running contacts
thanx alicia.... in the past I have written things down after a run or a class then I never get them all together in one place. I am hoping that I can keep my ideas in one place then maybe make better progress!
One 'idea that I am working on is for training running contacts with my young BC. I have been working with Pippens running contacts for over a year now and the thing that I have to overcome is the speed with which you have to handle a true running contact. Pippen needs 1 full stride on the ground after the dw in order to turn. If I try to turn him earlier then he will miss the contact (he hits the contact with his rear feet). What I need to produce is a way of reliably indicating criteria have been met for the contact but which also helps to train the high speed turns and directionals required to use a running contact effectively. It is now an engineering problem and I hope to have the first prototype for testing in the new year. Perhaps I can 'preview them on TNT! It will certainly be great to get feedback from fellow students on such a project! .....elizabeth
Re: running contacts
I decided to do running contacts with my Springer "Doc" 1 year ago. I started with his A-frame and, due to his natural striding, he hits 1/3 down the yellow zone about 99.5% of the time, so there really was nothing to train, except to be careful of tunnel obstacles following the A-frame, which are tucked under the A-frame. As you write, he needs to FINISH the contact first, breath, then turn tightly into a tunnel. The running dogwalk, on the other hand, is, by far, the hardest thing I've ever attempted. I would say that Doc naturally gets it right on his own most of the time, but I have done tons of reinforcement on a Hit-It board off the dogwalk, then on a lowered dogwalk, then on full height dogwalk. About every 3 weeks I lower my dogwalk to table hieght for 1 week, and rework the drving towards the Hit-It board. The trick for us seems to be to erase me. Any weird movement of my hands, voice, or body position and Doc will bail early. I also think that even if he understands the running contact, handling the obstacle FOLLOWING the dogwalk is a new challenge due to the running contact creating lots of speed approaching the following obstacle. I would say that his A-frame is in maintenance mode, and the dogwalk is still in extreme monitoring mode.... :)
Tracy and Doc
Re: running contacts
Hi Tracy!!
I am really happy I went to running contacts. I actually have a slightly different situaltion than you in that I have to work the A frame much more than the dog walk. When my guys are alittle tired or if there have been 2 many aframes in quick succession (think snooker) then their stride shortens just enough for them to come off alittle high. (I have also found this to be a sign of them being a little sore). With the DW, they were trained using a tennis ball. Over the past year we have been called for our dog walk about 6 times. I would say 3 were legit. Most judges are getting the hang of judging running dog walks but still get thrown if the contact is made only with the rear feet (as is the case with my dogs!). Pippen actually accelerates over the dw. We have clocked him in the 2s interval. The key seems to be my hand signal. If I tell him hit it and give the signal then I can peel off to whereever. However I cannot give him a new direction until he hits yellow - because it is with the rear!! I worked a little with Stuart Mah on cueing him for a turn on the downramp but that changes the striding and the contact behavior is lost.
I agree that the 'real challenge with the running DW is the 'next sequence'. Handler fitness comes into play eh!!!! I find the race down the 36'DW to the next obstacle robs me of the ability to communicate effectively!!!
I look forward to watching your DW running rocks!!!!!...elizabeth