Box Method – Adding the Box to the Aframe – Bad Dog Agility Academy

Box Method – Adding the Box to the Aframe

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  • Sunka says:
    December 27, 2023 at 2:35 pm

    I commented yesterday but now do not see it. Apologies if this is duplicate.
    Lizzie’s second go with the box on AF. Her footwork at the top of the down ramp is sort of a stride but sort of not. These reps are done from a stay, mostly. The one time that she leaped the apex and had the kind of striding that I want was when she had the speed from the tunnel. Should I do something with stride regulators at the top? Or see if it resolves itself as we continue to add speed? I am proofing right away with the MM set around the clock. Should I add jumps for turns & balance with going straight?
    https://youtu.be/pnJ1Lk0IEUY
    Thank you.
    Linda

  • Leslie Wood says:
    August 9, 2022 at 10:46 am

    Hi, Jenn. The first link is our last session on the flat aiming for full speed. The second link is our first session adding the box to the a-frame.

    I don’t have a great way to lift the box off the frame so I tried it laying flat first (first two reps) and you can see that didn’t go well. Then I taped the PVC box to the same cardboard boxes I was using to raise it up in the grass. It feels a bit high to me when on the a-frame, but what do you think? She’s also adding some pitter-patter steps that don’t happen when the box isn’t there.

    Should the a-frame be lower? I lowered it to 5 feet, but I’m 5’1″ so it might look tall in the video. 😛

    Last flat work session: https://youtu.be/RNKNmWQs5kY
    Adding box to frame: https://youtu.be/phyPAYop9Xg
    Reminder of what we’re trying to improve: https://youtu.be/W66skXjxS0Q

  • jadonatelli1@yahoo.com says:
    August 6, 2022 at 2:27 pm

    My dog (a sheltie) has been doing agility for awhile. He knows the AF but I’m relatively new the agility world and we didn’t get solid contact training when we did our original training. I’m trying to do some of these types of exercises on my own during a ring rental to re-train his contacts. Just wondering whether lowering and raising the AF is a one-person job, or should I only attempt this with a partner?

    • Jennifer Crank says:
      August 7, 2022 at 8:32 pm

      The safest answer to this questions is to have two people. I don’t want to advise you to do it alone and end up with an accident. You could potentially hurt yourself.

      I have done it alone but it depends a bit on the type of aframe and the surface it is on. We have carpet-like turf around here so it is pretty easy to slide up and slice down. I can imagine it would be harder on dirt. It also is easier to lower than raise, in my experience.

  • montanak9pt@gmail.com says:
    February 27, 2021 at 4:50 pm

    Once I get back to practicing( next week🤞) I would like to improve our understanding of the running AF. I have the box, and we have been working on the flat.
    I like the idea of back chaining, but I have two questions: 1)my BC will think I have completely lost my marbles if I try to PLACE him anywhere on the AF, 2)if I lower the AF, and then give the verbal while dog is placed sitting at the base of the upside? Would that sorta work? I will try to video when I have the opportunity.
    Thanks!

    • Jennifer Crank says:
      March 1, 2021 at 5:04 am

      I think being able to lower the aframe is more import than being able to place the dog on the frame and back chain. I can see where your dog would not like that as I’m sure many dogs 1) would be confused or 2) don’t like being touched. So yes, try starting at the base of the approach with the frame as low as you can.

      Also, make sure you have done plenty of drills with the box on the flat with speed into and out of it. This will mimic more of the momentum they will have on the aframe.

      And most importantly, video tape so you can watch what is happening and I can help if needed.

      • montanak9pt@gmail.com says:
        March 2, 2021 at 12:24 pm

        Yay! I am cleared to get back in the ring! 🎉
        Here was our first return back to AF. We have had about a 12 week break.

        https://youtu.be/Ey1iccNfrTw

        • Jennifer Crank says:
          March 4, 2021 at 10:06 pm

          Not bad for the first tieback in awhile. A few things to clarify:
          1) what was your 2o2o verbal? “Hit it” doesn’t seem to be working to cue the run, but the “go” does.
          2) did you do any work with the box on the flat before putting it on the aframe? If so, do you have video?
          3) Do you have the ability to raise the afame box height wise? So rather than it laying flat no the aframe, have it 2-3″ inches off the frame. Similar to the box position at the very beginning of this video.

          • montanak9pt@gmail.com says:
            March 4, 2021 at 10:27 pm

            My verbal for 2o2o is only for the DW. It is “Spot”.
            The verbal for the running AF is “Hit it!”
            We have been working the DW-2o2o and the SS also 2o2o. So, I under stand that the poor guy is confused. I have not had access to the AF for a long time!

            I will look to see if I still have film from out work with the box on the flat.

            I do t know if I can make he box higher? Will try next time I’m there.

            How about the location of the box? Is it too high?

            Thanks for your help!

          • montanak9pt@gmail.com says:
            March 5, 2021 at 4:59 pm

            Next session

            https://youtu.be/fkc2dwvJdiM

            The box starts off a bit more elevated, but gradually sinks to the surface of the AF

          • Jennifer Crank says:
            March 7, 2021 at 1:37 pm

            Stunning! Love it! These are exactly what I want to see. Based on this video, I would keep the box where it is at and begin to add some obstacles before and then after the aframe and then some handling. I’m glad the confusion of the 2o2o was short lived 😉

          • montanak9pt@gmail.com says:
            March 9, 2021 at 1:44 pm

            https://youtu.be/pKuEs5cTDzs

            DW in a sequence.

          • montanak9pt@gmail.com says:
            March 9, 2021 at 1:45 pm

            OPPS! I meant AF!

          • Jennifer Crank says:
            March 9, 2021 at 3:40 pm

            These are looking pretty good! He is starting to get so much air over the apex that I can see him getting closer and closer to one hits on the downside which is what he did on that failure. This is pretty common for large strided, powerful dogs like him. To confirm, aframe is at full height? I would go ahead and take away the bottom and two sides of the box so that you are just left with the top. And go ahead an add handling at the exit – FC, BC, pushes, turns, etc. Maintain consistency in your criteria that all four feet bust hit below the top of the box for reinforcement.

          • montanak9pt@gmail.com says:
            March 9, 2021 at 4:19 pm

            The AF is not yet at full height. I missed that step some where along the way. I’m get it up to full height at our next session.

            If I remove the bottom and sides of the box, where do I place the remaining side? Keep at same location, just about 6” above the yellow?

          • Jennifer Crank says:
            March 11, 2021 at 9:10 pm

            Yes, get it to full height as I think that will help not get so much air over the top. And yes, leave the top of the box exactly where it is.

          • montanak9pt@gmail.com says:
            March 12, 2021 at 2:33 pm

            https://youtu.be/t0FahpPIj48

            AF at 5’6”. We progressed to just the one bar.

          • Jennifer Crank says:
            March 17, 2021 at 5:44 am

            Looking fantastic!

            https://youtu.be/nj2zV7wJkQo

  • Holly D says:
    March 28, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    Curious about your placement of box. Why not all in yellow?

    • Jennifer Crank says:
      March 29, 2020 at 4:27 pm

      I would really like the dog to hit in the center of the box so I often work backwards in determining its position on the aframe. I decide where in the contact zone I anticipate a dog of his size and stride to hit and then I center the box around that point. I expect him to hit between the 2nd and 3rd slate from the base. If I put the box around the yellow, I would be aiming for a hit between the 1st and 2nd slate and I don’t think that is realistic nor desirable for this dog. The box position may be adjusted for each individual dog or change throughout a dogs training.

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