Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Fusion ring rental 4/18/25
Worked the same sequence as rep 1 from the class in my ring rental the next day. I clearly need to toss bigger (or heavier) treat pieces to reward her sending ahead of me to the jump wrap. One cheese piece had a really wonky bounce!
She was kinda barky at first – not sure if it was because we had had the class the day before when she usually has a day off between sequencing stuff. But the inside hand back did get a threadle slice! I’ll need to keep working on those since she prefers to push to the back than threadle to the inside.
Sprints at Fusion
Her head was up a bit as she was tracking the toy in my hand – she flattens out more when she’s just chasing Kaladin.
Sprints in the back yard
Fusion Class – 4/17/25
I kept the treats in my pocket and the lotus tug in hand since Christina set some really spread out distances and I wasn’t sure how Lift would react.Rep 1 –
We havent’ done much with a RC on a curved tunnel entrance or driving to a tunnel with me on the outside. However once she went in, my cue for a left turn was too soft and too late so she flew out of the tunnel and over the off course jump. I got a backside 2nd jump from the end instead of a wrap to the left but I think I had my shoulders opened up to past that wing. (of course these things always happen at the other end of the ring where it’s hard to see in the video
Rep 2
It’s been a while since I’ve done much with threadle slices so clearly that needs to go back on the list. However she nailed the double blind later. I cropped out some chatter with Christina where Lift was working on getting the treat out of her lotus tug.
I got both Lift & Kaladin running in the backyard, but haven’t set any jumps up to compare (or had the time to find something from last Fall)
Fusion class 4/7
We got to drop into a class last night which was her first class in the last 3 weeks. We did a 2×2 session in the yard on Sunday and earlier last week but she hasn’t done much since I got home from the Invitational. For class, I used the lotus tug with food in it and also had treats in my pocket.First turn
Took our time getting to the start as I was waiting for the BC that ran before us to leave. I didn’t have a good plan for which hand to put the toy in and as I was thinking about it, she decided that was enough dilly dallying and broke her start. Hard to tell from the angle but she shot out of the straight tunnel and turned right (away from me) towards a jump pretty far away. 2nd try I said her name and she went straight to the backside wrap. Got to practice the long jump a few times and sends to the back of the tunnel.
Second turn
Wanted to try layering but I don’t think I had enough of a run into it on the first attempt. 2nd try worked better. Tested the jump after the pink straight tunnel and got a backside slice first and then the left wrap. She cut in a bit after the curved tunnel to the long jump the first time so I tried to connect more out of the tunnel and give an earlier “go jump” but she ended up cutting behind me. Too much connection? In general the whole class felt like we were a bit rusty on the handling. At least she was pretty happy to sit on cue at the start and to run to her leash at the end.
I hope to get some running in the yard video later this week if the weather holds. And I need to see if I can find the video I did of her sprint drills inside at Fusion when she was about a month post-spay
Oh man! You may be more crazy than me! I skipped class tonight so I could finish packing.
But since you mentioned that she could do some work, I did a 2×2 session in the back yard instead (way faster than going to class even if I am spoiled by how close Fusion is). We are up to 2 sets of 2 poles together and I just went to them both at 1&7. Haven’t had a chance to do much with channels but will probably add that when I get back. Assuming we don’t get another set of snow on Sunday (right now they are in the “could be 0-50″ and anywhere in MN” phase of forecasting)RCs – I told myself to run in close to the tunnel and did try but I think I needed to go in closer so that she could easily drive ahead of me. But yay for her not turning off the jump, us getting tangled up in confusion in front of the jump, or her spinning the wrong way!
Jump after the far tunnel. I can’t hear me either but I think I had a “go” when she went in and a jump when she came out. I noticed that she got a bit close to the jump after that jump and had to do some fancy work to not crash through it but she got her front end out of the way in time.
Next SS opportunity is Fusion UKI May 3-4. Nov SS is end of the day on Sat and 2nd class on Sun. She is entered in both plus Jpg & Snkr on Sunday. She has Stefanie’s seminar Fri AM so wanted her to only have 1 class the next day.
Yeah – long jump. She’s done it twice in class and once with me during a ring rental. And she did sail over it on the first day (after running around the jump before it!) I have one at home (an old style one but it safe enough and will give her the right idea) so I’ll plan on getting that out once the ground softens up more and I actually am OK with her jumping outside.
Jpg NFC run –
I had this brilliant plan for my mini courses and then the judge took out jump 16 and moved 15 (the one I sent her around by accident). 16 was on the way back to the jump I actually ended with. Anyways, it threw me off and I had to scramble to get a slightly different course. But it all worked out and I remember thinking that it was great she didnt’ throw a tantrum when I was in her way on the backside slice and then whoops! Around the next jump she goes. LOLI’ll plan on continuting to use the lotus tug with food in training and keep periodically asking her if she wants to actually tug with a different toy instead. THe lotus tug is a bit big for her to easily get her whole mouth over it (even the slightly smaller pink one i just got) so she tends to like to chase it but not actually do a sustained tug with it. I am picking up a custom made Tugawaycuwin racoon head tug at the Invitational. Jenna made me one without the squeaker and with a bungee handle so I can use it for NFC runs incase that is a big hit with Lift. (and I”m bringing back a coyote head for Kristin & Reacher)
Looking back at all 4 runs it is interesting to see her behavior at the start. No shake for #1 but I asked her to bark and spin and ran off the start. She had the extended shake after the release in #2 after I had hovered over her and maybe inhibited her inclination to shake after the leash came off. No need to shake for run #3 (SS on Sun) where she did her spin (even with a 2nd cue because she went the wrong direction on the first one), was fine with me coming in close to get the leash off over her head and then did her bark and sat promptly. Then Run #4 where I walked her in further, she didn’t want me to take the leash off at first so spin again then leash off and all that required the vigorous shake before the sit.
See you tomororw afternoon (probably). I have a 4:20 massage with Maxie!
OTR UKI – 3/23/25
Tall to small today so there was a bit more going on as we headed to the ring but she was still near the end so not too crazy. We had the luxury of being the first 8in dog in both classes so could amble in as the bar setters were finishing.
Nov SS
Ran earlier in the day than yesterday but not super early as there was double SS and I entered the 2nd Beg/Nov so the 4th class. Had time to walk her and Kaladin on trails near home before we had to drive up to OTR.We had the food reward box prepped and open just in case but didn’t need it. 5.5yps. They set 9 further up the line so that the RC made more sense than trying to sprint ahead of her for the BC. She had nice turns on the 2 RCs, but she is shortening her stride as I push on her line and cross behind her. She put her head up and checked her stride a bit coming out of the tunnel at the far end. Not sure if it was the light coming in or the bar setter that she noticed. No issues running past the exit gate to the last jump!
Nov Jumping
I liked her level energy level coming into the ring on this one. I’ve been asking for a spin and then removing the leash as the reward but she backed off a bit when I reached in the first time so I asked for another spin and she let me approach to remove of the leash so of course the leash got a bit caught in her fur coming off! Then she needed quite the shake to get over that. After the food box, I forgot I was going to ask for a sit before the tunnel so I almost didn’t get the BC in further up the line. I did cue a jump for the long jump but she hasn’t done very many of those and went inside it. Then my brain was still processing that so I was really late on the BC/slice and we got a little tangled up. Did better with the jump wrap today. (I was wondering if I just did too abrupt of a decel on the 2 wraps that she questioned yesterday). Anyways she ran with me to the leash bucket and shoved her head right through the loop.
With the 2nd run yesterday where she shook after the release, I remember thinking that I was hovering a bit too much at the start and not letting her have the space to shake or do anything before I asked for the sit.
I think the lotus tug as a marker for the remote reward may be losing its effectiveness. I took it out to play with her in the practice area today and even though it had a treat in it, she didn’t try to get it out until I cracked it open a tiny bit. She did play with a different toy with me outside the building when we were warming up (and was tugging pretty hard) but said no to the same toy inside the building. I have gotten her to chase and tug on a toy (non-lotus ball) a few times in the last month while training at Fusion and even for 2-3 reps of something really easy like a tunnel or a jump wrap, but she has to be in just the right mood to think that is rewarding.
I was going to have her sub in for Kaladin on Tuesday night but I think she might do better just taking the week off. Plus, I haven’t started packing yet and we leave for the Invitational on Wed AM. I saw you said you were driving home from Canada. Does that mean you’re not going to be at the Invitational?
On the Run UKI – 3/22/25
Nov Jpg
We did a nice walk on trails this morning and showed up mid morning but with plenty of time to settle in. It was small to tall today so she was 2nd in each class which is easier for her.Nov SS – In & out
She sat quickly so I figured she was ready but apparently she forgot to shake until after I released her. After walking I decided 7 to 15 was too short of a distance (14ft) and not a great angle so I added in 8 and a wrap instead.
It got cut off at the end but she ran with me to her leash and then out of the ring for her meatball.
She is entered in 2 classes tomorrow and it is tall to small so I’m expecting her to be more aroused going into the ring. SS is first and Jpg is second.
She has 2 runs each day so maybe I’ll try the in and out run as the 2nd run on the first day (assuming first run goes well). I think it may he harder for her to do that as the first run on the 2nd day.
And yes, I was thinking about what opportunities I had left before the Classic and it’s this weekend at OTR or the early May Fusion trial. (Plus her 2 seminars at Fusion)
I’m finally getting better about pausing in the leadout before releasing her and now you want me to wait a few seconds for her to process the sit cue? Geesh! (Lol)
Fusion Class – 3/18/25
Someone couldn’t make it to Kaladin’s class on Tuesday night so Lift got to drop in. Kept it easier in terms of ring crew and also had treats in my pocket, but tested whether she could keep going past her leash and a typical end of a course and she was brilliant. I did keep her in the car when I ran Kaladin and then swapped them. Lift ran last, but I had enough time between so that she got to hang out for a bit inside before it was time to get her out to warm up.Rep 1
Did more tricks on the way in which I think helped. A bit sassy, but she did sit without me needing to pull out any treats from my pocket. The first toy thrown was her new pink bungee lotus rabbit fur tug and the velcro was tight so she had to work hard to get her toy (I finally cracked it open a bit for her). I tossed cheese for her when we were working through the backside slice. I don’t think she even flicked her eyes at the leash on the ground when we ran by it at the end.
Rep 2
Did some pattern games on my shoes while I waited for the pair of Malinois to leave (married couple and they were working on some plank stuff together). I think this may have been the first time that she barked while I was leading out. Slight bobble near the end because I forgot where I was going. Her 2nd line up was nice and snappy.
In regards to the pre-run routine at Jacque’s seminar, we ended up going first so it was rushed. It probably would have been fine at Fusion but not at OTR which is less familiar to her.
She got a massage today. We might do a 2×2 session tomorrow because it’s supposed to hit the 50s. (she’s up to 2 sets together both at 1&7). Or maybe not. Then she has UKI at OTR this weekend (entered in 2 classes each day but not sure I’ll run all of them). There is a food box. Since the line up the first time into the ring has been more challenging, I am thinking that for her first run, I ask for tricks on leash as we are heading to the line, take the leash off, ask for another trick (bark or spin) and then run off the start. Then toss empty toy and cue happy hour for the food box. Run back out for a 2nd rep, ask for a sit & leadout, mini sequence, toss toy, leash and out. If the first run goes well, I may ask for a lead out right away for the 2nd run. (It will be the last run of the day and it’s small to tall so she will be first or near the beginning of it) Assuming she stays engaged, then short sequence, toss toy and out for a party. If sitting is just too hard, then I think I’ll ask for a spin, run off the start, toss toy and out.
Do you think she might be ready for an empty hands in and out run? After this weekend she has a half day seminar with Teri O’Neill in 5 weeks on April 27. Then a half day seminar with Stefanie T the next Friday and some runs at the Fusion UKI trial. 2 weekends off (maybe a fun run at Animal Inn outdoors on May 18) and then it’s Midwest Classic time May 23-25.
Mini Seminar at OTR – 3/15/25
Did a mini seminar with Jacque Hoye at OTR on Saturday morning. Goal was to try some empty hands work at OTR before the UKI trial there next weekend. Started out a bit rough but she improved each time as she settled in.
Rep 1
Had some issues with focus on the startline at first and this was exacerbated by the fact that OTR doesn’t allow you to throw food on their new turf (it has to be in a dish or a lotus ball). I started out with empty hands and should have switched to rewarding her from my hand when the first line up went south after her being rather sniffy coming in. At Fusion I would have started tossing treats for pattern games but my brain didn’t have a good plan on how to do that without throwing food. (the run towards the entrance was her checking out the loud & unexpected bark from the Berner crated about 15ft from the ring gate) . Finally got her going by running off the start and was super late cueing the left turn so she went way wide (around the teeter). 2nd try we got the left turn when I was less late (poor girl had to put her head up to avoid running up the back of my legs)
The 2nd section in the back of the ring went better. She moved back there with me off leash and did sit (after a bit of telling me what she thought of having to sit after running back there). Ran around the jump out of the first tunnel when I was late on the BC.
Rep 2
This one was a Jumpers course where we substituted a different ending to skip the weaves. Went ahead and gave her a treat for a nice line up and the whole session was much better. Didn’t support jump #2 well but Jacque and I also thought she was a bit backed off by where Jacque was standing (against the wall facing her on her approach to #2). I had to work hard to push her out to #2 on the 2nd try and less so on #3 when Jacque moved further down the wall (more across from the start jump). Lift didnt’ have an issue with her walking up the course as we exited the tunnel the last time so that was cool.
Rep 3
This one started in the back so I kept her on leash heading back there. Then I had a brain fart after she sat and she got bored and released herself. Whoops. I got it together after that. She did so well sending ahead to wrap the jump after the straight tunnel (on my dig dig cue and with some decel). I somehow got a threadle wrap on the 2nd try instead of the right turn to the tunnel. Looked fancy but was completely unintended.
I might be able to bring her along to Kaladin’s Tuesday night class this week if there is space, but I am thinking about just giving her the week off from class and doing one 2×2 weave session instead. The OTR seminar took a lot of brain power and she also got to go to a different class (run by Christina W!) last Thursday night. Had some really nice stuff there (including some great lateral leadouts) but we also had the opportunity to work through the “pushy leash runner” when it was a bit too much the first time and she turned to follow her instead of lining up. So I’m feeling like that was also a brain drain. She’s entered in 2 classes each day for the OTR UKI Trial next weekend (Meagan J is the judge.)
Fusion Class – 3/10/25
Lift got to drop in on a new class on Monday night. For the first session I had treats in my pockets but didn’t take them out and did and In & Out.2nd session I had the instructor surprise her with tossing the toy and then discovered later that I don’t often leave the toy on the ground. LOL. (Also discovered while watching the video that Caitlin and I color-coordinated our outfits!) The beginning clip is a sample of the very enthusiastic BC that ran before us (I actually missed videoing the part where the dog was squealing & screaming a lot more as she did the teeter in front of us.) I was doing pattern games with my little mop mat thingees on the other side of the ring barrier. I was impressed that Lift kept it together through that and then went in and did a fairly complicated mini sequence.
My plan is to do an empty hands/pockets on Thursday night for an easier rep and then go back to having treats in the pockets or carrying the toy.
Fusion Ring Time – 3/7/25
Empty Hands session thanks to Khamsin’s throwing skills. Also got to practice layering jump to tunnel vs coming into the jump. (and gave her a better run into it by starting with the straight tunnel). Cropped out of the video since it was hard to see way back there, but I walked her on leash to the starting point. Thought this one was interesting to see how she started reacting more as I was coordinating with Khamsin on where to throw next, but she was able to recover from it even though I didnt’ station her somewhere to have the chat. Next time I’ll have to set up the whole thing ahead of time with Khamsin (or whomever is helping)
She is dropping into a Fusion class tonight and on Thursday night. Then she has a mini seminar with Jacque H at OTR on Sat AM. I am thinking about taking part of tonight’s class to do an in and out rep.
Happy to report that the next 3 evening chats are on free nights for me!
Fusion Class – 3/4/25
Lift got to join Kaladin in his class tonight. She was pretty amped up at all the new dogs (all big dogs and 2 with a whole lot of energy – like Lisa Hennen’s Keylor) and class in the evening (after mostly having them during the day). I had food in my pockets but wanted to see how she did without pattern games inside the ring as she came in. Answer- lots of barking & spinning but then she did sit and had a lovely lead out. Decided not to try the first layer again since there was a lot of discussion at the start. She nailed the other layer at the end though.
Do we have more training night chats?
Yup – in the office for the first day. Flexible hybrid of 3 days/week in the office but they aren’t fixed days in the week and it sounds like it may not always be the full day. It’s less than 15min away and right off the highway so should he an easy commute.
March OTR judge is Meagan Johnson. I’ve got her entered in the Classic at 8in and am thinking I could move her to 8 for the OTR UKI trial too. It’s got a food box.
I organized the Stefanie T seminar so there’s a novice session and a masters one. I’ll get her into the novice (jumps/tunnels) session. Teri is coming for 2 or 3 days so there should be something appropriate there.
And I’m really glad I left her at home yesterday while Kaladin and I did day 2 of USDAA. Dean said she slept most of the day. I got done early (sadly only 150 runs on Sunday) so we took Lift and Demi for a walk before dinner. She also spent most of the evening sacked out on the couch Kaladin and I. (Midwest Classic opened last Wed so I’m busy getting folks entered)
Lift’s calendar has some enforced down time thanks to me going to the Invitational and the Midwest I.C.E. event without her.
March 7 – ring time at Fusion
March 15 – mini seminar at OTR with Jacque H
March 22-23 – OTR UKI trial (2 classes each day so first time trying 2 days.)
April 18 – Fusion ring time
April 26-27 – potentially a Teri O’Neill seminar at Fusion but don’t know if there would be an appropriate session for Lift yet
May 2-4 – either half day seminar with Stefanie T on Fri and 2 runs at Fusion UKI on Sunday or skip seminar and do 2 days at the trial
May 23-25 – Midwest Classic at OTR. Plan right now is run for realzies in SS Challenge on Friday and NFC Pentathlon a la carte Jprs and Snkr on Sat. Probably another SS run on Sunday (she can enter Pentathlon consolation SS a la carte)When we move to the empty hands, I’m assuming we layer that in with some reps where I have food on me for pattern games etc?
USDAA trial – 3/1/25
Lift was brilliant today at On the Run. First time in that ring, on artificial turf (beyond the tiny space that is the warm up jump), jumping 8in at a trial, and with no food box. She was pretty amped up when we got there, but the pattern games (and hanging on her cot) helped settle her enough that she was able to wait in line to be measured (ok so she did play a bit with her Papillon buddy next to her) and stood well for the measuring (12.5in).
P1 Jumpers
A bit cautious running in the first run, but hey – first time on turf and in a new place.
P1 Snooker
Seemed more comfortable in her 2nd run. Jan was nice enough to call out numbers for the closing. (I just took a short cut to get to the closing).
She’s staying at home tomorrow to recover while Kaladin and I head back for more. And then both of them probably go into shock on Monday since I start my new job with a day in the office. It’s been great to have the months off, but much longer and it will be really hard to get back to work. LoL.
For the weaves- she was doing really well with more motion from me when the poles were angled, but I backed off my motion when they went straight since she did start to miss the 8 o clock offside entry if I was moving more. But yeah – she does seem to be picking them up fast and I like her speed and then collection to make the entry.
I think I’m going to try 2 days at the OTR UKI trial in 3 weeks. I entered her in 2 runs each day with the intention of scratching 1 day before the closing date, but she’s not going to be doing much right before or after that weekend since I head off to the Invitational without her the next Wednesday.
