Mali's First Trial

DiverDiva · #1 7th March 2012, 12:24 PM

This is a post I thought I would never be making. I have been running my boy, Oscar in trials for over 3 years, while Mali, my rescued girl who has fear issues, has stayed home. We have worked very hard to help her with her issues, and I have also trained her in agility, but mostly alone because she is not totally trustworthy off leash in group classes. I entered her in a mock trial in January and she completed 3 runs beautifully, so I entered her in her first trial, for only one day just to see how she would do. My goals were to get in and out of the ring calmly, and try to complete most of the obstacles on the course.

Mali was a little angel. My handling was pretty cautious (actually pretty bad) partly because I want to keep her excitement level well below threshold, and partly because I fell in the parking lot the night before and bruised my knee, but my little girl stayed with me and completed both courses, not cleanly, but well enough to qualify.

Jumpers With Weaves class was first

I was having her hold her stays (too long in hindsight)to keep her calm in Standard class

So pleased with my little girl! Thanks for 'listening'.

larrygs · #2 7th March 2012, 01:37 PM

Great job!

Really wonderful to see boxers do agility.

Especially helpful to hear you are getting past Mali's fears. Layla does well at practice and mock trials, however she also has fear issues which make competition quite daunting. This will get displayed as being reactive, or just going crazy in the ring, or distracted, or will bolt out of the ring which of course creates chaos. Occasionally she will focus and having a great run. It is very frustrating. We are currently backing away from competition again because our last trial didn't go well.

Seeing Mali do well is quite inspirational. Perhaps there is still hope for Layla.
Thank you so much for posting!

johann · #3 7th March 2012, 07:59 PM

Great work! She looked focused and happy out there with you.

DiverDiva · #4 8th March 2012, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrygs

...she also has fear issues which make competition quite daunting. This will get displayed as ... bolt out of the ring which of course creates chaos. ...!

You can probably appreciate that this almost happened on our second run. If you look at the far right in the back while we are entering, a Border Collie is leaving the ring, and the dog gets very excited as the owner is praising him. Mali got very interested in that dog. The course went chute, jump, teeter. Mali went chute, jump, and bolted for the exit where she last saw the dog. That is where I get very chirpy with her name. We have trained that when I call her like that, she often gets something really good. I have rewarded her recall to that sound lavishly enough that I got away without rewarding her that time. Possible chaos was averted. It all happened so fast that it is easy to overlook.

Gatorblu · #5 8th March 2012, 09:50 AM

Great job! I have always thought agility would be good for Arabella, but she too has fear issues. And I just haven't spent enough time working on them.

larrygs · #6 8th March 2012, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiverDiva

You can probably appreciate that this almost happened on our second run. If you look at the far right in the back while we are entering, a Border Collie is leaving the ring, and the dog gets very excited as the owner is praising him. Mali got very interested in that dog. The course went chute, jump, teeter. Mali went chute, jump, and bolted for the exit where she last saw the dog. That is where I get very chirpy with her name. We have trained that when I call her like that, she often gets something really good. I have rewarded her recall to that sound lavishly enough that I got away without rewarding her that time. Possible chaos was averted. It all happened so fast that it is easy to overlook.

I took another look and saw it and can hear you

Thanks I will work on something similar!

BTW, Mali gets some serious air. How tall is she and what height does she jump?

DiverDiva · #7 10th March 2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrygs

...BTW, Mali gets some serious air. How tall is she and what height does she jump?

That is the other part of the story of Mali's trial. She was measured twice there. Her first measurement was 22 3/4", which would put her at 24" jump height. Her second measurement was 22" flat, which would put her at 20" jump height. The most recent measurement (by 5 minutes) took precedence at the trial, so she was jumping 20" jumps.

I anticipated (feared) that she might measure over 22", so part of the time I trained her to jump 24" jumps. I am now trying to find when one of the 'calmer' measuring officials will be at a local trial, so she can get a tie-breaking measurement that (I hope) would put her in the 20" jump class permanently. When she gets excited, she stands on her toes, like many dogs.

She won't be in another trial until I get her permanent height card. We don't need any more surprises at trials than we have with her just being Mali.