Prima's Training Blog

2011-12-28T15:42:00.003+02:00

This winter has been very warm and we don't have any snow at the moment - hopefully it will stay this way...

There hasn't happened so much lately. Prima's back has been checked again and there were some changes, but nothing that would stop us training agility :). We already had a little break but we are getting back on track again.

We had on freestyle and HTM competition in the beginning of December. The competition was held in a big dog show in Helsinki, so the venue wasn't very easy for young Prima - but she worked very well and didn't care about the audience while working. Our HTM routine went very well and we got enough points to get to the next class :) Prima is now in the highest class in HTM. Our freestyle routine didn't went very well: there was lots of barking :(. I think we will concentrate only on agility and HTM next year.

Autumn news

2011-10-12T18:58:00.003+03:00

I am lazy blogger... I think I won't even get better, so you should just get used to it :). Again, I will post some videos.

Agility competition some weeks ago. It went otherwise pretty ok, but Prima can't do the weaves. I made some handling mistakes too. Prima has now wires in the beginning of the weaves. I hope she will learn to find always the right entry and also brake down before the weaves. It looks pretty good in training :).

Training in Turku 30.9
This training went very well for our level :). Prima was awesome!

Freestyle and Heelwork To Music competition on 9th October. Prima did so good! She concentrated very well and did everything as could as she does in training. I could have been better :).

We had new freestyle routine and became 2nd in the class. We got the first KUMA from the 2nd class (of three classes). We need another KUMA from this class to get to the highest class.

In HTM we also competed in 2nd class and got KUMA. Prima won the class :).

Agility competitions and training with Zeljko Gora

2011-09-05T19:40:00.002+03:00

After almost 6 months break from agility competitions we had four courser during the weekend. Thinking about handling and finding the way through the course, it was better than in March - at least most of the time. Still, there is soooo much to train, but I think we have improved. Contacts (except seesaw) were nice!

Unfortunately some old problems are still there: weave entries, flying seesaw... I am getting pretty depressed, because these haven't been an issue in training lately. I hope that getting more experience about competing and of course training just more weave entries with high speed would help.

Today we had nice training with Zeljko, who comes from Croatia. He handles bit (or pretty much?) differently from many Finnish handlers - much more simple and his dog is very well trained. We had some nice sequences with Prima and I had a really good feeling afterwards.

Some to-do-thing that came up:
- tight turns from high speed, after a fluent sequence
- turning after go-around - not jumping to the wrong direction
- my lateral distance to first jump

I have uploaded some videos during the last weeks - you can check them on my youtube account.

Prima growing up

2011-07-18T20:15:00.002+03:00

9 weeks

12 weeks

17 weeks (almost 4 months)

5 months

almost 7 months

9 months
© Maria Sorvali

10 months (with coat)

11,5 months (without coat)

13 months

14,5 months

22,5 months

She is so pretty!

Video update

2011-07-16T17:53:00.006+03:00

Oops... I am poor when it comes to writing something to the blog. I will start with a little video update. Oldest first.

Training on 14th April (that's long time ago....)

Finnish Championships in HTM and Freestyle
Lack of training... I started training two weeks before the competition, which clearly was way too late. Can't bare the dogs.

In the beginning of June Prima was on heat and we didn't do much agility. We also missed Finnish Championships in Obedience (Prima would have been in class 2 and would have been part of a team), another Obedience Trial (class 3) and one agility competition...

Agility Training on 26th June

Training a course from Finnish Championships. Some of the best clips from the training. We still have so much to do... Prima does pretty well (she need some more training on weaves), but I not so good.

We took some x-rays of Prima's back this week. Her back is normal :)

Things to train

2011-03-09T10:10:00.004+02:00

I can't list all the things we should train, but I just write some notes for myself.

- Jumps before tunnel/chute when they are in straight line and I run beside or ahead

Prima sometimes knocks the bar, because she starts to "dive" into the tunnel
I'll do sequence the every second obstacle is tunnel and every other jump. They are in straight lines to that she can she the next tunnel when she comes out from the first one, but she should collect herself a bit and take the jump
The height of the jumps should vary

- Turns like this are difficult for us:

Prima should collect herself quite much. I have to train a verbal command for that. That won't be easy and will take a time, but I'll try

- Weaves

Slight angles with lots of speed (breaking down)
I have problems with handling, because I want to give the dog time to find the entry and don't want to push, but if I don't move the dog doesn't even know where to go. Finding the balance

- Contacts

Staying until I release!

Unofficial competition on 6th March

2011-03-09T09:58:00.002+02:00

On Sunday we were in an unofficial competition, where we had the chance to do the same course twice.

The first try was very good actually! I just couldn't handle Prima to the weaves and she saw them too late. She got the right entry but was not able to bend herself to the second gap. My fault! Contacts were nice again, although I am not very sure if I released Prima on the dogwalk or if she did that by herself.

On the second round I wasn't so concentrated and we had more mistakes. I had decided that Prima should stand bit longer on the contacts. I think she still cheated on the A-frame... She knocked the bar because I was on her way. The way to the tunnel was bad again, I trained it yesterday and it worked better already. The dog goes almost automatically to the right side of the jump after the tyre and I can leave the dog to do that to get to the jump eight. I am then just next to the jump eight to turn her.

The dogwalk was better this time but I still didn't manage to handle Prima to the weaves. The rear cross in the end was better on this course.

Competition on 5th March

2011-03-09T09:46:00.002+02:00

First the video:

The first run was bit chaotic again. On the jump 6 I was too much ahead Prima. Weaves were again difficult for her. She has problems with slight angles and doesn't break down enough. After the weaves I was behind Prima and didn't really handle. Prima also knocked one bar before the chute. I am very pleased with the contacts!

Second run was much better (and very easy course :) )! Contacts were nice! Prima had to wait quite long on the dogwalk. Prima knocked one bar - before a tunnel. Otherwise the course was nice :). I was bit worried about the teeter because the distance between the teeter and the jump before it was so long, but Prima did her work well and didn't do a flyer.

Prima is in quite high drive in competitions (but still cool otside the course!) and her position on contacts is bit different than in training. Offcourse she has two paws on the ground and two on the contact, but her front is also on the ground like in the play bow. In training she just stands there. I think it is nothing to worry about.

Agility competition on 20th February

2011-02-23T17:36:00.002+02:00

Again on agility competition with Prima. This time we had one jumping and two agility courses. Unfortunately I have no videos :(.

Jumping course was quite nice. I made one bad rear cross (I pushed too early to Prima's line) and she turned before the jump. In the end of the course she knocked one bar in front cross. So our result was 10 with the second fastest time!

First agility run was ok too. I called Prima just when she was going to see-saw (to break her bit down - which I never do in training...) so she missed the see-saw and run beside it - my fault! Although she barely had any speed when she came to the see-saw on second time, she did it very fast. Contacts were nice on this course. On dogwalk she had little error and almost stopped in the dogwalk, because the judge was between me and Prima. It is funny that although I was far behind Prima, she still can keep her eye on me. She continued well and did nice 2o2o. She knocked again one bar. I think she hurried after me.

Second agility run started well. Prima made nice turn in the beginning but didn't find the right weave entry a moment later. I pushed her bit too much, she saw the weaves too late and came really fast so she couldn't break up. She also breaked her 2o2o position on A-frame (I did a blind cross). She climbed herself back to A-frame, I made another blind cross and released her.

Freestyle competition on 12th February

2011-02-18T17:33:00.002+02:00

I write almost only about agility training and trial, but we train also freestyle and heelwork to music regularly. Prima participated Finnish Championships in HTM (which mostly heelwork in different positions) last autumn and was third. HTM is new sport in Finland, so there wasn't many participants. Prima would haven been in Finnish Team in Nordic Championships, but she was three weeks too young for that event. A week ago we had out first freestyle competition.

I was mostly worried if Prima could concentrate good enough in new environment. But she did just great! There were only few little mistakes - I made the biggest by being ahead the music once. Prima won the beginner class (the easiest from three classes) whit great points! She can now start in higher level and can also participate Finnish Championship in freestyle. In HTM there isn't any requirements yet, but in freestaly the dog must be in open class.

We have work hard this winter and spring because the Championships will be already in May this year :) Prima will compete in both Freestyle and HTM and my older dog, schnauzer Rita will compete in Freestyle.

Agility competition on 6th February

2011-02-18T17:25:00.002+02:00

We had one jumping course almost two week ago in Helsinki. It was quite ok, but Prima knocked two bars, which is not so nice. On the third bar I turned too late and I think, that Prima didn't know that the turn was going to be to tight. She almost fell over after the jump. In the end she didn't take one jump after the chute. I am not so worried about that, she just didn't know it yet.

Training on 4th February

2011-02-05T17:31:00.004+02:00

Yeasterday we trained this course:

It was really lots of fun! I really had to run and trust my dog. We trained this course in three sequences. First was from 1 to 11, second from 7 to 14 and third from 13 to 20.

The first sequences was not so difficult for us and Prima did quite nice turns on jumps seven and eight. Here is a short clip of that sequence:

Then came the pull-throughs... which are still difficult for me. I first left Prima between 10 and 11 and tried them with less speed. It needed some training but went ok after all - also with speed. At jump Prima turned to her rights (as I wanted), but there was a dogwalk in the side of the training area which caused some problems. Prima wanted to do the dogwalk and didn't come to my handling. Had to train that too :)

Prima found the weave entries very although I rushed with her to weaves (she is not so used to me pushing her to weaves). I made a blind cross after weaves - they went well although we haven't done them before. My timing just had to be right. The turn on jump 16 was easy and the on on 18 as well. I just had to send Prima to jump 18 and then already run into other direction to be in time after the tunnel. After some tries it went very well too :)

Prima knocked few bars (three mayby?) and hitted them too, but much less than on Wendesday. Still, correcting her everytime is difficult. Everything happens so fast :)

We had so much fun training yesterday - I just love agility and Prima!

Training on 2nd February

2011-02-05T12:37:00.003+02:00

Last Wendesday we had again training with our trainer. The course was nice. There were many good parts, but also some mistakes. She knocked 4 bars and hit (so that I heard it) the bar 5 or 6 times in the whole training. That is way too much for me! The trainer agreed with me that I should stop her if she knocks or hits the bar. I just have to be consequent with that! She also brake the 2o2o position once - or actually almost twice. Otherwise the dogwalks (we didn't have other contacts on the course) were quite nice. Prima did once only 10 poles, but other tries were better! She found the entry very well and the rear cross didn't disturb her at all.

I was few times in the line of the dog. She once crossed behind my back and went to dogwalk because of that (and because she loves dogwalk). Although I stand on her line, she should came to my handling! The almost straight line in the end was difficult too. My hand were in the air (I should NOT do that!) and Prima didn't take the last jump. Even with a toy in the she skipped the last jump. On third try she too all three jumps.

Here is a video of some good and some not so good parts :)

Training on 2nd February from Leena In on Vimeo.

Training on 25th January

2011-01-26T21:23:00.003+02:00

We trained this course (we had not change it a bit because our training area is only 20x30m)

Our training didn't went that well. We had quite much difficulties and I got frustrated :(. Weaves after the chute were challenging. I had to stand still and let Prima find the entry by herself. If I moved, Prima ran after me and hit the wrong entry.

Prima knocked many bars. The jump number 4 (it was normal jump) because I run fast in front of her. She wanted to chase me and didn't concentrate on jumping. My friend told me good exercise to train it. She knocked also the jump number 8 more than once. The angle to the jump was hard for many dogs.

Contacts were partly good and partly only ok. After training the course, we came up with new exercise for Prima. She is on leash so that I can get her into higher drive. The helper has the leash and I run with the toy in my hand. I pull the toy down the A-frame (Prima sees it and wants to chase it) and keep running with the toy. Prima has to stop by herself (with loose leash). If she doesn't, she doesn't get the toy either. She got the idea very fast and stopped well despite the high speed. When Prima stand in the 2o2o position, the helper slightly pulled from the leash to get Prima away from the position. This was easy for Prima :), but she really has to stand well, not only "on her toes".

Competition on 23rd January

2011-01-26T20:35:00.002+02:00

Last Sunday we had our second competition. I really had thought that agility would be much easier...

First run:

Chaos again... Planning my handling is very difficult for me and I was really unsure with my chooses (how I would handle the dog). I didn't really handle Prima but just stand still and tried to run after her. We have trained much more complicated courses and this kind of smooth courses, where speed increases are difficult.

And contacts... Dogwalk was pretty nice but she came way to fast to A-frame and couldn't actually stop herself. She stopped on the ground and fast moved her hind legs. She did a flyer on see-saw, so I took it again. Second see-saw was better. If we train on course, we are not allowed to continue the course, so I just run away from the course.

Unfortunately I didn't got the second run on video. It was much better!! I made very bad front cross and pushed Prima to wrong side of one jump - so it was also disqualification. Because of that bad front cross Prima knocked one bar. Otherwise the run was clean. On contacts I run until Prima stopped (she stopped before me), stand for a little while (to calm me and Prima down), started moving and released Prima. Before the release and "teased" Prima a bit and made some fast movements towards the next obstacle. Prima reacted, but did not brake the 2o2o position.

I really have to think about the contacts... When the contacts are on course Prima is much faster and higher drive. She makes then more mistakes on taking the position (she brakes too late). In higher drive Prima doesn't stay on contacts that well, because she "stands on her toes" and she knows that she will get released soon. Dog training is not very easy!

Agility training on 19th January

2011-01-20T20:03:00.003+02:00

We had yesterday training with our group and trainer. When we train with the group, we usually have a course to train. In most cases the course is then divided into shorter sequences, where we try different possibilities to handle the dog. Unfortunately the time is bit too short, so there is always some things that we can do later. And of course there comes up some problems, which we then work.

Here is the video:

Agility training on 19th January from Leena In on Vimeo.

We had some challenges with the weaves (again..). Somehow I have thought that Prima's weaves are ok, but actually she often struggles with them. This time the entries were good! The end of the weaves was not that good. Because of my mistake (I turned she too early), she stopped too early and after that repeated that even though I kept on running forward. We had to do some repetitions where I rewarded her, if she did all poles. In the end, she did the weaves very nicely.

She knocked one bar in the first try. I think she just hurried and didn't really jump. Because of me she knocked the last part of the long jump once, I called her when she jumped. She also "hits" some bars, but they don't fall down. This is not she first time she does that and I really don't know what I should do for that? Any ideas?

Last five obstacles were difficult for us. The turn from long jump was not easy and Prima turned some times even in wrong direction (not on the video). I am really bad with pull-throughs, but after some good advice, we managed to do them :) The front cross after the pull-through was not very good though.

We clocked the first three obstacles; there were do different ways to do the second jump. The way seen in the beginning of the video was 0,05 secs faster. The other way (on the video at 0:40) was not perfect, so I think that both ways are good for Prima.

I was very pleased after the training and we got again some good advice!

Today we did some freestyle, but I did weaves 4-5 times too. She did every time 12 poles even though I tried to handle her (push & pull) out from the weaves. I didn't do anything very difficult, but played with my movement. Yesterday she learned to turn left after the 11th pole and she did it today too, although I did not turn her. I think we won't train much those turns away from me after weaves. She has to learn to go around the last pole, because most of the time she has do go that way.

Training videos

2011-01-17T20:54:00.007+02:00

I have some new videos from contact release and weave training.

On Sunday we worked on contact releases, which worked pretty well. She didn't break the position, but did one flyer (on see-saw). I had no one to hold the camera, so the quality is not that good, but I have almost all repetitions on video. We did also a few dogwalks which didn't get filmed. I noticed that I released Prima two times with "jump" or "tunnel" cue, not with "tule", which is her actual release command.

We did also some weaves with hard entries, but it was too difficult for Prima. She did many mistakes and had way too less success - my mistake. I should have made it easier for her. I was quite disappointed with myself after the training and wanted to train some weave entries yesterday. With low speed Prima hits the entries nicely, but with higher speed it is way more difficult for her. This time she learned where the weaves are, but in course she has also find them, which makes finding the entry harder. Lots of work to do, but I'am happy that Prima tried something else if she made a mistake and often found the right entry in first try.

Although I had only six poles (instead of 12) and the repetitions were divided in two sessions, it was maybe too much weaving for one day. I have to pay attention to that next time!

Contact releases

2011-01-15T16:03:00.006+02:00

As I promised, I am going to write about our contact releases. Prima has 2on-2off contact and she has a release word ("tule", which means come in Finnish). She should not break the position until she hears the word - regardless of my moving.

I have noticed that I react unconsciously if Prima is going to break the position - I slow down or make a fast movement towards Prima, which makes her to stop. I want her to learn to stop automatically without a verbal or non-verbal command. I also gain speed and move my hands when I release Prima - almost always. So she has learnt (classical conditioning) that speeding up = release :(.

I really have to work on my own movement, which is extremely hard. We have also had exercises where I made similar movements as I have made when I release her. Sometimes I play with her when she is in the position, throw a toy or release her and run a few obstacles. I think they have helped, but we still have lot of work to do. My goal is to run, pass Prima and keep on running as I would have the dog with me. In some point I release her with the cue.

Prima doing the see-saw in August

She brakes sometime too late and actually stand on the ground (no legs on contact zone) when she has stopped. In such cases I say "oops" and do the dogwalk again with same speed. Normally she then brakes down bit earlier and manages to stop to 2o2 position.

I just have to patient and be sure that I won't reinforce the wrong behavior (by letting her run after a mistake). We will have two agility runs next week Sunday and hope the contacts we will good there :)

Starting a new blog

2011-01-14T21:33:00.006+02:00

I have had a few blogs - most of them about dog training. I have never before had a blog in English, so this will be my first time. There are two main reasons for that: many people understand no Finnish and I am going to have my English exams this spring. I am sure there will be a lot grammar mistakes and so on, but you understand what I try explain. My knowledge of dog vocabulary is not that good either, but I'll try my best :). Having a blog is also a good way to stay on track with dog's training.

Prima in November

I will mostly write about Prima's agility, obedience and heelwork to music/freestyle training here in Finland. Prima is 1½ years old Border Collie, who is starting to compete in agility. In obedience and HTM we have also had a few competitions or exams. She is a very, very nice dog to train and I really enjoy doing things with her. Agility is for sure the favorite of both of us.

I will soon write a post about our problems with contact releases.