[Amy Sannes]

Hi Tracy –

Skizzle and I have been busy with travel and nosework.
We tried the same exercise with a bowl. Still some hesitation over the bar. I may have inadvertently caused some of this by a poor setup where the bar under Skizzle moved (short video).

[Amy Sannes]

Hi Tracy.

Thanks for the feedback on connection and presenting a clearer picture for Skizzle.

That may be a good segue to this session. Lots of hesitation. Not sure why. I tried to make the setup easier by placing the jump closer to the barrel and the jump at an angle. Thankfully, he improves through the session.

[Amy Sannes]

Here’s our pill bug games. Love his attitude. It looks like I need to practice without him to help be more clear. 😉

[Amy Sannes]

Hi Tracy –

Thanks for the feedback.

>The edits are good, but also to save time you don’t need to edit at all!
I appreciate your flexibility! I prefer edited videos for myself, but sometimes the time it takes can be a barrier – so I won’t let that stop me from posting something.

>He did well finding the jump! Only one little blooper at :26, where he needed more connection after the barrel exit which is what you show on the next rep (:36) and he found the jump really well.
Upon reflection, he’s doing very well finding the jumps, compared to the parallel path game. I’ll need to keep this in mind, and make sure traveling over the jump remains the obvious path and that it is very rewarding.

>So definitely keep going with the moving target reward for this game.
Great feedback. My knowledge of a dog’s jumping form is novice, so it’s nice to know we’re ok at this point.

We did some more set point – with a moving target this time. Included is one short video from the front. Then I thought it should be more from the side to see jumping form, so that’s the 2nd video. He’s less perfect on the stays.
Maybe next time we can try a bar at the lowest cup for one of the jumps.

FYI. I’m tunnel-less at the moment (wasn’t paying attention to the needed equipment)…but should have one in the next couple weeks. Good thing, because I have tunnel exercise envy – watching this week’s games. Pretty sure Skizzle will love it.

Thank you!
-Amy

[Amy Sannes]

Hi Tracy –

Re. Set point >You can switch the moving target to start further away, at least 6 feet past jump 2 so he has more room to move to it after he lands.
Re. wind/hair >You can switch the moving target to start further away, at least 6 feet past jump 2 so he has more room to move to it after he lands.

Skizzle and I tried set point and wind in my hair outside – with more room – today. I also made him (and us) a longer toy (purple Kong on a rope); this is one he really enjoys retrieving, and he went right for the toy, not the rope. I left in a clip of him chasing and playing with that toy (in set point). He’s doing a really nice job of waiting until released.

Do the jumps look appropriately spaced? (They’re about 3.5 feet). He seems to really jump (up) here, without even a bar set. Also, I have a couple more jumps – just need to dig them out of storage. And I broke “middle” this week. I either scared him or bumped him, but he doesn’t want to hold that position while I move. Thankfully, he’s beginning to understand that forward over the jump is where he’s going – and sets up pointing that way.

A couple of re-starts here – for anticipating, then for an audible distraction (delivery truck door closing) when he’s part-way around the barrel.

I’m editing the videos more and more (trying to provide more reps and less fluff). Please let me know if there are pieces you would like to see that I’m probably editing out. Or if you want to see a “whole session” periodically?

We’re both enjoying getting back to agility foundations.
-Amy

[Amy Sannes]

Thanks for the feedback, Tracy.

I don’t have a lotus ball or treat hugger. I’ll see what I can cobble together for a toy with treats. I may also try putting a rope through his favorite retrieve toy – and see if that interests him for this game (worth a try).
Could I try a dead toy without me hanging on to part of it? He enjoys retrieving. Or will I need him to target the end of the toy (on a rope) for this and future exercises?

I’m glad his jumping form looks ok. I look forward to trying it with more space past the jump.

Here’s our wind in the hair game. I stalled out at barely walking towards the jump (vs. running). I feel like Skizzle sometimes responded to the verbal for the wrap and was mostly eyes forward over the jump. We would benefit from more space between the wrap and the jump. I’ll try for that soon.

[Amy Sannes]

Hi Tracy –

Skizzle still wants to grab the toy close to my hand. It doesn’t seem to matter which side of the toy I’m holding. Sometimes I hold the holee roller because it seems like he wants the fringe – but then he often still grabs close to what I hold. My fingers don’t usually feel teeth, so I haven’t put much effort into changing this.

I haven’t really tried a very long toy, so I should see what that looks like now.

Here’s my set point work. I started on the ground, but had too much wandering, so I put down the sit platform. It moves more than I’d like, so I’ll have to use something with better grip, or spend a little time breaking out the stay work. As with the moving target, he does a very nice job waiting (with the platform).

Thanks, Tracy

[Amy Sannes]

Tracy

Here’s our pre-games moving target. The handler needs as much work as the puppy (always). Looks like I want to hold the toy in my right hand – which puts me in strange positions when I’m to the dog’s right.

[Amy Sannes]

Here is a clip with the simple decel exercises. Pleased overall. I probably need more structure around his stays – words or signals or setup props – though he seems to kinda get what I’m looking for here.

This was fun to play with him between reps. Loved the thinking moment on the first rep where he wrapped the wing. Also liked the assumption that he needed to do so on the next couple. Cameo by my dad…nice to have a human distraction he worked really well around!

We’re getting close to the end of class…thank you again for the valuable and kind feedback! Looking forward to MP#2

[Amy Sannes]

Helpful feedback:
>Do you mean him being a little wide?
Yes – I meant wide, and it makes sense that he’s trying to look for me to know what’s next.
Also appreciate the explanation of the words you use and why L/R are probably not needed here.

Here’s a little of strike a pose. I realize that I should have sent him to a dead toy instead of throwing one. I also need to be careful not to add too much movement with torso or hand gestures. I like his great attitude here – happy and engaged.

Hope the UKI Open goes really well!

[Amy Sannes]

Thanks for the feedback and discussion.

Skizzle has been very fun to work with lately.

Here’s our barrel threadle wrap attempts. I was a little caught off guard that he didn’t stick to the barrel on wrapping. Not sure why I thought he’d know this without practicing. Can already see he’s catching on quickly.
Can you remind me about the words you use for this? Is it “dig” or “in”? One word, or 2?…left or clockwise and right or counterclockwise? I should really watch more agility, so I can connect some of these exercises with the end result. 😉 Though I’m content with trusting the process, and we’ll figure things out as we go.

[Amy Sannes]

Hi Tracy –

Appreciate your feedback.
>The 80% rule is a good one but I like to be a little more like 90% with adolescent dogs due to their ever-shifting adolescent sensitivities LOL!
This stuck out to me – good to know, and makes sense as they start to process/remember more things.
>The shaping process for finding a jump is definitely key and getting it sorted out now will bring great commitment to his career in any sport with jumps 🙂
Also helpful. I had already decided that this exercise (which surprised me that he didn’t “get”) is going to be one where I need to put in some time and be patient to let him learn how valuable that space is. Appreciate the confirmation.

Skizzle and I participated in a nosework trial this past weekend. It was a great “trial weekend” for him – just 15 months now. He handled the dogs, site, people, environment quite well – not without some moments of distraction, but very good considering his baby brain. It was also a bit of a break from agility things, which is ok.

We’ve done a few more sessions of parallel path. Here’s the latest – a shorter clip from the garage where it looks like he decides to go through the jump (yay!) and one outside with some of my clumsy handling and rewarding the fetch (bother). I sometimes cue him to come through my legs, but when I see it here, it makes me think that may be “connected” to fetch. IDK – seems like through the legs is valuable for setups/training for agility (and obedience, etc) – where maybe I need to incorporate it more into multiple settings instead of reserving it for fetch? Good to know that sending through legs may increase the challenge level for an exercise.
Also – I still haven’t sent him over a jump bar yet (only cavaletti) – so he cracks me up with his hops over the bar on the ground.

We also did some backside slice – started in the garage and then moved to the yard. There is some discrimination (front vs. back) and a strike a pose after the backside. I could use some practice for my pieces 😉

[Amy Sannes]

Hi Tracy –

Thank you for your beautifully split feedback!

I appreciate hearing your take on pay-for-performance. I have some baggage from early training days where I tried too much too soon and thought better treats should overcome the challenge. This was not a successful strategy, and even thinking about it, I have feelings of frustration. I also felt like I was trapped always using the best treats – which then lost their value. I misunderstood some instruction, and underestimated the challenges of training.

Today, I am a more savvy handler, and Skizzle is an easier dog to work with – he works for his kibble every day! And toys!

We have continued to work on the parallel path – I’m trying to help him understand the relevance of the jump equipment, instead of playing fetch in the presence of it. I’ve done a couple games in the garage and a couple in the backyard again. Here’s the latest. It seems like the food in the dish is helping his brain to see the jump…most of the time (esp. when the dish is closer to the jump – further to travel to miss the jump).
Should I be more patient with this, and continue working on it until he’s correct more (>80%) before moving my parallel path further from the side of the jump?
This exercise – and his playing fetch, instead – make me think “uh oh.” It seems like having value for going through the jump standard is very important. I appreciate the process, though…shaping the dog to run through the uprights.

[Amy Sannes]

Thanks for the feedback!

>When offering the toy as the reward – he was engaging but the play was very short so it was hard to tell if he would stay engaged – you can play for longer and move away from the barrels to engage the play, keeping the toy moving so he can grab it before heading back to the barrels

Yes, compared to in the backyard, his toy play is less enthusiastic away from home. Skizzle’s offered play is also shorter or not at all when he’s worried about barking/whining. It’s a great gauge of his arousal/engagement level. If I’m reading this right (?), you’re suggesting I use play (increasing the time and moving away from the barrels) to help him get to an arousal level that’s optimal for the game?
So if I notice him taking off instead of wrapping the barrel, I can play longer and attempt again?

In general, I try not to up-the-ante with higher and higher value rewards to keep his attention. (Trying not to beg him to play with me 🙂 ) I haven’t really thought about this in the context of toy/play – though I like to use different toys regularly so I have many options. Fortunately (or maybe not?) he doesn’t have a toy he’s dying to have.
It feels like a balance – accepting the information he’s providing vs. upping my excitement level to up his.

Curious to hear your thoughts.

[Amy Sannes]

Thanks for your thoughts about Skizzle’s playing fetch with me in the presence of the jump standard ;). We don’t play much unstructured fetch in the backyard, or anywhere, but I agree with you that it’s exactly what his behavior looks like.

We’re working well together, but I’m still trying to figure him out for training. He’s not toy-obsessed. He enjoys playing with many toys much of the time. But I don’t have a toy he’s motivated to play with all of the time. And sometimes he prefers to work (play) for food.

Today, I tried the same backyard setup and same time of day, with 6 different toys – 2 trips through the uprights with each toy. It was similar to what I posted here from yesterday. I was hoping a lower value toy would lead to more thoughtfulness. Skizzle was thrilled with the new version of the same game.;)
I like the idea of the food toss (or run-back to food in bowl) before proceeding through the jump…will give that a try.

We played rocking horses at the local (rural) park that we frequent. As far as distraction level, there were no people in sight anywhere for the duration of our session. He’s much less intense for the toy here vs. at home.
I started with a toy, but Skizzle was a little distracted from the start, and then further distracted by my 2nd dog’s barking. Switching to food seemed to keep him in the game better in the latter part.
I felt like I was decently connected with Skizzle from the 1st barrel to the 2nd.

Skizzle and I had gone for a short walk at the park at a different location, then driven to this one for the game. To do over again, I would’ve given him a couple minutes once out of the car here, with some pattern games before starting the session – to help him acclimate.

[Author]

Posts