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Mountain Climber- 7/29/24
Switched to the Clip & Go teeter yesterday and discovered it doesn’t work so well with the tip it. Had to jury-ring a target plate (end of video shows it)
First full height teeter (old one was close in the last session). She needed a rep or two to adjust to the new board (old one is painted grit and this is the rubberized skin). Sends ahead nicely when I stay on the same side but had some confusion on sending ahead so I could RC (probably should have backed up the wing to give her more running room).LOL! I’m not usually taller so that is funny (maybe that’s why I have small dogs!) I’ll try the teeter end again with me sitting. And she gave a definite no to tugging anywhere in the training room with the wobble board at all.
Winging It – 1 wing – 7/29/24
Did this one on Monday morning when it was cooler. Did too much counter motion on the first wrap so was more conservative after that. Also had the spin in my notes but forgot it and just did a blind on the 2nd rep and realized I should have had her on my right. Things smoothed out after that. What should the verbal be for the spin to the other entrance? I feel like it’s not a check chek for wrap right since that is coming right back on your approach line and “right” is the softer cue to turn to the other wing.I’ll circle back to the 4 wings and experiment with maybe the PB toppl as the reward since my food holder toy is one where I have to open it for her.
Looking ahead to the 2wings: Did I miss some backside wrap prep work?Countermotion Commitment – 7/28/24
I took another crack at this earlier this morning and didn’t try to rev her up in front of me since that’s clearly not her thing right now and she prefers to chase away and then come back in to start. I think I maybe could have been moving away a bit sooner in some spots but I wanted to make sure she had a good chance of being successful. I think I did a better job of not blocking the wing even though I did this session before reading that feedback.Side note -do you think she did better when I just ran and didn’t point arms in the straight line 4 ways because my shoulder is more likely to stay a bit more open so she feels more connection?
Teeter Love Slam – 7/28/24
Did another session on the wobble board inside and she was still a bit hesitant about getting on it when it was higher and then fairly comfortable as she moved around. She had no issues backing up on to it when it was tipped down but found it hard to pick up her feet when it was tipped up several inches. She absolutely didn’t want to tug near or on the wobble board so I decided to switch to the end of the teeter since I wasn’t going to get more arousal by tugging on the wobble board.
Swapped to the Clip & Go Teeter and at full height (haven’t done mountain climber on it yet). Started with it not moving and then adjusted so that it could move about an inch. She seemed more confident about backing up to this than the wobble board. I am guessing that at 10.5-11lbs, she should be a 4-on teeter dog. I really feel like the 2-o-2-o is more clear to the dog, but I think she’s just going to be too light to control the board rebound. I experimented with me standing vs crouching but both ways she is looking up at me and then sitting or laying down on the board.
Countermotion Commitment – 7/26/24
Well shoot – looks like this didnt’ post last night so here’s a double.I was pretty impressed with her for this one considering what big feelings she can have for wrapping wings and me trying to jazz her up in front of me before being sent behind me. I let her do the tunnel at the end to relieve the pressure of the wraps and go her leash on her, walked her over to the tripod and then decided I should take the leash off again and let her play a bit more. Going to give the wing wrapping a break after this and probably try the straight line/4 ways tomorrow (before we slide into a heat wave)
Unfortunately I can’t find my treat hugger toy where she could get the treat out herself. I do have a fur pouch toy but it needs me to get it open for her. Dean just mowed the grass earlier today so I might be able to do larger pieces of cheese without making her full or sick. Or maybe I’ll smear some PB on a small kong – at least it’s heavier so should throw better. She does turn/flip on just a verbal but I will need to video to confirm I’m not unconsciously adding a bit of a hand cue when I am moving.
Straight Line 4 ways – 7/27/24
Slipped these 2 short sessions in before breakfast when it was only muggy and low 70s instead of muggy and 90s. While it had wrapping, she seems to think wraps on jumps are more valid than on wings so I didn’t want to do 2 days in a row on the countermotion commitment. Great tip on the toppl – I used some peanut butter and decided I should also use it as the reward on some of the wraps too since it;s hard to hide it in my hand. I also should have tested how far those little toppls will go with an underhand throw. The first one almost bounced off the fence which was behind the tripod. Whoops!
I think I did better cueing the first RC this time (turning to the left) but still had difficulty with the RC to the right and later the FC wrap to the right.
Look Ahead – 7/25/24
Haven’t had a chance to work with Lift and the food tug I found outside of agility so decided to try the Pet Tutor. Was wondering if it was too big a target for her but also wanted to reward her for running ahead figured 1 session of her looking ahead to it and not losing her tossed cheese was probably good. Started at 15ft distance to jump and went to 18 and 21ft. Did the last rep with tossed cheese. Maybe I should try this with a small bowl with a treat set on her line since it is a lot smaller than the visual of the Pet tutor.Had a similar wobble board session on Tuesday. More comfortable getting on the low side but pretty confident once she is on it.
She’ still napping more than usual and she’s not sure about sitting with pants on so not going to try the motion override yet. She will spin right/left on cue as I slowly keep walking.
Also did a mountain Climber on the old teeter at nearly full height and she was zippy.
Felt better about 36hr after the shingles vax. Unfortunately it’s getting a lot hotter here soon.
Hi Tracy,
Lift finally decided to go into season on Friday morning (hours before her first in-person seminar). So we broke out the fashionable blingy purple thong pants and off we went. She was a bit sticky and thinking hard so had difficulty sending ahead of me on a verbal (at a short distance) to a low jump without me stepping forward, but I think that was partly new place/people watching and partly her being in season. She’s been pretty tired and sleeping a lot during the day which I understand is common. (I honestly don’t remember Tari or Min acting much different but it’s been a while.) Rachel did have a good suggestion to be better about cleaning up my loops and doing more with a cookie transport or other things so that she had less/no questions about what to do between the rep and wouldn’t revert to her Kangaroo persona. (With Nancy’s Glue class, I had started practicing the cookie transport from releasing out of her crate after a meal to the kitchen to drop off the dish into the sink. Before I started that she would jump up at me multiple times as I was walking and I would have to put her in a sit/stay and recall or toss a cookie for her to get it in the other direction to keep her on the ground. After doing a few days of the cookie transport she started offering to politely trot next to me on the ground for part of the way and then would do a trick (usually a spin) for a treat and continue on so I do think that helped to settle down her pop rocks over not being sure what was expected of her)I was really happy with her focus and willingness to stick her head through a martingale leash loop (we borrrowed Kaladin’s Nemo slip lead collar) or push her collar into my hand when I wanted to collect her so that I could talk with Rachel. She ended up in a group of 4 dogs in a semi private session that was about 90min long with 1 session indoors and one outdoors in the fenced ring and that was just about perfect for her first seminar. No difference in focus for her indoors or out!
Since she’s been tired, we’ve taken it easy. She perked up this evening and started playing with Kaladin so I did a short wobble board session inside and then experimented with sending her (from about 5-6ft away) to a 4in jump asking for wraps right/left with just extending my hand and no motion. She nailed it so I do think her stickiness at the seminar was partly the new space.
I also got a shingles vaccine this morning and so far feel OK but we might not be doing much tomorrow either if it hits me later.
Wobble Board – 7/18/24
We did some wobble board and bosu ball sessions when she was younger, but I didnt’ do too many and it’s been a while. I brought her in on leash to get her to the quieter bosu ball first but then she ducked behind me straight to the wobble board. Used cheese since she said no thanks to the toy.
Thx for the indepth analysis of the FC/RC mechanics.
Lift sometimes likes balls but is meh other times. Fluffy tug toys seem to be the most popular with her. I need to hunt around for my treat hugger tossy toy. I know I have tie-dye one but can’t find it anywhere. Is there any concern with the dog being disappointed that other thrown toys don’t contain food? Or do they just learn which toy can have food?Pkg 2 Jumping Popouts
Popout #1
I had to shorten a few lines a bit but got the course pretty close. His speed out of the tunnel surprised me and my threadle slice cue was late.
Popout #2
I think I like the RC the best for 4-6. Running into the threadle at the end worked nicely once I got there sooner and got out of his way.
Didn’t get video but I did work some on starting with layering the tunnel and without the tree in the way. He does better when I also take a step forward and into his line a bit as I release him.
Had some brain farts on my part in Winnipeg but Kaladin was brilliant even though it was rather warm. I liked Angela Koop’s courses. Got some nice threadle wraps in at more of a distance and check out this bit from Masters Jumpping where he flipped away from the weaves to the tunnel 20ft away!
Mountain Climber – 7/17/24
Same height as yesterday but added the towel. She decided wraps were OK here. And she drove ahead nicely (yes me pausing to let her drive ahead a bit yesterday was deliberate). Her hind foot slipped off when I was about to turn her around in one rep but extra cheese made it all better and she was fine driving up the board for the next rep.
This is Kaladin’s martingale collar on her right now so it’s large enough to come off over her head barely touching her ears. I’ll see about getting a clasp on the side when I get her one so I have the option of unclasping when I take it off. Interestingly, unclasping it to put it on doesn’t usually fly in her book and she backs away either when you first offer it (unclasped) or when you have to go around the back of her head with the collar and your hand to clasp it.
Straight Line 4 Ways – 7/17/24
She liked this one – more motion for me than the pinwheel even though there were wraps (probably helped that it was in the 70s today instead of the 80s). Did one session before work and one after so I could get both directions. Had the issue of her not being keen on setting up in front of the tunnel so in the 2nd session I just started with the tunnel instead. She turned to the right (away from me) when I wanted a FC twice which surprised me since right has been her less favored direction for a while. I also realized it had been weeks since I had asked her for a backside wrap.
morning
Stepped out too far coming out of the RC so aborted the tunnel since I had put her on a stupid line for it. Did a lovely backside wrap on the 2nd session so we quit while we were ahead.
afternoon
I did do a few set points at 6in last week and she looked good. Should I keep her at 4in for the handling stuff for now just to keep it easy though?
My plan is to go refresh her memory on the wobble board tomorrow and take a break from handling games since the seminar is on Friday. Thanks for the moral support. LOL!
Mountain Climber – 7/16/24
Moved the teeter up to about 18in at the pivot point. I’ll swap out to the Galican one next week. This old one is really adjustable by height which is why I kept it. Did this session before breakfast and before I read your feedback on the towel.Pinwheel BC to Tunnel & FC wraps
Did this before breakfast when it was a bit cooler. The extra motion from me to get the FC & BCs helped. She actually ended up doing this twice since the first few reps (also brilliant) had a video operator error (aka it was on photo somehow????) I did less reps with a leadout in this second session since I didnt’ want her to have to think as much.Yeah – unbelieveable but we moved in May of 20222. Of course it took us 18 months before we were ready to have a house warming party… but hey! It’s hard to move 2 packrats that have been in the same house for 22yrs.
Lift is slowly growing up. I feel like we’re still working through harness/leash etc issues but I have plenty of homework from Nancy’s GLUE class to fit in for that. I did get Robin to put another clasp on the front of her harness so it doesn’t have to come off over her head but she still gets into over aroused moods (usually before going for a walk) where she says she just can’t push her head through the loop (and doesn’t want it undone then either). I had her agility leash made with a clip thinking it would go on her harness like Kaladin’s does and a little agility collar (with unicorns) that has no d-ring so that I have something to hook a finger through in UKI if necessary. Now I think I”m going back to the nice lady at Rush to Tug to get a slip lead collar made so that I also have the option to hook her leash to that. (just incase the harness issues continue past adolescence) In some cases she’s showing signs of coming out of adolescence but in others (like being able to walk around with me in a new environment wwith giving me attention here and there) I feel like we’ve regressed. She’s got her first seminar on Friday afternoon with Rachel Pearson. It’s indoors and a small group and like a 1/4 day session so hopefully it will go well.
Mountain Climber & Wraps/BCs – 7/15/24
Located a box of PVC Tip it pieces in the garage (there since our move 2yrs ago and previously lent out to a friend after Kaladin didn’t need it anymore) and then realized that was only part of the Tip It. Panic ensured until Dean asked if the thing I was looking for was the PVC ladder like thing propped against the wall in the basement training room. (also been there since the move and I completely forgot about it). Set the teeter at about half height at first because she is small but after 2 reps to realize she could eat the piece of turkey meatball off the target, she thought it was easy. I’m using my old teeter because I don’t want to leave the nice new Galican one outside and realized the old one (my first piece of contact equipment bought 20+ yrs ago for Fingal) is slightly warped so it took a bit of adjusting to get it to stop moving on the tip it. However didn’t seem to be an issue after the first time it moved slightly. And I was reminded that you need to collect the puppy and/or block the teeter before going to release the other dog off the cot. Whoops! My plan is to move it up in height probably over 2 more sessions.
Wraps & BC – 7/15/24
She wasnt’ in a fluffy toy mood tonight so we just used cheese. It was still close to 80 after dinner so she wasn’t very zippy but is sending to jumps and tunnels plus the BCs worked well. Had a rep where it was hard for her to line up so I tossed the treat back for her to catch on that one. Next line up was easier for her.
I
Wraps – 7/12/24
This was from last Friday morning. Experimented a bit with a new toy that she decided she really liked. Obstacles are about 15ft apart
2nd video was after a short break. I think some of the Jumping up is in reaction to her not wanting to drop the toy. She does stop tugging and drop it but has feelings about it. First time she dropped it but then jumped up. I had her chase me for it and then the next time I traded her a treat and then she did the wrap with no jumping up and grabbed the toy for the reward.
I was able to do 2 short sessions with the practice jump in Winnipeg when a Beg/Nov class was walking. One or 2 reps with a toy but mostly with food. Also had some good toy olay sessions at a good distance from the ring. Given how spacey she has been in public the last few months, I was really impressed with her focus. Still working through leash/collar/harness stuff and how best to collect her at the end of a session but Nancy’s Glue class had a lot of great stuff in it. (Unfortunately I got behind pretty early between the Cup and the trip to Scotland)
For the mountain climber, should the teeter be on the base (set lower) and resting on something or can I just use the teeter board propped up against the table? Just trying to see what needs to get dug out of the shed for this. (I did find my teeter tip it thingee though)
Live 2 – Seq 3 – 7/11/24
Sorry for the lopsided view. Apparently my Tripod needed tightening. Experimented with going into the box and not layering (worked better the 2nd time). Timing from first to last jump going in the box was slightly faster (like 0.12sec).We’re heading to Winnipeg this weekend for UKI and so that Lift can have a play date with her brother (Bev Benson’s Wyatt)
Plank 7/10/24
Don’t have blocks but do have 2 cato boards! My next option for height is 16in table bases (with or without the table top assuming I can find my 2nd table top). And then my Galican DW goes down to 24in.
Still harder to turn right but she stayed on the board. Straightens out nicely when loading from an angle.Wk 2 Lazy Game – 7/11/24
She remembered it so I rolled into adding the tunnel. In my mind I was going 1 step beyon the jump and sending but sure looks like I’m just ambling along lazily – however she is finding the jumps.
2nd session after work and this time I actually did the sends. Started with the jumps about 10ft apart and then moved them to 12ft.
Lift – Wk 1 – Plank – 7/9/24
Comfortable trotting back and forth. Had an easier time turning around on the plank to the left than to the right.
1 Step Sends – 7/9/24
Wings are 6ft away in the first session and 7-8ft in the second. Discovered she finds it very hard to line up at the tunnel exit but was able to do it with a treat lure. Worked through the neighbor’s dog’s barking fit. And I remembered my left verbal so yay. (Jet lag will probably catch up to me tomorrow afternoon!)
Wk 1 – Lazy Game – 6/24/24
This went for longer than I intended since it was hard to find the treats in the taller grass (even the bigger pieces I was using – I’m going to need to weigh Lift after this one!) Dean is waiting to mow until tomorrow or Thursday morning right before we leave for 11 days in Scotland.
I also think I didn’t follow directions well as I had my standards 6ft apart as opposed to the distance being center to center, but Lift seemed to catch on even if the jumps were a bit further apart and she had to hunt around for her cheese and turkey/bacon treats.
