We have Table!!!!

We to a USDAA agility trial on Saturday.  I was going to go down Friday night but was to tried after work. So we got up a 4:30 and and left by 5:30.  The email I got last week from the secretary said that the judges briefing was at 8:00am and the first dog on the line was 8:15.  We got there at 7:45 and they just finished the Masters gamblers briefing. Normally briefings aren that big a deal but with USDAA gamblers they can have different rules depending on what the judge wants. I went to one trial and did three days of gamblers and everyday they had different rules. I cant remember all the rules but for instance back to back contacts are allowed or not.  Stuff like that. In this run if you did the serpentine you got 5 points and you had to start at a specific jump. (someone told me that stuff when I started asking people).  So I was not in the best frame of mind and posted on facebook that I was upset. So I think I ticked off some people at the trial for posting it on facebook. Which got me thinking about something my mom use to say to me when I was a kid. She use to say, "Why do you always have to be the town newspaper?"  My mouth got me in trouble a lot. LOL  Anyway because I didnt have the right attitude, I didnt really walk the course as much as I usually do. And I only timed myself once. So I thought I had a plan that as soon as she finished the weaves, we could do the gamble. When you watch the video, you will see my timing was way off. And they if Miley thinks I dont know what Im doing, she gets the zoomies. So my attitude only hurt me (how old am I??). Ugh.

Speedjumping was last but I didnt want to do to many edit videos so I put it here. It was really hot at the trial. It was 88 degrees and mostly sunny. All the dogs were hot. Lots of dogs dropping lots of bars. For some reason I was feeling really nauseous. Maybe I didnt drink enough.  I just wanted to get into air conditioning. So I decided after this course we would go home. I debated what to do on this course.

I had planned to run to the left of the first 3 jumps to keep Miley off the #18 jump. I felt like if I was to the right, she might take that tunnel under the A-frame. But no dogs in front of me did that, so I changed my plan and ran on the right side. Lots of dogs went off course after #10, and took #2. I managed to get Miley through that but my front cross was badly placed and cued the a-frame after #12, instead of the tunnel. Ugh, then because I stopped moving, she knew that was wrong and got the zoomies. I never got her back. Man, Ive got to  stop, stopping on course. It makes her freak out.  We could have really done well on this course if it werent for me.

Now back on track. Second up was starters standard. I figured she would never get on the table. I told my husband not to video, just take so regular pictures with my camera. This should have been an easy course for us.

I didnt even decided to put her on the table until the last second. And she got on!!  Like she had been doing it her whole life.

I have no idea why she decided it was ok to get on the table. But she just got on and laid down. I wanted to jump up and down and start screaming.  I wanted to run around the ring like she had  just gotten her MACH. When we were done running the course and I left the ring, people were just sitting around talking and reading. I thought to my , "OMG, didnt you just see what happened???  My dog, yes Miley, got on the table.Whats wrong with you people?".  LOL , you know its all about me. 

So I was excited, I didnt know if I should run out and reward or just keep running. I decided to keep running. To bad I did another bad front cross in front of the weaves, and blocked her. So she went in the second pole. We just kept going. I didnt want to cause any zoomines after all her perfection on dogwalks, a-frames and tables!!!!

Next was Grand Prix.

I debated what to do until I got to the line on going from #4 to #5. I was planning on being to her left when she came out of the tunnel. But once again, no one was doing that. So I changed my plan and was to her right when she came out and then RC the weaves.




Hey we Qed and got a bye to run regionals. ( it was a small trial).

I didnt stay for snooker. It was just to hot in the afternoon and I was feeling so sick to my stomach. It took about 40 minutes to feel better once in the car. We went to the beach. Well, first the condo and then the beach.

And look, Java did a down-stay. I had to get back a good bit because I had the telephoto lens on. And she stayed. Whoohoo!!

I have lots more pictures and dolphin pictures. I load in the next couple of days.

AKC trial

I went to a 4 day AKC trial in North Carolina. I only entered two days.  Friday was the first time in my agility career that I was entered in an AKC excellent standard course.  So my plan was to stay wide on the contacts but the contacts where all bunched together so it was impossible.

It probably doesnt looked bunched together from the photo but it felt it especially with the judge there. O'well it is what it is.  So our run was horrible.

We got one through 6 fine. Then for some weird reason she went around 7. Jumped her a frame contact, jumped the DW and even though I was front crossing between 11 and 12, she went straight off course thur the tire. Then she was all over the place taking jumps, jumped on and off the table came around and got on the table and laid down. It was a nice table and I tried to really reward it. She popped out of the weaves which is really weird for her. Then finished fine. So the beginning and the end were nice, the middle was a horrible mess.  Im not showing the video because its just to horrible to post for everyone to see. LOL There was a good thing. She didnt do that stressed out , running around the ring like your ass is on fire. So that was a big positive.

I think Miley just had to much energy. I didnt play ball with her outside before her run. She didnt get exercised on Wednesday or Thursday because of work, rain and Roxy being sick. (Roxy is better now). I walked her some around the fields and down by this pond. But her and Java didnt do there usual racing and burning off energy. I thought I would try to take some cute pictures out by this farm equipment that was laying out.

I didnt like how the picture turned out and was getting ready to move the dogs , when I looked down because something was stinging my ankle. OMG, my tennis shoe was covered in fire ants. Ive never seen so many fire ants. I move the dogs, thank goodness they didnt get bit, and pulled my shoes and socks off. I started killing the ants on me. Then they started biting my hands and arms. If I had an extra pair of tennis shoes with me, I would have left my shoes there. I finally did kill all the ants on me and my shoes and socks.  I really didnt get to may bites. Only maybe 10.  So much for picture taking.

Next up was Ex. Jumpers.

I really worried about that line from 10 -14. You had to be able to beat your dog down the line and push them to get #13. It turned out that wouldnt be my problem at all. LOL  I have no idea why Miley did this but after taking 5 she went straight ahead to nothing.( I think I pushed into her line to soon) I guess I didnt cue the jump. Then in the ending I was going to RC on the flat between 18 and 19. I was late and to far over. She thought we were going straight and we just miss crashing into each other. Ugh!!



On Saturday I didnt have to run until about 12noon. So I had plaenty of time to walk the dogs and brun off Miley's energy. I went to the park. It might be called Whitewater park, Not sure. Its was the US Olympic Whitewater training center. Very cool park. They have lots of trials and dogs are allowed. But the trials were closed due to to much rain. But I could still walk the dogs around the lakes. Great place for dog pictures too. Its where the top photo was taken.

Zip lines

White water rafting.

Ropes course.

Rock climbing.


And some kind of floating on a raft to  ride the rapids.

 
Im going to go walk the dogs. I post Saturdays stuff later.

Hey Lucy!

Well if you are on facebook you already know how my standard run went on Sunday.   It was our first run. I wasnt nervous.  Im not sure why Miley did what she did.  It started with tire to the dogwalk.   She jumped the dogwalk contact and took the wrong tunnel entrance. OMG , I was so defeated when that happened.  I wasnt expecting her to get on the table but she just acted like I hadnt trained her at all. What the heck???  Then she jumped the a-frame contact, popped out of the weave poles and jumped on and off the table. Did a big circle around the ring and then got on the table.  After that, she was perfect. LOL, the only contact she didnt jump was the teeter. That one was perfect.  So as we were driving home that day I started thinking, running Miley sometimes is like being Charlie Brown and playing football with Lucy.  Sometimes she just pulls the ball out from under you.   And thats exactly what it felt like.  I take what Miley does way to personally.  And I just need to remember that sometimes she is just going to act crazy and just remember that is Miley. 
Both my walk thurs were at the same time.  So I decided to just concentrate on Standard. I only walked jumpers a few times. There were only 6 dogs in open standard so there wasnt much time to worry about jumpers.  It was only a few minutes from standard to jumpers. I just wasnt sure my head was in the game after that crappy standard run.   So here is our run.



I thought maybe I left the poles to early in standard so I  made sure I didnt do that here but she still pulled out.  Ugh. We were so close but yet so far. LOL  I didnt stay for T2B or FAST.  I was just over the whole thing.   Plus my son was with us at the beach and needed to get back to college and I still had to clean the condo.  So leaving wasnt a bad thing. 
So what do I think happened.  With the weave poles, Ive only been practicing 6 poles at home to work entrances.  The last two or three classes we've had its been raining or wet and I didnt want to run weave poles.  So we have done no 12 since our trial 3 weeks ago.  Really I havnt had a full run anywhere except at trials since August.  Most of Sept. she didnt do anything because of the glass in her foot.  Then here its been raining a lot so its been hard to fine dry time to practice expect in my yard.  The new field for the club is suppose to be ready this weekend.  Weve had no place to practice since April.  So maybe she just isnt getting enough practice. Some other things which Im not sure make  a difference or not.  Saturday Miley and Java ran on the beach for a long time.  Im mean a really long time.  I remember thinking that maybe it was to much.  I guess not.  Then Sunday, I had to be at the trial earlier.  The dogs didnt run as much.  Java seemed tired and didnt want to run as much.  She walked weired up the steps.  The night before I checked all her pads because she also walked weird up the steps.  Now it was worse.   When we go to the condo I checked her again. OMG, there was a huge sand spur stuck under her arm.  I dont know how this dog was walking at all. I felt terrible.  I had to hold her down and my husband had to cut it out.  (I was thinking  this would have taken Miley over the edge. Good thing it wasnt her)  She had two more sand spurs . One in her neck and the other over her groin area. Poor dog. Ive never seen sand spurs this big.  I dont know how she got them.  
Anyway maybe Miley needed more "burning off energy" time.  I didnt throw the ball before going in the ring either.  Saturday I also worked Java  before going in the ring with Miley.  The last thing that was different, and I cant imagine this was anything at all. I went next to the ring , before the b-match, the table was right next to the ring gating. I touched the table, said table and when she looked at the table I would say "yes" and give her a cookie.

I took lots of pictures but Im running out of time. So Ill have to post them later.

Success

Went to a trial this weekend.  We had a great day.   I would love to load some of the pictures I took of the dogs on the beach but the Internet is acting weird and I cant.  Sad.   Anyway, I only entered Exc JWW and T2B.   I also wanted to do the b-match to work on Miley's table.   We didnt Q in JWW or T2B.  In T2B we were the fastest but she dropped a bar. Ugh.  In JWW I again worried about sending her off course and over handled it. I caused a refusal.  She was coming out of the tunnel and there was a discrimination between the weaves and a jump. I called her to me after the tunnel and then got a refusal into the weaves because she was unsure and came back to me. But otherwise great run.    So here is the exciting news.   We did the b-match and she got on the table all 4 times without a single problem.  I wanted to reward her , so I petted her.  You can see in the video how much she enjoyed the touching. LOL silly dog. 



Anyway, how exciting is that.  So she gets on the first time, and I almost fainted.  So I thought, put her thur the tunnel and try it again. See what happens.  She got on again. Whoohoo!!  The second run we made mistakes going to the table and she still got on. WOW!!!  Im so excited to see  if it continues tomorrow. So why do I think she got on? I have not idea.  I have been running Java to the table at home and making Miley sit in a crate an watch.  But Ive tried doing that with Guiness and it made no effect. But Guiness didnt come to trials. 

Even longer week

I cant believe I havent blogged all week.  Im really behind on reading blogs too.  And then some blogs arent letting me leave comments, very irritating.  So I just wrote a whole paragraph about whats been going on at work and how much stress its causing me. But I delete it. I dont want to get in any trouble so I guess I need to leave it at ,"Im stressed out".  I worked Miley (at agility) a little on Wednesday at a friends house.  We did easy stuff so I didnt have to think to much.
Then Thursday I went to the club. We are trying to clean up our practice agility equipment , so when the new field is ready , the  equipment will be ready. We pulled out all our jumps. They are about 12 years old and made of wood.  We went thur them to see what we needed to do to fix them. Pull the lattice off the wings. Most of the lattice is broken. The jumps were really wobbly.
 Friday, we took Stephanie to college.  She was very, very nervous.  I told her after we unloaded her stuff and got her books we would take her out to lunch.  She said, "Am I allowed to leave?".  LOL, I told her "yea it isnt jail".  This was to funny. I think she is so use to going to camps and stuff where you arent allowed to leave.  And they werent allowed to leave when they were in orientation.  But it was still funny.  Then at lunch  I said, let take bets on how long it will take for Stephanie to lock her keys in her room. I bet within 24 hours. (The doors are self closing) So then we take her back to her room to drop of her and the last of her stuff. We say goodbye. We leave and some girls come and knock on the door. We hear Stephanie open the door and step out of her room.  We are walking down the stairs and we  hear Stephanie say, "Oh crap. I locked my keys in my room". We just kept going, laughing all the way down the steps.  

On the way home we stopped a the hardware store and bought a bunch of lattice. Then my husband and son cut it all. Its to replace the lattice we removed from the old agility jumps at the club.

Then today we fixed and painted all the jumps. Tomorrow we will put all the lattice back on and hopefully be done.   At least we wont have those wobbly jumps anymore.

I worked on Mileys table some more today.  A friend of mine is at a trial and sent me a text. Her dog is having table issues. This is the third trial that the table has caused her not to "Q".  I feel bad. But we havent been training together, so I dont think is anything I have done. Its is weird though.

Here is some video of Miley's table work.  I usually put Guiness away because he will deter Miley from taking a jump or tunnel. She worries he is going to nail her. Well he did.  The reason I left him out was to use him as a distraction for getting on the table.  Hopefully I didnt make things worse.



Then this is Miley cooling off. Do you think she got wet enough?

Hey, Look, Agility

I was thinking today about something someone said to me at a trial in July.  We were talking about contacts. Her dog was going kinda slow over the contacts.. She said someone told her to put a tunnel at each end of the dogwalk and run her dog about 10 times. And not to do a 2o/2o  during those 10 times. It teaches your dog to race across the contacts.  Anyway, that got me thinking about the table today.  I dont know why, when I had the conversation  over a month ago.  I thought if I put a tunnel at each end with a table in the middle maybe it would create a lot of speed an she wont stop on the table. ( she stops on the table aways at home and I was just trying to get the excitement I have at a trial).  So here is what happened. Multiple times she would touch and go off the table, but only in that one direction.




She definitely was very excited.  So I worked until she finally hit that one she had been missing and then jackpot.  The other thing I was thinking was, I dont always practice tables. When we practice, I always do jumps and tunnels. Add contacts several times a week and weave poles.  But tables , only once in a while.  Hmmmm, not sure why Im doing that.  So Ive decided to train it just like I do jumping skills, contacts and weaves.  I dont know why this is just occurring to me. LOL

The Table or bust!

Well, I guess we busted.   That was my whole goal for the summer.  Try and fix Miley's table problem.  I really thought if she felt comfortable in the building and place where the trial was, she would get on the table.  I guess that wasnt it.  Now Im at a lost of what to do.  Maybe Im putting to much pressure on her and me to fix this problem.  But Ive tried ignoring it and that didnt work either.  Its just so disappointing.  Her contacts are beautiful , even her teeter is now fixed.   Maybe I do need to run someone elses dog to take the pressure off me and Miley. 

Sunday didnt start off to well. It started with excellent Jumpers.  We have run excellent jumpers 33 times ( I finally got up  the courage to go back and count them up) and no Q's.  Do you think there is something wrong with me?  What is the big deal? Why cant I run a stupid course?????

I had planned to FC after #8 but I stepped to far to support # 6 and then couldnt make that FC.  Well, looking back I should have gone for it but I didnt and she didnt take the jump.  She went around it but I was able to bring her around and get back on course.  Then we dropped the bar on #12 and I said the "d" word. Dropping a bar should not make you say the "d" word.  She went into the weaves and pulled out. What the  heck??  Then dropped another bar.  Ugh. I couldnt believe it.  I felt like we are a mess. I was disconnected from my dog after dropping that bar, thats where my mind stayed. Not good.



I just wanted to go home. What was I even doing here?  I decided to just go to the park, since it will be hours until our next run.  I stayed at the park for 2 hours and took 500 pictures of ducks.   I know, silly but I need to work on my camera skills.  I did much better with only a few dark pictures. 

( not ducks where touched by the dog during these pictures)

When I got back to the trial site I felt much better.  It was nice to not think about agility for a couple of hours.  Then I was sitting next to this lady.  She started talking about her dog. She runs a corgi.  She said, " I dont know why my dog is so pooky in the ring.  I know that  dogs pick up on your emotions and stuff but I love going to trials. I love being in the ring".  You know what I thought, "Really, why?".  I didnt say that. I just let her talk. But it got me thinking about my own feelings about being at a trial.  I dont "love" being at a trial.  Its feels stressful to me. All these people I dont know. What if they want to talk to me and I say something stupid or something that makes them mad. ( dont laugh,its happened to me and then people talk about me behind my back).  What if my dog gets in another dogs space by accident and they fight.  What if I break a rule, like having your dog ring side when no dogs were allowed ring side. Oops, I didnt know.  There is tons of waiting around.  I have to drive hours to get to a trial, stay in a nasty hotel and then at the end of the day when Im exhausted, I have to drive hours home.  So maybe that is my problem.  I dont "love " being at a trial.   I decided to just run my next run.  Enjoy the run for what it is. What ever happens , happens. (thunder and lighting started during open standard, ugh)

This felt like a great run.  In my mind it was wonderful. Miley was so excited at the end, spinning and barking. During the run it felt like she was reading my mind.  How could she make that weave pole entry and get in the correct tunnel entrance if she wasnt?  LOL  But after watching it on video, it doesnt look great at all.  Is it just because its me and Im watching myself?  Hmmmm.

It was a long drive home.  Driving thur pouring down rain.  I finally got out of it and then drove into another storm.  That one was worse.  You couldnt see, everyone slowed down to 20 mph and flashers on. People pulling over to the side of the road.  Thank goodness we got thur that too.   So happy to be home!!!!

Just one little thing

I ran three classes yesterday at the trial.  And one little thing kept us from Qing each run.  I think I have an AKC curse on me. LOL

The night before the trial I did a drop in class at the trial site.  I figured I practiced one more time getting on the table.  She had no problems and no stress. I felt pretty positive about her getting on the table.

Im not sure what to do able the table anymore.  Ive tried everything I can think of to fix it.  Im mean its the same building, same table same everything but its now a trial. Ugh!  So sad. We will never be able to go to AKC nationals or try to even get a MACH because she cant get on the table.  Such a shame because she is a great dog.  This kinda reminds me of the fly swatter at my house.  Evey time I pick it up to kill a fly, Miley runs out the doggie door.  I  have no idea why she is scared of the fly swatter.  Some how she has developed a scary association with it, just like the table. Silly dog.


Next up was jumpers.

That right corner was very tight.  I did a lead out front cross.  Which kept her off the jump right in front but then I was behind.  It doesnt look like it on the video but as she took #6 she was uncertain which way to go.  I was shocked when she went the right way but then she went wide around the broad jump.  (that was in class yesterday too, no problems).  Who would have thought that would have been a problem.  Its funny what people do to keep their dog on course. A good many people did a lead out all the way pass #3 and tried to do a call to heal, their dog still went off course. Weird.   What I wish I had done was a lead out, lateral send  and then FC #5-6.

 

Last up was T2B.  Everyone who says running their dog is not about the Q's, I dont think is being honest.  Because hardly anyone signed up for T2B. Everyone is trying to get their Q for their MACh.  And how many times have you heard, whats the point of running your second run if you didnt Q in the first run?  Wait, I thought is wasnt about the Q, it was about running with your dog and having fun, right?  So since there werent many people left, everyone running a little dog , worked the big dogs run and vise versa.   This course looks easy right?

This course was deceiving.  #5-6 looked like a straight shot when you walked it. I had planned to fc after the teeter to get her over #4.  Then I was going to run a straight line to the tunnel opening. But after watching a few dogs run and take the off course tunnel, I decided the only I could try was RC after #5 to try to get her in the right tunnel.  The next spot was after the weaves #11-12.  Again when you walked it , it was a straight shot into the tunnel.   But it wasnt, if you werent ahead of your dog, they took the teeter.   I had walked that two ways and went with a FC after the weaves and then RC the tunnel. I knew it would put me behind and hoped it wouldnt bite me.

That was so disappointing dropping the last bar. Ugh!!!  But the sand in the corners is really soft and I think she just didnt get the lift she was expecting when she jumped.  One thing in each run kept us from Qing. LOL

Well, this was depressing.

I decided to go through my trial journal to see when exactly  my table issue started.  It was really depressing seeing what went on.  Why didnt I do this sooner?  Why was I writing all this down if I wasnt going to read it? ( dont feel like you need to read this or comment. I really just did it for my own benefit)


09/27/08   1st trail(akc) ,   jumped on and off the table several times.
09/28/08   got on table
12/20/09   2nd trial(usdaa),  got on table
01/2409    3rd trail (akc)   didnt get on table.
01/25/09   got on table, took a long time to go into a down.
04/04/09  4th trial (akc)   got on table.  It was the only day I wrote stuff about the trial.
04/19/09   5th trial ( akc)  got on table.
05/30/09  6th trial (akc)   ran by table.
05/31/09   ran around table 4 times.
This next trial is when I realized I really had a problem.  wonder why I didnt notice it sooner?  It was already a problem. A big problem. Ugh!
07/02/09  7th trail (akc)  got on table without any problems.
07/03/09  I didnt write anything about the table being a problem. but got whistled off the course for training in ring.
09/19/09 8th trail. (akc)  jumped on and off the table, then circled me a lot.
09/20/09  wouldnt get on table.
09/25/09  GCOC trial,  This was our trial.I didnt write anything for the 3 days.
10/10/09  10th trial (akc).   did a great table.
10/11/09  No sure about the table on this run.
10/17/10 11th trial (akc)  I didnt write anything about the table
10/18/10  again didnt write anything about table
11/7/09 12th trial (akc)  jumped on and off table and circled me 3 time times
11/08/09  jumped on and off table I moved on .
12/30/09 13th trial,  I didnt put her on the table on this run
12/31/09 didnt put her on table
01/1/10  got on table on 2nd try.
01/22/10 14th trial.  (akc), wouldnt get on table, stress circling
01/23/10  didnt have her do the table
02/20/10 15th trial,  (akc)  didnt have her do the table
02/21/10  didnt have her do the table
02/27/10 16th trail (usdaa)  didnt do any runs with table
03/13/10  17th trail (akc)  Looks like I couldnt avoid. the table so she jumped on and off and we kept going
03/14/10  didnt have her do the table.
04/03/10 18th trial, Looks like I didnt enter standard
04/09/10 19th trial. didnt get on table.
04/11/10  didnt have her do the table.
04/24/10 20th trial ( usdaa) didnt do any runs with tables
05/01/10 21st trail. (akc)  didnt have her do the table
5/29/10  22dn trail (usdaa) didnt do any runs with tables
7/3/10 23rd trail. (akc) didnt get on table started circling.
7/16/10 24th trail (usdaa) ran standard.  Didnt try to get her on the table. Just had her come next to me, and sit right next to the table. That was no problem.

So out of all the runs that I have table information on, and ones that I attempted to get her on the table, 6 times she got on without any problems,  14 times showed some type of problem.  I went through my course maps to see if I wrote anything else down, when I didnt write it in the trial journal.  I just cant go through the video right now. Its to depressing.  When I start feeling more positive and feeling  like I cant tackle this problem again, Ill go through the video.

So lets see something happy and beautiful!

Today

You wouldnt believe what I had to go thur to get this picture loaded.  I seem to be having problems loading from my computer. Blogger keeps saying "security error".  Ive tried to google that but nothing that offers me any hlep came up.  So I had to reload my picturs thur Photoshop and save them and then load them to blogger. Ugh. Irritating.
I took today off. I was going to drive Stephanie to Atlanta for an  portfolio review with PRATT University.  But Ive just been so tired so my nice husband took her.   I stayed home. I wanted to do all this stuff but just didnt have the energy.  I did manage to take Miley to the field for a short training session.   We had issues which is to be expected.  Leaving the teeter early. I put her through the weaves a few time, she popped out early.  She dropped a couple of bars because she took off to early.  She just gets so excited and I know she thinks she will get there fast her she leaves earlier.  Silly dog.  Then the table. Ugh!  She is ok with the table when its at the beginning of the set up.   Then I ran her couple times with no table. Then I ended with the table and the problems showed up.  She would go off course to avoid the table. She would get close then turn off.  I then got the clicker out and worked just going to to the table.  I did manage to get her running back to the table.  I think that just putting  the table  at the beginning of the runs doesnt  really work on solving the problem. I think I need to put it in the middle of the runs so that it becomes as common placed as a jump.   It was weird when working with her. She was fine with the table and then all of a sudden, she wasnt.  I have no idea why.  I keep playing it over and over again in my head.  Nothing seemed different.  I wish I had been video taping.

  Someone said to me , "I bet you've cried a lot over Miley's table".  Funny, no I havent.  What does crying do?  Have I obsessed about it?   Sure. I have I been frustrated ? yep!  Will it ever get fixed?  I dont know but Im going to try to keep working on it.  Unless Miley becomes unhappy , then we my never do AKC again.  LOL

Table trouble

Everyone keeps asking me if I read the table article in this months "Clean Run".  Yes I did.  I tried to video tape her at a friends house where we taught a lesson on Saturday.  I should have made the video closer to be able to see more of her body languge.


She doesnt look like she is having any question about getting on the table. But if you see something let me know.  I think next time Ill set the camera up so its looking at her as she approaches the table.   Ive been setting her up so all sequences start with the table. I had  read an article that dogs that find running agility rewarding, making them start with the table, then reward them with running the course. That's the the reward for getting on the table.  I ended the sequence with the table to see if she would get back on. Ive also started clicking when she is running to the table instead of when she is getting on the table.  I dont know if any of this will make a difference.  The only positive I can think of from last weekend at the  B-match, was  she did get on the table.  In the pass, I  couldnt get her on at all after she started stress circling.

Here are some pictures from my hike yesterday and today.

Fixing table problems

I found a dvd that was put out by Agility in Motion. I dont know if you can still buy these videos. But they were really neat. Each video has several different teaching sessions on it. One dvd may have some clicker training, front crosses, course analysis, teaching the teeter ect. I think they made 13 or 14 different videos and I bought them in 2006 I think. Inside the case on "Contacts Bridging the Gap", I found one of these agility in motion videos. On this one at the bottom was "Table problems and how to fix them" by Rachel Sanders. So I watched it yesterday and today. Very interesting. She talks about a number of reasons why you maybe having table problems. It could be, positional ( dog cant get elbows down or needs be be taught to roll on to one hip in a down ), over handling, reinforcing inconsistent performance, delayed reinforcement ( no treats in the ring), Stalking behavior,and Excessive fixation on obstacles. There were more but I didnt write them all down and forwarded pass stuff I didnt think would apply to us. Things that may apply to Miley and I were delayed reinforcement ( no treats in the ring, stress is caused by not having food). People with this problem will usually practice downs and sits outside the ring waiting their turn. They are successful outside the ring because you have food and the dog is very focused on you because there isnt anything distracting them.( uh this is me. LoL) But once in the ring , there isnt any food and now there are a lot of obstacles for them to focus on. So they cant do it. To fix this one. You practice first sits and down without a table and no food on or near you. When the dog goes into position, they must stay, why you walk over to where your treats are and come back and reward the dog. Once they are doing this add the table back in. Then when you release them ,only release the position not the table. So they can stand if they were in a down. That way, the release isnt immediately off the table. Then release from the table. If a dog has excessive fixation on obstacles (Miley) you need to brake the chain for the release from the table to the obstacle. In training she releases the dog from the table, the dog has to first come to her and play and then she releases to the next obstacle. Another problem, the dog doesnt want to stop the fun (Miley). So she finds something the dog really likes. Something the dog gets really excited by. Then train downs and sits by that item. For her dogs it was a pool of water and other dogs. Her one border collie likes to stalk the other one. So she uses that. Once she can get the dog to sit or down close to the thing that causes excitement then she adds the table back in. When the dog gets on the table and stays in position, she walks around the table verbally praising, and petting the dog. If the dog stays in position ,she will release the dog to the thing they like, like the pool of water. If they break position, she gently places them back into position without giving the command again. Once back into position, she starts verbal praise again walking around the table and petting them. Then release to what they like. I tried this one tonight. I got Miley's dinner out. She was very excited. I had her get on her mat into a down. I walked around her , praising her and petting her. I really thought the petting her part would cause her to break.( she doenst like to be touch especially when she is excited. ) But she did great. I then released her and gave her dinner. I know this was kinda boring reading but maybe it will help someone.