[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Again,

OK – we’ll try to do better!

I really screwed up on the first standard course. I set the 8 minutes on my phone which was also doing the video. Therefore, I got the video of walking the course but when I stopped the timer, it also stopped the video. Yuck. No point in running it now for the video, it would be our 3rd run. On the first run, I didn’t get enough turn from the short tunnel to get the weave entry. I tried spinning it without success. I had to make a gigantic tunnel brake to get enough turn to make the weave entry.

(All running DW’s were awful; just saying. I am making a career out of finding judges who don’t judge contacts. I can send you a list, if you want. 😊 )

So, I’ll try again with course #2. Later today or tomorrow.

Barb

ps: temp is 80 degrees.

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Regarding your feedback:
– Why do you say it is the FC which causes him to add a stride between 4 & 5? The FC was completed BEFORE he lifted for 4, therefore I don’t see why it would be the cause of his extra stride. Yes, he added a weird little hop before 5 but I would have chalked that up to “inexperienced baby” not “poor handling choice”. It is true that I MUCH prefer a FC over a BC with Enzo because he is so inexperienced. If I take my eye off him, he can go all kinds of unexpected places and, since I’m blind to it, I can’t fix it.
– Yes, on the 7-8-9 line, I did not run it the way I walked it (alas, this happens a lot). My thinking was that he was coming into 8 too “hot” to make the line I wanted, so I let him do the blind and we avoided a collision. The grass was extremely long and desperate to be cut which contributed to his falling on his head.
I hope to finish mowing tomorrow and set up the standard course for walk then run training. (Also, my desktop is very sick and I’m trying to make do with phone and iPad. Sigh. It never rains but it pours).

Thanks!
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Everything has been a bit fouled up and I haven’t been able to spend nearly the time on Agility-U stuff that I wanted to. Oddly enough, there have been some times when I did the exercises but couldn’t find time to edit the video and send. Then yesterday, my PC pretty much croaked. After my hubby worked on it a while, I can use mail and Word but the internet is a fail. In particular, YouTube is not working properly.

Bottom line, I didn’t watch your video before doing the sequence of walk then run (it wouldn’t play). I finally got smart and watched it on my phone but not until after I’d done the exercise. So it’s not exactly right. However, I had some friends over, so my walk-through was more realistic than if I just did it by myself. Then my friends cleared out so I could do the final one.

It is taking for-freaking-ever to upload this video but I know what the link is, so I’ll send that:

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Help, help.

[I called Apple for support and actually talked to a person in less than an hour. Will miracles never cease? Turns out my iPad is so old it cannot be updated to the latest operating system version. Therefore, I can’t get the latest iMovie version. I’m guessing this is the problem.]

The only place where I have 3 dots on my iMovie is when I first open it up. when I select the 3 dots, I get “Import Project” and “View iMovie Theater”. Once I select a project, the 3 dots disappear. Here is a move of my iMovie. <sigh> Maybe you’re using something else…?

As far as using iMovie, I always select “Movie” as opposed to “Trailer”. Then I select “Create Movie” and then I got to “video” to import recent videos.

I can remember successfully running videos side by side but I don’t even remember how to do that, now. Certainly don’t see how to do the overlay. I did go to the App store to see if it would download a new version. Maybe I should delete the one I have and get a new one?

Here is what I see…https://youtu.be/MypiRDAFOcE

Thanks (sorry). [I’ll bring all my devices on the 21st and maybe you can show me.]
Barb

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by Barb VanEseltine.
• This reply was modified 4 years ago by Barb VanEseltine.

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Again, Tracy!

First, here is course 3: https://youtu.be/MAnfbb-H6Nk
My thought was the hard part would be the turn from the #8 tunnel to the #9 tunnel, especially since we’ve been shooting down to the other entrance. Therefore, I planned a HUGE tunnel brake and got him where needed. 😊

Second, I did some obsessing on course 2: https://youtu.be/FoxHYntvNaI
It is early morning, so even though the humidity is really high, the temperature is only 74, so we did a number of reps of #5 through #10. I had a lot of handling choices! I zoomed in so you can see the end of the weaves and the important part. The timings are from #6 to the wing of #10:

1. Blind 6-7; hard decel; whiskey #8 and pull — — 6.6
2. FC 6-7; hard decel; whiskey #8 and pull — — 6.8
3. Blind 6-7; blind 7-8; and pull — — 6.7
4. Blind 6-7; blind 7-8; and pull — — 6.6
5. Blind 6-7; hard decel; whiskey #8 and pull (same as 1) — — 6.7

Looking at the video, I wish I’d done one with 2 blinds and a Jaakko exit on #8; oh well. I pulled up the run from yesterday and that section was 7.0, so at least these were an improvement!

Thanks,
Barb

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by Barb VanEseltine.

[Barb VanEseltine]

ALSO — what software are you using to do the overlays? Years ago, Guy Blanc had software to do overlays but it was wildly expensive. Maybe it’s come down in price??

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

On to package 2, jumpers.

Course 1: https://youtu.be/KWiWFik15eI
I was very happy with how that ran. Just did it once and called it good. Of course, the temperature is 85.
Looking at the video, I should have hustled to get further across the bar on the #12 serp.

Course 2: https://youtu.be/D_0kHf-lFas
I thought the first run was a bit tentative, so I ran it again. On the first run, he came way to far after #7. Although I saw the problem, I didn’t do any better the second time through in that spot. The second run was about half a second faster.

Course 3:
Hah! I got it marked and walked and thought we were ready. We gave it 2 tries: he dropped a bar in the first 4 jumps, then I sent him off course in the first 6 jumps. So I decided we were too hot and tired. We might be able to play with it a bit more tomorrow. 😊

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Finally got some time to train! Here is some video of Games Package 2: Standard Course.

Here is course 1: https://youtu.be/NKKMA18yIfA

The first time through, he drops #11. Otherwise not too bad.
Second time, I wanted to improve the line from 1 to 4, so I moved to manage the line from 2 to 3. The result was a RC of the #4 tunnel. I’m not sure I would do that in a trial, since he could turn sharply and miss the #5 jump. At :49, I was trying to get a better turn and to keep the #11 jump up. He makes the weave entry but then I try to send to the far tunnel (just lazy – it’s really hot here). I was really, REALLY surprised by how good the DW contact was: he came all the way down (right into me) and turned on the contact. That allowed me to set a good line 17-18 without picking up the off course #2.

Course 2: https://youtu.be/HBYkrxL7ZcQ
I knocked the A-frame over, so there would be a line of sight to some of the fun parts. 😊 The first time through was hot mess. My #10 tunnel does NOT point at the correct side of #11 – that limits my options. Also, the first time through, I tried to get him to the weaves strictly with verbals – not a success.
The second time was surprisingly good.

Course 3: https://youtu.be/WUsQUCen6PI
Hee-hee. The first time through, we went 1 to 12, 18, 19. It was quick. 😊
Then we had to figure out when to send and when to go with. The last time through, he skipped #17 but I let it go, as the temperature is 87 and the heat index is over 100.

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

I wasn’t able to run another jumper’s course today but I did go to the barn and do some timings. I timed from “over jump 1” to “into the tunnel”. We had all the skills except the Japanese. He has only seen it a few times and never running into it in this way. For the most part, these times are close enough that I feel like the answer is “shrug”. The fastest one was run last, so it is as legitimate as any of them. I was not too surprised, since that technique allows you to push the dog along, however the handler winds up further behind.

Technique Time 1 Time 2 Ave
Threadle (post turn exit) 3.9 3.7 3.8
Threadle (Jaakko exit) 3.7 3.6 3.7
German 3.7 3.7 3.7
Forced front (Jaakko exit) 3.7 3.7 3.7
Japanese 4.2 3.8 4.0
run into Forced Front 4.0 3.9 4.0
Run the dog’s line (backside serp) 3.6 3.6 3.6

(that was a pretty table in Excel and Word…)

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Regarding the Jumping Course: The next course also involves weaves to tunnel, so I’ll try to leave sooner. Otherwise agree; that went pretty well.

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

(This response to the discussion about the sequences for success.)

I think I need time to think. You wrote:
“we want him to chase the line of motion even if you are not connected and even if he can’t see the next obstacle. Let me know if that makes sense.”
I’m not sure if I think that makes sense. Does it mean the same as “when in doubt, chase the line of motion”?
It seems like, if I put him on a line, then I want that line continued and not, necessarily, my current motion. Aren’t we doing a lot of that?

Later, “so you don’t end up spinning all the things” Yes! I definitely want to minimize spins.

On sequence 2: “Small detail: try to send and leave on the tunnel #5 (post turn) rather than decel and spin.” That is an interesting observation. I didn’t so much “spin the tunnel” as “this seems like the easiest way to move from where I was to where I wanted to go”. I don’t tend to do post turns, so that may be why the spin felt natural. I agree and will try to keep that in mind. 😊 On the FC at 8 to 9: I was already facing him, so the FC is the least handling – it was practically done. To do the blind, I would have to rotate over 270 degrees, not something I do when I can avoid it. Also, it doesn’t make sense to me that spinning like a top would give him more information or information in a more timely manner.

On sequence 3: Gotcha. I will try to get the timing done tomorrow. 😊

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Tracy,

The sun went “in” and the breeze picked up, so I decided we could go outside for a jumpers’ course. I used the “dog waits in the a/c house while I walk and learn the course” method.

This is the week one jumper’s course number 1. I was happy with this run. I didn’t realize the #4 tunnel was backwards until later…. 😊

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

My barn is air conditioned, so I don’t feel like a lousy person doing this much training. And there were plenty of breaks!!

First up: the transition to trialing, the up and down game.

I used an extra long leash, since it seemed like what you were using and was helpful. It seemed to me that he orients and looks up quickly and easily. After a while, I asked for eye contact to make sure he wasn’t looking up at the almighty cookies.

Then we did a bit with the skill sets. I chose “sit” and “say it (bark)”.

That was pretty interesting. There was a speed at which, just walking along, Enzo couldn’t process “sit”. And there was quite a narrow range when he went from “no problem” to “what???”.

Then we moved on to the sequences!

Here is the first sequence.
Run #1: https://youtu.be/m4Cf_ZK0aXI

My notes were:
(1) Oops (early exit on first try)
(2) Wrap was awful; the rest ok

Training: I worked on the wrap and then wanted to do the second run. At that time, we discovered that we had trouble distinguishing 2-4-5-6-7 versus 7-8-9-10 (in other words, #5 was a powerful off course for the next time through. So we had to look at that.
Training and second full run:

Second sequence:

He dropped the number 10 bar but he was jumping into the wall. I really didn’t find anything here I wanted to isolate and train. I showed him the jump into the wall and then decided to move on to the third sequence. 😊

Third sequence:

Training: I want to tighten the tunnel brake and also the 8-9-10 sequence which seemed too loose to me. Then I ran it again.

Well, since I’m trialing most weekends (Fri,Sat,Sun), resting Monday, going across the state for class on Tuesday, that leaves Wednesday and/or Thursday to work on my Agility University stuff. I don’t think we’ll get through it by September 1 but we’ll try to get a bunch done.

Thanks,
Barb

• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by Barb VanEseltine.

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Well, on the jump thing, it’s like this:

Does “LEFT!” mean turn left now or first jump and then turn left? I want it to mean first jump and then turn left, so I am using “jump left” as a bridging thing. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. I almost NEVER use plain “jump”, since if it is on the line I am showing, I don’t add in a verbal. So while the plain “jump” in theory means “jump in extension”, I almost never use it. When I have a straight (curved) exit line, I use “go on!”: that ends about 50 or 60% of all AKC courses. 😊

There is a somewhat similar situation with “switch” and “flip”. I don’t use “switch” on a RC, I communicate that with handling. I use switch to mean turn away on the flat. I use “flip” to mean turn away and find a backside (stir the pot handling).

I am going to leave the in-in-in and in-switch alone for now. I rarely use the in (except on lead outs in place of a forced front) and I think I’ve seen in-switch once in a training course. As Ann Braue would say: irritation = motivation. When I am irritated enough that I don’t have those well trained, I will have the motivation to correct that situation. 😉 I have avoided bringing this to the attention of my in-person instructor. Enzo and I are struggling with challenging tunnel threadles in a state of arousal and we need that right now (well, this weekend, I’m sure).

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

I recently needed to add a new verbal (for tunnel threadle; my instructor didn’t like my using in-tunnel or come-tunnel). In order to make a new word, I needed to list EVERYTHING Enzo hears which is supposed to be meaningful and then find a new sound. So here is the list, broken into categories. Btw, the new one I added was “Fly” because I didn’t think it sounded much like anything else.

Are all these words “fluent”? Heck no! But some of them are. 😊

ALSO, for my “moving” cue in the verbals games, can I use “say it” (his bark cue)? He doesn’t have a lot of moving tricks and I don’t want to use left/right in this context.

Obedience/Miscellaneous Cues:
Come
Down
Let’s go = Run back to reinforcement
No
Okay = all-purpose release
Sit
Stand
Touch = Nose to hand touch

Tricks:
Say it = Bark

Warm-up cues
Back = backup
Reach = Stretch legs (I’m stretching it)
Relax = After leg stretch (I’m relaxing it)
Step = take a sideways step
Toes = I’m pulling your toes

Obstacle Cues:
Climb it = execute A-frame
Fly = tunnel threadle (“come tunnel”)
Table = Go to table and lie down
Teeter
Tire
Tunnel = Take obvious tunnel entrance
Weave
Walk it = Dog Walk Command

Other Agility Cues:
Around = backside slice
Bang = 2o2o for teeter
Check = wrap left
Dig = wrap right
Easy = collect; add a stride
Flip = turn away; find the backside
Go on! = take the line in front of you
Hit it = contact for running A-frame
In-in-in = threadle to slice;
In-switch = threadle to wrap
Jump = jump in extension
Jump-left = jump and turn left
Jump-right = jump and right
Left =turn left off the running DW and A-frame; also spin left
Out = move away
Push = backside wrap
Right = turn right off the running DW and A-frame; also spin right
Switch = RC – turn away
Zing = run straight off the running DW (or turn less than 40 degrees)

Thanks,
Barb

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