[Lori-Anne Harker]

It tried to snow today and the next few days are looking crappy.

I really need to work this with Rayven – she tried to kill herself today on a backside slice – WAY too tight/flat around the entrance wing and went into the landing wing with the right side of her head and right shoulder. Not sure if she slipped on takeoff or not, it happened so fast. She seems fine but she is getting checked out tomorrow.

Lori

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

Yes, the eleavtor game has her quite concerned. The bang game isn’t as bad but it’s still a bit of a concern on her part, she seems to prefer me in the front right now.

>>YAY!!! So, you can revisit this little decel game maybe once a week. 3 things to add for next time:
– 16 inch bar
– lock the jump bar into the cups, so it doesn’t go flying out if she makes a mistake. She is doing her best to NOT touch the bars, so we can help he rout
– add the ‘turn and burn’ exits, but doing the complete rotation. Rather than having her do the FC back to the tunnel, do the tighter exit. When she is turning to her right, you will FC and run towards the fence. When she is turning to her left, you can do the turn and burn to the left side of the screen LOL! This will be very fun for her and also help encourage her to turn her head into the turns even more.<<

Will do. Totally forgot to do the ‘turn and burn’ the session.

Have a couple of questions with this being the end of class.

Anything coming up that would be applicable to Beka for a small space situation (my basement)?

I’ve just started her 2×2 work this week. Still lots to do on contacts, we are a lot farther along on the teeter than on anything for the AF and DW (finally starting to focus on that more). We just started the next level of foundation jump work courses (hoping the weather holds for that one) with Kim.

For next year what would be the next logical course for Beka? She’ll be nearly two. I will hopefully be entering her in our local agility league to get some ‘trial’ experience and doing FEO runs once trials get going again (likely may or june, maybe one in March).

Have loved all the MaxPup courses! So glad she was the right age to start them with a working spot.

Thanks!

Lori

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

>>If you slice the behavior thin enough, there should be no issues. But bear in mind, that I train the end position and other elements of this all very separately, using the bang game, the teeter between tables you mentioned from your weekly class, the elevator game, etc – it all builds together really nicely.<<

Basically I can drop by an inch at a time and I insert the yoga mat to reduce that a bit and then take it out for the next session if seems ok. Doing the other games with her also. She has been a little concerned about the bang game – at least the version that has me holding the teeter in place at a low height and ask her to hop on and do the target behaviour trom there that we have been doing in class. I don’t think she is comfy with me being over her like that so working on that separately.

>>It depends on what you plan your verbals to be. I use an obstacle name and an end position cue: so any time the dog runs up the teeter, I can name it “teeter”. Then when I am working the end position, like on a plank or the bang game, I use the target cue. Eventually it all melds together.<<

My plan with her is two words – teeter and target. With Rayven I’ve dropped target because it comes so early for her I think she confuses it’s use between the DW and Teeter. Hoping Beka won’t need target to be said so early.

>>After the first rep where she collected on each side, she went to v-setting her line – she was arcing out to then come back in for the wrap, so she could basically do it all in extension. Clever! <<

I noticed her doing that standing in place, thought is was very odd.

>>What height is she jumping in Kim’s class? I would try these at 14-16″ inches at this point to see what she does. A little v-set is fine but we would like her to rock back into her rear more too.<<

In Kim’s class we just finished foundation jumping 1 so really only the set point (regular/slice/bend versions) has been more than 6″ high versus the other grids. Not sure what we will be doing in the jumping 2 that we start next week. I’ve got her up to 18in for the set point on a reg set point, bend is at 16in for right turns and 14″ for left turns (that turn isn’t as fluid, it’s a bit stilted).

I tried it at 14in after work today. Kept it easy with less motion so she could figure it out, especially on the left wrap since that side is weaker for her for turning. I laughed a fair bit as she was figuring it out seeing her try some different things, she can still put in at least a bit of a v-set at this height, especially on the right turn, on the left turn she was putting in skip steps or going to a quick trot coming into the wrap. She does have a lot more to figure out on the left wrap so i didn’t even attempt to add the tunnel to that side, but is doing pretty well with the right wrap and did pretty well on the balance line at 14in, I just didn’t add much motion to it so she didn’t have that distraction to deal with.

Thanks!

Lori

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

>>So now I will bug you to add your directional verbals back in 🙂 There was a lot of “Beka!” and “tunnel” but remember to use your wrap verbals and verbals for the tunnel exit too 🙂<<

Hmm, I thought I had used the dig and check, I don’t ususally leave those two out. Will put the tunnel exit verbals back in.

Since we are almost done I wanted to show you where she is with the TeachIt work. It’s dropping 7in in this one and I’ll be moving to 8in tomorrow (with the yoga mat back in as usual).

I will be getting Todd to cut a shorter set of uprights in the next week or so to replace the tall ones.

Do we just continue to drop the height?

Anything I should be aware of as points where she would be more likely to have an issue?

I am thinking that once it gets to the point we are moving past parallel for the board might be a possible problem point. And I assume I don’t label it until the entire picture is in place.

She is doing table to table in her weekly class where it is dropping below parallel (not to the ground yet though, prob dropping almost a foot) and so far she doesn’t seem worried about it.

Week 9 – Decel – Baby

hmm, while standing in place doing it it didn’t really feel like she was deceling on the wraps much at all, looks much better on the video – LOL! I’ll add in the verbals when we do the advanced in a day or so.

Thanks

Lori

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

>>Because by pointing your arm forward, you are turning your shoulders and showing info that confuses the wraps. A soft/low dog side arm that is out of the way (back) on RCs is very helpful and avoids the pull/flick confusion.<<

OK, got it, will do that when I rework this on it’s own.

>>Nope! You showed her the line, you said jump, so she should commit. It is worth training and handling because otherwise, you will be late.<<

OK, will do. I do need to do a little TTFJ work with her too.

>>I think it would benefit her for you to be closer to the line (which might mean doing the BC on the landing of 3). You were partially turned as she was taking off for the wrap but then looking at your position for the next line: she is driving to your line/position and since it is far from 6, the turn is wide. So putting you closer to the jumps will totally help that so she can drive your line AND find the jumps. That is what you did on the 2nd rep and your timing for the wrap was better but more importantly – your position was better so she was tighter finding the lines. Yay! It will get easier as she gets more experienced but for now, position is really important to help with the turns and timing.<<

Yes, I see what you mean here, will pay attention to that on sequences we do as she is learning.

I forgot to post this video yesterday –

We did the Lead Out 3 mirror work later. I messed up the spin and looked at her rather than the jump. Also, I forgot what the actual sequence was a bit and started it like the Lead Out 2 ones so made it harder for ME, especially the spin. She did well on this.

Thanks

Lori

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

>>You were clearer at :15 and :22, then GREAT at :33 with setting it with decel. And the next step it to try to take the forward-pointing shoulder turn out of it (just leave your dog side arm back) – I think the shoulder pull was creating questions here and in the FC wraps (see below).<<

I don’t really get why dog side arm should be back on a RC?

I always struggle with the decel part of it as decel puts me even farther behind, it’s ok on a RC wrap like this but on more normal RCs it kills me. I am sure that is part of the reason why I don’t do it all the time.

Yes, she is a righty (at least seems to be based on a couple of different things) – which had me confused about all the wide turns in that direction.

>>On the blind, keep your arms in and start it as soon as she rounds the FC wing <<

Start as soon as she rounds the wing?? even with a tighter turn at the wrap wouldn’t she likely come inside the next jump if I start it that early?? she has to go out a decent amount to get that jump in with the FC. If she was turning the other direction I could definitely see strating it that early.

>>Time to put about 10,000 more bags on that tunnel – it is moving a lot and she is going to slip too much. Also, you can give her the turn directional on the tunnel exit here instead of her name – she is turning beautifully!<<

I’ll see what I can pull out. It was still a bit dewey when I did that video so I think her feet were a bit wet. I stretch the tunnel out as much as I can so it doesn’t move a huge amount. I’ll try readding the directionals again and see how that goes.

I did work on the same sequences in the mirror set up today – just used a FC on the wrap as I wanted to see what you thought on the RC/FC issues I was having before working on that again. Each video is a different session throughout the morning and afternoon. Overall this side felt easier for me.

This is the start section:

The blind after 2 feels much better to me in this direction then the other.

This is the middle section:

This felt awkward for whatever reason – maybe not trusting the wrap? She was really wide again turning right and that made the balance turn harder (and being a left turn made that harder for her).

The full seq with the wrap:

Thanks

Lori

[Lori-Anne Harker]

HI Tracy

OK, I think I have all that for the next time I really work on the BC and those wraps.

Yep, 13.5 months basically. Will do as you mention as we move up, but will stay where we are for now. She has been working an online Grid course with Kim Collins in parallel with Max Pup and been doing well but the teres (Kim is the one that noticed an issue on video) delayed us there also, finished up some stuff on that the last few days as the course ended this week.

so back to the Week 8 Lead Out 2 work – I definitely need some help with the wraps on the #5 jump.

Did 2 sessions this morning – first working the RC to get the wrap – which she did do but is REALLY WIDE. Not sure how much of it is:
– my position and not being turned enough after she wraps
– how I rewarded her the first couple of times (basically out on a wide line)
– her flanking and looking at me to throw the toy
– reward placement once I started putting it down (after some placing at landing and her grabbing it but still going wide after she had it I started to put it on the line after that thinking she would have to come in for it and so at least wouldn’t go wide after getting it – my logic may not be right here)
– something else, all of the above??

Took a break and the next session was just doing the 1-5 using the blind either before or after #3. Doing it before is definitely more comfortable physically for me and gets me farther up then doing it after the jump. This went well except for:
– rep 1 – one pretty sure she slipped in the tunnel at the entry.
– rep 2 – she took bars at #3 and #4 but but looking at the video i think she same out of the tunnel and stumbled (or was just off balance) just a bit so was off balance for those?

Took a longer break and then went back to work the FC option on this – Yikes – this was harder than I expected, she kept reading the start of the FC as the RC but I was farther over off the RC line. I am still a bit stumped on getting the right differentiation happening on these since she is going to smoke me on these lines, just like Ziva did and Rayven does.

So this is just the FC stuff. Some of the work on my part isn’t very good, I was using post turns to at least get the turn and then retrying the FC.

Did end up doing the longer sequences in the end using the FC at #5. First the 3-7 and then the balance back over 3 after the wrap and then the full sequence. First attempt at full sequence I stopped early as I thought I had messed up something. I put my arm out on the one because she was so wide on the wrap I wanted to indicate the jump, it was so high I probably should have left that out.

Messed up a couple of the releases first couple of reps – will pay more attention next time.

Have a right/left question for you on this.

Would you use left/right on either:
– the turn from #3 to #4 (#8 to #9)
– the balance wrap where we take the jump rather than the tunnel.

I chose not to because isn’t not an immediate 90% turn after the jump. Would that be correct?

To me it felt like the natural line for a basic turn so not necessary.

Thanks

Lori

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

Well….did the other side for the Lead Out 1 work tonight. Man, my BC line was worse not better (I think I am aligning to be perpendicular to the back of the house…crazy) will have to work on that.

I moved her about 3′ farther back from the jump tonight so probably around 8-9′ back. Oh, and jump spacing is around 18′ for the dog line between everything.

Interesting the issues we had on this side as compared to the other side.
– I set her a bit closer to the inside of the jump and she came in around it (she could see me outside the jump, couldn’t last session), will need to do some work on that but for tonight I just set her farther over.
– She dropped a couple bars (2nd jump), on the blind and then on the LO throwback. I think I was on time on starting the blind? On the LO throwback when should I start doing that?
– the LO throwback was more of an issue for the turn this time as the wrap is to the side she doesn’t turn as well to. The look she gave me when she realized we weren’t going to the tunnel on the first one was priceless. And no attempt whatsoever to add a stride on the turn.

on the LO throwback I am not at all positive what I whould be doing with my arm here. I am right beside the jump so no real throwback arm wise. It feels a bit awkward, did last time too.

I’m jumping her at 10″ (about elbow height) for this stuff – I assume keep her there for now? I’ve had her to 16″ on the set point work but then her teres acted up and we had to stop that work until recently so back at 12″ right now for that as we work back up. I just wonder about her getting too used to jumping flatter at these heights.

Thanks

Lori

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

>>The general ‘collection cue’ was mentioned because which cue you choose depends specifically on how tight of a turn you need on the jump before it Might be a left/right, or in those flatter & harder threadles, might be a wrap!<<

Ah, good, thought you meant something as a general collection/pay attention type cue.

>>Might just be that the verbal was late and the easy tunnel entry was more obvious to her. Start her in a stay further away so you are closer to the wing, and have more time to set the turn and change her line. If that is still too hard, turn the “obvious” tunnel entry to a less obvious line, where she would have to move away from you to get it and can’t just lock onto it as easily. The wing would be more in the center of the tunnel.<<

thanks for the suggestions. Will try them out when I do it again, giving it a bit of a rest before coming back to it.

>>So now… get moving sooner<<
>>Bear in mind that when yo add movement, your upper body much stay super connected or she might end up on the wrong side.<<
>>You can also move sooner on the lead out push – after she lands from 1, stay connected and start to move! You started the moving at 2:10 and she was great<<

Ok, wasn’t positive if we were supposed to do much moving on the first session with 2 jumps. I did it this afternoon.

Week 8 – FFC and Forced Threadles with motion

I think I was pretty much leaving on time. I realized that on the LO pushes I basically never did stop on most of them watching the video. We did have one problem area – the throwbacks, mostly DOL. Watching the video I think I accidentally made them look a bit like lap turns as I didn’t swing my arm back all the way to the jump and Beka turned the wrong way.

Week 8 – Lead Out 1

Did this one tonight. I realized later I totally didn’t do the LO push option, will try that next session when I do it in the other direction (starting DOL). I also didn’t realize how bad my line was on the blinds! Will be more cognizant of that next session. She was pretty awesome on this.

Thanks

Lori

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

>>No issues o the lead out, because the positional cue is very clear. And I also like training both physical cues, so that I can both – there is a time and place for each!<<

OK, would be a lot easier also. Same verbal is ok?

So, I did this on my lunch break:

Week 8 – FFC and forced Threadle on 2 jumps.

Definitely like the threadle better this way.

>>One thing to consider here is changing the delivery of the verbals so they are more different from each other: in in in and le le le (and ri ri ri) are almost identical except for the letters. Pitch, rhythm, speed are basically the same, which makes it harder for her to differentiate (especially when you add motion). So you can keep one of them as a ‘rapidfire’ cue, and the other can be softer and more elongated, to make them different.<<

OK, will try to remember to do that but will not be easy going to say – LOL. Initial thought is keep the li and ri as the elongated and the in as rapid fire.

Had another q as was trying the tunnel threadle work and had big issues adding in the wing before – have to redo to show you. Wondering, I don’t have a collection cue as you mentioned in the video – how necessary do you think one is and what does it actually mean?

I think my main issue adding in the wing before the tunnel threadle was I wasn’t getting my feet/body turned onto the threadle line early enough (was basically facing the wrong tunnel entry), but she is going so fast to the wing I don’t have time to do the before she is there already after releasing her. I ws using my wrap cues, but maybe the left/right would be better?

Ideas? (hard I know given no video)

Thanks

Lori

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

WOOHOO! your comment on my line (in particular) for the tandem turns made a massive difference! And of course calling earlier once the tunnel was added too.

Redid it just now and the difference is huge – got it all right away.

Week 8 – FFC and Forced Threadle on 1 Jump

Did this tonight, stuck to one jump for today. Man, I did not realize how bad my foot position was on the Forced Threadle on the left wing – GAH!

FFC:

Forced Threadle:

Question – I opted not to do the Forced Threadle using the ‘serp’ arm as wanted to ask you a question. You don’t see any issues doing that re it’s the same arm as for serps or if planning on using the cross arm for jump threadle’s mid course?

Teeter –

On the teeter work a question – if she is totally comfortable I assume it is ok to drop the teeter after 2 sessions at same amount of drop?

Also, when can we post until? I still have stuff from weeks 7, 8 and 9 I need to do.

Thanks

Lori

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

Tried the lap and tandem turn work tonight. Need som help with the tandem turn….

Week 7 – Wingin’IT – Lap Turn

Definitely some sided-ness on this one. Much easier to get the right turn vs the left turn. I think on the left turn side I may have been making too much eye contact rather then looking down at my hand??

Week 7 – Wingin’IT – Tandem Turn

Need some help with this one. Again the initial work was easier DOR vs DOL (without the tunnel into it), but oddly enough with the tunnel added in DOL was easier than DOR (pretty much couldn’t get her to come in DOR then). I had the tunnel ends both pointing about the same way – to just outside the wing on that side.

Should I set the tunnels to point more to the inside of the wing to make it easier? It’s about the only thing I can think of to help.

Have a verbals question for both of these –

Lap turn – do you ust one for this one? I’ve done lap turns that would be proper wing wraps and also that would be a left/right type of turn so would it just be the word that you would use for the shape of the turn that matches best?

Tandem Turn – Similar question – do you use a verbal for this one?

Also wondering about the use of the hand as compared to threadle hand in particular and also to threadle 360 wraps after what we talked about at the seminar. There you mentioned using a high single off arm for the threadle slice held in position, and two arms for the threadle 360 wrap one high one low also held in position.

For the tandem turn I have used a low off arm and then as they pass me do a flip of that hand – does that still make sense with the hand use on the threadles? I think it does but wanted to check.

Thanks

Lori

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Lori-Anne Harker.

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

>>The only thing I saw was that when you were really running, she would sometimes leap onto the board a bit rather than run up it (like at 1:13). So, since we don’t want her to add any leaping dance moves LOL, don’t be quite as fast for now. But, she is definitely looking ready for a tiny bit more tip, so can you lower the teach it maybe half an inch? And add the yoga mat under it again?<<

I noticed those myself, thought it might have been her stride in not being what she was expecting.

Can only drop an inch at a time but will have the yoga mat in to reduce the tip. this session it was tipping less then last session.

Lori

[Lori-Anne Harker]

Hi Tracy

We have done a few before where I did some running past the end of the teeter.

I did a couple with leading out to guarantee being ahead, a few wraps where I tried to keep ahead, a couple of wraps to RCs – none of them seemed to be an issue.

Thanks

Lori

[Lori-Anne Harker]

HI Tracy

OK, arm in more – it was pretty in for me – LOL!

So for a change of pace I finally got back to some teeter work, didn’t realize it’s been 2 weeks since we did it last. Began with just making sure no issues given the amount of time since last one, added in the boards (forgot you wanted them projecting less so fixed that part way through).

She is funny when the sardines come out – heads right for the teeter and climbs up it looking for them on the treat plate. I left several of those ‘I want my sardine’ moments in, even the one while I was starting the video up. Sardine for the win for this one – LOL!

Had the yoga mat in only for a couple of the reps as it kept wanting to fall off. She seems fine without it but I think I will adjust the drop next session and put it in place for the first couple as I don’t have the infinite adjustment that the proper teachit has as we are using bolts put through holes in the pvc to support the crossbar and those are about 1″ apart.

Thanks

Lori

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