Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Cricks first very informal fun run ;-)

WHOO HOOOO Crickets first fun run was a great experience-she did AWESOME for a baby dog, we walked away with a HUGE list of things we need to work on, but I was really happy and excited that the big things seem to be coming together nicely. Running the course was the least of my concerns and NOT my big training goal for the day. My goal was to give Cricket and I a chance to practice waiting for our turn, and see how she would do doing her agility with all the dogs sitting so closely-would she pay attention to what we were doing and stay focused on the task at hand? Would she run off to play with the other doggies or people? NOT TO WORRY-Little Miss Cricket was all about playing agility while we were on the course, I thought she would but it was a real confidence builder for me-HOW COULD I HAVE DOUBTED MY CRICKSTER?. I crated Cricket in the car for most of the runs, but did bring her out for a few runs before our turn each round. I worked on click/treat for quiet behavior and by the end of the fun run she was intently watching the other dogs but able to keep herself from going over the top--VICTORY!!!

We stopped and broke the course up -this was TRAINING and I wanted her to be set up for success. The first run was BEAUTIFUL, and I should have stopped there, LOL, the second run we had a little more trouble with the weaves and the Aframe, but the great thing was that Cricket was really understanding the handling. There was one point where it was a teeter, spread jump, Aframe all lined up in a row, but you needed to do a really tight right hand turn after the spread jump and before the Aframe. The other dogs there had a lot more experience but all the handlers used a pretty heavy call off to get that turn. Both my dogs read the front cross really well, collected over the spread and landed turned the direction we were going, WHOOO HOOO!

Breeze was another story, boy my hamstring was really hurting and I was not able to move well, and the course required a lot of Independence on the contacts to get to where you needed to be. ON a SUPER high note Breeze did fantastic with her contacts, really in dependant spot on contacts, a really straight down at the bottom of her aframe-I have been working on straightening out her position on the four on the floor-well, that looked great. I used a mat as a body target but I was very far away and she got into a great position. UGhghghghghg, all the work on weaves at home and boom she was having a heck of a time picking up the entry at a fun match ;-(. She has done so fantastic in practice I thought for sure we would ace those. Anyway running the course felt pretty sloppy and discouraging-but totally me and my handling.

This was a fun run at our club and it was funny that as I got ready for my last runs I got a really snide question asking if I was going to train this time or run the course? Like really? hahahahhaahah, this was a fun run for TRAINING and it did not count for anything. This particular group has a series of "tournaments" where they all compete and you are not allowed any training....so they have those available-they keep score and compete in teams against each other-so they have those available- but then they occassionally have these fun runs. I did not take a lot of time but I did stop with Cricket at critical points and reward when she got something well, I stopped before the Aframe so Cricket could get collected because we are not doing the Running Aframe in sequences yet...she is not there yet. I stopped at the end of the weaves and rewarded those. I rewarded Cricket holding her contacts. When Breeze was going over the spread jump --the one where she needed to collect and then do a hard right and pull off the Aframe she dropped the bar. I totally had not cued the collection and turn correctly and in time--well, I redid that jump and turn. So yea, I did take a few more minutes then the people just racing through the course. Gosh that is why you go to fun runs isn't it?

I was just surprised for a fun run that everyone did a hard call off with their dogs before the Aframe instead of practicing it and helping the dogs read the front cross there, and I did not see anyone else stop and reward their dog, all the other dogs have 2020 contacts but most people did let the dogs fly through their contacts. I just thought fun runs were for working on those things, sure not worth eroding your training for something that does not even count, this was not the finals in a national competition, no one was keeping score, but that is a super competitive little group. Not competitive in trying to develop more skills but just competitive with each other. On one point in the course they had the 21 in weaves out, and Breeze is not allowed to do 21 in weaves, so I rearranged that part of the course for myself, no big deal but everyone started yelling that I was going wrong on course. I really do not enjoy working in that particular group a lot and I have always had training partners in the past that really enjoy training too...so I don't notice all that type of stuff as much, but boy I sure miss having a friend to work with these days ;-)-WELL I mean a friend other then my two best buddies Breeze and Cricket, hahahaha, they are the best to train with-but some days a person who you can talk to would be fun too! LOL.

17 comments:

LauraK said...

Sounds like a successful day for you and your girlies- that's awesome that little Miss Cricket is out there running courses. She's going to be a fun one to watch :)

What a bummer that people were taking a "fun run" so seriously. I'm with you- I thought fun runs were for training and making everything positive and rewarding. Some people just need to lighten up!

Chris and Ricky said...

Wow - so good to hear Cricket was fabulous in her first fun run!! Good for you guys! It must make you feel really good to know that your trained her so well in everything!

Glad you are able to laugh about those people at the club - they were being ridiculous. When did agility turn into that crap? It's supposed to be something fun to do with your dog and you totally had the right idea of using a FUN run as training!

Diana said...

Congrats on your success!! Thats awesome.

People take everything in agility to seriously. They all need to lighten up. Its called a "FUN RUN" for a reason. LOL

kiwichick said...

Yep people get too serious even at fun runs! Glad you worked at training though. I always wish I had people to train with too :-)

Sara said...

Yay Cricket! You're going to be a star.

I'm always amazed at how seriously people take agility sometimes. Lighten up people and enjoy your dog!People in league are always yelling at me, because I don't start at the designated startlin"....even when I tell them I'm training, they correct me. Luckily all the "judges" know my goals & oreo, and shut them up for me!

Nicki said...

a fun run should be for fun and training, otherise, why bother and just spend your money on a trial. People can be so petty sometimes. Glad you had a successful day.

Sagira said...

So happy to hear Cricket did so well. Always so much fun in the beginning and then when everything kind of comes together and just clicks. :)

AC said...

I really admire how you put so much energy and focus into working with your dogs but you keep the focus on fun. That's so refreshing and encouraging!

And look at the rewards...a fun day with your girls!

Oh yeah...go Cricket, go!!

Anonymous said...

Good for you -- you had fun! You're way too far away, but I wish you could come to our trial in MS in April -- we're having a fun run Friday evening before the trial on Saturday, and it's going to be a good time.

Don't let anyone spoil things for you!

Unknown said...

What a good and fun day for you and Cricket. Glad to hear that Cricket had a good first run and she was happy there.
I think being happy and enjoy the agility is the main point of doing agility. It is just sad that some people take it far too serious and make the games less interesting to others. However, I'm with you, why bother. Those people are just for us to have a good laugh at.

Geraldine said...

Well done Kathy and Cricket, I am sure you will go far and leave those other people for dead. You guys are so lucky to have fun runs we do not have fun runs at all in Australia.

Natasha said...

Sounds great!! You did such a good job on giving Cricket a positive first fun run experience, that's awesome!

I think those people need to realize that they're at a FUN match :)

Kathy Mocharnuk said...

THANks everyone, I am so relieved I am not the only one that thinks Fun Runs should be for training and a more fun atmosphere! LOL

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you were doing everything right for YOUR dog! good for you. AFter all it was a "fun" run. Thanks for the comment on my blog!! Are you doing City of Industry this weekend? I am there on Sunday.

Marie said...

Way to go Cricket, and way to go to you too Kathy! Sometimes it's really hard to deal with that not so subtle pressure from people around you, even when you go with the intent of training. Cricket is a very fortunate girl to have you looking out for her the way you do.

Morganne said...

Sounds like you were the only one who knew the purpose of a fun run. Congrats on accomplishing so much! Can't wait to see more video of Cricket.

Cynthia said...

Sounds like you had some great success! That's a bummer there were some poopy people. Sounds like it was all for training! My obedience trainer once told me, dog training is like a bank. You spend lots and lots of hours filling the dog's bank up with skills and training and treats and reinforcements. Then you go trial, and you are taking money out of the bank. So any time I can go to a training type venue with a full course, I use everything I can to fill up my dogs' banks!