Clean Run - May 2018 - 50

In the past, when I got the channel completely closed I would move the wings to my
24-in. fixed weave poles (a set of 12). But with my younger dogs, I decided to
instead add another set of wings to my fixed weave poles in my agility building
and keep the closed channel with wings in the agility building. This gave me the
option of doing 12 poles or 6 poles. I also kept the wings on the 6 poles in the
basement.

I continue to send the dog to the weave poles from jumps and tunnels. When
the dog is consistently doing the weaves with speed and good foot work, I start
removing the wings. I remove the middle wings first. See Figure 4. If the dog
pops out then I put the wings back on. How quickly I remove the wings depends
on the dog. I was able to remove the wings quicker with Rosy than with Tangee.
The last wings I left on were the first one on each end. See Figure 5. These
wings help the dog find the correct entrance.
When Rosy and Tangee started a formal agility class (at 15 months) I brought
a set of 6 wings with me to the class. They both were able to do the weaves in
this new location. By 18 months both were doing 12 weave poles without wings
both at home and in class.

Occasionally one of my dogs will have problems getting the correct entrance.
I put wings back on the two poles at the start and I keep them on until the dog
is consistently getting the entrance. If a dog is trained with a narrower set of
channel weaves and then transitioned to 24in. poles, it may take time for them
to re-learn their footwork.
I like this method of teaching weave poles for the following reasons:
1. It is hands off so the dog is not dependent on looking at me.
2. From the beginning, the dog is looking straight ahead.
3. Weave poles are part of a sequence, not just a single obstacle.
Once a dog can do a full set of poles without wings, proofing still needs to be done. Sometimes a dog will have good foot work and can
find the entrances in practice but struggles in the ring. Harmon is an example of this. In a trial he tends to get distracted and he runs by
the poles (especially when he is on my left). If he gets into them he does them beautifully. D

Sharon Lafuse has owned Belgian Sheepdogs since 1967. Her first agility trial was the very first AKC trial. She is located in Ohio and is a member of Gem City Dog Obedience
Club. Her past dogs include MACH2 Cassy's Fantasia De La Fusee CDX MXC MJC MXP AJP and Good Time Girl De La Fusee MX MXB MXJ MJS MXF MFB T2B2. Her current
dogs are Kuymal Heidi Girl De La Fusee MX MXJ XF, Harmon De La Fusee NA NF, plus Tangee and Rosy who are just starting to compete. Contact Sharon through her
website at delafuseebelgians.com or by email at slafuse@msn.com.

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