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So even though he doesn’t appear to struggle until Veloz is around agility equipment, you still want to practice in different contexts so that you can build Veloz’s resilience and lower his frustration. It’s all connected and each time you practice builds on the session before, ultimately helping you in the agility environment. It is important to practice these games in different situations because you have to teach him what it feels like in situations where frustration has not been conditioned into the experience, the way this emotion has developed in agility.
You can use toys for Pattern Games and then use food for Relaxation.
When practicing Modulating Emotions, please use food for the Relaxation part of the game. It’s not just about cueing the dog to lay down–that’s a skill, not about shifting the internal state.
Hi Diane!
Video: Sit-stay work on the Cato board at the trial-
I would reinforce more often. There is a lot going on. Twice, he started to leave the board and you had to go back to fix it. That means your criteria were too hard. At home, you can give less treats because home is easy. In busy environments, go back more often to reinforce–perhaps every 2-5 seconds. It’s not just about building understanding of the skill–you are also building his confidence in this skill, regardless of what’s going on around him.I love that you are taking the show on the road! Practicing this in new environments is important. Looking forward to you practicing in class as soon as you’re back there.
Video: Modulating Emotions-
I love how he plays! So cute!! Really great job! Keep playing this game. 🙂So the Deep Breath exercise is something to be practiced separately from Relaxation Conditioning. Once Danny K understands it, you can practice them together.
So when practicing Find My Face, I want you to reinforce Danny K when he comes to you by giving him a treat from your hand, then toss a treat away.
This game will help team him to come to you if something goes wrong on the course and check-in, instead of jump on you or zoom around (stress zoomies).
It’s okay if she’s eyeing the board. There is value there. Remember, we are trying a few different things to see what startline set up works best for Avery.
You can also try doing the Pattern Game a little further from the Cato board.
If you have an explosive release after doing Relaxation Conditioning, it is information as to how Avery is feeling…not so relaxed. 🙂 But don’t see it as a problem–it’s just information.
No need to interrupt for treat sniffing. This video looks great! Lots of good engagement and play!
Really great job taking the show on the road!!
At one point, I thought maybe Sprite was tugging that fiercely because she was putting her stress on the leash, BUT seeing how quickly she could respond to the cue to lay down tells me she wasn’t. This is fantastic!!
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Wow! What a fall! You handled it well.The biting looks like it’s when she is frustrated because the handling information might not be as clear as she needs.
Also, when you first take her out of the crate, I recommend doing about 20-30 sec of shadow handling before going into the ring for your turn. That will help prevent some of jumping up and biting the leash or you. It gives her something to do that will help her feel grounded.
Video 2-
Great work! Ok, you are ready to bring the Cato board training outdoors and mix it into some training exercises. So start on the Cato board for about 30 sec, then about 60 sec of training a skill or sequence, then 30 sec of Cato board, then about 60 sec of training a skill or sequence. Please take video. 🙂Video 1-
This is great! With two or three obstacles, it’s hard to get lost, so the dog will drive right into you. 🙂Video 2-
So typically, if the dog is incorrect twice, I break down the behavior so that I can guarantee the dog gets it right. Then I build from there. This is an important part of resilience building. So although he didn’t shut down here, be mindful of this as you continue your training journey with Robbie.I think you are missing the point of the exercise. Robbie won’t come to you and start moving back and forth in a pattern movement. He will simply check in. If you decel, while looking at where to go, and your decel is timely, he will continue onwards as directed. If you stop moving, look lost, and stand there for more than a second or two, he will check in with you. I can speak from experience.
Consider this a tool in resilience building. You do not have to do it if you believe it will not work.
Hooray!! This is a building-block process. Sprite will continue to improve with her focus as you keep practicing. It can take months and months. Phuncky is about 2.5 years old. His focus continues to improve as we continue to grow together as a team and he continues to mature and understand what I am asking of him. His emotional regulation continues to improve as well. He can now sit immediately when I ask him to before going out the back door. This was not possible for most of his life thus far! Lol!
Correct with the steps for play, relax, play, relax.
A friend playing ball in Sprite’s yard!! That’s hard!! Well done!
Regarding the slow sit- sometimes instantly release her once her backside touches the floor, sometimes lead out and release, and sometimes toss a reward back to her after leading out. The slow sits will become less slow with time. We don’t want to reinforce perfection–we want to reinforce the effort. The behavior will improve over time. I have seen it with Topper and with Phuncky.
Cato board training-
Where you stand doesn’t matter because she will face you, no matter where you stand. And that’s fine. The goal is to build value and enthusiasm for a sit-stay on the board. Then we will use it at the startline to help get the sit behavior right away. We want this process to be fun! 🙂“So do you think it’s best for me to use the strategy “1 cue for sit, I will accept what you give me b/c that’s the best you can do at that moment, and I will stay positive?”
Yes!! Take what she offers. It will improve with these games over time.
So I don’t want you to hide from her tunnel concerns. At home is the best place to practice Find My Face after a tunnel. But not every time. Sometimes practice it after a jump, etc. Don’t play it at the startline. The sit-stay work will help with that. The Find My Face game will be so fun for her so if you do it after a tunnel, she will say, “yes! Mom is playing that game!” Because frankly, you will not be able to ALWAYS be connected. We are human. 🙂
Food is okay for assignment 8. But I want you running back and forth with her…be more animated and engaging.
If traveling is a challenge, then play the games away from the ring whenever you can travel with Avery. Do your best. 🙂
Video 1-
OMG!!! Woo hoo!!!! Yes the connection could be a bit better, but wowza!!Video 2-
Maybe what you can do at the start is some tugging, ask to sit, tugging, ask for sit, then lead out and release. I would build this into training in class and at home before you start trying this at trials.Yes, his arousal was high, hence not being able to let go of the toy. I am TOTALLY okay with that. We can work on it over time. Don’t worry about it–just do your best to get the toy back and then send him back into the course.
Do you have a leash that he could tug? Perhaps you can use that since Bouy loves tugging.
Video 3-
I think you handled that well. And yes, when you lead out, stay connection, even praising him.Correct about play. Use what works for the dog, regardless of the environment.
Great work practicing the games at a trial! Feel free to post videos of you guys playing games at trials, in addition to your runs. 🙂
Haha! Love the style!
So what I want you to change is to reward him when he comes to you, then toss another treat. Also, when you want him to ‘find’ you when you turn away, stop moving. When he comes around the front, praise and reward from your hand, then toss a treat away. Then repeat. Make sense?
What’s your plan with the Superbowls Game as you incorporate into a short sequence? Did you see the presentation I did at last week’s Training Night Chat?
