Agility Engineer

World's Hardest Jumpers Course - For Memory Management

2011-11-20T22:09:00.000-08:00

Too many parallel jumps just boggles the mind! This course is a true test of the handler's memory skills. This would be an awesome course for a national event.

Time to move on

2011-09-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

I've been training at the same place for years. I've been there longer than any other agility student, and all the agility instructors. I do not expect special treatment. I do, however, expect to be treated the same as the others.

I am not returning to classes with Boo, as I feel there is inadequate instruction. This is a beginner level class, and feel that the class shouldn't be "follow the numbers" and "That's nice." One should get instruction, like "Try this."

My class with Bug has turned interesting, as my instructor is no longer speaking to me. Other dog/handler teams last night received, "Good Job!"s.

My older dog, Scout, earned her PDCH-Platinum a few weekends ago. There is usually a big celebration in class, even though she no longer attends. Zilch.

I have a theory on WHY this is going on, but can't substantiate it yet. If it is true, it's most pathetic that a person takes directives from someone else about to whom he/she may speak and behave.

Where are the USDAA small dogs? Part 2

2011-09-24T06:41:00.001-07:00

The rules at USDAA trials are rather loose, like no requirement to have a dog on a leash, and some vague "sportsmanlike conduct". AKC, well, there's long list in their code of conduct. I can see how this code is appealing to the small dog handlers.

There appears to be an "us against them" mentality between the small dog handlers and the larger dog handlers. Just because your dog is bred to give eye, bite, herd, give chase, or whatever doesn't mean the behavior is acceptable towards other creatures.

Someone posted a picture of a dog gripping a cow on Facebook, very pleased with her dog's (a relative of the pictured dog) mouthiness. Only thing about it is... this dog does NOT participate in herding - it's an agility dog.

Bragging about this got my panties in a bunch. Why? Bug has been a victim of this dog's mouth. Twice. And, the handler NEVER apologized.

Scout just doesn't like most other dogs. I monitor everything around her, as I don't want her to have the opportunity to react. I give warnings. "My dog doesn't like other dogs." I apologize if I haven't been vigilant. Upon hearing Scout's story during an award presentation, most handlers were surprised that she is reactive. "I never knew... you manage it well".

Here are some of the things that my dogs have been subjected to:

Walking Boo around at a trial where there was limited space. I chose to return to my setup with my dog that looks like a walking lamby toy through an uncongested area. A border collie rips out of a setup and nails Boo. Boo is clueless and keeps walking. Handler came to me in tears, apologizing, and offering to pay for any veterinary care.
Getting Bug ready for a run. He's at my feet, and I have him growling and tugging. A leashed BC is giving him the eye, then goes in for the bite. No apology.
Same trial, getting Bug ready for a run. Same BC does same thing. This time Bug reacts, snapping and lunging at the other dog. No apology.
Walking Bug, getting him to do his business before his run. Walk 6' behind a BC at ringside whose owner is getting him jazzed up by watching other dogs (BAITING). Dog turns and nips Bug. I get the "why is your dog harassing mine" look.
Bug's first day in agility class. Aussie in the other group has fixated on him from the moment we walked in the gate. Aussie is over 75' away and attacks Bug, who is leashed and attached to a weave pole.

Oh, and don't think I'm on a tear about border collie owners. Some small dog owners can be just as guilty!

Scout, Ms. Reactive, is being prepared for a run. Her routine is a series of left and right spins and barks. She jumped 16" in Performance, first dog in a large class, so I'll never understand why these morons had their 16" Championship dog out 30 minutes early. The handler of an Italian Greyhound, a breed with petite bones, was rubbing his dog's side, asking him if he wanted to... get Scout - the last dog to ever use as a bait dog.
Getting Boo ready for his turn in class. I'm about 30' away from equipment, and he's doing his "rev" routine - kicking his hind legs and barking. The dog currently doing the exercise makes a beeline towards Boo. Twice. I am fortunate to still have quick reflexes, and snatch Boo off the ground. Twice.

Where are the USDAA small dogs?

2011-09-22T20:24:00.000-07:00

I have three (rescue) dogs:

Scout is probably a Shiba/Kelpie Mix, 17" and 20.5#. She is an open dog, though one of the smallest.

Bug is a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix, 12.25" and 12.5#. He is a mini dog, jumping 16" in Championship.

Boo is a Chihuahua/Something mix, about 10" and 7#. He is in training.

Boo has been special needs since the day I brought him home. He was tranquilized for his neuter surgery, arrived dopey, and remained so for a week. He also refused to eat. And do his business outside. He's lucky that he's adorable.

I know there is the argument about the USDAA jump heights, as the little dogs would either jumpe 12"/16" Championship or 8"/12" Performance. This is part of the issue.

I had trouble with Bug popping weave poles. No one could tell me why, that is, until I came across a small dog person. "You're too close to him. He sees feet, and thinks you will step on him."

Therein lies the problem: Training the small dog in a world of BC-only instruction.

How many agility seminars are given by people who train something other than a border collie?
How many pictures in Clean Run are NOT of border collies?
How many articles have you read that give specific training advice to a dog that isn't a border collie/sheltie/aussie?

USDAA
Technical courses with tight course times, the IHC flair, the long distance in gamblers.

AKC
Technical courses with generous course times, optional games.

Perhaps AKC appears to be a more viable option for the small dog handlers because the handler has difficulty applying large dog training into their small dog world.

This really bothers me, as I am having trouble training Boo, especially with fear of the teeter, and subsequently, the dogwalk. My class is a waste of both time and money. Oh, and the other fun thing about a small dog: other dogs want to eat them AND the other dog owner doesn't apologize.

Boo is a little fella living in a world of giants. I know he has it in him, but I need help unleashing his inner beast.

Blog Action Day Post: Thoughts on Volunteering

2011-06-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

I am a software engineer. I work 40+ hours a week, in a cube next to a wall - a dead-end pathway. I plug away, having a little code fiesta at my desk with very little interaction with others. But, hey, it pays for my agility habit!

Since I work a lot, my time is very valuable to me. Attending agility trials becomes MY time: time for me, time for my dogs, and time to turn into a social butterfly. Working like a dog at a trial, especially after working like a dog at my job, can be unappealing. There are a lot of factors that determine whether or not I volunteer at a trial.

Most people like getting a paycheck, especially when it supports their agility addictions. Trial bucks are a great way of encouraging people like me to help. $2 here and there can add up to a free run or two. It's also a great way to get the volunteers to enter a future trial, as those bucks are burning holes in their pockets.
If a club is new and/or struggling, I will work. I selfishly want the club to continue having trials, and it's to my benefit to pitch in when needed.
If I am being or have been treated poorly, forget it.

I trial secretary for a club, and am rewarded with certificates for free entries. If you think it's a cake job, think again. You get tons of emails, phone calls, rules questions, and change requests. I also joke that I am a full-service trial secretary - I do all the paperwork, I'll score, and I bake goodies for the workers.

I am the chief scorekeeper for a small club. I get non-tournament entries in return for 1.5 dogs. I say 1.5 since one dog runs everything and one is nearing retirement. I really want this small club to be successful so I can continue playing with my dogs locally. I have score kept for a small club out-of-town as well, and I did it for lunch, and, well, the people were just so darn nice!

What prevents me from helping can be how the club, in general, behaves.

The Screech Owl
I used to travel to a particular trial in California frequently. However, it's difficult to even want to attend, much less volunteer, when you have venue-specific people "helping" at a venue that he/she doesn't like, especially listening to the screeching of how said volunteer is missing a great trial in his/her venue non-stop. This particular club also is known for being slow, as the course builders snarl at those willing to schlep equipment around.

The Beaten Dog
Another club has few members able to do scoring. I am asked to score. I spend the entire weekend running numbers like an accountant, away from my dogs and my friends. I am "rewarded" with trial bucks that don't even cover the cost of one future run, and no thanks. I do not volunteer for this club anymore. This is akin to running a course with your dog, and not playing with or treating your dog afterward.

The Yell-Off
Listening to the trial committee YELL constantly. Hey, when labor is either for a pittance or free, you get what you get. Don't yell at us! Kill us with kindness.

The Hostage Crisis
I blogged about being held hostage at a trial earlier.

The Clipboard Master
Someone who walks around, bossing others, demanding everyone pitch in, being ungrateful, yet all this trial committee person does is carry a clipboard. Does he set a bar? Nope. Does he help move the A-Frame? Nope. Does he even say "Thanks"? Nope.

The Hoarder
This happened to a friend of mine. She pole sat for a class that lasted for over an hour, and the volunteer coordinator wouldn't give her a raffle ticket unless she worked three classes.

The Winner
What tickles me the most is having someone come up and say, "Thanks for helping out. You're doing great." I think this is the best reward of them all. An email to the Yahoo Group thanking everyone is insufficient. Everyone likes when their boss tells them, "Job well done," and it's perhaps the BEST thing a club can do to encourage volunteers.

Learn Thy Rules

2011-05-30T14:59:00.001-07:00

I hate admitting this as much as admitting that this is true: I am the walking USDAA rulebook.

I've read the rulebook (both the 2004 + modifications and the one that begins June 1), and can rattle off answers to a lot of questions. The ones that kill me the most are the Masters handlers who have competed with multitudes of dogs that ask, "How many points to qualify in snooker?" and those that can follow USDAA's titling requirement matrix.

I encountered another problem this weekend: Trying to stack the deck in snooker.

A competitor asked a long-time USDAA judge about the running order rules for Masters/PIII Snooker. The answer is that the order is randomized. You *may* space out dogs, but the dog can only move up in the running order. Question asked and answered. Done deal, right?

Wrong! The competitor cornered the inexperienced trial secretary to talk about the running order. The competitor is running a dog for someone else as well as this person's own dog. Since the other dog is known to mess up, the competitor wants the other dog to ALWAYS run first. I happened across the conversation.

I should preface this by saying that I've helped the trial secretary with the software and the rules in preparation for this trial. Both the judge and I told the trial secretary that Snooker is randomized, and WHY it's randomized, and that the order can only be changed by moving up. There is NO spacing between dogs guarantee - the ring will be held. The trial secretary was very understanding and receptive to help with the rules.

The competitor then got pissy when I rearranged the Veterans dogs. Once again, someone not familiar with the rules. The USDAA Veterans program is NOT COMPETITIVE. There are no real placements and no SuperQs, only Qs going toward Lifetime Achievement Award. Another competitor got pissy about it as well, telling me that eventually there will be SuperQs. Uh, no. It's non-competitive. Period.

There were a grand total of TWO Veteran Snooker dogs: one mini and one open. Once again, if competitors could, uh, actually read the rules, they would quickly learn that OPEN dogs are scored separately from MINI dogs.

It was awesome for USDAA to offer a Veterans program, but it's still a shame that handlers cannot fathom it not being a competition. At Nationals, it's called the "Veterans Showcase", and I like to think the same of the Veterans Program.

Please, familiarize yourself with the rules. You don't need to know all of them.

Dear Clean Run

2011-04-12T20:38:00.001-07:00

The following is my letter to the editor of Clean Run regarding someone's letter.

Dear Clean Run,

I did take offense to seeing a breeder advertisement in Clean Run. Regardless of how accomplished and/or responsible the breeder is, Clean Run is NOT a purebred-only and breeding publication. If I want to see breeder ads, I can subscribe to AKC publications.

However, what I found more offensive are the rebuttal letters, namely So-and-So's comment regarding rescue dogs, “However many do it while suffering through health and structure problems.” Where are the numbers that back up this claim?

I never knew that all three of my rescue dogs (and mixes at that) are suffering health problems, while all those well-bred purebred dogs are not. There are plenty of “reputable” breeders breeding dogs with seizures, dogs unable to jump, luxating patellas, among other physical issues. I can name these dogs.

I have yet to meet a rescue dog that is one of these “many” unfortunate dogs mentioned. I do have a rescue with a collapsed trachea. That’s not poor breeding – that’s poor care before I got him. The other two are very healthy, including an 11.5 year-old who can still compete.

I am disgusted with the amount of pure hatred people have towards rescue dogs. I terminated a friendship when one person said, “All rescue dogs should be euthanized.”

Please cease perpetuating the rescue dog myths.

What I did glean from the letter writer is that she bought a dog from a backyard breeder (BYB), and had to retire the dog early due to physical problems. Here's what I don't get: How is this a rescue dog? You paid a shitload of money to "rescue" a puppy from a backyard. If your issue is with BYBs not giving a crap about the health of a dog, then say that! Don't lump all rescues in your diatribe. Dogs from reputable breeders end up with a rescue group or in the pound as well.

USDAA Title/LAA Worksheet

2011-01-30T19:44:00.000-08:00

I've just updated the Title Worksheet for the Veterans Program.

Response From AKC and My Rebuttal

2010-12-26T15:49:00.000-08:00

Hi Jessica – I am sorry if you are having difficulty finding trials and that you have been treated rudely at some AKC events. The AKC cares very much about all our dogs and owners and we never want any exhibitors to be treated badly – especially those that are new to AKC. The number of events open to dogs listed with AKC Canine Partners continues to grow – and I know that many clubs are very mixed- breed friendly and welcome the Canine Partners competitors.

It appears that there were 14 obedience/rally trials in Arizona open to Canine Partners in 2010 and that currently there are 16 planned for 2011. AKC is contacting clubs that have not opened their entries and encouraging them to do so – and we will contact the clubs on the Fiesta Cluster and find out what their reasons were.

I also can assure you that the AKC cares very much about the AKC Canine Partners program and many of us worked hard for many years to bring it into existence. I am a mixed- breed dog owner and competitor – and have been out competing with my “Canine Partner” in AKC agility and rally. I am happy to say that I have been accepted very well by the clubs hosting events in my area, as have my fellow mixed- breeds competitors in NC.

I hope that you will reconsider not entering any more AKC events because the best way to make it better is to get out there and compete and have a voice in the process.

I received another email from you requesting a refund of your registration fees and I cannot issue a refund - but I would like to send you a Canine Partners goody bag and t-shirt if you will send me your mailing address. Please keep me posted on how you and your dogs are doing!

Sincerely,
Penny Leigh
Program Manager
AKC Canine Partners

So a T-shirt and a goodie bag are supposed to make up for the $35 per dog I spent only to be unable to enter trials. Hmmm...

I only participate in agility. My dogs are not even welcome at the Fiesta Cluster show site.

The AKC event calendar does not properly list events open to mixed breeds. This is my ONLY source for planning trials, and it is WRONG. It states that Scottsdale Dog Fanciers Assn (the other sponsor of Fiesta Cluster) is friendly. It is not. Cactus State Miniature Schnauzer is friendly, but the AKC website doesn't show this.

It is absolutely DISGUSTING to have members of the Superstition Kennel Club beg me to donate my time and resources to making tugs as donations for an event, only to be snubbed at another event of theirs. They host four events in Arizona. As I am boycotting them, I have limited my AKC agility options.

I contacted Superstition Kennel Club, and have yet to receive a response.

My boycott, publicly available via my agility blog and Facebook, has garnered plenty of support. Deb Davidson Harpur, a friend of mine from California, will not attend Fiesta Cluster. She runs anywhere from 8 to 15 dogs. Multiply that by the entry fees, and Fiesta Cluster is losing easy money. Fiesta Cluster has never filled.

Traveling to complete titles should be an option, not a requirement. It appears my choice, especially since I am boycotting Superstition Kennel Club, is to travel. I'd rather save my money and stick with USDAA, a venue where my dogs are openly welcome and not treated with disdain.

I am withdrawing from Arizona Wags for Wishes. I'd just as soon make a donation directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation than to allow Superstition Kennel Club receive any credit for my money and labor.

I want my money back. I can be treated like a second-class citizen for free. I am more than willing to return my titles. I couldn't even use all the "values" that come with registration since I had a 10-year-old dog, and the Home Again would not register for the other dog.

You can send a goody bag and T-shirt if you want to. I will turn around and donate it to charity. I am not supporting AKC in anyway, shape or form from this point forward, purebred or mixed breed. I would rather have my money back.

AKC Canine Partners - DON'T DO IT!

2010-12-23T05:13:00.000-08:00

I received a bunch of support via Facebook.

The Superstition Kennel Club hosts Arizona's Wags For Wishes. All the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Sounds like a good cause, right? I am withdrawing from the trial. I REFUSE to allow Superstition Kennel Club take any credit for fundraising with MY MONEY. I'll make a donation directly to Make-A-Wish.

In addition, I agreed to make tugs for their raffle. I was going to make at least 10 more tugs this week. It will not happen. I will donate the tugs that I have made, but I, once again, REFUSE to let Superstition Kennel Club get any credit for fundraising using MY LABOR, MY MATERIALS, and MY MONEY.

My Letter to Jumping Chollas, the apparent victim of my Facebook Post. I also copied Superstition Kennel Club and Scottsdale Dog Fanciers.

I didn't realize the poo storm that a Facebook message would cause. You and Wendy have been supportive of my dogs participating in AKC since our first trial. I appreciate that. There are over 30 responses to my Facebook post in support of me and my dogs. There are people in California, Utah and New Mexico refusing to enter this trial in support of my dogs.

My dogs were welcomed at Kachina, which was a large agility show with breed. I really don't see the difference.

I am really disappointed about not being allowed to enter Fiesta Cluster, especially since Superstition Kennel Club sponsors the majority of the local AKC trials. I volunteered to make tugs for the Wags raffle baskets. Diane will receive what tugs I have made, but my production has stopped. I absolutely REFUSE to allow SKC and AKC to take credit for fundraising using MY LABOR and MY TIME, especially when my Canine Partners are not welcome at Fiesta Cluster. I intend to withdraw from Wags because of Superstition's sponsorship. I'd rather donate directly to Make-A-Wish than to have SKC and AKC get any credit for my dollars.

I had also agreed to help a Golden Retriever club with tug donations for Fiesta Cluster. I just informed them today that I will not support Fiesta Cluster in any way.

Here are screenshots of the Facebook Love:

Done with AKC

2010-12-22T03:54:00.000-08:00

Since my kind are not allowed at a large, local AKC event, I'm done with AKC agility. Completely done. AKC Canine Partners is a waste of $35.

My letter:

There are really not that many mixed breeds that participate in AKC. From what I understood, AKC invited the mixed breeds in part to prove that AKC dogs are superior athletes and to encourage people like me to buy an AKC dog. Seems to me like a large dog show like the Fiesta Cluster would be the perfect place to drive this point home to people like me.

I will be withdrawing from Wags and not entering future AKC events. When my participation is limited because of those that have contempt for my dogs, then I will take my money elsewhere. And trust me, I've overheard those people who think that mixed breed participation is a "travesty", have had gate stewards snarl about being unable to recognize a mixed breed, and received glares because of what is attached at the end of my leashes. At the end of my leashes are two dog that have champion titles in USDAA and are both Top Ten dogs.

Also, the AKC website shows that CSMSC is not mixed-friendly, but that Scottsdale Dog (2 days of Fiesta Cluster) is. It's pretty bad when an organization that supposedly welcomes you does not maintain an accurate event calendar so that the lowlife Canine Partners can plan how they spend their agility money.

Foundation Work

2010-11-07T17:06:00.000-08:00

Just open up any Clean Run magazine to find articles on "Foundation". All are about foundation for the dog. What about the handler?

I had an interesting conversation with my friend, Gail, this weekend about handling. We came to the same conclusion: Everything we needed to know about handling we learned growing up playing basketball.

Here are some basketball skills:
Pivoting
Passing
Running
Stopping
Working as a team
Reading body language
Hand/eye coordination

These are all important agility skills!

In basketball, you always know where the ball is, but use your peripheral vision for movement from other players.
In agility, you keep your eye on the dog.

When you get the basketball, you either dribble, pivot, or shoot.
Is a pivot any different than a front cross? No!

Is passing or shooting a basketball any different than sending your dog out to an obstacle? No!

Basketball is a lot of stop and go movement. Can you say "acceleration" and "deceleration"? I knew you could!

When I played basketball, I learned how to use my peripheral vision, see what was around me, and anticipate "things", like other players cutting through the lane, the recipient of the pass (since the passer usually looks at the recipient), who is going to shoot, etc. I do the same thing in agility. I walk a course. I see what my dog may see at each obstacle. I know if I twitch, my dog may react to the twitch by popping weaves or pulling off a jump. Yet most handlers blame the dog!

As a handler you are both the coach and a player. You guide your dog through the play. It is your job to anticipate the off-course potential. You send your dog on in gamblers. You snake your dog though a snooker. And you do this without flailing your arms and screaming.

It may be worth having a handler foundation class on a basketball court. A few bonks in the head by a basketball (trust me, it hurts), may be what some people need to get into the game.

Why this AKC show sucked -OR- What is wrong with the business model for agility trials

2010-10-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

I attended my second AKC agility trial this weekend with my two Canine Partners (aka non-purebred dogs). This trial offered Standard, Jumpers with weaves, and FAST. Quite a few people do not enter FAST because it is NOT a titling requirement for a MACH/PAX. I did not enter it.

My issue is holding competitors hostage for free labor.

I ran both dogs by 9:30am on Saturday, and waited around until 5:30pm for their second run. It's extremely painful, especially since I have always heard about how terrific AKC is. Yes, it was my choice to be held hostage, but is it reasonable and fair to treat competitors, your customers this way? No. I'm tempted to NEVER enter another AKC agility trial based on this one.

I know why the host club did this: to coerce competitors into "volunteering",uh, I mean working. This is my biggest issue, not just with this incident, but agility trials in general.

I am a software engineer. I interviewed and landed a good job. I provide my company my services in exchange for a paycheck. If I need a plumber, I call one, he comes to my house and fixes something in exchange for a check. See where I am headed?

At agility trials, a club offers a service - a trial - and I write a check to pay for those services. However, I am also expected to provide free labor to the club to make it a "success".

HELL NO.

A plumber doesn't come to my house and hand me a plunger to unclog my own toilet, and then expect me to pay for it. Why do clubs expect the same? I do not have an MBA, but it seems to be a crappy business model for the consumer.

Dangling a carrot, like, "Hey! We have a crappy raffle that you don't have a snowball's chance in hell to win!" is not sufficient. Neither is, "We provide a salmonella-laced hot dog from our questionable vendor". Unless your organization is tax exempt, and can prove it to me, I am not donating my time without payment. If you want me to get off my arse and set bars, pay me. It's not like I am asking for $100k a year, medical benefits, and a 401k or pension. Give a worker coupon, maybe worth $4/hour. It's a win-win situation - you staff your trial AND you have someone who will enter your shows again.

Now this is a good Snooker

2010-04-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

The following course is Tammi Stone's, ran at Happy Dog Agility on March 7, 2010.

Here's why I like it:

Three OF Four. Handlers must pay attention to the details.
The #7 Combo must be taken as marked.
The #7 Combo is NOT easy to handle.

Sure, you could go for all sevens - some people did. Most were not successful.

As for flow, the ONLY option I liked to enter #2 nicely into the closing was the #7 combo. There are two reds on the map (bottom reds) that open to either nothing, or no points. If you started with Red #2 (bottom right), it opened to some small points. I try to only do fives, sizes and sevens in 3-Red snooker. I discounted that strategy.

Other than all sevens or starting with a low value obstacle, I saw only one flow course with points: 6-6-7.
It was flow enough for both dogs to win their jump heights.

USDAA Performance Titles

2010-04-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

Here's an excellent blog entry about the title names for USDAA's Performance program.

http://agilepooch.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/wackronyms-time-for-usdaa-to-join-us/

Good Dog Agility - Team Gamblers

2010-03-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

Uh, yeah. There was a nice, steady rain the evening before, and the ring was muddy. Judge Martin Gadsby changed the obstacles locations. There rules were as follows:

Same opening and closing times.
Closing points are doubled if you cross the finish jump before the buzzer.
Back-to-Back contacts ok
No consecutive contacts (e.g. teeter to A-frame)

Hey! A straight time gamble!

Normally, I'd go for 16-17 magic points in a 30-second opening with Scout. However, given the MUD (and she slid out of a tunnel in snooker on her belly), I thought 15 was more fair. It was a 1-3-5-7 system with no 7-point obstacle, no consecutive contacts, back-to-back contacts okay. When you watch the video, you'll find that the teeter is near the finish jump. The teeter was an ideal obstacle to take twice and get the heck out because of this, and it was worth 20 points (5 pts x taken twice x multiplier of 2 for closing). This video demonstrates a PERFECTLY TIMED gamble using magic points (point-time estimation).

This was a 4th place and LAA Q run.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2010-03-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, so everyone loses interest in things. It happens. To everyone.

I lost interest in some agility venues.

For the most part, I have been quiet about my displeasure, and just slowly faded off into the sunset. I owe no one any reasons. I just stated that I am not interested. End of story, right?

WRONG!

I have made up my mind: you cannot polish a turd - it will always be a turd. Yet, in the small world of agility, I still have people cornering me, droning on about how great venues are in which I hold no obvious interest. Unless I have vested interest (READ: I own stock or have other financial incentive), I have no loyalty to much of anything. Your venue doesn't love you - just your checkbook. So what is the motive for people without any incentive to try and get me to rejoin the cult?

I just don't get it. Please, just be respectful of others, okay?

Busy

2010-03-11T07:28:00.000-08:00

I've got a couple of things going on right now:

Trial Secretary business for SWAT
Old Dinosaur Cake for a friend's 50th Birthday Party

I have some upcoming trials, and I hope to get my video camera out for some strategic runs.

If you have nothing nice to say...

2010-03-01T20:48:00.000-08:00

I have two dogs, both are rescues from animal control. I love them to pieces.

What irritates the hell out of me are people who are such losers that the denigrate my dogs.

Every dog, whether rescued or purchased as a puppy, has a set of challenges. My challenges including fixing issues that some asshole created. Scout has "space issues" - she doesn't enjoy the company of 99% of other dogs, and will react to that 99% 100% of the time. I manage these issues, and most people do not realize that there is one.

At Good Dog Agility's trial this past weekend, they have a Parade of Veterans for dogs 8 years of age or older. At the end of the parade, an award is presented to a dog that:

Contributes to the community
and/or has overcome some issue

There is a point system for the award that includes the essay for the above, and points for accumulated standard qualifying runs and titles earned. Most of the award is purely mathematical. The essay, of course, is subjective.

Scout won the award in 2009. It was especially sweet since she was tossed from the club. The 2010 winner was rescued as a puppy and performs community service by visiting nursing homes and hospitals.

There was one VERY sore loser. This loser has stated before, at USDAA trials, in front of others, that "all rescue dogs deserve to be euthanized" and that "all rescue dogs have issues." Loser here has two purebred, purchased-as-puppy dogs. Loser entered the older one in the contest. Loser was convinced that you HAD to have a rescue dog to win.

Not true. The 2008 winner was a purebred, purchased-as-a-puppy that went deaf.

Loser's older dog makes Scout look like a saint most of the time. Loser's dog has attacked and drawn blood on at least one other dog.

My dogs:

I never had the opportunity to meet the parents and see their temperament
I have never seen the pedigree
I have no idea if the parents were healthy or have any known genetic defects for which there are tests
I risked having to fix problems someone else created

Loser's Dogs:

Loser was able to meet the parents and the breeder and preview temperament
Loser can view the pedigree
Loser has documentation as to potential genetic defects
Loser had the opportunity to create the dog she wanted

Notice any differences? Loser got a puppy and had every opportunity in the world to shape the dog's behaviors and attitude as she saw fit, yet Loser chose to create a nasty one, perhaps in her own likeness. The only reasonable thing Loser did was not make HER mistake the problem for someone like me. Despite having the potential to create a well-rounded dog, Loser chose to create a "dog with issues", overcame the issues SHE created, and still expects to be rewarded for it?

I FIXED two dogs that someone like Loser ruined. I don't expect to be rewarded externally for it. My reward is the love I get from these two critters of mine.

Flow is Helpful. Somtimes, It Wins.

2010-02-16T04:33:00.000-08:00

Here is Judge Karen Gloor's Masters Snooker course from Driven Dogs on Janurary 29, 2010.

It's four reds (more strategic), with two combos, #5 and #7. My older dog, Scout, will either retire or semi-retire this year. I am no longer going for Top Ten, which she has been in for the past two years. My little guy, Bug, typically gets the same course as his sister because it's easiest one me, though I have been known to run different courses. This time, I chose the same course.

At first I thought I liked the #5 combo. It turns out I didn't, as it covers a lot of yardage. I avoided the #7 combo: jump, weaves, jump. 7c opens to the 5a tunnel. 7a, heading north, opens to the 5a tunnel. 7b heading north opens to the 5a tunnel. See a pattern?

I considered starting out with 1-6 and 1-6. While time was on my side (50-something seconds for jumpers with weaves), I chose something nice for my dogs. It was not a high-point course.

I chose, starting from the left, 1-3, 1-3, 1-5 and 1-4. I ran the outside of the 5a tunnel to get to #4. Combo #7 and #4 were the best entries into the closing.

Most people bit it in the opening, handling the #7 combo. When I said that the combo opened to tunnels, the dogs took the tunnel. Heck, Bug took the tunnel in the closing.

Magic Points: Video Example

2010-01-23T09:23:00.001-08:00

This is Lisa Jarvis's Masters Gamblers course at Agility Club of San Diego in January. This post is not about the gamble - it's about the opening.I filmed several dogs with the intent of showing point-time estimation, aka Magic Points. I filmed Performance dogs, so please don't snort at them. Most of these dogs are older but still have the spunk and desire to play.

Most medium to fast dogs need 15-20 magic points in a 30 second opening. I was unable to add the magic point text to the clips.

When you watch these dogs and see how I counted the magic points, you'll understand why it is often better to avoid the high-point obstacle.

Chute: 1
Jump: 1
Teeter: 2.5 (Most dogs are about a 2 on the teeter)
Jump: 1
Dogwalk: 4
Dogwalk: 4
Tunnel: 1
Jump: 1
Jump: 1
TOTAL MP for 30sec opening: 16.5

Chute: 1
Jump: 1
Teeter: 2
Jump: 1
Dogwalk: 3
Tunnel: 2 (It's a 20' tunnel more than 20' from the dogwalk)
Dogwalk: 3
Tunnel: 1
A-Frame: 2
TOTAL MP for 30sec opening: 16

Chute: 1
Jump: 1
Teeter: 2
Jump: 1
Dogwalk: 3
Messing around after dogwalk: 1
Dogwalk: 3
Tunnel: 1
Tunnel: 1
Tunnel: 2 (Consider the distance between the tunnel under the dogwalk to the one in the corner)
Tunnel: 1
TOTAL MP for 30sec opening: 17

Chute: 1
Jump: 1
Chute: 2 (obstacle completion plus time to get there)
Jump: 1
Teeter: 2
Teeter: 3 (obstacle completion plus time to get there)
Jump: 1
Dogwalk: 3
Tunnel: 1
Tunnel: 1
A-Frame: 2
A-Frame: 2
TOTAL MP for 30sec opening: 20

Chute: 1
Jump: 1
Teeter: 2.5
Jump: 1
Dogwalk: 4
Dogwalk: 4
Tunnel: 1
A-Frame: 2
Jump: 1
Jump: 1
TOTAL MP for 30sec opening: 18.5

The Case Against the Dogwalk
I have one dog that is about a 3 on the dogwalk and one that is a 4. For the same seven points, I can do two tunnels and a jump (look at the tunnel under the dogwalk!) for the same points and 3 magic points instead of 4. Add an extra jump in the mix, and I have 8 points in the same amount of time I can do the dogwalk and get 7 points.

Apologies

2010-01-13T19:25:00.001-08:00

Yes, I know, I have neglected this blog. I am currently focused on Scout's retirement plan, and a possible leather tug side business, aside from baking cakes. I have a few older courses reserved for the blog. I hope to get to them shortly.

Thanks,
Jessica
aka AgilityEngineer

Find a Flow Course. I dare you.

2009-08-19T07:09:00.001-07:00

Seriously, I couldn't find a flow course with this one. It was, perhaps, the lowest qualifying snooker course I've ever witnessed.

The seven had to be taken as indicated, and it's a TON of handling. So the seven was out of the question.

All the other obstacles surrounding the cluster of reds were not worth many points. Those are out of the question.

There's a one near the number six obstacle, weaves. I avoid weaves. It was out of the question.

The ONE Run

2009-07-14T05:20:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to say much other than I was in shock. Scout had been blowing me off on weave gambles. I didn't bother having anyone film it because I assumed that it would be another weave gamble failure.

I was wrong.

This 4th place run earned the LAA-Bronze and APD-Bronze.

Scout's USDAA Statistics
Standard Level - 39
Gamblers Level 3 - 16
Jumpers Level 3 - 31
Snooker Level 3 - 41
Relay Level 3 - 21
Performance Speed Jumping - 7
Performance Versatility Pairs - 6
Performance National Standard - 22
PVP Standard - 2
PVP Gamblers - 2
PVP Jumpers - 1
PVP Snooker - 4
GRAND TOTAL: 192 PIII Qualifiers!

And something else pretty cool... Scout appears in the San Gabriel (CA) Tribune.

Some Things Were Meant to Be, I guess

2009-06-23T04:58:00.000-07:00

I've had handlers fuss at me for going for a Super Q when I don't need one. Sometimes I go for them because the current leaders huff and puff over my shoulder at the score table. Sometimes I get them on accident. In any case, I told just about everyone in this class what my course was going to be.

This is the Masters Snooker course by Jim Hibbard, at Agility Club of San Diego in June 2009.

What is most noticeable is that two of the reds are also part of a numbered combo. This requires the handler to have to remember to get that jump twice. Trust me, I forgot this when Bug back-jumped one of these.

Anyhow, when I looked at this course map, I liked the flow into the closing from either the #4 or #5 tunnel/jump combo. The other thing I noticed was how vertical the course was. In order the get all four reds with minimum running, the key was to ping-pong the course. For example, an opening of 7 to 6 means you are running without taking obstacles about the width of the ring. That's wasted time. However, a 7 to 5 looks pretty nice, that is, if you want to weave.

I ran both of my dog: the veteran and the baby. I don't want the baby to find back-jumping acceptable. (I'll back-to-back jump the tire in gamblers with the veteran). My course was a simple ping-pong.

The reds are in the corners of the map. I'll address them by their location:
BR - Bottom Right
BL - Bottom Left
TR - Top Right
TL - Top Left

I chose two 5's and two 4's. I knew I had to be careful with the #5 straight tunnel (puppy cannon) because it may lead to an off-course. My alternative course was three 5's and a four. I know that this course is not a whole passel of points. I usually try to stick with fives, sixes, and sevens. However, in this snooker, the dog would have to do a lot of running without the reward of an obstacle.

	Points	Magic Points
BR + 5	6	3
TR + 5	6	4
BL + 4	5	3
TL + 4	5	3
Opening	22	13
Closing	27	13
Total	49	26

Scout's time: 52.5s, almost double the magic point value. When I estimate what I can get done in the allotted time, I multiply the magic point value by two. My estimate was 52s.

Handling

I led out, making a front cross half way between the BR and 5a. Dog is on left.
I pulled the dog through the two off-course sixes, and over TR red. Dog turned right toward. Front Cross and dog is on right.
Completed 5b and 5a. Had dog extend past 5a to get BR red.
Front cross at 4b tunnel. Dog still on right.
Called dog out of 4b tunnel, over 4a and TR.
Left wrap and front cross at TR, and straight shot to 4a and 4b. Dog on Left.
Allowed dog to extend out of 4b tunnel and then turn to #2 in the closing. Dog on Left.
#3 and #4a were easy. I put in a front cross at 4b so my dog would come out of the tunnel, look for me on the left, and see 5a better. This front cross was KEY. If the handler was on the other side of the tunnel, the dog got a refusal at 5a.
In hindsight, I should have front crossed at 5b. I front crossed between 6a and 6b.
6c to 7a to 7b was a straight shot.

Eavesdropping

2009-06-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

I enjoy eavesdropping on handlers' snooker conversations. Take this course, from Tami McClung, at Happy Dog Agility on 05/25/09.

You can see that I was doing some math.

Anyhow, what I kept overhearing was, "You HAVE to do four sevens." All I can say is, "Really?"

Course Times

Height	Ch	Perf
Open	48	50
16"Ch/12"P	50	52
12"Ch/8"P	52	54

Course Choices, besides Four 7's
I considered two nice flow courses:
1-4, 1-7, 1-7, 1-7 + closing
and
1-7, 1-7, 1-4, 1-4.

The first choice involved quite a bit of running to get the last seven. The ones would be taken, essentially, from left to right.

The Math
Scout's "Magic Point" rate in Gambers is 17.5 for 30 seconds. Theoretically, in 50 seconds her magic point count is ( 17.5 mp / 30 sec ) * 50 sec = 29, rounded down. A very fast border collie I know is 22 magic points in 30 sec. This would be 36.7 magic points.

When I plan a snooker course, I subtract two seconds from the course time to account for any extra handling I may need to do. Thus, Scout's new maximum magic point count is (17.5 / 30 )* 48 = 28.

The Closing, as noted on the course map for Scout is 11mp, since I counted the weaves as 2mp. For fast weaving dogs, this closing is 10mp. The seven obstacle is 4 mp, 3 for the obstacles, and 1 for extra distance to complete.

There are four ones on the map. The leftmost will be referred to as L1. The rightmost will be referred to as R1. The bottom, center will be referred to a M1. The one in the center of the page is C1.

Four Sevens Opening
L1 + 7, 6mp
C1 + 7, 5mp
M1 + 7, 5mp
R1 + 7, 9mp (accounting for a LOT of running)
25 Opening Magic Points + 10 closing = 36 magic points. My theoretical very fast BC should be able to finish, barely, assuming NO handler error. I think ONE dog made it with 4 sevens, and it was very close.

Three Sevens, One Four Opening
L1 + 4, 2mp
M1 + 7, 5mp
C1 + 7, 5mp
R1 + 7, 9mp
21 opening magic points + 10 closing = 31 magic points (32 for Scout). Uh-oh. I am going for no more than 28. This course will not work for Scout, aside from Scout's handler not wanting to do all that running on the last seven. This course will, and did, work for a lot of BCs.

Two Sevens, Two Fours Opening
R1 + 7, 5mp
C1 + 7, 5mp
M1 + 4, 2mp
L1 + 4, 2.5mp
14.5 opening magic points + 10 (or 11) closing = 25.5 (or 26.5). Obviously, this course should work for my dog, and it did. The horn sounded as she crossed the finish line. Scout took second to a dog that was able to run the three 7's course above.

What Next? Drag your dog's corpse around a course?

2009-05-13T07:36:00.001-07:00

I'm not going to name names or venues, but some people are just stupid. If your dog is NOT CAPABLE of performing the obstacles, perhaps it's time to retire the dog, or find something else to entertain both you and your dog.

My point of contention is lowering an A-Frame for obese dogs, geriatric dogs, and otherwise physically unable dogs. If you are dragging and coaxing a 12.5-year-old dog around the course, the A-Frame height doesn't make a damn bit of difference.

"Lowering the A-frame for my grand-vet dog made a huge difference. Everyone knew the A-frame would be lowered , when it would be lowered and I felt the time to lower it was not detrimental in slowing the run order down"

The person who posted this has an old BC that, I'm being nice here, trotted through a course. Watching this dog was like having my eyes raped. It was pure torture.

If you have a fat, legless dog, chances are pretty good it's not fast enough to propel itself up the A-Frame. Heck, why stop at legless - how about just plain fat. And the handler is torturing their dog and spectators because...? Cruelty? His misguided belief that it's agility or else? Why?

Agility is not for all dogs, just as no sport is, nor ever will be for all people. Every professional athlete has RETIRED at some point. Our dogs, however, do not not get to make this choice for themselves. Our dogs rely on their owners to determine when it's time.

If your dog cannot meet the performance standards, it's time.
If your dog cannot keep low jump bars up, it's time.
If your dog cannot run any longer, it's time.
If your dog is physically incapable (like hip dysplasia), it's time.

I suspect that there are some people out there whose desire for running their dog is so great that they will leash their dog's corpse and drag the dog's lifeless body around an agility course.

Please be fair to your dog.

Here are some of my words on the topic:

"I have both a small dog and a veteran dog. Neither have problems with the 5'6" A-Frame.

With any sport, human or dog, there is the inherent chance of injury. The best way to prevent injury is conditioning, corrective action (weight loss, surgery) or to not participate. Just as not all humans are capable of playing sports, it is reasonable to assume the same of dogs.

My orthopedic surgeon doesn't want to see me again. Ever. So he told me to give up basketball, volleyball and treadmills. It really sucks, but it's best for me. I know that Scout will tell me when her body is ready to retire from agility. It will suck, but I will do what is best for my dog."

And some more, regarding safety:

"Why stop with the A-Frame? What about teeter and its bounce? Check out the article on weaves in this month's Clean Run. Get rid of those! By the time all the concessions are made for each dog's need, what is left? Is there anything safe? No.

Not everyone, dogs included, are cut out for sports. Don't assume a tall person is a basketball player. Don't assume a really, really big dude is a sumo wrestler. Don't assume that every dog is capable of agility. Agility is NOT going to be for all dogs, as much as the handler desires it to be. What's best for some dogs is to not participate.

I am aware that I have a 9.5 year old dog. I am aware that her retirement is in the near future. I will be devastated when that day arrives. However, I will do what is best for her: stop participating."

And finally:

"The only problem I have is watching people torture their old or obese or otherwise incapable dog into doing agility because the HANDLER wants it sooooo bad. Did these people force their children into T-ball and soccer? My mom coerced me into playing volleyball when I was in fifth grade. All I had to do was stick it out one season. The decision to continue was my own. Dogs don't get to make this decision.

I took Scout lure coursing one weekend. Even though mentally she still wanted to go, physically she was done. Did I keep running her? No. I did what was best for my dog.

As I stated before, not all dogs are cut out for the sport. I played four years varsity basketball and volleyball in high school. I had try outs every year. I watched tons of girls get cut. I watched varsity players from the year before get cut the next. Not everyone is capable of playing, or of playing well enough to be on the team.

If you are going to lower the A-Frame, do it for all the dogs or none."

The Case Against the High-Point Gamble Obstacle

2009-05-13T06:13:00.000-07:00

Marketers know how to tempt consumers: offer something that seems like a better value. The same can be said for the top point (5 or 7) obstacle(s) in the gamblers class. This obstacle seems like a good deal, right? It offers more points! Gamblers is about points! Well, points and successfully performing the distance challenge. This special obstacle is definitely worth it, right?

Not always.

In DOCNA, the gamblers is always 1-3-5-7, and the 7-point obstacle is always the long set of weaves. The short set(s) of weaves are worth 5 points.

Case 1: Only one high value obstacle
1 long set of weaves: 7 points
2 short sets (back-to-back): 10 points, slightly more time
Contact/Tunnel sequence: 8 points

Case 2: Back-to-back high value obstacle
2 long sets of weaves: 14 points
Flow course with short weaves and contacts : 15 points

In Case 2, there is only a one-point difference. However, my theory is that the flow course will yield more points.

I am going to start recording opening sequences to test the following theory: a flow course, with or without the high value obstacle, will yield more opening points with a non-blazing dog.

Pairs Rules

2009-04-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here's what I hate about pairs: my partner.

Sometimes you get a good draw, other times... well, your partner needs to be taken behind a barn. With an older dog, you make every run count. When your partner racks up 20 faults because she's running a dog that was LAME two weeks ago, then how is that fair to me? This nitwit was late to the gate because she was too concerned about getting her hot chocolate for the morning.

I have only run my little dude in enough Pairs to fast track him to the next level: one Q. Why? Because he is young. Sometimes he does what he wants. Is running amok fair to my partner? No.

Like everyone else, I am out to "have fun" with my dog. However, unlike everyone else, my fun involves receiving a QUALIFYING ribbon.

If any of these apply to you/your dog, then SCRATCH from your pairs run, or partner with someone else from this list:

Your dog was recently lame. Thanks for running a 21" dog that took down THREE 16" bars! My 17" dog doesn't take down bars unless I am in the way! At least your dog can step over them!
You start a sentence with, "I am retraining...". Don't retrain on my dime! I paid $10 to run with your sorry rump. Perhaps you should RECONSIDER trialing while you remaster whatever you are retraining.
You and your dog off-course elimination more than you Q. I got stuck with one of these. The dog would have been fine if not for the handler. It's also a bad sign when the people in your area arrange pairs partners WAY in advance to avoid you. The entry form has a line that says. "Please don't pair me with: (dog/handler)". I just write the handler's name. I don't want to pair with either of her dogs.
You start a sentence with, "My dog can't...". Wow! Your dog CAN'T do something out there? It's the same stuff out there, different order. How did you get in MASTERS/PIII? I know I can take my dog out there and do it all. I expect the same at the Masters/PIII level.
Your dog hates agility. How can I tell? Refusals at obstacles and refusals to move. Pairs typically has a generous course time, allowing you and your partner a fault or two. When a turtle can outrun your dog, perhaps it is time to stop torturing your dog with agility.

Complaints

2009-03-20T06:18:00.000-07:00

This course has FIVE reds. Choose three or four. What's there to complain about?

Aside from Amy threatening to go all Tonya Harding on my team, I just was not comprehending the complaints I (over)heard.

The other thing that just killed me is the quantity of people that enter an event without understanding the rules. A 16" PERFORMANCE dog is not the same as a 16" CHAMPIONSHIP dog. How hard is that to understand? I explained it to someone, and then had the judge do so. She was still in disbelief. What's the big deal? The amount of time! These people thought they had 50 seconds (a very long time on what is essentially a jumpers course) versus 46 seconds (still quite a bit of time).

However, my favorite complaint was this: "There just isn't enough time to do four reds."

Huh? Talk about selling yourself short. If you and your dog can complete a 20 obstacle jumpers course in 30 seconds or less, you can definitely do four reds on this course. I am just missing the logic here...

Anyhow, that #5 was most popular. It was surrounded by reds, and, if the last obstacle, led nicely into the closing. It was very easy to find flow in this snooker.

Popular Courses:
1-6-1-6-1-5-1-5
1-5-1-5-1-6-1-7
1-7-1-7-1-6-1-5
1-5-1-6-1-7-1-7

A March Weekend with Scott Chamberlain

2009-03-16T18:09:00.001-07:00

Maybe I should preface this by saying that I am biased. I like Scott Chamberlain's courses. They are fair, have good challenges, and require handler thought.

Saturday Snooker
I got a little help from my friend, Maureen. This course was 3 or 4 reds, but a helluva lot of distance to cover. A nice flow is 1-3 (or 4), 1-5, 1-7, 1-7 to the closing. 7a and b were actually more awkward to handle in reality than on paper. Some people went for 4 sevens, but did not complete the closing. Fortunately the 7 combo did not have any special rules in the opening.

Maureen suggested 3 sevens for Scout, and that's what we did.

The time allowed was 52 seconds. That's about 26 magic points for Scout. The closing is worth about 13 for her (3 on the weaves, and extra for handling the seven). I can have at most 13 magic points in the opening.

I started with the #1 at the lower left of the page, ran by #2 and into 7b to 7a. This is about 5 magic points. I directed Scout to the #1 at the top right, and back through the 7 combo. About 4 magic points. The last red was the obvious - the bottom right. The last 7 went from A to B into the closing. This was about 4 magic points. All these values take into account some travel time without obstacles. Opening Magic Points: 13. Finish Time: 51.89 seconds. Worked. Could I have done all four reds? Maybe, but my initial calculation with four reds said no.

Sunday Gamblers
Sometimes you get a little help from your friends. Like when you know how to make your gamble opening, but just don't like it. Here's the course map:

To paraphrase Christopher Walken, what this course needs is more tunnel. I like tunnels because they are fast and cheap. The rules included no contact-to-contact and no contact-to-weaves, or weaves-to-contact, back-to-back okay.

Fortunately I have a friend in California that likes to discuss these strategic things with me. Yay! We discussed taking the tire twice, and that it was best NOT to teach the dog that it is okay to back jump. In the end, for my opening, she and I decided to take the tire forward and backward. (Tire is cheap! That's a quick 6 points!) I just made sure Scout could land safely and turn and do it again. If I ever do something that feels as demoralizing as that, I like it best at the beginning of the sequence, before the dog is running full steam. That's why I will not do that teeter back-to-back. Demoralizing.

Here's what I did:
I would expect about 15 magic points in a 30 second opening. The math, where "mp" is "magic point", and "gp" is "gamble point":
#1 - 1 mp - 3 gp
#2 - 1 mp - 3 gp
#3 - 1 mp - 1 gp
#4 - 2 mp - 5 gp
#5 - 1.5 mp (accounting for the sprint) - 1 gp
#6 - 1 mp - 3 gp
#7 - 2.5 mp (obstacle & sprint) - 7 gp
#8 - 1.5 mp (obstacle & sprint) - 1 gp
#9 - 2 mp - 5 gp
#10 - 1 mp - 1 gp
#11 - 1 mp - 1 gp
#12 - 1 mp (horn blew before Scout landed)

Total Magic Points:
15.5 completed

Total Opening Gamble Points:
31

You might wonder why I chose to end 35 feet from the gamble line. In one of the openings Maureen and I came up with, my last obstacle would be the A-Frame. The speed and angle to the #1 gamble jump would be lacking and awkward. I chose to have a very straight, all out run to the #1. It worked well. As Scout completed the teeter, I positioned myself parallel to the correct tunnel entrance. As she approached between the correct tunnel entrance and me, I gave her a "left tunnel" command. When she took the tunnel, I was running to the #4 jump. Got it, and took third. (Maureen and her dog took first!)

Sunday Snooker
Maureen and I co-conspired on this one, even though our dogs are in the same jump height. The special rule on this one (thanks for not disappointing me, Scott!) was that the #7 combo had to be taken in direction, but either jump could be first. In other words, from the inside out. A nice course was all 6's, with a potential off-course at the #3 jump. A few people with blazing dogs attempted three 7's. Maureen and I concluded that 6-7-7 was the way to go, and that there was enough time. I entered both Bug and Scout, and both had 48 seconds.

Bug is a young dog who already has his Snooker Master title. I wanted this to be fun for him. I did all 6's. Instead of front crossing the first #6 to get the red at the top of the page, I met him outside the tunnel and essentially blocked his view of the #3 jump. I wrapped him around the right of the next red, and all he saw was tunnel. I ran the outside of the tunnel to pick him up for the last red (bottom right). I just had to be careful of all those tempting tunnel entrances to get him to the #2, and then ping-ponged out to #3. #3 to #4 was a change in focus. If the handler was not paying attention, the dog leapt from #3 to the off-course #1 in the closing. Another popular off-course was taking #4b instead of #4a. Most handlers front crossed between #4b and #5 to the correct tunnel entrance. #5 to #6 was fast and fun. Then came the tricky part: pick up at that tunnel into #7a. I made a front cross at the tunnel exit, but pulled Bug too much. The whistle blew for a runout. Still a qualifying run. Good boy!

Scout is collecting Q's, but I was feeling rather feisty. I went for the course that Maureen and I planned. The closing, in magic points, is about 9.5, which includes 0.5 for #2-#3 and 0.5 for the handling/distance between #6 and #7a.

The opening:
Red 1: 1mp
Distance to #6: 0.5mp
#6: 1mp
Distance to Top Red 1: 1mp
Distance/Handling to #7a: 1mp
#7a & #7b: 2.5mp
Last Red: 1mp
Distance to #7a: 1mp
#7a & #7b: 2.5mp
Distance to #2: 0.5mp
TOTAL Opening: 12mp
TOTAL For Course: 21.5, which would be about 43 seconds.

What I failed to realize when I walked this was the harsh angle from #7b to the #2. Most refusals occurred at the #2. I really had to work that approach better. After that, it was smooth sailing, except Scout didn't miss #7a like Bug did. She completed the course in a little over 44 seconds, and took first place.

Where's Your Front Cross?

2009-03-08T06:01:00.001-07:00

This jumpers from Dave Grubel at Contact Point 02/28/09 was fast and fun, utilizing a straight tunnel, also known as a puppy cannon.
I scribed Masters, so I got to watch where things went wrong.

A lead out between 2 & 3 was popular. However if the handler was not positioned well enough for the dog to think he could land safely, bar #2 dropped. In lieu of the lead out, some handled with a rear cross at #4.

A front-cross between #6 and #7 was popular if 3-4-5 was handled with the dog on the left.

#10 to #11 was a little tricky. I read it as a front cross or, presuming I was well ahead of my dog, a threadle arm. #11 was a popular dropped bar.

There was a lot of chatter about the desire to get a front cross in between #14 and #15. I can attest, it was difficult. I had to put on the afterburners and not admire my dog. The reason there was so much talk about this front cross was getting to #17 without taking the off-course #2 jump.

#18 was a triple. Some that handled that as a rear cross had dropped bars.

I don't do start lines with Scout. I did walk out to #2, called her, and then front crossed between #2 and #3. Here's what I did:

Another Well-Timed Gamble

2009-03-06T05:20:00.000-08:00

This is from Good Dog Agility's 2009 February Trial. It was the first run of the morning. Mark Wirant judged.

A very popular opening ran the jump-time-jump-gamble jump-tunnel. My dog drops bars if I do something stupid. If my dog dropped bars on her own, I wouldn't even contemplate taking a gamble jump.
I went for 14 magic points. My course was 13.5. The buzzer did sound when I was across the field from the #1, but it was a straight run, so that's not a big deal for a dog that is reasonably fast. It would be a deal-breaker for a slow dog.

The key to this gamble was how to handle that #2 and the turn into the teeter, especially with a very tempting tunnel entrance. The dogs and handlers that succeeded either had good directionals (a left!), or added a front cross between the #1 and #2, which I did.

Point-Time Estimation for Snooker

2009-02-24T05:01:00.000-08:00

Using the point-time estimation works for snooker, too.

I did not run this course with the "magic points" in mind. Bug, a 16" Championship dog, had 50 seconds to complete the course. He would tell me what Scout, a 16" Performance dog could do. (At the time, I was going for Top Ten points for her). Both dogs run about the same speed, even though no one believes me.
Bug's Course
Opening: R1 + 4, R2 + 4, R3 + 7
Completed Closing and crossed the finish line: 47.29

Note that amount of hauling butt you need to do to cross the finish line. If Bug crossed the finish line before the timer sounded, then I had more time to get more points. It didn't matter because he took first, SuperQ and his Snooker Master title.

With a 50 seconds to get it all done, I can do 25 magic points. Let's add.
Opening
R1 + 4 + R2 + 4 = 4mp
The run to R3 = 1mp
The run to 7a = 2mp
7a, 7b, &c = 3mp
TOTAL = 10mp

Closing
2 through 5 = 5 mp
The distance to get to 6 = 1mp
A-Frame = 2mp
7 combo = 3mp
TOTAL = 11 mp

Bug's Total: 19mp.

Scout's Course
I changed plan for Scout - went for the #4 and two #7s in the opening. Let's do the math:
Opening
R1 + 4 + R2 = 3mp
7c, 7b, 7a = 3mp
Scooting to R3 = 2mp
R3 = 1mp
Scooting back to 7a= 2mp
7a, 7b, 7c = 3mp
TOTAL = 14mp

Closing
Same as Bug's, 11mp.

Scout's Total: 25mp

Alternative Openings
The dog that placed first ran R1-5b-5a, then the remaining reds and sevens. Scout could not have run faster than this dog, but let's compute her opening estimate anyway:
R1 + 5b +5a + a scoot + R2 = 5mp
7c, 7b, 7a = 3mp
Scooting to R3 = 2mp
R3 = 1mp
Scooting back to 7a= 2mp
7a, 7b, 7c = 3mp
TOTAL = 16mp

Time wise, this would have been cutting it awfully close to NOT finishing the #7 and, had we did finish, it still would have been second place.

Scout would have needed at least a 6-7-7 to win.
R1 + a scoot + 6 + a scoot + R2 = 6mp
7c, 7b, 7a = 3mp
Scooting to R3 = 2mp
R3 = 1mp
Scooting back to 7a= 2mp
7a, 7b, 7c = 3mp
TOTAL = 17mp

I don't think we could have successfully completed the #7 with this opening.

Conclusion
In 50 seconds, I expect to get 25 magic points with Scout. The course I happened to choose, without any analysis, worked. She crossed the finish line at 53.41 seconds. Scout took second and SuperQ'd.

And, in case you're wondering, Scout did make the 2008 Performance Top Ten for Snooker.

Seeing the Point-Time Estimation Method in Action

2009-02-22T17:09:00.001-08:00

Using "Magic Points" can easily help you with a Time Gamble.

Here is the USDAA DAM/PVP Time Gamble from Mark Wirant at Good Dog Agility in Tempe, AZ. In a nutshell, the ideal time to cross the finish jump was between 30.01 and 31 seconds in a 1-2-3-5 system.
A couple of considerations:

In a 1-2-3-5 system, the value of the contacts and weaves, unless one is the 5-point obstacle, is not much compared to the jumps and round things. It is to your advantage in a 1-2-3-5 system to get the 5-point obstacle twice, and focus on round things (tire and tunnel). Round things and jumps are cheap and fast, usually faster than contacts and weaves.
Tire is always your friend! It is fast and easy, and worth more points than a regular jump.

I ran this with my older, very consistent dog, Scout. She has a fast A-Frame, and, as luck would have it, that was the 5-point obstacle. I stressed because I wanted the tire twice but could not work that into a nice flow. I planned for 14-15 magic points, with the option of taking the tunnels on the left twice, depending on her speed.

I did a couple of things I would not normally do: 3 back-to-back obstacles. I did, however, allow Scout to safely exit the obstacle and nicely turn around to re-perform it.

Because of her speed on the tunnel-jump sequence that EVERYONE took on the exit, I opted to toss in a back-to-back tunnel by the exit jump.

Finish time: 30.30 seconds.
Opening Points: 28
Gamble Points: 15
Placement: 1st, P16 (my partner finished at 30.36 with extra jumps - the double the wrong direction, and a dropped bar), and highest in PVP Class

The following was my strategy, red text shows the sequence numbering and magic points, blue shows the obstacle values:

Gamblers Opening Strategy

2009-02-19T18:16:00.000-08:00

This is not my idea. It was given to me by someone else, who got it from someone else, who... well, you get the picture. I further tweaked the method.

BASICS

Each obstacle has a point value based on the relative amount of time it takes a dog to complete it. I call these "magic points".
Obstacles are assumed to be spaced 15-20 feet.
Any dead space greater than 20 feet in a sequence counts as a magic point.
The better the flow, the more magic points needed.
Almost every dog, regardless of size or speed, averages 12-16 magic points in a 30-second opening sequence.

MAGIC POINTS

Each jump counts as one (1) magic point.
Each contact counts as at least two (2) magic points. If the dog has a slow dog walk, then that obstacle may count as 2.5 or 3 magic points.
A set of 6 weaves is one (1) magic point for a good weaver.
A set of 12 weaves is two (2) magic points for a good weaver.
Tunnels count as one (1) magic point.
Any dead space distance greater than 20 feet counts as a magic point.
Jumpers caveat: 4 consecutive jumps count as 3 magic points.

WHAT IS YOUR MAGIC NUMBER?
If you can't have someone track the obstacles you do in a set time, then use a standard run without a table. Count the magic points for each obstacle, divide by the time completed and multiply by 30. That is the number of magic points, on average, you need in your opening for gamblers.

The example I am posting is theoretical. Pretend that there is no table in this run:
There are 22 magic points. If I completed the course in 44 seconds, then I have averaged 0.5 magic points per second. Multiply by a 30 second opening, and that is 15 magic points.

The following is a Masters/PIII Gamblers course from 02/14/09, Saguaro Scramblers, with Sheri Boone as the judge. The opening is 25 seconds.
Scout and I sought 13 magic points (about half of 25, using my example ratio above). The buzzer blew right as she took what would be the 13th magic point. This left us with a nice entry into the gamble.
This method works nicely, of course, for time gambles, and for estimating what you can do in snooker.

A Better Doggie Wheelchair

2009-01-25T18:27:00.000-08:00

I found this link in the University of Louisville Alumni magazine. It's FREE instructions for a fully adjustable doggie wheelchair. I think the lady who came up with it said the parts all cost $200, and are readily available at your local hardware store.

http://web.me.com/gbertocci

Handy DOCNA and USDAA Worksheet

2009-01-05T18:36:00.000-08:00

This worksheet computes the number of Qs you need to complete the championship titles.

General Rules for a Successful, Strategic Run

2008-12-21T06:22:00.001-08:00

Each dog is different. When you get to choose your own course, it should be fun for the dog. Unless you are training something, avoid your dog’s weaker obstacles. Scout isn’t the speediest weaver, so if we don’t need to do them, we don’t.

Highlight your dog’s assets. If your dog loves tunnels and contacts, select a course around that.
Flow is key. Back-to-back obstacles can be demoralizing and actually slows the dog down. Wrap the dog around a jump before sending him up the A-Frame again.
Run with your dog. If you’re not running, then why should your dog?

With an older dog, I do not recommend back-to-back obstacles. Ever. You risk injury to your dog with the sudden stop, 180 turn, and the need to accelerate again. This is the voice of experience.

Introduction

2008-12-16T18:24:00.000-08:00

The first step in rehabilitation is to admit you have a problem.

Hello, my name is Jessica, and I am an agility addict.

Now that I have that squared away, you can attend my briefing.

Scout is my first agility dog. She is first and foremost a beloved house pet. I discovered agility on accident two years after I adopted her from the pound. Click for Scout's Story. Everyone kept telling me she’s a 16” dog. What does that mean? It means that if you are over 16” at the shoulder, you are jumping 22” in USDAA in the biggest height class. Scout is 17” at the shoulder and 20.5 pounds. If she is not the smallest dog in her class by height, she most certainly is by weight. Oh, and she’s not a border collie or Aussie or Sheltie. She’s an All-American Mutt.

I began trialing with Scout when she was at least five. Since her birth date is unknown, I felt it best to compete with her in the Performance Program. In some areas, the USDAA Performance Program is very small, but not in the Southwest. The Performance entries at trials rivals those in the Championship program. I had several people tell me that I would have to travel outside my region to get the SuperQs necessary for the APD (Performance equivalent to an ADCh).

The point being is that I was going to have an uphill battle getting the champion title on Scout.

I traveled to the Midwest (along with a family visit) and snagged two SuperQs. There were three open dogs in Performance. Cool! One more!

And it became discouraging… getting Qs and that’s it.

Then the miracle happened in January 2008, San Diego, California. A three or four red snooker with a 7 jump-tunnel-jump combo, and the 6 was an A-frame. A scratch in the 22” class meant that the open dogs were combined. Three 16” dogs did all four reds. I estimated that I could do two sixes and a seven and complete the closing. Scout bounced the last jump and the horn blew. Perfect timing. I paced. And waited for the 22” class to run. Scout was in fourth place. That’s encouraging. I paced some more. After the 22” score table tallied the 22” class, I realized that we earned the last SuperQ.

Not too bad for an 8-year-old dog I was told would never get it.

At a trial in March, we stumbled upon another SuperQ. I picked a flowing course. At a May trial, I picked a nice course, and had a ton of time left over. Not good! Scout and I could have had more points! My friends Linda and Leslie encouraged me to go for more points because I can. So that’s what I do since I finally figured out the game.

I have an up-and-coming dog, Bug. He’s another pound adoptee and competes in the 16” Championship class. I acquired him in April of 2007, and began training him in September of that year. He’s now a Snooker Master.

I have quite a few people ask me for Snooker courses, as if I am some sort of guru. I’m not. Once you figure out the game, it’s easier to play. And succeed.

This intent of this blog is to discuss strategy (following numbers isn’t strategy!) in agility games.

Timing Snooker for maximum points
Finding flow and time estimation in Gamblers
Flow and shortest distance in Snakes-and-Ladders
Determining assets and liabilities to maximize success