Contacts
- Thread starter Sharon
- Start date
Romeo is my first agility dog, started last summer with his training and he is coming along really nicely! Our instructor thinks he will be ready to compete this summer and has convinced me to get his AAC number already.
Anyways, I've done 2o2o with him and it turned out really nicely. He has super solid contacts that I am super thrilled with. I'm far from a pro at the agility thing, so don't really know the theories behind 2o2o vs. running contacts. But from what I understand, people often prefer running contacts because it helps the dog maintain speed, right? Maybe they worry that if the dog thinks they have to stop at the bottom of the contact they will slow down as they go, so training a running contact keeps them moving quickly the whole way down.
My thoughts behind this is that Romeo is super fast anyways and LOVES the contact equipment, so drive certainly isn't an issue with him. In fact, I think he might form bad habits of leaping over the contacts if the drive wasn't somewhat controlled by the fact that he stops for the 2o2o at the bottom. He tears over the dog walk, A frame, and teeter, then slams on the breaks at the bottom. I think the only thing that keeps him from soaring off the end and missing the contact completely is him knowing that he has to stop at the bottom. If he were a different dog that wasn't so drivey on the equipment or tended to lose momentum, I think I would consider running contacts more. But as it is now, I am thrilled with his 2o2o's.
Anyways, I've done 2o2o with him and it turned out really nicely. He has super solid contacts that I am super thrilled with. I'm far from a pro at the agility thing, so don't really know the theories behind 2o2o vs. running contacts. But from what I understand, people often prefer running contacts because it helps the dog maintain speed, right? Maybe they worry that if the dog thinks they have to stop at the bottom of the contact they will slow down as they go, so training a running contact keeps them moving quickly the whole way down.
My thoughts behind this is that Romeo is super fast anyways and LOVES the contact equipment, so drive certainly isn't an issue with him. In fact, I think he might form bad habits of leaping over the contacts if the drive wasn't somewhat controlled by the fact that he stops for the 2o2o at the bottom. He tears over the dog walk, A frame, and teeter, then slams on the breaks at the bottom. I think the only thing that keeps him from soaring off the end and missing the contact completely is him knowing that he has to stop at the bottom. If he were a different dog that wasn't so drivey on the equipment or tended to lose momentum, I think I would consider running contacts more. But as it is now, I am thrilled with his 2o2o's.
Silaria
Forums Sage
We started training 2O2O with Edan but have since changed to a running contact, at least off the A-Frame, for his safety. Every time he tries to do 2O2O on the A-Frame he ends up doing a front paw stand and nearly flipping over. No amount of practice just "working the end of the trick" helped solve this.
He does a perfect 2O2O on the Teeter, when he decides to go across it without stopping in the middle or jumping off. (It's hit and miss where the Teeter is involved; some days he's fine with it others he's not.)
For the dog walk, I try to keep the 2O2O since he tends to get ahead of me.
He does a perfect 2O2O on the Teeter, when he decides to go across it without stopping in the middle or jumping off. (It's hit and miss where the Teeter is involved; some days he's fine with it others he's not.)
For the dog walk, I try to keep the 2O2O since he tends to get ahead of me.
HopeShelties
Forums Enthusiast
Depends on the dog I'm training. My 12"ers are all running contact. My 16"ers are doing 2o2o or 4 on the floor. I was having way too many problems with the larger/longer backed dogs bailing the ends, so I ended up having to have a real contact behavior. The 12"ers with shorter backs and legs are pretty good about making their contacts without bailing.
Silaria
Forums Sage
Linda's jumping method was what Donna Rohaus taught at the seminar I attended a few months ago. (Linda is Donna's coach actually.)
I don't know if your agility instructor mentioned it or not, but Linda has a book on her jumping method. You can get it at Clean Run's web site, http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?f...7&ParentCat=171&CFID=3889620&CFTOKEN=20215489.
I don't know if your agility instructor mentioned it or not, but Linda has a book on her jumping method. You can get it at Clean Run's web site, http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?f...7&ParentCat=171&CFID=3889620&CFTOKEN=20215489.
HopeShelties
Forums Enthusiast
Linda's methods are pretty popular 
My trainer uses primarily Linda's methods in her classes.. though she's going to mix in some of Stacy Peardot-Goudy's as well starting next week, as we're going to have a 8-10week classes using the Going The Distance program.
My trainer uses primarily Linda's methods in her classes.. though she's going to mix in some of Stacy Peardot-Goudy's as well starting next week, as we're going to have a 8-10week classes using the Going The Distance program.
k9kreationz
Forums Celebrity
My agility instructor uses touch and 2o2o to teach the dog and get him comfy on the contact equipment, however, we've already agreed that Koji won't do that. She's come to realize that 2o2o cuts into time too much, and feels although it's a great training method, as many as you have pointed out, it may only be something needed for specific dogs.
I honestly don't believe being fast should be the reason. At the comp I went to the other month, we saw a crazy fast BC (of course, lol). The dog literally would slide to a stop IN the contact zone on the teeter, until it hit the ground, then zoom, he was off.
My agility instructor decided to go this way after deciding to teach Greg (oh what's his last name?) way. She said she's shaved off seconds with her dog (after she retrained him). But yup, her crazy lab will always need to do 2o2o because he wants to jump over the contacts all the time. Again, I think it's the dog.
I'd like Koji not to stop, it'll be easier for the both of us. lol. Especially me because knowing me, I'll trip over my own feet trying to stop myself. LOL.
I honestly don't believe being fast should be the reason. At the comp I went to the other month, we saw a crazy fast BC (of course, lol). The dog literally would slide to a stop IN the contact zone on the teeter, until it hit the ground, then zoom, he was off.
My agility instructor decided to go this way after deciding to teach Greg (oh what's his last name?) way. She said she's shaved off seconds with her dog (after she retrained him). But yup, her crazy lab will always need to do 2o2o because he wants to jump over the contacts all the time. Again, I think it's the dog.
I'd like Koji not to stop, it'll be easier for the both of us. lol. Especially me because knowing me, I'll trip over my own feet trying to stop myself. LOL.
Caro
Moderator
I was doing running contacts with my female but after a holiday break she is jumping off things (although still managing to just hit the contact area) because she goes full throttle. My instructors suggested going back to contacts and sticking with them for longer. I am using a mix though depending on the equipment (only 2o2o for the A-Frame). Also have to do a wait before the table as she skids right of it at the speed she goes.
My male is at a lower level and his instructors suggested teaching all contacts first as it is easier to fade them out later than try to teach them later if he picks up speed.
My male is at a lower level and his instructors suggested teaching all contacts first as it is easier to fade them out later than try to teach them later if he picks up speed.