Running Contacts March 21 2009

Yesterday I tried the box on a low A-frame (around 4 ft). My box is a bit smaller than the yellow area but I don't really want Taari to hit the top of the yellow zone (before the first slat). Taari did well when I put her on the A-frame. She didn't come back to me promptly as I don't think that she likes being picked up and put on equipment. I also have this problem with the dogwalk. So as soon as it looked like she was ready I had her do the whole A-frame. I was hoping that she would be able to do only one hit on the downside of the A-frame before the box/yellow zone. At one point I tried a stride regulator to see if that would help but it didn't. Perhaps they are not the right shape or I don't have them in the right spot. It may also require further training with the stride regulators to get Taari to stretch out more (gradually moving the stride regulator down). I will have to think about this some more.

After doing the box A-frame I decided to go back to doing the box on the ground. I was quite pleased that Taari seemed to be doing one hit on the ground. I don't have a good enough eye yet as when I looked at the video I missed Taari twice only getting one of her front feet in the box and more obviously there were two times when she hit the box. She seems to be taking off too early over the jump.

A couple of other things that I noticed after watching my video and reviewing the Reliable Running A-frames DVD again was that I am forgetting to give the box a cue and I am late or the Treat N Train isn't responding right away when I "click".

Here is the video.

Progress report on Running Contacts

Last weekend was house league so I didn't get to practice during my regular Saturday time. In my regular Monday class I am still just using the hoops. This week I did some more box work in my basement.

Today I had my regular practice at the dome. Brigs and Spider were also there and I find that Taari is more distracted and we don't get as much done as when we are on our own.

I did some dogwalk box work on the ground and then put the box on the dogwalk. Taari was avoiding the box on the dogwalk and jumping off the side. I was putting her on the dogwalk down ramp (i.e. not having her do the whole thing). This is somewhat strange since she did so well the first day when we had the dome to ourselves. So I got a table and removed the plank from the dogwalk and put in on the table. She did the box well with this setup. The table was the height we use for large dogs - 22" so the incline wasn't as steep as the regular dogwalk.

I worked with one jump and the A-frame box on the ground. Taari did well and seemed to be only doing one hit between the box and jump. I am not positive since I didn't video tape the session.

I am looking forward to being able to work outside.

Running Contacts in my basement

I have what used to be a ramp board from a dogwalk. It is now two boards - a 5 ft board with the yellow zone (lost a foot due to the wood rotting) and a 6 ft board. My basement isn't very big and is fairly cluttered but I managed to make a mini dogwalk contact trainer out of them. I can't wait until we can work outside. Hopefully the snow will melt this weekend.

I experimented with and without the box on it. Taari doesn't have the same speed she usually has on a real dogwalk. There were times when she was fairly excited and faster. She had no problems getting the contact zone either with or without the box.

Earlier in the week I used the long board as the down ramp board but Thursday night I used the short board with the yellow zone. I started with it low and then found some blocks and books so I could raise it up.

Taari was definitely having fun and Spice did too the other night. Spice did quite well considering his 13th birthday is coming up. I should have taped him. Tonight I only had Taari working on the boards. Spice just got to run back and forth in the basement.

Here is the video. Watch for the part where the Manners Minder starts making a funny sound - one that Taari doesn't like. I thought that it was quite funny but Taari apparently didn't. Luckily when Manners Minder stopped making that noise Taari was fine with the it.

Week 2 of the box

We were back in the training facility this weekend. Taari's friends, Brigs and Spider, were also there. Taari was much more excited during the session. Taari did manage to do one hit between the jump and the A-frame box more often which was good.

Because Taari was much more excited she wasn't as good with the box on the dogwalk. Then we had a bit of a set back. She slipped going up it and then was jumping off part way up the up ramp. The dogwalk is quite slippery and I wish that it had something like Contactacoat on it.

I didn't video tape my session since I forgot my tripod.