Gamblers & Snookers

This week in class we did a round each of 2 games that are often played in Agility competitions. They are called Gamblers & Snookers.

Gamblers is a timed event where you have 30 seconds to run whatever course you want - each obstacle is worth a certain amount of points, so you try to do the obstacles that are worth the most points. You can only do each obstacle twice. After the 30 seconds, you have 15 seconds to run the "Gamble" where you send your dog through a set course of maybe 3 obstacles, but have to stay a distance away from your pet - which is what makes it a gamble whether you dog will do your commands with you so far away from them. Easier done with some dogs than others! If you get the gamble you get a bunch of extra points.

Mocca & I actually did fairly well with this! We even got our gamble, although I probably wasnt standing as far away as I was supposed to, but I was trying to stay away. We did a couple rounds on the A-frame & Tunnels which helped our points b/c they are worth more, and managed to get in the weaves at the end which is worth the most points. We were really excited to have accomplished this well! We actually did the best in class that night.

Snookers is a little different - you can run your own course, but have to hit 3 specific red jumps in order. You do red jump, obstacle, red jump, obstacle, red jump, obstacle - once you have completed this then you run your 2nd half of Snookers which is a set course. Again, obstacles during the first part have certain point values to them. This one is tricky b/c you have to plan a smooth course while hitting the red jumps, and trying to accumulate points with difficult obstacles. And then being near the start of the 2nd portion when you finish the last red jump - obstacle!

We didnt do too bad on this one either, though we were slower than we should be b/c of some mis-steps. Also Mocca did one jump that she wasnt supposed to so we were knocked back for that. It was fun though.

Last in class that night we ran a REALLY complicated 13 obstacle course that was super tough. The challenge of it was fun though, and I seemed to do better with my hand signals during this than I have been so I was happy about that.