Kim Collins Pawsitive steps agility camp

[sammy]

We just got back. It was phenominal. It rained most of the time we were there- but I guess that's to be expected in B.C.
Kim is an amazing instructor and her demo dogs blew us away. I feel a bit overwhelmed right now with all the information I took in and figuring out where I'm going to start. I think I'm going to try the 2X2
method for weave poles-- I couldn't believe how ell it worked, how fast the dogs learned to weave and find the entry independently-- very cool.
Sammy was a good boy and did me proud by running a very nice 22" course outside with tons of distractions. I think he will be much happier if I improved my handling and cue system the way Kim taught it.
Anyway, if there are any agility enthusiasts from the west in the group I highly recommend Kim Collins camp or seminars. Her site is http://www.pawsitivesteps.ca/Home.html Kin bases most of her training on Susan Garretts teaching and methods.If I lived out east I'd give anything to go to Susan's camp. Susan's site ishttp://www.clickerdogs.com/

[Carrie]

OH! You lucky duck! That sounds so fun and educational. What a good boy Sammy was! All those distractions even. He must have been having a fun time. What better doggie play could there ever be?

Lyric loves the weaves too. I have a set in my yard and if we're walking across the driveway/parking area toward this other grassy area where they are, even just to go move a sprinkler or wind up a hose... he will sometimes trot ahead of me and go give the weaves a little run through....on his own. I have no intention of working with him at that time. LOL. However, he usually messes up on a few when he's doing this by himself. But it goes to show how fun it must be for the dogs when they veer off and take a little try inbetween yard chores. LOL. (OMG! It just dawned on me. I wasn't being a good leader/alpha since he ran ahead of me to do that! He made a decision and I didn't. OMG! *freaking out* My dog is dominant and on the brink of a take over) ROFLOL! I couldn't resist.

I'm going to go check out those links and see what this system is. I don't know anything about it. So, thanks for putting those up and thanks for sharing your story about the camp....although you just made me envious. LOL

[GoldenPup]

It sounds like so much fun! I'm glad you had a great time. Did you take notes? If you did...or if you didn't....be sure to re/write them DETAILEDly fast before you forget anything, I was at a camp last august and redid the first two and a half days of notes...but never got around to the last half of a day so I have very little idea of what those mean! haha

I use a (modified) 2X2 thing for weaves and I've been very happy with it. It's fun.

Glad you had fun! Is there any way you can go back next year?

GoldenPup

[sammy]

Carrie- you are a nut.
2X2 weaving is a method Susan Garrett came up with and it works amazingly well. Sammy first learned to weave by luring and then by running channel weaves. He is great but I can't send himfrom anywhere on course or stay way back - he needs me to be sort of near his shoulder. With 2X2 method the dogs learn to find the entry themselves and to just keep on weaving regardless of where you are on course and you proof against the 10th pole pop out that is such a common problem. It is written up in "Shaping Success" and also in several issues of Clean Run. I don't subscribe to Clean Run but I want to see if I can order those issues.

Golden pup- I didn't take notes- my bad. Luckily we were given a good set - I need to read them over again soon and get on with working the dogs. They covered so much, I can feel the knowledge seaping back out I also bought Kim's new book "From the ground up." I do plan to go back next year. It was my first long road trip with the dogs and other than Sammy getting the yucky-d and me driving away with my purse on the roof of the van it was great

[Carrie]

It was my first long road trip with the dogs and other than Sammy getting the yucky-d and me driving away with my purse on the roof of the van it was great

That's hilarious! Your purse never flew off? That's good luck! I drove one time all the way to Seattle with a banana on top of my car. LOL.

Lyric does the weave poles without me doing anything much besides saying (in English) LOL....."go weave." That's when he's in the mode. And of course, I'm always left in the dust when he's running a course....way behind him. I just can't run fast enough. LOL. We started out with the luring method. But I can see how this other way is better.

I'm sorry Sammy go sick...hope it wasn't in your car.