Mrs Collie. Agility purists close your eyes!

[Karran]

Last September we made an agility debut. Safe to say it didn't go well. With us attempting the obstacles in the order of 3, 12, 1, 6. And then gleefully rugby tackling the judge and sending them flying.
We have worked solidly on our classes since then, and have also done several flyball shows which have gone AMAZINGLY well for a dog with chase and over arousal issues. So I figured we've shown we were able to cope with a show environment and training was going so well that we should try again.
We picked a nice, independent show geared for reactive dogs and novices both in dogs and/or handlers with the only way we could get eliminated for peeing in the ring, and going in the wrong order. No weaves or seesaws in the baby classes and only being faulted on the up contacts.
(I didn't ask what their rules were in regards to knocking people over).

The jumping course was lovely and flowing exactly what we needed, with only one real test of her listening skills near the end.....

See if you can pinpoint the exact moment when I lost the will to live......

It's very tiring being an utter idiot.....



Our agility class went just as well (i wisely chose not to ask someone to film this!)
In the jumps and tunnels class, I took her toy in, stopped her after every successful jump/tunnel and rewarded her. We still got eliminated for peeing in the ring however.....

Meanwhile Mrs Spaniel had the time of her life, reminding me who the Number One dog is with an 8th and 9th in their equivalent of g1 agility and jumping and a snazzy clear round rosette for a great jumps and tunnels round. Not bad for a 8 year old!


I was going to take them both to a KC show in two weeks but now i'm thinking I might withdraw Mrs C as she's still not mentally ready. We have lots of flyball and obedience shows coming our way, so our next agility will be a KC show at the end of July which now is up for debate about if we waste our/judges time or not and then another attempt at the independent show series.

 

[MurphysMinder]

But she had fun ! I bet she wasn't the only one and we've all got to start somewhere. I think independent shows are definitely better for starting out, just because they are generally able to give you a bit more time in the ring. I think my young heeler might act a bit like Mrs C if I ever get him in the ring, he loves it but is tunnel and contact mad, so tends to make up his own courses a lot. My older guy is very accurate and reliable, but has never been the fastest and now in grade 6 his times can be embarrassing against some of the other dogs although he rarely has jumping faults . He's 11 next week so this is his last season, I'm sure some of the more serious handlers wonder why I bother, but he and I enjoy it so why not.

 

[ester]

That’s brilliant ?

 

[Karran]

She had the best fun and now i've slept on it, its not as awful as it was when I was stood in the ring mentally pleading with the furry fool to behave! I mean we managed at least three jumps in the right order and no one got knocked over so it was a VAST improvement.....
I'm not sure whether to still try her next week and retire if I can get a decent start and over the first jump ok. I suggested that to one of my agility friends and she was absolutely horrified that I would consider wasting the judges's time and that I am better off not attending at all rather than just go NFC.

Mrs Spaniel is in the same category as your older guy, she isn't the fastest and would rather be flyballing or sniffing, but she has loads of fun ambling along yelling encouragement at me to stay upright.

 

[Rosemary28]

She looks like she's having a wonderful time!

 

[I'm Dun]

You were very calm and patient. I think I would have cried!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I have had similar runs in the past. Current dog tests my patience by constantly turning to look at me and screaming 'what next, what next' when I am pointing at the next obstacle and giving a verbal command she can't hear because of the racket she is making. My other G5 girl is an absolute gem to run, works away. takes directional commands and is just lovely. Pity she is getting a bit creaky so semi retired. Typical that what is probably going to be my last agility dog has to be the hardest I have ever had to train. So much talent but so hard to direct it.

 

[Karran]

You were very calm and patient. I think I would have cried!

She's been three years of work to get to this point. I've learnt more patience from her than any animal I've ever dealt with before.

I was very glad it was the first run of the first class so the audience was not as large as it could have been! ?

 

[Karran]

I don't know how to calm the antics down and get her to listen. We built the course at training last night and she flew round apart from the little bit at the end.
Is it something that will come in time and exposure? Or is it that the over arousal at flyball triggering a lack of being able to cope? I can use the tennis ball and her huge fluffy tuggy at either end to keep her mind on the job at flyball and she runs in a harness to give me something to grab but I obviously can't do that in an agility ring.

She was so poorly socialised in her last home and the lockdowns havent helped her in terms of exposure to things so maybe I'm still asking too much of her too soon?
Maybe I should sign up for loads of training days and workshops at other venues to get her used to working somewhere outside of her training venue?

I struggle with shows as flyball comes first and with petrol the way it is, I can't afford to cart her over the country looking for independent shows to practice which is why I thought I might carry on and attend the next KC show and just quit if I can get a good start and reward her out the ring. But if that's as heavily frowned on as my friend was implying, I don't want to do that either!

Tricky brat dog.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I don't see why you shouldn't attend the KC show and see how it goes. I see plenty of big name handlers obviously training in the ring at KC shows, eg doing contacts more than once, and no one says anything. I think you will probably have a 60 second time limit but give it a go.

 

[Clodagh]

She’s loving life, which from what you say is a huge improvement. You’ll get there. I bet Mrs S ran out of eye roll emojis ?

 

[Karran]

I don't see why you shouldn't attend the KC show and see how it goes. I see plenty of big name handlers obviously training in the ring at KC shows, eg doing contacts more than once, and no one says anything. I think you will probably have a 60 second time limit but give it a go.

Ok! That's put my mind at rest a bit! I do find the agility folk a bit intimidating in what is deemed acceptable and what is not. They all seem to take it a lot more seriously than flyball!

I bet Mrs S ran out of eye roll emojis ?

Pretty much convinced she was on her best behaviour all day to prove a point!

 

[MurphysMinder]

Ok! That's put my mind at rest a bit! I do find the agility folk a bit intimidating in what is deemed acceptable and what is not. They all seem to take it a lot more seriously than flyball!



Pretty much convinced she was on her best behaviour all day to prove a point!

I agree, some can be intimidating , and some take it very seriously, but my view is we all pay the same entry fee so we're entitled to our time in the ring

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I would just get her out and about as much as possible whether it be training or shows, KC or otherwise. I felt like giving up with mine but agility is such a big part of my life I just couldn't. Training at club in our indoor venue blows her brain but since I have been making a real effort to take her to the club's training field several times a week and just focussing on her going away from me she is actually showing some improvement. Like you lockdown didn't help at all and many of the shows I used to enjoy no longer exist sadly. Mine is now nearly 5 but more like an 18 month old in her attitude. I only have three shows lined up for this year, one charity show and two KC. My aim is to attempt to get a clear by the end of the year.

 

[Karran]

On one hand lockdown was amazing for us in terms of learning how to be a reasonably civilised member of society but in terms of the activities I want to do with her, it was totally rubbish! And yes! I often say she's a 3 year old in the body of a 6 month old!

I'm booked in for the jumping classes over two days on the extra bank holiday and then booked in for one on a Thursday and Friday at the end of July and the independent on that same week Saturday. Three days in a row of shenanigans will either blow her brains out completely. Or exhaust her so much, she HAS to listen to me!!!

Hopefully both our dogs will be able to manage a clear round by Christmas!

 

[Annette4]

She reminds me so much of Dobby at agility only you have more control ? she had the best time which is the important bit.

 

[ester]

And she stayed in the ring, and she came back ?

 

[blackcob]

The only problem I can see with your plan is that it's awfully expensive these days to throw a KC run like that but there's no issue with the actual doing of it - I might shout to the judge 'we might need to take our own line, sorry' but otherwise crack on with your 60 seconds and reinforce the bits you need. Independents are just perhaps a bit more set up for it (more likely to be fenced, a bit cheaper, allow NFC runs).

Lockdown really didn't help things and has affected them all differently. A friend's dog who was outstripping mine in training as young dogs, way more confident and drivey, completely regressed when it came to competitions starting back. They're at the take-your-own-line, rewarding a few jumps stage in the ring, despite running full courses in training. They'll get there, as will you!

 

[Karran]

And she stayed in the ring, and she came back ?

Oh God yes! I hadnt had that terrifying thought cross my mind while she was being a twit. She's perfectly capable and has jumped that height netting before to go gob off at strangers ? another win to the day! ?

The only problem I can see with your plan is that it's awfully expensive these days to throw a KC run like that but there's no issue with the actual doing of it.

. They're at the take-your-own-line, rewarding a few jumps stage in the ring, despite running full courses in training. They'll get there, as will you!

Reassuring. Thank you ?. Yes it's a bit of a costly way of doing things, but the bloody animal has cost me so much already in house and car repairs and the bloody useless behaviourist I got out for her. This is small fry in comparison! ??

 

[limestonelil]

Thank you so much for posting this Karran. A joyful collie, having such a wonderful time. I nearly cried laughing (in a nice way) Things don't always go to plan, do they. xx