a Taj MuttHall Dog Diary: Interesting Lesson On Running Fast

Friday, October 17, 2008

Interesting Lesson On Running Fast

SUMMARY: What I learned today about keeping up with Boost.

A friend watched me do some long runs trying to get Boost to run ahead of me over a fairly straight line of jumps instead of waiting, turning back, or spinning. She told me that I keep slowing down when Boost gets ahead of me. Of course I don't mean to; what I *do* do is point with my arm to try to keep the pressure on and yell "go! go! Hup!"

This was a "Doh!" moment. Apparently I cannot run as fast with my arm pointing ahead of me, while yelling, as I can when I just pump my arms, shut up, and run like hell bent for leather (whatever that means). When I did that, Boost didn't get quite as far ahead of me, but furthermore, the important thing was that she kept going straight, over jumps. Not super-driven going confidently away from me, but not stopping or doing refusals, either.

OK. We're going to try that this weekend if the opportunity arises.

2 comments:

  1. Well, I didn't get to see if it worked because I was over in the Advanced/Starters rings all the time, but I do think the dogs run in the right direction if they think you are trying to get there, too (even if you are a slow poke). That goes for directions to the showers, as well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL! Embarrassing to admit that I've been going to this site for 10 years and still don't know where the showers are.

    ReplyDelete