Agility Class

Lately we've been focused on learning weave poles and working on the teeter.  I discuss what we are doing about the teeter further into this post.

For the weave poles I started with the 2x2 method and we'd get so far and then progress just didn't happen.  Then after an online discussion with Kathy about how she had modified the method for use with Wesley, I decided to try it that way.  Gimme has made huge progress since then.  We are training-wise up to four poles and working the angles around-the-clock style, but she will do six poles.  

Gimme had her agility class last night and did well. At the first class there were only large dogs, last night there were two small dogs and one medium.  Large and medium dogs aren't as much of an issue for her, provided they ignore her.  We still have to work LAT and get her into game-with-mom mode, but she can ignore the large and medium.  Small dogs just send her over the top and she basically can't LAT then.  So I'm doing counter-conditioning -- see small dog, get PB...  That's where we had to start with large dogs and horses, so I'm sure it will work, but will take time.  

She is pretty much over the top the instant we arrive... it will take time to get her to be more settled at those classes.  She's still getting near constant PB when we aren't working, otherwise she gets too hyped up. This is a work in progress.

As for her course work, she did really well.  Most of our issues were timing on my part.  I had Blynn pull the 12 weaves apart into two sets of 6.  She was very distracted and is pretty hyped, so her focus suffers.  She does well on stuff that is fast moving, chase-the-mommy style.  But brain work like weaves is a big challenge.  Gimme did them but it took her several tries each time (4 total sets of 6).  Still we got them and I rewarded her a LOT for completing six poles. 

Blynn is a good teacher and I feel very comfortable with her.  She's helping me apply APHS consistently with a green dog, which is somewhat different than what I did with experienced Michael.  She sees things I wouldn't be aware of and is very patient.  She is able to nudge me to changes without being pushy.  She also has a good sense of humor.  She likes Gimme and thinks she'll be very fast - she's quite fast already.

For instance when it came to the teeter - I sent Gimme to it with "teeter easy", she ran up it and then slowed and controlled the tip.  That led to Blynn asking me what I wanted for a teeter performance, drive to the end and ride it down or what.  I said I wanted Gimme to learn to control the tip and do what she is comfortable with as far as speed and slamming it down.  I also told her that she is already getting faster.  She pointed out that I shouldn't be telling her "easy" since that is telling her to slow down.  So next time I sent her with just "teeter" and Blynn said she slowed down on hearing that, so there is already some connection/pairing happening. 

After thinking more about this:  At home I haven't even been saying "teeter" because I don't feel like we have the behavior I want to attach a cue to - so don't really know why I said it at class.  In hindsight (i.e. I didn't really think it through when I did it) I think I was using the "teeter easy" and then "teeter" to slow her down because I didn't want her to startle herself again as she had the week before when she rushed up the full height teeter.  She rushed up the teeter at home when I first brought it out again a month ago and startled herself.  She wasn't afraid and did tippy board and teeter when she was little.  I think she didn't realize it wasn't the dogwalk - so we are still recovering a bit from the resulting hesitation.  I'm still only working half height at home and she is speeding up.  So I have a few options for the teeter in class...  

Blynn and I have "discussed" this online and decided that I will remind Blynn each time to move in after Gimme gets on, to control the teeter enough that she doesn't slam it down and startle herself, but not so much that Gimme is aware that she's not controlling it herself.  Gimme goes at everything in class full tilt and so I don't want to risk her charging up the teeter and slamming it down or flying off.  I think having Blynn moderate the teeter action will cover this.

Now we are going out for our almost daily weaves and teeter practice.  I have to get my chute barrel and fabric out and add that to the lessons, but not today.  We won't have enough time since we'll have to head out to nosework class pretty quick.