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Cowboy and I were back at it again. I started with the poles at position 2:00 & 8:00 (approximately) and closed them a little to 1:00 & 7:00.
I also started adding more motion. I thought I was moving parallel to the poles in the direction of the target (6:00) but it doesn’t appear that way. I will have to be more mindful next time.
Video: 2×2 at 2:00 & 8:00 and 1:00 & 7:00
Thank you so much, Tracy! Yes; we have our agility lessons at Get Rev’d and our rally and canine freestyle are at the Academy of Dog Training and Agility. I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by great people who have such a passion for dog training 🙂
Thanks so much, Tracy! I adore this dog. I adopted Cowboy from the animal rescue where I used to volunteer, He had no training and some people did question why I was getting him but I loved how confidence and outgoing he was.
It was rough going initially because he didn’t understand the concept of shaping but he is a very thoughtful dog and once he has a chance to think things through, he is all in.
He does just about everything…tricks, rally-o, sheep herding, agility. He is not as “drivey” as my Border Collie but he is fairly precise and has decent speed. We have a ways to go before we are trial ready but he looks like he will be a lot of fun.Video: Canine Freestyle
Video: Foundation Agility Sequencing
I will start to angle the poles. I do not have an interim cue but will probably use “go” since that means move towards the thing ahead of me.
Here’s our first attempt at going around the clock…so much fun!:) In the 12:00 position, I sent from both my right and left sides. I am not sure if that’s correct. Also, I broke down and bought a Treat n’ Train. It should arrive in 10 days 🙂
Video: 2×2 Around the clock
Thanks Bobbie!
I totally agree with slowing down the human movement. Every time I shifted in the chair, Kaeto would perk up in anticipation. I felt so frozen in place!
There are UKI trials every month within a 60 – 90 min drive and I am always willing to do NFC runs (have done so on many occasions).
Here is a video of a practice session with the teeter (taken over the summer). Quick note; Kaeto no longer creeps into position, although he was doing it in the beginning of this video.
I had my other dogs barking behind us plus a friend had her dog on leash in front of us and although, I wish he would have shifted his weight back more, I could not get him to blow his contact.
Here is a video of a recent “show n’ go” in September. He was OK with the A-frame but Kaeto decided that he didn’t want to stop on the dog walk that day [sigh]. His weave entries were good, so there’s that!
Hi Bobbie,
Here is my week 1 video
https://youtu.be/IlRsnaMQR6oI practiced it a few times beforehand. At first, he would offer a lot of tricks (roll-over, cross paws, etc.). In this video he is much calmer. I did a 5 minute weave practice session where I was just working on entries so nothing to get him riled up.
Kaeto will generally maintain his 2o/2o contacts after the first attempt! Typically he will run right through, I bring him back over it again and then he will stop. Unfortunately, I do not have that option at a trial (although, I hear the AKC rules will be changing for 2020 to allow some training for certain classes) I can’t wait!!!
Please note; the video is 2 minutes long. However, it looks like it repeats itself so the YouTube duration time says 3:41 (please disregard after the first 2 minutes)
Yes! Kaeto will stop on his contacts maybe 10% of the time at trials compared to 99% on a travel plank and 95% on equipment when we are practicing on our own. Using food or toy doesn’t show a dramatic difference.
I started the 1st assignment using a mat. The next time, I will submit a video. Right now, Kaeto is looking alert (and happy) waiting for me to ask for something 🙂 He is offering a lot of stuff (being aware not to make eye contact but very hard!)
I had a look at both videos again and I think what I was honing in on was the knocked bar in the 2nd video.
Kaeto doesn’t tend to knock bars when he is relaxed but, overall, in that video he does not appear to be anxious or worried. In addition, I am unable to get the 2o/2o contact behavior at trials (it is very rare).
Hi Bobbie,
I have made a few observations; although, I can’t say for sure that they are the root cause:
* Early on, if there was a mistake, I would stop or even pause slightly. I think Kaeto finds anything that involves stopping to be aversive (particularly in a trial environment but in practice as well) I now try to keep going.
* I focused too much on a start-line stay. He will hold it in practice or at a workshop after he has settled in but I do not pressure him at trials. I continue to work on it but I try to keep it light. His runs have improved as a result
* Kaeto has always been more obstacle focused. If I do not provide information early enough, he will make a decision on his own rather than orient towards me (again getting better but I have to sharpen my handling mechanics)
Here are three more videos showing the following:
Classroom Run #1
Classroom Run # 2 (same sequence but he is becoming more aroused)
Warm-up before a run this past weekend. This is just a sample. I will ask for tricks, play tug, etc and he consistently stays engaged the entire time no matter where we go (the precision is not as good as home but my goal is engagement)
