Wrinkles practice 9.17
Submitted by agilemutt13 on Mon, 2007-09-17 20:21.
Today Wrinkles and I and a friend went to practice at Jean's field :). We definitely wanted to work on contacts and got to do so... they still aren't very consistant and we haven't been on a dogwalk since July... so it's been kind of difficult training running contacts with no contacts haha. But we're getting there and I'm gonna do what it takes to get them consistant. We also worked on serpentines since Jean had lesson 17 set up and practiced some of the bits and pieces from there... Overall it was very fun and I really have to say I love running contacts and being able to just run as fast as I can with him without worrying about stopping, except for the table of course :P. Enjoy and let me know if you have any training tips!
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Re: Wrinkles practice 9.17
I wish I had your energy!! it just bursts out on the video!!
As far as contacts a couple of things to think about. On the dog walk you want the dogs focus to be at the end of the plank in the contact zone. When you reward Winkles, you often jump up and swing your arms upwards - this motion at the DW might tend to pull him up so he bounces up and misses the down contact. If you focus on driving down to a spot 2 -3 feet from the end ie you stare at it and run towards it, it will help Winkles focus there as well!!
With your A frame, it looks to me like you may need to help Winkles be comfortable taking steps going down. A couple of things might help - He is a big dog and you may want to make sure he is not carring any extra weight! Another thing is to tackle some stairs. perhaps a short flight to a toy tossed low and away gradually building to a longer flight of stairs. For this you don't need contact equipment!!! I would also take him hiking so that he is walking over lots of different ups and downs. This kind of conditioning will help him with his footwork on the contacts, especially if you don't have regular access to them!!
elizabeth
Re: Wrinkles practice 9.17
Helen,
What a fine practice you had with Wrinkles! Elizabeth is right, you and Wrinkles run with great energy and take advantage of that awesome field that Jean has, ;-)..
I am with you on your decision to run through the contacts with Wrinkles. Even if you don't have regular access to contact equipment at the moment. It is healthier for the big boy, and it's way more fun!
You know, funny so, someone just asked me if I got upset and how I coped when my dog would miss a contact during an otherwise perfect run.. I just about died laughing.. I am having so much fun running.. there is nothing to cope with and nothing to get upset about.. Keep the sunny attitude and your dog will run happy and fast..
Olga.
Re: Wrinkles practice 9.17
thanks olga. haha a junior asked me the same question and said wouldn't you rather Q with a slower run with 2o2o than not Q with a faster running contacts run? I just about died laughing as well. Apparently she doesn't see the joy in Wrinkles' face when he runs the contacts and because of that runs the rest of the course faster =)
Thanks