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Hi Tracy,
Well, happy to say that course #3 was more like what I expected. Stuff to improve but we made it through (well, I let him rejump #13 – that was savable but not important).
The temperature was 81 under a hard sun with little breeze, so I left him in the house until I had it walked and then we ran it; one re-work and came back in.
Again, there was a long mental debate about slice versus wrap on #18. I picked wrap for a number of pragmatic reasons:
– I was confident I could handle him to a wrap
– The line out would be straight and fast even if the wrap wasn’t perfect
– It was less yardage.IF I could have gotten a tight turn on 18 after a slice, then that might have been the winning line but I was very confident that wouldn’t happen. And if you drift out too far, you miss the lovely straight exit line.
After it was over (including the party), we re-worked 11-14. He did it fine but I think he was very aware of where his toy was…
Much happier with this run.
Thanks,
Barb(I never thought to ask…when I add a link, I have a choice to open a new window. Would that make it easier for you?)
Hi Tracy,
Here is this week’s zigzag work. As suggested, the toy was ahead on his line every time. I was ahead in almost all cases (the backside send from 3 jumps ahead did not work well).
1. Warmup (not filmed)
2. 5 jumps, 12 inches. Three sets
3. Rest 2+ minutes
4. 3 jumps 10”, 14”, 14” – start with send to backside. Three sets.
5. 3 jumps 14” – two sets
6. Rest 2+ minutes
7. 5 jumps, 14 inches. Three setsAs of Tuesday, I can no longer say, “Enzo isn’t even 2 yet”. 😊
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
First, before I forget to mention it: I know it is more fun to design a big course in all dimensions but then it is much harder to set up a stationary camera to film it. You could probably get a similar number/type of challenges in a long and narrow course and it would be much easier to film. The “squarer” the course is, the further back the camera needs to be. If it gets really bad, then I have to go to a wide-angle lens but those are so distorting that it is very difficult to coach from such a video.
As far as slice versus wrap on 11, Robin Anne and I walked both and debated. Because of Patt, I tend to ALWAYS want to slice. 😊 In this case, we decided to wrap and avoid the extra long path on the slice.
As far as the end, we don’t have a subtle lead change away. There is “switch” which is a 90 degree turn away. And there is what we did. 😊 My intent was to set the line so that I was pushing on it as he went into the tunnel. In that case, the go-on was just “don’t turn back”.
Then there was course #2…
On jump 2, we actually warmed that up a number of times but he couldn’t keep it in his head for even one lead-in jump. I should try again with more of a step.
As you pointed out, the rest of it was mostly a goat rodeo.
Hope to try #3 tomorrow.
Thanks,
BarbHI Tracy,
Today we decided to move on to the courses. I had a friend come over the train (first time I’ve seen her since March – we did masks and social distancing for the walk-thru’s and then ran without masks). Her dogs are multi-MACHS and she would expect weaves and contacts. Also, I feel like Enzo and I are too far along for novice. So, I chose the masters courses but they really blew us away.
We did the first and second one. I’ll wait for feedback and maybe be able to do the third one on Friday. In all honesty, I didn’t feel too bad about the first course but the second one was too much. I couldn’t even get the nice wrap I wanted on #2 without trying every trick in the book. <sigh>
Also, I think I got 1 legal contact out of 4 or 5 tries. But, the weaves were brilliant. 😊
Thanks!
BarbHI Tracy,
The first thought I had, once I had the course rebuilt and I was looking at it was: if I’m going to turn before he exits the tunnel, I can do a front. Just as easy and I can keep an eye on him. So that was the first rep. Also, as I said, I was pretty confident that the cue given to the dog-in-tunnel was not a good plan but Enzo proved me wrong.
So on the first rep, he came out of the tunnel looking for the backside. Good dog. And I left really early. Good handler.
On the second rep, I did the blind so it was in progress as he exited the tunnel. On the second tunnel, he exited the tunnel on a line to the backside.
The third rep was the anti-patterning rep: with a front-side at both backsides. He did them very well.
Final run back to the backsides. It certainly is fun to find out a new thing and it really works. I will remember that he can remember a cue for after the tunnel when given before it. 😊
Thanks,
BarbTracy,
Thanks for all the Monday morning QB’ing!
On sequence 3, let’s talk about the tunnel exit. My thought was I can’t start the blind until I see him see the jump (#4). Then, when I see him see it, I can blind. I agree the second time through was better. So, at :21 I see him exit the tunnel and see the jump and at :22 I start the BC. I suppose in theory I could whip my head around faster on the blind but I don’t think that’s a good plan (balance and repeatability). So I reconnected at :23 as he lands. If I do the blind before he exits the tunnel, then he can run around #4: taking a straight line from the tunnel exit to the backside #5. In fact, I think I would want that (blind would put #4 behind me; at least in theory, if the exit from the tunnel was very sharp).
On #8, I might be able to leave sooner, except for him aiming at the front side as he exits the tunnel and needing to be kicked out to the backside. I was stuck there until I could see him take the backside cue. Then I disconnected at 31 for a stride or two and then reconnected. I’m looking at it in slo-mo and I don’t see that as too sharp a turn…(?) I complete the BC in time for him to be on the correct side. ?
This setup came down because of the UKI 40×60 jumpers runs but I may set it back up. I have always figured that shouting at a dog in a tunnel was futile (noise echoes around in there) and after one or two tries, it would be patterned. But I’m up for giving it a try…
I can leave earlier in training because I’m braver in training. Of course, I haven’t trialed since March, so who knows how brave I’ll be when I get to show again. And Enzo hasn’t ever been shown except the UKI home trials. Tomorrow is his second birthday. 😊
Thanks!
BarbTracy,
Ok – I’m all over it for next Friday.
I have been totally thrilled with Enzo’s coursework! There are no places where I think “Oh, this will be hard for us.”. He does not turn as tightly as I would like but I think a lot of that is that I am learning how to “cue and leave” in a way that communicates best to him.
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
We found some time today (the UKI courses went really well) and worked on the Master’s sequences again. First, I did the first sequence trying to get out of the way faster at #6 (I included the earlier run on this video):
https://youtu.be/MxD6UMTKEX8I cut the runs off so we could see the times:
Original run: 12.0
Same ending but leave earlier on #6: 11.7
Threadle ending (and spin #5): 12.1I liked the last run: spin on #5 and I did the best job of being out of the way on #6. But it was the slowest, I assume because of the threadle.
Moving on to sequence 2. Of course, the beginning was the same. I handled the ending two ways; once as a serp and once with a FC. The FC required a threadle entrance to the tunnel which felt very, VERY slow but the whole thing was only a bit slower.
Then there was sequence 3. I ran it twice, the second time using the correct verbals in all places. I was very pleased with how this one went.
Hope you had a great weekend!
Thanks,
BarbPS: Oops!
Our notes crossed “in the mail”. Obviously, I put the note above up without reading yours (how did that happen?).
Love your explanations.
Yes, I’ve met Kayl – didn’t get a working spot but audited one of her puppy seminars. Very talented trainer! I’ve also spent a bit of time just chatting with her. And yes, I did understand what you said about the German. I find that I can leave much earlier in training than when I’m running a course. 😊 Will have to work on that.
HI Tracy,
Thanks for the quick feedback. We are on the same page except for #6. 😉
I’m looking at the German (backside blind) at :10 and :25. It seems to me that he is going to have to learn to recognize that formation and trust that I am out of his way on time.
Just like a regular serpentine, I want to see him see the bar before I scoot out of position. I had plenty of time (and available speed) to leave sooner but I was making sure he took the bar. Otherwise, like a normal serp, he can easily slide past without taking the jump at all (since my motion will be out and away from the jump).
Also, as I’m sitting at the computer, I’m wondering about collection cues. By waiting at the landing, I show the deceleration I need to get to #7 (as opposed to the tunnel or backside of #7). ??
I’ll have this setup in the barn at least through tomorrow – I’ll try to make time to run out and try it again while leaving sooner at #6. I’m just not sure that is part of my handling system. 😊
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
Not sure when I’ll next get another chance to work on these, so I’ll just send along the first Masters sequence.
We did 2 reps and I invented the handling before seeing yours. Similar but a slightly different ending. I will be interested to hear what you think about my plan. The reason I chose it over the threadle was because I think almost any handling is faster than threadle handling.
😊 On rep 1, the backside bar came down when he hit the wing with his shoulder. I thought the takeoff location was pretty similar on the second rep but the bar stayed up.
Just fyi, his hind legs are vet-wrapped because I am working on my running DW and I have a terrible time seeing the almost all black hind legs without it. No injury or anything. 😉
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
It’s zigzag Friday! I tried to follow directions (for the most part). In all cases, I threw the toy out ahead on his line. That way, he doesn’t get ahead and then look back at me on the last jump or two. I marked the places where we took a break for 60+ seconds. Oddly enough, even when not taking a real break, I tend to spend up to 30 seconds between reps with praise, play and chatter.
First off, we started with 5 jumps, 12 inches.
Then I moved to 3 jumps: 10”, 14”, 14”. The first rep of these is ridiculous. I wanted to send to the backside but I got confused and he didn’t send and wound up jumping against the zigzag. The next two looked good.
On the second set of 10, 14, 14 I can see him getting tired on the video. In person, I noticed that he was striding “funny” between the second and third jump.
Then I did 3 at 16” just because.
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
These were fun..
You comment: “… send to the backside slice from no closer to the entry wing than the center of the bar.” And we can do that. In this case, there is really no need, since I run out of room so quickly. But in a different setup, I’m pretty sure that I could.
I think it’s funny that you love the threadle/blind. One of my goals on course is to handle so as to never need that kind of “straight line threadle”. In 15 weeks of UKI courses, I think I’ve needed it twice (certainly less than 5 times). I’ve only once seen an AKC Premier course with such a requirement and NOBODY knew how to handle it. Two of us qualified and I got through by yelling at poor Lollie, bringing her almost to a halt and wrapping her around my body. The other handler was also winging it but with slightly more finesse. So, if I ever need a straight-line threadle to a blind, it will be a real surprise. BUT, it was fun to train!!
The last few sequences went really, really well! I was shocked at how the disconnect/reconnect created such nice lines and wraps. I’m looking forward to incorporating that into some sequences and courses to see if it holds up.
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
It turns out we were able to make time for this today! I did the novice skill sets. For most of them, I did 2 reps; often the second one was from the other side.
There were a few times when bars came down. I guess if I’m going to handle this way, he will have to get used to it. This is when we would say, “The bar came down because you lost connection.”. <grin>
Thanks,
BarbHi Tracy,
Kind of you to mention conformation/gait critiques. I can do Belgians.
Here is today’s work.
I thought the first part (12”) was fine. The 14” for 3 jumps seemed good to me, also. In the moment, I thought the 4 jumps at 14” was starting to degrade but I can’t see that looking at the video. (?)
What do you think?
Thanks,
Barb
