|
Gracie flying through the new weave poles
whilst Ficelle waits patiently on the table.
|
The tunnel was too difficult for our humans to make themselves, so it was ordered from a company near Paris at great expense. We love it so much that we run through it even when we aren't supposed to be doing our Agility training! |
|
|
Known as a "sack tunnel". Our French friend "Peluche" came round to have a go on our garden agility course and was very keen to watch us tackle this new challenge - he did the rigid tunnel, as the new one is really for more experienced dogs like us! |
Ficelle demonstrates the tyre |
|
|
Gracie shows off her jumping skills to guests
at our holiday cottages.
|
A natural progression was to get into Dancing with dogs.
Ficelle learns the "High Five". ...... |
|
|
.........roll over ......... |
........ two-legged dancing ......
to be continued! |
|
Who ever said that Agility was just for dogs? I (Harry) love racing through the tunnel after my big sisters Grace (left) and Ficelle (out of shot already!). |
|
|
Yes Mum, I can see where I need to go - I'll be there in my own time! |
The early days ......... |
|
Since our last entry, our owners have been busy trying to find new ways to entertain us!!!! Dad has been hard at work in his shed for a week or so now, buliding us an aglility course!!!!
We have lots of obstacles now and we are getting quite good at the course.
Well Gracie (the oldest) has already done agility in England so is a bit of an old hand but Ficelle was too young to have a go in England as it is best for dogs not to jump until the age of 2 when their bones are fully grown. So we have started off with the basics and are slowly building them up to the more challenging obstacles! |
 |
 |
Here is our long jump, a series of 4 small jumps ranging in height and put close together so we have to stretch out!!
We have learnt to jump together but Ficelle is sometimes a bit slow off the mark! |
This is our <tyre through> jump. Ficelle still needs to be encouraged to jump through, but I (Gracie) can do this with mum at a distance.
The tyre is attached to the frame using bungee straps at the bottom and string at the top, so it can be lowered for small dos or made higher for more experienced dogs. Gracie can jump through at a high level, but as Ficelle was scared of it at first we have left it at its lowest point for her to get use to!
See below for a shot of Gracie jumping at full height. |
  |
  |
This is our high jump, we both have different ways of jumping. Ficelle jumps close to the jump and keeps her feet together, where as I jump from further back and stretch out so as not to knock the bars off.
These jumps are made from broom handles wtih golf tees to hold the bars. The tees are put on opposite sides of the upright post, so that if a dog misses a jump, the bars fall off easly and the dogs cannot hurt themselves. |
These are our training weaving poles, we only have four at the moment but hope to have more this week. We are both good at this as long as our owners are near by to remind us which way to go!!!
See below for progress on weave training. |
|
 |
<Table down> is our latest obstacle. We have to jump on to it and wait in a down postion until called on to the next part of the course.
The top of the table has rubber matting on it so the dogs do not slide off when jumping on. |
"Walk the Plank" - this obstacle took Dad all day to make, but it was worth it! |
|
|
We race down the garden to do our Agility Course - it's great fun for us dogs and keeps the humans fit! |
Following a visit to our gîtes by a couple of Agility Instructors (thanks Nikki and Mick!) we now have a new system to train us through the weave obstacle and we are getting faster every day!
Place the poles in ground at an angle and in 2 separate lines. Place your dog at the entrance and call through from the exit - PRAISE. Gradually move each pole closer until all the bases are in line (poles making a long "V"). Once your dog has mastered this stage you begin to straighten the poles until you have the classic weave obstacle. This trains the dog to approach the weave poles as one unit and the result is a much faster round! Just look how attentive Gracie is - looking at Mum to see where to go next! |
|
|
For some reason both Mum and Dad seem to be about to fall over backwards as we come out of the weave section at speed!!!! |
The weave poles in training position. I (Gracie) charge on to the next obstacle - the long jump. Mum's doing her best to keep up with me! |
|
|
The seesaw is one of my favourite elements of the course - just try and stop me! I had to learn, though, that I must approach this obstacle carefully - touching both ends of the seesaw for safety reasons. This meant that Mum had to keep putting biscuits on the ends for me to find - as I said "Life has it's ups and downs!!!". |
I (Ficelle) had never done agility before we came to live in France, so this is all very new to me - and a bit scary! Mum tempts me with biscuits whilst Dad holds the other end of the seesaw so that it doesn't suddenly flip and frighten me. |
|
Ficelle can also jump the tyre at full height now.
|
|
|
Dogs visiting our holiday cottages are welcome to have a go at agility - this new element, however, is only to be tackled once a dog is confident using the rigid tunnel, which is put out straight for beginners in order that they can see the exit and their owner waiting for them.
The sack-tunnel, however, needs to be pushed through - the end remaining closed until the dog emerges.
|
Our Agility instructer, Michelle Johnston (who is English) has just represented France in agility at Crufts 08. She did fantastically well coming 6th overall in the International Agility Competion. She also creates hand-made caracatures of dogs (and other animals) in porcelain.
To see her web-site, click on the 'links' button on the tool bar just below.
