Agility Training Plan

I found doing the agility training plan to be a little more difficult. I really don't know how quickly Morgan is going to learn the agility skills. I know I have more time to devote to training in the summer but it is hot as can be and she really wilts in the heat. We'll see what we can get done. However, I still have her competing for titles this year. I hope I am not being overly optimistic :). But we learned today that plans need to be flexible. I need to be flexible because of puppies as well.

I want to get as much foundation stuff done as I can before I bring a new puppy into the mix. I will be getting a puppy next spring or summer so I would like to have my working relationship with Morgan solidified by then. Well, here is the Agility Plan.

Morgan’s Agility Training Plan

May

Focus:
Reliable recall
CU training
Weave poles – do 12 poles in 6 weeks 
Jump Chutes
Rear Cross
2o2o
A-frame
Watch Salo video
Read CU again June

Focus:
2o2o
Teeter
Weave poles-12
Jump chutes
A-frame progression
Work on attention building
Exercise with Morgan
Continue focus work
Read Clothier book

July

Focus:
2o2o
Serpentine
Threadles
Continue attention and control exercises
A-frame progression
Stay exercises
Watch Garrett jump video
Continue exercise w and w/o Morgan

August
Focus:
2o2o
Weave poles
Sequences with rear crosses
Stay exercises
Work on ring nerves
Watch Garrett –go the distance video

September
Focus:
Go to show n goes, if not,
do some JWW’s in GCOC’s fall trial.
Do More distance work
Continue A-frame, DW, Teeter
Training -- proofing

October
Focus:
Go to two show n goes
Enter JWW in Charlotte’s trial (another trial run )
Continue A-frame, DW, Teeter Training -- proofing

November
Focus:
Enter first real competition in JWW
Continue training and maintaining A-frame, DW, Teeter
Show n goes if possible

December
Focus:
Continue competing in JWW
Continue training and maintaining A-frame, DW
Show n goes if possible

January
Focus:
Continue competing in JWW
Continue training and maintaining A-frame, DW,
Show n goes

February
Focus:
Begin competing in FAST and JWW

March
Continue competing in FAST and JWW
Continue training and maintaining A-frame, DW
Show n goes if possible April
Continue competing in FAST and JWW
Continue training and maintaining A-frame, DW
Show n goes if possible

I went to the training plans seminar given by one of our club members and I came away psyched. I worked on my obedience training plan at the seminar because it is the one that I have truly neglected. I'm posting it here just to remind myself. I'm feeling very confident about what I will be able to do with Miss Thing. I went to my garage and tried out a few things with her (fronts, heel position, finishes) and she was very good at it. I feel so much more confident about her training -- even with the layoff she will have when the puppies come (if there are puppies) I want to finish her first AKC novice title in April next year, the Open title in May and the Utility title by the end of next year. I think it is doable.

Morgan’s Obedience Training Plan

May
Focus:
Teach heel position while moving
Teach turns in heeling
Work on relationship
Focus
Control Unleashed behavior
Perfect the hold
Me: Lose weight, practice visualization
Read Jane Savoi

June

Focus:
Introduce forced fetch
Teach right about turn and about U-turn.
Teach change of pace
Perfect finishes
Work on fronts
Work on attention building
Exercise with Morgan
Continue focus and attention exercises—Dog Games for attention

July
Focus:
Teach pivots
Fronts with more distance
Teach back up in front
Teach back up in heel position
Perfect finishes
Continue attention and control exercises
Continue retrieve exercises
Stay exercises
Continue exercise w and w/o Morgan

August
Focus:
Formal obedience recall with front.
Proofing for heeling, fronts and finishes
Continue retrieve exercises with proofing
Stay exercises
Teach Go Out
Maintain attention and control unleashed.
Work on ring nerves

September
Focus:
Attend at least two show n goes
Continue proofing all exercises
Go out with full distance
Proof exercises from May June and July in different places

October
Focus:
Teach directed retrieve
Proofing for go outs
Maintenance exercises for heel, front, finish.
Teach directed jumping
Teach broad jump
Teach DOR
Enter trials for wild card Novice
Go to two show n goes

November
Focus:
Proofing for directed retrieve, broad jump, and directed jumping and DOR.
Maintenance of heeling, fronts, finishes, and retrieves
Enter Wild card Novice and Beginner Novice if available

December
Focus:
Maintenance on all Novice exercises!
Proofing for all other exercises in a variety of different places
Enter wild card Novice and Beginner Novice if available
Teach scent discrimination

January
Focus:
Proofing on all Novice exercises –aim to complete the beginner novice title.
Proof open exercises – retrieve.
Proof go out, gloves, and directed jumping
Continue working on scent discrimination

February
Focus:
Complete beginner Novice title.
Enter Wild Card Novice
Proof all Novice and Open exercises
Attend at least two Show n goes (or UKC trials)
Continue work on utility exercises

March
Focus:
Complete UKC Novice title
Show n goes for Open and Utility exercises

April
Focus:
Complete AKC Novice title

April 5. A lot has happened since March 25 but I don't have the time or inclination to catch up right now. I have bought a ton of videos and have had bunches of lessons and I think I need to just sit down and think about Morgan's training a little bit. It feels like it is spiraling out of control and I don't know where I am. I feel like I need to go back to foundation work with her. Actually, I feel like I need to be training her 24/7. We have a seminar planned for putting together a training plan but I don't think I can wait. I need to do something about Ms. Thing ASAP. I am feeling more pressure, too because it has already started getting too hot to work during the day and I thought I would have at least until mid May. To put it in a nutshell, we have recall problems, we have toy problems, we have knocking bar problems and we have attention problems. It's very frustrating.