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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_ZK0aXIMy notes were:
(1) Oops (early exit on first try)
(2) Wrap was awful; the rest okTraining: 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,
BarbHi 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,
BarbHi 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 touchTricks:
Say it = BarkWarm-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 toesObstacle 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 CommandOther 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(Hi Ann! What fun to see you in camp! Winnie is looking really good. I look for dogs to accelerate out of a move/turn/obstacle and she is doing that really well. Also congrats on your great Westminster!!)
Tracy,
OK – I’m all over the elevator game. But it is new to me — proof I didn’t do all of the Max Puppy series (☹).
I think I can fill in the gap (crazy elevator game with wing) but the third video (https://youtu.be/2m6iege–l0 ) comes up with the black screen and “Video unavailable” message.
If the weather ever gets cooler, I’ll do some video on Threadle, FF, German and Japanese (forced blind). 😊 In the meantime, here is a video showing the end of our teeter session.
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
Interesting that you suggested a Forced Front or German in the spot where I used a threadle (#3 backside). Just a couple of weeks ago, I asked my “in person” instructor about when she uses a Forced Front versus a threadle. Short pause. The answer was basically, “I never use a forced front, once the dog understands the threadle cue”. And that makes sense to me because the threadle cue requires less rotation from the handler and therefore, the handler can leave sooner. On the other hand, the FF allows for a rotating exit and a Jaakko exit yielding less or more tightness. For me, personally, I only use the German when I’m running with the dog, never on a lead out. I try very hard to minimize the handler path: if my running speed is going to be the difference, then I’m not going to win. I look for places where dog training (verbals and independence) can set me up for success. Make sense?
As far as exiting the teeter, when I did my final review of the video, I realized that I was blocking Enzo’s view of the next jump. I almost mentioned it but then I thought: Tracy will see it without my pointing it out <grin>. Maybe next time I can see it during the walk-through instead of during the video review!
As far as the “lure” on the teeter, how about a bit more advice? My previous, strong 2o2o dog (Terry the Malinois) did not have a nose-touch associated with it. He was expected to learn it based on different surfaces under his feet. Since Enzo is only a month into 2o2o, I can still play with it. If I put out a target, then I feel like I need to enforce the nose touch. Yes? No? I can say that with a target in place (never baited), he will ALWAYS go directly to the 2o2o position. I have been withholding the reward until he nose touches the target because that seems like the whole point of a target.
I have never had a smaller dog, so I am guessing about the elevator game (you don’t play it with a 60 pound dog when your age is over 60). But I’m guessing it is holding the end up in the air, lure the dog to the end, bounce it up and down in the air and drop it to the ground. Dog does 2o2o and you reward. Correct? 😊
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
Here is our first attempt of the course from Games Package 1. I have no idea what the matter was, except it is very hot. We worked at camp July 1,2,3 (indoors in A/C); did a bit of sequencing July 4 and took July 5 off entirely. Well, Enzo did, I built the course in the 90-degree heat.
In my opinion, this is a course Enzo should run clean with ease (except maybe the DW contact). Here is what happened.
We started out:
Run 1: dropped #2
Run 2: dropped #3
Run 3: dropped #4I stopped and did more warm-ups and stretching. It is essentially impossible for me to tell if he is sore by touching him, since he objects to most touching.
Run 4: This is the first one on the video. I was (very) late with my verbal “left” at #8 and almost got the A-frame. He missed the second weave entry (**SHOCK**) and, after the restart, grossly overran the turn to the A-frame and then I was behind and he missed the tunnel.
Run 5: DW contact still bad; dropped # 16 and my handling of the A-frame still poor resulting in the same off course at #20.
Run 6: I just started at the weaves and ran down for the FC after #18. That worked fine; should have seen that option the first time.
Our video: https://youtu.be/yoWyAXU-BjY
A bit discouraged on the teeter: have done a million bang-games (hop on from the side) and full teeters into 2o2o but I’m not seeing it in course work. Will have to do a million more, I guess. Less than a month in; I should be more patient, I’m sure. But I figure whining to you is better than whining to Enzo. <grin>
Thanks,
BarbHI Tracy,
Got it!
As far as verbals, there were definitely some “less is more” people. Here are some examples:
– Using more generic turn cues (get back) for both backside wrap and backside slice.
– No distinction between degree of turn; one cue for “turn left” and “wrap left” OR one cue for turn and one cue for wrap.
In all cases, the handling is to support and clarify the verbal.On the other hand, there were times when a case was made for a distinct cue and it was supported. For example, one word (e.g. zoom) for a tunnel threadle instead of “come tunnel” which is not really a tunnel threadle cue but a ‘come’ cue (with head check) followed by a redirect to the tunnel.
There were some excellent points: I have a list of 40 words Enzo is familiar with but only 10 to 15 are truly fluent (proofed and well understood). The list also includes non-agility words so I can keep track of the noises he knows and, if I need a new one, it won’t be too similar to one he already knows.
Also, I have overlaps: (left/right for 90 degree turns; check/dig for wraps; AND a turn away cue “switch”). In my head, I understand when I use the directionals and when I use “switch” but I wonder if I could eliminate switch if I could depend on the others. But I LIKE switch. 😊
It will be interesting to see which cues survive showing. I may have a totally different list at this time next year.
Barb
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for the great feedback on the sequence work, I got most of it but not this piece:
“On the wrap, though, a little detail – you will get better collection on it if you drop your hands into the front side of the jump and not swoosh to the landing side. You handled more of the front side on the other side and his turns looked better there too.”I’m not sure exactly where you are talking. Is that at :10? I’m not getting the “swoosh to the landing side” comment.
Looking forward to the new work with verbals. I had no idea people had such varying opinions about verbals until the seminar this past weekend. 😊
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
Regarding your comments about turning away on the weaves, we do have that skill. In your example, I would currently need to go to the “third to last” pole in order to send to the tunnel while remaining on the other side. Based on how infrequently I see this challenge, I am going to call that good enough for the time being. <grin>
We had a wonderful time at camp – I LOVE camps and seminars. They give me a chance to work with other experts and see new challenges and get fresh perspectives. (Speaking of which, when are you next doing an in-person seminar? I had such a good time at Agility at the Farm. You could just slip me an email…)
I am almost caught up to the new lesson you released today. I built the course from week one this morning (temp 78 to 83; going for a high of 91 degrees). If I recover, I’ll run it either later this afternoon or early tomorrow morning. 😊
(I haven’t yet processed your comments about the sequence work.)
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
Here is my first session with the Sequences for Success. I put in 12 weaves because I just can’t make myself do 6 weaves. It appears that all the pro’s do exercises with 6 weaves, so it should be okay, but it still bugs me. In order to make it “fair”, I spread it all out a bit.
On the first exercise, I turned him “in” at 4 and then repeated it turning “out” at 4. My thinking was that turning out would create a better line to 5 and 6. Also, I think I got a better turn on the “out”. When I took the time off of iMovie, I got 14.3 on the “in” and 13.9 on the “out”. Which is quite a lot.
The second one went as mapped. The third course has a “snooker” feel between 7 and 8 and I decided we aren’t ready for that much calling past things, so I put 8 on a nearby jump. The third course took two tries, since he didn’t hold commitment on “jump left” and we had to redo it. I’m actually not unhappy with that, because I haven’t made the time to clarify that for him.
Later on I’ll do some with the teeter…
Thanks,
BarbHI Tracy,
As far as turning away on the weaves (when I am running counter to his motion), I usually whisper “here I am” when I think he might not notice a cross. In this case, he turned away when I didn’t cross but it was artificially set up running counter to his motion. Will have to think about when I might need that.
On the teeter, I am using a small lid (peanut butter, I think). I haven’t ever done the lid plus MM at a distance. Will try that technique out. I was at Ann Braue’s summer camp this past 3 days and he was “pretty good” with his teeters. I played a lot of “bang” games before camp and we didn’t embarrass ourselves too much. Without the target he doesn’t drive to the 2o2o position; he stops at a random 4o and then needs another prompt to assume 2o2o. I wish I could pack a teeter in my car when trialing (which I am doing a lot) but I will throw a travel plank into my car.
Thanks,
BarbHI Tracy,
I grabbed a few minutes to refine our independence skills. I did some more weave challenges (we love to train these!!). Finally raised the stakes so high we got a mistake and then worked through it. I used the Mary Ellen Barry approach: jam him back in the weaves anyplace and keep going.
I also got my other MM working and did some teeter work with it. The “straightness” is not strong enough to do without some kind of target. Of course, I don’t care that much about that but as long as I can I might as well work on it.
Thanks,
BarbHere is Enzo working on super independence. For the teeter, I should have used the MM but it wasn’t working. Maybe needs a new battery?
Command for weaves is “weave”.
Command for teeter is “teeter” for the obstacle and “bang” for the 2o2o position (now in week 2 of teaching). You can see he is much more confident weaving over performing the teeter. Will work on that!
Also, my throwing skills are not as good as yours – just saying!
