Lead out versus Running with your dog

Submitted by kthacher on Thu, 2006-12-28 13:25.

Olga-After viewing my video, Shasta Lesson 4, it was suggested that I ask you about running off the start line with Shasta instead of leading out, like Stacy (?) does with Doc. Shasta has a lot of fun doing agility but I don't think she likes being left at the start line. Alicia also said it would help her acquire the correct lead leg which I don't know much about. Can you address this issue of how to start with your dog?

Thanks for your comments on my first two videos. Sorry I didn't reply but I'm still figuring out how to get around on this site and I couldn't find my way back to my videos later.

Kathy

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Eric Larson's picture

Re: how to find

Submitted by Eric Larson on Thu, 2006-12-28 19:28.

If everyone would TAG all their videos and everything they submit it would be easy to find down the road.

I wrote a quick 'how to tag' article. 

TracyE's picture

Re: Lead out versus Running with your dog

Submitted by TracyE on Wed, 2007-01-03 06:20.

HI Kathy,

I'll let Olga be the judge for you and your dog, but I always felt like a second class citizen not having a lead with my Springer Doc.  Everyone expected me to develop this lead out with him, and he would do a lead out, mind you, but he would be completely demoralized, so how much fun is that?  Eventually Doc and I have fine tuned our start line, so it feels natural and he absolutely runs faster and happier by having me be with him from the beginning of the game.  I have not yet found a course that is impossible to start due to lack of lead out.   It all appears to be geometry backtracking from the 2nd or 3rd obstacle back to the 1st obstacle and then finding my squat/hug start line spot.  I am now working from our starting squat/hug spot, together with my dog, to successfully complete a running front cross after the 1st, 2nd or 3rd obstacle.  I want to do it with speed and keep the bars up, you know?

newfire's picture

Re: Lead out versus Running with your dog

Submitted by newfire on Wed, 2007-01-03 07:22.
I must admit that I do not have a lead out with Shadow aka MACh ADCh Hollybriar Shadow at Talydale. She has also been the top Lakeland Terrier in AKC for the last 4years! So as you can see, not having a lead out is not necessarily a bad thing. With Shadow, there was so much stress on me at the startline what with when will she break, will I be able to get my feet under me to start running etc, that I finally decided it was just not fun to run her that way. All my instructors wanted to do was work on a lead out so as a result I didn't get much actual help learning to run her at her typical 5+ yps. I accept that some courses will be extremely difficult to run without a lead out especially if she is full of beans for her first run on a cold day but as Tracy said, you can always find a way to manage it!!! ..... elizabeth

Re: Lead out versus Running with your dog

Submitted by kthacher on Wed, 2007-01-03 18:46.

Thanks for the comments Tracy and Elizabeth. It really helps to hear that not everyone has to have a start line stay. Or even if you do, it might not be the best way to run your dog.

I always thought I HAD to use a lead out whenever possible, and as I said, Shasta will stay but she's not happy. I'm going to try running with her more, spending less time at the start line where she seems to stress a bit. (Or maybe it's ME who stresses!)

Kathy, Shasta and Kola

Olga Chaiko's picture

Re: Lead out versus Running with your dog

Submitted by Olga Chaiko on Tue, 2007-01-09 21:29.
Kathy,

As there is the art of lead-out advantage, there is the art of the in-line start. If you have a good reason for starting with your dog, please don't feel like a second class citizen. Do what's right for you and your dog and strive to do it well.

Olga.