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Hamar - My Agility Career
Every week we would do jumps, starting small and working up to 2 foot and gradually the other equipment was added. The equipment consists of two types of tunnel, a pipe and a collapsible one that I have to push through. The tyre and weaves, I found the weaves quite difficult as I don't bend quite like the collies, but we had some in the back garden and Mum practiced with me for a few minutes each day. There is also a long jump that was easy and a table that I had to jump onto and then lie down while Dad practiced his counting but he never seemed to get pass 5! Finally there are what are called contacts, the seesaw, dog walk a A frame, they have contact points either end in a different color that I have to place at least one paw on otherwise in a competition I get 5 faults. so to help me learn to do this I was given a treat each time I reached a contact point, so I liked these. The A frame and the dog walk started low and each week they were put up until they reached the full height. We also had a seesaw in the back garden so I mastered this quite quickly but mum took it away after she found me practicing it on my own! Mum said that was dangerous. At the end of the 8-week course we has a test to show that we could cope with the equipment and do more or less what we were told. I passed, of course! Then I progressed to the next class where I learnt to jump the height for my size of dog which is 2ft 6in, think this is quite big as Debbie's horse sometimes has to jump that height. Also I had to learn my left from my right so I could be guided around a course of obstacles. From the beginning I was told the name of each piece of equipment, sometimes in a shortened version the A frame was a 'climb' and the dog walk was 'walk on'. Now I realise why, sometimes pieces of equipment were very near each other on a course and when Dad said the name, I had to do the correct one. This did not always work! As I loved, and still do, the seesaw and the pipe tunnel, I would do these as often as possible! Some months on. Dad and Debbie decided it would be fun for me to do competitions, Dad did not want to run me so Debbie took me with Whisky to my first show. We still have the same routine as we did that first time. On arrival we go to the exercise area, this is fun there are lots of dogs all running around, the collies are usually playing ball, and so long as I don't chat up too many ladies I am allowed off the lead as are all the others. The exercise area is very important, as if I go to the toilet in the ring it is instant disqualification. Then it is back to the car while Debbie walks the course. This means she learns the order of the obstacles and works out the best way for me to do them as apparently Whisky and I do courses differently, he bends easier than I do. Then, I'd queue up to wait my turn, there can be up to 450 dogs in a class so a running order is sent out before the show so that not all the dogs try and jump at the same time! I thought it great fun, and would do the first few obstacles when told. Then would lose my concentration and see a tunnel and see saw, I would forget myself and do these instead, nobody seemed to mind and I was still given a treat when I finished, so it didn't seem to matter. I continued to go to competitions during the winter, but in the summer concentrated on shows. The ground was considered too hard for me, and the weather too hot, this was a shame as I really enjoyed competing outside. I could go to the top of the A frame and see into the distance then go out of the ring and chat up any ladies! continued.................................. see Hamar - My Graduation ................
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One
evening Dad, Debbie, Whisky and I set off to a large indoor school. I had
been enrolled on the beginners' agility course. We started on the lead
running around with our owners, paying attention to them and going into a
sit or down stay when the instructor commanded, this was easy for me as it
was just like the obedience classes. some dogs were naughty because of the
smell of horses on the ground, but, of course, I was used to that. After the
first week I was always off the lead when I was doing anything and only on
the lead while I was waiting my turn (when I compete I'm not even allowed
to wear a collar). Some dogs would run off because they were not used to
being off the lead.