I was wondering recently what I’ve been playing at as Grace, my Galgo, is 18 months old and she’s barely strung two obstacles together! We’ve done loads of little bits but nothing serious as I find Grace so funny being a typical sighthound and doing whatever she pleases! I decided the best way to move forward was to give myself a challenge and enter her at the first outdoor show I’m going to in seven weeks times.
So, this weekend, she had her first proper training session. Getting friends to video you is so productive as you can see exactly what you need to work on.
The main few things that I’ve learnt from being filmed is:-
I need to run! I really thought I was running as fast as the wind with Grace streaming along behind me… yet we are both going the speed of a snail!
And secondly, in typical sighthound mantra, ‘Just because they’ve done something once doesn’t mean they will do it again!’ In the last little sequence in the video Grace had done it once so well that I wanted to film it. Second time round I must admit I did ‘expect’ her to go into the tunnels and do the wing wrap, forgetting of course, never to expect anything from a sighthound!
Also – wing wraps – I must learn to send her and run (instead of standing there and admiring her!)
But I am really pleased that in just two days of structured training sessions, and me being so nervous and surprised that she will do anything at all that sort of resembles agility, Grace has gone from needing help to run down a line of two jumps to almost doing a little course.
I think my main aim with her is to keep her motivation up – I don’t just want her bumbling around a course, I want her to really enjoy it and find it fun – so anyone with any constructive help – please feel free to comment.