Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:31 am Post subject: Freckles Frolics
Freckles aged 7 and me aged 65 decided we'd have a go at Agility - very much inspired by Liz, Sherry and Oz. We signed up with Oatridge College for the sum of £50 for a 10 week session, and duly turned up at 6pm to find they had started at 5.45 without advising the College of the revised start time. Nevertheless, we peeled off our layers, having been told it would be cold, but it was roasting, especially as the hour wore on.
The class consisted of an assortment of 14 dogs from 11 breeds and crosses, including 3 collies as would be expected
First we had to walk our dogs in a line over three low poles, starting off with the 'Heel' command, then 'Over' as we neared the jump. Since the little brat is used to jumping a 5 barred farm gate this was no problem to her(although it gave me a few moments of flashback to a broken collar bone ). Having done this run a few times we progressed to the tunnel - shrunk down to encourage the dogs through. The command here was 'Tunnel Through', although it wasn't clear why just 'through' wouldn't do - Liz, perhaps you can explain if there is another obstacle where the command through is used? Anyway, Frecks is an expert at dodging, so proceeded to make an idiot of me (OK, OK - not difficult, you don't have to say it ) by trying to go round the same side as me and made me trip on the support frame and go flying - almost went through the tunnel myself. I hissed her name and the ears went back but she thought discretion might be the better part of valour and toddled through on command. Just in case she thought a tour of the equestrian centre might be interesting I grabbed the makeshift lead I'd been given annd heeled her as she came out (I had taken a rope lead, not knowing any better)
Both of us were beginning to enjoy this new experience, so after a few runs through the now extended tunnel - with Frecks tearing through at a great rate of knots and me belting up the side to catch her - we were then told we would finish the evening with four jumps followed by the tunnel, then reverse the exercise, with the dog at the other side (command for this being 'Side' as opposed to 'Heel' ). Freckles and I came out of the Centre with smiling faces, rather winded but very pleased with our first night. Needless to say, all of this was still on the lead. Thank goodness it is not outside in a field like Liz has had to deal with, perhaps I'll have more control (and more puff) by the time Winter has passed and we go outside. The only problem now is I think Freckles is due in season so we may have to miss a few weeks. I suppose I could put her in nappies Either way, I can thoroughly recommend Agility and look forward to setting a circuit up in the back garden. I have been buying rubber doormats from Morrisons in preparation (£2 each), and have my grandchildren's play tunnel as well as some flower pots and garden canes. We're "Good to go"
Annie _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
When we are doing agility we just say 'tunnel' for the rigid one and use 'through' for the soft tunnel. Doesn't really matter as long as you use that same word everytime.......in theory you could say 'sausages' or 'pig's ear'....that would be different anyway _________________ Jan
Merlin, hips 9/9=18 and Ghillie, hips 8/9=17
Pull [n or v] An equal and opposite force perpetrated on both ends of a lead that results in the inevitable tripping and falling of the human involved!!
Curious to know how you can run a tunnel with the dog on the lead. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
With Fred I dropped all commands to as simple as possible.
So jump = GO
Tunnel of any type = TUNNEL
Tyre = TYRE
Weave = WEAVE
Dog Walk = WALK
A-Frame = FRAME
Long Jump = LONG
Wall (a jump) = GO
Seasaw = SEASAW
LEFT
RIGHT
WAIT
STEADY (for slowing down if he was approaching a contact too fast)
When you are running full pelt after a fast dog it is definitely worth keeping all commands as breath preserving and simple as possible .
Sounds as though you had a great time _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
I think you drop the lead as the dog goes through Guy....and, hopefully, pick it up the other end. Unless, of course, the dog is a lot faster than you are in which case someone else will pick it up _________________ Jan
Merlin, hips 9/9=18 and Ghillie, hips 8/9=17
Pull [n or v] An equal and opposite force perpetrated on both ends of a lead that results in the inevitable tripping and falling of the human involved!!
I think you drop the lead as the dog goes through Guy....and, hopefully, pick it up the other end. Unless, of course, the dog is a lot faster than you are in which case someone else will pick it up
Or as in Sherry's case the dog dodges past you like a bat out of hell and disappears over the horizon trailing its lead
Sounds like you both had a good time, Anne. You'll get used to the chasing round, and I was told at the start that it was better than Weight Watchers
I use pretty well the same commands as Sue, except I tend to use "get on" for the dog walk, A frame and seesaw, as they are all contacts, and I use "right over" for the long jump.
If you watch a few handlers, you'll see how many don't know their right from their left _________________ Liz and the Brats
It's Sam Butchart who's the trainer, Liz. Very good! Frecks and I had a great time. _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
Well we went back! Frecks is coming into season but they said it was OK to take her this week then miss the next two - scunner and d$££%$^%^%. I'll lose two weeks money as it's paid up front! Dratted bitches!!!!
Anyway, tonight we were on the A frame and catwalk with a few jumps for good measure. No problems here as she walks along the wee dyke in my garden anyway. We practiced a few times on them then did a couple of rounde of catwalk, then four jumps, then the A frame, then reverse it all. The main problem I have is getting Freckles to walk/run on my right side. She doesn't understand the command 'side' yet I don't think.
There was a wee bit of a fracas between a couple of collies and Frecks thought it might be fun to join in from the other end of the centre - bark bark she went, I told her 'No' in no uncertain manner and she just laughed at me! Typical Brittany, if there's a storm brewing they want to get in and sort it out. I'm enjoying this, Mum, she said!
One of the collies took a dislike to the A frame and jumped off the top landing on the shoulders of the trainer, Sam. Sam coined what I think is a classic phrase tonight. (you have to try to imagine a sort of Glasgow acccent here) "Agility is supposed to be relaxing for the dug, and for youse." You should all get that bit OK, but wait for the punch line - "If yees dae it wrang naebdys gauntae die"
Loosely translated as 'This is meant to be fun for you and your four legged friend, so don't worry if you make a mistake, it isn't the end of the world'
Once again, me and my pardner came away puffed but happy. We'll just have to play with the grandchildren's play tunnel, my traffic cones, and flower pots and canes for the next two weeks - weather premitting, of course! My burn is at the top of its banks tonight and Allez retrieved a pigeon from the opposite bank this afternoon after swimming downstream because he couldn't get up the steep opposite bank. Good training for him too. The pigeon had stunned itself by banging into the kitchen door, and it's head was quite badly damaged, so when Freckles realised it was there and picked it up, the poor thing gave up the ghost in her mouth. The look on her face as she put it in my hand was priceless It almost said 'it wasn't me, Mum, honest '
Trouble is said pigeon got sodden when Al brought it back over the burn, so I had to dump it in the bin. Must try to get the girls to chase another one into the window tomorrow - plenty of them around here. Donald says he's buying me an air rifle for my birthday. Now THAT should be fun! Annie with a gun
Annie _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
Why didn't you dry it off with your hairdryer Annie....then you could have had it on toast after the dogs had finished with it
_________________ Jan
Merlin, hips 9/9=18 and Ghillie, hips 8/9=17
Pull [n or v] An equal and opposite force perpetrated on both ends of a lead that results in the inevitable tripping and falling of the human involved!!
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Nevertheless, we peeled off our layers, having been told it would be cold, but it was roasting, especially as the hour wore on. 
) by trying to go round the same side as me and made me trip on the support frame and go flying - almost went through the tunnel myself. I hissed her name and the ears went back but she thought discretion might be the better part of valour and toddled through on command. Just in case she thought a tour of the equestrian centre might be interesting I grabbed the makeshift lead I'd been given annd heeled her as she came out (I had taken a rope lead, not knowing any better)
Either way, I can thoroughly recommend Agility and look forward to setting a circuit up in the back garden. I have been buying rubber doormats from Morrisons in preparation (£2 each), and have my grandchildren's play tunnel as well as some flower pots and garden canes. We're "Good to go"
