[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Chiro didn’t really have a sense of what might have caused the soreness; could have been jumping off the bed (hard to keep her from doing that), playing hard or just generally being Jazz. Chiro said Jazz would self monitor her activity level on her own, so no need for me to confine her (thank god). She’ll have a recheck in early January. I went over her pretty thoroughly when I groomed her the other day, no indication of soreness, and given her exuberance and high level of play etc I decided to go ahead and “work” with her again. Played with the Tunnel Wrap Rocking Horse exercise. She loves this one!

Really clear to me that I need to get my verbals out sooner cuz I can’t outrun her. Still working on her retrieve – hopefully we’ll get that when we repeat Max 1.

Curious how you know Randy Rainbow???

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
I’m glad you suggested having Jazz evaluated by our chiropractor. Since our last session went so well I thought that maybe the challenges (release and tugging) from the previous session were due to her losing one of her canine teeth (top ones have been really stubborn to go even though the permanent ones are coming in).

Saw the chiro yesterday. Severe pain was noted in the right LS area as well as moderate to severe tension and pain in a number of other areas. Recommendation is that there be no undo stress on the LS joint until she is seen again in a month. No sits, no turns, no tugging, no perch work… basically working on the parallel path is the only option till recheck. Based on the way she runs, tugs and plays I sure wouldn’t have guessed that she was in that much pain. Anyway – no videos from us until the Fast Track Max 1. Happy holidays!

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
I’ll test the decel/wrap theory with a tunnel tomorrow. Sounds like fun!

We have been doing reverse recalls outside with food; tugging before and between recalls. She’s into it! Great speedy returns. We’re not able to do these outside with toys as she still would rather play chase than return them to me. Working on this with toys in the hall.

Perch work is coming along. I know this perch is probably too tall, but I wasn’t able to find the right size wood block and wanted to keep working on it and feed buckets is what I have. She seems to move more easily to her left, but does pivot both ways.

Thanks again!

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Hope things are getting back to “normal” for you. Different pup for this mornings session! Was a bit worried when I couldn’t get her tugging at first – let her sniff around the yard for 1-2 minutes and then she was ready to play! Edited tugging breaks for time. Warm up wraps with toy, and then switched to food for the deceleration turns. No hesitation with release – Yeah! Made sure my chest was turned toward her for the parallel path, and tried to be patient with my leaving on the deceleration wrap. Ended with toy reward on her turn to the left and more tugging. Really pleased!

I plan on registering for the Max Pup 1 Fast Track. Does that seem like the best fit for her? She’s not quite 7 months.
Thanks!

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
No need to apologize for the delay. We moved to St. Louis when I was 13 – I remember the snow/ice storms. What a shock for a CA girl. I left as soon as I legally could. I don’t know how you all get through the winters!

Regarding using food – Great minds think alike. This session was done on the same day as the previous one. I gave her a 20 minute sniff and potty break and we came back to playing with this exercise. I didn’t have any trouble getting her to tug with me before the exercise, no problem with her release, but couldn’t get her on the toy after taking the “jump”. Switched to food and things went better. Came into me for the parallel path so I had to get a target bowl. Was pleased that she ignored the bowl for the deceleration turn, although most of them she back jumped. Here’s the video.

I am concerned about her selective recall response. Yesterday she snuck out the front door when my partner was getting a package and would not come!! Fortunately there isn’t a lot of traffic in our community but it was a wake up call for me that I really need to get this fixed. I’ve never had a problem with training recalls. Is it a male/female difference? She is definitely a “what’s in it for me” gal. We do restrained recalls in the morning; I don’t call her name unless I’m sure she will come and make sure I have treats on me when I do call her; have her on a long line in the park so that I can reel her in if she doesn’t come right away and try to always make sure coming to me is a “fun” thing. Not sure what else we can be doing – thoughts?

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Busy holiday and weekend so I’m behind in posting. Video is of Simple Deceleration, you’ll see that we had problems with her release and I really didn’t know quite how to handle it. This happened a few times on both sides, edited some of them out so that you didn’t have to watch me dancing around with the toy trying to get her to release. On the deceleration turn I think that for now I should be doing this as a post turn so that it helps her complete the turn around the cone. Once she has that down I’ll move on to FC/BC.

You asked what else she struggles with: Focus is proving to be challenging, and we seem to have lost her recall, and still don’t have a retrieve. Even though we do 10,000 collar grabs a day she continues to balk at that – most of the time if I have treats we are fine, but that’s only about 60% of the time. Not sure what we should be doing differently.

I continue to work/play with her in the park with the school next door – today we actually got some tugging for a minute or so, but lost her to sniffing. I forgot how much work this is! ;). I saw your post about the different Max 1 levels. It seems like the “Fast Track” would be best for Jazz. What do you think?

Thanks!

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Remember us??? Had to take a few days off and missed the online class due to MD appts and out of town guests. Hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

I do start each session with tugging games and edit them out to keep the videos shorter. Took me a while this morning to get her away from the bark and playing with me, but once she got into it she didn’t get distracted the whole session. The Lateral Leadout went well overall. I had a few broken stays (edited out) but just laughed at her and told her that was funny. Played in-between the sends and was happy to see she was engaged the whole time. She came in more before wrapping to the left, not sure if I broke connection with her to cause that. Second one to the left was better.

I’m really challenged by how willful she is. I’ve never had a pup like this – and with the bitey behavior she can get pretty unmanageable. My approach has been to always have treats so that she is willing to do what I’m asking, but there are times, like when I’m putting on a rain or fleece jacket that she is a real monster. Any suggestions for how to handle that would be appreciated. Thank you!!

[k8marie]

Tracy,
The still shots for the serps and threadle really help me see the difference in my positions. Overall I was pleased with how she did, and can definitely see how I can improve!

Had fun with the Turn and Burn game on a jump wing this morning. The breaks in the video are when 1) she was off gathering leaves or bark, 2) we were tugging or 3) I got a different toy that was easier to drag. She wasn’t that interested in the toy initially, so I started with food – should have gotten a dish for tossing but I hadn’t planned on using food.

Once we got connected (no bark, no leaf distracting her and a toy I could drag more easily) she did really well. On the last one I was able to send from further away and move away sooner, and she liked the chase.

We also did a couple of tunnels, keeping the toy balled up, and this went a lot better than previous day. Still working on the inside turn to the right. I really appreciate the time you put into these reviews and the detailed feedback you provide. Thank you!!

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy – thanks for the tunnel threadle feedback. I have a tendency to rush things and think that sets us up for sloppy cues. it’s based on not trusting her commitment so rushing setup cuz I think I’m going to “lose” her attention. I’ll work on cleaning them up.

Worked on our serp and threadle with movement. I think this went pretty well. It looks like I should have the reward dish further out so that she can really drive forward from me. Also noticed that my position seems to collapse for the threadle, much better when I’m able to remember to keep my arm/hand away (and chest aimed that way as well)

We took a break in between the serp and the threadle – played tug and chased balls, then went back for the threadle.

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
I wasn’t able to recover the video of our first tunnel session that day, but here is the clip from the second session. We did a few MinnyPinnies and tugging in between the sessions. I broke this session off as she continued to go after leaves which was one of the challenges in the first session.

She’ll be 25 weeks old on 11/25. Seems like she might be right on the cusp for Max 1 or Max 2. Definitely could use more experience with the advanced game levels.

Thanks. K8

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Another rainy day here so we are doing indoor things again. Reverse Retrieve in the hallway went well. She’s into the game and only had a couple of “catch me” moments. The second time I tried to reward with a second toy (4th retrieve I think), I wasn’t successful in getting her on the second toy. I gave up on it and just went back to the original toy. Not sure what happened as she was spot on the first time I switched.

Had to send her back for the toy on at least one of them, but was thrilled to see she went right back and brought it with her. Fun game and hope to be able to take this outside one of these days.

She seems to have on and off moments. For example – when I’m out in the yard just playing, we throw in some of the games here and there. Especially the MinnyPinny and tunnel games. Doing tunnel games a few days ago she was spot on with her entrances and the tunnel threadle. I thought “Awesome – she’s really got this”. Set up the video yesterday to capture her brilliance and she was all over the place – everywhere but in the tunnel! What gives? Where’s my brilliant girl? Does she know the video is running? I Threw in the towel on tunnels, did some MinnyPinny’s, which she loves, played a bit more and called it a day. should I handle these situations differently?

Question for you. I’m wondering if I should repeat Max 1 (since you’re offering it again) as we haven’t really worked through a lot of the advanced options for the exercises. I want to make sure we have a strong foundation and wondered if we would be skipping over important skills if we move on to the Max 2 class. Let me know what you thing.

Hope all is going well at USO. K8

[k8marie]

Hey Tracy!
Hope all is going well in Florida! I’ll make it one of these days (when I can fly with Jazz).

Raining here again so we are doing inside stuff. She’s doing much better with bringing the toy back; not quite all the way yet but not trying to run past me with it. On the last one she heard Jack crying in the bedroom so that’s why she hesitated. Still, much better than last time.

We also worked on the rear end awareness. This block is double the length of the original one but I think I still need a larger and square perch – looking for a 6x6x2 block.

Definitely see the adolescent brain/behaviors kicking in. She seems to have the “you can’t make me” attitude… I have to work more at getting her engaged, but once she’s into it she’s all in. Thanks! Kate

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Break in the rain so we were able to get back to the Rocking Horse games. Still working on the turns to the left but it seemed that once she got her brain in the game she remembered what she was doing. My timing is off with her as I don’t think I completely trust her commitment so I’m hesitating which makes me late for the front and/or blind crosses. Here’s where we are today.

Just to prove to myself that I know what I’m doing I did this with my boy Jack. He was brilliant; I was smoother as I trust his commitment.

[k8marie]

Morning… most likely “Afternoon” for you. I use tunnel bypass to ignore the obvious end so we’re on the same page there. My cue has been “Hey-Hey” for my boy, but I’ll be using “KissKiss” for Jazz (and may change my boy’s cue) as I realized I use HeyHey to discourage Jazz from pestering Jack too much. Anyway – raining here so thankful to have indoor exercises although I was looking forward to trying the Rocking Horse Spin!

Did a couple of Happy Stays before the Find my Face. She’s getting better with holding the stay and was pretty keyed in for the find my face, probably because we do a lot of the resilience stuff on our walks by the school. Still working on her retrieve so that will be our next indoor activity.

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Was glad I was able to make the class last night! Fun things to play with this week! I was surprised at how quickly Jazz caught on to the MinnyPinny game. Didn’t seem to have any hesitation even when I added the jump bumps. I did change the spacing of the bumps after the second “run” as it looked like she needed more space in order to bounce it. In the interest of time I edited out all the tugging between reps – she was happily engaged even with all the school noise. I’ll add the verbals on our next session. Staying with “left” and “right” as that is what I use with my other boys.

Question on verbals – Is your threadle tunnel cue the same as your tunnel bypass cue (if you use one)? Trying to keep my cues the same as what I have been using for my other boys. Thanks!

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