[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
This morning we played with the Ladder Game. Things went OK. I’m still frustrated with her lack of interest and focus with the toy. She is super into it until I try using it as the reward for agility… then no interest. Goes off and finds pieces of bark to chew on.

Switch to food and she seems to be all in, but not with the drive that we used to have with the toy. She still seems to be not totally committed to the wraps so it is difficult for me to keep moving on with the counter motion. I noticed that I have a tendency to slow down, and even take a step backwards in order to help her stay committed to the wrap. Here’s the video:

I’m really frustrated that we still do not have a retrieve. If I have treats in my pocket she will bring the rubber “milker” back and drop it at my feet. If I don’t reward that then it’s zoomie with the toy time. She is so into balls that it would really be nice to be able to use them for rewards (that’s what I do with Jack), but there is no way that she will bring a ball back. I’m trying what you suggested, having 4 balls and throwing them for Jack and if she lets go of hers then throwing for her. She is much more interested in chewing on them. Also try taking her to the park on a long line and throwing one then reeling her in, give a reward and throw again. She hasn’t caught on to this one either. And also having the ball on a rope and tossing in the hall or office so she can’t run past – no interest if a ball is on the rope. Anyway, can you feel the frustration coming through? Leaving for Seattle tomorrow so may not be posting till things are settled and treatment started. hope I get in a better head space.

Thanks for listening – really appreciate your insight and perspective.
Kate

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy!
Been working on the double blinds (no videos) and dealing with stall outs so gave her a break yesterday and groomed Jack.

Played with the Tandem Turns this morning. Started with Jack, then Jazz with a toy. I’m not sure which arm I should be cueing with, inside or outside. Looks like when I’m asking for a tandem turn to the right, she defaults so that she is turning to the left (toward me rather than away from me).

I switched to food when I was starting her further away to keep her focus. Couple of times she thought there should have been a food toss so stalled. Hope this all makes sense to you. Here’s our video:

Also worked on end behavior (4 on for the teeter) on the plank. She caught on to this super fast so no video. Wanted to get this solid before we tried the bang game.

Thanks! Kate

[k8marie]

Tracy,
I’m back from our whirlwind trip to Seattle. Glad to be back with my gal and the pups.

Your feedback from the last video was spot on! Jazz definitely has made up her own toy rules and her expectations for me to follow. Instead of trying to entice her with food, and/or tossing the toy, I have been holding my position (or trying to) and repeating the command and then rewarding her for follow through. I think she’s getting it. We still had a few stall outs, but she got herself moving. I’m keeping the tunnel out of things.

As far as my handling – I’m definitely late on most of the BCs, hard to make sure she is committed and get away in a timely manner. Left wraps and turns are still stronger than the right and All in all, I am pleased with the progress we’ve made to sort out the stall outs. Thank you Tracy!! Here is our video from this morning:

The trip to Seattle went well. I’m comfortable and confident with my care team. Treatment should start on May 18. I will need 41 rounds of the proton radiation, due to holidays that will be about 8 1/2 weeks. Long time to be away, I’ve rented a studio in a house with a large fenced grass yard and an 11 month old NSDT in residence. Hopefully a playmate for Jazz. Not sure how much I’ll be able to keep up with lessons. Will you be repeating Max Pup 3? I figure we will need to repeat it cuz we are so far behind. Thanks for all your support – Kate

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Yes the agility gods are watching out. Not sure why that happened as I have been trying to be super conscientious about making sure the “public” option is checked. Clearly got by me!

Here’s the video – https://youtu.be/DJREa8EGg7E

Your input from the text only post is spot on. No need to repeat input unless there is something you see that might change our approach. I have a MD appt in Sacto this morning and fly out to Seattle tomorrow so probably won’t have any additional posts till I get back in May (do you believe it’s May already!!!) JFYI – I heard back from Bobbie and will be scheduling some online video visits with her when I get back from this initial trip to Seattle.

Thanks again – your support for our agility journey and health challenges is greatly appreciated. K8

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
I think the tunnel theory has validity. I took the tunnel out of the picture and was hoping to have a rock solid, stellar performance with great drive, interest and focus with the toy as reward. As you’ll see from the video – didn’t happen. She was interested in chasing the toy, but seemed confused when I tried to use it as a reward for the exercise.

I played with Jack first while Jazz was in a crate watching quietly (haha). Helps me get the handling down a bit running through it with Jack. Then warmed up Jazz with the cavelleti, and some toy play. As you’ll see, she stalled out on the sequence. I’m sure the pointing with my hand (which turned my chest) doesn’t present the best handling cue, and I would think that she would at least drive forward somewhat. Switched to food and was able to get her moving but not with the same drive that we have seen when on the toy. Here’s our video:

Probably need to give things a break as I am getting frustrated with not understanding how best to work with her. Spill over also from being frustrated with my own health situation. Would like to keep working with her on this, but not sure how best to proceed.

Thanks for your insight – you always have clear options for sorting this out.
K8

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
I’m stumped! Went out this morning and set things up so that our video time was before walk around. Warmed up with walk on leash and gentle stretching. No interest in the tug toy so switched to the rubber toy (this is what she had been SO into on our walk around the morning before). Interested in chasing it, but minimal interest in playing agility. Switched to food with some success. Got her pink piggy (high value toy) and while she was super interested in tugging etc with PP, still no interest in agility play. Probably good for her to have a break while I do the Seattle visit. Maybe that will increase her interest in playing the agility game.
Here’s our video:

Haven’t heard from Bobbie, but figure it’s the weekend so most likely won’t hear anything till at least Monday. We continue to do puppy pushups (down/stand/sit/stand/down etc) and back up exercises. Not sure how to train the rear paw lift that you showed in the video. Figure that may come as she gets more comfortable with backing onto a board.
Really appreciate your interest in solving the Jazz mystery with me. Thanks.
K8

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
This girl is a mystery to me… This morning during our “walk around” she was on fire; into her toy, racing to and thru the tunnel and nailing her stays/releases to the toy. Went in and made spaghetti sauce, left it to simmer and came back out thinking videos would go great.

Jazz had different ideas, no releases, not interested in the toy as a reward and stall outs. Switched to food, rewarded releases and had so-so drive. I’m not sure how to proceed with this behavior. Give up on using toys when videoing? Get video and exercises set up before our morning “walk around”? Take up scent work instead? Here’s the video:

Other updates – I sent Bobbie Lyons an email with info from visit with Dr. Canapp. Hope to hear what opportunities she may have for rehab/strengthening exercises.

I fly to Seattle on Weds for a pre-treatment consultation. I’ll meet with the care team and have additional scans on Thursday and fly home on Friday. I won’t know treatment schedule or duration until the care team has a chance to review and discuss all scans and decide best course. Glad to have things moving forward.
That’s all for now…
K8

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Rainy days here in sunny CA so we have been inside working on backing up and other strength building exercises. Ventured out this morning after the podcast to see how our Counter Motion (Wing) was doing. I was unable to get her interested in the tug toy at all which surprised me as she is always into a game of tug in the house and usually in the yard. Not wanting to go directly to food I tried a treat hugger (on a rope). A little more success but not really what we know she has. Switched completely to food and she is finally engaged. Much more responsive to the left wraps than the right. Think maybe I’m pushing things and we need to focus more on the strengthening exercises.

The info from Dr. Canapp gives me a good idea on what we need to work on so now I’m trying to identify online rehab and get a program in place for her. I’m following up with Leslie Eide (The Total Canine) in Seattle. She does online as well as in person consultations so that could work for us.
Anyway – here’s our Counter Motion Work:

I’ve also been getting her more comfortable on the teeter and added the “Mountain Climber” teeter game. She is pretty fearless up there. Probably would have better forward focus if I was at the end of the teeter instead of off to the side as she kept looking to me for the food reward even when it was on the end of the teeter. Given the questions that came up with the morning wing wrap session I decided not to add the wing wrap before the teeter until I’m more confident that she isn’t having discomfort when wrapping. Here’s teeter video:

Appreciated this morning’s podcast – I’m definitely in major cognitive overload!
K8

[k8marie]

Morning,
I hoped to get this loaded yesterday but the day got away from me. I tried the 3 ball approach with Jazz. Totally unsuccessful. She’d rather play keep away. I’m including that video in case you have any feedback that could help us with our lack of retrieve. Here’s that video:

We switched to food for the Send & Go BC setup from Week 2. I automatically defaulted to a front cross for 2 of these. I think I was too late for a BC so I defaulted to the FC. Looks like I was waiting for her commitment which made me late for the BC. Here’s the four “runs” from our session. First one I rotated to soon for the BC which pulled her off the jump, but she did read the blind; number 2 & 3 I default to the FC, and #4 although she stalls out at the top jump we are able to get going again and get a BC in. Note – I left Jack in so you could see that I do know how to do this (if you had any doubts haha).

Look forward to your feedback – especially for that dang challenging retrieve. Thanks!

Kate

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Felt good to get out this morning. Set up the Looking Ahead Driving Ahead drill from Week 2. Started off with a toy, and after her racing around the yard with it, me racing around with it (no interest on her part) and then me playing with Jack, I couldn’t get her interested in the toy again. Switched to food and had great attention/focus. It’s not my preference to work with food, but need to stick with what’s working for her, so food it is.

I was pleased with her forward focus. After reviewing the video I think that I could have kept moving forward parallel to her line rather than stopping and sending. I also noticed that I did converge on her rather than staying out more. I threw in a bonus round just cuz we were having so much fun. I think she slowed down before the second tunnel as she was waiting for me to toss a treat after the jump.

Dr. Canapp was super helpful. Gait analysis did register a slight off loading to the left rear. He repeated x-rays as the ones I had done focused on the hip area as that was where the discomfort was detected. His X-rays showed the patella moves up almost out of the groove when in extension and moves down almost out of the groove on the down side when leg is contracted. Strengthening exercises, no activity restriction, and continuing to train backing up would be helpful. Feel fortunate that there will be online rehab sources available. So that’s Jazz’s update – here’s a bit of mine.

UC Davis radiology oncologist made the referral to the Fred Hutch Center in Seattle. FH will work with insurance for authorization. Once that is received (may be a two week wait) I’ll need to fly to Seattle for additional scans by the care team there. That will be a quick trip (fly up, get the scans, fly back) and then another wait while the care team puts together the treatment plan (probably 2 weeks). Once we have the treatment schedule, Jazz and I will then drive up to Seattle. Length of treatment is dependent on the individual plan; anywhere from 1 week to 9 weeks. Fortunately I have friends in the area that are offering lodging for me and Jazz. I’m doing OK with all this – the hardest part is being in the “waiting period”. It’s difficult to plan other things in my life – such as “Can I enter the UKI trial in early May, or will that just be another paid for and missed trial?” For now – those are my biggest worries. Thanks again for all your help with Jazz – and especially for encouraging me to keep on looking for answers.
Kate

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Thanks so much for pulling things together and emailing Dr. Canapp. I’m hopeful we will be able to get the mystery with Jazz sorted out. We played with the Concept Transfer – Wraps this morning, without jumps. Alternated her with Jack. We still had stall outs on start line releases. She seems to have a great understanding of the cues, and a real willingness to work/play, until she doesn’t. I still feel like she stalls out a bit more when asked to turn to the right, while most of the wraps to the left looked pretty good. Always interested to hear what you see.

Trialing with Jack was hit and miss. Outside, on grass with wind and rain. He likes to graze when running on grass. Made it through Speedstakes with minimal grazing stops, walked off of Jumpers as he was grazing too much; and then had a really nice Master Series Jumpers run. due to the rain we didn’t stick around for the Master Series Agility -too windy with wet contacts. Stayed home Sunday as it was another rainy day. I considered registering with him for your 2026 Dog Camp that starts in June and I need to see how treatment is planned before committing to other activities.

That’s all for now.
Kate

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Wanted to give you an update so no videos today. Navigating the vet medical system is just as challenging as the human medical system! Had our monthly chiro visit on Tuesday – she strongly believes that this is not a soas issue, but in the hip area. Demonstrated where one would see soas issues and definitely no soreness there, and clearly in the hip area. I decided to follow up directly with Dr. Canapp, rather than continuing with the specialist here in Sacto. Was able to get an appointment with him this Tuesday so hopefully we’ll have some clarity on what is going on. Till then we haven’t been doing any jumping etc, so we haven’t been able to try this weeks games. Continuing to do the plank and bang games, and if you have any suggestions for modifications to this weeks exercises we’re all ears!

JFYI – Got the results for all the scans (chest and complete spine) and there aren’t any additional masses, just the usual old lady aging stuff. Meeting with radiology oncologist and ortho oncologist on Monday. Hopefully we’ll have a better idea of treatment plan. Seattle also has a proton treatment facility so I’m exploring that as an option. I lived in Bellingham for a number of years and PNW definitely feels more like “home” than San Diego. We’ll keep you posted.

Hope all is well with you. k8

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
This girl cracks me up! Played with the teeter, two feet on for reward with me out of the picture. She caught on quick. Tried to get her to back up on it, had minimal success with back leg movement, but not much and not onto the board. I’ll raise the drop a little bit for our next session. Played with Jack and then did more plank game, with it up on wooden blocks. No problem, and I didn’t see any leaping off like when it was on the ground. Not sure where to take this next. Here’s our video.

Had chiro appointment this afternoon. Chiro isn’t in agreement with the other vets initial diagnosis of iliosoas tendonopithy. The area of Jazz’s discomfort doesn’t line up with a soas injury. Definitely needs US to get proper diagnosis. I decided to have this done by Dr. Canapp so I’ll be cancelling the 4/22 US appointment in Sacto and making one with Dr. Canapp. The good news is that the discomfort wasn’t as intense this visit, so things are improving.

I’m still in a holding pattern on my treatment plan. Should have an idea of what to expect after visits on Monday.

[k8marie]

Hi Tracy,
Revisited the Slam game on the wobble board with towels tucked under to soften the movement. She did really well. I think she thought that slamming it down was what the game was about. She caught on pretty quickly when I delayed the reward. Had a MM malfunction halfway through at which point she stood in the center while I unjammed it. Although she was very cute I edited it out to keep this shorter. We’ll revisit the teeter bang (front paws on) and the plank (on blocks) this evening when the yard cools off.

I am planning on a running DW and AF, 4 on for the teeter (quick release). Jack’s DW initially was 2o2o as that is how I trained my standards (poodles not ethical). Then at our national specialty 3 years ago he was the only 16” (or 12”) with a stopped contact; everyone else had running DW, so we came home and trained running. He caught on really quickly, using a mat, and was much happier running.

Do you think it’s OK to do some of the jumping games with Jazz? You really can’t tell anything is bothering her by the way she races around here. I plan on taking Jazz with me if/when I have to go to San Diego. The other two (Duffy and Jack) will stay home with my partner. Hope to be able to continue training in some way there.
Kate

[k8marie]

Tracy,
Thanks for the info relating to Hot Sauce. We have our monthly visit with the chiro on Tuesday and I’ll definitely ask her to assess the patella with Jazz laying down. It’s frustrating as I asked our vet, when we went in for the X-rays to assess with her laying down, and the vet insisted that her physical exam (with Jazz standing) was sufficient.

This morning we did some plank work. She doesn’t seem to have any hesitation about running across this. The plank is from a “mini” training teeter that I have. It looks like you used a DW ramp. I considered using one from my DW but I think there would be a gap on each end due to how the DW is constructed. Is that OK? Should I stuff something in there?

Here is the video:

We also played with the teeter bang game – no video here as I clearly need to go back to backing on a board. I quit training that as I wasn’t having any success.

Wish I could take you up on taking Jazz to treatment! Additional challenge is that my treatment will most likely be in San Diego (4-6 weeks) and her treatment is in Sacramento. I’ll have a better idea of what I can expect after appointments on 4/13. What treatment did you follow with Hot Sauce?

Thanks for the great input!

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