Back from the invitationals…unfortunately I wish I was still
there. But to late to do anything about it now. So being the crazy dog nut that
I am the first thing I did when I got home was…you guessed it agility!! Not
with Jenna of course she has earned the day off. Instead I took Immy Whimmy
outside for some play time. We worked weaves, twelve of them straight up, in
sequence! Just in general she was very calm and behaved, I feel like we have
really turned a corner with her these past few days. She had always been
slightly frantic or I’d watch her eyes glaze over with excitement as she came
rocketing out of a tunnel…not today though. Today she was everywhere right when
I needed her to be, and we were finally connected for an entire course!!
I find the debate of speed vs. consistency very interesting…maybe
it’s not a debate for some, but I have heard discussions many times over what
you need first out of a puppy (even though it of course depends on the dog)
Personally I’ve always leaned towards a consistent dog over a wicked fast one.
I think that’s because I spent my entire agility career watching Demon grow. He
used to walk courses; he wouldn’t weave, and was stressed beyond belief. Yet he
has managed to come so far once Diane worked through is issues, and it didn’t
matter that he wasn’t the fastest dog in 18” because he was consistent. Mind
you I find speed equally important. Just because your dog can qualify doesn’t
mean you can win, let alone big events. Obviously the key objective is to find
a balance between consistency and speed, to obtain that skill with Whimzy I
have decided to look for clean runs then work on time. I know that she already
has the ground speed she needs, mainly because she runs rabbit style and pushes
from the back instead of pulling from the front. I was thinking about it on the way home
though, every time I push Whimzy gets edgy. I don’t think she has a big enough
tool box for me to ask for ballistic speed through a sequence that isn’t strait
yet. If I already know she is going to implode why would I push for it? Exactly
I wouldn’t, so I’m not going to.
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