dog learns differently and has unique strengths and weaknesses. Shaping is like a puzzle: you need to figure out how to split the behaviors just right so that the dog can be successful and maintain motivation.
I first started this endeavor with Breeze. Breeze is a workaholic and a quick learner. She generalizes well and has a very good memory. The main challenge with putting toys away is that it requires the dog to manipulate another object. So far, most of my training has revolved around Breeze moving her body. When I give a cue, it usually means to do something with her body. When I tell her to go out and jump, it means run towards the obstacle, jump over the obstacle, and come back. Not run to the obstacle, move the obstacle 5 feet away, and come back.
The closest thing Breeze knows about manipulating an object is fetch, so I started with this. I put a basket in front of me, threw a toy, and when she brought it back, I clicked for dropping it close to the basket. Now one tiny hiccup in this matter is that previously, I had trained Breeze to put her feet in a bowl. Unfortunately (or fortunately) she generalized this to the basket and whenever she came back, she put her front feet in the basket. After a few sessions, the toy was dropping in the basket along with her feet, but she wasn't really understanding that it was the toy that was supposed to be in the basket, not her feet. Finally, after about a week of training, she finally got this concept and the rest was downhill. I added distance between myself and the basket and added more toys. She generalized beautifully to other objects and this is what I got:
Zoe was a different story and challenge. Zoe is a confident but inhibited dog. She plays with her toys gently whereas Breeze tears them apart. She fetches, but only with objects that really excite her. Bring in the squeaky tennis ball! Zoe is very paw oriented and when I ask her to interact with a toy, she is more likely to paw it than mouth it. But a ball that squeaks is much more fun to chomp on, so I started with this. Zoe didn't grow up with shaping training (due to a novice trainer), so she will wait and wait and wait patiently until asked to do something. I wanted her to get the idea that a ball dropping in the basket equals treats. So I literally had to sit there with the ball above the basket, have her grab it, and let gravity drop it in the basket. Over and over and over and over again. This lasted for quite a few sessions and for a while there, I was a little worried she wasn't going to get it. But SLOWLY I moved the basket away to the side and low and behold she turned her head to drop it in. Once she made a solid connection that ball in basket = treat, it became much easier to increase the distance of the basket and have success. We are now at the point where I can throw the ball a few feet and she will retrieve it and bring it to the basket. Yay! Success! However, when I introduced a NEW object (i.e. a stuffed toy), we practically had to start over at step A and repeat the whole process. I am sure the process will be speedier, but it still demonstrates the vast differences in how my two dogs learn. Here is Zoe's progress so far:
My goal is to continue teaching new tricks regularly. For me, the hardest part is choosing a trick and figuring out where to start with the training. For Breeze, the next trick will be wrapping herself in a blanket and after one session, she is catching on fast!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Ringing in the New Year with Agility
We finally got to play in NADAC again this past weekend. While we only picked up 3 Q's, I felt very good about how the weekend went. First of all, NADAC is becoming more challenging for us. I now have Zoe in the preferred category, so she is jumping 20'' which shortens the standard course time by a few seconds. Also, we are running in Elite Regular, which also shortens the course time a bit too. Time is now our nemesis, which is humbling, but also changes my attitude regarding competition. We missed several Q's by only a few seconds - less than a second in two of our runs. However, in most of these runs, Zoe ran clean, fast, and focused. Running fast and focused is something she has been improving on greatly. She isn't the most driven dog out there, so she still gets distracted from time to time by smells, the judge standing on the course, shiny things, etc. In the past, I've really had to cheer lead her on to get her head in the game. This weekend I did a bit of cheerleading, but it was more to pick up her speed. I had very few problems with her wandering, which was a major improvement. And while we had problems making time, she was still running fast.
On to the other good stuff...we got our Open level Touch N Go title. Two of the three Q's we go this weekend were from the Touch N Go course. Zoe really demonstrated how much she loves this class. I really think her favorite obstacle is the A frame. In CPE Full House or Jackpot, I will try to get in the A frame at least twice. She always speeds up for it and will defer to it in a discrimination. I haven't heavily treated the A frame, so she just seems to have an intrinsic motivation to go over it. So when she got to do it twice in the touch n go course, she was jazzed. Both of these classes were run at the end of the day and in both, she ran over 4 yards per second. So the combo of contacts, tunnels, and no jumps equals jackpot for Zoe.
Also, we got our first open level chances Q. This was a surprise for me because I was unsure that we made time. Our first challenge was a tunnel/a frame discrimination with the tunnel being the correct and outer option. This was frustrating to see because this same discrimination was in the chances course the day before and Zoe took the A frame despite my desperate pleading. However, this time she got it and continued on. Midway, she got a bit stopped up because she had to do a distance 180 to a jump. She didn't get it at first, but then I reset her and sent her out. Once she knew what to do, she flew and finished the course with speed. I was concerned that the reset took too much time, but fortunately we made it. I've always been confident in her distance skills and she is comfortable with it as long as she knows where she is going. I was glad to see it pay off this time!
I did a lot of thinking about NADAC yesterday. I mentioned it changes my attitude because unlike CPE, I know that Q's are not easy to obtain and the runs are slightly beyond our level speed-wise. So when we NQ, I actually feel better about it than if we hadn't qualified in CPE. I am sort of at a crossroads with NADAC. I can always go back to novice and get more titles there. I can also change her to skilled, which would mean jumping at 16'' and a time break. But this would set us up for a MEDAL, which is the skilled equivalent of a NATCH. I need to think more about what titles mean to me and what my long-term career goals are.
Ultimately, I think it is up to my patience and whether or not I think Zoe can get there. No matter what I choose, she will always be having fun and I will be lavishly rewarding her. The difference will be our Q rate. I think I can handle NQs and still feel good about the runs. Regarding whether or not Zoe can get there time-wise. Currently, I am optimistic. We didn't miss our regular runs by much - especially the one we missed by .7 seconds. If she speeds up her weaves and dog walk, we'll have a few more seconds. Also, running on dirt speeds her up too. In the past, she has run regular courses at elite-level speeds, so I know she can do it. I also am banking on her gaining speed as she gets older. Confidence equals more speed and training and maturity also equals more confidence. So I think if I stick it out, she will eventually get there. I am also learning more about what motivates her. I am learning to rotate treats and use the ones that are really special to her. I also need to incorporate more play in our warm up. Finally, my goal for training this year is to treat more for shorter sequences and not just at the end. She consistently speeds up at the end of courses and I think it is because I mostly treat at the end too. I think if I reward her in the middle of courses in training, her head will stay in the game throughout the entire run.
My schedule this year will involve much more CPE than NADAC, but my goals for NADAC will transfer well to CPE. NADAC is always a nice breath of fresh air because of the smoother courses and fewer games. Next up for us will be CPE in Ham Lake in mid January!
On to the other good stuff...we got our Open level Touch N Go title. Two of the three Q's we go this weekend were from the Touch N Go course. Zoe really demonstrated how much she loves this class. I really think her favorite obstacle is the A frame. In CPE Full House or Jackpot, I will try to get in the A frame at least twice. She always speeds up for it and will defer to it in a discrimination. I haven't heavily treated the A frame, so she just seems to have an intrinsic motivation to go over it. So when she got to do it twice in the touch n go course, she was jazzed. Both of these classes were run at the end of the day and in both, she ran over 4 yards per second. So the combo of contacts, tunnels, and no jumps equals jackpot for Zoe.
Also, we got our first open level chances Q. This was a surprise for me because I was unsure that we made time. Our first challenge was a tunnel/a frame discrimination with the tunnel being the correct and outer option. This was frustrating to see because this same discrimination was in the chances course the day before and Zoe took the A frame despite my desperate pleading. However, this time she got it and continued on. Midway, she got a bit stopped up because she had to do a distance 180 to a jump. She didn't get it at first, but then I reset her and sent her out. Once she knew what to do, she flew and finished the course with speed. I was concerned that the reset took too much time, but fortunately we made it. I've always been confident in her distance skills and she is comfortable with it as long as she knows where she is going. I was glad to see it pay off this time!
I did a lot of thinking about NADAC yesterday. I mentioned it changes my attitude because unlike CPE, I know that Q's are not easy to obtain and the runs are slightly beyond our level speed-wise. So when we NQ, I actually feel better about it than if we hadn't qualified in CPE. I am sort of at a crossroads with NADAC. I can always go back to novice and get more titles there. I can also change her to skilled, which would mean jumping at 16'' and a time break. But this would set us up for a MEDAL, which is the skilled equivalent of a NATCH. I need to think more about what titles mean to me and what my long-term career goals are.
Ultimately, I think it is up to my patience and whether or not I think Zoe can get there. No matter what I choose, she will always be having fun and I will be lavishly rewarding her. The difference will be our Q rate. I think I can handle NQs and still feel good about the runs. Regarding whether or not Zoe can get there time-wise. Currently, I am optimistic. We didn't miss our regular runs by much - especially the one we missed by .7 seconds. If she speeds up her weaves and dog walk, we'll have a few more seconds. Also, running on dirt speeds her up too. In the past, she has run regular courses at elite-level speeds, so I know she can do it. I also am banking on her gaining speed as she gets older. Confidence equals more speed and training and maturity also equals more confidence. So I think if I stick it out, she will eventually get there. I am also learning more about what motivates her. I am learning to rotate treats and use the ones that are really special to her. I also need to incorporate more play in our warm up. Finally, my goal for training this year is to treat more for shorter sequences and not just at the end. She consistently speeds up at the end of courses and I think it is because I mostly treat at the end too. I think if I reward her in the middle of courses in training, her head will stay in the game throughout the entire run.
My schedule this year will involve much more CPE than NADAC, but my goals for NADAC will transfer well to CPE. NADAC is always a nice breath of fresh air because of the smoother courses and fewer games. Next up for us will be CPE in Ham Lake in mid January!
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