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Viewing 15 posts - 31 through 45 (of 395 total)
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  • in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63982
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    It’s already 78 degrees at 6:15 am. So, a short skill session is all I’ll be able to do. Threadles are NOT my best skill. Remind me where to look. Am I looking at her eyes or my hand?

    Bars are at 14, I’ve no idea which side is better for her as it seems to change. Spacing is tight. Also, my movement seems to through her off.

    Tomorrow we can try the wrap which is even harder for us.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63926
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    I MAY have muttered dammit at the end of the run as well. Not at her, but at me! I think I said right….but Sprite and right sound the same and I really don’t want to change my directional as I can remember direction.

    I’m not sure what she was looking at. But, the back and forth behind me lining up isn’t new. She definitely likes to do that. It’s like her pre run routine. But, sometimes I just have to put my hand in her collar to stop it.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63917
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Since I won’t have anything else for awhile I’ll post yesterdays JWW. So nice…until I used too much brake arm. I was in no mans land. Couldn’t get a cross in and didn’t drive deep enough to do a correct rear cross. I tried to save it, but I couldn’t. So close once again. Temps there in the mid 70s. So much nicer!

    She was definitely distracted going in. There are 4 rings at this trial and a practice ring. USDAA on one side and AKC on the other. It was my first time here. There’s another trial this weekend, but only one judge and just AKC. Unfortunately, I’m on call for jury duty so I didn’t enter.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63887
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Thanks Tracy!

    Yes I am entered. Doubt I’ll do any of your class next week. Temps 110-113 and the low 70s. It’ll likely be too hot to go to the park. But, I’ll see.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63872
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    Did I cause the first bar? I felt connected and patient. Sprite is still hot going in the ring. Maybe I set her too far back? I was really proud of the rest of this run.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63761
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    I’m trying not to push her too much at the start line as line ups are hard for her. But, I agree, it would be better if she lined up exactly by my side. However, she seems to be doing pretty well with the lateral lead outs!

    So, Sprite is a hands in the face type for the brake arms? That was one of my many questions from last night. Thanks for answering the multitude of questions!

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63746
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    It’s so interesting that it’s left to right as we both thought right was her better turning side. But, maybe not. I’ll play with it more next week, but it’s supposed to be 103-108 so maybe not.

    Hmm. Should have looked at the course maps. I made it much harder for my self starting on the wrong jump. Oopsie!

    Here is the brake are exercises. We had the most problem with the first one. I set her on a slice which got the back side of 3 as I didn’t control the turn from 2 to 3. Then, I had trouble layering the middle jump that was so conveniently in the way. We ultimately got it. Last one wasn’t a great turn from 5 to 6 but I moved on. I’ve only the one dog now and there’s less down time between turns. You can see she was getting tired and/or hot towards the end. But, you see every rep I did.

    I’m still not sure I’m seeing the collection and leaving correctly. It’ll take some time to figure that out. She was amazing! I even did the post turn. I tried to spin it in my walk through, but caught myself. It’ll be better to get up field if I figure it out. Is it sort of a split step?

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63682
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    I have a quick question on the zigzag grid. Sprite consistently adds an extra stride jumping left to right. I started with the harder side. I softened the angle after the easier side and she still added the stride do I stopped. I’m not sure what to do to grow this skill. Bar is 8 in.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63573
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    Yep, as she got hotter she was less likely to look at the first jump. It might be a tell. Plus, where do I look? Am I supposed to be connecting to her eyes like usual or do I stare at the jump? I felt like we were both staring at each other. What’s the plan for indoors? Just a food bowl loaded?

    I didn’t think about the slice line in sequence one. The off course jump seemed likely if I turned her to the left rather than right on jump 5. But, the wrap to the backside to the backside was a lot! She was pretty slow on sequence 3 with all of the turns. There was no where for me to go and it was a bit demotivating I think. It’s like the AKC pinwheels to nowhere! So good practice.

    Yes, I did sequence 2 last as I don’t have room for the extra jump. I just used the cone to help set the line correct to 4. Yep, I wanted her to turn the other way on the first attempt. But…she didn’t so I just saved it. Because…that happens. I wasn’t really sure what the best way to handle that turn, I thought about a tandem or double lap. But, I couldn’t figure out how do get me in a position to do it after the spin. Multiple moves in a row are not my strong suit.

    I actually have a cooling coat in my refrigerator somewhere. The issue is I cannot leave anything on her unattended. It’s possible that she’s better now, but Sprite has ingested things off of her body on more than one occasion. Not just shredded it. She actually eats it requiring ER visits to induce vomiting.

    The good news is I have a trial this weekend that my friends talked me into. It is 3 ish hours away and near the coast with highs expected in the 60s to low 70s. However, both of her agility classes were canceled this week which is unfortunate. So, no weave or contact practice beforehand.

    I thought about lowering the bars, but I didn’t…obviously.

    Thanks!

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63544
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hey Tracy,

    It’s very hot here so we didn’t go to the park as I knew she’d run about twice. Sprite doesn’t love the heat. I did my best setting this in my yard. The spacing is pretty tight and I only have 4 jumps. It was 95-100 when these were filmed. I did the first one this AM. Then, the last one later when there was shade, but the temp was hotter. It was a bit hard for her to focus forward. She’s not going to be a hot weather dog. That’s unfortunate given where I live.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63496
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    This is what happens when you don’t give me hints for the pop outs! lol.

    So, I’m concerned about a brake arm for a 180. I do tend to use them to help her wrap. So, how would she know the difference if I use it for a 180 to stay on the line, but I also use it to get her to come through the gap and wrap? I agree that soft turns are not a great skill. Timing is everything. We are getting there; however, I was surprised when I did try early and she came through the gap of the 180 rather than take the jump in sequence 2. I had to run further than I expected to get her to take jump 5.

    She does tend to brush the wing on back side slices in general. If you watch in slo mo she hit the wing several times in the sequences, but the bar didn’t fall. I’m not sure they were all back side slices though. We are working on the jumping homework.

    It would be ever so helpful to have grid coordinates for the pop outs if possible. I tried to extrapolate them from the big sequence. I’m considering UKI with Sprite, but it is mostly AKC around here. The lines are definitely much tighter.

    I’ll see if I can get to the park this weekend for the next set of pop outs. But, it’s supposed to be hot.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63460
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    The perils of going to the park. It’s in the low 70s at 10 am. I set everything up, warm up Sprite, put her on the line and she steps on something. Right paw goes up. I couldn’t find a sticker or bee sting, but I walked her out, put her back in her crate and walked the courses again. She seemed okay, so we ran. But, now it’s hotter. She’s still acclimating to the heat and I don’t think she loves it. Gemma, surprisingly, never seemed to care how hot it was.

    1. First sequence went well except for the bar on our first attempt. I only did 2.
    2. Sequence 2 I had trouble with 4-6. I was worried about the correct side of the tunnel and kept pulling her off of 5. A few help sequences in there.
    3. Sequence 3 the predicted issue with jump 6. I think the tandem turn worked best for her. Although I did a short set the the blind and DOR I didn’t do the full sequence again. She was getting hot and tired.
    4. I should have stopped after attempt one. She’s definitely hot and tired by this point.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63429
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    I’m hopefully setting the pop out jumping courses tomorrow. However, I’m not sure what to do from 5 to 6 on pop out 3. I can try to send with DOL from the 3 tunnel to 4 and either BC or FC 5 to 6. But, I suspect that will buy me an off course tunnel. I could try to threadle wrap 5 to 6 with DOL, but that’s a very weak skill. What would you suggest to set that line?

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63383
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    I’m still trying to figure out Sprites working space from me. It’s changing a bit. Where to lead out is a mystery as I’ve not had a lead out for a decade! Plus, I don’t always run the most efficient lines. I see your point (now, of course) that I gave her too much space from jump 6 in sequence 3. I started correctly, and then swerved a bit.

    Also, I’m not used to having an arm up to indicate the first jump since we’ve been told to keep our arms back! Is the plan dog side foot and arm forward when we are lateral or behind? This was a perfect exercise for her as forward focus on the jump is on the training list. It took her awhile, but she did really well.

    I was wondering about the set up to jump one in sequence one. I totally understand your slice comment for the later sequences. But, given that I need a turn on 2 to show the front of 3 would it be better to set her up more perpendicular to 1 rather than a slice for sequence 1 and 2? My lead out closer to 4 was better for her. Too close to three seemed to be in her bubble to push her to the back side. But, other than a verbal “right” cue between 1 and 2 what would help her square up to jump 2 and not slice it? Your dogs seemed to square up in the videos.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( 3 yr old Aussie) #63357
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Great thank you! I’ll work on that separately.

    So…I tried the intro hot topics sequences. I couldn’t figure out how to get jump 3 in sequence one. Sprite sliced 2 and was on the backside of 3 naturally. Where should I be in lead out and how do I help her with this line? I struggled to get 4 as I had to babysit jump 2 to 3. I ended up moving the jump over to help her. I’m pretty sure I didn’t build it wrong, but it is possible that I did. I spent the bulk of my time trying to figure out sequence one. We did 2-4 and mostly those were one and done. Except I ran the wrong line on one attempt.

Viewing 15 posts - 31 through 45 (of 395 total)