Thanks for the thorough reply! Yes, Eddie was jumping 4" in competition because I was addressing that stutter step. I sent in a video to Andrea Dexter, who does video analysis on her website,
www.agilityflix.net/, and she encouraged me to keep him at 4" until he got over that.
The first thing she told me was to make sure his legs were healthy, and the vet gave him a clean bill of health. I suspected the stutter step came about because I used to have him jump irregular tall objects (logs, onto benches, etc.). To make a long story short, we tried a number of different things (including a variation of what you suggested), and he was improving. Until his leg gave out. He had cranial cruciate surgery last November, and I suspect weak legs may have been the root of his problem all along.
Just as I was getting ready to get him back into agility this summer, he started limping occasionally on his other back leg. But then it went away. One vet recommended surgery, a specialist recommended rest and physical therapy. So that's where I'm stuck now. No competition. He's limped only a couple times since early summer, and that was temporary. If he makes it through the winter with no more trouble, I may try to get him back into competition next summer. My motivation to do that isn't real high. My goal for him in agility was to complete a regular course once in competition, and he's done that. Now I just want to make sure he's as healthy and happy as can be.
I love the way you work with Lizzie and let some mistakes go. I'm guessing that's why she appears to have so much fun. I got some bad advice in beginning classes, and he developed a number of issues -- he used to hide in the tunnel to avoid having to go over the teeter. I ended up pulling him out of one school altogether and just practicing at home until we found that fun element again. Then we joined another school, which emphasized the fun part of it. It made a world of difference.
He's 10" tall and has been in agility for 3 years, since he was 3. We hit it real hard the first couple years -- he's been through Agility I-IV and repeated II, III and IV at the second school. He also took a jumper's class at both schools. He actually runs better in competition. At the first school, he was freaked out by the room, which had big, noisy ceiling fans. Even at the second school, he'd get bored quickly and start pulling at the leash to go home. He does best playing on our home course and in competition. No sure why. Maybe because both are outdoors.
Until I decide what to do with Eddie, I'll be living vicariously through Lizzie, so be sure to keep me updated with new videos!
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Originally Posted by Lizzie07  Oh, Eddie is so cute. Is he jumping four inches? Lizzy is short, but I have her jumping eight inches.
The one thing I notice about Eddie is the way he collects himself before jumping. Neither Lizzy or Jillie do this and I think that slows him down. I wonder if using cavallettis (sp?) with a target at the end could get him to take jumps without collecting himself. These are a row of jumps (5 or so) close enough together for Eddie to land and jump again, without room to collect himself. A super, super great treat at the end would also help. Then back that up with a few more along with praise. When his jumping is good that way, move the jumps a little farther apart, and continue. It should help with his over all speed too.
When we first started out, I really tried for no do overs. If Lizzy was doing a line of jumps and missed one, she missed it and I kept going and praised her like she did a perfect job. I've learned with three previous dogs that this can make them hesitant if you keep stopping and making them do something they missed. It has worked great for Liz. She doesn't expect me to stop, generally. Did you notice in one of the runs that we were suppose to wrap a jump, but she kept on to the tunnel? I just acted like it was part of the run once it happened. It isn't easy doing this, my instinct is to redo, but I've gotten better.
At Liz's one and only trial to date, I have to say I was really proud of myself that I kept going and didn't do anything over, not even the first obstacles which she missed in both her runs. I try to tell myself that Novice is just one of the steps to excellent and you really need speed there. Especially AKC and USDAA. I don't know NADAC as well, but it seems more laid back around here. AKC is quite competitive. So is USDAA, but everything is tougher, higher and harder in USDAA and I don't know if I will do it much, if at all, with Liz. That is not to say that I won't go back to pick something up, but by the time you get to excellent, it doesn't matter. You only Q if you have no mistakes in AKC.
The A frame did look larger that Liz was doing, but maybe you are taller than I am? I'm 5'6". My trainer does a lot of USDAA, though, so it could have been taller. I have sent her over the taller, USDAA height, by mistake, and it was a real struggle for her. Without a good start, it is anyway and it is noticable in one of the runs.
How tall is Eddie at the withers? Liz is 8.5". How long has Eddie been taking classes? I think he looked great in his run. He didn't look unhappy at all to me. He might need more confidence is all. How does he run in class? |