Handling the Path

Posted on September 8, 2015 by ffluffy

As published on USDAA.com at http://www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2773

My students and I recently discussed how important it is to watch your dog vs. figuring out where you need to be as a handler. I am not going to tell you not to watch your dog, but, to be more successful, you do need to move the watching of your dog to your peripheral vision. I usually wear contacts instead of eye glasses for big events just for this reason.

How can you learn to watch what your dog is doing and where you are going at the same time? Watch the path where you want your dog to go next! You are still aware of where your dog is, but you are moving your eyes to where you want them to be next and moving your body to handle the next move. It is kind of like tracing the path you want the dog to go with your eyes.

When I run my dogs, I am looking to where I need them to be next and moving on; I am not waiting. My dogs are pretty fast so I don’t have time to stand around, plus standing around is not so much fun (for dogs or people).

If your dog starts to go off course, instead of watching them with your eyes and calling them, run to where you were going next and have a big party! And then start over and try again.

If your dog misses an obstacle, keep going! It was probably your handling mistake anyway. Then, go back and try the whole thing over again, focusing on that one spot where the mistake occurred. But, this time, handle the path, not the individual obstacle!

This might not work for all of you; we are all different and so are our dogs. But think about it, try it, and see if it helps get you moving. This might be just the thing you need to take your handling to the next level!

We are all learning all the time. Don’t forget to ask questions and try to figure out what works for you and your dog and your team. That’s why it’s a journey!

handle the path

Ring Around The Tunnel; Pocket Full of Kibble

Posted on May 24, 2015 by ffluffy

As published on USDAA.com at https://www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2801

Here are some fun exercises to test your handling skills and your dog’s discrimination skills, as well as weave entries. There are two course layouts for these exercises: one involves two jumps and a 15′ tunnel and the other substitutes weave poles for the tunnel.

Exercise #1

The first exercise is to see how many jumps your dog can take while you run around the tunnel in 15 seconds. You would be surprised at the wide turns and off-course tunnels that may occur! If your dog is going wide, stop and reward him at your side a few times after each jump and then try again. If your dog takes the off-course tunnel, make sure you are clearly indicating the jump and saying jump. Then try the sequence in the other direction!

Try the same drill with weave poles (and, no you can’t run through the weaves!). Again, work in both directions.

Exercise #2

The second exercise is a bit more complicated. This sequence includes a front cross (changing sides by turning in to your dog), send, blind cross (changing sides by turning away from your dog), and a rear cross (changing sides while behind your dog). The dog is doing a figure eight: jump, tunnel, jump, tunnel, and so on.

Handling Directions

Start with the dog on your left.
Front cross the approach side of the #2 tunnel.
Send the dog to #4 tunnel.
Blind cross before the dog exits #4 tunnel.
Blind cross again at the entrance to #6 tunnel.
Rear cross on the approach side of #8 tunnel.

You can reverse this drill and go the other direction.

Try this second exercise with the weave poles. It is a great test of weave entries and exits!

Check out the video example: https://youtu.be/CYriNp5nO5k

If you struggle with the handling portion of this game, break it up and reward more frequently (that’s why you have a pocket full of kibble). Use a food or toy reward that you can toss on the ground along the path you want your dog to take. For example, if your dog isn’t getting the send to #4, start at jump #3 and toss the reward on a path towards #4 as your dog takes jump #3. This will encourage him to travel out and the motion of tossing the reward is the same as the handling movement for the send.

The weave pole portion of this game can be very challenging for young dogs! Break it up into smaller sections. Try getting the reward off the handler (give it to a helper), or use a Manners Minder/Treat N Train (a remote treat delivery device) to reward the dog for completing the weaves regardless of handler motion.

Snooker 101: How To Play USDAA Snooker With FLOW & FUN!

Posted on February 1, 2015 by ffluffy

***Disclaimer- I am teaching you how to play Snooker with your dog’s happiness as a priority and to get a Q. If you want to learn Snooker strategy to win and get Super Q’s, please read Dave Hanson’s Snooker article at http://www.usdaa.com/binary/files/SnookerHanson.pdf

Snooker is a game played in USDAA agility. It involves an opening of the handler’s choice and a closing of the judge’s choice. Red jumps are taken, and IF completed successfully, allow the opportunity of taking a numbered/colored obstacle. In the opening, numbered/colored obstacles, earn points if completed successfully. If NOT complete successfully in the opening, you earn no points but can continue. In the closing, if a numbered/colored obstacle is NOT completed successfully, the whistle blows.

ALWAYS read your Snooker course map and go to the briefing so you will know if it is 3 reds, 4 reds OR 3 or 4 reds, (or 4 of 5 reds, or…)! You also need to know the time set for the course, as well as any other judge specific rules (#6A and #6B must be taken in flow, or combo #5 is any jump weaves, etc.)

It is best to look at designing your Snooker strategy by working BACKWARDS from the closing. Always look at the closing, determine where number 2 is and how is the best way to get there from your opening.

Pick an opening sequence that utilizes FLOW. Even a Super Q can happen with a course that runs smoothly. In Advanced and Starters, FLOW should be the number one priority! Get your minimum points on a course that allows your dog to work in extension, keep it safe and fun!

You only need 37 points to qualify in Snooker. If you make it through the closing to number 7 you have earned 27 points; you only need 37 to qualify, so that makes a total of 10 points needed in the opening. Or you could plan on getting through number 5 in the closing, and then you would need 23 points in the opening. Or. Or. Or. Get out a calculator!!

Red jumps are worth 1 point and if taken successfully, allow you to take a numbered/colored obstacle for points. YOU CAN ONLY TAKE A RED JUMP ONCE IN THE OPENING.

Start with the hardest to get to red jump and end with the red jump that flows into the number 2 of the closing.

Your course needs to consist of the following: red jump, numbered/colored obstacle, red jump, numbered/colored obstacle, red jump, numbered/colored obstacle, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Think of the opening and the closing as a course! Renumber it on your course map starting with 1 and ending with whatever number gets you to the last part of the closing. I know you are allowed to “think on your feet” in snooker, but some dogs can’t handle the stress and will shut down. I do not “think on my feet” with those dogs. I run my course and leave if a whistle sounds! I do not sacrifice my dog’s happiness and speed for anything!

Technically you can go to another red if your dog has performed a red incorrectly by knocking it. I reserve this strategy for DAM/PVP. Again, I run my course in flow and if the whistle blows, I leave!

**Try to plan a course that is do-able for your dog; don’t plan on 3 weave poles when your dog misses entries. Make sure you can complete the course in the time allotted, weaves and contacts take longer than jumps and tunnels!

Refusals do not count in the opening, and do count in the closing.

If you fault a numbered/colored obstacle, you MUST complete it in the opening.

Snooker Checklist

Find hardest red jump, start your opening with that jump
Find #2 obstacle, plan to end your opening close to #2
Walk the closing
Plan an opening with flow
Re-number your course map
Memorize the opening and closing as one course
Plan a reasonable course for you and your dog’s skills
Leave when the whistle blows

Here is a fun course from cynosports 2014 to study and come up with a plan that has FLOW and is FUN for your dog!

Snooker Course

Here is Eric’s briefing:

Start jump is bidirectional, must be taken to start your run and if taken again, ends your run! The finish jump is live at all times and will end your run!

3 or 4 reds!

Combos are bidirectional in the opening!

Times:

Champ 26/22 and P 20/16 45 secs
Champ 18/16 and P 12 50 secs
Champ 14/12 and P 8 55 secs

International Agility WOOT!

Posted on March 7, 2013 by ffluffy

Very cool Dog Agility Blog Event on Internationalization !!

The technology available to agility competitors has increased the ability to do agility at a different level. Videos of competitors from around the world have inspired interest in worldwide agility skills. International course design is cropping up in AKC and USDAA in the form of threadles, backsides and other global sequences. USDAA has added a Master Challenge course that has many international course features which can be found in DAM Team courses as well.

My favorite course map website has international courses from the judges overseas at http://pompilio.wordpress.com/ I like to print out courses and set them up to work on the challenging pieces as well as re-number and try new sequences from the same course. My students enjoy the options and I try to embed shorter/less complicated sequences that people with young dogs can do within the harder course so that there are level appropriate sections for everyone.

Here is a course we are going to run tonight that was designed by Harald Schjelderup. He is going to be a judge at the FCI World Championships.

There are multiple options to try within this course, and I am sure I will come up with more tonight!

This is a link to a previous blog post regarding a Harald Schjelderup international jumpers course with different options to try https://ffluffy.com/2013/02/15/harald-schjelderup-agility-course/

Cardboard and Girl Scout Cookies VS Fun Agility Courses and a Bottle of Wine

Posted on February 19, 2013 by ffluffy

A woman who meant well offered me cardboard to “keep me warm” the last night I was camping at the agility trial. I was dirty and dressed in my awesome striped PJ’s pants and mismatched top. I thanked her gratefully and suggested she leave it by the dumpster for the next person who might need it. I also learned that Grasshopper Cookies ($2 at walmart) taste as good as or better than Girl Scout Thin Mints ($4 from your local girl scout). I know this sounds too good to be true but we did a genuine taste test around the campfire. It might have been the beers, but I swear the Grasshoppers won out. And you can buy them year round!!! Woot!

To top the weekend off I scored an AMAZING bottle of wine from some good friends, got to run a really cool dog (sorry about the ankle) and watched a cool MACH Run! More WOOT!

Check out these two courses by Dan Butcher from this weekend. Some neat challenges that kept people on their feet and caught a few of us off guard! My best advice to the worry warts: #wootyurlife It’s the only option when the doubt flies in, just kick it out with some heartfelt woot and even if you don’t Q you can still feel AWESOME!!! LOL!

Can’t wait for next weekend; I’m running for margaritas!!!!