For more on running contacts, it's best to join running contacts class or get a Running Contacts DVD. This page is meant for those who just have a quick question or want to show their finished product - you are very welcome to do so, it still brings a smile to my face when I see a beautiful running contact, it's something addictive about it. It is on times frustrating as well... - but it all makes the end result even sweeter. So... Happy training, everybody!
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 🙂 ) |
Thank you. I shall carry on at it, can i ask when i re-watch the video, i see some of her hits are 1 high FF and then 1 low RF do you reward for these or should i just look for 2 FF and R, and 2 RF and JP? Thank you kindly.
Sure, you can R those too, as long as you’re positive you saw low RF too.
Thank you.
Hi there Silvia, we managed 1 session yesterday. I am very happy that I am finally starting to see it, (not all yet but almost) and now I rewarded this session as I write in the video! Do I do a few more sessions like this one or is it time to put ply under? Do I still keep it as wide? Do we then just do the same as we have done with the carpet as 1st step with ply/carpet over and for how many sessions? Thank you kindly.
Cool, still no OR! Try plywood under next yes and make it more narrow, just somewhat wider as DW planks. Do a couple of sessions on flat and then raise it some.
Thank you, we will work at this next step.
Hey Silvia
I have a big competion problem, because the germany rules say Disqulifikation for that.
You can see here (Aframe)
When I repeat the Aframe, then he made this
It is not on every Aframe but very often. And in Training he do that never, wherever i trained with him.
Now he is 23month
thanks
greetings
Nicole, Deav and Kite
He has learned the Aframe with two bars, but for 2month we train without bars.
Why would that be disqualification??? Because of jumping the top??? You could try to handle with some collection cues (deceleration, turning into him) to take some speed away, but I really don’t understand how can they disk. you for that -- another stupid German rule?
Hi Silvia, I’m just about to start training your RCs with my young dog, Niobe, as 2o2o really isn’t working for her due to various reasons, definitely not through lack of trying! and we (my trainer and me) feel RCs would suit her way better.
Just have a question on getting the full speed running first -- she does pretty much everything at full speed but will not drive for a toy (she does tug but won’t retrieve or chase -- if its not in my hand its not exciting), chase a ball, or drive to food, she’d drive to a jump or tunnel though (as her whole world seems to revolve around them but she does self reward with them -- one of the reasons 2o2o doesn’t work for us cos stopping in a course to her is just unheard of! and once they’re in the mix you can forget any toy or food interest whatsoever). So what would you use to get that full speed in a case like that in the beginning?
I can see your system will help build her confidence at getting the down (currently she will jump off the top plank just before she reaches the down on a DW 60% of the time -- on A-frames she seems to worry when she goes to go over my shoulder height and will either try jump into my arms or rushes to self reward on a jump, gets the down contact 85% of the time). But does them better with distance handling. She’s sensitive but bold and impulsive -- quite a handful at times haha probably sounds like a disaster but she does listen and follow directions very well in courses etc.
So it’s back to the beginning for her and contacts!
Thanks 🙂
Sure, you can use a tunnel for her to drive to instead of a thrown toy. I do find it important to have the chasing drive too, so I would work on that separately, building it from tugging, using a long tugging toy so that you can put in elements of chasing, then progressing to a throw-able toy on a long string and tugging with that and then fading the string and making a chasing the beginning of tugging.
Hi Silvia -- just a wee update, Niobe is now hitting her RCs 95% of the time -- like with all obstacles she prefers to be driven from behind so most of the misses are me getting too close or ahead which causes her to change her stride into what I call hyper-speed -- in that mode everything gets demolished!
I know you don’t use crossovers over there but we do here in New Zealand -- how would you incorporate the turn at the top with a running contact? would you train the equipment as a trick rather than an RC?
Still working on the chase drive 🙂
95% sounds great! I would do RC on a crossover too, but would have a different cue to warn the dog about the turn at the top.
I retrained Krusher from 2o2o when he was just a little over a year and a half old. At that time all we had where the instructions that were on Silvia’s sight and a video camera. This is the end product!! Not to bad but if there are any suggestions to make it better I am all ears!! Krusher will occationally miss (usually taking out the last stride). I am currentally taking the running contacts class with my BC that I am retraining as well.
Looks great! Try to find a pattern in which situations he might be leaving out that stride and then specifically train those situations, adding difficulties gradually. Try different exits and approaches, some speed loops tunnel-DW-tunnel etc.
Hi there Silvia, before we carry on I would just like to check if we are doing it right please. We 1st did some sessions with ply wood under carpet and she started getting it really nicely so we moved onto 2 DW planks, side by side, under the carpet because I could not get the ply wood stable enough. I have kept the carpet longer so it forms a soft edge to get up onto the new raised height and I have softened the off edge too. This video posted is our second session (4 July) and it did not start well but I think ended really well? I don’t see any OR at all? I also did not R FF because I think if I do she will go back too it, and not use RF which she got really nicely at the end of the session? The vet wrap unfortunately gets dirty as it is winter and very dry, but it does still help to see it. I am very happy that I am also seeing it so much better, it sure helps!!! 🙂 Do I do some more sessions with the same results and same set up? And then? Do I set up the whole DW flat with carpet over, and start running the full DW? Thanks kindly.:-)
Cool, no OR! Knowing her problem, R rf only is o.k. yes. You could next raise it by the help of the hill/slope. If not possible, you can next go to up plank to down plank and then to low DW yes.
Thank you, we shall see what i can set up for our next step.
Hey Silvia
what you say about the contacts? And what are my next step(s)?
I want that she make both RC and 2on/2off. So I didn´t need the turns after the dogwalk.
*The Video have a Problem, I don´t know why, you can only see it in Youtube*
greetings Lisa
Looks good! I would probably first try to get rid of the additional plank as it gives you more length and different striding and work on all other variables after: fading the toy thrown in advance, different entries, different handler positions, different exits etc.
Hi Silvia, I recently decided to retrain my JRT’s stopped contacts to a running using your method, however I only have an 8ft plank to train on, rather than a standard 12ft one. Will this matter?
It depends on his stride length, but 8 feet sounds really short… Could you get some plywood instead and fix two pieces together?
Thanks Silvia, just been out and purchased a 12ft plank 🙂 Oh and I don’t have an aframe to train on, do you think he’ll be able to generalize the behavior well or not? Sorry for all the questions
A-frame is normally for free, no need to train it, BUT since he is a retrain, he might need a couple of sessions on it, so you might need to go somewhere to train that.
Hi Sylvia,
Just wanted to give you an update on Macha’s RC in trials. She missed quite a few contacts in trials I think due to her running slower as in training and maybe not being comfortable on new DW. She loses her hind leg separation and slows down. She especially misses on angled exits and/or slow approaches. I have been doing the get the contact game at home and difficult approaches too and it seems like we are getting somewhere. I think part of it is me too as I am probably different in trial than in training and she feels that.
Last weekend we had a trail and I just repeated a whole bunch of DW like we do in training. The video below is from the first 3 repetitions on this DW. She hits, but high and slower than normal. But the run after that (sorry, no video) with the same DW and similar approach she actually speeds up and hits with front feet all 3 times (1/2 stride less).
I guess we just have to continue training and doing the same in trials for a while to boost her confidence? I mark hits with a verbal yes in trials.
Thanks,
Sietske
Those look pretty good already! And I’m sure they will just get better&better with more experience, so it was a good idea to take the DW several times! Definitely work on difficult scenarios at home and in trials, mostly focus on fun, trying to make trials extra fun (bring her favourite toys and treats, big party after every run, happy tricks before the run etc.) as I think it will help with her confidence and speed also over new DWs. And of course, try to train on new DWs whenever possible.
I’m already thinking about our first time in trials with RC. 😉
Is it common to make an arrangement with the judge, that it might be possible to repeat the dogwalk in case the dog is missing the contacts like Sietske has done it with Macha? Or do you just run what you want?
I think it’s better for the dogs improvement, but I’m afraid that it will not be well-received to make a training session out of the trial. What are your experiences so far? 🙂
In USA, they have some classes where you choose your course on a given set up, that’s why she was able to put in so many DWs 🙂 In Europe, most judges won’t let you do that. The max. I’ve done was to take the 1st obstacle after DW and then DW again and then ran out -- the judges are fine with that, but I only did it maybe 3 times all together with all my dogs -- I normally just let it be, continue the course and the contacts get better&better on its own 🙂 If you can occasionally get to some other DWs to train on, then you don’t really need to train in the ring, especially with a not-a-retrain (Macha is a retrain).
Thank you, Silvia -- now it’s clear to me! 🙂
I think I could get some different DWs to train on and if you say, I don’t need to train in the ring, I’m feeling reassured. And I’m a bit jealous of the trials in other countrys! 🙂
Can’t wait for the next RC Class!
Starting on May 13 🙂