The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Ever since I first saw this shirt with Solo's agility picture on it, I've wanted one. Well, Gromit and I are starting our next level of agility training tonite, so as our "graduation present" I ordered it! I can't wait to get it and show it off at class.

Edited 4/16:
It arrived today and I think it looks great! I can't wait to wear it to agility class this week.
Thanks, Solo, for being such a great model.



Gromit says, is that me, Mom? I can run and jump, too!

http://www.honestdogarts.com/productvie ... &catid=104

Congratulations on your Graduation! I love the shirt too!

So does this next level mean you'll be competing soon?

I hope so. Gromit knows all the equipment now, so this class works on handling, cross-overs, lead offs, direction changes, etc.

My problem is she's very fast, but I'm not! Since I broke my ankle last year I don't have the flexibility in it to do quick pivots, and I'm definitely not as fast as she is, so we're working on my giving the right instructions at the right time, and her learning to wait for my instructions rather than just run to the next nearest obstacle. It is SO much fun, and I just love the excitement she has when we finish a run. She obviously loves it too...or it could just be that she knows she's getting a hot dog treat at the end

Darra,

You sound like about where we are as well. Chessie knows all the equipment but has a mind of her own. She gets very frustrated with me when I'm not fast enough or I make her go back and redo something that SHE thinks she did just fine on.

Frankly, I'm finding the equipment was the easy part... learning how to direct them is a lot harder! I've been taking an Intermediate/Advanced class where everyone else has been in it for a while. I've learned Soooooo much in the last 6 weeks from taking this class! It's really hard and the courses are a stretch for us but we are holding our own. After this class, when we are ready, (confident enough) I think the novice courses are going to be easy.

Chessie is really fast too.. I've been working on her holding her contacts. I really admire Michelle's contacts! We are not there yet but we are getting better!

I'm sure Gromit loves it more than the hot dog LOL... but food never hurts in the eye of a Cocker.

Good luck to you and Gromit! I look forward to hearing about your success's at trials soon!

Gromit gets so excited at this class. You're right, now that She knows all the equipment, it's up to ME to learn how to direct her. Usually when there's a mistake, I can find something that I screwed up, so she could't follow my instructions. I brought my ipad a few weeks ago and we were video'd and it gave me a much better understanding of what Gromit sees when she's watching me for cues Poor thing- it's amazing she does as well as she does, with mama flapping her arms like a chicken!

That really is a cool t-shirt! I know it's Solo but it looks so much like Gromit too!

Glad Gromit likes her new class.... I think you are very brave to let someone video tape you but that probably is a smart idea... that way you can fix any issues before they become bad habits.

I know that at this point all of our mistakes on the course can be firmly attributed to Chessie's handler LOL. One thing that I've had to correct is where I hold my arm while directing Chessie .. after one run my new instructor was able to guess that all my previous instructors ran large dogs... I guess I was holding my arm too high in the air! Tougher for Chessie to see! Duh!

We'll get there!

Gee, thanks, I'm sorry it has taken me months to find this thread !

I'm flattered you bought my shirt -- and yes Gromit does look like me .

Solo