One Step Forward …
Creepy contacts are still an issue.
I’m not sure whether to keep pushing or to leave it now. In reality, Dylan’s Aframe is not that bad, he is nailing the 2o2o no matter where I am or what I’m doing. The creeping isn’t even particularly slow — I’m going to liken it to Spice’s contacts from this video of the IFCS World Champs — it’s just not the striding pattern I want. On the other hand, Dylan is a big collie and asking him to run full speed down an Aframe ramp might just be a bit too much for both his brain and his body to take. I know I wouldn’t want to do it.
In desperation, and because I trust Kim and Dylan, I even tried a two-dog Aframe to try and persuade Dylan to stride down the plank. Which was hilarious, because Kim thought Dylan was cramping her smooth Aframe style and took out her stress on her cage ball a lot! Dylan hit his 2o2o every time and waited for the release so at least I know that no matter what I throw at him (even a small Terrier Lurcher, if necessary!) he will nail it. Kim also hit her contact every time, proving she is awesome and doesn’t actually need a handler or any formal contact training (or so she thinks!). You can see a three-dog dogwalk here, to get the idea. Definitely a don’t try this at home moment.
Dylan is working all his jumping sequences nicely, he’s picking up for the next obstacle fantastically now and it’s ridiculous but I get secretly very pleased when he sets off on his own course due to my bad handling, it shows how much his confidence has grown. His “out” is looking fantastic and he’s wrapping much better, although my timing still need work! I have to say as well that his weaves were awesome at training, he is so much faster than Kim and has such a nice pattern.
I’m not even going to talk about the seesaw, but suffice to say we’ve gone back a few steps!
Finally, a touch off-topic, but Firefox 3 was released today and if you haven’t downloaded it already, go and do so! Firefox is a better, smarter and faster equivilent of Internet Explorer, and although you might need a day or so to get used to it, it’s definitely worth it.
8 Comments
Vicki
What about rolling food down the contact? Sounds daft I know but Wendy suggested this to me and I’ve done this with Inca a couple times. It seams to be working (for now) and I even got a slide out of her on Tuesday – thats unheard of!
Leanne
That’s one I haven’t heard before — how high do you roll the food from?
I’m really up for trying anything at this point, he is a lot more food motivated than Kim so it’s definitely worth looking at.
Char
U get my email? x
Leanne
No! o.O
I’ve even checked my spam and I have nothing — but VirginMedia have been arsing about with our internet connection, I’m missing emails from some other people too so it could be that.
Char
Ok, it was just to say, have you tried using stride regulators for his contacts, especially the top one? Lee’s Jack has very slow contacts and when I went up to his a few months ago we put one on the top and it made SUCH a difference, as they have more oomph going over the top and it’s much much harder for them to creep down.
Vicki aka Giruff
I’ve been putting it under her nose when she reaches the top so she keeps going. You have to use chunks big enough to see. Initially I did it quite near the top but sometimes do it nearer the bottom.
Seems to be working so far, but you never know what will happen next week 😉
Leanne
Char — I’ve thought about using stride regulators but I don’t really know what I’m doing with them. I’ll email you to find out more, thanks!
Vicki — I’ll try the food rolling tomorrow, thank you! I’ll have to find something suitable, otherwise I’m going to get shot by the next group for distracting their dogs with sniffs. 😆
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