The Judge Made a Mistake :-(

 It sounds like you are doing great! Don't worry about the title, Belle doesn't care. I'm sure she's just happy to be there.

I am starting Lily in an agility class this Thurs. I'm going to work with a girl who has a dog that is fearful of everything so she will know how to approach things with Lily. Lily sooooooo needs some self esteem. I hope that this will help.

Aww, that's a bummer!  I can tell you from experience, though, that it will be made up to you one day.  There have been plenty of times that I would argue that Luke DID get that stinking dog walk contact, but there have been MORE times that we end up with a Q that I wasn't expecting because I swore he missed the contact.  You win some and you lose some.

One of my agility friends refused a jumpers Q once because her Miniature Doxie knocked the very last bar and the judge didn't see/call it (4" -- hard to see sometimes).  It was her last score needed for her Novice Versatility and would have finally moved them into open.  Frankly, the score should *not* have been changed because it is against the rules -- but my friend argued that she didn't deserve the score.  We all told her she was nuts.  lol

Can you explain the issues that you are having with the weaves?  If it's the entrances that are giving you problems then it shouldn't matter if there are 6 or 12 poles.  I'm wondering if Belle is simply missing entrances because she's getting more revved up/excited in the trial environment and possibly moving faster because of it.

Green dogs -- especially large green dogs -- need to learn to collect going into the poles in order to make spacing.  If they are going too fast & extended they will often just blow right past the entrance because they know they won't make the turn to the second pole.  When you re-attempt the weaves they generally get it because you set them up better and they come in slower.

I would just spend a lot more time practicing entries at home -- do lots of "around the clock" games where you practice entries from all angles.  Come into the weaves at speed and teach her a collection cue (I slow Luke down just by bringing my shoulders back and shortening my own stride).  She'll figure it out in time.

Sorry to hear that! I am using a pole on the ground to get Luna to collect before her weave entries, that working nicely for us.

Also, for the change to 12 weaves, I sometimes set Luna's up as 6 and 6 with a four foot break in the middle, and then shorten that up until she has all 12 by the end of the session. That might be a good way to also pracice the entries since she would have two for each run through the weaves.

 That's a bummer Ann but Julie is right I'm sure Belle doesn't know or care! And hopefully you will get it the next time and someday a judge gives you one you missed.

I wish I had the time and skill to do something like this with Bugsy but just reading these posts makes me realize how ignorant I am 

The weave issue is all ME, ME, ME!!!! She has been weaving GREAT and in class and at home really picking up speed and starting to actually shift back and forth quite quickly. It's me 

When we were in novice she only had to do 6 weaves. They were so unassuming, and not only did she nail them every time, she actually hunted them so I had little to do. We advance to open, now I see these 12 weave poles on tougher angles and I over reacted. I get tight, and anxious I know Belle can read my body language and I make a "issue" of the set up. As I result Belle gets not quite the right message and I think that is why she misses. When I take a deep breath and just let her weave we do great. WHY CAN'T I ALWAYS DO THAT. I have to work that into my course running. Breathe and weave!

We had a trial at our home facility recently, it was the first time our trainer saw us compete. She asked me when I came out of the ring, "what are you doing? You never handle Belle so much in the weaves!" So it is me. Usually Belle can make up for my short comings, however I can also get in her way. I do have weave poles (channel) at home we just bought a really nice set. I plan to set up and practice from every angle so I can be confident that Belle will find the entry if I let her. We have over a month until our next trial. I have time to work on "my" problem.

On a side note! Teddi is taking agility again WOW I was really impressed how good she was last night. We worked on leading out, front crosses, rear crosses, and layering. This is only her second class. Third if you count the "one" she did before her 8 week lay up. I really think she would have been the agility dog I wanted her to be. Too bad she can't jump her required height or do full height contacts. She is FAST!!! We were already seeing that last night. I do think I will be able to play with her in CPE though. So excited she is such a good baby. We need to work on her weaves too, but her issue is she hasn't had the chance. 

Maxs Mom

I am disappointed because Belle ran great, I felt she deserved her title. My first time ever in agility getting, passed over.

Wow I know that is disapointing ,  I do not do agility as I am neither agile enough to keep up with the dog and do not think fast enough to remember the course... But I got excused from my first conformation ring because I was freaked out when the judge went to exam by boy's "rear end " I mean what a freak! "was my thinking at the time   I have come a loooong way since then   

Bonita of Bwana