IHC Standard Course

This course is based off of a course we ran last weekend at the Utah 4-star. The course was designed by Tim Laubach. I had to modify it a little since I didn't have enough tunnels or a chute. #18 was a chute, and #10/#14 was a tunnel. I am sure my changes made it harder.

On the real course Tip did a fairly good job, except she broke her start line (which amazingly didn't set up off course and she had another off course (can't remember where, ops).

Today I focused on running the beginning sequence 1-2-3-4 and 4-5-6-7-8-9. I wanted to play with the different ways to cue the beginning sequence with Tip, who is obstacle focused (this makes cuing easier some times) and Split who is handler focused and if not told to do something, won't do it.

With Tip I could lead out to the landing side of 3, face her and do a cross on the flat to get #3. With Split I had to stay on the landing side of #2 and then move forward to get my cross on the flat for 3. After Split ran the course once, I could cue the same as Tip.

Next I played with how to cue 8 to 9. Tip did this fine in the trial, but I was still curious if it could be done differently. The two ways that worked were jumping her to the outside of 8, bring her to side through the gap and then cue the weaves. The other was to backup through the gap and then to cue 9. I prefer to bring her to side since it was easier for me, but this was risky with some dogs.

Tangle just got to work on individual obstacles. We worked on more introduction of the tire (no you can't touch it when jumping it).

Course from Agility Nerd

AgilityNerd Article

This course caught my eye. On paper it had some challenges that I thought would be really good for Split and myself--forward sends and independent weaves. Those were the challenges, but there was more (of course).

The only difference between my course and Steve's, I exchanged the chute for a tunnel (I don't have a chute) and I had another jump beyond #4 so I would know if I wasn't queuing correctly.

Steve mentions that you should start with your dog so that you can appreciate the challenge of the course. I did start with the dogs as well as lead out (same side as the dog) to the second jump. I wanted to practice non-traditional starts.

In working with Split the first challenge was sending to #4. Since I was so far behind, he came out of the tunnel looking for me and I had trouble getting him out to the jump (Tip, no problem there).

At the weaves I tried front crossing the entry side, but ended up really liking running 4-5-6 like a serpentine. Both dogs could get their entry when I was at the end of the weaves, actually they collected better after 4 with me at the end of the weaves.

#6 is not that clear to the dog. Great thing to practice! Rarely do we see a jump placed like that and both dogs tried out the back side of the jump if I did not clearly bring them into me. Another reason why the serp worked better.

The next challenge was getting the dog to turn toward me after the straight tunnel. Again, I ended up sending to #7 and being at the end of the tunnel to get a better turn for 9-10.

That is as far as we got today. I might comment again tomorrow when, hopefully I can finish the full course.

Great course Steve, thanks!!!

Tangle worked on jumping, weaves (2 sets of six!!!), table, and the dog walk today. He was really motivated and into it. I tried using his favorite squeaky ball. Lovely surprise that he worked really well for it, but could still think well enough to execute things nicely.

A game of chase is all it took!

Tangle is a thinker when it comes to agility. He does not like to fail and sometimes over thinks a problem. These kind of dogs are great to have, but you have to be really careful in a couple of ways with them. 1) Don't let them fail too many times. If they can't get it on the first couple of tries, break down the task. (good practice anyway) 2) If they start loosing interest you can almost be guaranteed they are thinking too much and the fun factor has to be ramped up! Don't let them think too hard!!

Compare this with Tip, who is a do'er! I don't think Tip has ever shut down on me. She is ALWAYS game to play and then play more. She would work until she drops dead. BUT, it is harder to get her into a place where she is thinking "hum, what does she really want". I have to control Tip's excitement level a lot more when training something new. Food when she is learning something new, toys only when she has got it down cold.

So, I introduced Tangle to channel weaves this morning. He has been taught to weave six poles with 2x2 weaves. The channels were a completely different obstacle to him and it was NOT obvious what he needed to do to perform them properly. I noticed very quickly that he was thinking too hard and beginning to shut down. Well I believe strongly in ending on a positive note and it became apparent this was not going to happen.

Stop, breath, and think "how do I end this on a happy note"? C H A S E!!!!

Tangle's favorite obstacle right now is the AFrame. So, I incorporated the AFrame into a game of chance to just get him "do" and not "think" any more. It turned out to be a great decision. I ran him over the AFrame (favorite obstacle), threw the squirrel Frisbee (favorite toy) and while he was getting that, I ran in the different direction and hide behind the shed (chase, favorite game). I had a completely different dog on my hands!!! The speed, intensity, and joy out of Tangle was amazing.

After I had him completely engaged again, we went back to the weaves. First time ran all the way through the channels--we ended there, on a positive note!

Now, I will say as I write this I realize my mistake in introducing the channel weaves. I had them slightly open and I think that is what confused him. I should have started with them closed and then opened them as he gained confidence on another set of weaves. First time I have trained weaves this way and we all live and learn.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Split returned to class last night. First time in about 5 months! Now Splits is a happy dog anyway, but last night he was celebrating in every way he knew how. Wagging his tail from his soul, howling, yipping, and greeting everybody as if he hadn't seen them in 100 years. The boy was happy!!



This was the course that we had Split run. We were trying to take it easy on him since this would be his first time out. He has run at home, but nothing parallels the excitement of being in class for him.

All in all I have to say I was super pleased with how he did considering his excitement was OVER THE TOP!

Back in January Split was having a few problems. I am positive most of them were attributed to his injury (got to love 20/20 hind sight). Skipping weaves, jumping off the teeter, avoiding jumps.

Last night's course was a different story. He did awesome for his first time out. Took all the jumps, hit the weave entries and finished them, and all with speed!

The only problem on the course that we had was several really, really wide turns! 12 to 13 he really wanted to hit the weaves on the way back to me, and 14-15 he wanted to hit the tunnel. Now to be fair, it was hard to cue collection, but I am not sure he was really interested in collecting and running a controlled course. He wanted to stretch out and just RUN!

I was expecting worse since he was very over the top! I am just thrilled to have him running again, wide turns included!

Feels like kindergarten again

This blog is mostly for myself! A marker in time if you will about where we are and what we are doing.

Today's session with Tangle today was great, but there are certain things that running/training a green dog teaches or reteaches you. Experienced dogs, like experienced people have the ability to say "I know what you said, but I will do what you really want". Green dogs say "OK, I will do exactly what you told me".

We worked on several things today and more than once I was educated by my young dog!

Start lines - I have a tendency to push slightly out laterally as I am beginning to run forward. Tangle is reading this as lateral motion and will come around the jump since he is not obstacle focused yet. I need to make sure that I have my weight moving forward and give the jump command!

Start lines - I know about this gotcha, but am still guilty in certain situations. When I am asking for a lateral start, that is my lead out is just to the side, not forward I move AS I release the dog. I need to move and then release. Tangle was releasing on motion.



Start lines, contacts, and the table - I need to use my release word and then the obstacle name. I want it very clear what releases him.

Straight line of jumps - I need to remember to give him the jump command! Older dogs don't need it, but Tangle still needs it. He wants to be right and that helps reassure him that I do want him to take that jump! I also need to be mindful that he can't drive the pace, it is I who has that job.

Just to mark where we are on our other obstacles at this point:

Teeter performance - Tangle has started to identify the tipping point of the teeter instead of just driving to the end. We need to go back and do the following exercise to help him focus on the 2o2o and not the tipping.:
--hold the end of the teeter up, hold Tangle, and have him drive into his 2o2o position while the teeter is up and then let it drop.

Dog Walk - We have made the conversion to a 2o2o (2 feet on, 2 feet off) at the end. Tangle completely understands his job and is doing it really well, but I want excellent! I need to incorporate some drive to the end exercises. Again, focus on getting to the end as soon as possible. When he had a running dog walk we didn't need to work on this.

A-Frame - What can I say, it is awesome! It is still a running contact and I intend to keep this one running. He runs it at full speed, just clearing the apex and drives to the bottom. So, we will just continue to raise it.

Specialty jumps - time to introduce them! Tire, winged jumps, double, triple, and broad jump.

In general Tangle is doing an excellent job. His speed to good, watches me well, thoughtful and quick to learn. What more could I ask really!

Woo Hoo!

Many of my friends are busy posting their agility winnings and accomplishments on FaceBook and YouTube. I am very proud of them and feel happy for them that they are all doing so well. Really, I am. I do have Tip to run and she continues to turn in stellar performances, but it is not what is making me bust at the seams right now.



I am going to post a HUGE accomplishment of mine here today. It feels like we just ran a marathon and came in with a personal best time!! Split finished rehab today. His physical therapist is super happy with his progress and doesn't want to see him again (except for maintenance work). This is very much like a marathon for me. It has been 4 months off from our regular routine, 2 months of that with very little activity. Then SLOWLY introducing agility back into our lives for 2 months and we aren't done yet, but we can begin to see our first trial date in sight.


So, when you run your dog and they are healthy and happy, kiss them and thank them for the gift of another great run!

A-Frame performance

I have heard this advice several times and in several different disciplines "Find a great performance and emulate it"

I just started to train Tangles A-Frame and thankfully I have the performance to emulate right in my backyard (literally). Tip has a beautiful A-Frame. Fast, efficient and really consistent. I want Tangle's Aframe to be like hers.

Video comparison


I ran both dogs on the same configuration this morning as a way to evaluate the differences in performance. Let me say immediately I honestly don't believe that I can train Tangle to be just like Tip when it comes to the AFrame. The dogs have different structure, temperament, and drive. But can I get close? Yes, I believe that I can.

I have many observations about the side-by-side performances, but I would love to hear what others have to say before I taint the waters. I have no doubt that others will observe valuable things that I have missed!! Please, comment away!!