Nadac Hoopers in Holland - Update: 2 course runs

[Eilfy]

That was VERY nice!  Love that your pup can do that on one part of the field while another dog is training not too far away!

Thanks! As for the bold part: it's more or less mandatory that your dog can ignore other dogs when you train at a "regular" club. So we did a lot of focus and engagement work when he was younger Now Kenji's 2.5 years old and he doesn't care where we work, as long as he can work with me.

Nice! Good path, tight barrels. Looking good.

Thanks. Barrels is still something we have to work on when he has to take them at a larger distance. One barrel isn't a problem but 2 next to each other (with 4-5 meters inbetween) is something we find difficult.

I love watching your videos!  Keep 'em coming!

 

[LeeAnne McAdam]

Very nicely done!!  You will love Amanda!

[Sharon Nelson]

A lot of Americans could learn a lot from your training perspective!  It reminds me of our "good old days" when dogs were totally focused on working with their handlers and distance wasn't considered "too tough".

You show how the correct foundation creates a dog that moves freely at a distance and that same foundation creates a dog that has no concerns about what else is going on around them and only focuses on the teamwork between dog and handler.

Great work!!

Sharon

[Eilfy]

Thanks!

And yeah, I strongly believe in foundation first. Focus, engagement, body awareness, learning to play, building strength and endurance... simple things. With Kenji, the first 4 months (from 8 weeks till he was about 6 months old) I did nothing else than focus games in all manners. Short sessions just to teach him "Hey pal, if you work with me it's a lot of fun!". From 6 months on I started with some basic exercises (sit, down, stay, target etc.) and body awareness. Added some strength throughout his first year of life. Not until he was 1 year old I started with specific foundation for sports (jump training, 2 on 2 off, tight turns around all sorts of objects etc.).

My biggest advantage through all this: I knew my dog. I knew who he was, what he thinks is tough and what is easy for him, how he reacts to strange situations and where our focus should be. Admittingly, Kenji has been a bliss to work with because he flew through everything (really, people are surprised when he is "naughty cuz he rarely is". And now I am at this stage Trying to get ourselves prepared for agility competition while we are currently at the 3rd place in the national hooper competition (out of 30 competitors).

So yea... foundation is the base of all. And foundation is the reason I can post videos like the one I just did

And the reason I am so looking forward to the seminar with Amanda, is that she focusses a lot on foundation too but specifically for distance training. And that is where I have to learn a lot still because I think I made a few slips here and there but at this moment I do not have the knowledge to see where I have to retrain or take some steps back. So... is it February already?

[DeafSheltieMom]

Lovely handling and great TEAMWORK!  I enjoyed your video, and want to see more!   Would sure love to run a hoopers courses with a tunnel and barrel for added spice!  Looks like fun!  Congrats on your standing in hoopers nationals... the video shows why you two are so good!
-dayle

[Eilfy]

Thanks so far for the great comments

Last Friday, we had the 3rd training of summer class. We did 3 courses of which 2 were filmed. First course contains of hoops and gates and was meant to test our handling skills. Distances between hoops are 4 meters approximately and we had to choose one position from which we were allowed to support the dog by making a few steps. It took a few efforts, especially because Kenji is really independent and loves hoops (and I was way too late + my feet were pointing in the wrong direction  ). But in the end (3rd attempt) we nailed it!

Second course was the regular course from the last match. It's a starters course so easy lines. We did increase the distances a bit so it would be more of a challenge. Kenji did that one at his very first attempt, despite it being the end of a very intense training session.

[Linda W. Anderson]

Great job!  Your handling is very nice.
Linda

[Karen Birdsong]

I found this threat in early June, the day my friends were returning to the USA after visiting family in the Netherlands.  I sure wish I had found it earlier as both the husband and wife compete in NADAC agility and would have loved to have visited with you and share agility stories. 

Thanks for your posts.  It is fun to see what is happening in other countries.