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Tracy,
I know class is over and I am behind working with Sealey with the syllabus.between the weather, life and preparation for National’s time got away from me . now that CPE National’s are over , will be able to get back to Sealey ‘s training .. So thankful I can go back to this..
Tanner had two days of 16 runs qualifying 12 and placing 3 times.. Buddy had 3 days with 3 runs each day . Out of the 9 runs he qualified 7 of them with 4 placements..Both boys were very close in placing in the other areas that we qualified in. I am Extremely proud of my 9 year old boys!!Sealey was the true champion handling 5 days of new energy, sounds, & sights. unbelievable distractions, crating and only one time did I use the up and down game with him.As I had taken him out to potty 5 loud motorcycles driving through the fairgrounds with music blaring!! It was extremely overwhelming to me and knew it was 10 times worse for him.. but once we started the pattern game he got focused on me and He prevailed in handling it!! Hopefully we will be caught up on the next time you offer the 3 rd part of this class.
Thank you and the best for you and your fur babies this year!!
MaryB and SealeyHello Tracy,
The jumping foundation 1: I set up two cavaletti’s 3ft apart they were not even an inch high. Sealey is measuring about 14 / 15 inches tall. Also Sealey doesn’t take off with them (shake head , roll eyes and lol) Then I set his target bucket out about 8 feet .. He really did well with it . He was getting the bounce in btwn the cavaletti’s and was focusing forward.. Due to space I was either ahead or off to side pointing to target bucket. I was thrilled that he was just getting the bounce.. few days later I caught Sealey doing the bounce we had worked on over the daffodils , there not blooming yet, since there are some rows of them in the yard.. LOL my over achiever!!The wrap proofing game: I decided after watching your video a couple times and then our zoom class to use “EEEE” for the left and “CHOOOCHOO” for right. By the way I am having more trouble learning and keeping track than he is.. I don’t use this with the other two so I am working my brain hard (lol).. He is really picking it up.. was nice other day and he was only one out so I worked with him outside going around the trellis.. He did really well with it being in a new place ( not in the house) doing the wraps.. As we were working on the last set of right wraps ( only 3 sets/ times of each side and we quite) The neighbor boy came outside and started screaming for no reason .. Well that was way too much for both of us and Sealey couldn’t focus with that noise all he wanted to do was bark at the kid. I had mixed feelings about that unexpected distraction but told myself that It showed me that was way too much for baby boy. We will gradually get there with more and tougher distractions as we proof our skills.
We didn’t get to the wind in your face or smiley face games. Even tho it was fantastic weather the distractions of the world was too much for Sealey to concentrate. Birds flying low and right over Sealey’s head ( I am talking inches above his head), people , motorcycles you name it. It was out enjoying the nice weather also !!! lol
I am just so amazed and proud of Sealey in what we did accomplish in short spurts while outside besides me improvising items to use to practice. When I planted those daffodils 20 years ago never thought about in the future these could improvise something in dog training. lolEvening Tracy,
I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth (lol) Its been a busy month with family health issues, Holidays ect so I am a bit behind.
Update I on the object in hand game it took a while but I discovered that the object I was using ( lid off a peanuts jar) my husband was letting him play n chew on others that looked just like it. So after a few days of trying to think outside of the box what I could use ( was a afraid he would associate my phone too much) I came up with a lid to a pasta jar. BINGO it worked issue resolved .. The “Vito game” using the bowls to go around upright / cone he is able to start right in without going back to baby refresh and the cone is about 3 feet from me. He is a amazing fella in his learning. I thought my Toby was a fast learner but WOW Sealey has him beat!!Now another wild question cause I feel like I am missing something when teaching Sealey to stay I have watched the video several times and I am getting this amazing stay but do we put a cue word “stay” or hand jester or we are just walking off when we have them sit .. I am anal using opposite leg when leaving .. Its probably a stupid question because something is working in my Good canine citizen class he is the envy of everyone else in his stays. But I can’t explain it on how I am doing it from your video..
Although we are a bit behind than everyone else Sealey is really picking up these games and now I am incorporating the handling moves with out objects in hands when I call him to come inside I will do a blind or a front. Did get a tandem in one day and wasn’t sure how I did it (lol) Since its been hard to do some of the homework. Been trying to incorporate where I can so he is getting something daily.
I am still pondering what I am going to use has verbals for all these different serpentine and throttles. But you are correct with all the different venues I do I will need have more than my normal 2. Especially with AKC Premier. Gotta luv ya always making me think.
Next and last question in the resilience game where you walk the puppy around an unfamiliar area letting him smell ect .. Is there a point that they are sniffing to sniff n locate free treats left , stress to be in building/class or situation , needing to go potty .. Sealey’s nose is on the ground all the time at our dog club and I can’t get him to focus on me while healing . I mean the whole time we are trying to do healing exercises his nose is plastered on the floor.. Doesn’t do it for stays or recalls .. I feel like I am missing information on what I need to keep track of with whats going on under the hood of this Sealey boy of mine!!! Any information that you can give me would be great.
Thanks
Mary and SealeyHI Bobbie,
I want to to be sure I am not over thinking this in my understanding of how this class is going to work.. Since it sounds like it is set up differently than the last class. I am in an observing spot. All I am suppose to do is go to the working spot students threads and see what is going on and learn from there. I don’t participate in the forums with my own link for you to communicate with me. I can only participate on the every other week in the training night chats. correct??Thank you in advance for your clarity for this class.
Mary and Tanner
Evening Bobbie,
My question about the relaxation conditioning got answered in our last zoom.
If the mental agility game class that Tracy does “In the zone: a 21 day mental prep master class to maximize your performance in the ring” I have taken and I hope to one day relay to her HOW MUCH IT HELPED ME at CPE NATLS 2022!!! I kept practicing it and when I really needed it was there!! Between Mom and her health plus being in a rehab for broken hip, my aunt in hospice and being a sounding board for my cousin , nervous just being at natls with Buddy and all the course memorization, Husband that isn’t always helpful, 18 year old Holly with us , and Tanner ( who had his nose out of joint because it wasn’t him again at nationals – Tanner competed in NADAC 2021 nationals in October in the same place which by the way he ROCKED got to finals and placed 4th) I was a little overwhelmed with distractions just for me.. I was so glad I brought my notebook from that class and had continued to practice it because it Helped me tons!! I could push all that out and focus on course and Buddy..Buddy Rocked he ended up getting 3rd place all round in games!! I have suggested that course to many!! I had the opportunity in 2012 to work with Tracy in person with my first agility , soul n heart dog, Toby. I learned a ton from her in that short period of time. She is awesome!!
now back to class !!
I do hope you can clarify for me something in assignment 9 ” Taking the show on the road” your last sentence in the second paragraph at the end. “Many dogs will eat food and perform behaviors even if they don’t feel comfortable” What kind of body language will the dog have? How odes a person discriminate between a dog eating even if stressed or not stressed? Would this behavior be also a part of fawning ???
Second What are key behaviors to watch for / pick up on in distinguishing if a dog is feeling pressure or just being an ornery naughty dog?? Is there something to help a person know the difference when observing ??
I am shocked to know that without realizing it I have set up a Homebase with the boys and didn’t even know it.. After a run we always go to my chair in our crate area. That is where I give them those really awesome High value treats, praise them and then we go for a cool down walk. Both boys can’t wait once we get out of the ring to get to the chair.. Then take that cool down walk its not very long and then there is an area I always just let them sniff, pee or whatever for a little bit before we head back in and crate waiting till the next run.
I have really been Pondering that question ” have I made an agreement with my boy that I am unknowingly breaking?” Before this class I would say I most likely was and didn’t know it.. now that I have this new found knowledge I need to be more aware of it and post that question somewhere before and after each run to help me to stay more in tune to my boys and what their emotional needs are..
I use hand targeting with the boys but not quite in the manner you have in assignment 10 but I am going to start and once we get build up put in distractions with toys ect.. Until this assignment I was using to focus on me but not to the degree you have .. No one ever explained what the next step is to hand touches .. Now it all makes better sense in why to do it..
I just seen in clean run a book by Kristina Spaulding ,phd, caab – The stress factor in dogs ,unlocking the resiliency and enhancing well- being. Would this be a book you would recommend to continue my learning about resilience??
You mentioned in our last communication how I would starting seeing dogs struggle more and more..
I was asked to come help with an agility class at the dog club due to being short an assistance.. There is this sheltie that has come along way in her shyness, and fear. I was watching the two run the course in this class .. The stress this dog was showing ( open mouth with lips pressed against its head I could see them turning white even) even tho it was doing the obstacles very slowly .. I thought about Gilda that you had shared with us.. once this dog got leashed up and was hanging out with her owners behind the fence.. Her face and body posture changed.. They started rattling to me that they were going to do there first competition in Dec. OOOh how excited they were about. I felt like I was in a heck of situation.. Do you discourage them from entering when its obvious that the dog is no where emotionally ready for that kind of environment?? or keep your mouth shut?? I mean I am by far no expert like you but I hate to see them go down a bad path with this dog when it could be be avoided.. Granted they don’t know me that well and why would they listen to me..I would appreciate any and all suggestions .. I am surrounded by several individuals that push these dogs and newbie green handlers to compete way too soon.. That is another reason I am giving up the position of Director of agility for our dog club, biggest is because mom needs me now, I can’t deal with these individuals anymore, for a job that is volunteer position and takes up more time than a 40 hour week job.
Lastly , I have really enjoyed this class I hate to see it end!! Its been a long while since I got stoked about something and you didn’t disappoint me again!! I have learned a ton and I know I will continue to learn as I progress through these games with Tanner. I am glad I can comeback and go through our zooms there was loads of information in those. That I am sure I missed because I wasn’t at a certain point. I just can not express how much you open my eyes, mind and make me think and look at things in such a new way Thank you just doesn’t seem to do it. The best part I like about being a student under you is that you always explain the why’s of why it should be done this way!!! FYI :Tanner was always in the room during zoom every week(lol). Thank you in helping me create a confident , lean black teeter luv’n machine!!
I wish you the best in philly next month!!Thank you 🙂
Mary, Tanner n Buddy
Afternoon Bobbie,
Thank you, I have watched the you tube video a couple of times and I start seeing what she is talking about fawning I am going to watch it again so I can take notes. In hopes it will stick in my brain.. This past weekend at an AKC agility trial while I was waiting for our turn I was watching dogs..In the novice class I was trying to use what you have been teaching while observing them. I wish I would have video’d the dog because I kept thinking that must be fawning only because the dog wasn’t doing zoomies , wasn’t trotting, wasn’t even walking. It was like a cantor in its movement , not paying attention to handler going around the obstacles like it was looking for someone outside of the ring. Ears were straight up , eyes focusing on everything outside of the ring,could make out the body posture was tense, obviously distracted… Sadly I cant tell you what breed it was because I was concentrating so hard trying to remember the rainbow of resilience and keeping track of the dogs body language(lol)relaxation conditioning, the answer is – the number of seconds I am waiting for between treats i have been slowly increasing my count which is up to 5 now. Do you think I am leaving something out and not realizing it??
I did incorporate shadow handling and look at my face with Tanner in his warm up this past weekend. I found a place with very little distractions to warm him up in.. I was amazed how much this seemed to help him be more focused on the start line and no where being so barky before going into the ring …
I want to say that although my agility mojo was completely out of wack this weekend after the funeral Friday. The boys were really wound up and ready to play/work after being crated for two long days of visitation and funeral..We had some moments of brilliance and one run each day I had only 3 dogs in between the boys with a jump height change. I was able to switch my mind to the correct dog I was running. That’s been a huge challenge for me and being able to do that and give the correct support to the correct dog.. I think helped in what stress levels we have been having in each of them.. Maybe I am trying to apply more of what I am learning as we warm up and get ready to walk into ring.. I just know that I was mighty proud of them and having something else to think about or do helped also.
I would love to come to Philadelphia !! I know I would learn sooooo much more in person with Tanner and about what we are learning by observing other dogs. And to finally meet you in person, would be amazing!!! But as my husband pointed out, it’s just too far for me to be in case something happens to my mother, its been tough year with her and her health issues. All I can do is hope that you can eventually come to Springfield or Peoria ,IL or even ST. Louis MO.
Bobbie,
I do have a couple more questions from tonight zoom..How would you define the difference between a dog having zoomies and being stressed ect?
Dog going to visit people because they are people friendly / luvs kids ( having to go to side of ring to check on kid to being stressed ect??
Are there other videos I can watch to get a better concept of fawning??
Thus far every book you have mentioned I have found in my home library waiting to be read.. what other books would you suggest to help me get further knowledge about our class?
In the control unlease would it be a good idea to get the relaxation book also??
I do enjoy these zooms once a week .. it keeps me all fired up to keep learning.. 😊
Quick update on Tanner:
Relaxation he is showing different body language with his body.. he lays on his right side which started last week. He remains focused on the food every once in while he will get vocal.. when he gets vocal I wait till he stops before giving him a treat. I hope this is the correct thing to do???
He continues to relay to me that he wants to do this he prefers the evenings but should I mix it up when we do the relaxation??Relaxation has become quite the thing in my house.. I work with Tanner and next I know Buddy will sneak past my husband going through gate barrier to participate also.. Even my 18 year old dog Holly seems to appear from a dead sleep 🤣 it’s the one time we are all quiet and she appears 🙄
I took Tanner with me to a board meeting this week he was all revved up . So I practiced the look at me game since he has been so enthusiastic in the house with no distractions .. just to see if he is getting the concept and give me A baseline. He did really well with it all total. Definitely need to work on more of it at home with and without distractions. He doesn’t have it well enough to really to do it away from home but it’s information to go from. But I am wanting lots more attention/ focus on me not his surroundings as he is processing them.
I have to say doing these games I am more amazed than ever how he did so well at NADAC champs last year ( he got to finals and we placed 4th) But I also know he prefers working away from me.. He doesn’t like to come in to work where we have hiccups but as my distance coach said it’s something we need to work on .She ( Lisa Schmit) said that she works on it with her dogs continuously .Once they have the confidence to work away it’s hard to bring them back to close handling. so I am hopeful these games will help with that.. what do you think?You made my whole night knowing I am not the only one who’s dogs offer such a variety of behaviors to get that treat..
Still haven’t pulled my snuffle mats out yet it’s been a little busy with a couple of deaths in the family the last funeral for me is Friday for my stepmom. But I was wondering about the snuffle ball how could one incorporate that Into the games??
Would be nice to have a list of which games go with the different areas or am I jumping ahead of the class?? And where can a person find all these variety of games and how to play them??
I did put a request in the control unleashed fb ..
I think that covers it all for me for now ..
I am really enjoying this class and the in person thing you mentioned if you all decide to travel with it .. I would like to throw out Springfield Illinois 😉😉😉😉 don’t know how big area you need but I would luv for you to come to my corner of the world!!Good Evening Bobbie,
Hope you are feeling better.
I have been probably over thinking but is there maybe a formula of some sort that can be used to figure out the dogs baseline of resilience or make it easier to remember??
If I am understanding correctly self control depletion = no further patience when already stressed and or tired???
Have not pulled out their snuffle mats out to try the game yet.
Pattern Game ” Get it” – I think Susan Garrett had something similar to help redirect the dog. Anyway its something similar I have done with the boys not consistently because I would have really fat boys and there is constantly distractions going on in my corner of the world anytime I am outside. I did an impromptu “get it” game play the other night.. My husband was trying to tell me something and of course the kids have to come by on their bicycles screaming. Which sets the boys off.. After 4 attempts of him trying to converse with me . I jumped up grabbed treats and played the game. It was grand central station with the kids riding back and forth down the street.. I diagress, Buddy got right into it could careless about the sreaming kids.. Tanner took him a bit to realize what was going on but once he knew we were playing the “get game” he was really working hard ..
Now I would say that Tanner was at a 9or10 before I started the game. He would be coming down off the stress and if the kids rode ( making no sounds) by he would look but stay engaged.(I would give that a 4 or 3 because his body language was still alert and tense nothing compared to before) Now if they had to let out a scream as they rode by I counted when Tanner would take off to bark at them and then come back and reengage with me on the game it was right around 20 to 25..He would jump right back up there to 9 or 10 when the scream came out.. Which this was a big step for Tanner doing this before I ever started the game, its been about a year ago, it would take me at least a good 5 minutes to even get his attention. He has improved I am just not consistent in doing this every time we go outside..
Granted I had no idea what the heck I was doing let alone all this new found information. Any way my husband who is never around when we practice anything .. Was shocked how fast Tanner would come back to play this game. He said well this game you are doing isn’t working because Tanner still gets distracted. I said if the game isn’t working then how come you are surprised that he is coming back with out anyone saying anything?? Would he have done this a year ago.. hubby admitted there was improvement but he wasn’t ignoring all the distractions like Buddy. Went through two totally different dogs spiel.. I am aware that the boys can feed off each other at many times.
Anyway I know it was spur of the moment to do this game , but it was nice to be outside ( I never get my husband to hang outside when it is nice out) and I probably should have leashed Tanner up to play this game instead of letting him go running back and forth between me and the distraction of screaming kids riding bicycles.
I just jumped at the opportunity on so many levels / situations to enjoy what rarely happens ..Any suggestions when I have this opportunity happen again, which I am sure it will, how to modify it better???
I have to say I sure was trying to remember everything you have been teaching to observe / watch for and I was seeing alot of what you have been teaching us. It was a nice feeling to put words into what I was observing in my mind..probably didn’t come out on paper but it was going through my brain..
Evening Bobbie,
I am probably getting excited too soon but I am bursting at the seams and had to share.. Day 3 relaxation exercise. Had some excitement in the yard tonight a cat decided he wanted to play with the boys ( lol) anyway I brought them in being all hyper. Tanner went and stood where I have his relaxation treats looked at me and then at the jar of treats. I said Tanner are you wanting to work on your relaxation exercise? He instantly went to the area we have been working in . I put down his mat he got on it , got in the position I have noticed he seems to like to lay in. Waited patiently for me to get down on the floor. Set the timer and we began.. He is still focusing on the treats but I thought that was a giant leap to communicate to me that is what he wanted to do after especially still being all hyped up.I was really excited about what I would learn in this class .. Seeing this tonight has got me stoked for sure !! I wish my brain could soak up everything like it did when I was a young scally wag in college..
I am still in shock that the “Getting Spicy ” game is something I picked up somewhere, but they called it something different, and have used several times when it came to distractions while we were outside.. I have seen how this game changes their focus more on me but are still aware the distraction is still around .. I will revisit what I have read again to make sure I have an understanding. ( yes I will over think it, over analyze and over contemplate it “lol” )
I was wondering when we are done with the relaxation exercise , if I should have a different cue word or hand motion , to help maybe keep him in that relaxation state instead of my cue word and hand jester I use when we have spent our 5-10 minute agility practice? I got started contemplating this today and thought it was a good idea but I don’t want to assume it would be?
Would be interested in your thoughts?
Thanks for letting me get the excitement out .. Its the little things he does that just make me burst with pride on how smart he is..
Mary n Tanner
Afternoon Bobbie,
just fyi: I did email you last thursday titled Tanner..
I really enjoyed our zoom wed night.. I have been busy trying to get it all straight in my mind. During down time at the antique malls this weekend have been studying.
Now if I am understanding correctly when measuring resilience it is how fast the intensity of the behavior happens as well as the decline of behavior to reach recovery time. Once you have this then you can include the frequency of when elevated behavior happens besides the duration of the elevated behavior. Each time including how long it takes to reach recovery time. once you have this information it will indicate where the dogs baseline of resilience is??? While at the same time you can monitor the 7 domains of the resilience rainbow?? I know I am describing this very descriptive and at same time vague sense we haven’t gotten through all of the domains of the rainbow.
Learning to relax is extremely important for them to learn as we begin to build this exercise with others in the layering of them learning to have resilience. Do I have the beginning understanding of it???I had my first session with Tanner on the Meditation exercise.. I sat down on the floor and he went right to the bed and laid down. I did no prompting for him to lay down. He was really focused on the treats and a few times he got a bit mouthy/bossy and was staring hard at me .. I had a hard time not looking directly at him and busting out laughing he was giving me all sorts of facial expressions ( lol) Once he was quiet I would slowly start the crumbling on his bed again.. I was surprised how fast ten minutes went.. I tried to use peripheral vision to see if i could catch any subtle signs of him relaxing. I really didn’t but I wasn’t expecting it first time trying it.. I do have to note that When Tanner likes a game/exercise he wants to keep doing it. When 10 minutes was up and I was getting up he put his paw on my arm giving me that pleading look he has when he doesn’t want to stop. Therefore I feel the first session was a success that he liked what the exercise was asking even tho he is no where getting it mastered yet.
Mary n Tanner
Yes please, That sounds like a nice option to have .especially to get more insight as to what is going on in his brain. thank you.. Tanner is taking me on a interesting journey of getting out of my comfort zone and learning new things..
It’s always baffled me that he doesn’t like certain noises but get him on an agility course he will work through it .. get him doing fast cat luring he doesn’t pay attention to any of it..
I do hope that this class will have useful information to incorporate in his training or in Buddy’s.. Buddy is my steady dog nothing phases him .. but boy can these two can feed off each other.. 🙄First off Thank you .. I have been wanting to let you know how far he has come with the teeter. This year he performed agility in front of thousand people and he nailed the teeter!! Not just once but he decided we had to do it again. 🤣 the crowd went wild with cheering over it . ( that noise didn’t phase him at all) I get lots of compliments on his teeter and how far he has come. I owe it all to you educating me ..
I chuckle you ask that question because I had actually asked my vet about taking him to one .. my vet relayed that Tanner had a very mild case and giving him sillo ( off top of my head remember what it’s called so spell could be wrong) and using a thunder shirt should help.. I can tell you trying to give him the medication before a thunder storm is a joke.. half time I don’t even know we are getting one until it is close or is already here.. I can honestly say that if I am not involved with something and really paying attention he does give me indications a thunder storm is coming he starts hanging really close to my feet.. now the thunder shirt does help him , I introduced it the way instructions said to .. as soon as I put it on him he stops his shaking and trembling.. he still hides but in the same room we are in now.. thunderstorms have happened at trials and through a lot of patience I have gotten him to work through it and he focuses on what we need to do ,not his normal corvette speed , but progress has been made.. as far as trial’s as long as he is crated or I have him on leash he is fine.. He has gotten better with his big noise issue concerning diesel vehicles especially, in the car as long as we are moving and not surrounded by semi’s he is fine , but if we are stopped 😳 Oohh the barking .. we can hear the interstate from our house and there are some that sets him off especially at night when we are outside. I have found that if I make him do something even if it’s a sit, hand touches anything to redirect him he has improved.. but it sure would be nice not to have to work on redirecting him all the time or having to listen to him bark.. I wish I could explain / describe the tone of his bark but his bark tone changes and that is how I know if it’s noise , a squirrel , a person ect.. he has specific tones in his bark that indicates to me what it is he is barking about. I hope that makes sense..
If I need to narrow down more please let me know and I can try to do so.
