We've just had the most amazing night at agility... you might remember me posting a couple of months ago asking for advice because Selma is far too focussed on other dogs in the arena to show her true potential. Well not tonight!! Thank you everyone x

We haven't been able to go for three weeks, so when we arrived tonight I practiced all our eye contact moves and we took the first 20 minutes really slowly, literally walking around each run and waiting at the start of each piece of equipment. After a while I asked the trainer if I'd be pushing my luck if I tried running with her, she said 'give it a go'. So we did, and Selma was AMAZING!! She kept focussed on me all the way, she ran like the wind, she took each obsticle in her stride and didn't even notice the other dogs passing her on near-by runs We had 20 minutes of the same great stuff, can't wait till next week!

By jove I think she's cracked it, fnar fnar!! (Sorry if this sounds showy-offy, but I'm walking on air atm)

__________________
Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

yeah it does and why not well done

Good for Selma, and so you should be proud!!!
Sh xx

__________________
Sh & Zach



Lifes too short for drama and petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly

Tee hee, thank you!!

Hope it wasn't a one-off x

__________________
Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

I think YES we do 'burst with pride!!!! we want everyone to agree with us that they are as special as we think the are!
WELL DONE - and so you should be PROUD that is
DT

Well done, you should be proud of all the hard work you've done. Sounds like it's really paid off.

__________________


A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

Thrilled for you My dog doesn't like other dogs on his home territory, but at classes or shows is completely oblivious to other dogs. So pleased that your hard work has paid off

Well done alphadog, I had a similar problem a year ago with Elsa chasing and play fighting with other dogs during training. This gradually reduced to nothing when she is on her agility run, although she is still hyper and excited while waiting. I was quite proud that she managed clear rounds in early training, when the handler made no mistakes!
The bubble can burst and deflation occur unexpectedly! I have just done my first UK Agility competition for Nursery Agility and Beginners Steeplechase.
The Nursery Agility only consisted of jumps, tunnels, Aframe and dogwalk. I was confident about the jumps and tunnels, but was concerned about the contacts as it was fairly new to the dog. What happened? Contacts were perfect no faults, but she lost focus between some of the jumps, sniffing the grass, and was distracted by movement outside the ring on a path. I put this down to the fact that she only trains indoors on bark chippings, with walls surrounding. Grass means freedom as on our long country walks!
Steeplechase had other problems! My wife was camcording from outside the ring ( only tapes surrounding), and Elsa kept looking at her as we went round and ran towards her at one point, besides sniffing the grass again. Faults and elimination followed. However, plus points were, she did all the jumps eventually, did not knock any poles off, and tunnels were fine.
So I've learned a few things, hope this might help someone to persevere and eliminate all the problems!

Well done, Alphadog!