Powering through a course

I think that there is a ton of value in teaching foundation, breaking down sequences and working all the pieces and parts of the exercise/course.  I also believe that there is tremendous value in just powering through a course, not giving up, and learning to improvise with what the dog gives you.  They aren't always going to do what you expect. :)

I am taking Silvia's Handling 1 class with Hoot.  This morning I set up one of the courses and decided that "powering through it" was my objective.  I ran the course with both Tangle and Hoot.  You can see that both dogs reacted slightly different on this course and we powered through.







When I was running this course with both dogs I was being a bit conservative.  I want to re-run it "balls to the wall" so da speak and see what kind of commitment and trust we have in each other.

Ah, the happiness of training your puppy

This blog entry is a part of the dog agility blogging event, "Health and Happiness"

I got a BC puppy "Hoot" less than a year ago.  A very high drive, fearless, loves to work, agile, soft yet pushy kind of a girl.  I adore her and love to train her.  As with all my dogs, I want to keep her best interests in mind, but be able to train and play with her.

Hoot is my 4th agility dog and the 3rd I have started as a puppy (Tip was 18 months old before I discovered agility) and I navigated these waters with each pup.  In the past year I have been trying to research (daily) the right answers to the question "how much and what kind of agility/exercise is appropriate for my puppy".

There are a ton of diverse and strong opinions on what is good for agility puppies.  I believe in part, due to the fact that there aren't that many *FACTS* published in this area.  There are not many public studies** nor are there a ton of experts out there who are speaking up.  There is no data that says BC puppies that were jumping heights greater than 8 inches at the age of 7 months develop osteoarthritis at the age of 8.  This kind of quantitative data would help us all.

I am not one to base everything in life on scientific studies and fact, probably far from it.  But I do like to be presented with some logic and common sense to bit my teeth into when forming an opinion on anything.  This topic is hard.  It is hard partially because dogs are very diverse in size, weight, temperament, drive etc.. and one size fits all training rules don't apply.

Hoot on the Dog Walk

I think that most everyone has a puppy's health in mind and is trying to do what is right. So really my point is how do you know what is right?  This is how I navigate this topic and arrive at a plan that puts us somewhere between do no harm and put my puppy in bubble wrap.

The pack running in fields

The guidelines that I use to develop the plan and make my daily decisions.

• I look for advice from people who's dogs are still healthy and active into their later life.  They have probably done something right!
• We know that exercise is healthy for forming and maintaining joints, muscles and coordination which helps prevent injuries.
• A good read is Agility is good for the dog.  Again, not based on studies but someone who has older dogs who are still very active and probably has done some things right.
• If I am taking my puppy for walks/jogs I make it off leash.  They are free to pace themselves (and I can practice their recalls).
• Only do longer walks on soft surfaces (not sidewalks)
• I vary the terrain when possible, it helps them learn coordination.  There was a study done (wish I could find it) that puppies who ran and played in hilly terrain where less likely to get hip dysplasia.
• We know too much repetition is not good.  It isn't good for the mind or the body.
• Any of these factors combined with repetition is probably not good either. 
• Height
• High Impact 
• Severe angles (like full height A-Frames)
• Quit your training session when the puppy is still totally engaged or in Hoot's case 10 minutes (she would work for hours even as a young pup).  When anyone gets physically tired you begin to make mistakes, are not as engaged, and can be at risk of injury.  So, odds are in your favor, if you quit while the pup is still happy, they are physically in good shape.  The added bonus is that I am leaving that puppy wanting more and they are eager to play again.
• Each dog is an individual, don't use the same plan for each.  I have 4 high drive border collies and each of them is so different in terms of their physical and mental exercise needs.

 I am not sure what the right answer is, nor do I believe that there is one right answer.  No matter your goal, always train smart, efficient and with health in mind.


**I am hard pressed to find great facts and public studies on this topic on the internet for children or K9.

The allure of the running contact

I have trained one dog on running contacts and didn't keep them, I have re-trained another dog to have running contacts (and kept them), and I am in the process of training baby Hoot to have running contacts.  So I have seen this process from a couple of different perspectives.

I will say that each time I go through the process I get more faith in it, and have more patience and appreciation for what the dogs have to learn.  I think that I also get more confident in knowing that one or two bad sessions isn't going to ruin my dog.  I also have complete faith that it is a journey.

But this is a reminder to myself...be patient with the process and don't rush it.


I can say that even though Silva's DVD on running contacts does a great job giving you an idea of the process, what she doesn't cover and probably can't is all the changes that you will see in your dog along the way.

The problem with training running contacts is that you have your eye on the prize.  That is a full height DW and the dog reliably hits the yellow.  So away we go, running the dog on the low contact, raising it frequently, putting an obstacle at both ends and before you know it we have a dog running a full height DW.  But when we do this we (and the dog) miss many of the lessons that journey would have provided us.  The allure of the running contact keeps us from fully experiencing the process.

Confidence is one of the gifts in the journey.  It doesn't matter,  my re-trained dog or my green dog, they are both the same.  They build confidence along the way and it is NOT worth rushing it.  I know that everyone wants to get to the end of the line and *have* a running contact, but if you rush it, it is going to be harder to fix when you have problems.  Why?  They don't have the physical confidence on the equipment (I dare you to run 6 YPS on a 12" board that changes elevation twice), and the mental confidence.  The mental confidence is the really important one.

It also takes a while to develop your own internal compass for what is best for the dog each day of the training (and it changes).  This I will say is different for each dog I have trained.   Yesterday I needed to not race Hoot on the DW, today I had too.  I saw a micro-moment (you know that 10,000 hours concept) in her performance that told me I needed to change.

So, if you don't give these things a chance to develop in a controlled environment, they will be changing in a trialing environment.  Many of us know what it is like to take a dog into trialing when they don't have the foundation that they should.  And, we know what it is like to re-train that once they have established a pattern of poor performance.

I am watching the progress of a number of people through out the world training running contacts right now.  So many seem like they are trying to get to the prize as quick as possible.   But trust me when I tell you (and myself), you have to let the lessons unfold until they are all done.   You can't rush the process.

Power of the People -- Hippie thoughts

Yes, it is that time of year where we all give thanks and I will do that (later).  But regardless of the time of year, what I really think is cool is that people are examining their own motives and practices for agility.  And, many are going public with those thoughts.  The people are speaking up.  I am thankful for that!

The future of agility should be driven from the ground up, by the participants, not by the few in the board room.

I have seen a lot of blogs, and FaceBook comments on the topic of how much is too much and what is right for their team (the dog and handler).  I believe that the impetus for these public thoughts, comments, remarks is the announcement by USDAA and AKC about the increasing qualifications for Nationals in the coming year.

Many, many people are reaffirming how much trialing is too much for their teams.  How much stress to qualify is too much for their team.  There are many factors that lead to this decision.  We are trying to balance our day jobs/careers, kids, family, money, stress, and the health of our dogs. 

Regardless of your motive for getting into the sport and what evolutionary path your motivations have taken, keeping a balance is apparently mandatory for many of us.

Me personally, I had already made the decision back in August to back off some.  I had to trail too much to get all my National qualifications (because I have to travel to many trials) and for several years now I was VERY tired heading into Nationals because of that.  For me, that sucked the fun out of the sport.  I don't want to participate like that.  I want to be excited, refreshed and looking forward to my next big competition. 

So, at this point, I am not going to the Nationals of any venue.  I am going to spend the year enjoying my experience and figuring out how to get the "big competition" experience that I love so much, but without all the stress and exhaustion. 

Right now, I think that USDAA Regionals are the way I am going to go.  Great competition, lower qualifications to participate, run by clubs (who do a better job than USDAA), and people are still relaxed and fun to be around.

So people, continue to speak up.  Help the organizations understand what the future of agility should look like.

Obstacle Commitment

I have been thinking a lot lately about obstacle commitment.  Teaching a young dog makes you re-think or just think about a lot of things! 

In my mind, obstacle commitment is closely related to "trust", "finding the line" and "proofing" obstacles.  The biggest reason to work on and perfect obstacle commitment for me is so I can get to where I need to be ON TIME!  The other very compelling reasons are that the dog is able to execute the course in a fluent and fast manner.  Fluent = easier on their body = faster times.

What is obstacle commitment to me?  The moment the dog sees the obstacle.  Not the moment it can no longer take another obstacle, nor the take off point of a jump, or many other popular definitions.  If it is the moment the dog sees the obstacle, then it is my job to show the dog the correct line so that it sees the intended obstacle (then I need to be there to show them the correct line, kind of circular thinking).

Once I have the dog on the correct line, cued the obstacle I need to be free to get out of there and get to the next place I need to be.  Easier said then done sometimes.  If I haven't taught my dog to stay committed to the obstacle, then I am stuck somewhat escorting the dog on their path.  Not what I want to do.

Consider the black circle sequence.  If I can't cue the weaves and then feel free to move laterally (because my dog doesn't stay committed) then I run a real risk of not being able to set the line to the backside of #2.  There is an off course jump on the dog's line.  This also illustrates why it is so closely related to proofing and trust.  Have you proofed your dog to stay in the weaves under many adverse conditions (you doing cart wheels for instance?).  Can you trust that your dog will stay in the weaves?

In the black square sequence, there are two places that I need commitment and for them to stay committed to the obstacle.  Say #1 is mid-course.  I need to be able to cue the backside of #2 from about 1/2 way in between 1 & 2, then move laterally to #3 to show the dog the backside.  Even more commitment is needed if I intend on doing a German turn on #3 for instance.  To do a lateral send  takes proofing your dog's backside commitment at a distance.

OK, let's talk young, very green dogs for a moment.  The first time I did a pin wheel with Hoot I had to go all the way in to the middle jump of a pin wheel.  Not too uncommon.  Eventually, with experience most dogs learn to take that middle jump without you going in to it.  Perfect example of commitment. 

Selfishly speaking, the reason I teach commitment and to stay committed is so that I can run with less panic, more trust, less wear-n-tear on my dog's body, and more confidence in my ability to get places.  The faster times don't hurt either :)

To be interested in learning, you must be challenged!

I was going to blog about something slightly different, but an email from a friend the other day really hit the core of this topic, Continuing Education.

Some friends and I were chatting about running really hard courses, both in competition and in practice.  It was mentioned that there are a number of people who are getting bored with agility.  Once you get a couple of MACH's/ADCH's that is not challenge enough anymore.  We were not trying to diminish that accomplishment (they are huge), but really expressing that we don't learn as much from the third MACH/ADCH as the first and that there has to be more challenges placed in front of us.

She said "People are not going to be interested in learning unless the test (agility test) gets harder"

I loved this statement.  When reflecting inwardly on this statement I find it to be very true or key to what keeps me motivated and learning.  For me personally, I always have to have challenges that are beyond my current capabilities.  This is what keeps me wanting to continue my education.  Think about it, why would you continue to learn calculus if you were only tested on multiplication flash cards?

Hoot pondering life

We as trainers and competitors are figuring how to train ourselves and our dogs with greater competency and efficiency than say even 5 years ago.  Our young novice dogs frequently have skills that our seasoned 7 year old dogs don't have.  Our teachers are presenting foundation classes that challenge the skills of my 10 year old agility dog.  Novice dogs are entering the ring with an intense love for the game.

I believe that we as trainers and competitors, have outpaced our agility organizations (USDAA, AKC, etc...).  We are learning, training, and adapting faster to harder challenges in our classes and daily training then these organizations can present courses to test those skills.  The gap has grown.  If the gap continues to grow, we are going to lose the innovators in our sport if we don't continue to challenge them intellectually.  People who need to be stimulated by the challenges will move on to new challenges. 

I will speak only for myself, I can get slightly bored.  Not because I can run every course clean, I don't.  But I want to come home from trials with a list of to-do items that inspire me to get better.  I want to see sequences that presented challenges.  Challenges that I had not thought about training until that day. Or perhaps caused me to think about my cues and feel the necessity to be even more clear for my dog.

How do you cue a tunnel entrance if it is two tunnels nested together?  How do you cue the dog walk when it is has a tunnel entrance on both sides?  What new skills do I need to develop to get the backside of a jump right after a straight tunnel?

For me the challenges don't always have to be physical (for me or my dog), but must always grab my intellect.

P.S. Training puppies keeps me interested, but I can't keep getting puppies

Hoot's Running Dog Walk

Hoot will be the second dog that I have trained on a running dog walk.  It is interesting to me how it is still a huge learning experience, but in different ways.

It seems the first time around you don't really know the process, but you have to have patience and faith in that process as it is revealed.  This second time, I know the process, but there are different twists and turns in the journey because of a different dog.

Split was my first dog that I trained.  He was 7 when I re-trained him from a 4 on.  Some things were easy for him because of his experiences and some things were hard because of his experiences.  For instance, proofing with motion was really easy.  He already knew to stay on task when I am running crazy next to him.  He understood that the yellow zone was really important already.  Getting him into a full stride was hard, really hard.  He wants to take one more stride than he needs on the dog walk.  But, that means that his turns off the dog walk are easier for him.

Hoot is my second walk down this path.  She is a puppy with no prior experience.



Hoot has been very easy to get her to adjust her stride, she totally loves the process (actually Split does too), and if she has epic failures it is really easy to take her back a step and get her back on track.  But she doesn't take to changes as easily as Split.

Last week I tried to see if I could get her to run to a dead toy.  This would allow me a bit more freedom to begin to introduce motion.  She runs to the dead toy like a champ, but she gives me 3.5 strides on the dog walk (4 being ideal).  3.5 strides leaves less time to adjust strides to hit the yellow.  So, back to tossing the toy I go.  I will just try to throw it earlier and earlier to see if I can ease into it.

Also, she can tolerate some faster starts (like from a tunnel), but I can't do a whole session of them.  She begins to give me less strides again.

The absolute nicest thing about doing a running dog walk with Hoot is she resets herself.  That is, after she has been rewarded she knows we will be doing it again.  She runs to the start, places herself where I have been starting her and she is ready to run again!