Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:37 pm Post subject: Not so good a day at Uk Agility!..UPDATE - Linc been poorly
After our clear round in the Steeplechase at our first show a couple of weeks ago, i was expecting to progress or at least equal, lesson learnt! never expect anything!
Lincoln got eliminated in all 3 of his runs today , he was ducking under fences, and at one point legged it out of the ring! , although I was informed later a few dogs did this and a bitch in heat was suspected of causing a huge sensory distraction.
On the plus side he did complete the weave poles, slowly but correctly!
However my main concern is the ducking under fences, as this is now getting more frequent, how do I correct this? is it back to basics in training and just plenty of positive reinforcement for good jumping?
tips appreciated!
Last edited by -Roz- on Tue Aug 24, 2010 5:41 pm; edited 1 time in total
What a shame, very annoying if someone did have a bitch in season there when they must have known there`d be a lot of dogs, can`t help with the going under fences I`m afraid, I would think as you say, it`ll be a back to basics thing.
Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: Not so good a day at Uk Agility!
-Roz- wrote:
I was informed later a few dogs did this and a bitch in heat was suspected of causing a huge sensory distraction.
Enough to make ANY dog distracted! It makes me hopping mad - WHY can't people leave their in season bitches at home, and not take them to shows?
Sorry you had not such a good day today. That's dogs for you though, great levellers!
Re ducking under fences - I suspect today this could have been caused by the distraction mentioned above, but if it is a problem you continue to notice I would say -
Firstly get him physically checked, especially his back , to make sure he isn't in any pain. He may have pulled something.
Secondly lower the jumps and get him back to leaping happily, then leave the lower pole in place and add a higher one at full height, effectively "in filling" and preventing ducking under. You might also want to study which jumps he is ducking under - is it the start, or on bends, or after a tunnel, or just random jumps? You may be able to work out the cause if it is a particular jump - ie if it is after the tunnel and he has just been bending to run through and he then has to lift to jump over, or is it a distraction behind the jump which means he isn't concentrating on the pole?
Tom's Sam went through a running under stage and we found by lowering the jumps and building back up again we have cured it. In Sam's case it was confidence building that was needed but every dog is different.
Sorry to hear you had a bad run, but it sounds like he had a fabby first run at least
When you say ducking under fences do you mean the jumps or do you mean running off the course and out under fences?
If it's jumps then IMO I'd take the jumps down a level or two in training for a while, so that ducking under is more difficult and jumping over becomes second nature again. Then start to intermittently raise 1 at a time to the full height.
When you say ducking under fences do you mean the jumps or do you mean running off the course and out under fences
yes sorry I mean the jumps, he is usually totally focused on the course and has never run out of the course before.
Thx for some great advice Katy too, I agree it's back to training and lowering jumps and getting consistency back, I haven't really noticed a pattern to him ducking under fences, ie if on a bend, or as you say after tunnels, it does seem to be totally random even on a straight run of 6 fences he jumped 4 great went under one and jumped the last
Roz from my experience watching Sam, it seemed to be when he was a little confused that he ducked under the jump. I would ask someone to watch you run him, if possible even video it, and try and find the pattern - there is bound to be one. In the mean time lower the jumps and keep it fun and easy.
It's a shame when you know they can do well and they decide to play up on the day isn't it?
Coco went through a phase of ducking under jumps, even on the midi setting but it was usually the first one that she ducked under when she was in a "wait" in front of it. If I ran her to it she was fine.
Maybe Lincoln isn't getting his distance quite right for take off so opting to duck rather than crash. I hope you get it sorted soon, it must be very frustrating.
Maybe Lincoln isn't getting his distance quite right for take off so opting to duck rather than crash.
I quite like this theory too, thx! and you are right Katy there must be a reason for it, just need to study this a bit more. next show is in a fortnight so will have to get some practice in and get his confidence up before our next D Day!
Bit of an update to this thread, as Lincoln has been a bit poorly since his Agility on Sunday especially last night. He vomited for a good half hour had diarrhea all day, and just wasn't himself all of Monday...I sat up with him until midnight, as u do! when suddenly he seemed to brighten up a bit jumped on the bed and we slept soundly and he has been fine since...
So this leaves me with a bit of a quandry, did he have a bug which affected his energy? The last time he vomited white froth the vet suspected back pain and gave him an anti-inflammatory and he was fine in 24hrs, however now he seems fine in 24hrs without seeing a vet, so I guess it's difficult to isolate the cause..
Before he did any jumping on Sunday I took him for a wander around the venue and he needed to have an urgent poo, which was quite liquid..so I suspect now that he may have been harbouring a bug which has gone through his system quite quickly?
It's gonna be difficult to assess if this had any impact until the next time
we compete, which isnt until September 5th, I will take it easy with him for next week and see how he goes
fingers crossed he was just feelin a bit rubbish that day
Poor boy. Hope he feels better soon. Does sounds like a tummy bug, poor lad.
You say the vet suspected back pain in the past? In which case I would suggest you get him checked out - just in case he has pulled something in his back or a joint, which may have made him go under jumps the other day.
There are excellent doggy chiropractors around - the vet will be able to recommend one in your area. Dogs mask their pain so well, it is hard for us owners to knowif they are in pain from a joint. I take all my boys to the chiropractor regularly for check ups, in view of the amount of agility they do. (and rough and tumble in the fields with each other!! )
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
, he was ducking under fences, and at one point legged it out of the ring! 
)
