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After we did a few reps, I did increase the space a bit between tunnel and jumps. This afternoon we went out very briefly– I moved the jumps another 4 ft- now at 16 ft spacing. We had a couple of missed jumps after tunnel but it was me not giving him the info and connection. I LOVED his effort.
We also did a short session with teeter end. I had started a while back with introducing wobble boards of different sizes and tipping points with lots of rewards. A week or so ago , I started rewarding any interaction with end of teeter.
Next week our weather is supposed to be back to our usual- i.e., a little cooler. We will work on the blinds and rears then.
Wraps and first blinds!! We didn’t get to the whole sequence and only did a few reps but I was happy with his understanding .
I did do a little work on flip with a toy. It’s been so long since I have used a placed reward for Roulez, that we needed to review toy grab after reward marker given
So. it was good! And she picked up the flip with a dead toy with no problem.
Another win for latent learning? :-😉Reading through the first few steps and listening to the ZOOM has helped me isolate some things that I have started doing and ideas of where I need to focus.
I do still find myself nervous if I’m showing at a new site. I’ve learned to give myself enough time to either check out the site and set up the night before if I can or get to the site with extra time to get set up and settled before needing to walk.
Walking the course, I plan my strategy to play to our strengths. I have said to myself this is something we do well.
Sitting around waiting, I sit by my dogs if I can, and read or play a puzzle game. Or I may visit and watch other friends. It depends on how I’m feeling. (I’m naturally more of an introvert)
I’ve learned how to figure out my marker dog to give myself enough time but not so much that we are waiting too long. Roulez is one of the easiest dogs I’ve competed with because if I’m too early, she is able to relax and lay at my feet or sit in my lap.
Standing ringside, a dog or so before us, I take a deep breath facing Roulez, smile and give her a cookie and repeat several times. she also gets told- “how did I get so lucky to get such a good girlie?”
We walk confidently into the ring, exhibiting the attitude that “we got this, let’s go have fun”.
And this is where more work on my part needs to happen. Sometimes I find myself watching and judging my dog as we run… Maybe that stems from the fact that I have long thought of a trial as a way to see where we are in training– what we are doing well, what needs to go on antraining list. Making that switch from trainer to handler could use some help.
Or I will have a random thought that I could do a different cross than I had planned (BUT NOT WALKED!) Yea, that doesn’t usually go well. hahaha.
Or I will fear I can’t make the cross I had planned and change my strategy. Again, that doesn’t usually go well. I am getting better about sticking to my plan and trying to make it happen.
Lately, we get almost to end of course, 2 or 3 obstacles from the finish and my focus wavers, and I lose it. I’m reading the step on Mindfulness next and hopefully will get some ideas from it.
Carrie
YES!!!! soooooo hot!! That’s why we stayed inside yesterday and worked. Using a wingless jump and a wing, I worked verbal directionals and then some rear end awareness and conditioning. He was brilliant!
No one has given me an evidence based answer on why a 4on teeter was better for big dogs.My thoughts were the same as yours as to clarity of teaching and maintaining criteria.
Thanks!
CWorking more rear end awareness with Audubon and was playing around with travel board and positions. (he is having trouble staying on plank as I turn him around).
Do you have strong feelings/opinions on teeter end criteria? I’ve always taught a 2o,2o. However, I know that some are advocating, even for large dogs, a 4 on.
It seems easier to teach clear criteria for 2o,2o but is 4 on better for the dog physically?
Thanks!
Well, Dawg!!! Somehow my post wasn’t posted.
She was doing well getting the flip away with the Manners Minder. So at Amy’s, started with the MM. tried fading to a placed reward and she could NOT get it.Decided to move on , hope latent learning kicks in and try again another day.
yea, about the dog’s Barking in that clip. I thought it might make it harder for him and I was being greedy, there was a storm forming and I was trying to get work in with both dogs before the rain. I realized the mistake as we were working
Will be more cognizant and give him more connection esp on lefts.
I was amazed at how well he did with the 3 jumps and the tunnel.
Thank you !
