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Hi Bonnie. I applaud you for trying. And now we have more information.
I understand that the videos bum you out, but I would like for you to post them anyway. It will allow me to better help you if I can observe Moo’s behavior.
Can you also share video of Moo in other environments that are active and stimulating, such as the walking through Home Depot and through town. Are you near a major city? If so, can you take video walking there? Do you have any video walking around a trial environment, not in the ring?
For now, let’s focus on training in class and at run thrus.
I would like for you to start using the Snuffle Mat before and after a run in class. Please take video. Let’s track how this influences Moo’s performance.
Also, start practicing Shadow Handling in different environments, such as parks, agility classes, agility seminars, agility trials, near Farmer’s Markets, at a Lowe’s parking lot (make sure to be safe!), near a child’s playground (make sure the kids can’t access the both of you), etc. Keep looking for environments that are stimulating but not scary or overwhelming. You can do this by considering the activity level around you as well as how much distance there is between the activity and the both of you. And please take video so that I can give you feedback.
I would have the jump about 40 feet from where the people are sitting. Over the next few classes, move the jump closer and closer. Make sure to reward with a HUGE jackpot each time she does it. By setting up the jump so much further away, in decreasing the distance over time, Keiko will have an easier time doing it. And only do it once or twice each session. Keeping it short and sweet is more impactful for her learning.
Do you have video of you practicing jumping into the audience when you worked on it with Mary?
I would like for you to start using the Snuffle Mat before and after a run in class. Please take video. Let’s track how this influences Keiko’s performance.
Also, start practicing Shadow Handling in different environments, such as parks, agility classes, agility seminars, agility trials, near Farmer’s Markets, at a Lowe’s parking lot (make sure to be safe!), near a child’s playground (make sure the kids can’t access the both of you), etc. Keep looking for environments that are stimulating but not scary or overwhelming. You can do this by considering the activity level around you as well as how much distance there is between the activity and the both of you. And please take video so that I can give you feedback.
I love his orange tail!!
Fantastic job! I would like for you to start using the Snuffle Mat before and after a run in class. Please take video. Let’s track how this influences Luke’s performance.
Also, start practicing Shadow Handling in different environments, such as parks, agility classes, agility seminars, agility trials, near Farmer’s Markets, at a Lowe’s parking lot (make sure to be safe!), near a child’s playground (make sure the kids can’t access the both of you), etc. Keep looking for environments that are stimulating but not scary or overwhelming. You can do this by considering the activity level around you as well as how much distance there is between the activity and the both of you. And please take video so that I can give you feedback.
Shadow Handling is the first Pattern Game. I will be sharing more games in the next week. Keep practicing the assignments you have received so far. 🙂
I would like for you to start using the Snuffle Mat before and after a run in class. Please take video. Let’s track how this influences Grizzly’s performance.
Also, start practicing Shadow Handling in different environments, such as parks, agility classes, agility seminars, agility trials, near Farmer’s Markets, at a Lowe’s parking lot (make sure to be safe!), near a child’s playground (make sure the kids can’t access the both of you), etc. Keep looking for environments that are stimulating but not scary or overwhelming. You can do this by considering the activity level around you as well as how much distance there is between the activity and the both of you. And please take video so that I can give you feedback.
Fantastic application of mat training! If Mary is okay with it, you can seen about sometimes setting up the mat right outside of the ring, while another dog is running.
Sounds like Mary has having you play a couple of Pattern Games. 🙂 They are part of this course. I will be posting a couple of Pattern Games in a day or so. The games Mary is suggesting is great way to build confidence! Keep doing them. 🙂
What I would try doing is rewarding Keiko more often between obstacles, perhaps 3-4. So basically, rewarding her more frequently. And definitely play a couple of games, and then do a few obstacles, then do a couple of games, then do a few obstacles. Mix it up. 🙂
Excellent job taking the Relaxation Conditioning exercise outdoors!! Keep practicing outdoors, alternating with doing it indoors.
Can you mix up using the Lotus Ball in training too? I would like to see some videos of him in class or at run-thrus to see what you mean.
Great insight about the pressure from behind. We will be playing some startline games with pressure behind the dogs. Yes, I recommend playing various games putting pressure on Moo, but make sure to balance this with easy, light games and training too. Too much pressure will shut down a dog.
Regarding the Cato Board, here is the exercise that I was going to post for everyone in a few days. You can start working on it now. 🙂
Go to Place
Training a dog to go to a specific area— for example, his mat—helps for calmer social interaction when guests visit or during meals when the family is sitting at the dinner table. This is a variation of “stay,” and is a type of “target exercise.” The goal is to have the dog remain stationary, and relaxed, on his mat for a period while life goes on around him. If your dog is already a shadow handling pro, practice anyway to continue building value (putting money in the bank!). You might be ready to practice in different environments, but stay away from situations that could trigger your dog.
For reactive dogs, this game can allow a dog’s internal state to match his external position (a relaxed down) when practiced in different situations over time. It will also give your dog a job to do during “downtime,” and he will learn that the mat is a safety zone where other dogs or people will not invade his space.
How does this game support agility?
• Builds value for stopped contacts and the pause table.
• Is useful for focus and distraction training.
• Teaches the dog how to engage with an “obstacle” (shaping during the teaching process).Teaching the Game
• Ideally, I would like you to play this game on an elevated surface, such as a Kuranda Bed, Klimb, or camping chair, but we start with a mat on the floor where we will also condition relaxation.
• Build the value: With your dog on a leash, stand next to a dog mat. When your dog gets on to the mat, start dropping treats onto it. Initially, it doesn’t matter what position he is in—you are building value for hanging out on the mat. Slow down the frequency of treat delivery to every few seconds. Release your dog and repeat. While building value, pick up the mat and put it away when you are not working this game. This will help your dog build a conditioned emotional response (CER) to the mat—think of it as the “happy dance” when he sees the mat.• Test the value: Once your dog gets that the mat is an excellent place to hang out, test the value. Stand next to the mat. Once your dog gets on, drop a treat. Start taking a few steps away and coming back to reward him. If your dog comes with you, walk him back by his leash and try again. If he doesn’t come with you, either return to him to reward or toss a treat onto the mat. Release and repeat.
• Test some more: This time, stand near the mat, but not next to it. Where does your dog choose to go? After a few moments, he will probably walk over to the mat and stand/sit/lie down. Let him think about it. When he does choose to go the mat, toss a treat onto the mat and repeat step 2.
• Shape a down: This time when your dog goes to the mat, hold out on rewarding. Wait until he offers a down (if he hasn’t already done so), and then reward generously by placing the treats on the mat between his paws.
• Send to place: Before labeling the behavior, we have to make sure the dog really likes this new game. Get your dog amped up, and then send him to the mat from a few feet away by pointing and stepping toward it. Your dog should race ahead of you to get to the mat. Once he does, reward him.
• Build distance: See how far you can get when sending your dog to his mat.
• Label the behavior: Once you can send your dog to his mat from at least 6ft. away, and he goes the mat with passion, you are ready to label the behavior. Say the words “Go to your mat” (or whatever you would like to label it) and then send your dog. Reward once he is on the mat.
Things to Keep in Mind
• It’s important to practice daily.
• I find that some dogs are more comfortable when they are elevated, so once your dog can calmly lie on a mat, practice teaching him to settle on an elevated surface. This could be a platform (like a Klimb), camping chair, or a Kuranda Bed.
• Be strategic about where you set up your dog’s bed once the behavior is established. For example, I set up Marvel in his camping chair in the corner during class, away from the activity. I tend to stay nearby to support him if need be.
• Make sure to manage the space around your dog so that he feels secure when in his “place.”
• Once your dog has these skills in place, it’s time to take the show on the road. Can he settle on a mat or elevated surface at a park, away from triggers? Can he settle when the other dogs are moving around the home? Can he settle when guests visit (if he likes it when guests visit)?
• Don’t worry about creating a perfect state of relaxation while your dog is in a down position in the new environments. I want you to focus on practicing in new environments— the relaxed state will come with time and all of the other behavior modification work.• Practice every day for a couple of minutes, even after your dog has mastered the game. And be generous with the treats even if your dog understands the skill. We will be using Shadow Handling as part of the counter-conditioning process in face of your dog’s triggers. Eventually you will be practicing this game in more stimulating environments, and later on in environments with triggers.
Regarding the Relaxation Conditioning exercise, if she gets up and leaves, call her back over and continue. If she leaves again, and it’s been about 6-8 minutes, you can stop. Totally fine.
I LOVE your basement!! We have an unfinished basement and I want to set it up for the dogs. 🙂
Yes, your assessment is correct. You have to bend lower to reward Luke and reward him more frequently. Keep practicing this to refine your mechanics. And start practicing Shadow Handling in different places, such as your backyard, class, other places, etc. 🙂
No worries! In the Snuffle Mat assignment, don’t leave it out all of the time. Just put it out, let Keiko work on it, then pick it up and put it away once you are done using it per the assignment. 🙂
