[debjen]

I found out when I started to trial Cedar earlier this year that he didn't really understand weaving..he would get entry and the exit but run by the middle poles .. he was originally taught with the channel weaves and basically the channel weaves teach them to run by the poles..so I retaught him using the 2 x 2 method..We've had a couple of weeks of between classes and I've really been working with him on the 2 x 2 and I had gotten him up to 8 poles (a friend has my other 2 sets)..so tonight we resumed classes and he did 12 weave poles for the first time..now he still wasn't hundered percent but I think we did weaves 5 times and 3 of them were completely correct..

Robbie on the the other hand who stresses the weaves for some reason (but can do them beautifully when he wants)I've been working the 2 x 2 too to try and build up his confidence and wanting him to decide the weave poles are a good thing..so during a warm up before class (actually before Flyer's class whose was first) did some nice weave poles with a somewhat difficult entry..during class couldn't get him to weave at all..he wasn't even getting the entry..however right at the end of class we did a real quick 5 obstacle run with the same entry I had worked at before class (a tunnel almost a U turn to the weaves with the entry on the far side of the poles) and he did it perfect...What am I going to do with that boy!!!!

Flyer is in a beginning class and he is just working on obstacles and did a really nice job on his obstacles to night.

 

[patm]

That's cool! I don't do agility at all, and have no idea how to teach weaves (but it was interesting to read your description of teaching them), but I'm thinking that even if a dog can "do them perfectly" sometimes, and then not seem to understand them at all the next time, that they don't truely "get it" yet. I think it's like that alot of times in any training that we do with them. They can seem to do it perfectly, then you take them somewhere else, or change it a little and they fall apart. Once they really 'get it", they'll be much more consistent.

 

[brody]

nice work
I hate weaving - so shock of all shocks my dogs aren't great weavers either

 

[3TailsWaggin]

Good job! Sounds like Cedar is really starting to understand the weaves.

None of my dogs are great at weaving. Ruger will go like a BC at home, but not at a trial. It's hard to motivate him through without his ball. We just keep working at it.

 

[agilitymom]

The best advice I was given was to support the dog into the entry with your shoulders and arm closest to the dog. Then when your dog is in the weaves support with the shoulders ie: shoulders facing the dog until he finishes the poles. Additionally I support with my command: get it for the entry, go, go, go, in the poles at pole 9 with my pole popper I command "get it" again. After successful completion I say "yes" which is my marker word-similar to a clicker to let my dogs know that they were correct. I was never trained to support the poles. It was the dog's job to find and complete the poles. I found that with my new trainer's advice that the support of all obstacles is the handler's responsibility and ensures that your dog takes the right obstacle and takes it fast and accurately. It has made a huge difference in my dog's performance and mine.

 

[kaytris]

good boy cedar! now i can't remember.. who is flyer?

(and for those doubting the efficacy of the 2 x 2 method - check out Garrett and Encore's amazing independent back-to-front entry at the Worlds last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I97topvBqvQ

 

[Baloo317]

I must have agility's most backwards dogs.

Neither had any problems with weaves at all, both LOVE weaving. Contact obstacles are our achilles heel. Peanut because she's wimpy and nervous, and Baloo because his reckless abandon gets him in big trouble.

 

[brody]

brody would weave well if he had been taught well ...
Sally races 4 and even 6 poles (2x2 method) but I can't seem to stop moving my body to let her work out 12 by herself ... so really weave issues are mine aren't they??

I can totally get both issues with contacts - and I live it too

 

[debjen]

good boy cedar! now i can't remember.. who is flyer?

(and for those doubting the efficacy of the 2 x 2 method - check out Garrett and Encore's amazing independent back-to-front entry at the Worlds last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I97topvBqvQ

Flyer is my newest puppy..a 7 month old minature poodle