Dylan after training at Faldo. It was a warm night, but with the shade in the field, it was comfortable enough to train in. There were five of us in the medium class, which runs alongside the small class run by John. That gives us lots of distractions. Jackie decided that Millie (with Daisy) and I (with Dylan) should do a few courses differently to challenge us. This is good for me as I prefer to work out what I am doing without watching others run, although sometimes it takes a few goes.
Warm Up Run Our first run we all did as a warm up run. Jackie had asked us to round the left hand wing of jump 4 so we were asking the dog to run past the tunnel to jump 5. I had no problems with this. In fact it didn't occur to me there was an issue with the tunnel at all! I put in a full 360 degree turn. I wonder if I could have done a blind turn instead?
Next course (2) was set differently for Millie and I. Everyone else got 1, 2, weaves. We had to do 1, 2, 3 and to the other end of the weaves. My issue was that I couldn't work out which side of the weaves Dylan should have gone in until Jackie told me. Otherwise there was no issue and it worked well.
Next course (2) was set differently for Millie and I. Everyone else got 1, 2, weaves. We had to do 1, 2, 3 and to the other end of the weaves. My issue was that I couldn't work out which side of the weaves Dylan should have gone in until Jackie told me. Otherwise there was no issue and it worked well.
Course 2: to the other end of the weaves
The final set of courses are displayed on the right with different coloured numbers to indicate different courses. So the second challenge for Millie and I was the black numbers on the light circles (Top Left Corner of the Diagram) - three jumps and then draw back to the weaves away from the DW. The question is do I turn or draw? I tried drawing Dylan with "Weave" as command. He stopped at the bottom of the DW and looked at me!! So next I put in a turn which worked well. Dylan picked up the weaves from an angle. | 
Next we practised the DW on the way to set up for the Light Red Squares. I set Dylan remembered to stop, but not the position of feet on the ground. I treated that behaviour once I got it! For the course I set Dylan up on jump 1 at an angle to look directly at the tunnel entrance. As he started I said tunnel. I then stepped bak to draw him to jump 3 and then turned so the DW was now on my right, which meant I needed to cross behind jump 5 to get the right onto 6 and then 7. This worked well. How could I have stayed with the DW on my left, but with Dylan still turning right round on jump 3? |
Two exercises along the snake ... one as a snake (Purple Light Circles) and one as two pull ins (Dark Green Squares). As a snake now problems as Dylan does those really well at a fast speed. As pull ins ... the first time was pants as I tried turning my whole body. Then I remembered "grab hands" from Toni Dawkins session, so I used my right hand to grab and draw the line to the next jump. Beautiful tight turns and quick - easy!! Good A frame contacts today as well.
Last run was Dark Red Circles: tunnel, jump, Seesaw and jump, calling away from the A frame. I sent Dylan to the tunnel (as requested by Jackie) and then ran - he followed me to the seesaw. Dylan is still having some issue with the seesaw as although he got the contact he decided to come off the side towards me. The second time I had a treat ready and stopped him as I do for the DW to keep him on the seesaw.
All in all a good session, frying my brain which I like. Good to try some of the new techniques which seemed to work. I wish I had the confidence to try blind turns. I guess that will come. Thank you Jackie for a great session as always.
Last run was Dark Red Circles: tunnel, jump, Seesaw and jump, calling away from the A frame. I sent Dylan to the tunnel (as requested by Jackie) and then ran - he followed me to the seesaw. Dylan is still having some issue with the seesaw as although he got the contact he decided to come off the side towards me. The second time I had a treat ready and stopped him as I do for the DW to keep him on the seesaw.
All in all a good session, frying my brain which I like. Good to try some of the new techniques which seemed to work. I wish I had the confidence to try blind turns. I guess that will come. Thank you Jackie for a great session as always.
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