| Archive for The Brittany Forum For all friends of the versatile Brittany |
| Liz |
Sherry and Ozzy's Agility Training DiaryWhy agility?We are very lucky in having an excellent agility club near us – Dryburgh Abbey have qualified for Crufts several times both in team and individual competition. They run weekly training classes, a beginner’s introduction class on Mondays, competition standard classes on Wednesdays, and fun classes on Thursdays. I’ve been going to the fun classes for the past 3 years with Sherry (who’s 6) and have just started the introductory classes with Ozzy (just 8 months). He’s far to young to jump yet – they shouldn’t jump until they’re a year old – but it’s great to get him used to the various bits of equipment and start getting him to go in the right direction as early as possible. Sherry has taken part in a few competitions – though I’ll never be a serious top flight competitor – and occasionally manages to get round a course without getting eliminated for going the wrong way. She tends to set out like a bat out of hell, and you just hope that she’s going in the right direction! That's why I’m working very hard just now on “waits” with Ozzy! |
||||
| Annie as admin |
Liz, do you know if there is a list somewhere of agility clubs in Scotland?
Anne |
||||
| Liz |
Monday 24th June
Ozzy missed the last 2 Mondays so I wasn’t sure if he’d remember anything. We started off just walking on the lead round the edge of the field, starting on the left, then on the right – in agility you have to get the dogs used to working on both sides. Then all the dogs are put in a down – again a way of getting them used to having to wait. The class is split into absolute beginners and slightly more advanced dogs and handlers. Ozzy is in with the babies. In the first half we have various bits of equipment – jumps (poles at ground level for the young ones), the tunnel, the A frame, and the table. (The table is rarely used in competition these days, but it is a useful way of getting the dog to sit or down and wait.) Gradually the pieces of equipment are put together into a course – wait at the start, jump, tunnel, jump, table, jump, A frame. He’s doing super waits at the start and on the table, a little hesitation going into the tunnel, but no hesitation about the A frame. Then we move on to the second set of equipment. Again a short course of jump, dog walk – very pleased with the way he did that as he’d only done it once before, then a right turn over a couple more jumps, then another right turn and jump, long jump, jump. Then we finished off with a couple of runs through weave poles (at this stage they’re set up in 2 lines about a foot apart and the dog runs through the middle). Very pleased with the way he did everything – as you’d expect with a lot of young dogs about they didn’t all concentrate 100% of the time, and did the occasional circuit of the field, but he came back very quickly each time. Much better than Sherry was at the start! 
|
||||
| eddieh |
Annie,
there are a few Scottish clubs here. Excuse my poor knowledge of Scottish geography, I don't know if any are near you. 
Eddie |
||||
| eddieh |
I suppose, if you were very picky, you might want the link.
http://www.agilitynet.com/activepages/clubs.asp 
|
||||
| Annie as admin |
oops
Thanks for that link, I copied it onto excel and dumped all but the Scottish ones, will check the distances later. A good few are more than an hour just glacing at the list, so I hope there are a few closer than that. |
||||
| Liz |
Thursday 26th
Wasn't sure if training would be on tonight for Sherry - big black clouds with thunder in the air 
We went ahead with small equipment - just jumps, weave, tyre and the seesaw - so if the heavens opened we could get it packed back in the shed quickly. Sherry was very interested in sniffing around - there were a lot of rabbits in the field when we arrived - but she is paying far more attention to me these days. I think it may be she's a bit jealous of the amount of attention Ozzy gets, and she wants all of me when we're out alone together. We were focussing on directional work - getting in the right and left turns - and weaves tonight. Trying to take things slow and steady and accurate rather than her usual mad dashing. SUCCESS - I REALLY THINK SHE'S MASTERED THE WEAVE It's taken 3 years, but she managed to do it relatively smoothly, without jumping up and biting me all the time. (I've still got a beautifully bruised arm from last week  )
Anyway we managed an hour's training before the heavens really opened and everyone had to make a dash for cover  A good session, even if a short one
|
||||
| Liz |
Monday 30th
Ozzy's beginners class again. This week the new piece of equipment was the tyre. He did it ok - once he stopped running round it. We then did some going ahead straight up the course - tyre, jump, a-frame, jump, jump. No problems. Some dogs don't like to go ahead of their handler - waiting for them to tell them what to do, but that's not a problem with Brits. Think of it, we want them to go ahead of them when hunting, so it's pretty natural to them. Then we did that course in reverse, with a couple more jumps at the start going across the way, so we had to put in right and left turns, also pull the dog in without going over the jump. Apart from a pretty wide detour on the turn, he did that very well. The second half was jump, dog walk, tunnel, then a couple of jumps. He tried to launch himself off the dog walk - not a good idea! He also didn't want to go into the tunnel. However a bit of persuasion helped! We then did it in reverse, with an extra jump and the long jump at the start, and he did it perfectly. Clever boy
As a PS to Monday's session - one of the girls (well she's a couple of years younger than me actually  ) took a fall, and we thought she'd just twisted her ankle. Turned out she'd broken it - agility can be dangerous
|
||||
| Mugi |
Oh how I agree, the wrist in plaster when I got Chase was courtesy of agility - sadly the owners agility is often brought into doubt .
Sounds as though Ozzy is doing great Liz. |
||||
| Liz |
Thur 3 July
SHERRY WRITES: LAST NIGHT I WAS BAD We'd started off doing the usual little runs up and down turning left, turning right, over the dogwalk, through the tunnel, and stuff like that. Easy peasy. Then we did a longer faster run over everything round the edge of the course, and as I was on the top of the seesaw I thought THIS IS BORING - WHERE ARE THE BUNNIES
So I rushed right past everyone to look for bunnies in the woods round the field, and had a lovely time chasing after them for ages. Then mummy got hold of me and put me on the lead and without giving me time to get my breath back made me go round again very slowly
So we tried different bit of running round, but I got fed up after the weave and I just did another jump and started running round and round the paddock again. Did you know I can run faster than mum and I went right through the fence and into the cottage gardens, then I ran down the driveway to the big hotel, and through the fence into the field where the cows were. But when I saw them I thought I'd better come back to mum. Then she made me do the round again ON THE LEAD and she didn't even do that right cos I know I should have gone through the tunnel and she didn't go through there. Says she's too fat.
So she didn't let me do any more running and I had to wait in the car till they'd finished. Still that wasn't too bad. She had to spend the rest of the evening picking up poles
LIZ WRITES: Anyone want a delinquent Brittany 
|
||||
| .:HayleyH:. |
Sherry, I think your mummy wanted you to do the agility like a good girl, and maybe hunt for bunnies another time
|
||||
| johnhod |
Anyone know of a Brittany that isn't delinquent? 
|
||||
| Lin Dyke |
Nope
|
||||
| Liz |
Mon 7th
Ozzy did very well last night. First of all we were introduced to the soft tunnel - which can be very off putting for some dogs as they can't see through and have to push their way through. After a bit of hesitation first time he got the idea very quickly. Then we were working on the dog walk, which he wasn't totally happy with as it was wet and a bit slippy, but it's amazing what he'll do for a bit of sausage, and after a couple of goes he was going over it very confidently, and we extended the exercise so we started off with a pin wheel, then the dogwalk and a couple of jumps afterward. Then we moved to a second course which was jump, A frame, jump, tunnel, jump, long jump, jump, tyre, all arranged in a U shape. He went all the way round there very well a couple of times, with just a bit of hesitation at the tyre. Then we finished off with a straight row of 5 jumps - which he thought was great fun. All in all a good night - especially after his cousin's performance last week 
|
||||
| guy |
Liz do you have your own agility kit? Leading question as I am hoping to put together a 'have a go agility base' at the 'Long Weekend' in October. | ||||
| Mugi |
Guy, I have a set of weave poles with correct spacings that can be planted in the ground. It is possible to hire in full sets- Barbara, John and I were discussing it on Sat and I can find out who WCGB uses for its funday if you like. | ||||
| Liz |
Guy all I have is some weave poles, and I improvise jumps with electric fence posts. We have such a small postage stamp sized garden there's no room for anything else
To be honest I have seen some absolutely dreadful "have a go" agility sessions which were more likely to end up with injured dogs than the dogs/handlers getting anything out of it, and I have great reservations about such sessions. I don't want to sound like a killjoy, but you also need to find experienced trainers - I know I'm not at that standard and I don't know of anyone else in the Club who could lead such a session. |
||||
| eddieh |
That's a bit drastic isn't it?
|
||||
| johnhod |
I believe a cattle prod on the backside helps with getting them through the tunnels
|
||||
| Liz |
They can clear a really good height, though
|
||||
| Liz |
Should have said I put a garden cane sprung in between the uprights. |
||||
| eddieh |
Liz
I've got ask. In the photo of Sherry on the see-saw, she is already on the end contact point but the see-saw has only just begun to tip. How did she get off. Doesn't it have to reach the floor before they get off? |
||||
| Liz |
The rule with the seesaw is that it should come down before the dog gets off (some judges are kind and you can get away with it well on the way down, if not actually touching the ground).
Sherry was definitely in the wrong that time (and was penalised) as she just leapt off the far end It was just such a super action shot I couldn't resist putting it in.
On second thoughts, maybe it is too misleading and could give people the wrong impression - the last thing anyone wants is people thinking the dog should fly straight off the end, there's always the danger of dogs getting hurt. |
||||
| Liz |
Thurs 10th
No training tonight as it's too wet
|
||||
| eddieh |
We missed last night as the trainer (instructor?) couldn't make it. Just as well as it has been wet enough to tempt Monique's slugs away from Surrey.
I wasn't being critical Liz, just curious, and that photo is brilliant. |
||||
| Liz |
One of the girls (well she's a year younger than me ) in our group is a fantastic photographer - the only one I won't put in the gallery is the one showing me puffing along trying to keep up with Sherry
|
||||
| Liz |
Mon 14th
Ozzy had a super session today. We started off learning the seesaw. This is something that can put timid dogs off (doesn't apply in Ozzy's case ) The dog starts up the seesaw just like the dogwalk, then he has to wait in the middle for the seesaw to start to move, then when the far end has touched the ground the dog can move on. That's the theory, anyway, Sherry has a nasty habit of running straight up it and taking off at the far end - as you've seen in the photos Anyway, Ozzy quickly got the idea and we all had several goes (on the lead).
Then we had some practices on the soft tunnel - again the dog has to be quite bold to push his way through - not Ozzy's problem, of course! We then had a couple of courses to go round. He was far happier and confident on the dogwalk this week than he was last week - probably because it was dry this time. He was listening to me very well, and the only thing he didn't do very well was the long jump - he appeared not to notice it and blundered into it
He did do a couple of "extras" on his rounds though  ! An extra go through the soft tunnel when he should have turned right, and a run up the seesaw when he should have turned back down the line of jumps. Fortunately he did it right, and waited for it to drup properly
All in all a good evening's work - he was really tired when he came home and settled down very quickly to sleep - much to Sherry and Rosie's great relief
|
||||
| Liz |
Thurs 17th
I wasn't sure how Sherry was going to be tonight as we'd missed last week with the rain and the week before she had bogged off Anyway tonight she was "with me" again. It was threatening rain and we had a couple of showers, so we only had the lighter equipment out - no need to carry the A-frame this time
We were concentrating on close control work, with jumps in a square and she wasn't sparkling, but at least she was listening to me, and did some good work. The highlight of the evening though was nothing to do with the dogs. A barn owl was hunting the paddock and the next field, methodically and slowly working its way down the hedgerows. It was the first time we'd seen it this year - it had been there last year, so it was good to see it again, like an old friend. |
||||
| barbara |
Sounds like Ozzy is going to love doing agility Liz, he seems to be picking it up very quickly
|
||||
| Liz |
Mon 27st
We've now completed the "Introduction" course, so tonight we had a competition night. First of all we had a course of 18 obstacles, including a tyre, dog walk, hard tunnel, A-frame and soft tunnel. It was the longest course Oz had ever come across and although he did it allright he found it very hard to concentrate for the whole way round. Sometimes it's easy to forget he's still very much a baby. Still he did pretty well. Then we had a straight run of 6 jumps - just the fastest run over them. Not all of the dogs did all 6, with lots of them running out after the first or second one. But Oz came straight along the line. He wasn't one of the fastest, but he did it right. By the time we got to the 3rd run, which was a circle of jumps, he was getting pretty tired and fed up, and decided to go and investigate a tree instead
Still it was a good evening - sunny and warm for a change this summer! He wasn't in the prizes, but he didn't disgrace himself either. He'll be in the beginners group for training now. Some of the others on the course will be going into the same group as Sherry, but he's not mature enough (physically or mentally) for that yet - all he needs is time! |
||||
| Liz |
No training this week, I'm afraid.
On Monday Oz was strutting his stuff at Leeds Champ Show
Last night, it was bucketting rain, so Sherry's was cancelled 
Never mind, there's always next week. |
||||
| Liz |
Mon 4th
I'm afraid Ozzy has turned into a typical teenager, and has decided to totally ignore me
We started off with a very simple straight run - tyre, dogwalk, jump, jump, loop back between the 2 jumps, then jump, dogwalk, tyre. He started off well with a good wait, through the tyre, cross the dogwalk, jump, jump - then when I called him back between the jumps he kept going and decided to explore the top of the field. Got him back without too much trouble, and finished the run. Second time, got to the same point and he was offski. Totally ignored me calling him back, and disappeared into the long grass at the top (well when I say "grass" it's a mixture of waist high grass, thistles and nettles ) heading into the wood at the top. I could hear him crashing through the undergrowth, and I could occasionally see the tip of his tail (I knew tails must have a use somewhere ) but would he come back . . . Eventually he did emerge after what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a couple of minutes.
I let him know in no uncertain terms what I thought of him (I know you should welcome them with open arms, but he was taking the p**s) So he was on the lead for the next few goes and he did get his act together a bit better. We then moved onto the second set of equipment - tunnels and the A-frame which he loves - so he was off the lead again. This time he was listening to me and didn't run off
It did mean, though, that while the rest of the class was trying to get their dogs to work ahead of them, I was running round with a bit of sausage in my hand getting Oz to concentrate on me rather than anything else, but at least he did get some freedom. I can see that this week's homework is going to be working on recall and getting him to play with me so I'm the most interesting thing around! |
||||
| yarak |
CONGRATULATIONS on your win at Leeds Liz | ||||
| Liz |
Thanks - just shows what happens when he DOES behave - unlike last night when I could have cheerfully strangled the little brat
|
||||
| johnhod |
Just goes to show that the link between the nose and the brain is shorter and stronger than the link between the heart and the brain | ||||
| Liz |
Thurs 7th
Bucketting rain again, so no training for Sherry
|
||||
| johnhod |
Liz, this is getting to be more like a weather report than a training diary
|
||||
| Annie as admin |
I'm hoping to join teh Broxburn group - just off to find their details now - I think they train in a covered horse arena so if I ever get round to reporting Freckles work it should be at least in teh dry!
Annie |
||||
| Liz |
The joys of a Scottish summer - hopefully we will be moving indoors next month.
Anne, the Broxburn group is supposed to be pretty good - looking forward to hearing about flying Freckles' antics! |
||||
| Liz |
Mon 11th
Weather report from the Scottish Borders (for John's benefit) - a fine dry day so we were able to train tonight
Mostly it went well, but sir was still inclined to want to go bunny hunting still he did come back to the job in hand reasonably quickly.
We did some work on contacts - getting him to wait at the bottom of the dog walk rather than jumping off too quickly. He's pretty good at that, but he did miss the ON contact a couple of times - typical get one thing right and then do something else wrong! He was also quite good at close direction control - getting him to come between jumps, rather than over them. We'll be off on holiday tomorrow, so they'll miss training for the next couple of weeks, then we'll be getting to the end of the outdoor sessions anyway. MEMO TO SELF - need to do a lot of work on recalls and emergency stops with him, as that's where our biggest problem is. |
||||
| Annie as admin |
Liz, reading this lets me see that he has a head start for that training day I mentioned. Contact me when you get back - happy hols!
Annie |
||||
| eddieh |
I suspect this says as much about the handler  . Needless to say, Tegen sometimes just goes off to do the next thing she can see in the absence of proper direction from me
|
||||
| johnhod |
That will have been your summer then 
|
||||
| Liz |
Mon 25th
Well a week in kennels hasn't done anything for the brat's obedience He's back to bunny chasing again. We managed half a round before he b*****ed off and then had to do the rest on the lead - missing out the tunnels as I was not going to let go of him. Interestingly after the first few goes he stopped looking round to see if he could see any bunnies and was clearly watching the course as the others were doing it, and wingeing for his turn.
We've got one more week outside, but to be honest I'm not sure if I'll take him as I now have a very sore pulled shoulder and a bad back (everyone get the violins out - poor Liz ).
He then starts on his KC Silver obedience classes - and he sure needs it . Also doing much more work on stops and recalls.
I'd like to take him to the indoor classes in the winter as that might mean he would be able to concentrate more on the equipment with less going on around him, but the problem there is that they are pretty full and I don't think there's room for him. However, I may see if I can take him alternate weeks with Sherry. |
||||
| Liz |
Thurs 28th
Well Sherry had a very good session today - despite the fact she hadn't been for the past fortnight, and I had a bad back thanks to Oz jerking around on the lead on Monday. Weather (for John's benefit) lovely - one of the best evenings we've had for training this year
We did a lot of work on tight control - figure of 8s, serpentines, etc - and she was really great. Also managed the weave pretty well. She must be ill
|
||||
| johnhod |
THat's two nice evenings, so you've moved from Scotland then have you
|
||||
| Liz |
We had our "Final Fling of Summer" at agility last night, where the 3 groups - senior competition dogs (4-7s) who train Wednesdays, junior competition dogs (1-3s) who train Thursdays, and the Monday "absolute beginners" group all got together for a fun competition.
Bill came with me (under suffrance) as I had both Sherry and Ozzy there. Sherry did 2 very good rounds, a perfect agility round - totally ruined by the fact she stopped for a wee half way round (automatic elimination), and a nice jumping round, though she went in the near end of the second tunnel, rather than the far end. But on the whole I was very pleased with her.
Oz was his normal horrible self. He started off well - tyre, dog walk, jump - then decided the bunnies at the top of the field were calling him, ignored my "right" command and shot off towards the top of the field. What he didn't know was that Bill was hiding behind a tree, and came rushing out to stop him (he used to be a sprinter when he was younger, and can still get up a good turn of speed even for an OAP) bellowing "No Stop". Poor pupster didn't know what to do! He stopped, looked at Bill, looked at me, totally confused! I managed to get him back under some sort of control and we did a couple more jumps, tunnel, jump and then quit while I was ahead. We left the ring to the biggest round of applause of the night
Wish I could persuade Bill to come with me every week - it would make life an awful lot easier with the brat |
||||
| doganjo |
Any tips for Freckles? we start at Broxburn on Tuesday
|
||||
| Mugi |
Best tip Annie is HAVE FUN!!!!
I persevered with Freddy for a year in pre-beginners cos he was not good but once we got 'it' he was up to competing level very fast. We had fun and a great group of people. |
||||
| Liz |
I agree with Sue - it has to be fun! You need to bring your sense of humour with you, because your dog will do something unexpected (like madam peeing in the ring ) or you will muck it up for them by sending them the wrong way!
I'm having the same problems with getting Ozzy to concentrate I had with Sherry, but have started younger with him so might get him up to speed a bit quicker (it took best part of 3 years with her )
Enjoy yourselves
|
||||