Reviews

• V-AG-JSM-4-SET Video Review - "Competitive Agility Training Series"

  |By: Carol Morris

  "Wow", is my response to these three video tapes; Obstacles, Sequence Training and Advanced Skills, by trainer, top winning competitor, veteran judge and award winning author Jane Simmons-Moake. For comparison, I viewed other, older tapes that were "state-of-the-art" not so long ago, and while there are excellent points made and some overlap in training methods, the Competitive Agility Training tapes are superior not only for their content, but their clarity. These tapes are jam packed with information that holds your attention. I have watched them three times and am still gleaning information and technique. The author discusses the concepts, then they are demonstrated with dogs, handlers and sometimes diagrams for the more complex maneuvers.

  The first tape, "Obstacles", closely follows the book "Excelling at Dog Agility, Book 1: Obstacles" by the same author. Again she emphasizes teaching skills correctly the first time in order to excel; training excellence from the start so that no retraining is necessary. Her methods provide a practical approach to training so that everyone can enjoy agility, not just the young and athletic. They also provide a foundation upon which to build the more complex sequences and distance work that allow the dog to work unencumbered by the handler. Training tools are shown and described, typical commands discussed and emphasis placed on working off both sides from the beginning. Training methods for each obstacle are presented with a gradual progression of skills and solutions to possible problems along the way. Training ideas for coping with distractions are included, as well as training in all kinds of weather.

  The objective of "Sequence Training" is to direct the dog smoothly from one obstacle to the next and from a variety of angles and distances. Reliable obedience commands are a necessity, with "come" or "here" being the most important to call a dog off an incorrect obstacle. Standards are set high. Short simple sequences of excellence are encouraged rather than long mediocre runs. Practice courses are good diagnostic tools where problems can be addressed as soon as they occur. More time should be spent on strengthening skills in short sequences than long runs for time. The consistency and predictability of the handler's voice, hand signals and body language builds the respect and trust of the dog. Some of the techniques demonstrated are the use of wing jumps to force the handler to work further from the jump, moving on a converging line toward the obstacles rather than diverging which "pulls" the dog away from the obstacle toward the handler, and the correct timing of the commands. Side switches, pull backs, cross in fronts (pirouette), cross behinds, and hang backs are handling techniques that are used in the various obstacle sequences. Distraction training is added to simulate PA systems, people and food, birds, rodents, manure, and rain on a tin roof.

  The last tape, "Advanced Skills Training" emphasizes achieving ultimate teamwork with the dog. The faster and more talented the dog, the more skills the handler needs. Because weave pole skills can make the difference between disappointment and a stellar performance, significant time is spent demonstrating techniques to improve speed and reliability. The "weave-ball" game and ideas for proofing are very helpful in this area. Tecniques to help the dog keep from sliding off the pause table, and the "table racing" game help solidify table skills. Ms. Simmons-Moake introduces the viewer to her techniques of "layering" and "folding", which allow the handler to work at a distance. Training methods for zig-zag jump sequences and pinwheels are demonstrated, along with teaching the dog to respond to verbal commands only. The handler learns where and when to use the "ready", "get out", "heel" and "side" commands. Throughout all, she encourages increasing the distance the handler can work from the dog and the obstacles. The dog needs to learn to listen and not assume the next obstacle in line must be jumped. Games to meet this end are suggested. At the end, ideas for training at home with limited equipment are demonstrated.

  The tapes are so up beat and inspiring, I can hardly wait for our soggy training area to dry out so I can increase my dogs' skill levels and reliability. Everyone from the new novice to the seasoned competitor can benefit from the ideas and techniques presented. They are an addition to any agility library that will be referred to time and again.

• V-AG-JSM-1 Video Review - "Obstacle Training"

  |By: Elise Paffrath

  Helping to round out the collection of tools now available to assist agility instructors and handlers in their training is Jane Simmons-Moake's latest offering, a three tape video series entitled "Competitive Agility Training with Jane Simmons-Moake". Without doubt the most comprehensive how-to-agility video project on the U.S. market to date, Simmons-Moake has split her compendium of information into Obstacle Training, Sequence Training, and Advanced Skills Training tapes, each one about and hour and twenty minutes in duration.

  Simmons-Moake, director of Flashpaws Agility Training Center in Texas, has competed in the U.S. extensively with her Golden Retrievers and for the last two years has also run a dog internationally as a member of the AKC/USA World Agility Team. In addition to teaching her own students, she conducts seminars around the country, is an agility judge, and is author of the well-received book Agility Training: The Fun Sport for All Dogs.

  While a less serious agility enthusiast would certainly enjoy and learn something from the footage, this series is definitely not geared towards the backyard dabbler out to spend a little quality time with their pet. With a competition background such as Simmons-Moake's, it is no surprise that from the get-go she focuses on directing the viewer towards achieving nothing less than top competition quality performance from their agility partners. Accordingly, each piece of equipment presented in Tape 1, "Obstacle Training", is introduced by an explanation of the "perfect performance" accompanied by a clip of an experienced dog executing excellent form on, over or through the individual obstacle.

  Prior to the beginning of specific obstacle training instruction, however, is a likeable introduction to the sport of agility featuring a narrative description along with a variety of dogs running agility in competition. Set to action-oriented upbeat music, viewers are treated to clips of Simmons-Moake and her dogs along with other dogs large and small, mixed breed and purebred running in various competitive venues both on home turf as well as across the pond. The International footage not only helps to lend an air of worldliness to the sport but also adds an element of excitement to this opening medley.

  Along with the variety of dogs and venues shown, the introduction segment also includes agility handlers of varied abilities including a sequence of a wheelchair-bound agility handler working the dog as the narrator points out that many different types of handlers can train in agility because "by teaching a dog to work at a distance everyone can enjoy and excel at agility, not just the young and athletic." Notably absent, though, is mention or representation on the turf of junior agility handlers.

  Though it is obvious who she must be when Simmons-Moake first appears on screen, and a name title does run below her initial presentation, a brief verbal introduction would have provided the viewer with a stronger identity to her as the expert before transition into the instructional main course. Before diving into obstacle training, Simmons-Moake along with narrator Russell Ruffin list the tools one will need to begin training the dog and cover some basic principles to keep in mind during initial agility training. While I especially like the point that Simmons-Moake makes about the importance of "rewarding your dog immediately for a great performance" when training, some people may oppose her suggestion of a prong collar as a possible tool needed in early training to provide "power steering" for dogs that are "strong or independent".

  Once obstacle training instruction begins, it is great to see the handlers incorporating the principles that Simmons-Moake has advocated; such as training with ample praise, treating with food or special toys, giving commands in an authoritative butupbeat voice, issuing no more than one request for each obstacle, and retrying and exercise if the optimum performance is not achieved.

  Starting with the pipe tunnel and moving on in succession to cover each piece of agility equipment, Simmons-Moake and the narrator go over basic teaching of the obstacle and then delve into finer points of training needed to obtain peak execution; such as introducing angled approaches (in which she suggests the use of wire barriers), handling on both the left and right side of the dog, adding distance to send and call the dog to and from the obstacle, and targeting to get an enthusiastic impulsion through and past the obstacle. The information Simmons-Moake give to help train the dog on each obstacle is quite extensive. It also includes some obstacle specific problems that may arise along with ways in which to solve them.

  The very good idea of not considering either the collapsed tunnel or the table properly trained until your dog can perform it when completely wet was new to me, and given the competition weather we northeasterners have endured this spring, I wish that I had trained as Simmons-Moake suggests for a soaked table of chute. Having watched many handlers physically push their dogs down on the table, I like Simmon-Moakes' comment about trying to "make being on the table a good thing" rather than reverting to rough handling to obtain the required down position. I also enjoyed the reminder she offered during the portion on weave pole training that "it is our challenge to train our dogs to love the weave poles". Her theory of not considering the weave poles properly trained until a dog can keep focused on the job and continue through undistracted to the last pole, even with food wrappers littering the grass and people clapping and squeaking toys on either side, is an excellent idea and could benefit many a competition dog.

  While I, personally, have never been sold on the idea of using food on the actual equipment, Simmons-Moake and her students have obviously had great success with the "spot" method of contacts which by using food on and eventually underneath the bottom slat teaches the dog to run down to the last slat and wait. Likewise, her students' dogs seem to possess great jumping ability though I was surprised that the introduction of jumping skills only depicted work over a single jump and did not include use of jump chutes, caveletti or other gymnastic exercises for the dog, though she does advocate the use of ground bars to assist dogs with late or early take off problems.

  Ideas about training each obstacle are occasionally accentuated with helpful diagrams and there are ample example clips of dogs of all levels working to accompany each phase of training that is explained. While the information that each of them offered was valuable, I did find the training on the field to the close up of Simmons-Moake talking in her trophy room offering further tips a bit distracting. Because the shift from dog action on the field to a near range talking person required a bit of mental adjustment, I found myself missing the first bit of helpful advice Simmons-Moake had to offer. Perhaps shooting Simmons-Moake's talking parts outdoors or at least from a less close-range angle could have softened this break in continuity.

  Overall, the tape gives a complete and in-depth introduction to help viewers train all of the obstacles a dog will need to master for competition agility. Tape 1, which should be useful to individual handlers as well as instructors of group agility classes, builds the foundation needed before moving onto the next phase of training your dog over sequences of obstacles, which are the skills covered in Tape 2. "This," the narrator entices us at the close after briefly discussing the next levels of training, "is just the beginning of your exciting journey together." While the price of these tapes is steep at about $60 each, for enthusiasts who have few nearby training options, the investment- close to what an average six week beginner class would run- is probably worthwhile.

  Though it made it difficult to see the dog and handler names during the closing credits, it was great fun at the end when all the demo dogs we'd seen throughout the tape were run one right after the other through tunnels and weaves to the live cheering and delight of their handlers!

  This project, which was produced by Canine Training Systems and released late last year, was written by Simmons-Moake, directed by Stewart Hilliard, edited by Douglas Calhoun, and produced by Susan Barwig.

  The DVD's are available for $69.95 each plus shipping and handling. There is a $30 discount for ordering all three at once.