[Barb Levenson]

Hi Kris,
I see several things that I can suggest that might help you. I would give her 2 to 3 or four repetitions at each part of the clock. What she showing me she doesn’t understand the game yet. At 6 you were good and your reinforcement was spot on. I might’ve stated six longer.

The only thing that I noticed is that when she is set up with her paws facing the first pole she has more understanding. So you want to be careful both of you are facing the first pole. I’m uncertain whether your toes are pointing that way. But what that does is affect your shoulders that’s what part of the queue becomes.

I would also suggest that when you have success you move in smaller increments for her. She seems to need that reassurance. In the beginning smaller increments have been very helpful to dogs at my school. So you might want to slow down just a little bit for her.

You also seem to want to reassure her that she’s doing a good job. Might I suggest that you just release her and start over quietly. She wants to do it. And she’s trying really hard as are you. What I tell my students is that you have to run the dog at the end of the leash. She wants very badly to please you. So if you could, slow down and allow her additional successes. She seems to me that.

[Barb Levenson]

Laura, for some reason Google won’t let me open the video. I tried it on my handheld as well as my computer. If you would like, send it to my email and let me see if I can open from their. My email is barb12011@comcast.net

[Barb Levenson]

Hi Susan and welcome!

[Barb Levenson]

Hi and welcome to the program. From what you would showing me in the video you didn’t start with the sheet determining direction of flow. In that program you will be rotating the weaves, before you start adding the clock. These are two separate items that I have sent to all of you. You add the clock once you have determined speed and drive through direction of flow

[Barb Levenson]

Hi Joyce and welcome.. When the most important things when teaching a very green dog a green dog, is common don’t be offended anyone, be quiet. It is hard for a young dog to focus on their job when there is a litany of things being said that are not part of the program. I never put a weave word until the end of six weeks. And the next thing that is hard for people to do my program is to not correct the dog. That can be the word no, funny sounds or other verbals that have not been given to you as part of the process. This first couple of weeks for all of you is a transition. I am very quiet when I train my dogs. I know you think you may be giving information but for many breeds, and the calling is one of them, it can cause them to shut down.

[Barb Levenson]

I’m going to suggest you slow down just a little bit. Make sure. Please repeat six until you’re sure she understands what she’s doing. I also see you moving your body.. When I am starting a baby dog I’m very careful about my motion because it can become a distraction. As I watch you two it appears that she doesn’t really know what she is supposed to do. Did you start with the direction of motion? If you didn’t please do. It helps the dog understand what they are physically to do with their body.

[Barb Levenson]

Hi! I’m so excited you’re joining the group again and more so because you work successful the last time. Let me look at things in a reply

[Barb Levenson]

Julie,
I am so proud of what you have accomplished over the past 6 weeks. You are proof it can be done. One tiny suggestion as you move forward. When I was competing with my young dog in the beginning, I always looked at the courseto see the “time” of the entry on the clock. That enabled me to understand where I had to be to set my dog up as best I could. One other tip…Keep any eyes on your toes. Trix is really figuring things out. It would be helpful to her if you were to be consistent with your toes/body/shoulders so when you get on course it is a habit for you… and thereby her.

And here’s the answer to your question…. Set up the second set of 6 weaves as you did with each additional set of two’s. Don’t put them together until you are sure she is comfortable. Do everything as you did each time you added two poles.

The beauty of this program is by the time you are through, if you have followed ALL the worksheets and didn’t skip anything, you will have shown your dog every single entry they will ever see on a course. And running weave entries will become almost organic for your dog leaving you time to worry about other things. This is truly contingent on filling out every worksheet the way they are set up.

I wish you the very best of luck with Trix. She is a wonderful dog!!! Please stay in touch and keep me appraised of your successes. Use my email and not this site after a couple of weeks down the road.

Take good care and Happy New Year!!

Barb

[Barb Levenson]

Oh Julie!!! I am over the moon with how Trix is doing. In every class I have taught there is one stand-out team who reads the handouts, asks good questions for feedback and knocks the course out of the park. That is you!!! Well done!!!! It’s all coming together.

[Barb Levenson]

Good idea Julie. Use what you learned as information about your dog’s likes and dislikes. Fly prefers a toy; Jack wants food. Every dog is different. I always like to train the dog at the end of my leash and not the last dog. Keep up the good work. I’m really proud of you!!!

[Barb Levenson]

The side of the weaves where you are having difficulty is THE MOST DIFFICULT of the sides. the dog is actually eventually faced with a number of weave openings. Whereas on the other side there is only one thing to do…wrap the first pole.

As far as people seeing errors, I will be posting my program with Jack from today. My challenge is he loves the game and it is difficult for me to stop him to reset my scooter. So wait till you see. We all struggle 🙂

[Barb Levenson]

Hi Carol,
Let’s talk later. I am afraid you are creating a behavior chain you don’t want. I am happy to discuss this on the phone. 412 877 8352 The other thing I am noticing is your position for the second set of poles. You are far away and the set up is sort of loosey goosey. *spelling?* What we want to develop is anticipatory behavior for the second set just as we did for the first set. It is that anticipation followed by reinforcement that builds the strength of the behavior through classical conditioning. So I am happy to talk later, perhaps around 7 my time?
Barb

[Barb Levenson]

Thanks Carol. I know you will be happier with the results.

BTW, Kathy came to my course last year with Rolex. She told me she had little faith in my program because she had tried every program with him. However, she followed my guidelines and stayed with the program. She is now able to send him to the weaves from 30 or more feet. If you stay true, your feet will hardly be in the picture. There is so much reinforcement value with the weaves that Strut will work his butt off to find them no matter how far. You’ll rarely be close.

Also, the dogs know there job so well you will be able to peel off and go to the next obstacle or sequence with the dog remaining in the poles.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

[Barb Levenson]

I totally understand what you are saying about your feet. However with my program your feet will not even be in the picture. I don’t know if you know Kathy McHugh who brought Rolex through my program last year. In her first open jumpers class she was a good 30 feet or more away from Rolex when she signaled the weaves. You believe you will be beside him. That isn’t the outcome of the program. If you watch my video with Jack you will see I am already building distance. It would be easier for me to help you if you will go along with the class guidelines. Changing your feet produces an inconsistency that may be confusing for him. In the beginning accuracy on both your part and Strut’s is vital.

And when I set up the second set, my toes are pointed to those poles as though they are the first poles — consistency for both dog and handler through the entire program. I think that may be creating some of his mistakes. If you watch, the second set is not consistent with the first. What you are doing is creating anticipatory behavior for the second set which will lead to Strut offering the correct behavior shortly.

I also suggest you stop thinking as though he will be beside you when you run.

[Barb Levenson]

I think I’m learning how to video!! If you notice Jack is looking back at me for the reinforcement. He is precisely telling me I am too slow. By the end, he is starting to drive straight down the line with addition understanding of what is going to happen…classical condition of the behavior.

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