[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Yes, this makes sense! Except the reference to “fluffy” BC; that sounds like an in-joke that I don’t get. The picture does not include any dogs, just 3 sequences. It needed to be loaded into a separate tab but I did get it!

AND, I now understand what you meant about the FBC, BC and timing. I was trying to create two sequences which were sort of the same. You were looking at how the handling could be misunderstood in a way that I hadn’t considered. And now I have. 🙂

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Obsessing a bit on the timing and BC discussion. 😉

I set up a bit of BC/Japanese and FC/Forced Front in my barn. Well, I set up the 3 jumps; I wish the tunnel/A-frame had been 15 feet further away. So, it isn’t the best setup, since I would just use a simple backside in real life, but it serves for discussion purposes.

After working this exercise, it seemed to me as if the difference was not in timing but path. The BC and FC are both front-side jumps and the Japanese and FF are backsides. Yes?

My examples: video

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Thanks for the great review – and quick! It was a thorough and careful review and it all made sense, except “you were actually too early on the BC at 1:31”. I don’t understand that:
the handling that was used created the correct line and the dog easily read which side of the handler to drive to. How can that be too early?

I think that when you say “forced blind” it is what I mean when I say “Japanese”. And that doesn’t apply to this kind of setup, given my direction of travel. Or, if it does, I can’t picture it.

Otherwise, all good.

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Of course I meant to do each of 3 exercises (straight, FC, BC) both clockwise and counterclockwise. You can’t prove it from the video. 😊

Video here

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Yes, it does make sense – interesting observation about the direction my feet are pointing. I’ll have to check that out. 😊

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

I started this week with the tunnel games. One of the things we are working on is placed toys. So, after a couple of reps throwing the toy, I placed it. Then I put out 2 toys at all times: one for the straight path and one for the turn. He was never so far off that he got the wrong toy. 😊 I only included a few reps to give you the idea of how this training went. In particular, it might look like I went straight, turn, straight, turn. I didn’t do that but I pulled out most of the redundant reps to shorten the video.

Enzo has quite a lot of experience around tunnels and I wondered about the left/right verbals. I started with “go on” and “left”. The camera was not perfectly placed and I wasn’t sure if he was getting the verbal or coming out and going with my presentation (motion and which direction I was facing).

Then we had a nice nap and replaced some tunnel bags and worked on “go on” and “right”. After a few reps, I stopped the camera and looked at it. Even with 3 “rights” in a row, Enzo remained honest about not knowing where he was going until he exited. <sigh>

I then did a few tunnel brakes (rhythm change, chk-chk noise and name). He understood those beautifully and came out of the tunnel hard on the right turn. Or, when I didn’t do it he came out straight and fast.

I think, in this case, I will go with the “irritation/motivation” theory: until I am irritated enough by having to use a tunnel brake instead of a verbal, I will hold off on more teaching of left and right in this space.

Here is the video: Enzo Tunnels

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

I set up the grid indoors, since I’m not trusting the weather right now. Since he has seen grids before (although not recently), I did 3 of them: stationary, walk, jog. I thought they went well but I’m not a very good judge of jumping.

So, here is the video: grid

Barb

• This reply was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Barb VanEseltine.

[Barb VanEseltine]

Well, one thing I think is that Enzo is going to have to run fast NOT based on my scrambling off the start. That is not a feasible long-term solution for me. 😊 When I do the running DW, I come off a standard course already completely gassed; I can’t plan to start pushing hard.

I am really happy that the FC reps went well. I generally prefer FC’s but with Lollie I had to do mostly blinds (facing her slowed her down). Glad Enzo doesn’t feel that way.

I might be able to improve the BC by “snapping” my head around instead of floating around. Something I will play with if the sun every reappears.

Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Here is the start of the week 2 games: Sequence 1 and 1A. We are starting to have brilliant, sunny weather and little, mostly-black Enzo says: “It’s hot!” So we just did this first part and came in.

For sequence 1, I did 2 FC and 2 BC. It seemed to me that the 2 FC and the first BC were reasonably well executed and had about the same dog path. The second BC lead to a wider turn, so I would say “late” but it seems to me the timing is about the same as the first one. <shrug>

I don’t think that I executed sequence 1A, much differently than you did but I don’t feel like that is a place where I would use a BC. It seemed to me that I sent to #3 but then wasted the advantage of the send by waiting around to do the blind. Perhaps if the course continued further to the south-east, it would make more sense to me. 😊

At any rate, here is the video: week 2 part 1

Thanks,
Barb

(ps: yes, I need new tunnel bags. I have some “good ones” in the barn but I guess I’ll have to pull them out and buy new barn bags.)

[Barb VanEseltine]

(I’m just sneaking in here to say that I think your dog looks FABULOUS! you are going to have a lot of fun with him!)

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Here is what Enzo had to say about today’s training:

“Did I see the BALL? OMG, she has the BALL – the round, orange one that is perfection in one thing. What do I do?? Where is it? I’m going; fast, fast: get the ball, get it, get it!”

I think you will agree that he was quite a bit faster. 😊

For the grid, I dropped the double down to 12”. I left the pinwheel at 20”.

Enzo’s Video

(This is the first dog I have owned who had a toy which was so high in the reward hierarchy. The ball is way above everything else.)

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

So far, I did the progressive grid and the Pinwheel. Perhaps not exactly following directions (sigh).

First on the progressive grid, I put out my 3 stride jumps (8 “) at about 7 feet apart and the double, set at 20” at about 15 feet out. That was position 1 on the video. Then I moved the double away about a foot (position 2), then another foot (position 3) and then another foot (position 4). From #3 to #4, Enzo added a stride. Then I backed him up one position but he didn’t take away the stride.

Here is the Progressive grid video: Grid

Then, I worked a bit on the pinwheel. I moved the middle jump out quite a bit. I also tested to make sure we could do the 180 and then the pinwheel. I think it went rather well.

Here is that video: Pinwheel

These videos make it look like we had brilliant weather. And it was “nice”. At least there was sunshine although there was also quite a wind and it could get quite chilly in the shade. All good for the dogs, however.

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

We will have a GREAT time!
I think the thing I should focus on is WHEE-HA, wind in the ears, running fast. He is very willing to get serious, focus and, I’m afraid, slow down. So we will be doing things that we can do with speed and excitement.

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Tracy,

Here is some set-point work. I must have done thousands of these with Patt to minimal advantage. So I am familiar with the process but not sure about what objective(s) I would have for Enzo.

At any rate, these looked good to me… (?).
Enzo

Thanks,
Barb

[Barb VanEseltine]

Hi Everyone!

Here is today’s video. I did the Rocking Horse and pushed a bit on the challenge by adding:
– multiple wraps (a new skill for Enzo)
– jumps
Rocking Horse 1
Is this where I’m supposed to put my homework?
Also: what does “tags” mean and how am I supposed to use it?
Also: How do I add a picture to my profile?
Barb

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