[bsshay]

Hi.

Turn and Burn transfer to wing here.

Her right here seems more secure than left, I have to hold the left longer and she’s looking at me more on that side.

Also our routine is to trade a treat for the tug. But midway through I tried to just ask for the tug and go in hopes of making things speedier. But I believe that took longer and didn’t go over well with her. Back to the trade.

I’ll have to work up to leaving earlier, especially on her left.

Thank you.
B

[bsshay]

Hello.

Got a bit behind. Posh had a severe poison event which took a few days to get her on the mend. She’s almost back to normal now 👍🏻

So here is moving threadle turning right and then left.

I still am tossing the cookie. Will the try stays with last night’s exercise.

I think I got the MM on the correct side this time. And tried bending over a little less.
Sometimes she still comes in a touches my hand with enthusiasm. She’s hopping to get her reward which is a sign, I think, that she’s happy. Also, she’s happy to play the games again.

The music does help us both. Can’t take credit for the playlist as it’s a radio station. But one of my favorite stations.

This seems to be going well, the toss is still our hardest thing. On her left turn she noticed the treats on the table, but still came to me. 👍🏻.

But at this point in our games, I believe she was looking for her tug. 😉

Thank you. B

[bsshay]

Hi T!

We haven’t done SERPs in awhile. This is the first time we didn’t use the target.

I find I still need to get my hand Really low, basically shin height.

Seems the hardest part as usual, is getting her to see the Get It treat and eat it quickly to come back🤪

I don’t consider our stay reliable enough to use it in a session yet. And I don’t want to ruin it or grey it, so I’m still tossing the cookie.

I may be a bit out of position in these, need to be farther down the exit wing?

Also I noticed myself following through with my arm to the MM. I think we’re not supposed to do that. But as I move down the line it just naturally happens as I would do a Serp in a sequence?

She had a really good time in our sessions and in between the last few days. She’s been offering all sorts of stuff, even doing figure eights on the one jump wings as I reset the MM.

Now that I’m understanding more about Excitement Barking, we’re doing much better with it. I’m changing up the routine and using music. But even outside for swimming or ball we’re doing better. She’s still barking but we’ve started a little routine for it and it seems to be working for both of us, without curbing her enthusiasm.

I’m working with it instead of against it in training sessions, using your tips and suggestions. And you know what? She’s doing it less and less. We’re both happier, getting more done and, with better results. I now use the clicker, unless it bothers others, instead of the Yip which also is giving us better results.

For the threadle, I don’t think she really knows the “name” yet. But she is coming in and going out like she should. So I can start moving on that too?

It’s now in the 113 degree range here, next week 118 degrees. So mostly indoor training. Although the other day we needed an actual tunnel. So around sundown I let her get in the pool then did some tunnel training in the only full shade in the yard. She did well and was so happy didn’t want to come in. She now only wants her toy for the tunnel instead of the MM, that’s ok? I throw it when she’s in the tunnel so she runs after it and doesn’t look back at me, haven’t gotten to the advanced threadle yet. Just baby, tunnel-dog-human turn away from me take the tunnel.

Filming out in the heat is dicey. My iPad as shut down before from the heat. 😔

Anyway. Thank you!

And Most of All thank you for helping me to become a better trainer!

Barbi

[bsshay]

Hi there.

We got our L and R on 3 barrels pretty well. Then did 3 wings, and that went well.

So here is Bending with MiniPini with bars.

I tried to set it up like you had it in the video for your small dog. Bars slide onto the 4 inch slot so they don’t move.

I was pleased with the outcome.

Are we doing it right? Since she is sorta hopping over the bars is it too much like jumping? And if so how should I modify it for her? My rough slate floor is pretty non-slip.

Thank you.
B

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by bsshay.

[bsshay]

T.

Yes.

And with your help, all the puzzle pieces are going into place.

Our routine starts with putting my other dogs in the car in the garage. Then Mochi and I go back in the house and she ‘Runs’ to where I keep the toys etc., waits for me to change her collar and put on my bait bag, get all the stuff, set up props. Then watches me set up the camera and off we go.

That day she barked at me from the garage to starting filming. Never before had she done that.

Between that and her Not wanting to leave our play room. I think she was genuinely ‘Over the Moon’ excited to play our games.

So, with your suggestions (well, pnut butter instead of cream cheese…cream cheese doesn’t do so well in this heat🤪), we’re going to turn it into a positive.

I never want to see that despondent, disappointed look on her face again. 👍🏻

B

[bsshay]

Tracy.

Thank you so much for allowing me to show you my worst training problems.
And then explaining to me what is going on and the scientific background on it.
It means a lot that you’re willing to go deep into the issues and the theories
behind them.

I’ve reread your feedback trying to absorb all your suggestions. I can see and understand everything you’re telling me.

The barking outside is troublesome for me too, especially nonstop before swimming or ball playing. This was the first time she barked nonstop before a training session in the same way as before swimming.

Since it’s transferring to our training now, as you said, it will carry on through all aspects of our lives. And as you said, I believe it’s excitement barking and she doesn’t even know she’s doing it.

It’s important that I figure something out soon. For swimming or ball playing, if I just stand and wait before we go outside she will sit and stop barking for a nano second and then I open the door. Once outside, I sit in a chair with the toys until she sits without barking. I say Good Girl and then we play. Swimming and ball playing are very exciting and some barking happens throughout.

Until I started this class, I didn’t know excitement barking can be a good thing.🤪.
And as you point out, she is engaged with me and wanting to work/play the whole time.
So I need to learn how to work with it and use it to our advantage.

So. Moving on.

Today we switched things up. We went back to catch up on our tunnel.
Our MiniPini with Barrels now. Delayed reinforcement, and resilience games.

I tried to keep all your feedback in mind. During our tunnel sessions she did bark at me for one thing and I think she was saying I don’t understand what you want. So I just gave her the toy and tried to figure out how to make it easier for her, which I did.
She was happy with the outcome and so was I. Much better! Thank you!

When we’re done with our sessions she does Not want to come back to the rest of the house with me. She wants to go back to the living room and play some more.
Bless her heart.

Hopefully with all you’ve taught me, from here on out I’ll set things up better and read her better to keep frustration to a minimum, for both of us.

So, question on the delayed reinforcement..are we supposed to gradually put the rewards lower and lower?

Thank you again.
Barbi

[bsshay]

Hi again.

So I ‘think’ we finally got the FC Spin. Your directions of ‘Turn towards her’ really helped me see the difference from what I was doing. But now we can do the harder
FC to BC, too. 🤪. FC turning into her seems counterintuitive in my brain. But the more I practice it, the more comfortable I’ll become with it.

At the end of the first video we had a commitment issue. I think I was leaving too early. So after 2 blips (really don’t like to say failure😉), I held on and rewarded her right then for taking the last barrel.

Also, I think it may be hard for her when I have the toy waving in her face. I know she needs to learn to work with it in my hand. Putting it in my pants is awkward for me and would take More time in the transition. What do you think? Maybe that’s why she was barking at me so much?

So, she didn’t get much exercise today and this was the only training we did, around 6pm.
Before we even started, as I was setting things up, she barked at me non-stop, like she does before we swim or play ball. I taped it for you once.

I’m including the last two videos to show you her barking at me during a session. Her barking is so sharp and reverberates from the floor to the ceiling. I’m very sensitive to noise and when she does this it hurts my ears so much that I can’t think.

Before we filmed anything, when she was nonstop barking I had to leave the room until she stop. Sometimes I sit down and cover my ears until she can stop or pause, then get up to play.

I think you said before this is a form of punishment and I don’t want to punish her or stifle her enthusiasm. But I physically cannot take the sound.

In the sessions I don’t know what else to do other than stop the session, regroup, then try again with a fresh attitude.

The First video above, 2+ minutes, was done After the other two barking sessions.

Thank you so much.
Barbi

[bsshay]

Tracy,

Is this correct??

So funny. I watched and watched your video yesterday to get the footwork down, then practiced and practiced the wrong thing🤪

I think this is a FCSpin, understanding the difference. But definitely No Glasses for these.😉

You know I grew up in the Derrett system. The first time I did a BC I thought lightning would strike me!

Consequently these ‘fancier’ turns throw me for a loop sometimes. But if I can become a better handler and make it easier on my body, I’m all in.

And yes, these take less space and seem easier.

Thank you!
B

[bsshay]

Hello again.

Hoping to get your feedback on these 2 videos before you go Off Air.

So here’s left and right.

We’d never used wings before but thought you and I could see her better. I was pleasantly surprised it worked.

So I think her preference for right vs left is showing up her. Miss Sassy Pants I believe is trying to tell me Left is hard and What are these things, where’s my barrels.

So in light of her Right preference should I teach her only Right until we have that down? Or do both sides at the same time?

Glad you are seeing more of Miss Sassy Pants coming through. 😎

And the biting my hand I think happens when she doesn’t have enough toy to grab onto.

Thank you.
B.

[bsshay]

Hello!

We hadn’t done barrel work in awhile either.

It’s super hot here now, so we’re indoors. We got as much room as possible between barrels and keep them within the video.

Although we seemed successful, making eye connect feels hard..maybe because she’s so far down?

Also I noticed on some BC spins I’m not getting my shoulders all the way around to reward with the off arm. I do think that makes it very clear for her.

Last weekend I found myself walking courses and practicing BCs coming all the way around with the off arm. Not sure I ran them that way in the moment, but I remember attempting to make that connection as we completed them. I need to get more fluid and make it second nature.

For these exercises I take my glasses off. They are progressives and can make me dizzy looking down and spinning. I don’t run agility with them on.

For our Combo I didn’t realize until we were done that I did the same pattern off each barrel, sending with left hand, instead of switching. I think that’s what I’m most comfortable with😉.

So we did a quick redo of the combo to change up her Left/Right turns.

Thank you.
Barbi.

BTW. Last weekend my two oldest dogs Both got MACHs. So Sureal, two MACH’s a day apart🤪

[bsshay]

Hello there.

Last week I was extremely busy and then an out of town Trial for the weekend. So didn’t get much training in and will have to catch up with those games. 👍🏻

So with our stays, we’d only practiced with food and catch, not release her to move forward yet. Also we’d been doing it with her between me and a wall to keep her straight. I may have been using ‘wait’, in which case I may not be clear with her in these videos.

All that to say, this is a lot of new territory for us. And thank you for urging us to get on with progressing it.

She’s been pretty spunky lately. 😉

I can see I need to remember to use Ready and chat less and be clearer.

I failed the challenge twice, and made it easier for her on the next rep.

With the toy, she definitely sits quickly like you said. In fact it seems like she ‘knows’ to sit when she releases the toy, at times.

So in baby with toy I thought I needed a treat to help her give over the toy, but when I tried it in the later session then she didn’t want to sit right away.

Also, if I’m getting her aroused, doesn’t food bring her down from the high state? So I’m defeating the purpose of getting her high?

Oh and I’ve been getting her in the sit using my hand and sometimes foot to bring her back and line her up. That’s what you see me using my hand when asking her to sit.

Feels good to get her going again… she’s been eager to play. 😎

Thank you.
Barbi

PS. I’m trying to embrace her barking as A) excitement for the game, and B) feedback
But still not sure what she’s try to tell me other than be more clear and get on with it!

[bsshay]

Thank you!

For the Backside Wraps, when do you add the verbal and when do you say it?

B

[bsshay]

Hey Tracy.

We had some good training sessions today, using your suggestions for improvement and they helped.
For the threadle I wore my bait bag and we got into a nice rhythm.
Back side slice went really well. We had success with me moving towards the middle of the jump 😎. And we’ve started adding our verbals for both.
Tight turns went well.

So at this point, don’t do threadle and serp in same session, but what about same day? Or concentrate on threadle and review serp now and then?

I’m also doing more barrel work. Today we tried three barrels…just sending simple front crosses. At this point is that ok? Three? We’re also working on sideways and backwards sends to one barrel.

For the tight turns, when do I add the verbal? I mean in the training progression and also graphically in the rep? Your description of when to say the verbal for threadle and backside slice was right on. Thank you.

Something else. After sunset we were retrieving with the orange dumbbell. Then We tried the jump bump exercise with the dumbbell. We’d never done something like this with that toy. She started grabbing my hands. At first I thought it was by accident, being sunset, dim light and all. But she kept doing it. So I stopped the game. Then she went into a down and backed up and started barking at me. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I got up with all the toys and treats and went back to the house. I didn’t video it.

So she barks because she’s excited? She doesn’t know what I want? I’m late starting a rep or a game? It’s getting annoying and I’m not a good enough trainer to know what to do about it.

Before I started your class, when we played it’s your choice or I asked for down, she would down and back up and bark at me. Maybe she thinks this behavior will get her something?

And now she’s started to nip at my hands during trying and sometimes nips at my face. Again I’m not a good enough trainer to know how to properly handle this.

So. Adolescence is here. 🤪

I would appreciate any help you could give me with the barking and nipping.
Or maybe I need a fresh perspective on her barking or nipping in high arousal.

Thank you.
B

[bsshay]

T.

Threadle here.

Again we’re both better with her turning right.

It’s easier for me to get the next treat while she’s eating the reward. Hope that’s ok.

The left turn does seem to be harder for her to turn away from me. Perhaps I should jackpot her on that side?

So, I’m consciously trying to chatter less, be clear with Ready at the beginning, then praise with the reward.

Also, two funny things on the last threadle videos…

I actually did practice without her before, and still mucked up my mechanics 😉

And I meant to edit out the F bomb, but forgot. Oops. 😎

Thank you. B

[bsshay]

Hey there.

More backside slice here.

With the smaller barrel, I could move back inside.

I think we’re getting the idea better. I tried to move in, even with the stanchion.
For one rep I could see she made a choice to change her line and go around. 👍🏻

At what point do you put a word to these? Seems like she needs to know what she’s doing even with me moving in.

Thank you. B

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