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Yes I do think I’m so worried about getting to the run as fast as possible so he doesn’t stress that I am rushing and stressing him out anyway. I don’t ask for a sit at the start at a trial because more often than not when I do he started doing stress behaviors like looking around behind him, scratching, or sniffing. Or the worst, he doesn’t move at all… But you do make a good point when I watch it again that I’m not giving him much time to connect with me either. At my next trial, I’m going to try to be more calm and not so rushed at the start line. I will have a Daisy Peel League run tomorrow so will try to be more intentional on the start line. I will video those runs because they are more like a trial, with a bit of pressure to get it right.
This one has several stress behaviors in it. The scratching at the start, the ill attempt at the weaves and when he didn’t want to do them, he went to other obstacles. One could say it could be my handling but I believe he knew I wanted him to make a good attempt at the weaves. But the other thing I usually do is not make a deal of it and just go on. Often I just keep running even if he runs around a jump. I’ve tried making a point of fixing them on occasion. He’s not as soft a dog as most would give him credit for as an Iggy. I can correct him with No. Which I have in the ring to mark that is not ok. Generally I’m very upbeat and trying to be encouraging and fun!
Here’s a pretty good run from a recent trial but one where is barked at the judge then got back on track. He did do his weaves which is usually a stresser for him. The start line was a struggle because the video doesn’t show it but right before we were going to take off there was a bar down that the judge didn’t see. So we were already given the go but the had to wait. This shows where he doesn’t want to leave the start when he was stressed.
Here is a couple of video’s showing us playing. First video is some functional movement/tricks that we usually do for warm ups. Didn’t have a big plan just did some things. He’s food motivated. The 2nd video shows more tugging playing with a toy. He does this at home but only sometimes if we are at a class. It’s cold outside so didn’t have a lot of room for chasing. I’ll try again if it dries out a bit today.
Diamond is generally really good with people outside of the agility trial ring. I socialized him pretty well for an IG. He can navigate city streets and backyard parties on leash with no problem. In the summer we take him to a few restaurants that allow dogs and he sits on his bed no problem, greets strangers that want to talk to him and the waitress. Walking on leash he will initiate greeting people. There was a trial last Fall that he had just barked at a bar setter and came out of the ring and then he wanted to greet all the strangers standing there. So while writing this, I do see there is a difference between on leash and off leash stranger danger. Off leash strangers can bother him, like someone walking into our fenced yard unannounced. He would bark at that. I’m sure he feels “safer” on leash with me?
