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Hi Ginger!
Here is the recording from our session:
https://zoom.us/rec/share/P7Tiu_jHpB7nA7MvczjLGtxSe-KK7RAnPxP86WhxtN80kOuMUfpEdONQj08sILxv.xUYc3TIeh548cAGy?startTime=1679339717000
Passcode: G@@%t18qHi Melissa!
Here is the recording from our session:
https://zoom.us/rec/share/7U10tC9Sk4cxcIRSZMXJaSqAvWT-5qvpt2a7iDVe4RJc5G4Ojj2x4m2iBYpcUXHT.6OnJaBh4O7ZHRuX9?startTime=1679421903000
Passcode: #ODJ#xk2Hi Susan!
Here is the recording from our session yesterday:
https://zoom.us/rec/share/J8BGF-b1nTQqr7McRK91LjISFehT1-61OUVR1dniSKok7eyg7JDvtYk_JoAZiB2n.sm0FQT6mgvzFBeNu?startTime=1679423581000
Passcode: G0i.=@dLLove the praising!!! Keep it up! Practice this game daily indoors for the next three days for 2 min. Before and after you play the Superbowls Game, play with one of her squeaky tug toys for about 30 seconds.
After 3 days, practice in your backyard following the same steps.
Please post video. 🙂
Here is the Remote Reinforcement Game, phase 1:
Beginning Remote Reinforcement Concepts
As we continue to teach our puppies about how to earn positive reinforcement, we need
to introduce an important concept: remote reinforcement. This will teach them how to
engage, offer behavior, and respond to cues even when reinforcement is placed
“remotely” and not in your hands or pockets. This is incredibly useful to help the pups
eventually make the transition to the trial ring, by making this concept fun and reducing
stress or confusion.For now, consider this to be a ‘standalone’ game, not a lifestyle change. We will play
this game as a way to teach the concept as a foundation for future competition runs. All
of our other training will still be approached with the reinforcement in your hands or
pockets.Here is the discussion demo video for this game:
Choose Your Marker
Before you begin playing this game with the pup, you need to choose a word or phrase
that indicates that the ‘remote’ reinforcement is now available and that you and the pup
will run back to it. I use ‘let’s go!’. You can use any word or phrase that is not used
elsewhere in training or daily life.Let’s Talk About Praise!
In order to help the dog understand this concept, you will want to emphasize the remote
reinforcement marker that is separated from any praise. When you are ready to go back
to the remote reinforcement, use the marker very clearly. Resist the temptation to praise
or chatter before or during the marker – save the praise until after you have delivered
the reinforcement. We want the marker to be the indication that the reinforcement is
available. If we use praise as the indicator, the dog might get confused about when the
reinforcement is available and when it is not.High Rate Of Success
Build this game up slowly and in tiny steps, so you can set an incredibly high rate of
success! We want to make this game a stress-free and super fun way to earn
reinforcement. If the pup has a question or an error, simplify things immediately so the
dog can be successful. Too many errors or questions can lead to stress or frustration,
so protect your pup’s high rate of success by breaking this game down into tiny steps.
If the dog has any questions about these levels, we can split the behavior into smaller
pieces to set up more success.The Setup
When setting up your training area before bringing the pup in, plan a place where you
will put the reinforcement. This place should be visible to the fog, but just high enough
that the pup is less tempted to grab for it and will have more success moving away from
it. Also, be sure that your hands and pockets are empty!Baby Level: Getting Started
Let’s introduce this concept by teaching the pup to move away from the reinforcement
with engagement and add the marker:
● Choose a low to medium value reinforcement (can be a treat or toy)
● Place it in the spot you’ve chosen, allowing the puppy to see you put it there
● Move away from the reward spot, just a step or two
● When the pup moves with you, use your marker and run back to deliver the
reinforcementThis is pretty difficult, so be sure to start with just a step or two and feel free to verbally
encourage the pup if she needs a little help.When the pup can offer engagement and move away from the reinforcement for a step
or two, you can gradually add more and more steps away from the reinforcement! Be
sure to keep a high rate of success and be very clear with your marker.Advanced Level: Getting Fancy
When the pup is able to move away from the reinforcement with engagement, you can
add in more behavior in the form of simple, fun tricks that are cued or offered:
● Choose a low to medium-value reinforcement (can be a treat or toy)
● Place it in the spot you’ve chosen, allowing the puppy to see you put it there
● Move away from the reward spot and cue a simple, fun behavior such as a hand
touch or trick or sit or… anything easy and fun!
● When the pup responds to the cue (or offers a behavior if you are waiting for her
to offer something), use your marker and run back to deliver the reinforcement.Begin with just one behavior before you mark and run back to the reward. When the pup
is able to do that, you can ‘ping pong’ the number of behaviors you ask for: ask for one
behavior, then 3, then 2, then 5, then 1, then 4, then 2, then 7, and so on. This will
gradually build the duration of engagement and the number of cues the dog can respond to
before getting a reinforcement. This will be really helpful when entering the competition
ring!Super Advanced Level: Quiet Praise
This level is very similar to the Baby and Advanced levels, except now we are adding in
quite a praise. Remember that the praise and the marker are not linked, because we want
the marker to indicate the reinforcement and not the praise. Start with adding quiet
praise when the pup engages or responds to a cue. Take a moment or a breath after the
praise, then use your marker to indicate the remote reinforcement is available. You can
sometimes praise then ask for another behavior, or you can use your remote
reinforcement marker without praise.This is all very helpful information. I have a few thoughts…let me know what you think.
How about we work on relaxation for 5 minutes instead of 10 minutes because you are limited with her diet and the amount of food she can have? On the days you don’t train her in agility, like a rainy day, try 10 min of relaxation work.
Is this video the first time you practice relaxation with DancR? It takes weeks and weeks for relaxation to take effect on a neurobiological level.
Some things you can do are:
– Slow down your hand–don’t move it as fast to deliver the treat.
– Place the treat on the bed, do not drop it. Dropping treats are more stimulating than placing them
– Wait about 1-2 seconds in between each treat (we will increase the duration between treats over the next couple of weeks).
– Break the niblets in half, if possible, so that the pieces are smaller. I have done this with my 7 lb. dog.Is the whole litter like DancR? She seems to vibrate. 🙂
Is there any time of day that she seems more settled and calmer?
You can use the niblets in the Snuffle Mat. Just put them in a Ziploc bag and smash them with a mallet. That will turn them into tiny pieces or dust, which can then be sprinkled into the Snuffle Mat.
Hi Beverly,
Apologies for today! We had the time switch over for daylight savings and it didn’t occur to me that NZ didn’t change their time yet. We can reschedule for another time this week.
Regarding the videos, I didn’t respond to the video on 3/5 because we discussed it together during our one-on-one Zoom session on 3/7. You can review the recording in your thread to hear my feedback and next steps.
I will respond today to your post from 3/15. And please feel free to post another video since you were waiting for me.
I sent this in an email as well today.
She’s laying down!! Right away!! Well done!
I know she doesn’t look relaxed- it can take weeks and weeks before that happens at a neurobiological level.
Since it looks like she is curling onto her left hip, you can start rewarding her near her right elbow to encourage the curl-shape. This helps the dog settle more into relaxation over time.
Looking forward to it! Would Gwen take video so that I can comment and you can share the feedback with her?
When doing the Superbowls Game, praise her excitedly and then move to the next “bowl.”
She clearly likes to CHASE!!! This means you have to turn into a Flyball handler, lol! Watch this video to see the kind of rewarding I want you to do in terms of energy and mechanics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xjdcTveyps
I would like you to get a long, fluffy toy and run away whooping and cheerleading Fiona while looking over your shoulder. Let her catch the toy and then play with her with enthusiasm and silliness. Please take a video of you doing this a few times in a row. And have someone restrain her like in the flyball video. 🙂
Are you saying DancR gets so worked up that she vomits sometimes? I just want to make sure I fully understand.
What are some of the things you have done to help her with the reverse wraps?
Is DancR more of a foodie or all about toys?
Video comments-
Is that a pattern game you do while waiting for your turn?I want to experiment with a few things to help DancR with her arousal. Please start by practicing the homework assignments I posted in this course so far.
Also, do you have a Snuffle Mat? If so, please bring it to class. When you come into the building and are waiting your turn, keep crumbling treats into the mat. You can use freeze-dried treats–they crumble into tiny pieces, even powder. The duration sniffing activity could help in regulating her arousal. Keep working on it until it’s her turn to go. After her turn is over, have her work on the Snuffle Mat again for 2 min before crating her again. Let’s do this for the next few weeks. We will be doing other things as well, but start with this.
Tom, I am so glad to hear you are staying! I will do better! Let me know once you hear back from Tracy about your status. For now, let’s continue with you as a working student.
How you walk Coal into the training space sounds good. Would it be possible to ask a friend or fellow student record you next time you have class? I would like to see what it looks like when you take Coal from the car and walk into the training space, then the ring. I would like to see what you described in action. There are things I am sure I can help you improve on. 🙂
Video comments-
Find My Face- it looks like you have your mechanics in reverse. It looks like Coal is doing Find My Face with you, lol. Instead of walking around Coal and facing him, walk around and then turn your back to him–let Coal walk around you like he is looking for your face. Does that make sense?Superbowls Game looks good! Please practice this game daily, either in your home or yard, for the rest of this week. Practice once per day for about 3 minutes. This week, we will focus on building value for the game.
What treats are you using for this game?
Are you familiar with the CU 1-2-3 Game?
They are. If you scroll down, you will see a thread called “Training Night Chats.” You can find them all there as well.
I LOVE the excitement and enthusiasm you have when you reward her! 🙂
Nice job Sprite!! Sitting immediately after 3 tunnels! And good job bringing out the Snuffle Mat to help with emotional regulation.
Practice this game once every other week. It’s a HARD game! lol
Hi Kathleen,
So if a dog is slow to do a behavior that you know they can do, it is an arousal issue. A slow down for herding and agility is an indication of that, especially since he does not take that long to lay down away from those contexts.
How does your breeder train herding? Is it in traditional ways to teach herding? When she describes the behavior as “feeling pressure,” what is she seeing exactly?
I get how frustrating it can feel when he doesn’t do what you ask. It might help to know that he literally cannot- it is not a conscious choice he is making. That’s the thing about arousal.
Let’s play a game that will help with emotional regulation. I will post an exercise to the class in the next week or so focused on this. For now, here is what I want you to do. Practice asking Vinny to lay down away from agility equipment. Practice in your living room. Take video for me to see. Do this about 6 times in a row, rewarding him with a treat, then releasing him to tug. Please post the video and then I will give feedback on how to continue.
In addition, please post video of the other assignments I posted. 🙂
