I also watched a lot of WTT. Wow, some of those courses were tough. I watched a lot of great people not be perfect. And they are normally perfect run people. I felt bad for them. It was stressful for me to watch. Wanting them to do well so badly and one little thing went wrong. Ugh! Sunday seemed to go better for everyone. Lots of very competitive times and perfect runs. Very exciting.
I took the dogs to the park early so I could watch more of the WTT this morning. The weird thing was, while we were on the way back, something was in the woods. Something big and I was thinking it was just a deer. I couldnt really see it with all the dense brush. Miley started growling and Guiness barking. I decided to just keep going. We were close to the parking lot. Then Miley started freaking out. Acting really scared. She didnt want to keep walking. I picked her up and tried to carry her and I almost dropped her because she was trying to get away from what ever was in the woods. Now I was scared. We've seen lots of animals in the woods, deer, rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, and that bobcat. She has never acted like this. We finally made it to the parking lot. And she calmed down. I dont know what was in the woods but what ever it was, Miley didnt like it.
Later today I took a lesson with Meagan. I wanted to work on planning out my run because I think that is my weakness.
We did another course but I cant remember it. Then we ran this one.
On this course Meagan had me be the dog and she would run my plan. Wow, I could really see why what I was planning wasnt good. It didnt show my dog the correct line. Like after #8 , I was planning to pull her over nine and then RC. But when she had me sit at the bottom of the aframe, I could see that Miley would see the weaves and could go off course. Then she FC after the a-frame. It now showed me just the jump. I knew exactly where I was going. Also after the teeter I was planning to FC and run on the left side of the jumps #17-19. Again she had me at the bottom of the teeter. What is showed the dog was the #17 jump but you couldnt see #18 or #19. But if you ran the right side of the jumps, you saw all three jumps and there was no question. Wow, what an eye opener!!
12 comments:
You got a lot out of your lesson with Meagan! It is so cool that she had you be the dog.
Only one explanation for Miley's freak-out at the park - dead people - LOL!
I know they always say to walk the path of the dog...but that is my weakness. It would be so cool to be able to run some of those tryout courses ;-)
Gee, wonder what the heck was in the woods!
Those were some tricky courses.
they looked like they had a wonderful time in the park - even without the practice
It sounds a bit scary in the woods! So glad that you're all safe and sound.
I am jealous that you can take stuff out to the park to practice. I wish we are allow here. I want to practice so much but my garden is so limited :(
Gosh! I wonder what is in the wood that scared Miley off???
Thanks for sharing the course, it gave me something to practice too :)
What an interesting post. I think I would have FC'd the teeter too (like you did).
I was freaked out just READING about the monster in the park! Prior to that I was going to say she looked so happy to be running there!
What a great idea for you to be the dog...amazing how different it must look for the dog part of the team!
Whenever you write about your lessons with Megan it sounds so fun and productive. Very cool that she's helping you see the course from Miley's eyes. :-)
Glad to hear you had a good lesson. The park you all walk in is beautiful!
Wow, it always sounds like you learn so much from Megan!
In my agility classes we play a game where one person is the handler and the other person is the dog. The "dogs" all go somewhere they can't see the "handlers" and after the handlers decide on a handling plan, I pick up the numbers and call one "dog" at a time to run the course. The handler is only allowed to use "ok" as a startline release and the dog's name (as well as the obstacle name or "jump")no directionals, no "here!" no clapping,etc. Obviously the "dog" doesn't actually jump over the jumps or go through the tunnels. They run the outside of tunnels or the contacts/poles if we're using them and run through the jump standards.
After everyone has run the course the dogs get to give feedback to their handlers. They tell them if and when they knew where they were going and what worked or didn't work. Most of my students are amazed at how much insight this gives them as to what our dogs have to put up with from our handling choices and they seem to "get" why I keep saying that their dogs need to get the information earlier.
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