[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

I went back to the threadle – working on getting the MM back to a position where I can mix up the serps and threadles. I was happy with how he did. I was able to vary his position a little and get the MM back close to the serp line. Maybe next time I can add some motion to the threadle (?)

Thanks,

Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

I started him in the easier position and gradually moved him back out toward the slice. I was able to walk slowly while doing it.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Just worked the serp with a little motion – trying to smooth things out. He had some trouble – in looking at the video, I can see my connection was not the best. When he had the trouble, I did a couple of stationary reps to remind him.

Work had been crazy, so have not had time to look at the newest lesson yet.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Yesterday was in the 40s and I was excited to get outside with the barrels, but it ended up being too slippery (and he was destroying the turf). I switched to the Minny Pinny and that was still not great footing, so I just did a few reps, but cleaned up the mechanics of having him end in the correct position for the left/right turn. It snowed overnight, so back to the basement…

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

You wrote:
Ideally, after getting and bringing the toy, he gets a very fun tug session that is 2 or 3 times longer than the rep itself. If you were doing a short tug or not tug/trade for treat, the interest in getting the dead toy might be reduced in favor of sticking near the treats.

We do a lot of tugging – that’s why I cut it out of the video!

I missed out on all of the good weather – stupid work – it was almost 50 on Wednesday and in the 40s a lot of the week. The snow melted. I had plans for today until we had gale force wind and a dusting of snow. ARGH.

I did a little motion on the serp and then revisited the stationary jump threadle inside instead.

Yesterday he went to a baby skills seminar at OTR for a couple of hours and got to be in the big ring (a first). He did great -could play with toys and eat food and do the skills. I did a little bit of CU type games when he came into the building (by the back door) and some of his ready to work protocol. I was very proud of him 🙂

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

You wrote:
The Minny Pinny looks good! He is slipping a bit on the mats – do you have snow on the ground outside? It will be better footwork if he can do this on grass (or maybe bring it to OTR for the turf?)

Right now there is still snow on the ground (not a lot) and it’s going to be freakishly warm here this week (40s), so it may melt and I may have space t go back outside. Renting time anywhere is tough. The puppy room at OTR might be a possibility.

You wrote:
At the beginning, it definitely looked harder for him to line up with the toy present! Slightly slower response, and his position was more angled (to watch the toy, perhaps :)) You can use food to help with that for a couple of reps, then we can fade the food again so it is delivered sometimes but not part of the cue.

Yes, he has historically had a very difficult time lining up when there is a toy in the vicinity – that was a know thing for me. At the end of the video, I decided to see if we had made any progress (this has been sitting for a while). And he did some terrific lineups with the throw toy out ahead of him. Now I’m having trouble with him going on his dead toy marker. Ha!

In this session we did find your face. I did not think it would be too much of a problem for him given his personality – he’s too much sometimes with controlling his emotions (MOMMY!!!!). At the start, I felt like he was targeting my hands, so I put the cheese in my mouth. He really likes cheese.

Then we did the baby level of the spins – as much as we could in our space.

At the end are a few of the lineups.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Here’s the next step of the Minny Pinny and a couple of stays with toys. I tugged him back to the start for rep 2 and did some more tugging which I edited out.

The big lug is going to be 10 months old tomorrow. The weather is supposed to warm up a lot, which is going to help everyone’s sanity and get us out of the house!

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Letting the threadles sit for a while.

Minny pinny – baby level – his favorite thing- circling 🙂 Next time I will orient us the long way in the room if using a toy.

Then we did some easy stays. Judge has taken Nancy’s 6 week start line stay class, so in the sterile basement environment, these were easy for him.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

A longish session today – I actually had a holiday today and the high temp was -8, so had to keep everyone entertained inside. Shockingly, my almost 10 month old Mal was driving me up the wall…

Trying to wait a little longer on the click for the threadle slice. Then we did some motion to the threadle wrap and then the 2 barrel game. I cleaned up the area a little and there’s a bit more space.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Back to the threadle wrap with your next steps. And revisiting the threadle slice after letting it sit for a few days. I think it was better.

It’s cold and we have snow, so we’re inside now. Going into the deep freeze – highs below zero. I laugh – moving the inauguration inside due to cold. Um 20 ABOVE. But I remember living in DC and pretty much dying at 20 above.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Here are the baby steps of the threadle wrap on the trash can. Not sure why I failed to mark with search half of the time – bad mom moment.

This is all we did today – it’s is above freezing, so I used my lunch break to take him outside to play.

Despite his size, he seems to like these wrap games.

Thanks,

Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

I made the suggested adjustments to the 2 exercises. I have a hard time telling if that threadle is getting any better… He seems to like the backside one though – more moving 🙂

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Don’t let that sun in the window fool you – it’s below zero out there. And I’m in a week long work conference which is hard on the adolescent dog too. Got some training done on the lunch break
Did the same 2 games again. Started using my backside slice word – “back” and starting taking a couple of steps.

Then the threadle slice – trying to click at the correct time. Timing is hard as the space is so small. Today, I thought he had better turns on my left hand. We started on my right hand because that has been the side he struggled less on.

Thanks,
Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Thanks for that analysis and the reminder to JUST STOP. I went absolutely psycho.

Started the backside slice – baby level tonight.

Then decided to be brave and go back to the jump threadle. Judge seems to have forgiven me. Putting the MM right in the middle did the trick. Interesting – I did notice that on my left hand, he turned wider – I though he might go around the upright, so maybe he does turn a touch tighter or is more fluid on my right hand. Did 3 reps per side, he was great. Quit to make sure this is the set up you had in mind and then where to go from here. I tried really hard not to move!

Thanks,

Joan

[agilitywawa]

Hi Tracy,

Revisited the threadle which was a disaster. This morning I started on my right hand. he had 4 good reps, so moved top my left hand and he absolutely cannot do it. I quit and decided to try again in the afternoon -tried to make it look different – had him on the other side of the room and still can’t do it. I did 2 on my right hand to try to help him and then went back to the left – no. Then he was getting sticky and stopping to stare at the MM. I feel like the MM is causing problems.

I don’t feel like he has a strong dominant side that I can really tell and he does not usually have so much trouble switching sides in exercises.

I can see I’m still shaking my hand too early – I need to pay better attention to that.

Also did a few wraps this morning with the clicker so he could end on a good note.

Thanks,

Joan

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