Jump Start Agility

16/04/2023

16/04/2023

Agility Training with Remy - Easter 2023 🐣🐥🌞
Enjoyed a warm & sunny Easter Sunday having some agility fun with Remy. We haven't been able to train on full courses very often this year, as the ground has been so wet! Feeling very pleased with my little spaniel. 🥰

10/04/2023

Thankfully we had a few days of glorious sunshine over the Easter weekend. The weather has been so wet this winter! The ground has been very waterlogged at times & lessons have needed to be cancelled!!! But finally Spring is here. 🐣🐥🌷🌞
It was worth getting my camera out of hibernation to record the event! Baja & I enjoyed some hoopers fun in the sun at long last!

24/12/2022

Sending warmest wishes to all my lovely Jump Start Agility friends.
This year has definitely had its challenges, its ups and downs, with happy & sad times thrown in for good measure! But I am still here and still enjoying having fun with my dogs. Thank you for your continued support through an extremely difficult year!
Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you all. Hope to see you again in January (weather permitting!) for more fun agility & hoopers.

20/12/2022

This is such great advice! ❤️

How do you advocate for your dog?

A dog can need space. A dog can not want to be touched.

Speaking up for our dog is a HUGE, underestimated part of being a pet guardian.

Despite this, speaking up and advocating for our dogs is incredibly hard and often goes against our natural desires.

It is ok to not want conflict, to worry about hurting a persons feelings and to make up a reason as to why you need your dog not to do something or their space to be respected.

You do not need to provide a reason to anyone when you advocate for your dog.

Be firm, be consistent and be strong.

Although your dog can not say, they do appriciate you being their advocate.

26/11/2022

This says it all!
I just love teaching agility to complete beginners...and seeing the joy it brings to both dogs & humans. 🥰

08/09/2022

Such sad news! Rest in peace, your Majesty. Thank you for a job well done.

A remarkable lady, Rest in Peace our wonderful Queen❤️

05/08/2022

Hoopers Training with Remy 🐾🐾
Remy is starting to gain confidence with me handling him at greater distances. So pleased with his Start Lines! 🥰

04/08/2022

Phew! ☀️🥵 It has been far too hot for any hoopers training recently! It felt so good to finally give Baja a run before the heat set in...we haven't done any coursework for ages! Need to get some practice in before the HUK Finals in 2 weeks time! 😁

20/06/2022

Be fair to your dog! Injury prevention is key to long-term success.💜
"Being able to participate in any sport with our dogs is a gift. Our dogs are not robots - they experience discomfort and pain, just like we do. The difference is that if we twist our knee on course, we have the ability to stop right away without consulting our canine partners. A true relationship isn’t proven through titles or awards, it’s shown in how you care for your partner."

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠.

As much as we call dog sports a partnership, we need to acknowledge that it is our dogs doing the majority of the physical work. They run, jump, heel, change positions - all because we’ve created a drive in them to do so that often overrides any feelings of discomfort. Our dogs take on the physical demands of these team sports, and in return, if it truly is a partnership, we need to take on the responsibility of looking out for their health and welfare, and be willing to happily cut a course (or even a trial) short if that is in the best interest of our partner.

Asking our dogs to continue to compete when they are showing signs of discomfort can result in a more serious injury occurring, either due to aggravation of the initial injury or due to the manner in which the dog compensates for injury. More importantly though, if an owner knowingly runs a dog who is injured, it’s a betrayal of the ideals of relationship and sportsmanship. Our dogs don’t care about ribbons or titles or the money spent on entry fees - they do what they do because of their relationship with us. It’s our responsibility to honour that relationship by making choices that look out for their best interests.

So what should you do if your dog suddenly shows an indication of discomfort in the middle of a run/trial? I’ve divided this article into three sections - how to be proactive, what to do in the moment, and next steps. Hopefully this helps provide guidance for people who want to do what’s best for their dog, but are struggling with what they should do.

𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲
There is so much that can be done to prevent injuries in the first place.

#1. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. If a rehab vet is close to you, it’s well worth getting regular assessments. If you have access to complementary care providers, make judicious use of them as well. If possible, have a gait analysis completed so that you a) can address any concerns in advance, and b) have documentation of what your dog’s “normal” gait looks like so you can compare if necessary.

#2. 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐮𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠. The science is clear - including an active range of motion workout before activity can improve performance and reduce the risk of injury (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZaA9wZ4wHxYQUa0l16vX3oeePf2yn67v54Erbgu-3ew/edit?usp=sharing)

#3. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, especially if you are a coach because you are in a position of authority and leadership. Talk to your clients and peers about warning signs and normalize not training if your dog isn’t 100%. Set the standard with your own dogs - don’t just talk about successful runs, talk about the runs where you’ve had to pull your dog, or warning signs you’ve paid attention to and how making hard decisions has benefitted your dog in the long run.

𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

#𝟏 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫.
In an agility run, the handler is tracking the dog’s lines, the next obstacle, where they are in the course, worrying about any specific challenges their dog is facing, and trying desperately not to run into that jump that is right in the middle of their ideal path...it’s a lot, and so it’s easy to miss a gait anomaly in a dog.

If my dog isn’t moving well, I want to know, and I want to know RIGHT AWAY. I don’t care if I’m in the middle of the course. I don’t care if I’m one obstacle away from a spectacular run. I don’t care if there’s a title on the line, I don’t care if I’ve spent hundreds of dollars between travelling, hotel, and entry expenses. I’ve been in all of those positions before, and as soon as I have a concern I’ve stopped the run. There is absolutely nothing more important to me than the health and well-being of my dog.

If the owner is angry to find out you are concerned about their dog, that’s on them, not on you.

#𝟐. 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠.
It doesn’t matter if your dog was fine in the run before. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t see what caused the injury. It doesn’t matter if you are pretty sure s/he just landed wrong and will be fine in a few minutes. None of this matters, because right now, in this moment, your dog is uncomfortable and you are responsible for your dog’s health.

#𝟑. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.
In many cases handler’s have spent years building obstacle drive and obedience in their dogs. I’ve seen dogs try to take agility jumps on three legs after an acute CCL injury, I’ve seen senior dogs with a limited range of motion pull themselves through a course that asks more of them then they should have to give, and I’ve seen dogs with a torn off nail going over an A-frame before their owner could stop them. Your dog is not “fine” just because it’s willing and able to perform - dogs can and will continue to train and compete, even when they’re extremely uncomfortable. Be aware of your power, and be kind to your dog.

#𝟒. 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩.
Your dog and the relationship you share with your dog is more valuable than the last obstacle, the final run, the Q, or the money you spent on travel expenses. Using that power in your relationship to run your dog when s/he is in pain isn’t right, and it’s not fair to your dog.

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬

#𝟏. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
If you go over your dog with a fine toothed comb, are you finding any spots that are sensitive, bloody (ie. a broken nail), or warmer to the touch than they should be? Is your dog stiffening or vocalizing when you touch certain areas? Is your dog comfortable sitting, standing, going to the washroom, jumping onto their place spot, etc? Does your dog have a full range of motion, and can they still comfortable complete all AROM exercises?

#𝟐. 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨
Take 5 minutes and complete a full gait analysis video, capturing video at both full speed and in slow mo. If you aren’t sure how to analyze gait, try to find a friend or coach who is capable of doing a thorough analysis. Your dog may have just landed wrong, and their gait may return to normal quickly, or it may be a longer term issue - but taking video immediately after can either reassure you that all is now good in your dog’s world or it can provide valuable documentation for a longer term injury.

#𝟑. 𝐈𝐟 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞, 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.
Having a neutral, knowledgeable professional put their hands on your dogs is invaluable. I’ve always found the reassurance to be well worth the money.

#𝟒. 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤.
If the gait video is clear, you don’t spot any red flags, and the professional clears your dog so you decide to run your dog again, have someone video (or a few people from different angles) to make sure that nothing was missed - after all, dog sports demand much more of our dogs than a typical gait analysis video does. Be aware of your dog and look for any red flags - a slower pace, knocked bars, avoidance, difficulting maintaining a heel, slow to switch positions, etc. Don’t be afraid of cutting the run short if your instincts are telling you something is still wrong.

#5. 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩.
Reflection is always an important part of the learning process. Is there anything you can do to be more proactive in your dog’s care? Did your handling adequately support your dog’s lines so they weren’t trying to make adjustments on the fly? Is it time to lower your dog’s bar height? Have you implemented a conditioning routine that reflects the demands of the sport? Did you make the time to warm up? How can you do better for your partner?

Being able to participate in any sport with our dogs is a gift. Our dogs are not robots - they experience discomfort and pain, just like we do. The difference is that if we twist our knee on course, we have the ability to stop right away without consulting our canine partners. A true relationship isn’t proven through titles or awards, it’s shown in how you care for your partner.

09/06/2022

Agility Training with Remy 🐾🐾
Managed to dodge the rain showers yesterday & get in some agility training with Remy. He is almost 18 months old & now jumping at his full jump height (40cms). 🥰 We are preparing for our first Kennel Club agility competitions later this year - but need to get him measured first!! 🤪

07/06/2022

Hoopers Training with Baja 🥰
Although we haven't competed in ages, Baja still enjoys his hoopers sessions. Love training with this boy! ❤️❤️

24/05/2022

Amen to this! 💜
My reactive boy, Baja leads a full & active life, without needing to visit busy places where he is likely to meet lots of scary dogs or people!

For many dogs, the world is a fun and engaging place.👍 We take our dogs with us to restaurants, pet stores, crowded parks, and gatherings - in an attempt to give our dogs a life of experiences and have them with us enjoying life by our side.

But for just as many dogs, the world and those activities, is overwhelming, chaotic, and confusing.🥺 There is a common belief that in order for a dog to have a "full life", they need to be social with other people and dogs, they should be comfortable and able to be in public spaces, and they need to get out and explore the 🌏. And if you're not doing these things, you are doing your dog a disservice.

Now, I'm not saying these things should be discouraged or that dogs don't enjoy such situations. But what I am saying, is 👉NOT ALL DOGS WILL! 👈

If your dog is overwhelmed by the chaos of crowded spaces, if they don't enjoy the company of other dogs or strange people, and if you find they are most happy in quiet and familiar spaces, I'm here to tell you that's okay!

Dogs can live a full and complete life without needing to be thrusted into these situations. And I'll take it one step further that forcing a stressed dog into these situations is doing them a greater disservice. 🙁

By creating safe opportunities for enrichment at home and in private spaces where your dog feels safe, you are allowing your dog the ability to be him/herself and fully enjoy life without constantly feeling on edge. You are NOT doing your dog an injustice by keeping him/her away from those things that may be overwhelming for him.

👉You do NOT have to take your dog to that "dog friendly" cafe downtown just because other people do.

👉You do NOT need to take your dog to the dog park to "be social" and "meet new friends" if this isn't something your dog enjoys

👉You do NOT need to take your dog for walks in that crowded park where he consistently feels on edge with all of the activity around

👉And you certainly do NOT need to take your dog into stores or other public spaces so he can meet new people (who he has no interest in meeting).

I'm here to take that burden off of your shoulders. To recommend focusing on providing your dog with enriching activities, novel experiences, and opportunities to do the things that bring you both joy in the spaces that fit your dog's needs and preferences.

Our dog's worlds don't have to be big, they just have to be full. Full of enrichment, love, safety, and joy.❤️🐾

07/05/2022

Agility Training with Remy 🐾🐾
Remy is now 16 months & making good progress with his agility training. Haven't posted much recently so thought it would be good to record a quick session running Remy around the course set up for classes this week. We are focusing on his weaves & contacts at the moment, so not running many agility sequences. Foundation skills starting to pay off!! 😍

02/05/2022

🐾 5 Tips for Obstacle Focus & Forward Drive 🐾
Building on good foundations & growing your dogs' confidence are the keys to distance handling.
1. Reward Placement ✔️
2. Build value for jumps/hoops ✔️
3. Break things down ✔️
4. High rate of reinforcement ✔️
5. Always support your dog ✔️

29/04/2022

Warm up exercises are an important part of every training session.

Mentally, emotionally and physically prepare your dog for activity with an appropriate and safe warm-up.
Here's why....

27/03/2022

Agility Training with Remy 🐾🐾
Remy's foundation training has been coming along quite nicely over the past year. He is now old enough to start running agility sequences over low jumps. Remy loves his agility! So pleased with our progress so far...we are already starting to feel like a team! 🥰

23/03/2022

Hoopers Training with Remy 🐾🐾
I find it hard to believe my crazy spaniel is 15 months old already....the past year has just flown by! Remy is nearly old enough to compete at his first hoopers competition, so we have been getting in some practice whilst the sun shines. 🌞

20/03/2022

Spring is finally here!! 🌞🌞🌞
Enjoyed some hoopers in the lovely sunshine this weekend. Baja was so pleased to be back training after a week off (I've been so busy with clients recently!!) Great to be working outdoors at this time of year!

31/12/2021

Well that’s a wrap on 2021 - the end of another crazy year!
Thank you so much to all of my clients, old and new, for your continued support. Wishing you and all your dogs a happy New Year and a truly wonderful 2022. 🎉🥳🥂🍾🎉🥳🥂🍾🎉🥳🥂🍾
Look forward to seeing you all for more training fun next year. ☺️
Stay Safe, Have Fun, Be Happy! 🐾🐾

30/12/2021

All training has been on hold this week, as field is a bit wet & soggy! 💦💧That means time to catch up on editing my training videos from a few weeks ago. This is Baja & I practising our distance handling for agility, rather than hoopers! 😊

24/12/2021

Merry Christmas Everyone. 🎅🌲🌲🌲
This has turned out to be another successful year for Jump Start Agility.
Thank you all for your continued encouragement & support.
Wishing you a merry Christmas & happy New Year.
See you in 2022 for more agility & hoopers fun with our dogs. 🐾🐾

23/12/2021

Enjoyed a spot of hoopers training with Baja last weekend. He was such a good boy for listening to my verbal cues on these course variations! 😎

17/12/2021

Fundamentals are the secret to success! 🐾🐾
"When you're teaching the complex aspects of training with your dog, you'll find having a solid foundation makes it much easier."

If you want your dog to change, sometimes the change begins with you.

It's important to remember that struggling is not failing and it can mean that you’re trying, growing, learning and getting closer to a breakthrough.
When you're teaching the complex aspects of training with your dog, you'll find having a solid foundation makes it much easier.
It sounds completely backwards to many people at first, but once you get your head around it, it changes the game completely.

The fundamentals are paramount and there is no embarrassment in going back to improve them. The problem is if you continue to push forward when there is a hole in your training—that’s not fair to your dog.

It may be you discovered what you believe to be a short cut. But a perceived faster way to train can force your dog beyond his understanding or capabilities and ultimately, create a bigger problem than if you’d been patient in your training.
Some handlers think meaningful training doesn't begin until their dog is further forward yet, it’s the foundation that can make all the difference in his success.

There is a connection between how we start our young dogs and how we teach the most complex aspects. Our early training makes learning the more difficult facets easier, because the method is recognizable, intuitive and enjoyable.

You empower confidence and trust in your dog by setting him up to succeed.
If your dog has plateaued or is struggling, it may help to revisit the fundamentals.
This doesn't mean your dog should never encounter adversity;
it means that you’ve taught the foundation well enough that he can call upon it, and be resilient in the face of difficulty.
macraeway.com

26/10/2021

Hoopers Training with Remy - 26th October 2021 💜
Not wanting to miss out on all the fun, Remy had a go at completing this week's hoopers course. Really pleased with how well my puppy has taken to distance handling! 🥰

26/10/2021

💜💜💜

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24/10/2021

Hoopers with Kody - 24th October 2021
Kody is now 11yrs+ and officially retired from competition due to his slight hearing loss. But that doesn't stop us enjoying hoopers at home. I am so thankful for having Kody in my life. Without him, I would never have discovered the wonderful sport of hoopers (years before it became popular in the UK). I cherish every day we still get to play hoopers together! 💖

24/10/2021

Hoopers Training with Baja - 24th October 2021
Enjoyed a quick hoopers session with Baja this morning. Get such a buzz working my "special" boy at distance. This course was SO easy for him! 🥰

21/10/2021

Vets have called for all supermarkets to ban the private sale of fireworks ahead of Bonfire Night.

18/10/2021

I so agree with the sentiments of this post. Obedience Training is NOT the answer! Reactive dogs need emotional support to cope in stressful situations, not be forced to obey formal commands!

RESOLUTIONS FOR REACTIVE BEHAVIOUR:
OBEDIENCE IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT

Reactive Behaviour can be approached from different angles, depending on the motivations for the behaviour, the type of dog, the type of handler, the type of environment, and so on...

But one thing Reactive Behaviour is NOT - Lack of obedience.

Obedience training has been around for a long time, and in fact, this was one of the first "types" of training implemented in dogs, both to improve general skills but also as a "remedy" to solve behaviour problems.

But fortunately, times have changed, and we know now that many of the behaviour problems we face with dogs are not due to lack of obedience, but something much deeper than that.

Obedience by itself is somehow an old word in training, at least in my perspective, as it simply focuses on what the handler wants, rather than what the dog wants and needs.
And I think we are now experiencing times where we know more and more about the dog's mental (and behavioural side) and it is fair to drop that need to have a dog that obeys, regardless. Instead, we should aim to have a dog who cooperates with its human, and vice-versa.

Reactive behaviour is driven by emotions.

Emotions are not controlled through obedience, they are controlled through environmental cues, associations, and outcomes.

So when I hear people (common owners, or other trainers and behaviourists) advise others to teach their dog to sit, or stay, or heel as a resolution for reactive behaviour... I get frustrated.

Frustrated because it means people are still living with and perceiving dogs as they did more than 50 years ago - and that's wrong.

Behaviour is driven by emotions, specifically, negative emotions, and will only change when these emotions will be replaced by other emotions.

There are specific ways to achieve this, which are coordinated with each other, and coordinated with the dog we are working with.

I think it is time for people to update their knowledge and awareness, and drop old views and techniques, and approaches.

This is even more important for those who work with dogs professionally, and advise other dogs owners to follow certain paths. These people carry a big responsibility both for the humans and the dogs' wellbeing, and they must keep up with the current findings of dog behaviour and up-to-date training approaches.

Like many other articles I've written, this one could be much longer, but we will leave it here.

Thank you for reading,

Ricardo Ministro