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I feel a little bruised up lol! I think we fell down our mountain once again😞😞. I arrived at the trial site at around 7:35. I had Annalise stay in the car with Promise while I went to walk the course and go to the bathroom. Got back to car, told Annalise she could go and got Promise out. She had some foam. She was sniffing at site and engaging with environment but was not interested in any food at all including get chicken. She would spit it out as soon as I gave it to her. This is all outside of arena. Walked her in, same reaction. Took her to warm up jump where she was listening and would engage in toy after wrap but would quickly drop it. I think she started to take a little food at this point? I’m not sure anymore lol! Anyway, time to go to ring. She is listening and making eye contact with me, but still not totally engaged. I decided to change which side off jump I started with as jump was super close to ring gating. I decided not to lead out because of her engagement prior to being in ring. The feo went very well! Especially silly considering my SHELTIE would not eat. After ring she happily googled up food and stayed engaged with me. After some celebration I decided it’s time yo setup crates. I go to a normally quiet are and it’s completely chaotic. A Sheltie is running around a xpen spinning and barking. Another dog is frantically yelping. I still never figured that out. I decide to crate behind the arena which is a normal quiet spot. Everything was fine at first. I start making the king trip back and forth with my stuff. The bad news about this spot was it was relatively close to send bonus which included a tunnel which from the sounds of it most people were not getting lol. On my way back the last time at this spot I hear Promise fear reactive barking. I decide to move her to another spot much further from ring, but it’s too late. She’s fear reactive barking non stop and she would not quite even with me staying by her. I take her out of crate with chicken and take her for a walk to calm her down. We do the pattern game with the chicken. She’s now taking chicken but snatching it. Once I get her to a better state after around 10 minutes, I move my car to crate her out of the car with Potter. She’s still fear reactive barking in the crate 😞. Another walk again, pattern game. Get her in car with potter and sit on tailgate feeding chicken to her. Jamie comes over, I sob😭😭😭😭 which was a much needed release after all of that lol!!!
She’s largely fine in the car the rest of trial. Only one time of fear reactive barking when the man goes by. I had the tailgate mostly closed and fans going which provided white noise to muffle the ring.
She has had trouble with this site before and got better over the weekend. Before today I thought the ring was mostly about the dogs and the barking. I would say I just assumed this. Today it was definitely about the people shouting! Even the mic from fast contributed.
Each time I took her out of car she refused food today at first. She did come around to taking it much faster each time.
Tomorrow my plan is to crate out of car. I plan to get to site earlier so I can give her more time to acclimate.
Also, I have an appointment with a vet behaviorist on may 19th. On the trip to Texas, I realized separation anxiety in the crate is huge part of her car anxiety. She did largely very well with the trip. No sickness. Minimal foaming when put in. When I left her in car to go to bathroom, she had foamed a 6 inch drool and her chest was soaked. I had only been gone 3-4 minutes😞😞😞.
Today was the same. She was great on trip over. Annalise left car one second before I got her out and that was when her foam started 😭.What’s interesting is she can only ride in middle seat where she can see me, but can’t be left in middle seat crated. She can be crated in rear of car with one of the boys by her, but can’t ride in the rear of the car! She freaks! She can’t see me. 😩😩😩😩!!!!
Haha! My family would cringe at my last comment! I have confused Marvell and DC comics again😂😂! Really aren’t superheros all the same😂?!?!
< Please send weekend updates!!! I feel like I am waiting on competition results for my little niece hahahaha>
I will definitely send updates!!! You are our Aunt Tracy😊!!! We owe so much to you😊!!! Training this little girl has taught me so much!!! Thank you again for guiding us on our journey! I truly don’t know what I would do without you😘🥰.
So today, in honor of watching the new Dr. strange movie tonight woot woot!😂, we went high level Kryptonite with the pool fountains. Yes, water turns her into an unhinged beast 😂😂😂!!!! Wow!!! She did sooo amazing!!!! I used chicken and was just super impressed about how well she did!
This level distraction is a high as the ring and other dogs running I would say, possibly even higher!!!<Thinking about this – yes, she might need to be engaged before the ready cue. It is entirely possible that she need to be *more* stimulated to hold her stay, not less stimulated. Optimal arousal state is pretty high, so you can try getting her more stimulated with tricks and such before the stay behavior. On the very first stay where she did not hit position right away or hold it as well (you mark it as incorrect twice) – you were very chill bringing her to the start line, lots of stationary things happening before you came in. A little too much all business perhaps, outside the ring?>
This gave me a lot of food for thought! This is the problem with her stays! She is not staying engaged enough. She may not be engaged enough before we start! I did a little test with a few sit stays this morning. She was 100 percent if I waited the extra second to wait for her head to look at me. If I left before I got that engagement she got up. She responded really well to some fast hand targets before we started! But I still had to have that ok mom, I’m ready before I could leave successfully.
I have two feos this weekend! Any suggestions???
>Totally looked like she is taking a nice breath here on the first video! Yay! Have you tried putting this game into any pre-run routines? It definitely calms her 🙂>
I have tried the take a breath with her :). I tried it at Judys while she was waiting her turn behind the solid wall. She did great with it for the most part! The calming games are going to be our best friends lol! I have not tried it out the start line yet.
As you can see I’m still struggling with my acting role of fake chill lol!Judy is the best! She has a great training philosophy! Exactly the same as us!!! It was so nice to be surrounded by like minded people for 2 1/2 hours lol! I told Jamie I felt I was in an alternate agility universe! Sad, but true :(.
>What an absolute bummer 🙁 Maybe you can give yourself a spot in your class? I have done that in the past and my students liked it – they could give me feedback, they could be ring crew, we had many laughs and the puppy got good training 🙂>
I am hoping to get there, but as of now I don’t think Promise could handle class and me teaching. I’m Working on her crating skills and patiently waiting. That is a LONG way off. She is different than my last dogs. They were largely ok unless I was running the other one of them. Promise can even get aroused from people just walking the course lol! She gets hugely aroused by other dogs and people running. Class environments is actually much tougher on her and me than the trial lol!!! At the trial, I am able to control distance much better.
I have been taking her out for short stents at home. Either the beginning or the end for a demo dog. I then have time to get her mind then with some pattern games. Yesterday I had her out at the beginning and just did the cookie pattern game while everyone set up and walked their dogs around. She had the best focus she has every had on me yet with other dogs around at class!!! I then used her as demo and then put her up. Slowly but surely lol!!!Here is the line up game! I apologize for the length of the video lol. So, she is starting to push the envelope again on her start line. I realize from your comments it’s probably my fault too lol!!! In my mind at judys I was taking steps lol, the video did not lie hahaha.
She has been more hesitant to go down on her ready lately. I did have a lightbulb today, that I may not be asking her for the ready when she has engagement with me. I waited for her to look at me and then said Ready and I had 100 percent success!!! I need to hang up the sign “Patience Grasshopper”.The third rep after the toy play, I got disconnect on the start line. There may have been some kibble on the ground. I am not sure. I played this game yesterday and today. I did feel like she had the most attention and success with the all business mode on both parts! Cant wait to see what you think!!!
It’s been crazy here! End of school year! I have had a couple of the videos for a few days and haven’t found the time to post them!
Taking a breath- https://youtu.be/dZmSAuA5Huw
I have been working on this for awhile. Finally videoedFind my face- https://youtu.be/VJxkh0YOjL8
Judys new environment- https://youtu.be/uZUiBBmgnNM
I have a few questions on the find my face game. She does wonderful with it as a walk and she knows it really, really well! It’s similar to the give me “a break game” at this level of walking which was relationship altering for us I have to say! I just taught Polly and QT give me a break last week! The best game!!!
I’m wondering though how I go to calmly walking to the next level of adding obstacles! As I’m typing this I’m starting to think maybe I added to many obstacles! I think she needs her cake sliced super super thin on this and lots of pieces😂😂. Help lol!! Help me not go from trot to racetrack 😂😂!Judys- she was a rockstar! Her very first seminar, what a girl! It was the perfect length! She did so fabulous! No Issues coming into the environment, which we can sometimes have! She took food no issues and her toy drive was AWESOME!
She did rotate spots that her crate was located and ended up in a far room with the door closed lol!! She had 4 moves 😂😂. I was trying to be very mindful of her arousal level and I did not want her getting keyed up when it wasn’t her turn! She does get very excited about people yelling commands, especially tunnel lol!
A few lessons learned! The importance of the “routine” with her. I was the first one to go and I was slightly nervous. Besides your seminar it’s been ages since I have done a live group class with an actual instructor!!! It was the triangle game and I had to leave her in a sit stay and laterally lead out! 😬😬😬whoops I have not worked on this much😂! Training hole😂. So like a dummy because of my nerves, I was not asking for her line up. So of course I asked her to sit and she was like”WHAT THE HELL!!! WOMAN THAT IS NOT HOW WE DO THINGS! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!!!” Who knew the sit command could cause such loud sheltie cursing. Well that woke me up pretty fast and we had to start with a reset cookie right off the bat lol! After that I was back in normal trainer mode and she was fantastic😊😊. We got to play the pattern game behind the wall, while other dogs were running and she was great. Gosh how I wish I Could have something like that place all the time!In other news, my training club has lost their field😭. It’s officially shut down now. I am holding my class at my house for my students. For new environments, I’m going to have to beg friends and I may not have the weekly exposure I had before 😞 and that she desperately needs 😭😭😭.
Here is our remote reinforcement. We played it yesterday too. I muddled a few things up yesterday lol, like having treats with me at first, not using the leash as I should, but it was a good refresher for both of us lol! Today, I think I got the rules right! I am finding that she is a little all business. She frequently just puts herself into the middle position without me asking for it. She did it at her feo too, which was wonderful lol!! I’m not sure if that is because she thinks we are playing the stay game or if she truly just wants to get on with it. Maybe a combo of both! I was really happy with her this a.m. perfect focus and lots of fun!!! She says I LIKE this game. I did include the clipping the leash and getting a treat again for the end of the agility run.
I’ve have also been playing the pattern game of cookie with her as soon as we go out the door to train. She’s very excited about training of course and had got into a habit of going into overarousal right away. She would then rush around looking for environmental triggers, mostly imaginary she could go bark at to release the energy while I was walking back to the area getting ready to work. She would rush the chicken gate(which is a frustration thing for her), run around the fence perimeters barking at ghost people. It would then take me a few minutes to get her head space into training mode.This game has been helping so much with that energy. It’s probably a great rehearsal for the ring too, because more than likely she will exhibit that same overaraousal lol!
The video is a little long, we had a long play session at the end.
Kryptonite-
Hmm seems like there is A LOT lol!!!
1. Her number one thing the will launch her into space like a rocket is another dog running in the ring. Especially if the handler is shouting loud commands and the dog is barking. I have a loud Aussie at the field the same time for me and she is a trigger. Also another very loud sheltie. Both handlers shout and yell a lot.
It doesn’t always have to be A loud dog though. A dog that is trotting doing agility can also make her lose her mind😂. It’s very insulting they get to be on the playground and she was not invited!2. Noises- Barking dogs. Though the last trial she was prettygood. Barking has historically worried her. It can send her into overarousal and cause anxiety for her. She then becomes progressive reactive to sounds. It is also a trigger for her to start her dog-dog resource guarding. I had a incident this weekend on Sunday of that.
3. Unexpected objects sometimes
4. People randomly appearing such as around a corner or at a drive through. The drive through is really bad, because the car is not a safe comfortable place her because of the extreme carsickness anxiety issue. I even have an issue at my house if someone is there and she did not expect it.
5. Smaller children- we had largely gotten over this I thought until nationals when one appeared in our hallway.
6. Dogs- Promise is very very, doggy. She loves other dogs and wants to soak in the smell of each and every one 😂.
Plan- I have been working on number one for many months and I am seeing progress! One thing I did at last trial is I held her far away from the ring where she could watch but was not getting aroused. I practiced engaged chill! I even have video😊. I also went on the floor in chair closer to the ring. I held a piece of chicken in my hand my she nibbled on it and sat in my lap.
I also played the pattern games and tricks around the ring on the floor. I tried to keep things short. Right now she has a time limit of around 6-8 dogs! I quit while she is golden brown and perfectly baked before she gets burnt lol!
I have also recently been practicing in my yard with engagement while Annalise is also working breeze or Potter. We haven’t progressed to her being able to focus while they go through a tunnel yet. I use distance if the situation becomes to tough.
2. Barking- I have not done this yet, but I’m thinking of playing my videos of the trials with lots of barking at the house and doing pattern games while it plays. I’m also very careful on where I crate her. Always away from other barking dogs and try not to be in a busy pathway. I also sandwich her crate with Potter and another dog and it is always covered.
3. Objects- Pattern games
4. I have an idea of having people approaching the parked car and getting lots of cookies for that. Also, next time I’m at a hotel we need to incorporate the pattern games in the hallways and take some moments to just walk the hallways and encounter random people. I was unprepared at nationals with no treats in my pockets. We can also start walking at the lake front again which is a great place to encounter things and gives the ability to get distance away. Lake front is my plan for small children also.
Other dogs- letting her sniff for awhile, calling her back to me then letting her go sniff again. I need to try a permission to go sniff. I’ve never had a sheltie that had any value for other dogs lol!
Engaged chill watching ring from a distance https://youtube.com/shorts/d1Yj-0R0myM?feature=share
Also, Jamie read your comments to me. I’m ready to move there😊😊😊! When do you want me there😊?!? You have a few spare dogs also for Annalise to run😉😂! Sounds perfect!!!
I’m going to Texas the last weekend of the month and have sometime to do something on the 30th. I thought about stopping by the trial and doing an feo run, but had an even better idea on the way home yesterday. Krafty k9 has indoor field rental and they are also having a short seminar of three hours with jumps and tunnels with Judy Ramsey that day. I really like Judy😊. I was thinking this may be an even better opportunity. I have an email in to Judy so we will see. I’m mostly going to see my daughter in the orchestra. She plays violin😊. It’s her birthday weekend also😊.
My next local trial is Mississippi Mavericks on May 7 and 8th. Of course AKC. She’s entered in fast and t2b feo. I’ve not finished training the contact obstacles yet! Still a ways to go there.
Beyond that trial, I haven’t planned anything. Locally things shut down till the end of July. I may try to find a uki trial in houston for end of may, or sometime in June so I could do more runs than just one.Very thankful for my community! I was thrilled with her. I thought she handled everything like a pro too! Actually, she struggles with class more. We may see some of that after she has built up more value for the ring.
HAHA! Well, I’m not sure if you are a Middle Fan, but I got forgot the famous blue bag that Frankie always forgets. I’m almost to Baton Rouge when I suddenly get this feeling that I forgot to put my Pink bag with ALL THE TREATS, TOYS, and leashes in the car. I ask Annalise “Do you see the pink bag?!??! Do you remember me putting it in the car?!?!” She doesn’t see it. She can’t say for sure it’s not in the car though. I then call my husband. “Do you see my pink bag sitting in the kitchen?” Why yes, yes he does. Panic mode lol. I’m doing FEO and I have NOTHING! I call Jamie and Carrie answers. Carrie helps me calm down and tells me that they have treats and toys and can find a leash and it will all be ok. Get to site and go directly to camper. Jamie opens up her car for toys and its a mobile Toysrus of dog toys lol! Now we need to find a treat that Promise likes. Lots of options for treats, but Promise who forgot to read the sheltie manual that all things that even resemble food are the greatest things ever is snubbing her nose at everything. What to do?? As we are discussing options, another friend is eating an egg mcmuffin. Promise jumps up on her to see what she is eating. We give her a piece and the egg is winner. Jennifer gives me half of her egg! Walking my course, I’m being shouted at “Amy, you are walking the course all wrong”. Everyone is concerned lol. I chose to start at the finish again lol. Then another competitor is walking behind me and mentions that I may have my pants on inside out. Umm yeah I did. So look for my tag in the video. It’s hilarious!
My actually FEO stuff all went really well! I was pretty nervous at the warmup jump, but calmed down by the time I entered the ring. You will hear a slight freak out from the crowd, because I was more than 10 feet from the gate. Multiple people starting shouting “AMY!!!” “PROMISE!!!”. Some of the shouting was cut out, but you’ll hear Jamie responding. So the anxiety level was a little high lol! I won’t ever forget this run, because of the lead up to it! The run was pretty forgettable lol!!!So, I didn’t get your response before I went into the ring. I did just a little more than wash, rinse, repeat lol! I was like, well Tracy told me I could possibly do a stay lol! She was EXCELLENT. Thankfully, running is just as much as a reward to her as the toy :).
Planning for FEO is super hard!!! Hopefully, I didn’t push it too much lol! Hey, I did stay away from the weaves lol!
Her FEO went fabulous!!! The best line was the finish line, so since it was a super long way to it, I decided to carry her. Because of her car sickness issue she was pretty much on an empty stomach. Food was definitely trumping toys at the time.
When I plopped her in the dirt, she was like what is this smelly stuff and started to smell it, but then gave me a glance and off we went! We ran to the pink bag afterward and got our special wet food reward. I then went to go play tennis ball with her, but she was more interested in food. I’m hungry momma! Feed me breakfast!When I first got to the trial site, I took her to the off side grass and after her potty we played the pattern game. She entered the arena super focused on me😊😊😊. It was probably our best time entering a new ring with her attention!
Looking forward to tomorrow? What should my plan be???
https://youtu.be/oO4DUdooIL0 Pattern game before runI forgot you were offline today😊. Here is a FEO practice in the backyard before tomorrow’s real run. With the pattern game, the off leash engagement and then the run.
Hopefully going through all the steps helps me with tomorrow 😊.
Yes, the coffee table was a new behavior😂😂! I think my face said it all😂. It was a pretty hilarious training session. Outsmarted by my sheltie again😂.
I just got the running order last night. Fast and t2b are both the first classes in the morning. She is the third dog in FAST and the First dog in T2B. It should be a really good experience for her. Things will be more like novice since people will unlikely be at the ring at the start! We will have to make sure to play the pattern games around the ring during masters later in the day also!
I’m really excited!!! I know she’s going to have fun and be flying!!! My hardest part will be picking a path I can stay connected with her. She’s so much faster than me. Hopefully I can find a curve of jumps.
