Weaving dogs
This is the last post in the agility dog series, and I’ve saved the toughest two elements until last. Those elements, using my un-official but possibly close to reality names, are the sitting platform and the weaving poles.
I don’t have a picture of the sitting platform, but it was a black platform about two feet by two feet that was about four inches off the ground. It was situated about half-way through the course, and when the dogs got to it, they had to jump up and it and sit down, in a fully down position – stomach on the floor. Then the course official counted to 5 and when the count was complete it was off to the next obstacle. It appeared that one of the rules was that the trainer could not touch the dog at all during the whole run, so in this case they sort of had to cajole the dog to lie down for those dogs who didn’t quite get it. Most of the dogs took a few seconds to sit properly. Oh, and if they popped up during the count, the count started over once they were back in the proper position.
And then it was on to the weaving poles. I didn’t count, but there was 10 to 12 of them. The dogs had to start on a particular side (I’m thinking it might have been the right side, because I just flipped a coin to help me remember, and it came up heads) and then weave back and forth between the poles. Any missed poles resulted in them going back to the start and trying it again. I’m guessing that this took quite a bit of training – some dogs had it down pat, other ones needing extra cajoling and a couple of restarts.
And that was it for the obstacle/agility course – unless Mikaela wants to add anything. On the exercise front, the trainers got way more exercise than the dogs as they had to run the course with the dog and point to the next obstacle, and sometimes say what needed to be done. Most of the trainers were in need of additional training.
Uhm, that is quite the weaving poodle… kind of an odd poodle, just sayin’…. ;)
That has to be quite a trick for a Rottweiler! They are not exactly small!!
Well, although not correct, it was a better caption than the original one that I had on the picture. I wanted to get the post out, and had no idea what type of dog it was, so I figured someone who knew something (like Mikaela) about dogs would correct me.
Most of the trainers needed more exercise than the dogs, did, as well. And, yes, that’s the oddest poodle I’ve ever seen. Didn’t know it was a Rottweiler, though. Not my fave.
Question: the flipping a coin thing: is that how you make all your important decisions, too, like, oh, what car to buy, where to live, who to marry…you know, just stuff?
BTW, “were 10 – 12” poles, rather than “was”. Just sayin’.
You should have kept trying for “tails” rather than marrying an English fanatic.