Comment

Comment by Judith Andre on January 18, 2014 at 11:52pm

I would agree that the 4 on the floor isn'r probably the best on the body.  I think the key to that would be to give them a few steps out from the dog walk before you ask them to stop.  I will never have anything but a running dog walk at this point.  I have found that if I can get up very slightly in front of him and turn into him that can work to slow him down.  The trick is to get there in time...doesn't usually happen.  A friend of mine had one of the dog minders and didn't like it.  Not sure why.  I've never tried one. 

Comment by Bax & Zigs & Rosie on January 18, 2014 at 10:16pm

I think the key to the running dogwalk is training for lots of paws in the contact zone. It's hard though because once they get going they can fly off! I heard of four on the floor, but it still requires them to come to a stop as they are coming off a contact. If they don't slow down, they'd be coming to an abrupt stop to get the four on the floor. Better for the shoulders so they aren't at an angle, but I could imagine the process to get it would have the same stopping motions as 2o/2o. I just got a Manners Minder, a remote control treat dispenser. It's a lot of fun and really helpful for teaching running contacts.

Comment by Marcie on January 18, 2014 at 8:29pm

Becca is the only dog in class with a running contact. Occasionally she will miss her contact on the dog walk, but is solid on the a-frame. I wondered about her back and 2o2o with the aflame.

Comment by Judith Andre on January 18, 2014 at 8:04pm

We learned with running contacts.  Not too long after that almost everybody around here started doing 2 on 2 off.  I have continued with the running contacts figuring 2o2o is a lot of pry on a Corgi's little body.  Now some people are doing 4 on the floor which seems to make a lot of sense.  I haven't quite convinced Murray that is a good idea unless I use a target...can't do that in the ring!  The only contact he ever misses is the dog walk on occasion and I would love to get more control on that.  He's a stubborn speed freak and I'm a fat old lady so it would be nice.  Some of the best advice I had from an instructor when I was having a hard time getting in the position I wanted to be was to not mentally defeat myself, but rather to think I can and go all out to do it.  That helps a lot..having the confidence to think you can be there...otherwise you slow yourself down.  I know that's a little off topic, but applies when you're trying to keep up with them on the dog walk etc.

Comment by Bax & Zigs & Rosie on January 18, 2014 at 8:01pm

I've taught mine a couple of distance cues to flip into tunnels when coming down the aframe. Now dogwalks are another story! =)

Comment by Marcie on January 18, 2014 at 7:52pm

I run with her, but if there is a tunnel under the a-frame she beats me, or I nearly kill myself getting there.

Comment by Bax & Zigs & Rosie on January 18, 2014 at 7:29pm

In the beginning, we had a nice 2o/2o on the dog walk and a-frame. The a-frame is so hard on their shoulders, so we went to running on that. I switched to running on the dogwalk because Baxter would -never- give me a 2o/2o in the ring. Running has been a lot better for us I think. I am now teaching run all the way up the teeter for a 4on with a hold until release. We went through a running teeter and a 2o/2o for the teeter, but both ways still lead to a pop up hitting them in the belly or the teeter jerking up that I think could strain their back legs as they try to hold it down. I run with my dogs, so I don't really need the pause. Not to say I wouldn't enjoy one on some courses. ;) Always do what feels most comfortable for you and your dog. If you don't agree with a trainer's method, don't be afraid to tell them if something isn't going to work for you.

Comment by Jenny, Tucker, & Zoey on January 18, 2014 at 7:05pm

2-on-2-off for dog walk and teeter... running a-frame here :)

Comment by Marcie on January 18, 2014 at 6:29pm

Do you all use two on two off on contacts or a running transition? Becca has a great running transition, but my new instructor would like a pause for control.

Comment by Marcie on November 13, 2013 at 7:17pm

I think maybe we are both ready for a break. We are doing two classes a week, agility and rally. I have a 30min drive each way. It is a dark and twisty route. An instructor I would love to learn from may do a class first of the year. The break just seems to make sense. But who knows maybe she will do great this weekend and cause me to second guess myself again.

Taking a break will also give me more time to work on Becca's poo addiction.

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