tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61156323661400668362024-02-19T03:25:48.569-08:00The Lakers BlogUpAndOverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095707534961207379noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-19092291084504628762018-09-05T13:35:00.001-07:002018-09-10T07:48:20.993-07:00It takes balls to run Pikachu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, literally it takes balls to run Pikachu.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Its been a strange and at times very sad year for us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyone grieves differently and for me some things I like to keep very private so forgive me for not commenting further. Instead I will focus on our dogs progress since my last blog.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The last blog was about Chic aka Miss Perfect Paws as she continues to be. It'll be a while before she competes so as usual there is not much equipment training going on in the Laker scheme of things. Here a little clip of one exercise we have done.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/ZidCGwdeSt0" target="_blank">Chic jumping exercise</a> clip<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">It has been said to me several times that Pikachu will make me a better dog trainer. My reply is often I don't want to be a better dog trainer I just want a dog I can do agility with. Looks like Chic is not going to help my dog training skills ;)</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">So how is Pikachu doing? Well I mentioned that I had found the key to motivation with her and about her tennis balls. I just needed to find a way to put that to best use and develop a love of agility with me through being rewarded with her balls whilst not ruining our relationship by fighting with her to get them off her.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is easier said than done, but the result is I have a dog that loves coming out to train with me and even more relevant will stay in the ring at a show, or better still enjoys competing. She can still get a little distracted on the start line and wonder if the person that has just taken her lead has also got one of her balls which needs a bit of work. TBH I'll just have to get even bigger pockets and tuck her lead in there too so she needn't worry. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The other BIG thing is that I was struggling to feel we were together in the ring. I apologise to small dog handlers but I thought it was purely a size issue and the distance from my eyes and hands to her compared to previously running large dogs that I could touch without bending down. I wondered if I would ever feel that connection. I often can't see her!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/HdQjHgSaZWE" target="_blank">She's behind you</a> clip<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Happily this is not the case and I can feel her commitment and drive (yes drive yippee) equally the same as with Rhyme. Admittedly not all the way round yet. I'm confident it will grow as she is a smart little cookie and has found the joy of running round an agility course together. She has a lovely turn of speed too so I think we will be able to look to getting up the grades...if I can understand how they work next year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The time spent this season just getting her to thrive on my attitude to competition has been well spent. I now need to capitalise on this by developing fast reliable contacts and weaves over the winter ready to attack courses with a winning mind next year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am also on the search for a replacement for the balls in a toy that she will give back without a struggle but produces nearly the same amount of excitement. So far we have found she also loves one of these cut down a bit and will bring it to me to tug with!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6115632366140066836" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6115632366140066836" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6115632366140066836" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6115632366140066836" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yep so if I can't find something better I'll be replacing the balls for something that will look no less dodgy stuffed in my pocket and earning comments like "are you pleased to see me or is that just dog toy in your pocket!!"</span></div>
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Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-19765221170497952572018-02-13T04:23:00.001-08:002018-02-13T04:23:23.935-08:00Socialisation - thinking inside the box<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wow how lucky am I.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chic is turning out to be just what I wanted. She is stunningly beautiful, very cheeky and keen to learn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Initially I wondered if she was 'legally blonde' as sometimes she doesn't seem to take things in. Then I applied one of my own tips about training regarding timing. There are times when it's easier to learn i.e. with no distractions such as being hungry, some dogs learn in 30 seconds and other take 30 seconds to warm up to the idea and some times girls just want to have fun. I have enjoyed taking time to really know Chic and work out how and when she wants to learn and boy, when she's in the mood she would work forever if I let her. However, if its not on her agenda for that day then we just have to have a growing up day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the first games I play with my puppies is getting in a cardboard box. From that game there is getting on a cardboard box, cutting an entrance and then finding a way into a higher box etc etc. I had collected many sizes of boxes for the fun of these games and with Xmas on the way I was sure to get more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chic took one look at the first box and did a perfect roll over but in no way was she interested in getting in it. The roll over was cute so that has stayed and the box was put away until today. This is the first time since that day that I have asked her to get in a box and I am glad I waited.</span><br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/d6CDAYlCAKI" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Training Chic to get in a box</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having eight dogs means you have to plan your time carefully, so armed with the knowledge that Chic can learn things easily at the right time means I can take my time and teach her things when she is ready and not waste time if she's not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Talking of ready, another game I love is the 'ready' game. This is where I have an active game of tug and then go totally still whilst saying the word ready. Usually my pups have dropped the very dead toy and as soon as they do that I say go and make the toy exciting. Chic's version was when then toy went dead she would fly at my upper arm to bite me. Although this was hilarious it also hurt so I tried to temper down the way I said the word and ask for a bit of control. I also left that game alone for a while. When I came back to it this is her new version.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the key things with young puppies is socialisation. Coming from a busy home with people coming and going visiting pups, other dogs and cats Chic had a great start in this department. Once at our home we had Christmas and New Year so lots of visitors, different people and noises, our own dogs of various sizes, other dogs staying in the house and my customers and their dogs to meet. She has done well and taken it in her stride but she has a spooky side. This is strikingly more noticeable when she is tired </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaFL6N2dReaFOcg0PrGiGzHleOoM50Lf6lOIEKbSAa-SokzBDhLBPDldvdc3pk43CdW49nOw1KfysG3CfdDWqlyR23jlt7521RaclOsYU7H5cJ3ekjQcy6R96j4UbUxcNxdOVH-2N8oU/s1600/tired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaFL6N2dReaFOcg0PrGiGzHleOoM50Lf6lOIEKbSAa-SokzBDhLBPDldvdc3pk43CdW49nOw1KfysG3CfdDWqlyR23jlt7521RaclOsYU7H5cJ3ekjQcy6R96j4UbUxcNxdOVH-2N8oU/s1600/tired.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">or needing the toilet.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fbb1sESUNLtKXKV6ir1t-vr4o50C9q-GxU5Ujxl7SDuoajqO5lwLKOv6sflWtUBJenHHC4DVZLRoXmzmdG0cipl-9EtLCJFzhn7-AlLWLpuvtJaQ51QiW8WyIIad9U8D2kZqBxAvsn4/s1600/015-cartoon-girl-needs-to-pee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fbb1sESUNLtKXKV6ir1t-vr4o50C9q-GxU5Ujxl7SDuoajqO5lwLKOv6sflWtUBJenHHC4DVZLRoXmzmdG0cipl-9EtLCJFzhn7-AlLWLpuvtJaQ51QiW8WyIIad9U8D2kZqBxAvsn4/s1600/015-cartoon-girl-needs-to-pee.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Again it is a question of timing with her and I know not to try to introduce her to anything in those circumstances. In fact I left her first puppy class early as she had been confident and bold and then went a bit quiet. Reading the signs I excused her. She is now able to stay all evening without any worry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rhyme as a puppy was concerned about a lot of things and I took him to a lot of different places and he met lots of different people. I encouraged people to give him treats so they were not scary. I think he did benefit from that and now when he 'spook barks' I can often see a reason why and it's usually something out of place - a non-agility person at a show for example or a dog in a yellow 'give me space' coat. Chic 'spook barks' if something has changed in her world - the first time we put a tunnel out in our field this year you would have thought we'd unleashed a fearless puppy eating beast. Luckily we have the space for me just to walk past it and ignore it and so she did too. I don't think it would be of help to her if I tried to entice her near it at that time. Given the choice to run was good for her and her curiosity got the better of her five minutes later. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will not be able to introduce her to every scenario that she may encounter and wonder if sometimes people are encouraged to do too much when they are still small and tire easily. As I mentioned, she behaves quite differently when tired so I will leave some things until she is older to ensure I'm not asking too much too soon from her. The main thing for me is that she trusts me and that she will then be willing to work in any place at any time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To ease her into being able to cope with change I put her food bowl down in a few different places, move her toy box and leave toys in unusual places round the field to surprise her with. When I remember I also get her to walk over different surfaces e.g matting, over hula hoops on the ground etc. The key for her is building her confidence and our relationship by introducing <i>strange</i> things in a <i>familiar</i> environment first. I'm lucky to have the space and facilities at home and I am happy she will develop into a confident dog out and about at shows this year too where I'll let her play some of her favourite games so if you see me carrying a cardboard box ..........</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just one more glimpse into her loveable and quirky character</span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/09tqc8iBmuY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/09tqc8iBmuY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/09tqc8iBmuY" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chic invents her own game</span></a></div>
Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-54389228336449392542017-12-05T00:52:00.000-08:002017-12-05T00:52:00.304-08:00Written In The Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RzDX1UUlxrxUCxsRgMbycyo6_PMzAljIVwEV_vku5aluQDiuFoN8ekDlc_X6TvCfA-tnD8Q6E_ifGkPuIURUwfY-roEoNvRUKXouoopKSqAKK14pvIRyo_hEIwoIZfba_H_tJmagMds/s1600/Chic5weeksrunning.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RzDX1UUlxrxUCxsRgMbycyo6_PMzAljIVwEV_vku5aluQDiuFoN8ekDlc_X6TvCfA-tnD8Q6E_ifGkPuIURUwfY-roEoNvRUKXouoopKSqAKK14pvIRyo_hEIwoIZfba_H_tJmagMds/s320/Chic5weeksrunning.png" width="275" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">A few blogs ago I was focusing all my energy in helping Pikachu want to do agility competitions. I have worked on a few different things along those lines. However the more energy and heart I put into it, it seemed the less energy and heart she had for it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I got great results on her wanting to work with me with the use of a tennis ball. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well one, then two and eventually even three. In fact all I had done was generate more and more obsession tennis balls. Once in her possession then she would run away from me in order to keep hold of it (and then them). It's amazing how she can get 3 balls in her mouth!!.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the questions we ask in our seminars is why do you do agility? I realised that what I love about agility is never going to be what Pikachu will want.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYntnQh7s3S5Qxcd79zYRR3yU3WjTEWC3QoqUNxho8WlcjrPryESJFd8RE6H1rSYj6Eq_qZlQx9hzn0wNyZKxJmVEo9exZu9Dwy7AR0jrW7ab5ApxnjIWGNIdg1gs826e2G2C-3ka-5Y/s1600/IMG_8758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYntnQh7s3S5Qxcd79zYRR3yU3WjTEWC3QoqUNxho8WlcjrPryESJFd8RE6H1rSYj6Eq_qZlQx9hzn0wNyZKxJmVEo9exZu9Dwy7AR0jrW7ab5ApxnjIWGNIdg1gs826e2G2C-3ka-5Y/s200/IMG_8758.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pikachu was not got with the idea of being an agility dog. She just loved learning things and was not a bad shape for agility. She loves fooling around and hanging out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Being able to have fun learning agility and enjoying competing at agility is not the same thing. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the past I have been critical of other people not understanding that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can see now why sometimes it feels the right thing to try to change things to make it easier for your own dog. Even though I know Pikachu would love agility if I could give her treats in the ring </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I won't be petitioning the KC or starting another "the KC have things wrong" thread on FB to allow them to let me. It is a health and safety issue as it seriously effects mine and her mental health to not have treats every few obstacles :) Surely there would be no harm to </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">up to about Grade 5ish, maybe 6 and then of course not in Champ classes, well not the final anyway........... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So Pikachu is going to be what she was always going to be - our little dog.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GuoJEBk0TtIz4Xlg28gaPiB1oLu89vZHYmsjw0ccZGdW48qQfimA4gsY2vXI3sHcPzleZFjW1B8cEeATNb-VfsbHe5eAZwrsKubhyphenhyphenLxJDiY3go9nIR-N_Qa_V9iFDONqAxRaMt4vEAE/s1600/IMG_8767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GuoJEBk0TtIz4Xlg28gaPiB1oLu89vZHYmsjw0ccZGdW48qQfimA4gsY2vXI3sHcPzleZFjW1B8cEeATNb-VfsbHe5eAZwrsKubhyphenhyphenLxJDiY3go9nIR-N_Qa_V9iFDONqAxRaMt4vEAE/s200/IMG_8767.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then there is Rhyme. He is very full of himself at the moment and enjoying daily physio exercises. We have started straight line low jump grids and have a full programme to be fit to compete by Derbyshire Champ at the end of January. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although he had hit most of the goals I'd had for last year before we stopped due to him not being sound, I won't make any plans for next year that would make me worry that I would push for those results. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv7ngZOK-FXAPemcGoy24q8tDVhTznfR6qV1mBGbFUamO1j2a4MAPvvQ74NensoOKgqoH7DYXP_HrApUhHoJ0_3S7UICfp6-RmP4wXn42rlHT_LslNby5nktoPNZSM5ERjQkT3wwW970/s1600/IMG_3195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv7ngZOK-FXAPemcGoy24q8tDVhTznfR6qV1mBGbFUamO1j2a4MAPvvQ74NensoOKgqoH7DYXP_HrApUhHoJ0_3S7UICfp6-RmP4wXn42rlHT_LslNby5nktoPNZSM5ERjQkT3wwW970/s320/IMG_3195.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The thing that has motivated me and kept my love for agility for so long is planning and dreaming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Planning: training progression, which shows to go to and why, even where to stay, when to enter etc etc. With one dog that may want to play one day and one dog that should stay sound then it's more take each day as they come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then came the realisation that as Rhyme is now 6 I would be getting my next agility puppy anyway. Luckily Mark supported this. He thought that a puppy would also take any pressure off Pikachu and Rhyme.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A series of events meant that for once Joy Costello who breeds the Aviary line was going to be having a litter of puppies at the time I was ready for one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part of the Aviary line comes from our lovely Kodi (Ag Ch Bekkis Carbon Copy) and we had been hoping to have one of his offspring's puppies at one point.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SZuxgPUPaM4v5boQr2EKK0NhpIls_inuZej92Fu8X-d_dbeOQC74FZ_kEqLiKLi9ta-EqqEPoM4sdM8HYaRLpFchOtlIhGP-fyCbzfuaSocQy8-QNC0XvwNirguBrnK9jVJaWEhCdio/s1600/UBXY7841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SZuxgPUPaM4v5boQr2EKK0NhpIls_inuZej92Fu8X-d_dbeOQC74FZ_kEqLiKLi9ta-EqqEPoM4sdM8HYaRLpFchOtlIhGP-fyCbzfuaSocQy8-QNC0XvwNirguBrnK9jVJaWEhCdio/s320/UBXY7841.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In fact the Mum, Ebbie is one of his Granddaughters. The pedigree has a lot of dogs that I know and love, with Bekkis on both sides and a bit of Harrjak Tigger (Rhyme and Devo's uncle) thrown in for good measure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As usual I wanted a tri but this time I wanted to go back to having a girl. Poor Torro started out in the shadow of Flint so a change of sex would mean no recent comparison for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On 26 October 4 pups were born - 2 bitches and 2 dogs. The bitches were a black & white and a tri. The boys were lilac and a red tri. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">26 October was Kodi's birthday........</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Joy as always had a long list so it was a bit of a waiting game to see who fitted which puppy as their personalities developed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then the stars aligned and this beautiful little girl is coming to join the Laker family on 16 December.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aviary Written in The Stars or as we'll call her Chic (pronounced as per Nile Rogers and Chic)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ4mGyANw9o8CN9mkFgcrBwv9SaNwbGfh8f9kah2GU6QeQtCMbAO2cNIE_Pq_ez1QLu2VznvHixhy2UhZ2UFfBU_KN7PkU7DFhLlTMrUmc0Zf4u76VW-eD-El3oZxWqpbzTx8aDsNPhI/s1600/IMG_8860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1486" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ4mGyANw9o8CN9mkFgcrBwv9SaNwbGfh8f9kah2GU6QeQtCMbAO2cNIE_Pq_ez1QLu2VznvHixhy2UhZ2UFfBU_KN7PkU7DFhLlTMrUmc0Zf4u76VW-eD-El3oZxWqpbzTx8aDsNPhI/s200/IMG_8860.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile we had some very sad news a few weeks ago when we heard our old friend Jean had died. Jean was very special in Mark's life from when he lodged with her and her family as a teenager. She was like a second Mum to him and much loved. We will miss visits to her. We had always said we'd take care of her dogs and now are the proud owners of Eva and Lula a couple of Japanese Chins. They are 6 year old sisters and are a lot of fun. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUizMXwjSrOIHxSd_jGHPt914AxEVEdb9uup_02dQ3CsYW1HIn_ghC0L1Wba4PcGsLAdXh-2IJeddfzG1wosOeantAQ3F_rojW7BIMRi6Bd3v-09rAS9g_ZB_vBpeA57FfRlea1ZcSWCk/s1600/IMG_8742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUizMXwjSrOIHxSd_jGHPt914AxEVEdb9uup_02dQ3CsYW1HIn_ghC0L1Wba4PcGsLAdXh-2IJeddfzG1wosOeantAQ3F_rojW7BIMRi6Bd3v-09rAS9g_ZB_vBpeA57FfRlea1ZcSWCk/s200/IMG_8742.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Consequently I am now virtually a full time dog carer, fitting in lessons around them all and planning for shows next year has just gone up another level.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Did I mention what I thought I really liked about agility was planning.........</span><br />
<br />Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-54762258515370982542017-10-31T07:44:00.001-07:002017-10-31T14:13:01.016-07:00Scream if you want to go faster<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Further from my last blog I really like this</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VquTZpA5Wd_dh6trkh1C4SgVzxPOE1kfBYl15a-nJNwj3WgUPEr9dp2RjYZQTlq-JxFP24mpTg-JPW8DSl1fNRYsSByJWfuwE9JqrEpFi9TQ8M0Xwcd4_aG8jqaEZj_W7k_WqZuMQkA/s1600/runwithyourheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="500" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VquTZpA5Wd_dh6trkh1C4SgVzxPOE1kfBYl15a-nJNwj3WgUPEr9dp2RjYZQTlq-JxFP24mpTg-JPW8DSl1fNRYsSByJWfuwE9JqrEpFi9TQ8M0Xwcd4_aG8jqaEZj_W7k_WqZuMQkA/s320/runwithyourheart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The more I break it down the more for me it encompasses where I am going with my training both from a person and dog perspective.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Speed can appear to be of the essence but it is not just essence that makes the cake. If you don't put the right ingredients in then no amount of flavouring is going to make it right.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6-41ZKI583udMzPj1MrA8bk0jm3R94NdSKfvb7hnswu_okpT3WbKWAXB_PR3Pi8JBhSTdkWIxfVUsCNNaLZwLAPlroyYGk81LvnJN19y_bhSgdRm_sCdbWFcxnqE50IPLOx6sAZDbaQ/s1600/cakemess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6-41ZKI583udMzPj1MrA8bk0jm3R94NdSKfvb7hnswu_okpT3WbKWAXB_PR3Pi8JBhSTdkWIxfVUsCNNaLZwLAPlroyYGk81LvnJN19y_bhSgdRm_sCdbWFcxnqE50IPLOx6sAZDbaQ/s320/cakemess.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The correct mix and the right conditions are all important.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we focus on speed too much accuracy is often undervalued. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If early foundations are fixed purely on being as fast as possible and no value is given to learning the equipment then we loose opportunities to build strength and skills that we will call on later in high pressure situations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jumping is a valuable skill and jumps play a large part in any course. To create speed we can set up straight lines and wide gaps to encourage extension. Extension usually gives a flat trajectory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we want our dogs to turn we want a curved trajectory. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Young dogs that have learnt to value the bar and how to use it's body to jump can usually change easily from a flat to a curved style when required. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmwmfm7jTeNu-fplcUcHhLyj6Ir2gP0scvtGtewf37zQAJjIpc9_GMSmCypl3U0hpBiz3Uh4_CtmKvH6pwWrrsbyO91RMTgOUtbAA-YUXy7i-3HT_j9IT767qvumNn40JdKuDPKBZMFo/s1600/KodiJumpTurn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmwmfm7jTeNu-fplcUcHhLyj6Ir2gP0scvtGtewf37zQAJjIpc9_GMSmCypl3U0hpBiz3Uh4_CtmKvH6pwWrrsbyO91RMTgOUtbAA-YUXy7i-3HT_j9IT767qvumNn40JdKuDPKBZMFo/s1600/KodiJumpTurn.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time spent learning jumping will build strength and identify any physical areas which could benefit from specific exercises to develop and improve muscles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are so many fun games, tricks etc out there which will give a dog a better understanding of how to use their bodies and we can spend this time understanding how our dogs like to learn without making any mistakes on agility equipment.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EKqrDBY1lHUIbYEzDybWjvsXZiVIMtnnqoq6Ab8HQbfv-0i9WK9c9jzrCJofuvr0fD2qmwsgv3Uow5YyfFtoyJxPM-mxqVNX0OtlE5JOpL4Ip42GzhCK-Mba_sdpaIUmXN98cRj9I38/s1600/RhymeGBTap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1167" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EKqrDBY1lHUIbYEzDybWjvsXZiVIMtnnqoq6Ab8HQbfv-0i9WK9c9jzrCJofuvr0fD2qmwsgv3Uow5YyfFtoyJxPM-mxqVNX0OtlE5JOpL4Ip42GzhCK-Mba_sdpaIUmXN98cRj9I38/s320/RhymeGBTap.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Teaching a dog to understand how to negotiate a jump by taking time to set up various jump grids to allow the dog to experience a myriad of scenarios will create a dog practiced in jumping that doesn't have to think on course. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If the dog doesn't have to think about taking the bar then it will be able to drive at the bar at the appropriate speed to get round a course as efficiently as possible = no faults in quickest time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Time spent with our dogs builds our relationships. All the best trainers look to use positive reinforcement in any training. This further builds a trusting positive relationship. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Balancing our dogs training and experiences and the things it gets rewarded for makes agility easy for us both. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUoCrjAgvDglxLt7rkNtP7vITxoeLsToDAPK7h-6i8TNlC6dOJc9fYGl_M-F6AdLR3cUiMlpibZQZ4BvBi3iFJEGYP1eofFxcjJeyF8UJbljO1sSjDeDWp05ViJ2DAC6PI_TV0w7ND50/s1600/balancetraining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUoCrjAgvDglxLt7rkNtP7vITxoeLsToDAPK7h-6i8TNlC6dOJc9fYGl_M-F6AdLR3cUiMlpibZQZ4BvBi3iFJEGYP1eofFxcjJeyF8UJbljO1sSjDeDWp05ViJ2DAC6PI_TV0w7ND50/s320/balancetraining.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>When I talk about balance and training I expect this to always be within positive reinforcement.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To me any form of punishment will ruin my relationship with my dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If we reward one thing (speed to handler) extensively for months in early training and rush through their jump skills training then the likelihood for knocking bars increases. The dog undervalues poles and/or mistimes jumps to get quickly to the handler. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Within positive training if that dog is then run through that same sequence it will probably work out for itself how to keep that pole up. Sometimes it may take a couple of times. If it is then given a great reward when the bar is kept up then a valuable lesson will have been learned. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKaS6_0M3B8GAifUYAsMAO5jbbsm8-8iH8DccIVzD3dt0HhnP8N4rEKkL_Am4SiQXXAar26ktHGUC6I9sKpkm8JqsqKQW_ClykRi3-hzJHPZfzbkzp4RjM3YJ6tHITHUnxjQNa27kTeg/s1600/neverfailure.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKaS6_0M3B8GAifUYAsMAO5jbbsm8-8iH8DccIVzD3dt0HhnP8N4rEKkL_Am4SiQXXAar26ktHGUC6I9sKpkm8JqsqKQW_ClykRi3-hzJHPZfzbkzp4RjM3YJ6tHITHUnxjQNa27kTeg/s320/neverfailure.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If a dog is punished for knocking a bar then next time it will be more thoughtful and take more time to avoid punishment. It will have learned to SLOW DOWN at the very least but in the worst scenario it may even choose to run past a jump (to avoid a negative situation) to run fast to it's owner (which more often earns a reward). Lets hope this isn't in a high pressure situation! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hopefully say that the punishers are in a minority but PLEASE let's focus on loads of positive training situations so we can all let our dogs be faster and have fun with confidence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overall we are all wanting to create the best partnership we can to give us the best results we can. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Keep your ingredients to the right quantities, mix thoroughly and allow the right time to rise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Run with your legs - train with high energy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Run with your mind - train thoughtfully looking at the overall picture</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Run with your heart - train with love and kindness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-80792822486032957992017-10-15T06:06:00.002-07:002017-10-15T06:26:56.120-07:00Making the Grade<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There have been some great and interesting posts relating to how competing at KC Agility does or rather doesn't prepare Agility Team GB for the FCI AWC.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I thought I'd throw my thoughts in. These are MY thoughts and are not necessarily a reflection of people in the know who I know ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's great we have the opportunity to discuss and consider how to ensure we are best prepared. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My first point is whether the AWC is in fact a </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">specific</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> event that no other country has full preparation for amongst their own national competitions either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lets think about the number of spectators and the full focus of agility in one stadium. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cruft's is one of the biggest dog shows in the world. Having an opportunity to compete there under pressure must be one of the closest events to AWC. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes the area is smaller but it is intense. There is a tight time scale and you need to be on the ball to perform at your best there. From a dog's point of view I would say that AWC gives the dogs more space to get to the start line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then there is Olympia which is not comparable to any other </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">major</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">agility event. The atmosphere is electric, loud and everything is rushed through. Walking courses as the equipment is put out and then being on the start line in a matter of minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am not aware of major large crowd events in other countries that can give their competitors such preparation for high pressured events. To me having these KC run events to compete at are a major advantage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Courses</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The majority of other countries do compete </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">under </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">FCI rules </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">regularly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My thoughts are the judges will be setting courses to identify <b>World Champions</b> as opposed to their usual day to day competitions. I image that our Champ judges will have a different spec for their champ courses than judging normal classes. Some competitors from other countries have said the World Championship courses are different to what they </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">compete on too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Agility Team GB are given a lot of information about the current years judges trends and will set up and practice all they can. An example is the weave entry that featured in a few courses and all our dogs achieved without any problem this year.</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We don't compete/train on carpet</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Cruft's carpet used this year is the same as was used in the Czech Republic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many other countries have similar facilities to us in that they are mainly outside on grass but t</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">here are countries who have many indoor astro turf facilities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Astro turf will be a constant surface for the dogs to run on whereas grass can vary considerably. It will also effect the handlers performance as we will run differently too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>So for me this is a big one and one that could be a factor in who were winning this year. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have been to an indoor competition in Germany a couple of years ago and throughly enjoyed it. It was over New Year so didn't eat into Mark's holiday too much either. It's on again this year and I'd recommend it to anyone as an experience to add to your knowledge of how you and your dog run competitively on FCI courses on that surface.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think there is also a great Sheltie competition and happy to link anyone up to the people in the know about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Judges don't set up course that allow our dogs to open up and develop speed.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wow this is major in many ways. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From a new judge prospective this is yet another criticism being aimed at our judges who turn out in all weathers so we have competitions to go to. Why will this encourage me to continue to judge?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At a recent event in the UK where FCI judges were it was noted that they used a different course entirely for each class they judged even if they just did 2 classes. The ring party were a bit put out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Judging several classes in one ring in one day using the same layout does not lend itself to creating fast, flowing and technical courses easily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seven grades equals seven different levels of complicity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As far as I know countries competing under FCI rules only have 3 levels A1, A2 and A3.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>So for me if there is one area that definitely needs changing it is the grading system.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is one of the major factors that stunts the development of the speed in our young dogs and the way we run them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It cuts people off from seeing the really great dogs and handlers run until they are amongst them and it is demoralising instead of being inspirational. Watching a great performance should encourage you to:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">believe it can be done and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">want to emulate it.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Talented young partnerships have to win so many classes to get to the top but the small number of dogs in the class creates a stronger need to be clear than to be fast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If success is determined by being in the top grade then i</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">n this country </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">choosing the right shows means clear rounds will get you up the grades and speed is a secondary consideration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyone will have their own anecdote of what has stopped them from being the best and we can all blame the system. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We do have amazing dogs, handlers, judges and competitions in this country and our structure </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">gives us many choices. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overall it is up to us to have the confidence of our own dreams and take action to achieve them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We can choose to run eye balls out on every run, choose speed first and foremost until the accuracy improves.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back to this years AWC nobody can deny these deserve to be large World Champions</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sadly I can't find the medium or small runs as they were just as amazing - sometimes you just need to be there ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next year it's Sweden - just saying.</span></div>
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Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-34749949543059284462017-09-11T14:03:00.000-07:002017-09-12T05:40:04.404-07:00Getting Together<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A big change is about to happen at The Old Potting Shed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have fenced off an area to the right of the field to create a new and separate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">agility field. Mainly this has been done with the thought of keeping our own dogs off of it when they are up the field. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This along with a bit of pressure from a few people has also helped me consider my agility training in a more serious way. Up until now since we've moved up here I have done agility training mostly as one to one's with clients gained by word of mouth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It has been great and I have some lovely clients who have accomplished</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">what they wanted to this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Something was missing though. For years I had been a club trainer or a guest trainer working with groups.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In regular groups there is a different dynamic that feeds off that competitiveness within us. We discuss this effect on our Sports Psychology Seminars. As the group develops a camaraderie grows and each person becomes involved in the others in the groups journey. This feeds the group and pulls it forward at a different rate than is possible in one to one's or one off training sessions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In turn </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">this added energy drives me to gain the best I can from each of them and ultimately me. We all have ownership and responsibility, even emotional involvement that makes every little success a shared success and therefore more rewarding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I run a couple of groups that came about by accident which I really enjoy and those people enrich each others training so it is only a small step to develop this further.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My one to one's are still special and I will ensure I keep times available for them too. One to one's bring forward a different strength within my coaching skills and I am so proud of all of my students who have developed into very confident handlers who enjoy competing and are getting the best out of their partnership with their dogs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The adverts are out now and a couple of groups are already full and I'm looking forward to a great "off" season with loads to work on getting ready for the new season next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I like to think of names for things and am known for my corny suggestions. As our house is called <b><u>T</u></b>he <b><u>O</u></b>ld <b><u>P</u></b>otting <b><u>S</u></b>hed I am thinking my group should be called TOPS or is that a bit presumptuous?</span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-24529344701700851042017-08-30T09:54:00.000-07:002017-08-30T09:54:16.990-07:00Unplanned Learning<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">September is nearly here and summer nearly over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This year started so well with Rhyme kicking off the year with brilliant performances in champ and Pikachu surprising me by winning her first out door competition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Elsewhere in my agility world we had great Agility Team GB tryouts, training days and EO's we'e got the AWC still to come in October in The Czech Republic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The EO Junior event in Luxembourg was every bit as good as Mark had lead me to believe and these youngsters were so inspiring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sadly all that inspiration as been lost for me and my dogs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rhyme is not agility sound and Pikachu has delighted in exploring what fun she can have looking for treats in and around score tents and then laughing at my attempts to catch her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaWuAloz1nZs-Jf4fgqK8seOvoKrsc9dWrNHgAEcFfPS4lm01g_FXOYo_zdF_1LfsPnpOAzUaWrpaoEet-E9jvHi8CeSMggiQMRSzplAkPXesqsg2F8I7hlzYaD59kq-0pq8fcEp8PU0/s1600/cantcatchme.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaWuAloz1nZs-Jf4fgqK8seOvoKrsc9dWrNHgAEcFfPS4lm01g_FXOYo_zdF_1LfsPnpOAzUaWrpaoEet-E9jvHi8CeSMggiQMRSzplAkPXesqsg2F8I7hlzYaD59kq-0pq8fcEp8PU0/s200/cantcatchme.jpg" width="138" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rhyme's unfitness is not likely to be life threatening but his X-rays may throw up something that may be life changing. I love agility and think that learning it and competing at it should be available to all but also appreciate that it is a physical sport. There is much to strive towards and so many aspects to improve on within your partnership with your dog not to mention your own physical and mental skills. Never a dull moment and always things to plan to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGI84oanaS0H_bAi6CCSzI0WGTzhe-Vw5859y69u1zD0Yzjrs_ZxSRBa39DGZdOM5_cq70qwBt8UUOU7LR7I11waOeyYoptiFeXmhAlmYkAJs82D59Z8dca-s3yTvAOMACxnNwAkYYnI/s1600/Happiness.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGI84oanaS0H_bAi6CCSzI0WGTzhe-Vw5859y69u1zD0Yzjrs_ZxSRBa39DGZdOM5_cq70qwBt8UUOU7LR7I11waOeyYoptiFeXmhAlmYkAJs82D59Z8dca-s3yTvAOMACxnNwAkYYnI/s200/Happiness.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The only stopping factor for me is if my want to achieve could damage my dog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To an untrained eye </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rhyme</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> was fine but his movement was wrong. My various professional helpers sorted his presenting problem in his shoulders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next it was to be gently back to agility. Straight line low jumps were fine but on a low jump with a slight turn I heard him "humph" and knew that wasn't right. Further observations showed he wasn't engaging his rear legs just pulling himself over the jump with all his front end. A quick visit to our McTimoney Chiropractor identified</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> heat in his shoulders again and she wasn't happy about his left hip. Is that his problem? I have him booked in for X-rays tomorrow as a starting point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My hope is that there is nothing on the X-ray that suggests doing agility could cause him harm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes I may have missed a season and several competitions I was working towards but if he has something that we can work on then I have a whole winter and a lot of help to learn what we need to do to get and keep him fit for next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If it's something that may mean a slip or sudden jolt might make him worse then its no agility for him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then the learning will be finding another hobby for an active 7 year old collie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So the optimist in me has plans and won't allow any feeling of pessimism to get the better of me. Well maybe a little tear or two .......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIu3RUgcxnv_u2OK9WU5uJdQrdisNze-n9sKHzDT0wDRdEtClCD7R7C-yhfOo7qkJuYgpe0dNkv4NHpxiyQpXmDvXzikezWx1xk4Lb4-5wKJ9yjHgHFXfJxCRWTDCNP578YOgnle6FRBU/s1600/optimistic.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIu3RUgcxnv_u2OK9WU5uJdQrdisNze-n9sKHzDT0wDRdEtClCD7R7C-yhfOo7qkJuYgpe0dNkv4NHpxiyQpXmDvXzikezWx1xk4Lb4-5wKJ9yjHgHFXfJxCRWTDCNP578YOgnle6FRBU/s200/optimistic.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had also plans of getting a puppy this year but feel that whatever happens with Rhyme will take up any spare time I have. Too often we hear the phrase from people that they have too many dogs and know that although they give all to the dogs they have there is only a certain amount of hours in a day no matter how much love you have to give. I hope to have enough strength to not fall into that trap although know that sometimes puppies come along that can't be said no to ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwco41PjY3QFWTMD0uOMigzGHE8qHz3Ba5zZpnrJ0qATNFy4_MsJQEqUN52w8IeN3Ft_QjOPjD3NUg9OJp3jGCyWYqLTtojm7S2oH1511i6-F7zAw17R42SqN_Cf9zTNaxDjrTDmCKTg/s1600/IMG_8208.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwco41PjY3QFWTMD0uOMigzGHE8qHz3Ba5zZpnrJ0qATNFy4_MsJQEqUN52w8IeN3Ft_QjOPjD3NUg9OJp3jGCyWYqLTtojm7S2oH1511i6-F7zAw17R42SqN_Cf9zTNaxDjrTDmCKTg/s200/IMG_8208.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On that topic Pikachu has motivated me to change a few things. I've organised a monthly group training session with a top instructor in our field to train her with others around. A step in helping her understand that whatever distractions are around doing agility with me is the best thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We didn't get Pikachu as an agility dog yet she grew into a shape that would suit it and loves activity. Believe it or not at home she wants to be wherever I am and will walk round our field just tugging, she gets out of her bed and grabs her tuggy, a shoe or my even my trouser leg. She has no issues with playing. She wants to work and learn equally for a toy or a treat and can tug with a treat in my hand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">There is lots there to encourage me that she can learn to be a great agility dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The current challenge is that she has somehow decided that when I release her from the start line at a show she needs to check out behind the score tent or run off somewhere else on the course. This in turn is teaching me not to want to compete with her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are a few day to day routines that I would have done differently with Pikachu had we got her with agility in mind. I am not sure I can change her understanding of what is fun. Whether I ever get round to competing with her again I don't know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I mentioned one reason I would not do competitive agility would be if it was potentially harmful to a dog, the other would be if my dog didn't enjoy the competition environment. Pikachu is displaying to me that somehow I am putting pressure on her at a show and that makes it more fun to run off than to run with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will put a lot of training </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">into </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">her this winter and see what happens next year. I have had loads of help and support from small dog handlers some of whom have had similar problems and overcome them. There are training in the ring shows close by in the winter that will help too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have learnt that I have a stubborn streak too so will not give up lightly and whatever we do I will learn lots about the best way to get the best out of Pikachu even if it just ends up being the best she can be on our field.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7F-V05oyE7ZZ9BeogNAEO7hyphenhypheniwnmfXfQm0Ts_ERpDefW5DHBCBaVdwWogfH9R9WAz6083SWIhxhSTsusItK_KLiGA7U4uT-OkcaHELAzNc4pOxoZgh1cJ_2-KRbmihuzDdIY0i7YDyc/s1600/best.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7F-V05oyE7ZZ9BeogNAEO7hyphenhypheniwnmfXfQm0Ts_ERpDefW5DHBCBaVdwWogfH9R9WAz6083SWIhxhSTsusItK_KLiGA7U4uT-OkcaHELAzNc4pOxoZgh1cJ_2-KRbmihuzDdIY0i7YDyc/s400/best.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-78489051613688394312017-04-05T09:16:00.002-07:002017-04-05T09:29:20.159-07:00Timing is Everything<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wow the season has definitely started here in the Laker household.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a couple of back to back seminars my own Sports Psychology skills have certainly been revised.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our own dogs have started the season looking amazing. Even though Crufts didn't go to plan the boys looked very fit. (Searched 'looking fit' on google and thought yes this will do 😉)</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjwB8StLx40kwSiLGLaKQgq7h-129LLCsiLo8MoB0R6nv_cRAgsoixD-TwpCh-2K5jOo7M0tzKFxqb0Gy6aVkv5ok4zFFXwC_IaNaTJkS25HCzpkYRzNOoYlHU2PjRZvXRWgU1tI_-uU/s1600/joeabs24534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjwB8StLx40kwSiLGLaKQgq7h-129LLCsiLo8MoB0R6nv_cRAgsoixD-TwpCh-2K5jOo7M0tzKFxqb0Gy6aVkv5ok4zFFXwC_IaNaTJkS25HCzpkYRzNOoYlHU2PjRZvXRWgU1tI_-uU/s320/joeabs24534.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark and I both have young dogs at the same time which is something we haven't done before. Plus with one in a different height there is loads of learning to do.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On top of that I started judging last year and have had a couple of judging appointments this year already. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9PcjQDIOE5P7dkucABy9_a1GHjgCWFzbEdkeWzJFELTvtrXctzP6GcCMK4OTeF68ep4J4zsCtLPpgpmKg_CVfw63sZj-ckTxKnAthJpCSFwlD1JoKxcVyoM0nV0jSMtD8S-ZM1IGhng/s1600/judges.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9PcjQDIOE5P7dkucABy9_a1GHjgCWFzbEdkeWzJFELTvtrXctzP6GcCMK4OTeF68ep4J4zsCtLPpgpmKg_CVfw63sZj-ckTxKnAthJpCSFwlD1JoKxcVyoM0nV0jSMtD8S-ZM1IGhng/s320/judges.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know the rules and keep abreast of any changes for myself as a competitor. It is a different ball game for me to focus on these rules whilst watching 100's of dogs for a whole day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Becoming a judge involves a couple of days training to earn your certificate. With quite a few others attending there is no way to practice or test the mental stamina that is required.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then there is the things that you couldn't anticipate happening and how to deal with them. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjHSY1F8YrbzmWBKJT3p8mdp_nXf_5T8vujTDwamyHi4XD4lBzI3tI5p3orvBdd3IImxAeD5on_3PTXE0SiNENGUmvwe1_8Bj_AbjZSyRX5RgZE2PuExtVR7TCj30yZOHIov4LyAZFjA/s1600/unexpected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjHSY1F8YrbzmWBKJT3p8mdp_nXf_5T8vujTDwamyHi4XD4lBzI3tI5p3orvBdd3IImxAeD5on_3PTXE0SiNENGUmvwe1_8Bj_AbjZSyRX5RgZE2PuExtVR7TCj30yZOHIov4LyAZFjA/s320/unexpected.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lastly there is nothing to prepare you for the slating that you will receive on social media if you do happen to make a mistake.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJjaavmWYCgqBRE4_GkPUxchJew9XG-FxJAA9FEv33oHLSV4LYFVHtcjfaR8k3nbz_renbhwBoMuZZq1NqVe8ygaXsBBuj7wj2t8wwWZssIWNbeL2g9GnAb4rdLuGuFIxX-608a9Gm-w/s1600/personal+attack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJjaavmWYCgqBRE4_GkPUxchJew9XG-FxJAA9FEv33oHLSV4LYFVHtcjfaR8k3nbz_renbhwBoMuZZq1NqVe8ygaXsBBuj7wj2t8wwWZssIWNbeL2g9GnAb4rdLuGuFIxX-608a9Gm-w/s1600/personal+attack.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luckily I had two appointments back to back and was able to experience a more normal judging day with good decisions this weekend. That has strengthened my resolve to become a good judge.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have spoken to a senior, experienced, long standing judge about my decision at Wyre to restart the class due to a timing issue and allow the first few competitors to re-run from scratch. Once I explained the situation she totally agreed with my decision. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whether the decision was right or not matters a lot to me - I would not deliberately do anything to give any competitors an unfair advantage.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To be fair in the grand scheme of life if the decision had been wrong bleating about it on Facebook is not the way forward. Any judges walking the course could have easily approached me about the timing gates BEFORE the class had started or somebody could have recorded it in the incident book for future learning.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/O8vzbezVru4" target="_blank">An Honest Mistake</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O8vzbezVru4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O8vzbezVru4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I would rather it hadn't happened but I am trying my best and learning with every appointment. The worst that happened was one person qualified for an event that their first run might not have. (I say might not as they only had 5 faults the first run and a dog with 5 faults did qualify anyway) </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What a lovely bonus for them to </span>have a second chance after doing a near perfect round with one jump down on the first attempt. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What a bonus for a few people to have another go at the course. Who can begrudge a few G1-3 handlers having another chance? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hats off to the ring party who dealt with it all so well too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those capable of qualifying will no doubt have other qualifiers this season and if not I do apologise as I would have to your faces had you spoken directly to me.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAXaSetJrRfu6RR1tP6zrCoMEBIAskb31TUON1MEWN3fjrnj4spWFNS1EsorNKmJg7hZOlQRPPnBx8_SCO2KyfSmr4v97Wu96x3-iE99ZwQxlCBhnvanonRegKOxuX39wxzgKVIRbi4s/s1600/forgiveme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAXaSetJrRfu6RR1tP6zrCoMEBIAskb31TUON1MEWN3fjrnj4spWFNS1EsorNKmJg7hZOlQRPPnBx8_SCO2KyfSmr4v97Wu96x3-iE99ZwQxlCBhnvanonRegKOxuX39wxzgKVIRbi4s/s320/forgiveme.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This weekend we had the opposite where a lovely lady and her happy dog did a beautiful clear only to find out the timing didn't work. On her re-run the dog had the first pole down. She was disappointed as anyone would be. We're hoping her bad luck with that will turn around for good luck next week in a qualifier she's going to. Meanwhile they did another beautiful run in a later class gaining a high place and I'm confident we'll see more of that partnership.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0Vu7VCdn4ETqczo3CkeXTYHxYdLg8EyArA-facA-HZbdYhL8n9X-Wd5_NRyu9i17EODI5vekNNoJp99pECSusFALf5Dnlauwr5ih68RLugPD5Bq7ESyH_cwy8kx8XEhRJ2hksBV38oY/s1600/goodluckbadluck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0Vu7VCdn4ETqczo3CkeXTYHxYdLg8EyArA-facA-HZbdYhL8n9X-Wd5_NRyu9i17EODI5vekNNoJp99pECSusFALf5Dnlauwr5ih68RLugPD5Bq7ESyH_cwy8kx8XEhRJ2hksBV38oY/s320/goodluckbadluck.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My forte in judging is my course design. I love setting a course that will assess a dog's key skills and the handlers understanding of the dogs path to get the fastest route.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wyre was a real challenge as the rings are quite a bit smaller. I spent hours setting up our own equipment in our field, moving it around and running various dogs around it or parts of it to get it right.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I needed a course that met the new distances, all the other KC rules and was of course safe. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On top of that minimum movement of equipment to keep the different classes running through smoothly. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ring party, show organisers and least of all competitors do not really want to be at a show past 6:00pm at the latest. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those that thought I should have rebuilt the course and got everyone to re-walk it may not have appreciated that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I simply did not have another planned G1-3 course ready to fit all the above criteria and it would add </span></span>at least another hour to the end of the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As one of our friends likes to say - 300 million people didn't die. However if I was not such a determined person then my judging career could have.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k6r4aYp7QrWHElrCbprmfAHUdlb1zCArTe5JSwEZuXVJeQaeDqTg_yrcPjJEZxIOG642oAeoqSwTBPFyVvjEVtK3JuHAZypQ6PijeM5JWIMgriEfO-0L0ET9cJX-ZLMkfnHeMCFF388/s1600/never-give-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k6r4aYp7QrWHElrCbprmfAHUdlb1zCArTe5JSwEZuXVJeQaeDqTg_yrcPjJEZxIOG642oAeoqSwTBPFyVvjEVtK3JuHAZypQ6PijeM5JWIMgriEfO-0L0ET9cJX-ZLMkfnHeMCFF388/s1600/never-give-up.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luckily for me this weekend at Agility Nuts Show my courses ran as I'd designed them and I received many compliments on my courses. I felt I kept my focus for over 90% of the time and am confident my contact calls were right. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had 2 scribes that were also judges that if I had any blips of confidence were there smiling and encouraging - thank you Natalie and Anne. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We had a dog walking over the long jump that we looked in the book to clarify our decision on and I know that one for next time too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've still got 2 judges appointments to do this year and I'm looking forward to them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How our dogs did will need to wait for another post now but I'm very happy to report Torro got 3rd in Veterans, Rhyme got a 2nd & a 3rd in G7, Devo got 3rd (when I was 2nd oh yes!!) and a 2nd (when I was 3rd normal business resumed), Moog got more and more experience and oh yes, Pikachu went clear and won the class.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aiKzvQwp__HkHSbVjaW3lAV59yc5RJRvLyyF_bOwbaDcdsYlflsdetLtAHhawu1h-neGbSvvCLgkNf6xVXExtWa8cK32fMeRCUWtr0Y_M_7YqwLHp_0cb_opQGhWBcDjyDplBnG7LL4/s1600/IMG_7369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aiKzvQwp__HkHSbVjaW3lAV59yc5RJRvLyyF_bOwbaDcdsYlflsdetLtAHhawu1h-neGbSvvCLgkNf6xVXExtWa8cK32fMeRCUWtr0Y_M_7YqwLHp_0cb_opQGhWBcDjyDplBnG7LL4/s200/IMG_7369.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Nuy9eQ0uppN5XWuPregS2FKVk5pCQGj3FyvmqkfS4xMtgArGiSHYJ1N_qpAXeZlicddyxdEmr-2sYpys4oCSd2-Nfa0_nnkzx-MW-NEUTdG5r4ti_scHCEBPp5iG38KoVeUma95niJk/s1600/IMG_7374+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Nuy9eQ0uppN5XWuPregS2FKVk5pCQGj3FyvmqkfS4xMtgArGiSHYJ1N_qpAXeZlicddyxdEmr-2sYpys4oCSd2-Nfa0_nnkzx-MW-NEUTdG5r4ti_scHCEBPp5iG38KoVeUma95niJk/s200/IMG_7374+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She's smashed my targets for the year though so I now need to sit down and write some more or sit back and let the rest of the season drift about to see where it gets us ;)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-19869972508454164472017-02-08T06:49:00.000-08:002017-02-08T07:45:19.900-08:00Love(d) training weaves<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love training weaves and always look forward to when our dogs are around 14 months so I can crack on through the stages. Although I love it I don't want it to take months and loads of sessions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I generally start with a wide channel and lots of games before and after. Only a few run throughs then next time I go out I just kick the base in a fraction. After about 4 days of this I put them away for a week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then next time I do weaves I do the first part of 2x2s again loads of play before and after when they get it right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next I get the channels out for another week moving to close together with guides on to help understanding of staying in. Lots of energy before and after and only a few run throughs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then guess - I leave the channels again and move on to a 4 play exercise. Basically 4 poles a gap the size of 4 poles and then another 4 poles across to another set of 4, followed by a gap and then another 4 poles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe back to the channels until fully together and then on to the 12 poles and adding distractions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This tends to work well and this is Moog a few months ago working through the toy distraction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lovely, fun and familiar. As I said I love training weaves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enter the Pikachu .............................:-</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe I rushed through the stages too much, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe she's a girl, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe she's a little dog or </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maybe somewhere in her puppyhood I rewarded too much from my hand.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whatever the reason I was not enjoying weaves with Pikachu. She knew what to do but had her head up which I don't like structurally and there is a different vibe to the love my other dogs have for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She wasn't obtained with agility in mind (tbh I have no idea what was in our minds). However she loves running, she loves interacting with things and loves training. She will make a great small agility dog if we can crack these weaves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I left them for a while and questioned many small dog owners to see if it was just a small/large dog difference. Easy excuse and I was sure they would give me a magic pill to sort out why I am not enjoying my usual success and voila the weaves would be done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">People are lovely and gladly gave me many tips and the word Manners Minder was mentioned more than once. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't have a Manners Minder so thought long and hard about why a Manners Minder would work and came up with a major short fall in Pikachu's understanding of reward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rewards ALWAYS came from me. In order to see if the reward was coming she needed to look up to me, move towards me etc etc. In the weaves this then brought her head up to see if I was going to produce the reward even if I then threw the reward forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then this week Mark and I decided we needed to get on and do some rounds with our youngsters as we have started entering shows for this season. Pikachu had only previously done a maximum of 10 jumps and stalled at 11 looking for the toy which was in my hand. I gave Mark the toy and went to go again and she couldn't understand to leave Mark and come to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another penny dropped. Not only did she think the rewards came from me but she thought she needed to be or going in the direction of the reward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With these two pieces of information I have a plan to work through her understanding of reward gaining.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have a velcro toy that I can hide treats in and open once I get there so she knows the treats are there but has to work out what she needs to do before I will open it. I put it on the floor and ask her to come to me - away from the toy, do a simple trick then praise and tell her to get it. It hasn't taken long and already we are now having good success on 4 poles. She had been able to do up to 12 weaves but with head up so I'm going back through all the stages and working on head down, forward drive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Other areas that this training will help with is the start line. I've placed her velcro toy behind her and asked her to come to me over a jump or two and then back to the start and the reward. Previously she would either work like a dream or put her nose down and disappear into Pikachu land. I am sure that working through this distraction of have treats near her then I will help her deal with other distractions more confidently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't generally like to do any training involving a dogs food time as I think they should be able to just enjoy their food. Over the last couple of evenings I have managed to put her food down and ask her to move away from it, perform a couple of tricks and then released her back to her food. I will only do this a couple of more times but it is a very strong lesson in reward coming from away from me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The other area that this will help with is when I start doing her contacts and need forward drive to a reward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overall I'm glad I puzzled and wouldn't accept her weaving as it was because the work I now need to do with and away from the weaves will pay dividends with all her agility training.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Off to do some weaving with Pikachu - did I mention I LOVE weave training :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Picture taken by Hound and About Photography </span>http://houndandaboutphotography.co.uk</div>
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<br />Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-16462535315533905392016-10-01T14:21:00.000-07:002016-10-01T14:21:29.413-07:00Agility a sport for all?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A bit late with a blog after coming back from the FCI AWC in Spain last weekend.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJivzV74cAopb-48oVlxRp-WwC9lAflhyphenhyphenL6VKQLx3Mm5KeiILplnglnnd41XiXUcpuZ6oOQECr0gJ8GC34WH2_VVP5LVTMd4OR3Gy2qEzBw5I0EaajpU8fY18JHVQxXYDfyP4PMEL2-hU/s1600/FCI2016logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJivzV74cAopb-48oVlxRp-WwC9lAflhyphenhyphenL6VKQLx3Mm5KeiILplnglnnd41XiXUcpuZ6oOQECr0gJ8GC34WH2_VVP5LVTMd4OR3Gy2qEzBw5I0EaajpU8fY18JHVQxXYDfyP4PMEL2-hU/s320/FCI2016logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Travelling back with Agility Team GB on the coach meant we didn't get home until late on Tuesday evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had rearranged some lessons from Tuesday to Wednesday which followed by my usual Wag & Tone class meant I postponed catching up with unpacking until Thursday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thursday evening Mark had an awards evening to attend in relation to an award he had been put forward for in his day job. It was black tie and an overnight stay in Birmingham. He works for an Energy company and this was recognition for his driving project from an external body. There were quite a few nominations so we may have attended just to have a 'posh' evening with lovely food etc. Most of my readers will know Mark from agility and know about his commitment to GB and passion for our sport. He also enjoys his work and puts as much into delivering his projects. It was brilliant to see that external companies recognised this. The award was to him and ADT the company that worked with him to set up and maintain the data required. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However great this was it had put a delay on recovering from our exciting week away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No lie in the next day either as work to do. We also had the first step in a new adventure which I will blog about another time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to the title of my blog. I am lucky to be involved in all levels of agility. On one hand I get to watch Agility Team GB and then at home I get to train some people new to the sport. There I go using that term sport again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking the word sport up on the internet - "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Physical exertion - yes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Skill - yes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or team - yes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Competes - yes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Entertainment - yes</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The entertainment part does not mention if this is the people taking part or other people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In many sports there are as many p</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">eople (or maybe sometimes more) that enjoy going to watch their team play in their chosen sport. Football is a perfect answer.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9OKFI0BvJI7m2VJEDWeFRJs13iv6CafwOkM1_zFQVwAInqmJx7Xvi9i2uhsVRQyC-YjGXOKCMD-25sHDvMXUio0FAKI88YZyb_s-SDeyDhYTFSA5mY3Zo4kb9739DzXdJaS_xITLxdg/s1600/IMG_6181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9OKFI0BvJI7m2VJEDWeFRJs13iv6CafwOkM1_zFQVwAInqmJx7Xvi9i2uhsVRQyC-YjGXOKCMD-25sHDvMXUio0FAKI88YZyb_s-SDeyDhYTFSA5mY3Zo4kb9739DzXdJaS_xITLxdg/s320/IMG_6181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Certainly at the </span><i class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #747474; font-family: ‘Metrophobic’, Arial, serif; font-weight: bold;">PrÃncipe Felipe Pavilion </i><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in Zaragoza this year the atmosphere illustrated that the european agility followers find watching a big part of their agility experience. The French especially always have a huge following.</span></span><br />
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<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Agility Team GB have some loyal followers that come every year and many that watch life streaming but no where near as many as other </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">countries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am relatively confident that it is no more expensive for people that come from Norway for example than for followers to come from the UK. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What ever the reason for not coming I am confident in saying that there is nothing like watching the people at the top of their game from all over the World get together to compete at this professionally run event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One ring dedicated to agility, all heights treated equally and even organised dancing in the breaks to give those glued to their seats a chance to burn some calories. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrH1sNoaZeBNbMU0tsayQm0ouKJRXh_ENkrfc75RWELIAUvM1Bv4t8gD_tymhQ2pq5YLBGZ3D0EtSjp0R7IR5Rg_kmxLAioqWj885vZ8mc2NGwFqLHd74hweADvyKWxSaPVD2MGsHWG8/s1600/IMG_6259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrH1sNoaZeBNbMU0tsayQm0ouKJRXh_ENkrfc75RWELIAUvM1Bv4t8gD_tymhQ2pq5YLBGZ3D0EtSjp0R7IR5Rg_kmxLAioqWj885vZ8mc2NGwFqLHd74hweADvyKWxSaPVD2MGsHWG8/s200/IMG_6259.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is an emotional roller coaster at times </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK4dpvHGEYMwL_MfHYDkmhc9XcsATucCiD-DuXCltbouds5-bVSulYVMP9yW8rzNmiDaZLKkr5Q4H3s-0FUfr9VySUxfn7zhPukFJYSGJAdKHmvpWwinUidFMmofzrmScj7hv6PKRoiY/s1600/MariaandMark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK4dpvHGEYMwL_MfHYDkmhc9XcsATucCiD-DuXCltbouds5-bVSulYVMP9yW8rzNmiDaZLKkr5Q4H3s-0FUfr9VySUxfn7zhPukFJYSGJAdKHmvpWwinUidFMmofzrmScj7hv6PKRoiY/s200/MariaandMark.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU5th3baq8_oToYbKis3o7Mkf-1I-48a0QrgM4nngiSXt093jKPJFwH3L1xMlNV7EFgJYSZtyuCWUr_rMBtoc7XXEMq0XF6pyGo01REF-dTvYSjXtc6Xky_-7KQWSzJlSEU2X3s1sH_Y/s1600/ChristineZevapplauding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU5th3baq8_oToYbKis3o7Mkf-1I-48a0QrgM4nngiSXt093jKPJFwH3L1xMlNV7EFgJYSZtyuCWUr_rMBtoc7XXEMq0XF6pyGo01REF-dTvYSjXtc6Xky_-7KQWSzJlSEU2X3s1sH_Y/s200/ChristineZevapplauding.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and a chance to wave your flag. There is nothing quite like the feeling of being patriotic with a great team of people to support.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrZOrdGI39VDefE7KS2cqLJEhw7ODGI13zy_iCzImj5tJEs6OqkHxjamqX7uBGEUbxl4LwYMVr8XGFk-ZawuPfHk66uvLRQsTkliNzOVoB_-7Lj6eoPhGi1vpu81fmavEE1n87_DBo5U/s1600/JessandFlag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrZOrdGI39VDefE7KS2cqLJEhw7ODGI13zy_iCzImj5tJEs6OqkHxjamqX7uBGEUbxl4LwYMVr8XGFk-ZawuPfHk66uvLRQsTkliNzOVoB_-7Lj6eoPhGi1vpu81fmavEE1n87_DBo5U/s200/JessandFlag.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other beauty of agility in the UK is that most of Agility Team GB are known to us personally. We know the training and dedication they have put in and have even watched them be successful around the circuit. There are not many football supporters that will have played Sunday league with the people they are cheering on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are many changes and challenges for agility to come and for many it is seen as a hobby and not a sport.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking up hobby on the internet "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure".</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">A few differences to </span>consider - physical exertion, skill, competes and entertainment are not mentioned. Not to say hobbies don't include that just that it is not within the definition as being important.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Agility as a hobby is a brilliant way to spend time with our dogs and our friends. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me - I have customers that agility will be a hobby for and they will enjoy as much as the ones for whom agility will be a sport. I have no problem with it being both or either. I do wonder if there would be a benefit from having divisions instead of all competing for the same prize after all Sunday afternoon footballers would not expect to compete in Division 1. That is another totally unanswerable blog probably even if written would not see daylight.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For now I applaud Agility Team GB sports men and women and dogs. They are professional, skilful and athletic and certainly entertaining to watch.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1gfigNeK5KmDA2XwVhA6YbaZjiP8D_D38g_NjrwVhhMmmRxKSqf5NMu4aRZMo7gzAWnR5cQUwmidIs-VjgNIef0MeKpO5eDPnv4L4EhGiNkofQ7z8siZJDVjLDoJjbI2ES4_Let0voU/s1600/DaveFameRunning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1gfigNeK5KmDA2XwVhA6YbaZjiP8D_D38g_NjrwVhhMmmRxKSqf5NMu4aRZMo7gzAWnR5cQUwmidIs-VjgNIef0MeKpO5eDPnv4L4EhGiNkofQ7z8siZJDVjLDoJjbI2ES4_Let0voU/s200/DaveFameRunning.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3Q1w_fWMi2ZHFBxfXiSKLI6LfJ6NgryGeSJ6wHfbLWZ0gmWyPn43m9NT8IXGPGuH3Odmi1gkDIqRIbKihyphenhyphenp04mwm2giQzMdEBJGCz2xOpz-qXCZ3TaAEVHmnhwbICSwFGu6KiMoJ4sw/s1600/TashDizzyRunning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3Q1w_fWMi2ZHFBxfXiSKLI6LfJ6NgryGeSJ6wHfbLWZ0gmWyPn43m9NT8IXGPGuH3Odmi1gkDIqRIbKihyphenhyphenp04mwm2giQzMdEBJGCz2xOpz-qXCZ3TaAEVHmnhwbICSwFGu6KiMoJ4sw/s200/TashDizzyRunning.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Role on the next squad day just before Olympia to start another journey towards the European Open and the FCI AWC for next year.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The word on the street is that more spectators are hoped for next year and maybe somebody organising a travel package for spectators so keep an eye open and a few days holiday aside for next years excitement.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is usually time for a bit of sightseeing too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1t2bb46QZnKSmJ-kCKRfeQa9daHXWv__mxmmRI0E4zC-Wo0g4pVV0Op_xe_MKq-9cNzkGff2YSRsacCKA8eKynzZyqdsS29YqAQDzx1X-56Bu7hGoSDQZxjLATedt7aQHM4EnvHjTU0/s1600/IMG_6163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1t2bb46QZnKSmJ-kCKRfeQa9daHXWv__mxmmRI0E4zC-Wo0g4pVV0Op_xe_MKq-9cNzkGff2YSRsacCKA8eKynzZyqdsS29YqAQDzx1X-56Bu7hGoSDQZxjLATedt7aQHM4EnvHjTU0/s200/IMG_6163.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1KM4NyjWedUSkOpuWm4luGE0riafXq3ioIoQnEjEiNH5aJ2Vj05neY_ATjbbv3-1zLGF-re0-r50E8bvEm4IHlwYmWtZz8v32gflB1A0zisC_HFzPd25m-nQDQx0v-TUEf5RfJPRF7s/s1600/IMG_6168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1KM4NyjWedUSkOpuWm4luGE0riafXq3ioIoQnEjEiNH5aJ2Vj05neY_ATjbbv3-1zLGF-re0-r50E8bvEm4IHlwYmWtZz8v32gflB1A0zisC_HFzPd25m-nQDQx0v-TUEf5RfJPRF7s/s200/IMG_6168.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1KM4NyjWedUSkOpuWm4luGE0riafXq3ioIoQnEjEiNH5aJ2Vj05neY_ATjbbv3-1zLGF-re0-r50E8bvEm4IHlwYmWtZz8v32gflB1A0zisC_HFzPd25m-nQDQx0v-TUEf5RfJPRF7s/s1600/IMG_6168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArZ8iXk-pS6Oj1EcEhFGm4-B6bigIqfMI-bG_npF5-XKi9ZuhdcE22ly6NcVJC1raTDmkUpZfw1q8IGGX5yAW1r0bpBBxO8axXO15_cPzeDXgcgokzuFhsZ0lBHPXPZ_QbgJp2aQBxkc/s1600/IMG_6165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArZ8iXk-pS6Oj1EcEhFGm4-B6bigIqfMI-bG_npF5-XKi9ZuhdcE22ly6NcVJC1raTDmkUpZfw1q8IGGX5yAW1r0bpBBxO8axXO15_cPzeDXgcgokzuFhsZ0lBHPXPZ_QbgJp2aQBxkc/s320/IMG_6165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-62011814290128261452016-09-17T09:01:00.000-07:002016-09-17T09:01:37.129-07:00Getting ready to go...Don't worry this is not another post about toileting ;)<br />
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This weekend we are getting ready to go to the FCI AWC as it is officially known or the Worlds as it is often called here.<br />
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There is lots to get ready - dog sitters, packing clothes, flags, paperwork to name a few.<br />
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We have 2 days on a coach to look forward to and then the excitement of watching Agility Team GB competing.<br />
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As usual we have a great Team who are committed to doing the best they can.<br />
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It is available to watch on LiveStream <a href="http://agilitywc2016.com/streaming-en/?lang=en" target="_blank">agilitywc2016.com/streaming</a><br />
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This year it is hoped to show information via Twitter - just look up #agilityteamgb.<br />
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There is not always time to give the full story and often just an E doesn't justify what happened. As you all know some of our best rounds are not always reflected in the score. In the case of speed of information getting out there we will be brief.<br />
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Remember the time difference - they are 1 hour ahead of us.<br />
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The running orders on the website currently include all listed competitors including reserves. The lists may change after registration on Thursday when all competitors have been declared. If not there will be gaps.<br />
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Hope you enjoy hearing about #agilityteamgb.<br />
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As usual a big thank you to the sponsors<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNV0EArXJzhiGOISnfMhdcQEnPSOVpwvh22CPt5uXCLesqpSVc7I6eFe8NaW_Ciuvbc2EzEpxXyowhtGzBVXGLnNgtwdW1_Jvsw6FqWwntT0l491YT7FXVhpKweHgplHLtCcSgsXLApyg/s1600/team+gb+signature+logos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNV0EArXJzhiGOISnfMhdcQEnPSOVpwvh22CPt5uXCLesqpSVc7I6eFe8NaW_Ciuvbc2EzEpxXyowhtGzBVXGLnNgtwdW1_Jvsw6FqWwntT0l491YT7FXVhpKweHgplHLtCcSgsXLApyg/s320/team+gb+signature+logos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-14181575101898886052016-09-06T05:11:00.000-07:002016-09-06T05:11:02.331-07:00What a load of old .... ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKMZwTAcw9BLY1vFXAq6YiDN83dxu3KoMmFVbJw3P8tL8vFFNumxcK0pKX3MrH6Wm-oxM-XPHBbhFmAcjymeNPpiPp7ivGWa0qIyrOMmXKUWXBJQdrPDnZUaDx0iInI5gWmOxSXiTU2g/s1600/jackie-magazine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKMZwTAcw9BLY1vFXAq6YiDN83dxu3KoMmFVbJw3P8tL8vFFNumxcK0pKX3MrH6Wm-oxM-XPHBbhFmAcjymeNPpiPp7ivGWa0qIyrOMmXKUWXBJQdrPDnZUaDx0iInI5gWmOxSXiTU2g/s200/jackie-magazine.jpg" width="147" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many years ago I enjoyed doing those personality tests where you answered a load of questions and scored points for various answers, added them up and they told you something you already knew about yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It left me with questions so that I wonder what kind of person usually picks the first empty seat they come to instead of looking for another, reads instructions before starting to build an item of furniture or even who picks the middle cubicle in the toilets!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a conscientious dog owner who picks up after their dogs I can't help but notice that they toilet differently and wonder if that reflects their personality.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioijOz075bUF0fa0Ff-wrEerGWBRv28iHnQmYgG4G1sdTGj0Yay6IncAaCS3XtY0O_nkLnyS62ARXI5z26GUSYkMVMruh_wrZVEBkaNnDXTBidpxwI9pr66tbz_shMzKAXPFKzdQIU8BY/s1600/Planelanding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioijOz075bUF0fa0Ff-wrEerGWBRv28iHnQmYgG4G1sdTGj0Yay6IncAaCS3XtY0O_nkLnyS62ARXI5z26GUSYkMVMruh_wrZVEBkaNnDXTBidpxwI9pr66tbz_shMzKAXPFKzdQIU8BY/s200/Planelanding.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Torro is an anxious pooer. He isn't selective in regards where he goes but always circles around. We call it asking for permission to land. He will then rush off or rush to you with a particular expression of glad to have gotten rid of that load.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Devo never has time to think about going to the toilet. He just suddenly needs to go, hardly squats, drops his little packages and is off again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rhyme is very private in his business. He will go in the farthest corner of the field or in the longest grass and turns his back. He sits very proud and low. His privacy is so important I won't spoil it with a picture ;)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMf3k7SKXTZwR0TUSuBI5YbjeWDhoSopf2LgQJONIJ0AiG0Pu2-WgvUoZY3fm5cdXqUB2bMEVynsLuR8GQfcfFMX1qBJDt821Oai7BMVKewpqmXvrnANrBKxXNXRuuZTC9jjQJlkgG-4/s1600/sheepdog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMf3k7SKXTZwR0TUSuBI5YbjeWDhoSopf2LgQJONIJ0AiG0Pu2-WgvUoZY3fm5cdXqUB2bMEVynsLuR8GQfcfFMX1qBJDt821Oai7BMVKewpqmXvrnANrBKxXNXRuuZTC9jjQJlkgG-4/s200/sheepdog.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moog likes to go high on long grass or even a thistle. Many years ago we were told that a good collie will always go like this to keep the excrement away from the short sweet grass the sheep will eat.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pikachu is not worried where she goes and makes a big performance of it. She also has a big zoomie either before, after or both.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder what these different habits display about them?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lh8klxKKUjpeLAdu0k7Jh-rsv52ZN3WkFXdWC5MAXHiczjEc4DiI9P8S0mBCIhd1w63pfZ9mK6acdGsAwcdmuGtRffBl341CQUDh9nG3zS6SkKaii1XNsUse0kTfoV8FlgqDTwvZy0E/s1600/TorroSunglasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lh8klxKKUjpeLAdu0k7Jh-rsv52ZN3WkFXdWC5MAXHiczjEc4DiI9P8S0mBCIhd1w63pfZ9mK6acdGsAwcdmuGtRffBl341CQUDh9nG3zS6SkKaii1XNsUse0kTfoV8FlgqDTwvZy0E/s200/TorroSunglasses.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well Torro can be anxious about things and like reassurance. He is also likes to include us in any celebration of things done well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Devo's only consuming passion is watching Mark (or me if Mark isn't around). You could even say he was one of those obsessional collie's. Mark or working with Mark is all he wants and needs. Basic functions are a nuisance as they get in the way of life.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXh1Kas_HBYIi5XCON5J945-pS0ZXRHqos06vN04dxr9T8JCRfZjcCTcKwb-_0047PFxXQFzwZOMvYzQaOPjibHEP4DHZcDAaQk8fAeQ8ySRNWlYJWcijgGXnvG4wisAAKofYXHmQNaM/s1600/RhymeSeesawBCC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXh1Kas_HBYIi5XCON5J945-pS0ZXRHqos06vN04dxr9T8JCRfZjcCTcKwb-_0047PFxXQFzwZOMvYzQaOPjibHEP4DHZcDAaQk8fAeQ8ySRNWlYJWcijgGXnvG4wisAAKofYXHmQNaM/s320/RhymeSeesawBCC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rhyme is always clean. He would have been what was called dapper years ago. Spit spot and Bristol fashion is his way. He likes to perform a task properly. You only need to see his joy of getting his contacts to see that. If I get back into HTM training this winter and video him working, you'll see him step up to the rhythm.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-SIx9Ou7ibKZjI-K1allCWMZGrCD8tWieGc5y2mHOEkxfaqm-JmpLXr1cJGlkTxVPAiCXaCinzkdC_bbSDtVHnEVMbBUweqsyysvXqprxN5tUsnxkoHWI4seRqhyphenhyphenMFIagHsmhydIBDs/s1600/IMG_6037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-SIx9Ou7ibKZjI-K1allCWMZGrCD8tWieGc5y2mHOEkxfaqm-JmpLXr1cJGlkTxVPAiCXaCinzkdC_bbSDtVHnEVMbBUweqsyysvXqprxN5tUsnxkoHWI4seRqhyphenhyphenMFIagHsmhydIBDs/s200/IMG_6037.jpg" width="90" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moog is all sheep dog. He is also a real boy. He grumbles at being dried, he flops about and knows how to switch on his goofy charm. He mucks in with what ever is going on yet can go and entertain himself too. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9imRdGUVnYHoQVJoGSegYlpvvTylBzOVAKTE_GapxwJaQWbwgnBh2s0v90MQJGcZA3HNK0rl5TVv7HSLjZEVmKATxF07L9dP-q1LDfmJgwYlJ9zRwta7ZGYupS2u-BIQLAtM3tmjVJ4/s1600/IMG_5168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9imRdGUVnYHoQVJoGSegYlpvvTylBzOVAKTE_GapxwJaQWbwgnBh2s0v90MQJGcZA3HNK0rl5TVv7HSLjZEVmKATxF07L9dP-q1LDfmJgwYlJ9zRwta7ZGYupS2u-BIQLAtM3tmjVJ4/s200/IMG_5168.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pikachu is busy. She rushes about everywhere and you always know she's about. She has a huge personality.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It would be interesting to know if anyone else notices toilet traits and how they suit your dog. Or is it just me? Just me then </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-83610424376826395302016-08-31T09:23:00.001-07:002016-08-31T10:31:02.760-07:00An Agility Dog she is then<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We're looking forward to Gillingham Show again this year. Last year we somehow found ourselves saying we would have this little girl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now a year on I am pushing on with her agility training. Getting a terrier cross to do agility with was not our thoughts. TBH we still have no idea what our thoughts were but hey ho sometimes what will be will be.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We don't generally do much training with our youngsters. Ideally that should be not much equipment training but realistically it somehow becomes no training.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pikachu did go to a couple of puppy classes though and graduated from NTU too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsBF3S0buRMUf5_zMEnkp_HVmdZvYVRTo_qHcGU_aV-yTegj6qSx0N028YEcvUHWg25XtyyuqCIeDXGy6IsrTKrL2mpSkixYJD7_Cfm2Z8ip2ZH2UrIgWYY_WS1EA2I7Se26epeel_10/s1600/IMG_5330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsBF3S0buRMUf5_zMEnkp_HVmdZvYVRTo_qHcGU_aV-yTegj6qSx0N028YEcvUHWg25XtyyuqCIeDXGy6IsrTKrL2mpSkixYJD7_Cfm2Z8ip2ZH2UrIgWYY_WS1EA2I7Se26epeel_10/s320/IMG_5330.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Other than that she has been working on waits and play and eating. Well mostly eating if she can.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then her first birthday happened and as she is no way a lap dog she is going to be an agility dog.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have done bits and pieces here and there but not any proper training sessions. Today I thought right lets get on with it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The following clips are her definitely getting on with it. OMG she is amazing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She works for tug, she works for treats and she works for tennis balls. What more can you ask for. She likes to go fast, she likes to perform a task, she likes to go fast, she likes to jump and did I mention she likes to go fast.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Small jumping sequence for a ball.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She has done a bit of just doing one jump either as a recall from a sit or a send on to and back to a toy. This is the first day I have done this set up. I did it twice on the other side and then this is the best clip and the first time we did it this way. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Waiting is something I have done loads of with her. I believed she was very strong on it. Then I discovered in front of a jump that if I did it from a tug as soon I took the tug away she completely disengaged. I tried practicing taking the tug and rewarding quickly with a treat but would still get a off switch look. I tried just using treats and as soon as I passed the wing she would disappear off in the other direction. I thought it was something I was doing differently in front of a jump than I had been doing without one. Sure enough she will wait no problem with no obstacle in front of her but that's not much fun. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luckily I had discovered that she loved tennis balls. One tennis ball is pointless as it only has one use. Once it's thrown it is never coming back. Two tennis balls however are great fun and she will continue to play with me until I can gain procession of both balls again. Armed with two balls I can get her to sit on the start and she maintains concentration to enable me to do a start line like I want.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If I try to analyse then I think the tug option is going from tug to dead toy and it seems to annoy her that we have had great fun tugging and then I'm taking it away??</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Food makes her think of more food and there is always food of some sort in the grass at our field - treats dropped by my students, by me, by Mark, pheasant droppings, hedgehog droppings etc etc. So why bother waiting to get some from me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Balls however are in the hands of the beholder and whilst I am holding them I have the power.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She also loves the chase at the end. I say if you throw the toy you must run so I run towards her until she gets that ball then turn and run to throw the other ball for her when she catches me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seesaw to target for food.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is the first time I have put a target at the end of the seesaw. I have done targeting to my hand and a disc indoors on a low step.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She has done the seesaw several times - usually when I am moving it and have hold of the up end. She loves running up it as fast as she can to get to my face or onto my shoulders. Not what I am generally wanting for a seesaw performance so best get on with it in a more controlled way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Her attitude is perfect for agility. I think we will have to work on this a bit to ensure she can or wants to stay on while it tips but am more than happy as this for a starting point.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tunnels</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pikachu loved running along on top of the tunnel especially when I was moving it about and could balance on it with amazing </span>dexterity. I managed to avoid her being able to get into a situation that allowed her to do this for a while. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had a theory that if a dog didn't do tunnels it would not be any good at agility in the long term. This theory was supported by many a dog over the years of training that were not successful at the tunnel initially then dropping out of class. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Basically it is usually such a simple piece of equipment then if your dog can't learn it (or you can't help them do it) then they/you aren't of the right mindset. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hence followed a few panic stricken sessions of trying to get her to go through the tunnel instead of climbing on it. Mark thought I was worrying about nothing. I left it for a while and then did a few recalls through it with Mark's help and hadn't done much since. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am very happy to have my theory dispelled and pleased she now understands the correct way to do pipe tunnels.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This clip also shows me using the tug as a reward. In this sequence I was asking her to come to me not drive away and I find tugging is great for that as opposed to throwing her ball which allows her to drive away from me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Running Contacts (blink and you'll miss them)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well Rhyme had running contacts for one show before they scared the bejesus out of me and I decided to ask him to stop instead. He has a lovely stop so I am going to start teaching Pikachu running confident if a stop is then required I can add one. I am trying a different method though for a variety of reasons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is her first time running a plank which was a few days ago. I haven't done any more yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A bit much all in one session but it totally confirms we have ourselves a small agility dog to have fun with next year :) :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-88498190289208878542016-08-22T15:59:00.002-07:002016-08-23T00:38:32.140-07:00One size fits all<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a few of you may know and hopefully a few more noticed ;) I have been focussing on losing weight this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rhyme reached Grade 7 this time last year and I knew that I would have to change something in order to be competitive in qualifiers and champ classes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On individual sequences and on his skills, Rhyme's times are up there with the best of them. One thing that holds him back is my ground speed and mental quickness for giving commands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I realised one thing to work on was my fitness and my fitness revolved around my weight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is unbelievable how much better my running is with less body to cart around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luckily I have Zumba with my neighbour, my Wag & Tone class and a local cycle track to take advantage of over the winter to come out super fit in the new season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On top of that and improving Rhyme's fitness I'm hopeful that we will be having a great year in 2017.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I look on social media and wonder if we will still have an understandable format to compete in :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I </span><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjNssbDidbOAhUpLcAKHSGABZ0QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Freactionimage.org%2F336437537.html&psig=AFQjCNGKPAMIiPLUwW9ZGAJPjx5IHnUBjw&ust=1471991414426493" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">applauded</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the fact the KC were giving people options on what height to run their dog on so the dogs could run at appropriate heights not entirely governed by the dogs strict height. EG a large breed could run at LHO and so minimise compression on joints due to being well, - large, whilst smaller dogs could continue to work at full height if that suited them, dogs near retirement could enjoy a slightly longer career, young dogs coming out could start at a lower height until they got stronger and muscled up etc. Well in my eyes a load of reasons where choosing a height that was good for your own dog was good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However the initial outcome is a bit chaotic at shows and people are being questioned for their motives of what height they jump including discussions about winning, being beaten by dogs jumping different heights. If you are doing a combined height class and feel a need to win then it is surely your prerogative to jump the lower and quicker height. If you have a reason to jump your dog at a larger height then you may need to accept that show is not the one you might win at.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">It seems the more personal choice people have the more conflict and accusations exist. It would be great if we could all just respect each others choices.(Sorry any excuse to show a clip from The Blues Brothers is a good one imo) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For my own reasons I will mainly run Rhyme at full height and Pikachu will start out jumping LHO until we are strong enough to be contenders in qualifiers. If Rhyme goes to a show that has no qualifiers then I may even run him at LHO. He is a big dog so I can't see a reason to jump him higher than required. That said we usually go to shows that have qualifiers anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It seems like I am in favour of the changes for my dogs BUT..........</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELZUmnajLoYCjeguscFmAEUYC_7gk7u-Bub7z5sTEoGTUZn0w9mv5B2hhuQWa8VfSC-3UsP8XtDjNLcgiHPmmq9m74_FIkZPtba3RZZK23B5WVy4CKKkEuBJKJSYXP1rFE94_930n0Gc/s1600/explodinghead.jpg-tm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELZUmnajLoYCjeguscFmAEUYC_7gk7u-Bub7z5sTEoGTUZn0w9mv5B2hhuQWa8VfSC-3UsP8XtDjNLcgiHPmmq9m74_FIkZPtba3RZZK23B5WVy4CKKkEuBJKJSYXP1rFE94_930n0Gc/s320/explodinghead.jpg-tm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">my ears and my brain do not like it one little bit. Classes being called all over the place, closing this class, walking this class, graded, combined, LHO, small, medium and large. I look across to see a class being walked and think it is the class before mine only to discover it is the LHO of the class before the class before mine. By the time mine is ready for walking I've lost the plot LOL.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Would it work to just have to go through the wings/cones like a slalom event in skiing or inline skating (I didn't even know this existed as a sport)?</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just queue up and go. Depending on class numbers awards are given as first overall then grade/height splits as appropriate. Would save all the different course walking and changing. Dogs are measured on the day they compete (going under a bar like at Alton Towers etc) This would avoid the difficulties of dogs heights changing as they mature, get more muscled with competing etc. When it comes to qualifiers of the different heights dog go in their average height category. 3 to 4 different slalom courses a day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are a million reason's why this wouldn't work in practice. I'm sure any system based on the height category of a living being is very hard to manage fairly. You only need to look at the huge variety of classes in the para-olympics to see the difficulties of matching like for like. Even in car sports like F1 there seems to be anomalies. If you can't even ensure machines are matching then it demonstrates how hard it is to split animals with something as simple a measure of their height at a given point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I really have no answer and am like everyone else heart broken for how this is playing out in our sport at the moment. I hope our sport can recover from all these changes and come up with rules and the application of the rules so we can again feel we, our friends and most of all our beloved dogs are being treated as fairly as they can be, given so many variables.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Deep down I am saddened as I don't think agility can ever be totally fair to every individual, there will always be benefits for some and disadvantages for others In a search for that fairness, the fun and camaraderie will be lost as each person strives to make their own dog able to compete in a level playing field that doesn't exist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then I look around and I <u>know</u> that the agility community can pull through this and we will find the best way forward to enjoy our sport at our own level whilst helping or admiring those on a different level to us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-59932689043643880892016-07-22T14:21:00.000-07:002016-07-23T06:00:08.243-07:00Dog trainers just need to love dogs right?<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I came to dog training after a successful career in a large financial company and a variety of part time jobs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luckily I learned many skills that I now take for granted as a dog trainer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Agility 1st offer a module in their online training course that helps people know about some of the skills that will help them with their business as just being brilliant with dogs may not be quite enough.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://agility1st.co.uk/" target="_blank">Agility 1st Online training course for instructors</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Customer service was key when I started my first job in a bank. It was so important that they even sent us on residential courses. The courses were quite in depth and included hilarious & nerve ranking role plays. One of the trainers would come to the "desk" and we would be the cashier. When it was my turn he sat down and preceded to advise me of the death of his partner. A bit harsh and very testing for an 18 year old but it put me in good stead for real cases. Little did I know many years later I would sadly have to deal with it during an agility lesson. It was a small group lesson & one of my lovely long standing customers got a call that her husband had died 😢 We had met him a few times and he did have a on going illness. My previous life experiences help me to be level headed & pack her off to hospital & her dogs came home with me for a few days.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9G-GmNbN4Sw73O3ce5Ofjy_R0YWYqoQ1gOD-XdizK0oMf9VrHpzMB0I0HoVyevDNrb-n-YjKqdOYda62Q2ZioPCkbAXP4UbWSy2CeDIreMVBIuBef-xa2eJAoLoqnCacOGgkR5o9wOA/s1600/sweatyofficecolleague.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9G-GmNbN4Sw73O3ce5Ofjy_R0YWYqoQ1gOD-XdizK0oMf9VrHpzMB0I0HoVyevDNrb-n-YjKqdOYda62Q2ZioPCkbAXP4UbWSy2CeDIreMVBIuBef-xa2eJAoLoqnCacOGgkR5o9wOA/s200/sweatyofficecolleague.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Managerial skills I learned have over the years helped organise training days & seminars, develop trainers, organise training rota's etc. The banks invested a lot into staff training back in the day and I remember one residential course that also featured the dreaded role play. I was so happy I didn't get the one that meant discussing personal hygiene to a smelly member of staff 😂😂. Not something to worry about in the dog world although come to think of it I did have to have words with Ruth about the fish heads!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Working in a bank when marketing became more important than customer service taught me another lesson. Whilst I was good at letting people know of any service we could offer if I felt it would be useful to them, I was never good at closing the deal preferring to give them time to think about it. Likewise I'm not the greatest in marketing any of the projects I'm involved in. For example I truly believe Wag & Tone is a brilliant dog training tool and a great class I'm just not pushy enough to get it out there enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Marketing in another job included developing a service, identifying target market and equally important how to decide a fair price for the product. Agility 1st shows a good example of how to work out pricing.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have also worked in credit control (luckily that hasn't been a problem) and legal publishing (another area I hope isn't needed).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Goodness now I have just also thought about </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">health & safety - this blog could go on and on.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Needless to say loving dogs may lead you into dog training and is a lovely and rewarding career. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">To make a good business of it there's so many other skills to enjoy learning :) I've already mentioned the Agility 1st online training programme. Your local council or bank may run business start up courses that cover some basics. I believe any training of this type may also be offset in your business accounts too.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">If you just starting out and are interested in anything I've mentioned Mark or myself will be happy to help. Most of all good luck and enjoy.</span></span></span><br />
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Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-35671300681678971952016-07-07T06:45:00.000-07:002016-07-08T08:31:27.309-07:00Sitting on the Fence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqkavAgXAUO7srr9H_P2AItCYqc0PKQ4o2KVXpjfDZn-VP3jKbbuS3D7EuO2w1nX1W-LbxrBth3QQ8GzebFe1LfNk4VNj5p6ZFNQeDPqsaIGV45XZqOT8L54G_NHG94gRm2MeqV_kEsQ/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqkavAgXAUO7srr9H_P2AItCYqc0PKQ4o2KVXpjfDZn-VP3jKbbuS3D7EuO2w1nX1W-LbxrBth3QQ8GzebFe1LfNk4VNj5p6ZFNQeDPqsaIGV45XZqOT8L54G_NHG94gRm2MeqV_kEsQ/s200/IMG_2966.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqoTxVx8YztWnTFMBQiAuXncxLznrACnYt_aJdBXGSd_tT4Km1uNm1jbEYMlnnl-BY4I3yS1QDTI-Mk9Xf7q-lTj_Fnmp017iofaIxmZOOWQwxqliyvNbIS9tUoY8-nunu68nVHX4R68/s1600/Pisces.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqoTxVx8YztWnTFMBQiAuXncxLznrACnYt_aJdBXGSd_tT4Km1uNm1jbEYMlnnl-BY4I3yS1QDTI-Mk9Xf7q-lTj_Fnmp017iofaIxmZOOWQwxqliyvNbIS9tUoY8-nunu68nVHX4R68/s200/Pisces.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqoTxVx8YztWnTFMBQiAuXncxLznrACnYt_aJdBXGSd_tT4Km1uNm1jbEYMlnnl-BY4I3yS1QDTI-Mk9Xf7q-lTj_Fnmp017iofaIxmZOOWQwxqliyvNbIS9tUoY8-nunu68nVHX4R68/s1600/Pisces.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well and truly sitting on the fence with the lower height option.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am a Pisces so it's only natural.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am lucky to see agility from all angles both as a private instructor introducing people to a fun hobby that they can enjoy with their dog and as the wife of the Manager of Team GB promoting agility as close to a professional sport as it can be.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyPtTzX5tUhHFpafS_sXZF3hy4BcDU6V4mO6SaEZEVMRmdzDRsvaDKj4x9lGvSYrOPcLZGwQomTW7bYstu5CLEVWl-vbHKj58T9wRRnFF70bYy3AYlL3CGTJ6cyX0q0X5xzUT6rrwtUg/s1600/doghurdling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyPtTzX5tUhHFpafS_sXZF3hy4BcDU6V4mO6SaEZEVMRmdzDRsvaDKj4x9lGvSYrOPcLZGwQomTW7bYstu5CLEVWl-vbHKj58T9wRRnFF70bYy3AYlL3CGTJ6cyX0q0X5xzUT6rrwtUg/s200/doghurdling.jpg" width="191" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having done agility for a long time I was introduced into it as a test of athleticism for the dog, a test of their physical ability and a test of dog trainers ability to create a fit and well motivated dog able to perform various physical tasks as directed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Agility competition was not done every weekend of the year, there were no week long competitions and many clubs closed for the winter. So although the jumps were higher and other items were more testing the dogs were not being asked to continually work and therefore no worry of repetitive strain from jumping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I still remember being in awe the first time I saw a dog do a snake line (flik flac) as a straight line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember winning into Advanced against advanced dogs at the last show of the year before the jump height got dropped and people saying to me I must be glad I did it "properly". </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohNq43X8gQPpyA_-5xxBbtqLEX5MfBL1bTC2TZt0W-wL8bV8jwoOVkzcRPT45xZyKYLEGX4YmYhoNyBapyKylYTbXNCZEcBSWXbYNvEdhtV1WFxmOnuGwIHUP7CxHxJseT-eulouqPqY/s1600/FlintJumping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohNq43X8gQPpyA_-5xxBbtqLEX5MfBL1bTC2TZt0W-wL8bV8jwoOVkzcRPT45xZyKYLEGX4YmYhoNyBapyKylYTbXNCZEcBSWXbYNvEdhtV1WFxmOnuGwIHUP7CxHxJseT-eulouqPqY/s200/FlintJumping.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGe2yfRU72vNC4_yttt3hjHGyTLxaBp_GD40GNEnwEU7UJmMIGmQ6Wd-2drLuN60iW4B_mM1k_Tdn225XcWbJCv9dxJT96fNA_rNVSsylXMaElfd0vLk9ZPd_V-6SVufRwi6KwOg9MZwc/s1600/DevoJumping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGe2yfRU72vNC4_yttt3hjHGyTLxaBp_GD40GNEnwEU7UJmMIGmQ6Wd-2drLuN60iW4B_mM1k_Tdn225XcWbJCv9dxJT96fNA_rNVSsylXMaElfd0vLk9ZPd_V-6SVufRwi6KwOg9MZwc/s200/DevoJumping.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We do still have jumps of the old full height and our dogs do jump them from time to time as part of their training. They also do some at small and medium depending on what we are working on. Devo is a small collie and his shape over the old full height is beautiful. Having to jump rather than hurdle is slower but technically could impact his joints less.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIqpZkZdbYz1rHnyTPwDL7o6SqjzaevPv3hMg2EeJ3ZxyJfi2fNOkd5bPTq7vWkCC22qbQM2MrV_cV4TwdNTb82rcicTibQ5UdqGX6jz1xFzp5qjW__Nf7RkVnAE4A-yB6gZ_dhg6GlQ/s1600/speedkills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIqpZkZdbYz1rHnyTPwDL7o6SqjzaevPv3hMg2EeJ3ZxyJfi2fNOkd5bPTq7vWkCC22qbQM2MrV_cV4TwdNTb82rcicTibQ5UdqGX6jz1xFzp5qjW__Nf7RkVnAE4A-yB6gZ_dhg6GlQ/s200/speedkills.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the height got lowered there was a lot of people feeling that it was not good as dogs would go faster and there would be more injuries when they hit other equipment faster, handling would be more difficult as there would be less 'airtime' amongst other concerns.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7ABEoDkrEDuq6HGbTdYujolEmgEGMEImMKSskf6z37LhLxvU7dzp0pIqOGK0lRRCYa_DlyzH8tcDDNQxfjzcBG9E3tBgJoF93x1LuHpbgNcX_MlSuFnHGRer5bMCU01epQ7RpF41Lc0/s1600/Change-is-an-opportunity-to-do-something.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7ABEoDkrEDuq6HGbTdYujolEmgEGMEImMKSskf6z37LhLxvU7dzp0pIqOGK0lRRCYa_DlyzH8tcDDNQxfjzcBG9E3tBgJoF93x1LuHpbgNcX_MlSuFnHGRer5bMCU01epQ7RpF41Lc0/s200/Change-is-an-opportunity-to-do-something.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">am entering both Devo and Rhyme in the LHO at shows where we haven't got qualifiers because I want to see how our dogs work at the lower height at a show.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am looking forward to judging at a show that is offering the options to see how the lower height affects the run of my course.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am looking forward to seeing our young dogs come out </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">competing at lower jumps to start with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see change as an opportunity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u>On the other hand</u></b> I struggle already to walk and run all the classes I enter already and we only have 2 dogs in Grade 7. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have no idea how I am possibly going to get to the right ring at the right height with a Grade 3 small running at LHO and then find Mark to video Moog in large Grade 3 LHO on top of running Rhyme in FHO for qualifiers, champ etc and again being there to film Devo. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBgoW3cLwNtjpkXei2lwmpH5q1vWKzDfng2bgjwDuB2urmYop8y4lUZ772qTfmvA1JQp3W0LyVbskQqAG0yyY5GdPtJ0w07lKDMWzBvNb0Xi01tFZ58ShsEuF9quqH83W6o8begiEcyY/s1600/lost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBgoW3cLwNtjpkXei2lwmpH5q1vWKzDfng2bgjwDuB2urmYop8y4lUZ772qTfmvA1JQp3W0LyVbskQqAG0yyY5GdPtJ0w07lKDMWzBvNb0Xi01tFZ58ShsEuF9quqH83W6o8begiEcyY/s200/lost.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Phew exhausted just writing it. We may just do our G7 dogs one day and the youngsters the next. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking at the entry forms is like trying to understand a pocket sized train time table - you think you've found the right train then realise it is not stopping at your station.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHImsCSPibI_7A7ZRhRZJx5y4DIhyLvW340WF2P2F0QaMPKSwK2sfCWyXyaf_o040F8W21hOxZtvxvOe0H7TOzBWEIz4nV3tf8Bu_6OZSKZiLYvswbYFkPH_ryqKtQ8WG2SnHFyypalk/s1600/ttable4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHImsCSPibI_7A7ZRhRZJx5y4DIhyLvW340WF2P2F0QaMPKSwK2sfCWyXyaf_o040F8W21hOxZtvxvOe0H7TOzBWEIz4nV3tf8Bu_6OZSKZiLYvswbYFkPH_ryqKtQ8WG2SnHFyypalk/s200/ttable4.jpg" width="200" /></a><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_axHV2wx8RA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_axHV2wx8RA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How on earth the show organisers are doing the ring plans I am not sure but I bet they are masters at Sudoko.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I like to go to prize givings but with so many different tannoy announcements I'm afraid my ears switch off so it's not likely to happen. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuV2IgltQTcYLG76EWjfjTdo-iZLlgRtczDScj_MHRgDEOXb3SKjnDiVXBsX-p4OcHhESLQQVI97zJAZSM-XW5DOZfagegcUklX8hB2fA7PVQDGW1gYlbKAPdPLe_D-YA9szWRbMdaLI4/s1600/long_queue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuV2IgltQTcYLG76EWjfjTdo-iZLlgRtczDScj_MHRgDEOXb3SKjnDiVXBsX-p4OcHhESLQQVI97zJAZSM-XW5DOZfagegcUklX8hB2fA7PVQDGW1gYlbKAPdPLe_D-YA9szWRbMdaLI4/s200/long_queue.jpg" width="168" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's nice when I judge to see the people that have done well and to congratulate them but I would understand if they don't make it. Unless they </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">change so only the top 1, 2 or 3 get placed </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the prize giving is going to go on and on and on - imagine the queue to get any unclaimed </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">rosettes</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mostly the people and dogs who are going to be winners will still be winners and the tacticians out there will be having so many choices. TBH the rest of us are still no better off than we were in my opinion if we think we deserve to be able to win. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I just want to go out and compete with my dogs to see how my training is going and to find homework to do as an excuse for spending time with them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That would apply in the very old system of Starter, Novice, Senior and Advanced grading and in the system of G1 - G7 and will apply in the new system of G1 LHO, G1 FHO to G6 LHO, G6 FHO and G7 FHO and then G7 LHO occasionally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I understand that no system can be fair to all, especially as dogs </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and handlers </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">come in so many shapes and sizes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From the beginning of agility of having 3 levels to now having 14 different classes I can honestly say mentally I would happily go back to 3. That is not going to happen unless the KC decide to look to other models in other countries that work well. Rather than going deeper into chaos cherry pick the best from FCI rules. E.G. as far as FCI is concerned the heights are variable so the judges can choose to lower the height if the weather is hot, wet or just because thats what they prefer for their course.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkINIK8pS1aeZEXG8OIpeZBRD2wndcaSJ_1el-9a-YVpxXpV_aOAZVceDQNulNz43BJIij-G5Co2lsFh1Qrt2Jpx0PD0Fh9t84RZMI5Udd0Daw0tqDG1EsjsH8YJQILaZRGOm-eqS2rY/s1600/the_winking_dog_by_lanth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkINIK8pS1aeZEXG8OIpeZBRD2wndcaSJ_1el-9a-YVpxXpV_aOAZVceDQNulNz43BJIij-G5Co2lsFh1Qrt2Jpx0PD0Fh9t84RZMI5Udd0Daw0tqDG1EsjsH8YJQILaZRGOm-eqS2rY/s200/the_winking_dog_by_lanth.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile I am going to read just the beginning of this blog, pull my sleeves up and keep off certain pages of FB </span><br />
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Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-342551383518506692016-06-16T09:28:00.000-07:002016-06-17T05:35:10.295-07:00New to Judging - new string same bow?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well I survived. In fact I not only survived, I thoroughly enjoyed my first judging experiences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sadly I had to abandon my appointment for Agility Nuts due to losing Kodi that day. If the decision had been made the evening before part of me would have felt it was better to get on with it. However at Tunbridge his son Rocky did a beautiful clear in my class. I didn't see it clearly though as my eyes were full of tears. Luckily nobody noticed and I disappeared for a quick 'comfort' break straight after.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxFLBMwypZmlwe67QWFSHrbqwm_DmlT8YzxOo-jpu6XPmnv04zn_A_7Tkk4MuzkY7Gf0P0dSninxtrdTkwDE05aZIdOjNDSwJJ_lLdgmYkLiGvGCJD8u9ihZ6Mq_e16F-LPdlMcSKkUo/s1600/Rocky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxFLBMwypZmlwe67QWFSHrbqwm_DmlT8YzxOo-jpu6XPmnv04zn_A_7Tkk4MuzkY7Gf0P0dSninxtrdTkwDE05aZIdOjNDSwJJ_lLdgmYkLiGvGCJD8u9ihZ6Mq_e16F-LPdlMcSKkUo/s200/Rocky.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Cook</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRRyst-lzhQb08ZaDLciWsomrDMNNjstFRUwON5lCu6-8n9CF7P6P-2G-vMKZtClXp_V-jSw-baTnHY1RYjxUuUmXqGnpylDO2cgqn68CVNrHe7uHQiVBMEwVWKZPoBJ6ylYqTMyVxhY/s1600/IMG_3113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRRyst-lzhQb08ZaDLciWsomrDMNNjstFRUwON5lCu6-8n9CF7P6P-2G-vMKZtClXp_V-jSw-baTnHY1RYjxUuUmXqGnpylDO2cgqn68CVNrHe7uHQiVBMEwVWKZPoBJ6ylYqTMyVxhY/s200/IMG_3113.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kodi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So my first official judging appointment was at Tunbridge Wells for the Novice Olympia Qualifier. Note to new judges best not offer to be a reserve until you have judged a few classes as you never know what you might get and you may only be asked a couple of days before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luckily for me I had a free diary and my own equipment so was able to spend a few hours designing and setting up my course and a husband who was happy to run his and mine dogs round it for me to practice judging it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My approach is to write a brief of what I want from the course. For a novice olympia qualifier I looked at giving straight lines (1-3, 4-6 and 7-9). I wanted a dog that enjoyed flowing and could also turn nicely. It was important to me to give choices so handlers could turn the dog how they saw fit and no matter what handling style. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Good running contacts are lovely to see so I had a straight on after the contacts for young dogs as an encouragement. There is plenty of time later to work on turns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is the resulting course</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLdJ6ve-6OB_HKp1pjHb8uxuqB9D6EZjvO7Gencvp19NCq5pd35cpNXtut6iGjsCYpjbO-b9x66PoD3XcDvxHX22YDfKGqoiVGfWZULEtC2PZHVg3lUE8TsYKAFgYKWFivnb_CAHMY3I/s1600/NoviceOlympiaQ16.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLdJ6ve-6OB_HKp1pjHb8uxuqB9D6EZjvO7Gencvp19NCq5pd35cpNXtut6iGjsCYpjbO-b9x66PoD3XcDvxHX22YDfKGqoiVGfWZULEtC2PZHVg3lUE8TsYKAFgYKWFivnb_CAHMY3I/s320/NoviceOlympiaQ16.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Strangely many dogs refused 3 regardless of their contact method. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another place for unexpected faults was the jump after the seesaw. Physically the dog had to manage its contact and then take off for the jump and then drop for the tunnel. The spacings were ample. It appeared to be either handlers rushing off giving the tunnel command off the seesaw that caused the dog to be wrong footed on the jump or sadly some dogs not being quite fit enough to take on the challenge or not enough understanding of the release command on the seesaw and panicking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I loved watching 10 - 14 as there were many options of how to handle it. There were a lot of very good runs and I can not remember which way the winner did this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was surprising how many dogs/handlers went wide or struggled with 16 -19.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well done to the winner Emma Nicolson with Tailswood Twice as Nice who completed the course in 30.317. The course length was approx 112 but I forgot to write in on my paperwork and it is not on the results sheet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the class was split the top 3 qualify so well done to Julie Dowle and Dreamorox Dare to Dream and Aileen Watson with Micky The Rocketeer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was more confident than I thought I would be and really enjoyed it. I was however exhausted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ring party were great and helped set up my next course. It did need a bit of tweaking but people waiting to walk and lunch calling meant I didn't rewalk it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>This was a mistake.</u> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The course was by no means awful but it was not as nice as I wanted it to be for Grade 1-2. With my mind caught up with understanding the poor make up of the course I found it hard to concentrate once an error was made. My other mistake was to be lenient with refusals and not calling a refusal unless the dog actually went past the obstacle. The final learning point was I had no system for recording how many refusals there had been and sometimes I continued to mark after the dog was eliminated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is how the course might have looked </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh081opzo3xpKl9ldgZ_IEi8sJmJ8Q4h5xG14JhiJ5c-_aXwtZLsTQDBhnAZM0bdtGEYZDb4z78RHZ8upLekvT1U_4wcTfheN-OD5WxItdPesRvXDb-29a-16Kp5w6FXFjgpF6AkZ0cH0c/s1600/Graded1to2AgilityTW16.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh081opzo3xpKl9ldgZ_IEi8sJmJ8Q4h5xG14JhiJ5c-_aXwtZLsTQDBhnAZM0bdtGEYZDb4z78RHZ8upLekvT1U_4wcTfheN-OD5WxItdPesRvXDb-29a-16Kp5w6FXFjgpF6AkZ0cH0c/s320/Graded1to2AgilityTW16.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well done to the winners - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Grade 1 Lauren Ellis with Homelyne Blue Jazz in a time of 37.062</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Grade 2 Gillian Bignall Milyon Quest of Valgray in a time of 33.292</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks to my scribe Sharon Marsh and my ring party led by Simon Chandler.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now to learn from my mistakes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSTGqJaFVgZkXdbKQi2N0wYIoBMb9-BVHjn6ac1LqdxGWKAD8KmjQets9WAkQGRsf0x5gxqedY2gysM4GgjGNqL9X6RFVXwWSIKMrQNuUfkGnEIKa2-9_30t3fXij9yUIPqEotao_-Jk/s1600/A-Bollywood-multi-armed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSTGqJaFVgZkXdbKQi2N0wYIoBMb9-BVHjn6ac1LqdxGWKAD8KmjQets9WAkQGRsf0x5gxqedY2gysM4GgjGNqL9X6RFVXwWSIKMrQNuUfkGnEIKa2-9_30t3fXij9yUIPqEotao_-Jk/s320/A-Bollywood-multi-armed.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After chatting to a few judges Kay Faiers told me of her system to keep a track of faults, eliminations and even clears. It is simple and I practiced using it a Thames my next appointment. The system is arms folded in front of my body to indicate to my scribe that I am ready. If a fault is incurred then my arms will become uncrossed as I signal the fault. If my arms are still across my body at the end of the run I can clap as it is a clear round :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If the fault is a refusal I bend a finger, three fingers bend - elimination. I did nearly become unstuck with this with raising my hand to show a fault with some bent fingers could have appeared rude. I didn't make that mistake again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once I eliminated I crossed my hands behind my back to stop me indicating any further faults and no clap at the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just faults would mean my hands were just at my side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was great so thank you Kaye I will continue to use that confident that it keeps me more focussed and aware of what is the marking status of the dog in the ring. It was lovely to clap confidently that the dog had gone clear too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I was only judging one class at Thames and it was Graded 6/7 I have not had a chance to address the course change issue but I do know to be aware of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had a good time to set up and practice the course in parts with some of my students and on my monthly visit to North Derbyshire as I knew none of them were travelling down to Newbury. And Mark of course.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKkzdP9XvR2odiyCrPHtNQt9AsT5Zb1h7WzuLokYhWa89-OY5DIy3Nl8n2zCFNyTcpJdzT4oWANhblFacqs3Xk7QnctQMfKjI3xODbLDDZqDJARwSDkWMbotoy6MqvdqTIDJU7x3pmmE/s1600/ThamesG67Jump2016.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKkzdP9XvR2odiyCrPHtNQt9AsT5Zb1h7WzuLokYhWa89-OY5DIy3Nl8n2zCFNyTcpJdzT4oWANhblFacqs3Xk7QnctQMfKjI3xODbLDDZqDJARwSDkWMbotoy6MqvdqTIDJU7x3pmmE/s320/ThamesG67Jump2016.gif" width="301" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I originally had the cloth tunnel in but replaced it with the long jump. I do not like the cloth tunnel but also believe that the less my dog comes across it the less likely he is to understand it so it should appear in other courses than champ. I want to believe there is a good place in a course for them. However with the latest KC liaison meeting including a change to the design and the fact the weather can be very wet at Thames on the Sunday (Saturday night is not known to be a dry one either but that is another matter) I decided not to use it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My brief for myself was to produce a fast flowing course with choices that could be handled close or at a distance displaying a good understanding of the dogs lines and a good relationship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I certainly saw some flowing runs where dog and handler knew where they were going at every turn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One thing that surprised me was that 19 to 20 was a bounce stride if a good turn was achieved on 18. Several dogs that had been eliminated elsewhere on the course demonstrated that it was a bounce and Steve Richardson's dog (or rather the lovely Vicky's dog run by Steve). It may be that for the grade 7's there was no need to win so they inadvertently slowed at the end or maybe with other things to work on bounce striding is not. Generally a bounce stride can save 1/3 of a second. Steve won the grade 6.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOdiNkGMFGuAYtNAmej7l1YPRBLrppytXpVJStNW0sa5ZgEvruEQiPCFP58snH8e7Bvm9dBo1DxydFx9RX1ZQuejZ8xSSh-jsWD3yMnx_DQt5pW7QO2E88i8QprP_3-QFNMF1Wd5gp-s/s1600/IMG_5500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOdiNkGMFGuAYtNAmej7l1YPRBLrppytXpVJStNW0sa5ZgEvruEQiPCFP58snH8e7Bvm9dBo1DxydFx9RX1ZQuejZ8xSSh-jsWD3yMnx_DQt5pW7QO2E88i8QprP_3-QFNMF1Wd5gp-s/s200/IMG_5500.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziW7YMWCOmApgDZ4xXknUyDTSqs2VUQicR_kqV_v0HDGc4gw6RCgSS4c7mb7ytH6I4YNm3rqtGQPNELf5Nl-JJ_Jum_54Zswfx0aP8qYYBuAhBC0XOKhGPHWAUBRpDTzrpPEngY9hvGY/s1600/IMG_5502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziW7YMWCOmApgDZ4xXknUyDTSqs2VUQicR_kqV_v0HDGc4gw6RCgSS4c7mb7ytH6I4YNm3rqtGQPNELf5Nl-JJ_Jum_54Zswfx0aP8qYYBuAhBC0XOKhGPHWAUBRpDTzrpPEngY9hvGY/s200/IMG_5502.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you all that commented on my courses and I am made up that someone has said they want to set up and time some of it to see the quicker way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am judging again at DV in August and am looking forward to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks very much again to my scribe Sharon Marsh, my ring manager Jane Price and the ring party some of which were from my old club UpAndOver.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been asked to judge again by both Tunbridge Wells and Thames which is a major confidence giver. They were great to judge for and know how to look after their judges but Mark is going to do them next year so that means I am available for a couple of other shows ;)</span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-62450150814034425092016-05-31T04:34:00.000-07:002016-05-31T04:34:38.172-07:00Can we do a hat trick?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time flies when you are having fun and already it is June.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The early part of my agility season was clouded by Rhyme not being right. Mostly he appeared sound except for 2 cases of right front leg lameness. One for a day on the Wednesday before Scunthorpe Champ and one for 2 days for the Wednesday and Thursday before the Performance weekend. In between for all intents and purposes he appeared sound. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only did I miss running in these shows but we could not start our fitness and training programme that I had planned. Well I could have done mine it was just I had lost the motivation. I did continue with keeping my weight down but did not loose anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After several physio sessions,a chiro treatment and some swimming we are looking like being on the right track to start working on fitness. I was also lucky in that although I am not officially part of the Agility Team GB I do help out a lot which meant that Maria Johnson kindly spent some time on him and pointed us in the right direction to getting sorted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My chiro Christine East thought the time was right to see how he was and get in the ring at the SKC show. The result was that we made the final even though we were both a bit rusty and we had not done any of the training I had planned. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goal 1 of the year - get to a champ final met :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This weekend we had Nottingham champ show and with the Agility Team GB training day on the Monday after to prepare for I still did not have much time to get moving forward with my training programme for us. (Again I possibly could have squeezed in some running!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was running first in the Champ Agility with a large course that totally confirmed that doing some running training is a definite on my list. Thank you Peter and Tricia Elms for giving me the motivation I need for that. TBH Alan Short's Cruft's singles on Sunday would also have been done a lot better if my footwork skills were better. So no Crufts single points for us</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We did however deliver a clear for our Crufts Team the Scunthorpe Hustlers and so did all the others meaning the goal/dream of competing at Crufts again has been achieved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So next weekend is Hinckley show I wonder if we can make a hat trick of goals achieved. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The choices are : </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Make another championship final which would continue me towards my new goal of achieving 50% of champ finals this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. A clear in top 10 of Olympia qualifier</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. A clear in top 10% of Crufts singles (actually we may have done this week as there were other 300 dogs in the class so 30th place would have given us that)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other things I am working on around shows is doing all the classes I have entered. I often just focus on the 'important' ones and miss the tannoy announcements for the others as my brain isn't focussed enough on them. Next year when I have Pikachu to run I will need my wits about me to get her classes in too. The other one is embracing the number of foot steps I do at a show as I am working on 10k a day average in a belief that it assists me with keeping my weight down :)</span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-32095966072346283702016-03-18T08:21:00.002-07:002016-03-18T08:21:42.937-07:00Pikachu Bascis<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well Pikachu came into our lives when there was a massive gap left in our hearts when we l</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">ost Oddjob. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oddjob was our lovely pug who came into our lives and sadly left far too soon. He introduced to us the joys of small dogs. He was funny and cuddly and enjoyed attention.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5F8o6ahfsKK8-AAV6Qs3V6XD1ViYyjADXq59T80cfGGcIwwGvw2W251QEP4wH6j7akYhPo3qwcEIHfmhVri7Q9RXUtdYoVWbc2i3g7sirruXYwVaLXj_pPaQEpAajM_osR0BbGirTa7k/s1600/IMG_4721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5F8o6ahfsKK8-AAV6Qs3V6XD1ViYyjADXq59T80cfGGcIwwGvw2W251QEP4wH6j7akYhPo3qwcEIHfmhVri7Q9RXUtdYoVWbc2i3g7sirruXYwVaLXj_pPaQEpAajM_osR0BbGirTa7k/s200/IMG_4721.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufqVICwQzsvG_EmxNLJfVTwqLk7oF_XtRDbHYvGmbaDoMaZFWlyTThTmOF-MpH8_SHwRnahIUbMnFpZk41nyWNdGsjIRMuAP2NQU7yoR-WyaVL9xzQDb8rACFpydUvHP5-K_3JsT24OA/s1600/IMG_0539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufqVICwQzsvG_EmxNLJfVTwqLk7oF_XtRDbHYvGmbaDoMaZFWlyTThTmOF-MpH8_SHwRnahIUbMnFpZk41nyWNdGsjIRMuAP2NQU7yoR-WyaVL9xzQDb8rACFpydUvHP5-K_3JsT24OA/s200/IMG_0539.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pikachu is half pug by blood but probably only 1/10 pug in body and mind. The rest of her is terrier or possibly even part BC by now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The tiny, cute little puppy has developed into a full on 7 month old who wants to be running, climbing, playing and learning.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY0s4IteCP-RtyYLKUzfd2AYpyedilkDmZ_WZjS_qi2AJmY0d1thA6qFfc4bMiMJV92V8pSbhWcRHT1Ooc5GQgcnWKOAajbD7IaEgSokOaTSmZuD_oFstIqNPQJynH0FBbV6cvlvsoYE/s1600/IMG_5112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY0s4IteCP-RtyYLKUzfd2AYpyedilkDmZ_WZjS_qi2AJmY0d1thA6qFfc4bMiMJV92V8pSbhWcRHT1Ooc5GQgcnWKOAajbD7IaEgSokOaTSmZuD_oFstIqNPQJynH0FBbV6cvlvsoYE/s320/IMG_5112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We now are realising that she is probably going to be an agility dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">There are certain basics that we like our agility dog to have -</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the right conformation for their body to cope with the physical challenges the sport of agility presents to them </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the want to play and learn</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">understanding of reinforcement</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The understanding of reinforcement is important. If they understand and want the reward enough when you are teaching them something new they know they have got it right because they are rewarded for it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If they do not understand or want the reward given then a skill can not be created by positive reinforcement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Learn to earn is a phrase used to explain a relationship where the handler sets the scene to help the dog want to earn rewards. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Pikachu's case she loves food and she loves treats and she wants to work to find out a way of earning them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We love crate games as a way of helping our dogs to understand and build self control. If you stay in the crate when the door is open then you will get a reward at the back of the crate. If you come out of the crate then no reward. Easy to do and easy to understand. Then we up the challenges.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Below are some clips of various training I have been doing with Pikachu they vary from crate training, it's your choice, ready steady go to putting her harness or a coat on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She has a great attitude with loads of enthusiasm and genuinely tries to work out what I want from her. I am looking forward to building on these foundations and seeing what a great agility dog she is going to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I regularly liken trying to put her coat or harness on as wrestling with a greased pig. I looked at some footage of greased hog wrestling and decided the hog was not as happy about it as Pikachu is with any interaction so haven't included a clip of that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Spending time teaching her the behaviour I would like when coat or harness needs to go on/off.</span><br />
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Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-68329819238818830012016-02-11T05:03:00.003-08:002016-02-11T05:07:17.019-08:00Don't judge me<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well after a few years in agility as an instructor and competitor I have decided to add judging to my agility experiences.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark has always judged and I spent many years either scriming for him, helping manage the ring party, looking after kids and dogs, helping our club members etc etc.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vvwQbykSThTUYnMiECNv2LdHrdycOar90SUZTYWfO_Khw1bKSRnt7e8zG9DIpfNPiiLzZt6bmdCm_4kMW8fudIJZXln9B8_s7wNTd6lJaMM1KNCu81taBcQpJ3K7Oju7rVMBUk-z4aU/s1600/multitasking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vvwQbykSThTUYnMiECNv2LdHrdycOar90SUZTYWfO_Khw1bKSRnt7e8zG9DIpfNPiiLzZt6bmdCm_4kMW8fudIJZXln9B8_s7wNTd6lJaMM1KNCu81taBcQpJ3K7Oju7rVMBUk-z4aU/s200/multitasking.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We no longer run a club and Mark had less appointments for a couple of years and so I found myself at shows with some spare time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rhyme is now Grade 7 (did I mention has had his first champ class already) so at non champ shows I have less focus on running a dog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I judged at Scunthorpe unknowing that I should have taken the practical judges exam having taken a rules & regs course many moons ago when it first came in. The powers that be let me know that if I wanted to judge again I should really take the new practical judges course too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luckily Jackie Gardener was running a weekend seminar at Worcester just up the road from where an old friend of ours lives. I decided to do the rules and regulations again too but as Mark has judged loads he didn't need to do that part. He is going to apply to be a champ judge once he has sorted out his records of which shows he has judged at to display his experience. <i>If you know of a show he judged at please email me the show and date so we can find the schedule.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mark dropped me off and went to our friends for the day. <b>It was a great course</b>. I was glad that I chose to do it. My own agility focus had been on understanding courses and picking up on trends early in order to help my students get the most out of their dogs at shows. Now the boot was on the other foot and I needed to think about how my courses can test the dog's training.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzA4pZdBYJB94pg9XA7pHL-Q1mSfYF52OcduLBQkssj5FBWW72N-iI2WG_gcgj9zlD7bnXhnZZ4QDXZJC6qLMJaxD97GQChbnl2Ym8dZigeGT5v_eMncR1X39vK-EhuKTYbIjuaQEF9c/s1600/IMG_4654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzA4pZdBYJB94pg9XA7pHL-Q1mSfYF52OcduLBQkssj5FBWW72N-iI2WG_gcgj9zlD7bnXhnZZ4QDXZJC6qLMJaxD97GQChbnl2Ym8dZigeGT5v_eMncR1X39vK-EhuKTYbIjuaQEF9c/s320/IMG_4654.jpg" width="164" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are many things to consider. The main one is obviously safety. Another one is can I actually judge what I have set out for the number of dogs in the class. Having to run the length of the dog walk for a 30 dog class may be doable but if the class is over 100 that is not going to happen despite my fitness drive at the moment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I could go on but if you are wanting to know about these things from your own perspective then I would strongly advise going on a course even if you may not be wanting to judge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I do already have 2 appointments lined up and am a reserve judge too. With hindsight being a reserve judge is going to be really challenging if I get called up. I may design a few courses just to be on the safe side</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you think you'd like to enter a class I am
judging -<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.agilitynuts.co.uk/shows/kennel%20club%20shows.php"><span style="color: #420178;">Agility Nuts</span></a> 2 April and Thames (schedule
isn't out yet).<a href="http://www.agilitynuts.co.uk/shows/kennel%20club%20shows.php"><span style="color: #420178; text-decoration: none;">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have one other local appointment to be confirmed
so quite happy with that for my first year of judging.</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having so much experience as a competitor and instructor one thing that I hope my courses will do is develop dogs with simple "tests' in my courses. Sometimes the level of complexity was too much for what I wanted my young dogs to have to cope with. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the other hand I don't think they had enough experience of some of the lesser used pieces of equipment in the beginning. Now at Champ they are having to deal with complex sequences along with suddenly having to cope with the wall, the well , cloth tunnel and tyre. As these are considered valid pieces of equipment I think it is important that they are used. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we first moved here I found the roundabout at Newark a challenge and potentially it was dangerous. Anyone attending Nottingham Show will know the now I mean. Now with practice it is a doddle even though I am on alert as I know other people may find it difficult and I need to watch them too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Other friends will have experienced this.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBbdiPOdJFXUVwg3ug0Wa7FG7Fszq350WyqfFMp5O9EJPU9DOMW8wpJq9l5dNRFeBz1BJAukDeHCfqIBr0TxnBjmLFCjce1gT7NSIfsuxyNzDA8_fcaqKNjLiv1FuaZUzALnxh9lcOWg/s1600/Magic_Roundabout_Schild_db.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBbdiPOdJFXUVwg3ug0Wa7FG7Fszq350WyqfFMp5O9EJPU9DOMW8wpJq9l5dNRFeBz1BJAukDeHCfqIBr0TxnBjmLFCjce1gT7NSIfsuxyNzDA8_fcaqKNjLiv1FuaZUzALnxh9lcOWg/s320/Magic_Roundabout_Schild_db.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Likewise I think some of the obstacles need to be practiced much more than they currently are to ensure the dogs do know how to negotiate them properly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The more practiced they are the less likely an accident will happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With that thought in mind please try to get your club to put their tyre and/or cloth tunnel out to build your dog's understanding of them just in case they are in any of my courses ;)</span></div>
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Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-18301329572532377532016-02-05T10:41:00.003-08:002016-02-05T10:41:56.381-08:00Measuring and goal setting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1JyyZ8J_vTRZDRpKC2cDnSzOLmDESbDcBZ4Eo0VkS-OfcatGoBTQnBE_MOCRpQZdAWTklLhkmoOD3qf5K2p4pzdIUwyEQegs3rLEe1DPaKgh5RTJflA7sTyb2GRzD1Bi1HP5UxSDNsA/s1600/successmeasures-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1JyyZ8J_vTRZDRpKC2cDnSzOLmDESbDcBZ4Eo0VkS-OfcatGoBTQnBE_MOCRpQZdAWTklLhkmoOD3qf5K2p4pzdIUwyEQegs3rLEe1DPaKgh5RTJflA7sTyb2GRzD1Bi1HP5UxSDNsA/s320/successmeasures-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had an interesting weekend of measuring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In goal setting measuring is sometimes the hardest thing to do. Without a starting measure or idea of what you want the finishing measure to be then it is hard to know if you have reached your target.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had some ideas of the times of the top dogs on contacts etc which I used last year to time Rhyme in order to see if we would be competitive in the Championship classes. Last weekend I a real chance to see how we 'measured up" in his first Championship class.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We achieved one of my main goals for this year already by getting a clear in the jumping round. This then helped me set my next goal and gave me a figure of 2 seconds to work on over the course as a whole as we were 2 seconds off the top dogs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am greatly encouraged by that as 2 seconds is not really a lot and can be broken down into manageable pieces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me one of the reasons I am off the pace is that my fitness can be improved. Before Christmas myself and my neighbour got together to help each other lose weight. We meet once a week for a weigh in and to exercise. We are making good progress. I am confident that this will help with my agility times and watching my weight can be easily measured.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yrdPPQbQM2jpFuJx_ORwAbb6CBAVuKZAf99QonceAnuCAUqHcSSxoZGzro8OmZ31xJ3M6ComQUedBl9SdwdkuQT7BZacdNItZsEhnj5e6HciDdSvYBXwhhszQagJn5CXtL6CEy5uWCo/s1600/restaurants-second-clock-stop_watch-stopwatch-time_piece-grb120614_low.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yrdPPQbQM2jpFuJx_ORwAbb6CBAVuKZAf99QonceAnuCAUqHcSSxoZGzro8OmZ31xJ3M6ComQUedBl9SdwdkuQT7BZacdNItZsEhnj5e6HciDdSvYBXwhhszQagJn5CXtL6CEy5uWCo/s320/restaurants-second-clock-stop_watch-stopwatch-time_piece-grb120614_low.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mark and I will be looking at some of the other tests available to check and the assess any improvements to our fitness once we get another spare weekend. I will report back on that.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meanwhile something else we looked at was measuring our dogs height. This weekend we are both doing the judges practical. I am also doing the new rules and regs exam on Saturday. Mark is looking to be a Champ judge once he's jumped through the hoops and I'm just wanting to add judging to my agility experiences. I have 3 appointments booked for this year (provided I pass of course). We also thought that it may be good to become measurers.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having a relatively quiet day lined up we decided to practice measuring our own dogs. We measured first thing before breakfast, midday and after they had been fed in the afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moog - 545, 560, 551</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rhyme - 528, 540,550</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Devo - 523, 533, 515</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kodi - 491, 491, 496</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quite surprising results including that some were smaller straight after their food. The main thing to us that it is not an exact science.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Being able to stand to be measured is quite important especially the smaller wiggly ones like Pikachu. we do not want her to be stressed about agility and so I spent some time teaching her that the measure was a fun place to be. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Also I think we may stick to running our own dogs, judging, training and our other commitments for now and maybe come back to measuring next year :)</span></span></div>
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<br />Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-49422441363041749382016-01-28T08:33:00.001-08:002016-01-28T08:33:11.736-08:00Be more Pikachu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well Pikachu is nearly 6 months now and it seems like she has been with us forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She is always happy and always ready to get into mischief. Of course she doesn't know that climbing on the table is mischief, she doesn't know that getting under the gate is mischief, she doesn't know that climbing on agility equipment she hasn't been taught to do is mischief OR does she?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I often admire her positive and can do attitude and being so excited about the smallest things. Then I realised that these are traits I do luckily share.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My positive,if a little naive thoughts, about the changes the KC are making.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When something has to be done then I do usually find a way to get it done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I even still get excited about many things like Rhyme's first Champ class coming up this weekend, doing the judges course, competing at Crufts, training in a new environment with Rhyme, having new customers etc etc. Yes when it comes down to it I am more Pikachu than I first thought :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a few clips of how she is doing with some little training sessions we did this afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>UpAndOverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095707534961207379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-24745783992014926992016-01-22T05:54:00.001-08:002016-01-22T11:07:33.644-08:00Jump<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By coincidence the song Jump was playing on the radio as I start writing todays blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like everyone in the agility community my head is spinning with the press release about jump heights.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/743020/press_release_2016_agility_the_kennel_club_announce_the_introduction_lower_height_option_jumps_v8.pdf" target="_blank">Kennel Club Press Release</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I personally think it is a great step forward and a great way to get data for research to understand the impact of jump heights without completely changing things in a way there would be no way of going back from. Rather than the research being confined to a few scientists, everyone in the agility community will get first hand experiences - judges, competitors, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">show organisers </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Judges</b> - in some organisation elsewhere in the world of agility judges are key in making the rules. They are the people who watch agility more critically than most. To judge a class of dogs of the same measured height category competing for the same prize over the same course at different jumps heights will really help identify how lower jumps changes a courses dynamics. There will be some that understand these things that may even feel a challenge to produce a course that evens out the jump height in some way. I'm not an experience judge yet so it won't be me ;) There is a worry that lower jumps creating more speed would mean the dogs are hitting other obstacles quicker too and could cause more risk of injury. Judging the different options would illustrate if that is in fact the case and give opportunity to consider how course design might need to change if lower jumps become the norm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Show organisers</b> - wow, good luck is all I can say except that we may be underestimating these smart people who took going to 7 grades in their stride, organise changes to venues to cope with weather at the drop of the hat etc etc and really are the unsung heroes of agility. Without you there would be no agility competition so whilst quietly confident that you will make the best of this I also hope it isn't too challenging.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Competitors</b> - What fun this is going to be in looking at shows to enter, what classes to enter - so much choice. What a gamble if looking for wins to move up. If you know the class is split do you do lower height as you can go faster or the standard height as there may not be so many dogs to compete against. A minefield - game of minesweepers anyone? Strategy is going to be a key mental skill or maybe lady luck will just be busier. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhau-m7Ndw83gfAUMb7vJZrR5U6paCpny70_l2d1_UWr_fss_WpP_F3TRXz7xUm0Yx7VqcUCz6ZIpCn8CeSpQv0pg0elMH_-tI4Vy8iOeUYdB7L8oAGe79ZzvWU7nm3nmypVct9RRYmQ/s1600/Goodluck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhau-m7Ndw83gfAUMb7vJZrR5U6paCpny70_l2d1_UWr_fss_WpP_F3TRXz7xUm0Yx7VqcUCz6ZIpCn8CeSpQv0pg0elMH_-tI4Vy8iOeUYdB7L8oAGe79ZzvWU7nm3nmypVct9RRYmQ/s400/Goodluck.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There will be a call for people to be honest and as many have mentioned there may not be "fairness". IMO agility can never be looked at as all things being equal - dogs and people are all of different shape and personality. Not to mention age and sex, so no matter what rules changes there are, in a competition there will always be winners and losers. If you can not accept that then agility is never going to be a happy place for you to compete in. The top dogs and handlers will still get to the top.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Dogs</b> - Really this is the most important category. This is really GREAT news for our dogs and their long term competitiveness. Not to mention their length of time being able to compete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moog is going to have a great start to agility being able to gain confidence at shows first at any size, then at the lower height and then move up to standard height as he progresses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even though our dogs are allowed to compete at 18 months many dogs get fitter and stronger as they mature and reach peak at 4 to 7 years old. So it makes sense to allow them the easier task of jumping lower until they move up the grades. It is a formula followed in the horse world where higher jumps and more complex hurdles are only introduced as the horse wins up through their 'grades'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pikachu was tiny as a pup but has grown into her large personality to the extent that she might even end up as medium. A medium dog with Jack Russell legs and a Pug body would possibly have a short competition time as weight to height would worry me. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We did not get her as an agility dog but she has her own agenda! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With this new looking schedule then we will be able compete at the lower height. We are competitive people deep down so just running at Anysize may not have given us the motivation to train her the same etc. This is all a lot of ifs as she is only 6 months but illustrates to me the differences this rule could make to her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am sure there are a lot of handlers with dogs like her that are now going to be able to enjoy competing more with dogs that weren't a perfect fit height wise before.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So as Van Halen says - </span><a href="https://youtu.be/poRhfeCcmKk" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jump</a></div>
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Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-61854508806910987252016-01-19T13:10:00.000-08:002016-01-19T13:12:23.986-08:00Getting Things Done<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well hello again :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So much to be able to blog about too. Just need to remember to do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We decided our webpage wasn't the window we wanted it to be and there was no joy in trying to keep it up dated, with Twitter and Facebook being so handy and quick for keeping things current.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I used to get a lot from blogging and looking back it create a good place for me to take stock of things around me, to fine tune my thoughts along with my training and sometimes just to have a good old boast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Todays blog is the latter I'm afraid. It is also a little cryptic which I personally hate in a blog but sometimes that is just the way things are best to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My boast is that I am very proud of my husband.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now many of you know that anyway, it's not news and most people are pleased with their partners. It doesn't hurt though to value the good things in your life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He is not generally known for his patience. He is however well known for always looking for improvements (and I can confirm he is ALWAYS looking for improvement in <u>everything</u>).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Occasionally in order to make an improvement patience and perseverance and continually assessing things are the only way forward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So yes, sometimes it is difficult when one of his projects takes up our weekend, interrupts our holiday and giving up seems the easy path. Then something happens that makes it all worthwhile and in a way that will probably just pass by without a stir and only we know how long it's taken. And thats a good thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hopefully this improvement will move things forward and will not need further time and patience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know there will be other projects that will spill over to our time in order to be done the best way and it makes me proud.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115632366140066836.post-67023348178946972162015-01-06T09:39:00.000-08:002015-01-06T09:40:48.797-08:00A Year in TOPS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TOPS is my abbreviation for our house name The Old Potting Shed (lovely but a bit long winded)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we like working hard at doing better with the things we do and it was only found after at least 2 other attempts at house buying I think it is a suitable acronym.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have just read my last couple of blogs about Oddjob. Losing him, Tim and Flint were parts of the year that will always make us think of 2014 with sadness. Flint and Tim are a part of who we are as they were such a big part of our lives for some many great memories. Sadly </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oddjob it is a different kind of missing - missing the chance to make such memories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other than the awfulness of these losses we have settled very well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">UpAndOver has more than survived our departure and has very quickly become a fully fledged club maintaining the same level of professionalism and the warmth that we enjoyed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michael is settled in Australia and is a head chef in a new restaurant there. He'll be home in the summer if he gets sponsorship as he will then move over there permanently so will need to sort all his things out. It's great he is doing something he loves. Great to future holidays for us too :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amy has got engaged and we had a lovely family day out to celebrate. Typically I took more pictures of her with her dog that I did with Faron.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack is also enjoying his job in recruitment and we met his girlfriend too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Work wise Mark is managing to reduce some travel and has less nights away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apart from a few blips the GB managers job is going in the right direction. Gaining a Team medal at FCI AWC was above expectations and has set the standard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have changed the Inner Agility seminar about a bit so I can help a lot more and our weekends are full.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going to the states to do a seminar was a big highlight. We flew into New York and although it is not anywhere I had thought I wanted to go it was incredible. So inspiring the vision of the planners and builders to create buildings so high. We then went to Vermont where nature showed what beautiful things she was capable of. Staying at the family Von Trapp lodge and meeting Lyn Von Trapp gave other insights into human nature. It's an incredible story that is not as fairy tale as "the Sound of Music" but equally amazing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt56RmdoEdfG3WnVT6WJ6adgITkVA70weaSajjwMmvcH2T4U9GLGVK0_ZlhY0Z2X1JC31aT-XjhHDAwT4kmYD1YOe7V_W7cNioOGJcA0YM1thrML_3gk2IN3aj7GY1PAYpgq62RAL3Pf8/s1600/NewYorkSkyline2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt56RmdoEdfG3WnVT6WJ6adgITkVA70weaSajjwMmvcH2T4U9GLGVK0_ZlhY0Z2X1JC31aT-XjhHDAwT4kmYD1YOe7V_W7cNioOGJcA0YM1thrML_3gk2IN3aj7GY1PAYpgq62RAL3Pf8/s1600/NewYorkSkyline2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Agility lesson wise I have missed all my old customers. I have had some great people come for lessons to help with coaching especially when they have had a dip in confidence. They have gone on to great things and I am proud of having helped them with their journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also have a few regulars that have very quickly become friends. It is great to note that they have all moved up grades too. Individual lessons are a good opportunity to focus on what really matters to that partnership and I'm lucky to be able to watch these partnerships continue to grow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I have managed to not mention yet is the big success Wag & Tone has become. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uYUfen-_5SxhRnQfoukJwj6MLD1jXyFG9g69Kxg5aOPM9jM-Mb3J8J9A-dNm8Yt02jxpEiuFno_ekKxNzp-xFRiKIr8KNI8d5jTZIyN2G-Y8IcG4XUHZdXCPYDhSPAifbvf3mXbvWxc/s1600/wagtonecover4web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uYUfen-_5SxhRnQfoukJwj6MLD1jXyFG9g69Kxg5aOPM9jM-Mb3J8J9A-dNm8Yt02jxpEiuFno_ekKxNzp-xFRiKIr8KNI8d5jTZIyN2G-Y8IcG4XUHZdXCPYDhSPAifbvf3mXbvWxc/s1600/wagtonecover4web.jpg" height="200" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oUfmWC3ZT5bqXd1f75B0CWinD-7Pc_kkzi_XQLWilI4_Ke3QWvXr85ts5pAgx_z8tW5KIwttqMJSv0Vu3X4ZtlPRYmK-NPRe6NBm7eImH_KE8Jp-QrK5arXrQgtDyBID_Hs__zS0Lmw/s1600/GPF+Award+rosette+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oUfmWC3ZT5bqXd1f75B0CWinD-7Pc_kkzi_XQLWilI4_Ke3QWvXr85ts5pAgx_z8tW5KIwttqMJSv0Vu3X4ZtlPRYmK-NPRe6NBm7eImH_KE8Jp-QrK5arXrQgtDyBID_Hs__zS0Lmw/s1600/GPF+Award+rosette+image.jpg" height="200" width="156" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a lovely weekly class - again a great group of people and dogs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On top of that we were asked up to London to help the Kennel Club do their Get Fit with Fido exercises, we featured in Your Dogs and we have now been awarded the Pet Food Manufacturers Get Pets Fit Award :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We already know more people in our village than we did in Grateley and we are looking forward to getting to know them better too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crikey I have managed a whole blog of not mentioning Rhyme - that won't do :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can I say except that we have done well at the few shows we actually got to concentrate on. The highlight for me being qualifying for the Novice Cup Final at KCAI. That also then became a low point with him doing the dog walk so fast he fell off and me losing concentration so eliminating him instead of carrying on. He hadn't hurt himself and was over halfway so it would only have been 5 faults. He subsequently won up to Grade 6 the following day so next year we have to do well in the British Open instead.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXsHhbVnBGxUfbgkUMoahRRVjzrEAJhURvW7tMaDlEX56-BgHIk5JjV6nuVBmpFOOYgHAHHPhLdChz6zk8B6QPa2DTGo0ccWRQTtW7WR7o-2YHo4FMC0wokAmsnrcd4_KKNq4WBKQxAk/s1600/IMG_1527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXsHhbVnBGxUfbgkUMoahRRVjzrEAJhURvW7tMaDlEX56-BgHIk5JjV6nuVBmpFOOYgHAHHPhLdChz6zk8B6QPa2DTGo0ccWRQTtW7WR7o-2YHo4FMC0wokAmsnrcd4_KKNq4WBKQxAk/s1600/IMG_1527.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite not wanting to get to Grade 6 (what was I thinking of?) we love it. No thoughts of not wanting to do well (I had wanted to stay in Grade 5 for Novice Cup and Novice Olympia) so we are just running each class as it comes. With Rhyme it comes (and goes) very quickly and I am looking forward to moving upwards and working on anything that seems to stop us from gaining top places. It is most often the timing of my handling and I am confident that we will get up to speed throughout the spring/summer.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimD1WDcGGoHO63v0MIdv5uqosSWVNqTouc2iWc0paKILSqOrbEQzz6vJUBf2WXWEsy_8wQdA-p8fJ1V8FPnIBX4np_TofKtAcqKQEcCKy5_MxGzU9FNyHKxQVY6J1oje-uEB8qtrLsRsQ/s1600/4thJulyFireworkselfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimD1WDcGGoHO63v0MIdv5uqosSWVNqTouc2iWc0paKILSqOrbEQzz6vJUBf2WXWEsy_8wQdA-p8fJ1V8FPnIBX4np_TofKtAcqKQEcCKy5_MxGzU9FNyHKxQVY6J1oje-uEB8qtrLsRsQ/s1600/4thJulyFireworkselfie.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok thats it for last year - my next blog will be about goals etc for 2015.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goal one will be to write a blog regularly :) </span><br />
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Karen Lakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649754591094322821noreply@blogger.com0