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Good Morning!
Here’s some practice we did with the Smiley Face. I spread it out a bit more. Before this I worked on restraining her and have her drive to the tunnel. I was really happy to see that when I’m still holding her but saying tunnel she was pulling to leave for the tunnel.
She’s been doing more of the jumping up as she runs with me, so I’ll need to work on that. During the week we did some of the tunnel exits. That’s a challenge, especially going straight out to the wing. My phone died while videoing so didn’t get that. But I think I need to work on connecting with her and then getting her to drive to the wing. She was doing a bit of the jumping up too.
For the Set Point do I continue raising the bars if she’s doing well?
I didn’t get video, but I did something like the Pill Bug just around wings though because it was late and I didn’t want to move my tunnels. That went well and I’m thinking I should do more of that to get her used to running will me and not jumping up.
Thanks!
Great, thank you! A lot of snow melted today and it should be gone in a few days.
I set up the tunnel exits today and played a little with that. We weren’t that smooth but I’m glad we got started. I kept the whole video so you’ll see the good, bad, and ugly. She wasn’t super excited to go, but it could have been partly because earlier we had done the set point and she had raced around in the yard with my others, and she’d never done this sequence before. But I’m feeling like I need to work on her starting enthusiasm, or maybe it will come as she gets more experience.
Thanks! I see what you mean about her head being high because of the toy. I do have a long toy that drags on the ground. I was using it before I did the video, but for some reason I switched. I think I was going to throw the short one, but then I didn’t, Ugh. I’m glad you think she looks good overall. I haven’t done a lot of this type of jump training with my other puppies, usually spaced the jumps further apart, so I wasn’t sure about it.
Monica is here and I’ve done a lot of training with her in the past and hope to continue. My friend and I did two puppy lessons with her in the fall but then with her schedule it didn’t work out to do others. She takes teaching breaks, like now, and then does most of her teaching earlier in the day when I’m at work. But I’m hoping we’ll be able to do some training with her in spring, etc. I’ve also gone to Phoenix and other places for seminars when I can.
I was able to do some of the simple things like you mentioned with Carmen when we were at my friend’s, so that was good. And after that I took her to a large busy used book store and walked her around. She was definitely curious about everything but seemed comfortable and was also happy to take treats, do some sits, downs, nose touches, and turns, and of course say Hi to people. There were some small stuffed animals there and she played a little with those.
*After I wrote this we went out and did the set point with the long toy so thought I’d add it here. She’s a little distracted because my other two were in the house singing the song of their people. Also, I think I need to say stay less. Oh, and we got a few inches of snow yesterday afternoon.
Thanks!
CaronHi! Thanks for all your feed back on the Smiley Face. Here’s some practice we did this morning with the Set Point. I have the jumps at 6 inches here because I thought a little height would get her to put more power in. She’s almost 10 months so I think some height should be okay, but tell me if you think I shouldn’t.
I have a hard time getting to sit 6 inches from the bar. It might be because I think when she sits she usually rocks back instead of tucking under. I notice her front feet don’t hit in the middle of the jumps, but she’s still not taking an extra step before jumping the second jump. I’m wondering if her first jump is shorter because of being close to the bar. Do you think I need to adjust the spacing of the jumps or set her farther back since she’s big? I didn’t try that today because I kept it short since we were also going to a friend’s to practice.
Practicing at the friend’s was tough because she wanted to run off and play with her puppy friends, so we’ll keep trying that. I live in a small town, Flagstaff, AZ, and unfortunately we usually don’t have regular classes we can go to and get practice working around other dogs.
Sorry there’s so much down time in the video. Hopefully you can forward through that. I’m learning how to clip those out now.
Hi Tracy,
This afternoon we had fun with the Smiley Face. I think this is the largest exercise she’s ever done as far as combining different turns and obstacles, so I thought she did well. I’m trying to use the verbals for wraps which is new for me so a little awkward. I was saying them for turns that weren’t wraps on accident. When she turns but doesn’t wrap I should be saying left or right, right? Do you think I should move the barrels further from the tunnel?
Caron
Thanks! Today we worked Feel the Wind, baby level, and Set Point.
Feel the Wind went well. I kept it mostly at baby level. She was a little distracted and slow, and my coordination was off. This is a clip of a better session. Me speeding up and throwing the toy definitely helps her speed up.
I had some trouble with Set Point. First, she seemed uncomfortable sitting close to the jump. It took many tries to get her to sit, I cut most of it out. Then she was very slow and didn’t want to drive to me and mostly stepped over the bars. The video shows this. I tried a few times but stopped because I didn’t want to stress her. She might have been tired too because we had done the other work before and she had eaten not too long before. I’m wondering if I should go ahead and add motion since I know that will motivate her? I do want to work with her on driving from a stay though. Maybe with no jumps, then through wings with no bars, and then with the bars?
I’m so happy to hear you say you think chasing and letting them run with the toy is part of the reward for the hounds! In the past I’ve run into people who didn’t understand that. But then I always went home and let them do it anyway! LOL! I have a flirt pole that I use, and I’ll also put a heavier ball in a grocery bag and tie it close to the ball so I can throw it and it looks like a lure. 🙂
Thanks so much! We worked on it some yesterday evening and I was able to get more distance and not use as much physical cues. I did a few reps of holding her back but in front of the wing with me behind it and having her go to the tunnel and that helped smooth it out. I did do some throwing the toy at the end of the tunnel and she loves it. That’s something that I’ve used in training all my greyhounds. It’s always so motivating and relaxing for the sighthounds and I’s so glad that you understand that.
We’ve been working the set point too. But I needed to go back and work her happy stay and release some.
I have a 3 day weekend with nice weather so I’m excited to get lots of sessions of all the games in and will video.
Caron
Here’s Carmen’s first video. It’s the wrap proofing. I just started with that one since it was in my mind from the live class. I’ll try to improve the video quality as we continue but I just wanted to get started.
This was our first day of doing this, but before this video I did practice with it some. I stayed closer to her going to the tunnel. She doesn’t quite have tunnel commitment down yet. And, I think I was putting the toy down pretty close to the wing. I was surprised that she was able to do the discrimination though.
Great, thanks! I’m going to do a working spot for MaxPup 2. Carmen’s doing well with the games. One thing I know we need to work on is the resilience pattern game when we’re on the road. I’ve taken her to some stores and she’s so interested in everything and I think a bit unsure of things that she doesn’t want treats. After a while she might take some. I have gotten her to play some and tug in stores though and she loves to meet people. I think I’m going to bring one of my older dogs with us to some stores to help her feel comfortable, etc. She’s been to a few agility trials. She’s more comfortable there, but still very interested in checking everything out and not so interested in treats. So, I just let her explore, etc., as she needs. But she will play/tug, loves to great people and pups (when appropriate), and gets excited watching agility.
Hi, We’re still working through the games, but are behind. I’m planning on signing up for Max Pup 2 though. I might do a working spot and was wondering if those are limited spots? I’m not always good about staying caught up with video and mostly train outside which can be an issue with snow and cold in winter sometimes. But I’m thinking it still would be good to get some feedback.
Thanks! Yesterday I was we were able to do a puppy foundations session with a local trainer. She’s not always available when I can go, so I don’t go to regular classes. Carmen did a great job and I really think the games helped her be a bit advanced, ;-). Except in her desire to want to run off and play with her bestie, LOL. So we’re working on that.
Hi!
Carmen and I are having fun working through the games. I was wondering if you think it’s okay to sometimes use a treat and train instead of throwing a treat? When I’m working outside sometimes she it takes a long time for her to find the treat or if I throw one that’s big it takes her awhile to eat it, and then we lose some the flow of the exercise. I just wanted to ask in case there’s a reason you think a treat and train isn’t a good idea for these games.
Caron
