Yes, my dogs height at the withers is the same as 2x the height to the elbow.
I live in BC where it is cold and rainy ALL THE TIME >sigh<, so we lay out our course of poles on the kitchen floor each day. The sig pic was taken on our trip last month to AZ, sorry to say.
I guess Mitzi is in pretty good shape as she is still trotting gaily over the poles after 30 reps.
I'm following Brad's lead and increasing her food a bit in addition to the extra excersize in order to build a little more body mass - I don't want much, as I prefer her lean. I'm just aiming for a bit of an advantage with the conformation judges.

I wonder if I should add some weight for her to carry on our neighborhood walks (up and down hills)?

My poles are cut up 1" dowels laying on 2 flat wood rails that have nails in them - each pole sits between 2 nails to keep it from rolling - height 1.5". I can change the height by adding another piece of rail . . .

 Quote: Cindy Shepard

I live in BC where it is cold and rainy ALL THE TIME >sigh<, so we lay out our course of poles on the kitchen floor each day. The sig pic was taken on our trip last month to AZ, sorry to say.

Okay, I thought it looked a little desert-y for BC, but since I haven't had the pleasure of visiting your province, I wasn't sure what the terrain looks like. I imagine there's quite a variety. We've had a very snowy winter here, and now it's warming up a bit, the snow has melted, and there's water everywhere from snowmelt and the 24 hours of straight rain we just had. I am SOOOO envious of you, having a kitchen big enough to exercise your dog.

Brad, at the seminar I went to, they used PVC cavaletti and propped them up with an empty pop or beer can at each end. You can crush the can just a little and it makes a cradle to hold the end of the pole. Raises them up a couple inches, anyway. I've got to find something else since I don't drink anything that comes in cans, plus I hate the noise of rattling cans. I'm trying to think of a way to design a small block of wood as a support and being able to turn it over this way and that so it's at different heights.

Here is a video I took today of Mitzi running the poles . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtRusRkjYGY

I'm posting this to elicit any comments, but also just to add to the information value of this thread in case anyone does a search for Cavaletti!

First of all, Cindy, wow, she is a beauty. This whole idea of using cavaletti in dog training is new to me, too. Most of what I know I just learned at the recent seminar. I'm looking forward to putting it into practice, but I've had a big job this week and haven't even had time to look into getting the necessary equipment. Well, plus I have to wait for my backyard to dry up at least a little!

One thing I have to say is those nails on the side rails really scare me. A couple of times, Mitzi sort of jumped off the edge, and it would be so easy for her to accidentally step on a nail. I know the sharp side is down, but I think stepping even on the head of a nail like that could potentially cause a bad injury. I would pound them in so they don't stick up farther than the cavaletti poles, or if you have to, use shorter nails.

Her trot is beautiful. I wish I could offer advice on whether the spacing is correct, the height is correct, or how many repetitions you should do with her, but like I said, I'm in the learning process, too. If I can find a good resource, like a book or a web site, I'll pass along the info here.

Good point on the nails - I'll try to think of some other way when I change the spacing tomorrow (going to 12" instead of 9").

Maybe velcro on both the rails and the dowels . . . yes!

I agree what a lovely little girl, I too wish I could give more advice but only been at them about a month myself and only know the little that I do from the link in my other thread re:conditioning diet, plus the book Tricks of the Trade by Pat Hastings.

Update:

After 3 full weeks of cavaletti, 50 x a day over the 9 poles, plus I had increased Mitzi's food a bit, she looks a little more filled out (not much, and it could just be because she is a month older)

Results:

Best of Breed over specials for a major win from the puppy class! Her first Canadian points toward championship.

Cavaletti: Coincidence or Magic !?!? ☺

Atta girl! Congrats!!!!!

Congrats, Cindy and Mitzi!

I have to agree with the above. That is a really good lookin' pup!

Congratulations, Cindy and Mitzi. Way to go! Who knows if the cavaletti conditioning helped, but it obviously didn't hurt. How old is Mitzi, by the way?