We were down near Leatherhead this weekend at the Pachesham Grade 1-5 show. This is the first time we have been to this show. It was very well run and a nice relaxed atmosphere. It was a very small show with only four classes. They do a few different types of show throughout the winter, this one was only for grades 1-5. In good (read not too bad) weather they have two rings going, one inside and one outside, meaning we were home by 14:30! We took Zazu at grade 3 and Doople at grade 5.
Zazu wondering why mum has gone over there
First up was Zazu. He was the main reason we came to this show as we were looking for some more practice. He still gets a little distracted in the ring so we want to keep working him. He started off in the jumping class. We were pleased that there were only 6 weaves as we haven't quite cracked 12 without straps. He was a very good boy. He listened on the turns even though I was very slow. He drove into the tunnels which gave me some breathing space. He got distracted coming back down the line and missed a jump but he was still running well. His only other round was the steeplechase. He was really raring to go in this. I managed to send him into the tunnel and layer a jump into the slalom which I was really pleased with. The turn was wide as I wasn't sure if he would go out, so I made sure that we did the jump first. We were very pleased with him as it was more complicated than the things we have trained. He works away nicely which makes running him so much easier.
Doople seemed very happy at this show. Perhaps it was because we only had two dogs or that we were more relaxed not worrying about so many runs. Either way she enjoyed herself. We started with the jumping class. She was running well and driving at the tunnels. The weaves were a bit slow but she picked them up well. We ended up with a 4th place. Next was the first agility class. This had a couple of tricky bits, Doople picked up the weaves well and wasn't too slow. A good turn off the A-frame round the back of a jump and we ended up 5th. This was followed by the steeplechase. Doople seemed really up for this and got some wheel spin off the line. Unfortunately I got a turn in the slalom wrong and didn't push her far enough so she came inside. We ended up 6th. Finally Doople had her second agility round. Doople was tiring slightly but still running. That is until the weaves where she walked through as slow as she could. Never mind, still a good day.
We both really enjoyed the day and will be going back for some of their other shows. Hopefully Zazu will be running a bit better by then to get a place or two.
This weekend we went to the RVA indoor pay-on-the-day show. It's a nice friendly show that we have been going to for a few years. The venue is improved each year as it is being built. This year we had windows in the spectators area! This made it much (a relative term) warmer than it has been. We were running Shadow at grade 6, Doople at grade 5 and Zazu at grade 3.
Shadow started the day off with graded 4-7 jumping. It was a bit tricky but flowed nicely. We got off to a bad start as she broke her wait. Although we didn't go wrong it put me on the back foot for the first few jumps. We got back on track and she had lovely weaves, which is something we've been working on a lot recently. We finished 7th in grade 6-7, it was a good fun run. Her last run was graded 4-7 agility. She waited properly this time and was charging round, picking up her weaves and also getting all contacts. We were eliminated when Shadow didn't pull through a gap but carried on going. I should have steadied her up before the jump so she didn't jump so long.
Doople was running in the same classes as Shadow. +Susi Cooper ran her in the graded 4-7 jumping. It was a good smooth round with Doople going quite well. Susi got into the wrong position at one point but managed to keep it going. They eventually finished 2nd in grade 4-5. A good result. I ran her in the graded 4-7 agility. It was hard work as Doople was slowing a bit. She still ran on but needed driving all the way. She knocked a pole when I tried to turn her tightly. It shows how she can find it hard work sometimes. She'll probably run less in the future to try and keep it fun.
Zazu was running a couple of proper classes to see what he was like. We avoided agility as we still want to work on his contacts at home. His first class was graded 1-3 jumping. This was a fast flowing course and one that he ran very well. He made it easy for me as I could just stroll into position with charging off the way I point. We didn't manage the 12 weaves but we haven't got that far at home yet, so no surprise. He also ran in the graded 1-7 steeplechase. He was a little tired by this point but still ran well. He got a little distracted on the way round but still focused when I called him and we finished with a clear round. We were both pleased with him today. He still needs to mature mentally to be able to focus for longer, but that will come.
We had a fun day and kept it relaxed by only running in a few classes. We still have more work to do with Zazu but he is coming along nicely.
No show this weekend, but instead we attended a training day with Lee Windeatt. We got a lot more out of the day than we would do at a show. Lee has a lot of good tips and was very good at explaining everything to the group. We took Zazu to the 1-3 session and Shadow to the 4-7 session.
Shadow waiting to train
Unfortunately for Zazu, the weather in the morning was miserable. At times I had to drag him out from the shelter so that he could run. I wasn't too fussed about this as the day was more about learning new training techniques than perfecting our runs. We can see that the main thing we need to work on is dog independence from the handler. This applies to all areas of the course, jumps, weaves, contact equipment. It's about the dog being able to do whatever you ask regardless of where you and and how you're moving. It's quite easy to train, but takes a long time to build up and keep the dog confident. Another good training technique was how to encourage the dog to look at the poles to jump rather than looking at the wings. Try setting up three jumps in a row, but instead of putting the poles on the jump cups, put them on cones at a random distance between the jump wings and you'll see what I mean.
Zazu's training was more learning how to train the dog better, Shadow's was how to train the handler better. We spent a lot of time talking about the dog's lead leg on bends and over jumps, and how to encourage the dog to be on the correct leg before it needs to turn. Being on the wrong leg over a jump will cause a wider or slower turn as the dog corrects itself. Generally speaking, crossing in front of the dog will encourage a change of lead leg as the dog comes past. The other thing we learnt about was cueing the dog to turn, again generally require you to be ahead of your. The dog ideally needs to know a couple of metres before take-off where it is going so that it can jump longer or shorter as required. If you can't get ahead of your dog for the turns, then you need to look at the 1-3 session for how to encourage the dog to work away better!
We both thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and have a lot to go away and work on with all our dogs. If anyone gets the opportunity to attend a Lee Windeatt training day or session, I would definitely recommend it.
This weekend we were at the Poodle DTC Agility Show held at Ockley, Surrey. It was a limited show for poodles only. We have been once before and it's great fun seeing poodles of all sizes running around like lunatics! We were running all four dogs with Winnie running at medium height.
Zazu waiting (not so) patiently for his turn
Zazu started the day off this time running at his full height, medium, with me. He has been getting much more confident at training and that showed in the ring. The first class was the 1-7 agility. He worked away very nicely and was listening for the most part. He was very interested in sniffing the weaves which is most unlike him. All got all of his contacts as well. We were pleased with run, if not disappointed with the weaves. Next was pairs, he was running with Winnie. We were impressed at how well he focused considering +Susi Cooper and Winnie were both in the ring. He picked up the dog walk next to the A-frame nicely. He again was more interested in sniffing the weaves so we carried on. Next was 1-7 jumping. We decided to avoid the weaves completely this time. He was running well until about halfway when he decided to run full pelt across the ring and out! He came back and finished though. He was getting a bit tired for his last run, 1-7 helterskelter. This is the most he has had to do before so we were pleased he was still going. He was running a bit slower but still listening. We missed a jump when he got a bit distracted but it was still a better round than before. We have a lot to do with Zazu, mainly ring experience to get him used to the environment and keep enjoying himself.
Winnie was running at medium height to help build her confidence more. She started really well and was enjoying herself a lot. She flew round the 1-7 agility course, turning nicely and driving forwards. It's the first time we've seen that drive in her at a show. Susi ran her in the pairs. She missed the weaves but they were very tight entries. She still focused well with me and Zazu in the ring. Next was 1-7 jumping. She was a little slower this time and took longer to get going. The tunnels do a good job of winding her up and she was flying out. This was Winnie's last run as we didn't want to push it and her not enjoy her runs.
Shadow started the agility well. I was using the time for a bit of training and was trying to get her to weave with me being further away than usual. she came into me the first time because I was too slow in telling her to weave. She then drove off and round, the second time picked the weaves up much better although I was still too slow in telling her to weave. The pairs left some room for improvement as she was not really listening much, she missed the weaves and ran in the completely wrong end of the tunnel. Sorry Susi and Doople! The 1-7 jumping was a better round, but she looked like she was running a bit steady and not stretching fully like she can do. The times showed and we finished fourth. The final run, 1-7 helterskelter, was much better and she was really pushing forwards the whole way round. We were much closer this time and managed second place.
Susi tried a similar tactic with the weaves as me, seeing if she'd pick them up better. Doople also missed them for the same reasons, too slow at telling her. It was good practice though and it's more about us getting it right. Doople was let down in the pairs by her mad silver partner, but she ran nicely and was driving round the short course. I ran Doople in the 1-7 jumping to see if she would drive better. We started well and she barking for the first part. Her speed tailed off a bit towards end so she needs to get a bit fitter. She ran nicely in the 1-7 helterskelter for Susi, turning well where needed and following the lines.
We both enjoyed our day. It's great watching all the mad poodles, especially the standards as they are all just mad but enjoying themselves all the while! We look forward to next year hopefully having better functioning dogs.
Last weekend was a slightly different weekend with the dogs. Instead of agility we went to the Poodle Fun Day 2013. This was just a fun day conceived by Sue Hunt, Lynne Land, Celia Bell and Patricia Wheeler (and I'm sure many others had a major input) to raise money for the Poodle Rescue UK.
Group photo
The day was designed just to be a bit of fun. There we people from all over the place, mainly with poodles of all shapes and sizes. There were probably over 50 poodles there, it was a bit mad! We started the day with coffee and bacon and a bit of mingling. There was an activities ring that had agility, egg and spoon race and temptation alley.
Susi and Doople in deep preparation mode
The agility was just a simple course (by agility standards) that people could have a go at. There were people who had never done agility before just having a go running over jumps. There was a competition for those who must compete, like me! All our dogs had a go and all enjoyed. Me and Doople won the class. They were all a little excited as they'd been in a cage next to the ring for a while watching what was going on.
Zazu flying over agility jumps
There was an egg and spoon race which pitted two people and dogs against each other in a knockout competition. One of the races was me with Shadow versus +Susi Cooper with Zazu, family rivalry! Naturally I won. Me and Shadow finished second beaten only in the final.
Greg and Shadow in the final of the egg and spoon race
This was followed by Temptation Alley, which involves running with your dog past four plates with some sausage on, round a post, and back again with the dog eating the sausages on the way back. It was good fun to watch. I especially liked Sue Hunt's black labrador who would run past a plate, then go back and eat the sausage, run past the next plate and go back to eat the sausage, etc. Shadow caught the scent about half way up so I had to encourage her to the end, and then encourage her to eat as she was still following her nose. Susi and Doople were really good, charging to the end and scoffing on the way back to win.
Winnie trying to find the sausage
There were also some fun showing classes, like best puppy, best dog, best bitch. There were also some other games, like musical 'sits' where the dog has to sit when the music stops. Last one to sit is out. And don't forget the fancy dress competition! It was a great day out that we all thoroughly enjoyed. The dogs all had a good time and everyone went home home exhausted, not to mention raising a lot of money for charity.
Winner of the fancy dress competition
Here is a link to the photo album contain Around 1000 photos of the day:
We were at our previous club's, Barking Mad, summer show this weekend. We said we would help out so we ended up being very busy all weekend. The show went very smoothly and swiftly so it was definitely worth it. We had Zazu running in his first proper classes at grade 3, Doople at grade 4 for the last time (at grade 4), Shadow at grade 6 and Winnie doing anysize.
Shadow was up first in grade 6-7 jumping. Shadow got off to a flying start, she was really motoring. I pulled her between two jumps nicely and round the jump. She flew into the weaves but missed the last pole. The pull through slalom was a bit much for her as she was still excited. I should have run the other way, pushing her away through the gaps. Next up was graded 6-7 agility. We started with a large box which we negotiated well. The weave entry was tricky but we managed, albeit slowly picking up pace as she went. A lovely running contact at the end which she was doing well all weekend. We ended up 1st! This was our third win at grade 6 so we only need one more to go up to grade 7. Next was graded 1-7 agility. This was a little simpler than before but a similar course. Shadow started a bit slow but was flying out of the first tunnel and up the dog walk, another lovely running contact. She was listening well and I was really pleased with the round. We finished 2nd, 0.019s behind first place! Ouch! Finally we had combined grade 5-7 jumping. Shadow was getting a little tired but was still running well. Until the weaves. She got a smell of something at the start and lost concentration the whole way through, basically walking. She missed the last couple of weaves but ran OK afterwards.
Sunday was a very busy day as we were helping on a ring for most of the day. We started off running in the Jewlnick Agility Pairs with +Susi Cooper and Doople. Both dogs ran really well over the agility course and we ended up 5th, which is great considering that all heights are classified together. Sorry to Ruth and Alan as they finished 6th, but placings only went to 5th! Shadow's first individual run was graded 1-7 jumping. She started a little slowly but picked up. She was running away from me really well and I could get into different positions than a lot of people, which I think gained me a lot of time. We then lost it all with a wide turn but nevermind! We finished out of the placings but only 0.7s behind the winner. Next was graded 6-7 jumping. Shadow started quite slowly but it was because Susi was standing at the side of the ring filming. Shadow was looking at her as we ran past, then we came back past again with Shadow still looking. She was still running away nicely so we had some good bits. Next was combined grade 5-7 agility. She was a bit slow through the weaves and almost went in the wrong side of the tunnel, but carried on. I messed up after the A-frame and got on the wrong side of her but still worked her from behind and it wasn't that slow in the end. Another good runing contact and a clear round, but no placing. Shadow finished up with graded 6-7 agility. This was a very fast course so we weren't too hopeful, but still ran it well. We had a dog-walk jump to finish, which is something that we miss every time! I worked the contact extra hard to make sure we got , which she did. I worked it a little too well though and she stopped at the bottom looking at me rather than running! We did finish 2nd though so it rounded off a really strong weekend for us.
Doople's first run of the weekend was graded 3-5 jumping. She backed jumped the third jump and then was running quite steadily. There were some long straight lines but she could have run faster. It was a warm day and as we already know, Doople doesn't like the heat. Next up I ran her in the combined grade 1-4 jumping. She was again quite steady and not driving like she does at training. She missed the weaves like she often does in the heat. She thinks that the weaves involve too much thinking so can't really be bothered. Finally she had graded 3-5 agility. She ran better here but again messed up the weaves.
Her first run on Sunday was in the pairs agility with Shadow where they ended up in 5th place. Next up was the graded 3-5 agility. She ran this one very nicely, still a little slow but with nice tight turns. She ended with a clear round. I ran ran her next in the graded 3-5 jumping. She ran at a good pace, not quickly but steady. She had good tight turns and managed the weaves again. We ended up with a clear round. Doople finished the weekend with combined grade 1-4 agility. This was a very long fast course, not really Doople's cup of tea. she did manage it all the way round until the dog walk jump to finish Susi didn't work the contact and Doople jumped it! Ah well, still a steady round.
Winnie was running at anysize this weekend to help build her confidence. She was running over small jumps. Saturday's run started slowly but she still did everything. After a couple of tunnels she picked up the pace and finished down the final straight nicely. On Sunday again she started her run a bit steadily picking up in the middle. She wasn't keen when I asked her to turn but when quickly down the final stretch again. We'll be keeping her at anysize for a while until she's really going for it all the way around. As long as she's enjoying it then we're happy.
Zazu was running in his first proper height (medium) classes this weekend. He was only in one jumping class each day just to see how he gets on. On Saturday, he started down the open stretch nicely and into the two tunnels. We did a couple more jumps then he saw the tunnels again and was off! After a couple of attempts I got him back over the jumps and we finished well. He's starting to flatten out when jumping, especially when running straight and chasing me. On Sunday, the course was a little trickier with 12 weaves. He got a little distracted by the scorers tent but didn't run off. He picked the weaves up second time, managed half and the second half. He ran out well after the tunnel but didn't quite make it back in for the jump, but still really pleased with how he ran.
We have a few weeks off now with a wedding and other things. One more show at Letchworth and then off the Hungary for the International Mixedbreed Championship Agility.
On to the second part of our mad weekend, 250 miles from our Saturday show we were in Scunthorpe for the Dog Vegas show. The reason for the long distance is that both +Susi Cooper with Doople and myself with Shadow qualified for the Chase the Ace team finals, albeit with different teams. Doople was running at grade 4 and Shadow at grade 6.
Meerkat outside the B&B we were staying in
The weather was even more unpredictable than on Saturday, perhaps due to being (much) further north. It was fairly warm but with the odd thunderstorm! We travelled up on the Sunday evening as I didn't fancy the prospect of leaving at 4:00 AM. It was a nice little B&B just outside Scunthorpe complete with pigs, ferrets and meerkats!
The show was much quieter than the previous show with only 4 rings, one of which was dedicated to the finals. There were a lot of finals being held for various competitions from teams, to grade 3-5 agility, to Anything-but-Collie (ABC) jumping. The finals were held in very good spirits with people sitting around the rings watching. This is a good experience for the more novice handlers as it can be quite daunting for both dog and handler with all the people watching. They were good finals to watch with very good courses set by Alan Bray.
On Monday, Shadow was first up with graded 5-7 jumping. Shadow started very well indeed but didn't run out enough on a long run and so came in missing the jump. I tried again a she went out when I told her to. She was very excited afterwards though. Next up was the graded 5-7 agility. This had a very interesting start that caught a lot of people out. It was tyre then dog walk with a tunnel wrapped around the entrance. I tried to walk to the other side of the tunnel and call Shadow up the dog walk so that she wouldn't look at the tunnel. It failed. I tried again but stayed closer her and she went up fine. Apart from the weaves the rest of the round was lovely. I was steering her from behind down a long run with tight turns so still very pleased. Her last individual run was the graded 5-7 jumping. She seemed a little steadier but still ran well. She wasn't driving off the turns as well as she does so we lost some time. We finished clear but unplaced.
Doople started with graded 1-4 agility. It was quite a nice course, but perhaps a bit much for the grade 1-2 handlers. Doople was a little steady but listened and ran clear, eventually winning the class! That means Doople is now up to grade 5 which is brilliant, we weren't really expecting it. Next up was graded 1-4 jumping. This was a fairly straightforward course but still had some traps. Doople was her steady self but still listening and running. They had a nice clear round finishing in 2nd place. Finally was another graded 1-4 jumping. This had some straight lines, circles and slaloms. A nice fast flowing course, but not really Doople's course, to much running! She still ran well and got round clear.
Finally, at the end a long day was the teams final. This is a relay race over a simple steeplechase course but run in two parts. Dogs 1 and 3 run the first course, dogs 2 and 4 run the second course, which is the first course in reverse. The results for all heights are combined together. It's simpler than I make it sound! First up for the small teams was me and Shadow running with some of the Poodle Training Club, Julliet, Mo and Heather. We all had lovely rounds and they were all really going for it. Unfortunately there was a dropped baton at the change so we incurred some fault which was a real shame. We were still the fastest of the small teams in the end, 110s, but the faults meant that we finished 7th overall. Susi was running with friends from Northamptonshire where we used to train, Wendy Donna and Sharon. They all ran very well too and put in a good solid clear round, 113s. This meant that they finished up 3rd overall, which is great. The winners were a team of collies in 94s, 2nd place was a team of medium height dogs in 96s.
Greg with the Poodle Team
Susi with the Northants Team
It was a good fun day out, catching up with people that we haven't seen in quite a while. IT was a good result for Susi in the teams and especially for winning up to grade 5.
.png)
