[Deborah Hill]

Hi Tracy,

On Saturday, Cowboy ran in his 2nd AKC trial and his first larger scale 3-ring event.

Overall. I was very happy with how he handled the trial environment. However, we did have some challenges.

The link provided is from his Novice FAST run. The send is on the left side (jump to bilateral tunnel)

I thought there were a lot of really nice things happening in this run and even with the two ring-crew visits (off camera), he had more than enough points to qualify.

Unfortunately, Cowboy noticed a gap near the gate and ran out of the ring so we were eliminated.

I thought about it for a while and am wondering if my reinforcement approach caused this.

Currently, most of the rewards occur at the end of the run near the exit. I am sure he was experiencing some stress but based upon his behavior before, during and after the run, he didn’t seem totally freaked out.

In class/practice, I plan to start tossing the Lotus ball away from the gate at the end of the run and randomly rewarding at the other end of the ring but if you have other suggestions, I would love to hear your thoughts 🙂

BTW: There is someone who is speaking off camera; not sure who but not me:)

Video: Cowboy AKC Novice FAST

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by Deborah Hill.

[Deborah Hill]

Hi Tracy,

This totally makes sense! Reward procedures are very new for me so I am still sorting out the different scenarios. So far, I think this approach to training is fantastic!

I am going to try another session with the MM and then give the Lotus Ball a try 🙂

[Deborah Hill]

LOL! Thanks Tracy!

I tried this exercise using the Manners Minder and at some point, would like to switch over to the Lotus Ball but am not quite sure how to do that just yet in a way that is clear for Cowboy.

Considering how obsessed he is with this machine, Cowboy did reasonably well and there was only one time when he sat transfixed while I waited for him to “focus forward” 🙂

Video: Reinforcement Procedure using the MM

[Deborah Hill]

Thanks Tracy!

I am always so afraid to make things harder…success on easy stuff is very reinforcing! 🙂

I am looking forward to our next training session and have just started reading the Week 3 Games package. I viewed the video where you place a toy behind and cue “Toy-Toy”. Do you only use that verbal cue when you place the toy behind your dog? Have you also done this with a Lotus Ball or Manner Minder?

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Deborah Hill.

[Deborah Hill]

Thanks so much, Tracy!

BTW..I had no idea you could use a target plate for contacts in UKI! That will be seriously helpful for UKI NFC runs!

I did another round of teeter/weave pole practice using “Catch” for the teeter and “Get-it” for the weave poles. I also brought out the magic red target plate for the teeter; it really does make a difference!

Again, our rate of success was very high. I had one mistake on the teeter when I tried to accelerate forward and something similar with the weave pole (tried to accelerate and drift laterally).

Video: Cowboy Catch & Get-it with Teeter and Weave Poles

[Deborah Hill]

Hah! I am food motivated too!!!!

Today I revisited the “Catch” game; this time using the teeter. I also spent some time using the “Get-it” cue for the weave poles. This was a fun session!

Video: “Catch” with the Teeter and “Get-it” with the Weave Poles

[Deborah Hill]

Empty Fritos bag!!! LOL!!! So True!

I will revisit the videos and have another go 🙂

[Deborah Hill]

Hi Tracy,

Today I focused on the “catch” application and incorporated it into the following scenarios:

1) Sit stay
2) Startline stay with lead-out
3) 2O/2O using a travel plank.

Cowboy’s success rate was very high and I kept the session short. However, towards the end, Cowboy wasn’t as wowed by the Lotus Ball. With a tennis ball, he will continue to engage with it but with the Lotus Ball, he lost interest once he removed the food (dead toy syndrome, I guess).

Video: Cowboy Playing Catch

[Deborah Hill]

Hi Tracy,

So here is my list covering what I would like to address using reinforcement procedures. Hopefully, I can get to most of it during the upcoming weeks:

Behaviors to address with reinforcement procedures:
1) Quickly moving into the 2O/2O at the end of the contacts (I primarily practice using the travel plank)

2) Driving through the weaves – Cowboy will typically complete them if I slow down and stay behind his shoulder but if I accelerate and run past, he will pop out.

3) Start-line / Lead-outs – His start-line is generally fine until I move half-way past the first jump. Two-jump lead-outs are still a challenge

4) Visiting the judge, ring crew, leash runner, dogs (outside the ring)

5) Turns – Cowboy appears to be fine with front crosses but sometimes, will disconnect and want to visit whenever I do a rear cross… he is more handler focused than obstacle focused

6) Tugging – I have been successful with food motivated dogs but with the recent opportunities to run FEO in AKC, it would be great if I could take advantage of that option.

[Deborah Hill]

LOL! Yes! Cowboy loves to chase and retrieve balls. He seems to prefer tennis balls but I avoid them or only use them occasionally.

I was planning on trialing in AKC and UKI (not sure about USDAA yet) and am hoping I can build his interest in tugging to the same extent as chasing and retrieving a ball. It would definitely help for FEO runs in AKC where you can’t let go the toy.

He is starting to get the idea of tugging, though. Last weekend, we did an agility workshop and at the end of the run, Cowboy grabbed his leash and we tugged out of the ring. He also did the same thing in class. As long as he doesn’t grab it in the middle of a run (has happened) we may be on to something 🙂

[Deborah Hill]

Hi Tracy,

Today, I worked on toggling between food and a toy.  The video has two parts:

1) Food (Zukes) and a fleece toy
2) Food (Zukes) and a wool dryer ball

Cowboy seemed OK with this arrangement.  Although, he was a bit more willing to release the wool ball over the fleece tug.  Here were my verbal cues (although, I couldn’t always hear me say them on the video):

Get it (tossed treat or toy)

Snack (deliver food directly)

Chomp (invitation to tug)

Trade-yah (release the toy) – This was only needed for the fleece tug

Bring (retrieve)  This was only needed for the fleece tug

Sometimes Cowboy would retrieve the toy part way and drop it in anticipation of a food reward and then I would say “Where is it?”  I do this at home and don’t consider it a formal cue, just something I do out of habit.

Video: Cowboy Reinforcement Procedures using food and a toy

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Deborah Hill.

[Deborah Hill]

Thanks Tracy!

LOL! Cowboy is Obsessed with the MM! I was thinking about bringing it to a trial but thought the better of it given that not all dogs like the beeping noise. I plan on trialing in UKI and AKC so am sure I may have the opportunity to use it with the sound turned off.

Thanks again! I’ll start playing with the toy to food and back again game 🙂

[Deborah Hill]

Hi Tracy!

I saved the moving between food and a toy assignment for later since I know that will be challenging and I will need more time to work through it.  Cowboy is definitely more food driven so as soon as I whip out a treat, a toy will be quickly forgotten.  The exception is the Lotus ball since there is a strong association with food.

I did work on remote treat delivery using a Manners Minder (I may also try the one where you place food on a table or chair since that closely simulates what happens in a trial environment. Cowboy did well enough that I added some simple behaviors towards the end before going back to the MM.  My verbal cue is “Treats”.  I did not use “Let’s Go” because I use go as a send cue in sequencing.

Video:  Cowboy Reinforcement Procedures using the Manners Minder

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Deborah Hill.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Deborah Hill.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Deborah Hill.

[Deborah Hill]

Thanks Tracy!

I had another practice session yesterday (no video) and was more mindful of my timing and mechanics. Today, I switched from food to toys. Here are the three cues I used:

1) “Catch” (I am not sure if my mechanics are correct here or if I should have thrown the ball further over Cowboy’s head)
2) “Get It”
3) “Chomp” (supposed to be an invitation to tug but I don’t think I said the word once!)

Video: Cowboy Reinforcement Procedures using a Toy

[Deborah Hill]

Hi Tracy,

Cowboy takes turns playing with my other dogs but his favorite is my arthritic 13 year old, Furgie.  They have a very similar play style but I keep those sessions brief so my senior girl doesn’t get hurt.  He will play with my Border Collie but Kaeto will opt out when Cowboy gets too physical and starts body checking.

Today, I had a go at the food reward cues. Here is the order that I used in the video:

1) Get it (tossed after eye contact)
2) Snacks (come to hand)
3) Cookies (follow cookie in hand)
4) Catch (toss directly at or behind)

Cowboy thinks this is the Best Class Ever!  His rump never stopped wagging!

Video: Reward Cues

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