Raven came to a complete stop out this tunnel, onlookers said they could see her running up the side of the tunnel. I am wondering how I can alter this in training (she rarely goes as fast in training and therefore rarely comes off second best with tunnel exits) or that hopefully this experience (which would not have been pleasant for her!) will remind her that running the sides of tunnels can be hazardous. The "ooohs" from the spectactors did make me feel sorry for her but she dusted herself off and got on with finishing the course to take 2nd place. She was 0.8 of a second off the 1st place dog so I was very proud of her gutsy run. Thanks to Kim Barton for emailing me this one off shot.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Why Tunnels Should Not Be Run Sideways
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That can't be just from running the side of the tunnel. All the faster dogs do it. They've put "tunnel cams" into tunnels for several televised agility competitions through the years, and that's where I first discovered that that's how dogs do tunnels (except for the very slow ones who just trot thru on the floor of the tunnel). The physics just don't allow one to race thru a tunnel and stay on the floor when the side will do just as nicely, thank you very much. That's how/why tunnels are always getting pushed around on course if they're not very solidly staked in place.
That kind of result has to be a trip or a slip (was surface wet?).
My old dog, who blazed through tunnels for years, slipped in one on one rainy day when he was maybe 13, and after that he only ever trotted through them unless they were completely straight, so his course times dropped immensely.
-ellen
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