Weave Thoughts

For speed, the best thing is to open the weaves up a bit to give the dog a more visual view of the weave channel.  WAM's are the best for this with footwork and speed.  Placing a target at the end or throwing a toy at the end is also a great motivator.  You could make WAM weaves out of PVC pretty easily and cheaply to try them out.

If your dog is going through them slowly, the only way to speed them up is to decrease the criteria (open them) and increase motivation (toy at end, you calling from the end, etc).  Once you are getting consistent speed through the open weaves, then slowly close them and reward for the correct performance. 

For speed, we use channels with a 1.5" gap. If the dog has footwork issues, we put them through WAM. For entry issues, we put them on 2 or 3 poles.

For more speed, we create drive by using a lead on the dog with a shorter poles.

I have vids at my Vimeo site showing the dogs going through a gap and Chloe going using the leash method as Scout isn't there yet.

http://www.vimeo.com/agilityjrts

I need to buy the competition poles with the wide base because Chloe is stressed over them.

I am so excited we ordered channel weaves last night. DH broke down and said we could YEAH. It is our Christmas in July present to each other. It will be taken out of our Christmas fund when the bill comes.  

Congrats! Close the gap really slow. I am talking 0.25 to a 0.5" here. If the dog looses speed, reopen the gap. Jack your dog up and send them through it. Use a toy, bait bag/plate on the other end. Or have someone on the other end who the dog really loves to run to. Don't do too many reps and end on a very high note. Time your dog once you are happy with what you have so you have a baseline to go by.

If you desire more speed, just leave the weaves at 1.5" gap. Even more speed and drive, use the leash which will put their head down and drive really hard through the poles.

 ditto what jdata said.  Also build up speed and momentum by having the dog go over a jump or through a tunnel first, if you have them.  If not that's ok too.  If you're getting good speed w/o an obstacle in front, then if you add an obstacle in front, open the channel another 1/2 to 1 inch to make it a little easier the first one or two times through.  Then close it back to the point where you were getting good speed.

As jdata said, remember not to do too many if your getting good speed/weaves.  Depending on the dog, if you get good/great weaves the first or second time, then quit, do something else and come back.  Or change it up by doing a recall, a send or a run with so it's not the same thing every time.  This is something I have to keep telling myself so that I don't shut my dogs down. 
For example, last night, I had WAM's open about 4 inches at the top and got lovely speed and footwork the first time through.  So next I added a jump.  Then I sent from the other side with a tire first and then quit.  All 3 were lovely weaves and no reason to mess up great stuff by asking for more and watching them go downhill.  :)