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We’ll be working on our hand touches and backing up… Coming close when aroused and not doing border collie rear swings is big on our list 🙂
Tried the wobble board with cushion:
Plank turns (as soon as she had the idea of stepping off she didn’t really try to not step off):
Elevated Plank (I created a wobble by accident, but I think it went okay):
Backing Up (we still struggle):
Prop Game Parallel:
Prop Game Counter:
Prop Game Rear (this is challenging, we’ll keep at it):
Thanks for all the feedback, we’ll make adjustments and work through it. Video updates coming soon. 🙂
Meanwhile we just had some fun today with running:
Week 3 turn and burn:
Week 3 Collection:
Time for our week 2 uploads. I apologies for not spreading them, but it was a couple busy weeks.
The second week went very well I thought. The only thing we are really struggling with is forward focus as she doesn’t like being held in the setting. Same problem at obedience with recalls when someone holds her/ tries to hold her. I may try switching to food for that exercise next week.
Movement and Noise:
Plank:
Hind End Awareness:
Forward Focus:
Wing Wrap:
The last few exercises of week 1 🙂
Wing Wrap: I think this worked pretty well. She would probably be more engage and excited if I used toys, so we will try that next.
Blind Crossed: Really enjoyed this one. Little stinker stopped eating her cookie and rather charging after me then eating, hahaha. Caught me of guard a couple of times.
Goat Trick: I really didn’t like my mechanics at all after watching the video… But she does disengage nicely.
First half week 1 games:
Turning Foundations I thought went pretty well:
Prop Game made it very clear that she loves working on my right not my left… and not just a little. We are doing obedience and everything is on the left so I am a little surprised, my right is my favorite handling side so maybe she senses that:
Forward focus revealed a problem with collar grabbing all over a sudden. I think the forward drive was good, but I will be working on grabbing her. Not sure what happened at the vet.
Hi Bobbie,
I apologize for the long catch-up, but work has kept me busy. Glad to hear we are continuing a little longer.
I did order some Solloquin to try and see how it helps him. I’ll keep you posted how it does for him.
I did not take Tracy’s engagement class yet. He seems to slowly work through his stress to be able to get back to focus and engagement. Tracy did send me your way first 🙂 I know she will be back in our area in January so I will definitely catch up with her then. Hopefully with a little guy that rocks the course and keeps it up.
Here our last week in videos:
1. Last weeks agility training. 2nd time at this new place, this time we went indoors for AC (95degree..). He was clearly stressed, the camera is sitting at the wall and there were another 8 dogs there. We did just play a little at the tunnel and ended on a good note after this run and the stress weaving at the dogs and people.
2. Obedience, I thought he did pretty well with the pressure of the other dogs. He seems to take that environment calmer.
3. We went to a trial this weekend. Ryuk only had FEO runs and ran very slow. Happy circles and toy for a while further is my plan. I am waiting for a video from my daughter, but meanwhile here some videos of him relaxing around the arena (we camped near the ring):
4. Lastly we had agility training tonight. 3rd time at the new place. we did take a quick stroll on leash through the area, but he was pretty focused/wanting to play from the start:
I do realize how hard it is to get “old school” trainers to respect you choices and not set back your training by pressuring your dog. It is a constant struggle, but I see how much he needs the space.
He is on Clomicalm 40mg and yes I have seen a lot of improvement in him. He is a lot less triggered. Still not great don’t get me wrong, but I know that’s where the work needs to be put in. He can at least make a decision in a lot more scenarios now.
This was our first time at the new field in both videos (1+2). The barking dogs (2 Aussies in a kennel, in a car) are actually further away from the field (behind the camera person about 50ft). I did give him about 15 minutes outside the field. Unfortunately there is not much exploring on leash in the ring. We already got the impatient eye rolls as is… The field has neighbors around so no walking the fence line, but the front. I will bring the snuffle matt this week and ask nicely maybe they’ll give me a little time. So just place the snuffle matt by his relax area while all the commotion is going on.
I do get the rewarding thanks for the pointers. He never really liked toys, we added that to the pallet and found the one he would take last summer. I will definitely kick up the toy engagement more. Just taking the agility break I did not realize how much he would lose on engagement.
His mind blown favorite #1 would be the okay to dig a hole… #2 High pressure water #3 Pizza. I do incorporate a release to dig in our backyard since he has a “sand box” and he works eagerly. I have heard just bring a kiddie pool with sand for him… It would be a lot, hah. Thoughts?
And totally mind blown. This was both mine and his first time at that arena. He totally does not like that Mal and Dachshund in the video, but did not even give them more than a “I see you” He was simply amazing <3
We are going back to the new training field Wednesday (2nd time) so any pointers are appreciated.
And we have a trial this weekend at an arena where he has been a bunch and loves to camp etc. it will be his first time in the ring in a long time so I plan on FEO and since the entries are at match cost I put him in novice preferred so there should be no brain puzzles waiting for us and a happy circle.
I realize the class is almost over o.O we need more time!!! I also have him signed up for a small UKI trial in a happy indoor environment later this month and plan on all FEO and play time. When we make the 5h trip he usually gets to train over there as well so he is very in tune.
Hi Bobbie,
It has been over a year of trigger = meatball, but we did decide on the medication. He started about 6 months ago, but then lost three toe nails due to an autoimmune issue… He is finally back and ready to go and so much better taking things on life throws at him. I just want to make sure we are doing this right and patient and he gets what he needs.
I am trying to get this scenario with his biggest trigger set up weekly. The owner is a good friend so that helps.
We will work through the new homework this week, but for now a few videos from this week:
1. We finally found another agility field we can use Wednesday nights (that’s why I keep missing the group call :/ ) he was happy and nosy when we got there:
2. I gave him a shot running and he made a run for it to check the field out (fence line, bushes)… After about 4-5 minutes he is finally done and suddenly working:
3. This weekend at the trial (just around the trial) he knocked it out of the ball park, I was so impressed. I had no camera crew yesterday, but he was happily checking everything out and today we played a little and he was such a big boy passing other dogs and all:
So yes, we have been doing trigger = meatball for quite some time. It has definitely gotten a lot better, but he still has very big feelings compared to any other dog I have worked with. Here our videos from late last week:
Ryuk Snuffle Mat, neighbor’s dog started barking and running our front yard a little after 6 minutes so I started to just add cookies:
Ryuk around distractions (his biggest trigger Albus in the background). I always try to work him close to his threshold. In this case got to where he would not swap to my other side for me and we left it on a positive note there:
I will try to get some videos this weekend at the trial (he is not entered) Do you want managed engaged Ryuk, or fresh out of the box over aroused? I do typically manage him a lot to prevent triggers, or keep him engaged around them.
I’ll ration him a little extra 🙂 I am currently only showing him in preferred so at least jumping is not a thing he has to worry about and can work on having fun.
I did see the counter-conditioning and desensitization and that is exactly what we have been doing plus relaxation protocol. I did get him within 20ft of his arch nemesis in the past with a hungry dog and the finest steak (he didn’t even seem to notice him and never reacted), but it still feels like back to square one every week (it’s been a good 6 months) Not sure if he needs more than a weekly exposure, or maybe we are down from that 1/4 mile to 50ft less and I just haven’t noticed. I will try tape some of this when I get a chance.
We’ll be waiting for our run and suddenly his whole demeanor changes and I know who just pulled up with his car outside.
His triggers can be people, but are mostly other dogs and it varies widely.
People that are suspicious (hoodie up, sunglasses) probably about 5-10ft in a neutral place. 50ft at home, a great guard dog… 🙂
Dogs and I am still learning from him and he surprises me a lot can be 1/4 mile, just by scent (I have access to this dog for training, nothing ever happened I swear), or if it is a handler focused calm dog approaching and sitting next to them is not a problem at all. Also, other shy dogs are usually his best buddies even though socially awkward.
I do take him to obedience weekly and he let’s us hop into class after about 5 minutes of heeling and focus work. I take that time to see which dogs are triggers and give him space accordingly.One thing I have learned is that he swaps from reactive when near me vs. shutting down when I am further away (stay exercises) and back and forth no delays there. Which at least gives me hopes that he trust me a lot.
Okay so taking shadow game on the road to agility and obedience class this week and then starting relaxation in different locations next week as well. He loves his snuffle matt 🙂 We’ll be a little chunker here soon lol
Sounds great we will take the shadow game on the road. Would you still avoid triggers though, or just work him at a workable distance to his triggers?
Also, we started the relaxation game as well (Had to delete the sound… copy right, because of TV, hahaha:
Here a few older videos of mister Ryuk before he turned 2 and couldn’t anymore (he is 4 now). He is running with my daughter (his original handler) in some of the videos.
Running with his junior. Weaves are still a stressor at trials for sure:
Running with me:
One more with my daughter:
Also, we took a stab on Shadow Handling:
He really is a great focused dog when the triggers are gone :/
