weave challenges

• 05-13-2008 8:52 PM

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 994 Points 10

  weave challenges Reply Contact I've been taking Zoe to agility classes for almost a year now, and she is doing very well...with the exception of the weave poles.  We haven't been able to move up from the intermediate level class soley because of this obstacle (literally and figuratively, lol).  She always gets the entrance wrong, and even when it's right, she pops out the next pole.  It usually takes at least 10 attempts to get it right each time.  By the end of each class she improves a little but next week it's back to the same crap.  Every once and a while she surprises me and it only takes 2 or 3 attempts and then she is weaving through all 12 poles with no problem.  You would think that by a year of weekly practice she would be doing it as long as the weaves are channeled, but sometimes I think she honestly just doesn't get it.  She is fantastic with the rest of the course and follows all my cues perfectly.  She's fast and precise.  But I feel like we're making ZERO progres with the weaves. I can't really practice outside of class because I don't have a backyard, nor do I have room in my house to set up equipment.  But no one else in the class is practicing at home and not one other dog in the class is having problems with the weaves.  I don't think my signal is off either because I've run other dogs in the class and they are fine.  There are other very small dogs, a chi and a cavalier, and they weave like pros.  I'm just so frustrated. Sometimes I just want to give up with her and concentrate on Zack who has started the beginner's class. I only continue with her because I know she loves going to her classes. Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 8 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat

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• 05-14-2008 9:40 AM

  In reply to jenns

  KarissaKS Joined on 06-01-2007 La Crosse, WI Posts 598 Points 795

  Re: weave challenges Reply Contact In my experience, most dogs are not going to master the weave poles by working on them once a week in class.  Especially since you are experiencing problems with them, I think this is something that you MUST practice at home. I live in an apartment and I can't leave equipment outside.  That means that my weave poles live in my living room.  I built a set of six (with my dad's help!) and they fit with just enough room to allow for an entry & exit, although we can't work on difficult entries very easily due to lack of room. I used to work Luke through the poles every single day.  I used a very high value treat and/or reward (like tug).  The sessions were very brief (five minutes or so) but EVERY day.  He had his weaves by the end of our beginners class thanks to this (the poles got built between the first and second week of classes). If space is a big concern, just build a set of three.  It sounds like your entrances are the big buggaboo, so a short set of three should allow you to work on this easily.  You might consider purchasing a set of guide wires for your home set to ensure that Zoe always gets the correct entrance, then start weaning them away. If this is absolutely not a possibility, the only other suggestion that I have for you is to get to your training club a few times a week to practice.  Weaves need TIME and PRACTICE.  They will come with no other method. Luke -- Lab/Shepherd (1-1-04) Kaiser -- Alaskan Klee Kai (12-30-07) Sar -- Arabian gelding (4-11-80) Norman -- Percheron/TB gelding (6-18-00)

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• 05-14-2008 9:59 AM

  In reply to jenns

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 6,745 Points 850	Re: weave challenges Reply Contact I just built a new set on Saturday, a full dozen and they are channel weaves so excellent for training and can be used indoors or out.  It only cost me $20.  I can give you the instructions if you want.  Kenya knows how to weave but we still run through them a few times each day. My Blog - http://24ft.dutchbingo.net My Site - http://liesrosema.com
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• 05-15-2008 12:13 AM

  In reply to Liesje

  jdata Joined on 09-10-2007 Meadville PA Posts 520 Points 2,440

  Re: weave challenges Reply Contact You might want to get this month's Clean run issue as it talks about weave poles problems. But with your problem, you might have to break it down for your dog even more. By either using gates at the entry point to make sure the dogs understands. Be sure your dog is close to the first pole. Once success is high, start moving her back and then remove the gates. Reward a lot and give a short time of practice. Lower the total amount of poles to 2. Seriously. Use the entry gates if need be. If she succeed, lower remove the gates then add two more poles and if the success continues, add another pair of poles. Keeps the success high and the time short! This is call the 2x2 method FWIW. You might have to completely back up and retrain on the channels. She doesn't have an injury does she? Weave poles can cause injury. How does she look when she is successfully doing them? Is her footwork up to par? Everything in unisom?  I just used PVC channels poles for training. Here's a test vid: http://www.vimeo.com/1018396

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• 05-19-2008 9:28 AM

  In reply to jdata

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 994 Points 10

  Re: weave challenges Reply Contact I do have a practice set that can be broken down into as few poles as you want, but the base is round pvc pipe that my short-legged little one needs to jump over as she weaves through each pole.   What I need is a set with a flat base. jdata: How does she look when she is successfully doing them? Is her footwork up to par? Everything in unisom?  To be honest it's hard to tell because her legs are so short so her "style" is differnet than the other dogs in the class, she just kind of trots around the poles instead of jumping through them like the larger dogs.  I'm not sure what the correct footwork would be for a dog her size. Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 8 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat

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• 05-19-2008 10:10 AM

  In reply to jenns

  jdata Joined on 09-10-2007 Meadville PA Posts 520 Points 2,440	Re: weave challenges Reply Contact Small dogs either hop or skips. If they are small, they just trot through them.  I guess she would look like a Corgi going through them and that looks like a trot to me from looking at the one in class.
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• 05-19-2008 10:36 AM

  In reply to jenns

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 6,745 Points 850

  Re: weave challenges Reply Contact jenns: I do have a practice set that can be broken down into as few poles as you want, but the base is round pvc pipe that my short-legged little one needs to jump over as she weaves through each pole.   What I need is a set with a flat base.     How about something like this?  PVC set with a PVC base, but the base is on the "outside" so the dog never touches it (unless she pops out early).  There are gaps where the dog enters and exits, so again, no having to step over the base.    I used to use the weave-o-matic with Kenya but now I'm sold on channels.  I love this channel set and even though Kenya has been weaving for years, I still give her 4-6 inches of space between rows so we can work on speed and drive without compromising her accuracy.  My Blog - http://24ft.dutchbingo.net My Site - http://liesrosema.com

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