[Kathy McClung]

You. Are. Brilliant! MM inside the tunnel for the win!!!
I made sure to let her help me place the MM inside the tunnel so she knew it was there. Hahaha!
I’m off camera for the beginning but I started with some regular tunnels to get her warmed up & then I switched her to the threadle position. We worked around the clock a bit and she was getting it!!!

Minny Pinny with verbals.
I added the verbals and used the collar hold. I added the 3 jump bars – they are panels from a panel jump. I noticed that she stepped on them a bit since she was walking through & bot jumping. Should I change them out to locked in bars?Am I setting her up fo the next rep in the correct postion like you mentioned?
>>
My only suggestion is that after the cookie, you line her up again to start so she is not turning away from you to get into it on all of them.
>>

Running contact game: Go to & go through the mat. I warmed her up with the go-to the mat & then we did some go through the mat. I am trying to time my marker word with her back paws hitting the mat.

Also, kind of an aside question. Should I start Frankie on the tunnel beginner exercises Bazinga is learning to introduce her to the verbal & help her with the Tunnel Class?

Thank you!!!!

[Kathy McClung]

Thank you! That makes sense. One more tiny piece of a question – it is ok that she will not finish the tunnel but come back out after she gets her treat?

[Kathy McClung]

Hi Tracy,
Weirdness: Yes! I saw her ears go back when she noticed the pillow-pile like “what the what?” and then she ran right over there to see what it was! Yes, Frankie is much more cautious!

I have a question on these instructions (I love the idea of putting the MM in the tunnel!)

>>But don’t do that on the right turns: for the right turns, start at a right degree angle to the tunnel entry, very close to it, holding her collar and saying tunnel tunnel tunnel… when she looks at the tunnel, keep saying it and let go of her collar (then throw the reward).
One thing that helped my dogs get it on the the it non-dominant side was to put the reward right inside the tunnel entry. So the MM was a foot or two inside the tunnel, or a toy. That really helped! then you can gradually move the toy to the exit of the tunnel, and also gradually move her start position so she is further from the entry. >>

Do you mean for me to stop doing the threadles on right turns & go back to only doing the “tunnel, tunnel” (dog/human/tunnel) exercise and put the MM inside (or toss a cookie inside)? Or would I do it for the threadles?
Thanks!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Kathy McClung.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Kathy McClung.

[Kathy McClung]

We did not get to play today – crazy work day but this morning I set up a Weirdness Gauntlet!

[Kathy McClung]

Hi! Here is what we have been working on.

Left/Right Minny Pinny
I was super excited to try these after watching the live class.
What verbals, you ask? I’m going for it…I’m going to say the real, actual, scary words “Left” & “Right”!!!
I think she did really well! I may need to do less hand movement?

Tunnel Threadle – Right Turns
We played Wed & Thursday. She is still spinning on the right turns. Thursday she got a right hand turn! I ended on that note and will try again and see if she remembers how it felt to turn that way into the tunnel.

Rear Crosses with Prop

>>
A couple of things to change to as well:

Put the prop more directly in front of her now (or move yourself over :)) so she is not needing to cut in front of your feet to get to it. That way she can go straight-ish and you can cut behind her for a rear cross like it would be on the jump.

Also, try not to say ‘go’ or swing your hand across you – both of those will mean different things when we move to a jump. What to say instead? You can do something like a ‘ready set…’ then a silly noise 🙂 When we move to a jump, we will add directionals for the turn, but for now we don’t want to add them to the prop.
>>

I tried a session where I didn’t say “go” and tried not to use my arms. I think I need a lot of help about my mechanics for this. My current rear cross verbal is “go jump” (I did not choose a very good verbal). I also rely on my arms (I sweep the dog-side arm in front of me & then change to the new-side arm as Frankie approaches the jump). I will rewatch your video!

[Kathy McClung]

Tunnel Threadle
I liked the “KissKissKiss” verbal! I’m sure my mechanics can use work. It’s embarrassing! I was pumping my arm with the verbal. ridiculous!
Here is our morning session & afternoon session. This afternoon she was really having a tough time with the right turns & was spinning.
I’m looking forward to your feedback on this one.

Go to & go through the mat
Here is our mat work. I ordered a cheapy yoga mat & I think I’ll cut about a 1/4 off of it. The other mat you saw under the box is an industrial welcome mat, but I have been using it as just a general mat to work on all sorts of stuff, so I thought it may have no meaning as a “thing” for her.
Edited to add: I realize now that I was supposed to use”get it” and not the clicker. I will try again.

Pivoting
Yay for pivots! She already knew how to target the bowl with her front paws, so I think that gave her a head start. 🙂
Thanks for the reminder that is a workout! I bet her booty is sore today! Poor baby. I will rest on that one for a day.

Retrieve
I tried another toy that was a longer tug toy & she brought it back! I’ll keep trying different ones to find her faves. What is the “formal” training for retrieve? It is not something I have really trained for agility before, but it is super nice to have them bring something back, so this is going to be cool!

Thanks for all your help!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Kathy McClung. Reason: Added a note to the Mat work info

[Kathy McClung]

Hi!

>>
So… what do you want your tunnel threadle verbal to be? Time to add it, on easier angles of entry. And also, you can move to the double whammy game (posted last week).
>>

Yay!!! I think I’m going to adopt KissKissKiss because it is sweet & usually I am desperately screaming “HERE HERE TUNNEL” for the threadle. I’m a little afraid of a quiet verbal, but it makes logical sense that if the dog understands their job & knows the verbal, it should work. I’m going to focus on teaching her the skill (with ALOT of your help!)

I see now that I can keep the MM in place for teaching her the threadle verabl, since she is only going through the tunnel once.
When we get to the sequence where they go in the tunnel entry, exit & then threadle to the entry again, I’m not sure how to place the reward. I don’t think I can get her past the MM on the first pass, can I reward for the tunnel entry & then reaward again for the threadle pass? Or just work though getting her past the MM and taking the tunnel again for the threadle?

Release Words
>>
The dogs have us all figured out and there are dozens of release words 🙂 I use ‘break’ in agility to do things like release off the start line in most situations, and I also use it as a crate release. I use ‘get it’ and stuff like as to get meals – so get it is also a release. And verbal directionals are a release 🙂 The dogs have us all figured out 🙂 so you can totally use break in any situation where she should leave a control position and move towards you or into “work”.
>>
Thank you for this! Seeing how you are applying the release words helped me think it through. I am going to dedicate myself to NOT saying “ok” and using Break & Get it & Find it instead. This one is on me, I need to be clear & consistent and my use of “Ok” is not.

We had the day off, so we got to play a lot!! 🙂

Running Contacts: Baby level with box
Can I use an uncut yoga mat for now or is it too narrow?

Body Awareness: Perch Work. Baby level
I have always wanted to teach the pivot and have never been able to teach it. This was fun!

Beginner Retrieve Games: baby level
She ran past me to a cat & then brought the toy back. I’m amazed.

Alternate Rear Cross.
I started farther back & worked to straighten the line on left turns. I kept the prop against wall for the rights & inched it out a bit towards the end of the session.

Thanks so much! Hope this is not overload!
-Kathy

[Kathy McClung]

Good morning!

Thanks for the encouragement on the tunnel. I was thinking it would be easy because Frankie is a tunnel sucker big time! Your feedback reset my expectations – thank you!
We tried again today and you are totally right – she just “got” it!

I have a question after watching the next game. Is there a way to transition from driving to the Manners Minder to returning to me for a treat? In the next video I see that you are holding a toy and Contraband is coming back to you for the reward after he goes through the tunnel.

We practiced the Parallel Path game with a helper & distance & I forgot to hit record! She did really good though. I’ll try another session ang get video

On the barrel games…
>>Her only error in terms of going to the toy after that point was when you said “ok”. So she might have thought it was the release to get the toy (so perhaps it was not an error :)) >>

I went back & listened & I ID SAY OK!!! I need to strike that word from my vocabulary. Weird & possibly dumb question. Is there only ever 1 release word? I don’t want to muddy “break” if I get used to useing it. Should I use that only for agility & agility training & another word for day to day stuff? Like releasing from a crate or to their meals?

Thanks so much!!!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Kathy McClung. Reason: question added

[Kathy McClung]

It is freeezing in North Fl right now!

We tried the human/dog/tunnel game today. It was definitely more challenging. I switched sides to let her do her easier turns & then switched back. I think my body language is confusing her. I’m interesteed to hear what you see when you see the video.

We started on the Handling Combos game. Throwing that toy away from her was a mindblower. I tried not making it such an energetic throw to introduce her to the concept of leaving something she just saw move. I was able to progrss to the blind crosses. I think she thought most of the game was SUPER fun & exciting but I got the feeling that she was getting annoyed at the collar holds.

I made my box/frame for the running contacts game. I’m excited to start that. I just need something for a mat. I may give up my yoga mat…

Thank you!
-Kathy & Bazinga

[Kathy McClung]

Hi Tracy!
As you can see in these videos it is FREEZING in Florida too!

Tunnel Game 1 Advanced
We warmed up with the baby level & she was having a blast. I moved the Manners Minder farther away and made sure she was finding it ok (yeah…no problem there. The Manners Minder is Magic!) I started the next level of the game with the verbal and collar hold. When I started holding her collar she did not want me to hold her back! I left that footage in. She also did not know why I was yelling tunnel in her face. LOLOL She got it after a few reps though. I was trading her a treat for the collar hold. We worked both sides of the tunnel. All the reps were dog/human/tunnel. I’ll try the human/dog/tunnel next.

Turn & Burn Advanced
I did a refresh on countermotion with the prop & did some side & back sends with her & got her amped up for the Turn & Burn. I thought this would be a good lead-in before trying the Handling Combos. I’ll try those next.
For this game, I tried to leave as she approached the barrel and also send from farther away and leave before she got to the barrel. She was very into it. The video is kind of far away. Sorry!

Thanks so much for watching!

[Kathy McClung]

Hi Tracy!

>> Good job with the resilience game at the trial – did she seem pretty relaxed and engaged? >>

She did! She is starting to expect the version without motion when we are at trial sites, so adding motion did not seem to phase her. The game seems to reduce the “bigness” of the environment for her. I can see her focus area get smaller once we start playing. She is not looking way off into the distance, but just paying attention to her close surroundings.

>> Ooh, I like RevRevRev!!! I might steal that one too LOL! >>
YAY!!! 🙂

Thanks for the feedback on my timing for the Lap Turns & Tandem Turns – as always you have such a sharp eye! I’ll pay attention to my timing.

I tried the next level of the Rocking Horse but my video cut out and I didn’t get any footage. I tried some side sends and she did well with them and we also did both barrels in a row. I’ll try again & get some video.

Is she ready to start on the Handling Combos! Acceleration, Decel, Turns, Blinds, and Front Crosses game? Or keep going with this one?

We did the Alternate Rear Cross game with the prop on her easy side as you suggested a few days back. I think she did really good! By the end I didn’t have to hold her collar.

We did the Baby level of Tunnel Games 1: Shaping And Threadle Foundations. She had a blast!

Thanks for the feedback!
Also, what is the next class after this one? I totally want to keep going! This is an amazing class.

[Kathy McClung]

We were at a trial this weekend and we did little sessions to stay busy between breaks. We also did the Resilience Game: Predictability Part 3 (The Environment) where we added motion. I haven’t added the distraction (a thing) yet, but we were in a novel environment in a quiet area with some activity in the background probably 100 feet away.

Toy Races!
I refreshed this game with a helper this time. I made sure I beat her to the toy & played a little keep away.

Prop Game 3: Turn Aways! Rear Cross On The Flat Foundation
We were working on this over the weekend and she was getting it. I introduced the “Break” a few days ago when we practiced the parallel path game with a helper holding her and now it seems like she is WAITING for me to say it before leaving a sit – is that even possible? Also, I hope I’m not being too boring for her here. I was trying to go slow so there was no spinning & boinging. I really like how you were able to keep it slow but fun in your video.

Rocking horse with verbals (first time).
Verbals & questions (more – sorry!)
I decided! I’m totally stealing your choochoochoo (I love it!) for right wraps and I went with RevRevRev for left wraps. I tried to keep my markers clear on this session. I’m pretty much stealing all your verbals because they make me smile. I am using “snacks” for treats from the hand and “tug” for toy from the hand. I’m trying to get comfy with them and use them consistently. That is a skill!

I have a question on choosing the loose/90 degree turn verbals since they go along with these verbals. If I go with DigDigDig & CheckCheckCheck for loose/90 degree turns, is it better to keep both the “C” words for turning right? (Dig for left & Check for right)? Or will that be confusing and I should pick a completely different consonant for the 90 degree turns? Right now Dig just means turns towards me.

Thanks for watching! I’m looking forward to your feedback.

[Kathy McClung]

Hi Tracy,
Last night’s class so so fun to watch. I was amazed at the puppies ability to read the backsides! SO COOL!

Thanks for the feedback on the beginner rear crosses! I’ll give it a try with the prop. She is going to be so excited to see her dustbin!

I recruited my hubby to be startline helper & worked on the Parallel Path & did our first try at the Collection Sandwich game.

Parallel Path
I think I may have been moving too fast during the parallel path. I got excited to get ahead of her! It is kinda cool that I need a helper to get ahead of this tiny muffin! <grin>

Collection Sandwich
It may not show on the video but she blew wayyyy past me on the first rep and then she realized that we were doing deceleration and she adjusted. I think I did not give her time to see any body language that communicated decel before I actually slowed down.

Thank you!

[Kathy McClung]

Hi! Thanks for all the verbals feedback! I tend to obsess over them a bit.

>>I think she was not quite as sure about the release to the jump from the stay – it looks like she held some of them, and left early on some of them.

I was a little worried about that & noticed it too. I will try to add the “catch” to this & see how it goes.

We had a quiet day getting back to work today. We practiced some indoor games to keep developing them.

I started working on the retrieve games but have’t gotten video yet. I also cleaned my shortest tunnel so it is nice inside and am going to start the baby level tunnel game if he weather cooperates 🙂

Alternate Rear Cross Game – Kathy needs to be faster practice! Hahaha! I think I labeled the turns correctly in the video…did I? If she starts on my right side & ends on my left side, she is turning to her right. Is that correct?

Startline Stay – Catch
I tried to keep my mechanics clean and work on her understanding of the “catch” marker.

I’m looking forward to watching class tonight!
Thank you!

[Kathy McClung]

Thank you!!! This feedback is AWESOME & helpful!
I need to rewatch the barrel video and look at the connection shift. I do think I thought I needed to look at her the whole time, so maybe that was throwing us off. I need to make my final decision on the wrap verbals! I will do that & start using them today. Choochoochoo is a definite! I just need the other sound. I couldn’t hear yours in the video to get a feel for it. Do you have a video with you saying both?

Cleaning up my reward markers. You are totally right. I had decided on 4 separate markers (now 5 with catch) but I started saying “get it” for food thrown ahead which was supposed to be for toys only. I felt like I needed a very specific food on the ground marker so she doesn’t look for things on the ground randomly, but I’m defaulting to get it every time I throw something ahead. Do you think I need to be that specific?

Food on ground – find it
Food from hand – snacks (love that! It makes me giggle too. I need to introduce this)
Toy – thrown – get it
Toy from hand – tug (new I have to introduce this)
Catch – food thrown back to you

MAGNET FINGERS – thank you!!!! That video was so helpful!!!!

I never thought about Bostons having a smaller range of peripheral vision. I bet you are right. I have only ever run Bostons, so I may not have noticed a difference. I’m excited to try the alternate rear cross exercise again. Timing, timing, timing. I have to work on my timing & concentrate on being quicker.

We took a trip to a field that we rent to practice sometimes. I was curious to see if Bazinga could do her stuff in a new place. She had no problem. She stayed focused and with me the whole time. I was so impressed by her little self! We worked on turn & burn, but I didn’t send video of that. I just kept it fun and she was committed.

We did rear cross foundations with a helper holding Bazinga. That took the pressure off of me to let me get ahead.

I used a stay for the parallel path concept transfer so she could see me moving ahead.

Thanks again!!! fun! fun! fun!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by Kathy McClung. Reason: fix a link

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