Thursday training

Sorry for the delay in starting with Thursday training, I just need to iron out all the equipment problems before I can start the Thursday training :-S

Thank you for your patience everyone, for bearing with me until all the problems with the equipment are sorted. I really appreciate all your help and support :-)

Start of term!

Thanks to Lynne and John for inviting me to judge last week. I set some testing courses and was impressed with the high standard of ability displayed; judging has also given me ideas for areas to focus training on. Thanks everyone for a really enjoyable evening!

I am really looking forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday for the first day of the new term :-)

Parvo alert

I have been contacted about a parvo virus alert as follows:

The owner of a young dog which attended the TAG Easter Show (4-9 April, West Midland Showground in Shrewsbury) has reported that the dog has been positively diagnosed as suffering from canine parvovirus. This is a highly contagious disease which is especially dangerous to puppies and younger dogs.

If you are aware that any of your Effing Agility members were at the TAG Easter show, please ask them watch their dogs for any symptoms. Incubation is typically 3-10 days.

Please ask your competing members to consider whether they should attend agility shows in the next couple of weeks. As owners, it is our responsibility to prevent the spread of diseases, especially such a dangerous and contagious illness. Please remember that the standard KC show entry form requires you to promise not to take your dogs to a show if they have suffered from or been in contact with contagious diseases in the preceding 21 days.

More on this on the Agilitynet Facebook page

Thank you for your attention.

ELLEN ROCCO


I understand that there are reported cases of parvo infection in our area, and there are rising numbers of cases around the country. Please be particularly viligant as this is a deadly disease. Check that your dogs' vaccinations are up to date, and if any of your dogs look ill, vomit and/or have diarrhoea, please do not come to training or go to any shows until your vet is certain that it is not canine parvovirus.

Thanks everyone, take care out there!

Effing training address

Thornet Wood Stables, Effingham Common Rd, Leatherhead KT24 5JG

This link should give you a street view of where you turn left off Effingham Common Road into the lane to the stables (go down the lane following the hedge on your right until you see the stableyard and indoor school):
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Wednesday evenings

The Wednesday evening classes have now been sorted out and I have emailed the details out to everyone involved. I would be grateful if all involved could let me know if you have received the email (or not!!), and also if you would like to take up your space (or not!).
I am pleased to announce that it looks likely that there will also be training on Thursday evenings in a few more weeks, although a few more spaces still need to be filled in order to cover the cost of hiring the venue! While waiting to see if that will happen, we have an opportunity to hold a small number of one hour workshops on Thursday evenings at 8:30pm, if enough people are interested. If you are interested in any of the following, or have some other specific topic that we could work on over an hour, please get in touch! The workshops will be £10 although Effing members will get a 20% discount.

Here are some ideas:

Weaves: working on independence, no matter what other equipment is around or what the handler is doing; crossing infront or after the weaves, difficult entries.

Contacts: obstacle discrimination, proofing to nail those contacts, independence.

Grid work: improving jumping style, athleticism, and working on with drive and power.

Verbal directional cues: advancing your dogs' understanding of what direction you wish them to take.

Working on turns: handling for tighter turns, improving your cues, and schooling your dog to get tighter turns

Obstacle discrimination.

Crate games (brilliant for start line waits, teaching dogs to have self control, and more)