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(More customer reviews)In the years since Jane Simmons-Moake's three agility tapes hit the market, I have attended a bunch of seminars held by many different trainers. While I have learned from them all, I still feel that the information Jane presents in her tapes and their companion books is the most basic, easy to understand and to follow instruction around. What Jane promotes is common sense handling that is feasible for all handlers to achieve, no matter their age, ability, background or breed of dog.
The first two books and tapes in the "Excelling at Dog Agility" series cover obstacle training and sequence training. The third book, which was just published in 2002, is subtitled 'Advanced Skills Training.' As was the case with the other two books, a handy reference guide at the end of the book directs you to the place on the tape where the skills being discussed can be viewed. The advantage of having the book to refer to, in addition to the tapes, is that it beautifully diagrams the various practice maneuvers and presents some marvelous course designs for practicing each of the featured skills. As I scanned through the book I made mental note of the courses I wanted to try. They looked like so much fun!
The first topic addressed in this book is advanced weave pole skills. In watching Jane run her own dogs I have always marveled at her ability to send her dogs into the weaves regardless of where the weave entrance was in relation to her. This is a vital skill for anyone involved in USDAA or NADAC gambler classes in addition to often being the difference between a Q and an NQ on any course.
This chapter carefully details the steps that will lead to a dog who doesn't need babysitting on the weaves. It also includes a number of suggestions on how to proof your dog so he will remain in the weaves, regardless of your enthusiastic praise or the distractions at a show.
Advanced pause table skills might not seem necessary once your dog has learned to get on the table, but could your dog handle a wet slippery table at top speed? Jane writes, "If you have not taught your dog to grip the top of the pause table to keep from sliding off, you have yet to address an important part of his training." Also included in this chapter are ideas on how to maintain the sit or down.
Two vital skills for anyone needing to make up for a slow dog or catch up with a fast one are the ability to (1) send and run and (2) layer. The first occurs when you send your dog to a jump or tunnel but you, the handler, continue to run ahead to where you need to be next. Layering is similar in that you send the dog to an obstacle while you run a more direct line to where you are headed, even if there is an obstacle between you and the dog.
Other topics addressed are obstacle discrimination, the 'get out' command, pinwheels, zig-zag rear crosses, 'heel and side' commands and advanced distance skills. The latter chapter includes a number of pages devoted to how one should prepare for gamblers.
Each chapter in the book starts with a section on 'How to Begin,' continuing with 'How to Progress,' interspersed with what to do 'if you have problems,' generously diagrammed so you can practice each of the skills you are trying to teach.
Finally, if you are one of those who lacks equipment at home and thinks it's sufficient to practice only once a week at class, Jane dispells that theory with a number of exercises you can work on when you're alone. Some you can do with no equipment at all; others are designed for those who have space for only one or two pieces of apparatus.
If you already own the first two books and tapes in this series, I'm sure I don't need to recommend that you run out and purchase this third. If you don't already own any of the "Excelling at Dog Agility" series of books and/or tapes, I would most certainly suggest that you add this to your wish list. Guaranteed, the instruction contained will help you progress.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Excelling at Dog Agility: Book 3 : Advanced Skills Training (Updated Second Edition)
Excelling at Dog Agility - Book 3: Advanced Skills Training• Illustrates how to isolate and train many of the higher-level skills necessary to successfully compete at the most advanced levels of competition.• Describes how to strengthen and maintain existing skills for attaining fast and reliable performances in the agility ring.• Provides in-depth answers to commonly asked questions in a helpful Problem Solving appendix.• Is the perfect companion to Competitive Agility Training with Jane Simmons-Moake, Tape 3: Advanced Skills Training – Named Best Video of the Year by the Dog Writers' Association of America.
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