agility at K9 Kompany

Penny and I went to K9 Kompany for training today. Cindy, our teacher, had set up an agility course. Jabari, Penny's particular friend, was there also. Liz, Jabari's owner, wondered if the two dogs, used to romping energetically in parks, would be able to settle down to training in the same session. But it seems to be going well.

Penny is working on using the see-saw safely and confidently. Cindy says it is important to make sure the dog uses her own weight to make the plank tip down as she comes to the centre of the see-saw.
 

So I sometimes give Penny a treat at that central spot as she steps forward to tip the see-saw down.

At this stage the see-saw tips down only as far as a box that is placed under the end. A few weeks ago we progressed to letting it tip to the floor under Penny's own weight but we did it once too many times and she got over-enthusiastic. It hit the ground with a thump and startled her. So Cindy says we should go back to putting the box under the end until she is confident again.

Both Jabari and Penny enjoyed the command 'over!' and leapt towards us enthusiastically across the series of jumps.
 

The session, as always, ended with a 'settling down' time. Each of us sat on the floor with our dog and relaxed together.