[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

The weather missed us – it got dark for quite a while, sprinkled a little, then the sun came out. Glad we didn’t get anything, but they really missed the mark on that forecast.

Worked on the concept transfer – rear cross at lunch. I tired to move on to the advanced level and he was fine on the “go” to find the next wing, but not on the RC -so I stopped that before he flattened me. Maybe my wing was too far away for his experience level? In place of the advanced reps, we did a few baby level on the other side.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Feeling like I’m really behind on the lessons!

We tried the layering game today. Tunnel folded down, then open with the layer, then calling him to the tunnel.

Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be extra bad (thunder, hail, tornado bad), so unless lunch is clear, I won’t get out again tomorrow.

Thanks,

Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

I made a cheat sheet on a post-it to take outside with me and then addressed all of my issues from last session.

On the ladder, I moved the jumps to 8″ locked in. I added more motion with dragging the toy.

When I went to the BC, I did a bunch on that first side – more for me to get the feeling of it – he had some nice turns when I was timely 🙂

Got my session done right before the rain came. Hoping tomorrow is clear.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Yesterday, the toy was stationary. Tonight I did the angled jumps for the ladder and had the toy moving. I hope I “built” that correctly – I am very spatially challenged. For anything more than a ladder, I usually have Terry build it.

Then we started the Diamond games. The tight BC and the racetrack. I only did the one wing on the BC and will add on next time. I’m trying to figure out what a tight turn looks like for him – it won’t look like Dellin’s.

I did not use directionals on the race track part – jumps like that would be a sprinkler and he has not been introduced to that yet. Counterclockwise was more difficult – I’m not sure if he’s looking at the toy on that first rep or what.

Thanks,

Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

I need to work on that throwing. lol.

Got out at lunch today to do the baby steps of the ladder grid. First 2 reps with 3 jumps were a little off, then he corrected himself for the last 2 reps. This is the whole session.

Then did a couple of set ups – I don’t often practice in front of a jump, so took advantage of them. I t was funny – he is usually stronger coming in on the right side, but today his heel looked better. Disregard me almost falling over on the first one – I am working today, not day drinking!

Thanks,

Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

He came home last May, so he was here all of last summer and it was definitely cooler here when he arrived than it was in Mexico (May is their hottest time).

Today, I had great plans to break his training into 2 sessions. Got my am session done before going herding – the left turn RC of Wind in My Hair. Not sure what I was doing that caused him to annihilate the jump. Got all prepared in the late afternoon to start the ladder grid work, go outside and it’s starting to rain. Threw some dics for him instead. ARGH.

Thanks,

Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Yes, he likes rollers and I think if I use a small soft disc or a gummy disc, that might go better for rewarding. That disc from yesterday is super heavy (to combat some of the wind).

He does heat up quickly and he likes cold weather. I was worried about how he’d handle his first winter (coming from Mexico City) and he loved it – would roll around in the snow (literally).

Today we tried the Wind in Your Hair, baby level with rear cross. I have done a little RC work with him – not a ton recently. I have a verbal that I use only for RC on a jump (“swing”). It has been terrific for Dellin – even if I get really far behind, if I cue swing she knows to take the jump and turn away. So I’m going to use the same verbal for Judge.

I ended up doing a whole bunch of reps on the first side and kind of used him up, so only a couple on the second side. We’ll revisit tomorrow.

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Tried out the Zig Zag baby steps today – that went well (maybe I was doing it wrong, lol). The I re-did the Minny Pinny – trying to get the spacing better for him. Not sure if I succeeded on that front.

The frisbee is a bit awkward for the rewarding, but it’s what he really wants and it keeps him engaged. I had been using it for something else and I did not go back to the house to change toys.

I keep forgetting to video his line up – he pivots into side or heel for the set up. He loves to pivot, so we don’t struggle there. I’ll try to remember to video it.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

I’ll watch that arm on the serp and go back and re-try the FC.

Today we did find the jump – 3 reps at 15 feet and then 3 at 20 feet. 10 feet seemed too close for his size. Sorry about the camera work – needed a bit more zoom on some of those reps.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

We did the serps with a toy target and I moved the wing out a bit more. I looked at your comments before going out, but I did not rewatch the lesson video, so I think those front cross reps were not right!

Thanks,

Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Perfect day to be outside today and the weekend looks good too. Looking forward to being outside and getting some training done 🙂

We did baby steps of the serpentine and the Minny Pinny.

He has not seen the serp in quite a while, so I did a couple reps without the wing to remind him. Wing is about 10 feet from jump. OMG – I needed to shut up on that right side! Dellin could have done 12 off course obstacles while I was still yammering. Good news – he seems to do better with my motion than that certain red dog did at this age.

Then some Minny Pinny – he seems better going left – at least in this session. I have not noticed to him to have a real dominant side yet, so I will watch that.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Better weather today, so did another round of smiley face and wrap discrimination with the big tunnel. I worked on the tunnel exits, but the camera was too zoomed in, so I’ll have to re-do those. Hoping to catch up on some of the games as the weather starts to improve.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

A great day today – 60 and sunny and a weekend!

We did the first step of smiley face – the first 2 reps he was grabbing for the toy, then he sorted that out. The Big Lug can wrap himself pretty tight around those wings 🙂

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Holy Cow! That worked so well!! The video is a little long- I left in the treat parts – bringing him back to the wing. This is such good info. he had one mistake and I just added more cookies to bring him down a bit more.

Things are drying out – I should be able to get back to some of the other games in the yard.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

We had snow, then a bunch of rain. I can see the ground, but it’s too wet to go out or he’ll destroy the yard. Hoping for a quick dry out.

“Jump” is my take it in extension cue. When I do Wind in My Hair again, I will use GO and stay back so he drives ahead.

That last wing/tunnel session, I cut out a lot of mistakes where he was taking the tunnel. I did a session on the other side today (left wrap) and it went quite a bit better. I have left all of the reps on the video. Total work time was about 5 minutes, most of it tugging which is cut out. Once I gave him that tunnel, it took a lot to get him back!

I also got back to working on the tunnel threadle since I can do that inside with my small tunnel (no video). Trying to make the best of it… while wanting to be outside.

Thanks,
Joan

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