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Hi Susanne!
For the Find My Face game, you don’t have to wait for direct eye contact. If she looks anywhere at your body, let’s praise and reward. Most dogs start to look at the handler’s face over time- this happens naturally.
If JuJubee sits, it’s fine. Once we start putting this into short sequences, she likely won’t sit. Either way, it’s totally fine. 🙂
When JuJubee looks at you, praise her with a bit more enthusiasm, then reward, when using food- the way you praise when you were using the toys.
She loves this game! Look at her tail!
Will it be difficult for DancR to practice the relaxation game if your other dogs are barking in a different room? Are you comfortable putting your dogs in the car while practicing relaxation with DancR?
Video-
At 2 sec, you start to decel before DancR is committed to the jump, pulling her off, then she barks at you because she is likely frustrated. Is this typical?I take it she is supposed to stop at the end of the teeter. 🙂 Is it typical for her to break it before cued?
For the reverse wraps, is this behavior common for DancR? Where she comes off the wrap when you start to leave?
Overall, DancR has incredible skills!!!
Let’s avoid weaves for now in trials. It’s too much pressure.
Do you want to work on weaves together in this course with me? I can help with that too. I think it’s less of a skill issue and more of a “pressure” issue for Bouy.
I figured I can share the Superbowls Game with you again so that it lives in this thread:
In addition, here is a new game I would like for you to start practicing with Coal. The game will build so that we will be using it in the agility course. For now, please practice it as designed, once per day, for about 2 min. You can practice it in your home and yard for the first few days. I will then share instruction on how to build it.
Pattern Games: Super Bowls
Super Bowls is a game that comes from Leslie McDevitt’s extremely popular “Control Unleashed” series. This is a pattern game. Pattern games are simple sets of exercises that provide a structured and predictable pattern to help dogs adjust to changes in their environment.You Need
2-5 plates or bowls
High value treats
A hungry dog!Step 1: Teach the Game
Set out 2-5 plates with a 6’ distance between each plate
Plate a treat on one plate and let your dog eat it
When your dog looks at you, return eye contact, smile, and walk to the next plate
Place a treat on that plate
When they look up at your, return eye contact, smile, and walk to the next plate
Repeat until you can go all the way down the line and back to the first plate
Once you have completed the sequence three times, proceed to Step 2.Step 2: Change the environment or stations
Repeat the game in a very mildly distracting environment. Instead of using plates, use any station outside that is naturally recurring like park benches, cars parked along the sidewalk or poured cement sidewalk blocks, trees, or lamp posts.
If your dog engages with something in the environment prior to looking up at you, just wait. Let them process the environmental change before returning their attention to you.If your dog is unable to return to the game, they are ready to be this close to distractions yet or the environment is too overwhelming.
Your pup must be having fun in low-distraction and low-stress environments before moving to more stimulating environments.Here is a video example of the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlOIEpXpwOg
Assignment 4, video 1-
So when Fiona “finds your face,” I want you to be more enthusiastic. Like, “wow! you found me!” I feel like Fiona would thrive with that level of praise, not just receiving a treat. She occurs to me as a dog that needs that kind of connection from you. What are your thoughts on this?Assignment 4, video 2-
Really nice job! You can try different objects as the next steps.TRAINING VIDEO SERIES
Video 1-
I see that Fiona missed a jump- I LOVE that you kept going like it was no big deal! Keeping things in flow is a good plan! When you run, do you need to have your arm up like that? I have found that when an arm is up, it is hard to be fully connected with your face because the arm gets in the way. This is especially the case when running a small dog. I have run 8-inch jumpers for the last 9 years and whenever I had my arm up like that, they just didn’t see my face when they were behind me. That’s what I saw in this video when Fiona missed the jump.So overall, it appears that Fiona’s performance when training in the field is close to what I saw at the trial. Fiona is doing everything you are asking, but she doesn’t look excited or enthusiastic. She looks careful and thoughtful.
Do you have video examples of any time in Fiona’s day when she is silly and excited? Any time you see passion, so to speak? Maybe playing with you at home or another dog?
What is Fiona’s MOST FAVORITE thing in the whole world? What does she LOVE to do?
When you give Fiona a treat, what are you offering? Is there anything that blows her mind? For my dogs, it’s steak or meatballs.
In addition, here is a new game I would like for you to start practicing with Coal. The game will build so that we will be using it in the agility course. For now, please practice it as designed, once per day, for about 2 min. You can practice it in your home and yard for the first few days. I will then share instruction on how to build it.
Pattern Games: Super Bowls
Super Bowls is a game that comes from Leslie McDevitt’s extremely popular “Control Unleashed” series. This is a pattern game. Pattern games are simple sets of exercises that provide a structured and predictable pattern to help dogs adjust to changes in their environment.You Need
2-5 plates or bowls
High value treats
A hungry dog!Step 1: Teach the Game
Set out 2-5 plates with a 6’ distance between each plate
Plate a treat on one plate and let your dog eat it
When your dog looks at you, return eye contact, smile, and walk to the next plate
Place a treat on that plate
When they look up at your, return eye contact, smile, and walk to the next plate
Repeat until you can go all the way down the line and back to the first plate
Once you have completed the sequence three times, proceed to Step 2.Step 2: Change the environment or stations
Repeat the game in a very mildly distracting environment. Instead of using plates, use any station outside that is naturally recurring like park benches, cars parked along the sidewalk or poured cement sidewalk blocks, trees, or lamp posts.
If your dog engages with something in the environment prior to looking up at you, just wait. Let them process the environmental change before returning their attention to you.If your dog is unable to return to the game, they are ready to be this close to distractions yet or the environment is too overwhelming.
Your pup must be having fun in low-distraction and low-stress environments before moving to more stimulating environments.Here is a video example of the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlOIEpXpwOg
Here is the feedback from the previous post-
It’s okay if Coal is a foodie. We can absolutely make it work with games that center around food and how you deliver it. I had a dog that was all about the food for most of his agility career. Do you know what a Lotus Ball is? If so, do you have one, or anything similar?
In addition, here is a new game I would like for you to start practicing with Coal. The game will build so that we will be using it in the agility course. For now, please practice it as designed, once per day, for about 2 min. You can practice it in your home and yard for the first few days. I will then share instruction on how to build it.
Pattern Games: Super Bowls
Super Bowls is a game that comes from Leslie McDevitt’s extremely popular “Control Unleashed” series. This is a pattern game. Pattern games are simple sets of exercises that provide a structured and predictable pattern to help dogs adjust to changes in their environment.You Need
2-5 plates or bowls
High value treats
A hungry dog!Step 1: Teach the Game
Set out 2-5 plates with a 6’ distance between each plate
Plate a treat on one plate and let your dog eat it
When your dog looks at you, return eye contact, smile, and walk to the next plate
Place a treat on that plate
When they look up at your, return eye contact, smile, and walk to the next plate
Repeat until you can go all the way down the line and back to the first plate
Once you have completed the sequence three times, proceed to Step 2.Step 2: Change the environment or stations
Repeat the game in a very mildly distracting environment. Instead of using plates, use any station outside that is naturally recurring like park benches, cars parked along the sidewalk or poured cement sidewalk blocks, trees, or lamp posts.
If your dog engages with something in the environment prior to looking up at you, just wait. Let them process the environmental change before returning their attention to you.If your dog is unable to return to the game, they are ready to be this close to distractions yet or the environment is too overwhelming.
Your pup must be having fun in low-distraction and low-stress environments before moving to more stimulating environments.Here is a video example of the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlOIEpXpwOg
Relaxation Condioning video comments-
It’s okay that Coal doesn’t look relaxed in the beginning. We are shifting his internal state (neurobiologically), so that can take weeks. From what I see in the video, it looks like a solid start. Keeping practicing daily for 10 minutes. Watching TV is a great time to practice. That’s when I do it. 🙂Hi Tom,
I am so, so sorry for the delay. I have been overwhelmed this past week my job. I will make sure not to do this again. I implore you to stay on as a working student. I will be sure to respond daily, in a timely manner.
Hi Goretta!
Apologies for missing your post.
Remote Reinforcement videos-
Looks great! Love his enthusiasm running to the chair when you say “pickles!” Fantastic display of switching attention and engagement!!Let’s practice Remote Reinforcement with sequences at home now for a few trials, then in class.
Video 1 at the trial-
Nice work keeping it moving! What I saw is that Bouy missed a jump only when the handling information was late. The little guy moves fast! 🙂Video 2-
It makes sense that he is struggling with the weaves at the trial. Aren’t you still working on it out of the ring? In class?You said he was frantic, what made you thing this? What behavior did you observe?
Did you run three runs in one day?
The contacts will improve with the practice. What is the contact criteria? Is it a run or a stop? How did you train the contacts?
Do you have UKI and USDAA options around you? If not, for now, I would like for you to run FAST and Time 2 Beat only at AKC. That way you can practice NFC in the trial environment.
After you answer the questions I asked, I can make an updated plan for you. Bouy is saying he needs us to slow down the process a bit more. I get that you are not where you want to be–I have been there. Overall, I see improvement from where you were when we first started working together. He struggles to have sustained attention for a number of reasons and we can help him learn how to get there.
Remember the Superbowls Game from the last course?
No confusion. 🙂
Video 1-
So the amazing thing is that even though Avery sniffed, she came back to the game and ran with you! Let’s try this- if you sniffing, play some Pattern Games in the moment. For whatever reason, she is going into Zone 4, leaving peak performance arousal. The Pattern Games should help get her back sooner. And then when you see her arousal back up, try running again. Does she bark on cue? This can help get her arousal up.Video 2-
Really nice job at Speedstakes!!Really nice job at the seminar!!
I see that she is sometimes having trouble sitting right away. This is a result of arousal and she has no idea it’s taking her that long to sit. You can sometimes instantly release her to the toy once she sits- this helps. Plus doing Snuffle Mat work every few runs through the sequence. This will help her surf the YD Curve.
You can also play arousal games to get her high high high at home, then ask her to sit, and immediately reward once she does. Are you familiar with the 10-tunnel game?
Crate work looks good!
Really great Kim! AND he recovered after that late BC and continued to run with you!!
Great job running without pressure too!
Regarding working in front of the building and the sides of the building, can you send me video? But definitely set him up for success- don’t push him past his threshold just to show me. 🙂
Do you have video of your agility lesson?
I understand your nerves. The way to address the arousal is to go THROUGH it. There are many games and concepts that will get us there. 🙂
