Dizzycharm

I saw absolutely nothing in the ball

Good luck and have a great time. I definately agree with the wait and release command. I warn you though - agility is very addictive

Thank you for your messages. Luckily we decided not to go to training on Saturday and our Wednesday class isn't on due to half term. So she knows we haven't gone anywhere without her. She also has a bonus at the moment. Because we are fostering Fluke, we needed the space in the back room to put his cage, so Dizzy is sleeping in my room at the moment (which she is more than chuffed about)

My poor Dizzy Dog has to rest from agility until March. She was chasing her ball in her usual manic way and I noticed some stiffness in the evening but no limping. That evening and for about a week, she didn't want to jump on the bed and was going up the stairs sideways. I managed to get her an appointment with the chiropractor which was on Tuesday. Luckily no serious damage done but was very stiff in back legs and over the back (worse on left side) and I have been given some massaging techniques to do everyday. There is also probably a little soft muscle damage aswell, but nothing that can't be cured from rest. I had to cover Dizzy's ears for the next part - No agility til March - poor girl will think I'm being mean when I take the others and not her. But I know its for the best and she'll have to hate me for a while. The trouble is that it was caused by me throwing her ball and the way she has to get at it when going 100mph. Through the summer we don't use balls at all, but we have lots of shooting around us (Nov - Feb) and if I don't take something to take her mind off it, then all she does is walk behind me and occassionally peer round my legs - not much fun for mutley. Sorry, just wanted to tell someone that I'm feeling bad for my little girl .

Lets see (was a few years ago now) if I remember exactly what I did with Dizzy. Started with low table and had the contact part of the dogwalk on it (top on table, contact part on floor). Dog on lead (harness is good as it stays central on the back). Plate with food on, about 1 foot away from contact (this depends on size of dog). Dog knows food is on plate and can see it. Give command and allow dog to descend and stop in correct position (thats why dog is on lead and can't get it wrong - hopefully). Once in place reinforce word and position - I use the word 'feet', so it was 'feet, good feet, good feet' etc etc. Continue with exercise until dog is happy with word and position, and that you can allow the dog to complete exercise without your intervention with lead pressure (this will be done over several training sessions and not all at once). Don't move on till you are happy that the dog knows what is expected of him. I then progressed to a low dog walk (short tressels). Held dog in front of dogwalk and gave command (the up and along a dogwalk doesn't really need to be taught as they tend to just do it). When happy you can transfer skill to full height dogwalk. It is always helpful to have someone to pick up food if your dog has a tendancy to run round to food. Dogs are clever and soon learn that they have to do required exercise before treat is allowed. I was lucky and had no problems - Dizzy was quite happy to go over dogwalk to get treat. With my young dog I started as a pup by placing her on the end with the plate and food and reinforcing the position and releasing to her toy. This progressed to moving her back a foot and bringing her into position, then 2 feet etc. She thought it was great, food then ball, food then ball and loved doing it. Obviously this method works just as well to a target and clicker, and you keep the motivation. I am very happy with this way of training as it has worked for mine. But there are many ways to train contacts and you see lots of dogs are shows which have fast and accurate contacts, which may have been trained differently. Maybe at a show, speak to someone you have watched in the ring and liked their dog's contacts, and see what they did, they may be more than happy to share their words of wisdoms

I used the back training method with Dizzy and could only do it at training. She worked to a plate with food and it worked fantastically for her. She is still spot on and very fast, so it definately worked for her. Other variations are to a toy or target point (whatever you use, such as a piece of carpet). I have now taught the same way to my youngster who is 2 now. She will go on lovely and I can be anywhere and she will still go to the target at the bottom (the plate has been taken away and I now put a piece of food on the ground, or she has to go to the bottom before she gets the treat). Consistancy is all important and the 2 feet on, 2 feet off is the common goal.

I have been doing agility for 19 years (which isn't bad as I'm just coming up to 26), doesn't mean I'm that good at it, but we give it our best lol. Here are our dog's KC names: Charm - Star Charm of Fluke Bryn - Starazaz Patch (not our choice) Gem - Got A Gem From Valgray Dizzy - JD's Dizzy Girl Breeze - Sadar Fly To Freedom Twiglett - JD's Get Twiggy With It I used to love our white GSD's name, which was White Knight Snow Trooper (he was a handsome lad).