Whenever you're ready... - here is a place to post your graduation - or we could say, PhD work 🙂
Advanced Tricks graduation
The classes you can join at the moment: Beyond Foundations and the two Handling classes (all without time limitations – you can join and finish at any point). |
 Silvia Trkman is known for bringing every dog, from her first dog on, to the very top of the sport. Her dogs are known for great speed, tight turns, running contacts and long and injury-free careers. Silvia is in agility since 1992 and is– 3x World Champion (with two different dogs)
– 5x European Open winner, with 4 different dogs (Lo, La, Bu, Le)!!!
– National Championships podium and World Team member with every dog she’s ever had – National Champion for 22-times (with 5 different dogs of 3 different breeds) – World Team member for 19-times (mostly with at least two dogs at the time – sometimes four 🙂 ) |
Copyright Silvia Trkman, 2010-2016; All rights reserved
Hi Silvia,
We have learned SO MUCH from you, and love the way you teach dogtraining by making the training into fun. We have also learned to accept that it usually takes us a bit longer to learn things.
The “situp” has taken us a long long time, Mia can do it now. It looks like other dogs uses their tail to keep the balance. Mia doesn’t do that. We are now taking a break from “situp”, and are looking very much forward to start practicing “penguin”.
About “4on” we have been practicing balancing on a ball, and that is going very well. “Floor cleaning” and “paw and another” are going a little slower. We have also been working on “pushing the ball to the goal”, and I think the next step is buying a small goal. I haven’t succeeded in teaching Mia “shaking a towel over the head”, however we haven’t given up.
Yay for the sit up! Plenty of new sit-up tricks to teach now! 🙂 Dogs definitely learn at different speeds, but the important thing is to keep them busy and do something fun with them. So there is no rush, just keep up the good work and post your graduation video whenever you’re ready! Looking forward to see little Mia!
Hi Silvia,
I hate to say but we have fallen behind on tricks and running contacts as well. But hoping to get back to work this week now that spring break vacation is behind us. These graduation videos sure are motivating! And I didnt realize that the class was “ongoing” and it was still ok to post videos on tricks we are still working on. Where should those videos be posted? Under the lesson that the trick was originally in?
Thx! Can’t wait to get back to training!
Yes, just post under the appropriate lesson.
Hi Silvia and classmates --
If anyone wants to see Evie puppies here is a video:
Or here on their blog:
http://evietorquepuppies.blogspot.com/
Evie misses working on her tricks -- started to bring me the shoes (!) guess she would like to practice walking in shoes some more…I’m thinking tricks for balance and coordination would be a great way to get her back in shape 🙂
OMG!! They are so CUTE!!! And I think I can smell puppy breath right through the computer! 🙂 Are you keeping one? Hugs to Evie!
Wow they are too cute!!! 🙂 Have you breed before? Love their names!!! 🙂 Well done Evie.
Thanks 🙂
So yes, I bred Evie 🙂 that was five years ago; this time I was helping my best friend who does obedience and agility -- trying to make her a good dog 🙂 Problem is I fell in love with ALL of them. So one may stay not sure…its not the right time or anything…
Wow, soooo cute!! Congratulation to your big family and a big hug to Evie, her puppies are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing this moment. Good luck for your puppies!!
Oh, sooo cute! I can imagine it will be hard to let them go! I guess keeping one makes it a bit easier 🙂
Hi there Silvia and Class Mates. I need to forward plan a bit with regards looking for my next puppy for large, as Spy is medium. My husband says it is all about Border Collies if you want to be any one, but dont think there is any i would buy from in this country for many reason and not really sure i want one. My other love even thought i have never owned one is a Belgium Malinois, Silvia are they good in the agility overseas or not a breed to concider? My other option but with a huge expense involved is to look at importing again, a BC. Thanks kindly.
There certainly are some very good Malinois, but I can’t help you much with lines, ours are all IPO lines and too massive to be competitive against BCs (or show line and can’t move well). I know some from French ring lines can be competitive, there was one female from Spain who did great on EO in Liberec if you want to research her lines. They can be really good, but you certainly need to look for a really light build.
Hi there Silvia, Great thank you, i will check out the results and see if i can find her. Where would you think BC should come from, which lines? Do you think agility is very much in favour then of BC’s ? Are you ever going to breed?
Thank you kindly.
Well, you can certainly get competitive Malinois, Terv, Croatian Sheepdog etc., it’s just harder to find a good one as there are less of those breeds in agility to help you see how a particular line is doing. If going for a BC, you need to look for a herding line, long legs and light build and I also always want to see how they jump. There are many good lines out there, I chose Bu and Bi because of the flexibility of their relatives, but it’s just my personal obsession with flexibility 🙂 I won’t breed them as Bu has some fear issues and Bi had a late take off problem that turned out to be heavily genetic by her mother’s side.
Thanks so much for your help, i will starting looking out their. i am in no rush so i can take my time. I will even look here at home as we have some working Malinois in other sports. Thank you kindly.
Grace thinks you need a portuguese water dog! 🙂 🙂
Hee hee you are so sweet, after Grace i sure do like them, but we so far only have 1 male imported into this country so not so good!
Yes, Portuguese and Spanish Water Dogs are another great idea, they sure make great agility dogs, but again, not so easy to get one and even harder to see their parents and off spring in action…
I was going to start ‘kicking the ball’ tonight, but when i got out the exercise ball she offered a funny little weight shift, hop that i got rather excited about. It made me think we may be able to work towards a free standing handstand -- I would LOVE to teach her that & Evie’s effort inspired me 🙂
Sorry, the video is very dark!
I’m not quite sure how to progress bc she won’t do her handstand onto ‘open’ objects like a table. what do you think?
Maybe you could start with a pile of cushions under the table to allow climbing, but then push the lower ones farther under the table so that she can’t climb -and eventually push them all away. Or you could start with a vertical board and then angle her further to slowly make climbing impossible -- just not sure how to fix it in that position…
Hi there Silvia and Camilla
I am not sure if i understand correctly but think so and this is what Silvia suggested for Spy and it worked so maybe an idea for Grace. Silvia suggested trying to make the back support thinner and thinner until we started using the wash line upright pole, only like 4cm across, and now she can pick herself up free and also if there is just some thing behind her she does not actualy use it but it is there and she can pick herself up. Not sure if this makes sense but if she gets it like this i am sure she will offer it with whatever behind her.Hope i understood correctly. Happy Training.
Yes, thinner&thinner is another option to go!
Hi Camilla -- sorry it took so long to respond 😉 puppies are a lot of (FUN) work 😉
With Evie I actually first had her “target” my thigh then my hand so I became the wall 🙂 then she offered the free hand stand on her own -- when I tried to do alternating rear legs lifts -- it often happens right ? we try something new and get a variation on something older 😉 Here is a photo of how it looked -- Silvia thought that she is landing from a vault…no vaults with my weims who weigh ~30 kg (~2/3 my weight) 😀
Noa -- i followed your advise of getting Grace to target my hand & it worked!! I’ve faded the hand and been selecting for her kicking up higher and higher … yesterday she did it! YAY 🙂
Had to post this photo -- SOOOO proud of Grace!!! 🙂 🙂
Wow, that’s a GREAT handstand!!! VERY cool!!!
Thanks Silvia, for all your handstanding help 🙂 🙂 I’m so excited -- i don’t think i ever thought we’d get THIS! She can’t hold it at the moment but knowing Grace, i’m thinking the balance will gradually come.
Yes, really impressive with such a big dog! Duration takes some practice, but I think that if you came that far, you’ll get duration too 🙂
Wonderful, way to go!!!!:-):-) 🙂
Hi Silvia and Class mates, Eventually we have our graduation video!!! 🙂
The tricks are quicker and easier to teach than getting down to editing and making a video! 😉 I sure hope we have down enough to graduate. Thank you Silvia as always for these awesome classes! 🙂
you and spy made me smailing through all the video. great job…
Thank you Eva so much! 🙂
Aw, so cute!!! Loved them all, but that catch is certainly too cute! Impressive strength and balance -- what a great duration on a handstand! And really amazing you can hold 18kg on your feet!!! Can I put the link to the main site next time I publish some classes’ videos? Please remind me to send you both graduation videos once Weaves are out!
Thank you Silvia so much! 🙂 and sure yes you can share the link, it will be a huge honor, thank you. 🙂 and lastly I will remind you for the DVD,s because i can’t wait thank you so much! 😉
Forgot to ask, is there a certificate for advanced class please?
Great, thanks! Just made one! 🙂
Alicia -- fantastic tricks !!!! really really cool watching 😀 jealous about the 18kg ability…!!! very impressive!!!
Thank you Noa so much! 🙂
Hi 🙂 happy that we are ready for graduation….there are only the half tricks of the class….but we need something to work on ….. 🙂
thanks so much …
Gabi&Bono
……ups, forgot the Video…..
Great!!! Loved his high heeling legs and a towel on his head was hilarious! Great paw&another too -- love his smile! No problems with jumping on a feet for Bono -- but I guess a bit harder for the helper 🙂 Can I put it on a main page? -- He is so much fun to watch! Let me know which video you want for graduation!
😀 ….yes he is really a fun boy 🙂 ….I was really happy to found a strong helper, because even my son gave it up to balance him with 20kg :P…the helper is 1,95 m….ha,ha, that´s why Bono used that funny ” step”….we were laughing a lot while taping 🙂
oh and I have all your DVDs….I´ll wait for the new one 🙂 …thanks a lot !!! Gabi&Bono….
And Yeahhhh would make me very proud that Bono´s video would be on your main paige 🙂
Ohhhh Gabi!!! you know… I love Bono!! 🙂 And doesnt matter what!!! Go Bono, Go… 🙂
Eva!!!!! thanks 🙂 🙂 🙂 I´ll tell Bono 😀
Thanks! Not easy with 20kg no! And o.k. -- just remind me when the next one is out!
Brilliant, well done so very very cool to watch!!! 🙂
Thanks so much Alicia ;D
🙂 !!! wonderful Gabi! What Eva said…Go Bono GO!
Kisses from across the ocean for you!
Awesome Gabi & Bono!!!!! 🙂 So cool to watch Bono doing all these tricks! Love all his paw lifts & high leg heeling! And the footstall is very impressive! Haha, I thought Zephyr was too big to do that trick…guess I just need to find a big strong helper! 🙂