Conformation in Agility Dog's

The pelvis is the most impotent factor in agility dogs.
- It not only needs to have a good slope (30 degrees or more).
- The length is incredibly important. The longer the pelvis,
the broader the thigh and that means more power.
- A long flat pelvis is useless.
- A short sloped pelvis is a little better but not much.

I have found that the shoulder angles is not nearly as important in agility dogs as the rear.

- Too much angulation in the rear and the dog takes too long to get up to speed.
- Not enough and there is not enough length of the stride.

You have to look at the whole picture when it comes to performance!

Helen King

Success in Agility - Silvia Trkman

1. Develop a firm, trusting relationship with your dog.

2. Properly condition your dog (2 hrs off leash running in woods / day, 1 a-day hike / week in mtns)

3. Teach your dog tricks - achieves total body awareness

4. Teach your dog obedience. Teaches you about motivation.

5. Boost your dog's confidence. Always let her know she's a champion.

6. Don't be afraid to do it your way. Trust your intuition on what is best for your dog.

7. If something goes wrong, remember it is always your fault - your training or your handling.

8. Never forget that results don't count.

9. Dog's work best when they work for themselves.

10. Go out and have fun with your dog.

Training for Speed - Silvia Trkman

'Speed is certainly my major focus right from the beginning and I won’t do anything until a dog is showing the attitude I want. Many people choose to do things slowly first to let a dog understand the job and then try to add speed: those with good drivey dogs with no problems – but an average drive dog might never add speed. And even if he does, very often adding speed to the picture changes that picture that much that a dog can’t do the job correctly anymore, then a handler re-does the exercise before rewarding and by that, gives a dog a message that going fast is not good."

"A dog can be slow if they worry too much about being right and their handler fails to give them a clear message that they ARE right."

"Forget about that start line stay. Run with your dog. You should reward right away when a dog shows more speed. I know it’s hard because it’s just so much fun to run a fast dog, but if you reward anyway, this will happen again. If not, it might never happen again. Rewarding is your only way to give a dog an information that fast is good. If you keep running and then even comment the possible mistakes that more speed brought, you’re giving your dog an information that speed is bad."

1. Make sure your dog understand agility is about running, not about doing obstacles. To beginners, I teach running first and then we include an obstacle or two that are on their way.

2. Keep agility training short and fun. Do all the necessary drilling outside agility field – no drilling allowed on agility filed.

3. If you want a fast dog, put is as your priority and act like it. Be happy and reward enthusiastically everything that is fast or at least faster as usual. Don’t worry about skipped or additional jumps.

Meat Grinder

Someday I want one of these grinders.


http://www.pierceequipment.com/grinders.html

Video - Franklin JWW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q5SDa8nqSU&sns=em

Picking the Agility Puppy with the Tippy Board Test

Article by: Justine Merrill - The Dog Lady of Forest Grove, Hillsboro and Portland Oregon

When considering a youngster, do not be in a rush to take home a puppy under twelve or fourteen weeks of age. All previous written advice in the 70’s and 80’s has advised the opposite. We were encouraged to take puppies home at six, seven and eight weeks.  “So they bond to us”. I have never taken a sheltie home that did not want to bond, no matter the age. If we still believe that old myth why do so many nice agility dogs come from rescue?

Keeping youngsters in the puppy pen for a few extra weeks does no harm: they learn dog manners, and grow up just a bit. Sheltie babies are such babies at ten weeks. Constantly I advise people that a fifteen week show grow out youngster can be the best possible agility or pet pick, they have had lots of attention, are ready to learn, and the temperament is more on display.

Since the biggest issue that arises in agility shelties is stuff and noise sensitivity, I want to test puppies when they have a little more brains under that cute fluff. I like to test after twelve weeks, I am not sure that results with a tippy board under ten or twelve weeks are accurate. This is just based on working puppies and having a puppy or two that did well at eight weeks, which did not test so well, or poorly at seventeen weeks.

http://justineleo.net/articles/picking%20the%20agility%20puppDy.htm

MACH Party at Harriman

Thanks to all who helped celebrate our first MACH at a party held at the TVKC agility trial in Harriman. What a blast to share some fun and treats with my agility friends. I am so thankful for the help and encouragement I have recieved. I couldn't have done it without you! Thanks also to husband, Joe, for attending the party and for cheering me on.

We Finally Made It! First MACH!

I cannot begin to describe the excitement and pride I have in team Nina and Beth. I know we have a lot to learn and a lot to improve, but for now, I am so happy with what we have done so far. From Perry, GA in early July 2010 to Meretta, GA in early November 2011, w managed to go from Novice A to MACH in 16 months. We experienced a lot of ups ad downs and will, no doubt repeat that roller coaster as we procede up our learning curve. That is what keeps this sport so exciting.

I continue to strive to be the best handler I can be so I can help my dog to do her best for each run each day. I struggle with stayting in the present, respecting and accepting and running the dog I have today. I know I can improve my handling skills, mental focus, and physical attributes. I know I will will work hard to do this.

I am taking a hard look at what I want my new goals to be. I know this includes a lot of honest introspective, detailed planning, learning new training methods, stepping out of my comfort zone and hard work.

But for now, I want to bask for a little while in what we have accomplished an be grateful for my dog, my husband, my friends, my trainers and my encouragers.

MACH NINA! Congratulations!

A Trial to Remember

The Charlotte Dog Training Club, Concord, NC had planned to trial under a covered arena. The facility, unfortunately, deposited a beach-worth of sand that resulted in about 4-6 inches of soft, sinking sand. The first run was T2B. Since it was impossible for me to run, Nina decided that she should. The result was the worst case of Zoomies since our first (Perry, GA) trial 15 months ago. The judges declared the surface unsafe and it was agreed to move the trial to one ring outside on grass. We were at least able to get some footing. The courses were really great all weekend long. Mostly tight and technical, the kind we normally perform well on. But nothing was normal this weekend. The facility also was an equestrian boarding and training facility. During one STD run, a galloping horse ran up to the end of the ring. Nina was about to enter the weaves: horse, weaves, horse, weaves? Guess what won out? In addition to horses, there was also a petting zoo. So nearby, there were rabbits, turkeys, chickens, geese, ducks, llamas, cows, bulls, wallabie, and who knows what else. (At least the camels had recently been moved out!) Can you imagine the odiforous distractions the dogs had to deal with every single second? Nina's focus was that of a Novice/Open dog. She was easily distracted by anything that moved. I also had a dog that twice refused to go at the start line. This happened once last weekend in Nashville. I am still not sure exactly what she is telling me. I'm tired? I'm not having fun? There is too much going on? You are putting too much pressure on me? Maybe all of these? I went into the weekend wanting to get the remaining 22 points needed for our MACH title. Normally, this would be an easy task, but with my MACH angst and the distractions, it was not to be. For our last run of the weekend, I wet us both down (it was really hot and sunny) and we went out for fun. For our last run of the weekend, I wet us both down (it was really hot and sunny) and we went out for fun. My happy dog was back, and we really clicked. We now have just 6 points to go. We'll only get them if we continue to run for fun!

Franklin Trial

Completed 20 QQ's with 728 points.  22 points to go for our first MACH title.