Rankine and Aaron continue their quest for USDAA National qualifications at this weekend’s Southwest Agility Team (SWAT) trial in Albuquerque, New Mexico.   Today, Rankine will be competing with Ayr (the border collie) in performance versatility pairs with hopes of earning a qualifier that will allow them to compete at USDAA Nationals which will be held in Denver, Colorado.   Rankine will also be trying to earn qualifiers to complete his performance agility championship and perhaps a Grand Prix or Steeplechase qualifier.

Updates to come throughout the weekend – lets hope it’s good!

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The USDAA Nationals will be in Denver CO this coming October.  Rankine and Aaron are working hard to qualify.  At 5 years old, he is in his prime, but his owner’s admit that raising 2 young children, holding full-time jobs and keeping up competitive training is difficult.  We do our best and some weekends you hit the agility jackpot.  This weekend Rankine qualified in USDAA Steeplechase, pairs, snooker with a super Q and jumpers.  Oh yeah, his 12 year old brother TJ also earned snooker and jumper Qs.

Now if only we can earn a Team and Grand Prix qualifier.

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If you have multiple dogs, Online Dog Coach recommends that you establish a feeding routine.  This ensures that each dog gets his or her fair share and can helpful making feeding time less crazy.  In this video, 3 year old Chase shows you how feeding multiple dogs works at our house.  Please note that these dogs have had an established feeding routine for multiple years and we do not recommend that a young child try this without proper training and supervision.

Check out the video on our Facebook page.

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In preparation for USDAA Nationals, Rankine and Aaron entered a show in New Mexico.  This morning they earned a 1st place in Master Gamblers and 1st place in Advanced Standard.  Way to go — that training is paying off.

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Rankine and I attended a Front Range Agility Team seminar this past week with Jennifer Crank.  I signed up for two sessions to work on stress related issues (i.e. Table sniffing) and improved contacts.  I must admit I was a little disappointed in the morning session because it was heavily focused on motivation versus stress and if there is anything Rankine doesn’t need to work on it’s motivation.  That aside, Jennifer made the following very eye opening and obvious statement:

“Those who work on Training tend to perform better in Standard classes versus those who work on Handling tend to perform better in Jumper classes”.  To which I replied, “that explains why have a dog in USDAA Master Jumpers that only has 1 qualifying run in Starters Standard”.  Needless to say that Jennifer and the seminar participates had a good laugh.

So what’s the difference you ask:

• Training focuses on a specific skill (i.e.  you go into the agility ring with one goal such as completing 12 weave poles or training the A-frame down contact).  Note – Online Dog Coach lessons are training focused.
• Handling focuses on sequencing (i.e. you setup and work a full course)

In my case, I am fortunate to have a 100′ x 80′ agility training ring in my backyard with a compliment of agility equipment.  Consequently, I have a tendency to handle full courses because they are readily available.   Prior to moving to this house, my wife and I had a limited amount of space which made us train basic skills versus handle full courses.   Surprise, surprise our older dog, TJ, has beautiful contacts and agility basics.

My goal? Go back to training basic agility skills for the near term.

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