Rubie's Agility Career
- Thread starter LifeofRubie
- Start date
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Thank you @ddski!
So since these were such good runs, I need to ask myself: WHY!?
Obviously these type of courses don't have 'dumb' stuff like contacts and weave poles to slow Rubie down; the judge isn't calling out numbers and they're designed to be 'fast flowing.' Rubie like's to run run RUN!
I did a little mock-up of our routes because it's a slow day at work and because it helps me visual what we did well.
Red is Rubie, Green is me.
Because Rubie is so fast, sending and distance work is something I value. I haven't been doing start line stays (where she waits at the first jump and I walk ahead of her to then release her) because she tends to shut down. The first "S" right after jump 2 indicates that I was approximately in that location when I 'sent' her to the tunnel. Because I didn't need to be right up to it, I was able to skirt around jump 4 and be on the other side of it to put me in a better position when she came out! The black square indicates that I was there waiting for her and was able to call out over jump #4.
sequence 5-8 is pretty straightforward and something we practice often enough. I just kinda jog in a small circle and she takes a wide circle. Once I knew she was committed to jump 8, I was able to take off toward the tunnel and send her (the second "S") into it. Definitely closer this time but still enough time for me to run up and catch her coming out and signal her to keep moving forward to jump #11. Cuing about what's coming next while she's still in the tunnel is something we've been working on, too.
The red stop sign looking this is where I stopped forward motion so that she knew to come in after jump #12. Once she turned in an committed to #13, I run up to #14 but let her get ahead of me so that as she's going over #15, I cross behind her, rear cross indicated by "X," to pull her into #16.
A very simple course on paper but a lot of people struggled with it. A fast dog with no distance, a dog that hasn't learned to commit to the obstacle in front of it, and dogs struggling with losing site of their handlers could make this a very challenging course.
these are all things Rubie is awesome at! Luckily you can get a champion title on just these Speedstakes courses
So since these were such good runs, I need to ask myself: WHY!?
Obviously these type of courses don't have 'dumb' stuff like contacts and weave poles to slow Rubie down; the judge isn't calling out numbers and they're designed to be 'fast flowing.' Rubie like's to run run RUN!
I did a little mock-up of our routes because it's a slow day at work and because it helps me visual what we did well.
Red is Rubie, Green is me.
Because Rubie is so fast, sending and distance work is something I value. I haven't been doing start line stays (where she waits at the first jump and I walk ahead of her to then release her) because she tends to shut down. The first "S" right after jump 2 indicates that I was approximately in that location when I 'sent' her to the tunnel. Because I didn't need to be right up to it, I was able to skirt around jump 4 and be on the other side of it to put me in a better position when she came out! The black square indicates that I was there waiting for her and was able to call out over jump #4.
sequence 5-8 is pretty straightforward and something we practice often enough. I just kinda jog in a small circle and she takes a wide circle. Once I knew she was committed to jump 8, I was able to take off toward the tunnel and send her (the second "S") into it. Definitely closer this time but still enough time for me to run up and catch her coming out and signal her to keep moving forward to jump #11. Cuing about what's coming next while she's still in the tunnel is something we've been working on, too.
The red stop sign looking this is where I stopped forward motion so that she knew to come in after jump #12. Once she turned in an committed to #13, I run up to #14 but let her get ahead of me so that as she's going over #15, I cross behind her, rear cross indicated by "X," to pull her into #16.
A very simple course on paper but a lot of people struggled with it. A fast dog with no distance, a dog that hasn't learned to commit to the obstacle in front of it, and dogs struggling with losing site of their handlers could make this a very challenging course.
these are all things Rubie is awesome at! Luckily you can get a champion title on just these Speedstakes courses
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Thank you! Still lots to work on but I think we're getting there!
I think you're more than 'there'! You're doing a great job!
You guys are doing great! I love hearing about your achievements 
LifeofRubie
Moderator
So we actually had A LOT of fun today!
This was our 1st Novice Speedstakes run of the day. I look sloppy but we got through it!
Our second run was odd. Three jumps in and she shut down. Third run was Jumpers with Weaves, saw the weave poles and shut down. For our forth run, Dog Dad and Moo came to watch and I opted to do NFC (Not For Competition) which gives us standard course time to do whatever we want and I have a toy to reward with. She did AWESOME! fast, responsive, nailed 12 weaves three times, got all her contacts, etc. We ended on that super high note, scratched the last course, and went to the brewery next door.
On another note, Moo behaved beautifully being crated and left alone in a trial environment which is a great head start to his career
12 of 20 points toward our Novice Speedstakes title! There were some AMAZING and inspiring teams there today.
This was our 1st Novice Speedstakes run of the day. I look sloppy but we got through it!
Our second run was odd. Three jumps in and she shut down. Third run was Jumpers with Weaves, saw the weave poles and shut down. For our forth run, Dog Dad and Moo came to watch and I opted to do NFC (Not For Competition) which gives us standard course time to do whatever we want and I have a toy to reward with. She did AWESOME! fast, responsive, nailed 12 weaves three times, got all her contacts, etc. We ended on that super high note, scratched the last course, and went to the brewery next door.
On another note, Moo behaved beautifully being crated and left alone in a trial environment which is a great head start to his career
12 of 20 points toward our Novice Speedstakes title! There were some AMAZING and inspiring teams there today.
Well done guys! Looks like you had a great celebration, too. Well done to Moose, too. Good lad!
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Thank you, ladies!!
I was chatting with a lady who was there running her dog, Flex, about some of the challenges we were having and she was very kind about it and said we looked great out there and those things would pass with time and that we looked really good out there together! She and her husband were travel between Washington State and Florida, I believe, stopping along the way for some trials because she and Flex were really on a roll and she wanted to keep it up. Watching these two was like watching a ballet, if I may be so dramatic!
Anywho, I did some research when I got home last night and she and Flex represent the USA in a lot of international competitions; they're like BIG BIG time! And they were at this teeny tiny trial in IL randomly and complimented me and Rubie
It seems she uploads a lot of their runs on her YouTube channel so I'll have to keep an eye out for some of her runs from this weekend! I wish I'd chatted with her a bit more....
I was chatting with a lady who was there running her dog, Flex, about some of the challenges we were having and she was very kind about it and said we looked great out there and those things would pass with time and that we looked really good out there together! She and her husband were travel between Washington State and Florida, I believe, stopping along the way for some trials because she and Flex were really on a roll and she wanted to keep it up. Watching these two was like watching a ballet, if I may be so dramatic!
Anywho, I did some research when I got home last night and she and Flex represent the USA in a lot of international competitions; they're like BIG BIG time! And they were at this teeny tiny trial in IL randomly and complimented me and Rubie
It seems she uploads a lot of their runs on her YouTube channel so I'll have to keep an eye out for some of her runs from this weekend! I wish I'd chatted with her a bit more....
Kaiser2016
Well-Known Member
What a great surprise! Should make you feel awesome!Anywho, I did some research when I got home last night and she and Flex represent the USA in a lot of international competitions; they're like BIG BIG time! And they were at this teeny tiny trial in IL randomly and complimented me and Rubie
LifeofRubie
Moderator
well thank you! We've had a lot of ups and downs and still have a long journey ahead of us but I like to revisit the beginning of this thread every so often and remember how far we've come when we've had a bad day
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Signed us up for 3 UKI runs this morning. VERY small trial; maybe 15 dogs across all levels which is absurd but keeps things moving quickly so usually more fun.
First run, Speedstakes, Dingo got too distracted and we got Eliminated. Second run was better but handler error resulted in her breaking the plane of a jump instead of going over it with is a fault and NQ. 3rd run had weaves so... That was a no go video is our second run!
No ribbons but we had fun and I learned that deceleration is vastly underrated!
First run, Speedstakes, Dingo got too distracted and we got Eliminated. Second run was better but handler error resulted in her breaking the plane of a jump instead of going over it with is a fault and NQ. 3rd run had weaves so... That was a no go
video is our second run! No ribbons but we had fun and I learned that deceleration is vastly underrated!
I love watching Rubie. She is a wonder dog in my book with discerning tastes!!
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Yes, the 28 second mark, she "refuses" the jump by running past it. It wouldn't have been anything in CPE and AKC would've faulted it but we still would've Qed. UKI is definitely more competitive but I just love Speedstakes and Rubie generally does, too. She seemed a bit indifferent today, though. And yes, the dog noises, the people in/on/around the course, everyone smelling like some sort of treat or throwing some type of toy around, they have to learn to ignore it which is a HUGE feat, regardless. Some venues will even allow dogs in heat to compete!
She can be quite fun, even when she's feeling particularly sassy
I'm glad people aren't tired of Rubie agility videos, yet!!
