Update and training exercise

Hello.

Im having a weekend off this week. After lots of private lessons over the last couple of weeks, im taking it easy today and tomorrow.

Ive had a few texts from people I train who went to a local show in Shropshire today, and it sounds like they did well which is pleasing.

Training News – Exercise!

I’ve attached an exercise in this post. Its a great discrimination/decision making exercise to do with your dog, work it from behind, and in front. Look to move once the dog has made a decision. Don’t move too soon or you will be forcing the dog into a snap decision.

The numbers are where you should stand, the arrows represent the path of the dog!

Let me know how you get on. I’m off for dinner now! All the best everyone.

Newton Heath Show 23rd November

Saturdays show was the first for a long while, and to be honest it showed! Scott was running his first garde 5 courses, and was flying into all the jumps like a train! We didn’t have the tightest turns ever, but everything else was pretty good. No places, but a fun day.

Jack on the other hand was fantastic in a grade 7 jumping class, coming 4th out of 83 dogs 0.7 behind the winner, and he was working nice. Che was also good and only a small split second behind Jack.

If I’m honest the day belonged to the people I have been training, including Ceri Jones with Teckyn who managed a fantastic 2nd place in their first day of grade 6, and also David Russell, who won his first grade 4 class with Cae. Well Done!

Well done to Alice Moodey, I saw some nice runs in grade 6 classes with Pip. I know Gina Graham also had a 2nd place with Ember in grade 6 jumping. Well done to you all.

Im busy with lots of lessons again this week, best wishes everyone. Lee

Training Day at Wyre - November 15th

Saturday I ran a training day at Wyre, in Lancashire. I split the groups (I had two groups of 10 for 3.5 hours each) into two groups of 5, with one side focusing on turn exercises and tightening of turns, whilst the other side looked at Contact theory and handling certain sequences from a distance.

The groups swapped over half way through each session. I did a lot of work on motivation with some of the more inexperienced dogs, and made sure all the handlers were clear about their roles when training their dogs, especially in things like contact theory. I was impressed with even the most inexperienced dogs and handlers, and I know that everyone had plenty to take away with them and practice!

Below is the flick to tunnel exercise we did, with the handlers point marked by the numbers, and the dogs line by the path.

This week I have a lot of lessons, and will be training my dogs ready for Newton Heath show on Saturday, which include Scott’s first grade 5 classes!

Sunday 9th December

Training day at Taunton, Somerset.

I did a training day at Buckland agility on Saturday. Again I had a fantastic time and was most impressed with the standards of the groups. We worked in particular on shaping the dogs on jumps/obstacles before sharp turns and then worked on getting the dogs to positively drive onto sections of the course.

All the handlers developed the skills well and I’m sure everyone will use the skills to enhance their handling and push their performance levels even higher.

I felt very positive at the end of the day that everyone was really motivated to go and practice what we had been doing! Well done everyone.

Here is the basic pattern we were working on, remember the key areas to hold your position and send the dogs!!

November 6th

I was a bit slow updating this week, had a lot on my mind shall we say. That and watching the new James Bond film Tuesday. It was good, but not as good as Casino Royal.

The training night in Blackburn on Monday went well, the photo’s didn’t come out though, or rather I didn’t charge the camera from Sunday. I did some of the key things with the group Monday, and introduced them to some send away techniques, as well as contact theory, which Scotty helped me demonstrate... until he decided to stay glued to the contact despite me saying the release, was very funny at least if not a little embarrassing but could have been worse!

This week has been busy for lessons. I’ve set up a course from the Kennel Club Festival British Open class, and it is great fun to work. I’ve just been training Scott, Jack & Che on it. All three are entered in Dartmoor show on Sunday but I’ve decided to wait until Newton Heath to compete again, and Scott will then be grade 5, rather than grade 4.

I am off to a training day in Taunton on Saturday; it is going to be nice to see some of the groups I have worked with before again.

LGT Members News – 13th December Meal, I now have the menu sheets done, and need them back before December 1st. Thanks - Lee

www.leegibsontraining.co.uk

2nd November

Training day at Aberystwyth.

Today was an early start, leaving at 6am to arrive just after 8am. The training was indoors and was at a venue south of Aberysthwyth.

I had decided to split the group into 3 x 2 hours and had 6 dogs and handlers in each session.

Many of the handlers were there all day and watched the other groups. I encouraged people to make notes on what we had done (however the pattern we were using is below) so they could go away and build on the foundation work we had been doing.

I had some very good feedback and asked a few of the handlers to come and train at LGT to develop the skills and techniques we had talked about during the day.

Today I travel up to Blackburn, Lancashire for a training evening tonight. I am taking Scott to use as a demo dog!!

www.leegibsontraining.com & leegibsontraining@hotmail.com