Today we just ran parts of an international course (Jenn has some try-out soon). The sequences were pretty difficult and lots of times mom couldn't really see what to do and made stuff up as she went along. So we don't have a lot of concrete ideas to share this week. One thing that we need to work on - keeping me from cutting behind mom to do the weaves! Several times I thought it would be fun to weave instead of go where mom was headed! So I guess we will be proofing that! :) Also the double jump was out and I refused it. Then when mom had me try it again, I stuttered stepped and finally jumped it.
We made a very brief video of the end of one of our sequences from today with a few different ways to handle it. There was a line of jumps before the first one in our video and dogs flew out of a tunnel and down the line so fast that mom couldn't even get ahead of me! HA! Any way, the third jump is taken towards the tree (so it's not a 180 from 2 to 3). The first and second times we do a serpentine (mom didn't see that option at all in class until Jenn mentioned it and then she really liked it), third time is a front cross between 2 and 3, fourth is a push - I'm not sure if that's what it's called - and the last time a rear cross at 2. Oh and by the way, Sara, mom got her hair cut so don't be all distracted by that and try to focus on me - LOL!!!
Remember back in September when I had those awful runs at a trial where I refused jumps and even the weaves? Then Dr. Jan found that my back was sore. Mom thought that would be the answer to my problems. But we didn't tell you all that at that trial, Jenn suggested that I probably have ETS (early take-off syndrome). Mom didn't believe her - but that is why she has been watching my every move - especially when we practice at home - and asking you guys if you see anything when I jump off to the side of a jump or when I face plant, etc. Today at class after I refused the double again, Jenn said something like I have ETS and mom will have to always help me with the doubles and triples (ie. support them and manage them). Mom did not realize that the verdict was in in Jenn's mind and that it was now a foregone conclusion that I definitely have ETS until today when Jenn made that statement. And we have not talked much to Jenn about it. But mom is totally freaked out. We haven't researched it much but there is no test for depth perception in dogs. I don't know that you can get a clear diagnosis. Any way, I can still do agility but the faster I go the harder it is for me to judge distances and depths then. When I knock bars, it undermines my confidence and makes my problem worse so that eventually I may not be able to do agility. We don't know. There is a lot more to my relationship with mom than agility but still.....
Any way, not sure what else to say about it.
Gotta zoom!
Ricky
19 comments:
Wow...never heard of ETS before. You will have to let us know more once you find out.
good job on your video! :)
I have heard of ETS, but don't know all that much about it. But, I'm pretty sure that Linda Mecklenberg (the one who discovered it, or at least the one who wrote what I'd first read about it) has had successful dogs who had ETS. Plus, a local lady just finished a MACH with her epileptic dog. If they can manage seizures, I'm sure you'll figure out a good way to practice depth perception :)
How khool woo khould go today!
I khould see your mom got her furs khut prior to woo pawing it!
It's hard fur me to realise it was 'only' two weeks ago today I drove through Columbus - it seems like furever ago now!
Did woo find the fur I had Mom drop out the window?
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Thanks fur sharing the video!
Well, I hope that you don't have ETS. I can't tell you how much I hate those three initials and all that it entails!
I know it's impossible for one person to really be able to say that they know how someone else feels, but I can tell you that I sympathize with your mom's concerns.
I've read everything I can find about ETS and it's not very encouraging, as you know. I'm trying to do my best to help Dare be confident about jumping and help me to be able to handle her in a manner that will make agility safe for her, but I still have many days when I question what to do next.
Hi Ricky, I can see you take off early each time at the last jump. We recently do a lot of jumping grid from Susan Salo's exercises. It helps the dogs to understand how to space out their jump. Maybe you should try that.
I never thought this would happen, but I see it coming....now there are going to be special ed agility instructors! Yes, there will be "Special classes" for dogs with ETS, FOBP(freaked out by people)CGOT (can't get on table), CSTF(constantly sniffs the floor) etc.
Seriously though, I'm sorry to hear this, your mom must be really worried.
Ok , dont freak out yet. Miley takes off early a lot. So this is what I think. How offend does Ricky see doubles and triples? What do they look like? They have to judge those types of jumps diffently then a single bar jump. In a triple,just think how the stanchons look, they are coming toward them. Its gives it a different perspecitive. There was an article in Clean Run once about how diffent jumps look to dogs. It was very interesting. I'll see if I can find it and tell you when it was written. Maybe you need to build a double and triple to work on at home. Diana
Ricky, your last line says it all.....there is more to your relationship with mom. I may not understand alot of what you, Sara and Diana talk about in regards to this but I do know one thing. When Dad was told a couple months ago that I had to have surgery and agility training was out the window, he was hurt. But I will tell you this....you can't tell it now. We spend more time just being pals. I hope you can continue on training and competing, but if not....your last line said it all
First off your hair looks really cute. I do want to give you some cyber (((((HUGS)))), and you know I would be totally beside myself if someone I really respect and seems pretty knowledgable said something like that about my dog....I would be in a deep dark place, so I would like to say that I am so sorry that you are having to deal with a possible thing like that..BUT, do you have the ETS articles from clean run? If you need them I could copy and send them. Third I dont think it can be diagnosed until a lot of other things have been ruled out, but I do know dogs that have won nationl competitions that their owners feel they have it, and even if he does have it like Jen might think it can be managed,... I would think that whether it is from ETS or any other cause you know certain situations are needing management for Ricky during trials....but I think EVERY dog has some situation in trials that needs management-for example-Breeze if there is a dog walk to a tunnel,some dogs freak with weird weave entries, really fast dogs without a lot of trial experience have to have management around the entry to the weaves on really fast entries, I think almost anyone has things you know your dog doesnt like or has problems with....I would think that if this showed up as Ricky was first jumping then it might progress to be a real handicap way before he would be ready to retire.. but since it is just showing up now....even if that is what it is if he has it then I would think he can still have a long very productive career, but maybe because it is a catch phrase for everyone now and everyone sees it in so many dogs.....Linda M seems very careful in doing a lot more before she will label a dog as having ETS, and ruling out a lot of other things-seems there are other things that could/should be ruled out . REGARDLESS of if he does or does not have it, I do feel for you and how devistating it is to have to think about anything maybe being wrong with your furry buddy, hang in there and give Ricky a huge hug.
First off your hair looks really cute. I do want to give you some cyber (((((HUGS)))), and you know I would be totally beside myself if someone I really respect and seems pretty knowledgable said something like that about my dog....I would be in a deep dark place, so I would like to say that I am so sorry that you are having to deal with a possible thing like that..BUT, do you have the ETS articles from clean run? If you need them I could copy and send them. Third I dont think it can be diagnosed until a lot of other things have been ruled out, but I do know dogs that have won nationl competitions that their owners feel they have it, and even if he does have it like Jen might think it can be managed,... I would think that whether it is from ETS or any other cause you know certain situations are needing management for Ricky during trials....but I think EVERY dog has some situation in trials that needs management-for example-Breeze if there is a dog walk to a tunnel,some dogs freak with weird weave entries, really fast dogs without a lot of trial experience have to have management around the entry to the weaves on really fast entries, I think almost anyone has things you know your dog doesnt like or has problems with....I would think that if this showed up as Ricky was first jumping then it might progress to be a real handicap way before he would be ready to retire.. but since it is just showing up now....even if that is what it is if he has it then I would think he can still have a long very productive career, but maybe because it is a catch phrase for everyone now and everyone sees it in so many dogs.....Linda M seems very careful in doing a lot more before she will label a dog as having ETS, and ruling out a lot of other things-seems there are other things that could/should be ruled out . REGARDLESS of if he does or does not have it, I do feel for you and how devistating it is to have to think about anything maybe being wrong with your furry buddy, hang in there and give Ricky a huge hug.
Oh that syndrome! My friend Dare has that. But you already now that I think! Agility is lots of fun anyway!
I found the article. It was in Clean Run April 2007. "Jumps: From the dog's Perspective". How long have you been getting Clean Run? I can scan it in and email it do you. Let me know. Diana
I have also never heard of ETS. Hopefully you get all of this figured out soon.
I've never heard of it either. But it seems a lot of people have some very good advice here...and I think getting a double to practice with at home might help as well!
Meanwhile, if you're having fun, you can always run the rest of the course and just skip those pesky doubles and triples!
Also if you run USDAA performance there are no doubles or triples. only single jumps. Diana
Oh, I wouldn't freak out just yet...there is so much involved to determine an 'ETS diagnosis'...and it's so unknown and so incredibly rare. As much as I love Jenn and completely and utterly respect her, I wouldn't jump to any conclusions. I watched a dog at our recent trial with ETS (they said) didn't knock a single bar and was sheltie super speedy. Don't worry...you're still early in the game any way, learning and gaining speed, and all that stuff :) BTW I miss judged a jump on my STP run, knocked the bar, then misjudged the broad jump and stepped all over it. I happens!
There are quite a lot of Shelties and Terriers in my area who have ETS. Jumping a lower height seems to be helpful. Unfortunately, I see it in Shelties more often than any other breed. How about sending some videos of Ricky jumping to Linda? Always good to get a second opinion. Meanwhile there is a lot you can do to help Ricky. Did Jenn offer solutions? or just diagnosis?
Hi Ricky, I came back to read the rest of the comments and found what I posted the other day wasn't here at all. I think my mom didn't click the right button again. Never mind, I can do it again but I can't remember what I said before. Anyway, I still want to put my 2 cents thoughts here, : )
I don't know much about agility and my mom is a hopeless person too but we always love to come to your blog and we learn a lot about agility from you and others.
Haven't heard of ETS or anything else that Sara mentioned. However, I think it's just as you said, 'There is a lot more to my relationship with mom than agility'.
You and your mom have a strong and lovely bond and it's always shown in your videos. I think it's the most important thing. It's the love and trust between two of you.
Never Heard of that ETS before make sure to fill us in! Nice jumping...
~Dyno
Hey Ricky hair shmair let's focus on you. Awesome!
~Bella
How could we not focus on you Ricky your so darn CUTE almost as cute as me!
~Roxie
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