Sixth Trial Day of the Season
Delaware Valley German Shepherd Dog Club
September 19, 2009
When I sent this entry in I had decided to split the weekend between Agility with Niven on Saturday and Breed Showing with Torch on Sunday. It helped
that the Breed show was less then five miles from home and on Sunday, especially when the Agility Trial was an hour and a half drive.
The alarm was set for four o’clock in the morning and I think Niven was not sure of why there was the radio was blaring so early. Torch looked more
confused, especially since he looked unsure of his fate. The morning progressed easier then normal since we had a new roof put on the garage and most
of my Agility stuff is now stored out there and I had covertly packed the night before. All I had to do was “heel” Niven down the yard in the pitch
darkness while carrying the bag of goodies, get in the car and pull out.
I knew this change of routine did nothing for the last trial and I expected Niven to be scatter brained this time as well. There is a different psychology
if I either allow her to barrel down the yard barking and hopping or I park out front and we run to the car and get in then when I have her walk
quietly
next to me. As I have said before, I am sure the neighbors appreciate my early morning efforts of keeping Niven from barking all the way down the lawn.
The drive to the trial site was a pain because I took indirect routes, but managed to get there within an hour. Being one of the first to arrive meant my
parking spot put my car in line with the center ring and enabled me to back up to the rope line to set up. I did not bring all of my nifty new stuff since
I was entered for only one day, so I was able to put up the ExPen and Screen at the rear of the car and be done with set up in less time then planned for.
What started out as a forty five degree morning, slowly warmed up by noon. There was heavy Fall Season scent, lots of ducks flying overhead, slight wind,
cold temperatures and one Labrador Retriever noticing it all.
Novice B Jumpers
I was happy to see this course had flow and ease of moving around, but it also had its technicalities for Handlers. One not planned for was the
“pothole” terrain and damp mud in the area of Jump #2 and #3. A slight rise of ground caused the course to go uphill so as the dogs came off the #10
Jump to #11, there was a need for gait adjustment that probably would go unnoticed by the dogs until they were there jumping.
Some how or another I missed our name being called and had to run last in the 24” Class. This meant we were standing outside of the ring for longer
then I wanted to be. Niven was already giving the indication she had figured out what was going on. I was surprised she held the Start Line and when
she moved, she did so with speed. There seemed to be no problems with getting over the difficult beginning, but I did hear the bar on #3 being ticked
as Niv went over and her attention pulled off to #10/14 Jump. Once back in focus, we continued on with me cutting behind before sending her to #6. This
worked very well, but Niv missed the Weave Entry, which is weird, but not for outdoor trials. At the end of the Poles I was able to get a Front Cross in
and we started for the Pin Wheel of Jumps.
At this point, the ground sloped upwards and I was trying to match my “in place’ turning to Niven’s speed and positioning. It may not look like much of a
challenge, but the #11 Jumps was set oddly coming from #10. I figured it was a combination of reasons for this bar coming down and all of them will have
to be explored in training sessions.
We continued on, me trying to remember which bar had fallen while I continued to turn. As the #13 bar fell, instead of calling the command for the next
Jump, I ended up yelling “Two!” to remember which bar also came down. Poor Dog. She looked at me strangely and nearly cut me off at the knees when I
started to cut into her path for the Tunnel Send.
Non-Qualifying Run
Knocked bars at #11 and #13 Jumps
Open Standard
Where does one begin discussing this run? The shame is as an overall course, it had its challenges that Niven and I found. I am sorry that I did not
get a chance to complete the run, but the odds of finding similar elements on other day’s courses in the future are very high. What became important
is that Niv and I need to learn to harness energy and not necessary act on every idea.
The run started with Niven taking the Triple down, probably from flat jumping. I thought the Jump combo of #3, #4 and #5 would be easier if I had a
Front Cross in to mark the extreme turn, but Niven decided I could not have meant “HERE!” but did mean take the #5 Jump. Ok, that is a training issue
and without video taping of my “highly possible ill Handler” position, I let it slide. That is what training is for and well, we really do not do that
a whole lot.
Niven handled the Tire to the Frame with distance and beautiful obstacle discrimination, but also decided “Target” meant for her to jump from the Frame
halfway down and tear off to the Tunnel. I can handle a bad Handler Position and the knocked Triple, but you know what? A Frame Contact is a Frame
Contact and……………..there is plenty of time later for the “Wow and Amaze Everyone” runs. : D
I let the Judge know I was pulling my cute dog off the course and for his time. It took Niv a few seconds to realize we were not playing Agility any more
and I made her sit by the Lead Chair before we headed out of the Ring.
Another Labrador person grabbed me to talk so this was perfect for Niven who suddenly seemed confused and paid more attention with less excitement. In an
odd way, she seemed more relaxed and focused, but unfortunately, there were no treats until we went back to the car after a longer walk. Those treats
were the normal ones she gets for just being her.
Non-Qualifying Run
Knocked #2 Jump
Off Course at reversed #16
Jumped Frame Contact
Elimination
I am never sure of what will work for each dog or if there is one solution for all problems and dog psychology. I have seen dogs pulled off course
that never seem to “get” why the fun game has ended and I have seen other dogs begin to refuse the problem obstacle to avoid being reprimanded. Yet
others seem to pull together and figure out that obstacles need to be performed certain ways.
There are dangers in every thing we do and as a trainer/handler we should be ready for what dilemma the dog offers next. Knowing the FAST class was the
last class of the day, I was able to adjust my quickly planned course to mimic the Standard course and get Niven back on the Frame as quickly as possible………
Open FAST
What excited me about this course was that the ‘left side of the course’ was set similar to the Open Standard one with the Tunnel/Frame combo and the
U-shaped Tunnel in the corner. Having this sequence set would help to recreate the drive and excitement for Niven and hopefully demonstrate what type
of personality she would be for rebounding.
Having the Dog Walk in the Send meant there was a fifty/fifty chance of Niven sending out. I knew the Teeter would be a no-go at the last trial, but she
loves the DW and I thought there might be some thing….. It was best to get the Tunnel Send out of the way first and then attempt the DW.
I did not plan the third One Point Jump, but Niven blew me off and set herself up for an angled Frame approach. At the bottom, she calculated each step
to figure out where she could move on from there, watching me watch her. I tried to praise where I could and sent her on to the Tunnel which she refused
and came back. I have played USDAA and NADAC Gambles for too long and did not want to pattern set the “I got caught on the Line” game and decided not to
ruin the Frame thing with this. I chose to send her through the Tunnel under the Frame and back out to the corner Tunnel purely to burn off the
frustration energy for not getting a Treat for her Frame Contact.
Eventually she took the corner Tunnel and did go out to the DW like she did for the Teeter, but there was no fun without me being there….and she came
back. After two attempts, I stepped in and we hauled off, once again Niven really trying to figure out the Contact and when to move on. I believe at
this point the Timer Buzzer went off and no points were gained for the DW and all the Jumps she knocked as we hauled butt to the end.
Na…..
Training in the Ring was not blatant.
Non-Qualifying Run
No Send Bonus
Not enough points
Over time by ten seconds
I did learn a lot about Niven and hopefully she about me. I was really happy to see how well she managed to work for the FAST run after being pulled
off the course for Standard. I was disappointed that she did not get her last needed ‘leg’ for the Novice Jumpers title, but terrain is terrain and is
something the dogs all need to learn from experience. ( That is part of the problem with showing in one location with solid and stable footing. )
Despite the day not yielding anything exciting like a Qualifying run, it was a great day to be outdoors. Although untypically cool in the morning, the
sun warmed the day and did not yield the rain clouds the weather people were predicting all week. Sad to say Torch got left behind because of the rain
and I felt bad, but he had his day on Sunday while Niven was left home to squeak loudly as we made our way down the backyard toward the car.
Now we settle back and wait for October Trials………
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Last Updated on
September 22, 2009
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