tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637422718808015959.post133320803459728265..comments2024-03-18T16:11:01.097-05:00Comments on Michele Fry's Agility Dogs - Training and Competition: A Study of Weave Performance - Front ViewMichele Fryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14054438085591770016noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637422718808015959.post-58738197565160835422013-03-19T15:53:36.299-05:002013-03-19T15:53:36.299-05:00I wonder if there are multiple factors at play in ...I wonder if there are multiple factors at play in development of consistent weave pole footwork. Perhaps people may not recognize and correct unwanted habits early in the training process. Dogs are often in a different state of mind at a trial compared to in practice. Their brain is working under super charged conditions and sometimes their bodies can’t keep up and lose balance. That would likely show in weaves. I see that a lot in my young girl. She’ll become excited and try to do something and literally her body “crashes” as if all those neural impulses log-jammed and her muscles give a random response. Perhaps a more experienced dog would be able to weave, but the footwork won’t be as precise as in a practice session.Kristen Nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637422718808015959.post-35187342598820200862012-10-02T17:27:25.816-05:002012-10-02T17:27:25.816-05:00Wow. What a great video and such fantastic observ...Wow. What a great video and such fantastic observations! So far I have taught four dogs to weave. The first three were taught using the channel method. I used a little bit of 2x2 and then luring with the fourth. She learned to weave in two weeks! I abandoned the channel method because my third dog never learned to collect before entering the weaves and I blamed it on my leaving the channel open for too long. However, he is now 9, and I think he just has a basic loathing of collection and it wasn't due to the method I used.<br /><br />From my first dog, I learned to never, ever pressure the dog while he is in the weaves. His dislike for weaving is one reason we never got beyond novice.<br /><br />What I strive for with my dogs is independent WP performance. I want them to be able to find the entrance on their own and stay in the weaves until they are complete no matter what I'm doing. I don't care if they hop or single step--that's up to them. But I don't want them carry their heads up high, and I want them to weave not plow through the poles.<br /><br />I think that a lot of 10th pole popping is due to lack of proofing and/or handler screw-up. (Been there, done that :) I have never used my hands to encourage weaving in and out, but I have used my voice and clapping. For my dogs, clapping is putting on a little too much pressure. And I discovered that I cannot maintain an even vocal rhythm while running, so now I make a "whishing" noise when I want to encourage speed in the weaves. It's like the sound that some people make when sending their herding dogs on an outrun.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06876637959835151427noreply@blogger.com