ASCA Nationals 2024 did not disappoint! We went, achieved our goals, and had a fantastic time! Enjoy this video of some our special moments.
Last week’s course gave us all a chance to see what our dogs understand about parallel path and forward motion. Also mixed in was a bit of obstacle discrimination, layering and advanced handling (threadle wraps and threadle slices). The dogs loved it and it was a great workout for the handlers. See how much fun agility can be?!!
Here is a video of Sequence’s time in the ring. He couldn’t wait for his turn, and was so focused on his job out there.
I am working on Sync’s, but today is Finals day so a bit preoccupied.
I prepared a (fairly) short video of parts of our runs over the last 2 days at the pretrials. Here is Solar highlights!
Another WASCUNY's ASCA Apples to Agility trial is complete. I am thankful for WASCUNY and the other ASCA clubs (ASCNE and Pen-Ny ASC) for providing us with opportunities to trial our dogs, earn titles, spend time with Aussie friends and even prepare to compete on a national stage at Nationals. Thanks for all those who work hard to organize and put on the trials each year!!
The boys of Aussie Acres continue to show me that our training is spot on as we improve our communication and skills every time we step to the line. It's not all perfect all the time, but what in life is??!!
Synchrony barked his way through the weekend (as only Sync can) and qualified in 8/12 classes. He got all 5 Gambles (Gamble King of the weekend!), 2 Jumpers and 1 Regular.
Solar shined brightly as always, qualifying in 9/12 classes. He Qd in 3 Gambles, 4 Regular and 2 Jumpers. Love his enthusiasm at the start line and through the run (see video)..............such joy in playing the game with me!
Sequence and I continue to meld as a team. He nailed 2 Elite Gambles and earned his first Elite Regular Q. His Dog Walk is becoming more consistent and I am super proud of his work ethic when it comes to training and trialing.
If you can't approach training, trialing, playing, living, and loving your dog with joy......then you better rethink your relationship! Our dogs are never with us long enough..............love them for all they are!
Here is one of my proud mama moments at today's ASCA trial- Sequence not only nailed the Elite Gamble but got his Dog walk contact too!!!
More results coming after our second day! Stellar day today, can't wait to play with my boys again tomorrow!!!
Trial like you train and train like you trial!!!!
Tonight I was able to sit back and enjoy the videos from our ASCA Agility trial weekend (Thanks Debbie for being my trusted videographer). It’s wonderful to see what went right; knowing your training is paying off! It’s also important to see what didn’t go just right; as that becomes future training plans.
Enjoy some our proud agility moments!
Up for a challenge? Well this week's challenge at Aussie Acres Agility were incredible WEAVES!
I am so super proud of my students rising to the challenge of tough weave pole entries during course work in class this week. I believe if you want to have a skill, the only way to get there is to train it! Over the years of playing UKI, I have become aware of skills I didn't yet have in my tool box. And if you know me at all, I go home and train it. So this week I brought the weave pole challenge to my students and they totally rocked it!! Way to go Aussie Acres Agility students for pushing yourselves past your comfort zone!! The sky's the limit.........If you want it, Train it!
Come play UKI on Sept. 7th! Find out what tools you need to add to your agility tool box! Rise to the challenge!
Video is a demonstration of many training possibilities for advanced weave pole skills. We had a blast playing with these. Fun was had by all!
Local trials and training in the ring:
I spent last weekend at the Agility Dogs of the Adirondacks CPE trial in Elizabethtown, NY. Now, I don't usually play CPE, but having a local trial not far from one's home is the perfect opportunity to get out enjoy time with your dog and new agility friends! My primary objective for the weekend was to train in the ring. I took my toy in for 1/2 the runs and had great opportunities to test my training and push our teamwork! Courses were great, people at the trial were incredible and the judge was kind and supportive. A prefect weekend for my team!
I bring this up because Aussie Acres Agility is holding it's first UKI Trial on Sept. 7th. Go for the Q or train in the ring, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you have fun with your teammate, learn more about your relationship, enjoy good company with like minded people and support local trials. It's not every agility weekend that you can drive a short distance to a show, sleep in your own bed, and save a few bucks by not having to pay to stay somewhere. This is why I support our local agility trials, whether I plan to work toward titles or not. If we don't support local trials, then they will cease to exist and that means more $ out of your pocket to get to trials further away.
So, come play UKI Sept. 7th. Aussie Acres Agility has an outstanding team with an awesome judge putting on a fun trial that you don't want to miss out on!!!
I haven't posted training videos in awhile, but felt so good about today's training session, I decided to give you a peak.
Here is a little on how our summer has been so far:
Training is about the little things (the details; the pieces and parts of the skill), and then putting them all together to make a big thing. Summer was too hot to spend a lot time on course work, so the boys and I have spent most of the summer training all the small things: contacts, 1-2 jump skills including verbals, and small sequences. Often my training session with 3 dogs lasts less than 10 minutes total from beginning to end (and that can includes changing jump heights and rewarding with play. Now that the summer weather is beginning to yield, we can get back to focusing on course work. You can not expect to run a full course clean in a trial if you don't practice running one in training. Do you need to train a full course every day? No! The boys and I often play with parts of a course for a week before we put it all together. At Aussie Acres Agility, I change the courses weekly; so before tearing it down and rebuilding it, I run it in it's entirety. Sometimes clean sometimes not, but always from start to finish. Learning is happening no matter the outcome! Some courses are easier. This weeks course had several international challenges, but it was gratifying that between 3 dogs I ran it clean 4 times! Now we are ready for next week's challenge! Are you???
Train it small, build on it, then train bigger! If you have done your homework then trust your partner and just run! Train hard, challenge yourself and you will achieve your goals
Aussie Acres Agility a small training business with big goals!
Don't forget to enter Aussie Acres Agility first UKI agility trial coming up soon: September 7, 2024
Summer is moving full steam ahead and it can be challenging to get quality training session in when it’s hot out.
Solution: One jump training sessions!!
Aussie Acres Agility is presenting 2- One Jump Workshops.
Why one jump? Agility courses are mostly jumps and dogs are required to make many decisions on approaching a jump (frontside, backside, wrap, slice, threadle, move ahead of the handler, what angle to take the jump, speed up, slow down.....). If your dog has a strong understanding of how to take the jump, what your elements are telling them, what your verbals mean, and a strong commitment to a jump, it will make running jumps on courses easier for them.
One jump training is not to be taken for granted, should be undertaken regularly for dogs of all levels, can be done in short training sessions, and can cement the dogs understanding of what the handler is asking. Handlers often fall into the allure of sequencing and course work, but even that begins with One Jump.
Sunday July 14: Foundation One Jump skills. Dogs and handlers will learn how to train foundation skills on one jump to improve obstacle commitment, forward focus, verbal understanding, body awareness for jumping. Skills include Offering a jump, Recall to heel, Introduction to Backsides and how to progress to using 2 jumps and handler motion.
Sunday July 21: Techniques on One Jump. Dogs and handlers will learn how to perform basic handling skills on one jump. Including FC, BC, RC, BS and how to progress to using 2 jumps and handler motion.
Workshop: 10am-12pm. Limit 4 dog/handler teams, from beginner to advanced.
A second workshop from 1-3 will be held if there is interest beyond 4 teams.
Cost $50 per dog/handler team. Payment is required to secure your spot in these workshop.
