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Thank you for the lines!!! I can’t wait to try again!!!
Yes! We are taking I 81 🙂
Also, my hubby is working in Newberry SC now so I’ll be living back & forth between there and FL soon. I may be up in your area more often!
I’ve got to see what is around
for agility training and trials. 😊Hi Tracy!
We had another try at the WIYH: Rear Crosses.
I felt like the rights were going well. I only got 1 left turn in before we got interrupted. I think we needed a few more reps to get warmed up on that side. Bummer. We will try again.
I’m going to be offline for Fri-Mon for a road trip. My Mom is moving from CT to FL. I’m flying to CT and driving her back with me to FL. She says “no” to flying!
We’ll be back online & working to catch up as soon as I get back.
Have a great weekend!Hi Tracy,
I have a question on your feedback from the 24th about the Sends & Serps game. was I doing the send wrong? I don’t want to be missing a mechanics nuance (or big detail)>>On the first video, you were working them more as post turns, where she came around the wing and found the jump directly by turning to her right or left. Nice job with the verbals!! If you pulled away from the wing to soon, she did not find the jump, so keeping connection until she saw the jump worked really well!
>>So the nex step is to make her line more of the “S” shape for the harder serps. The way to get that is for you to run a line parallel to the jump bar, with the MM on the end of that line. So you will be sending her to the wing and then moving parallel to the bar, close enough to touch the jump, with your shoulder facing the center of the bar (and serp arm back like you did here) That will be harder, so you will want to maybe do a fast walk through it at first instead of a run.
Thanks!!!
AMAZING webinar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hi Tracy!
FIRST!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the feedback on our previous videos. We worked on a few things before I read your feedback that included I need to remember to do contrasting challenges. I forgot those in these videos too but I will put them back in on my next sessions. I’ll change up the way I send her around the wing too (duh! way to make things harder, Kathy!) I’m going to re-read your comments and we will try again.We went back to Strike a Pose: Proofing Serps & Threadles. We haven’t gotten to the threadles yet but I think she did better finding the jump here. What do you think?
I think you can hear me realize that I’m not using the contracting moves in this one!
Here is another session of the rear crosses. I did walk it & LOUDLY declare the turns ahead of time. I worked both sides. I am trying really hard to look at her as she comes out of the tunnel & keep running. When I see it on video it looks so lame, but in real life it feels so intense. I’m not sure I am there yet, (what do you think?) I’m going to keep working on it.
Hi Tracy!
Good luck this weekend!!!>>When you walked it, did you say the verbal out loud (and really loud :)) while walking it? That migh tbe something to try – saying it loudly. And video the walk through, then checking the video to make sure you’re yelling the correct words. I have totally caught myself yelling the wrong words LOL!
Loud may be my friend! I will try this!!!
Here is our first try at the Get Out game. I did refresh it with her prop a few times and she remembered! I was able to add some distance and do 2 blind crosses.
Rocking Horse Turn Aways
We did some of the Baby level here. She was either really excited about getting turned around on the lap turn or we’ve been practicing spinning too much!
I switched sides and that seemed to help. I need to get a better handle on the mechanics of the Tandem Turn and then I’ll do a session.
Zig Zag Part 2
She didn’t seem to notice the real bar vs the pool noodle. If I got too far away, she was skipping the first jump.
Thanks for watching!
Hi Tracy!
Here is our first try at the Concept Transfer:Rear Crosses game.
She loved the game! I had a total fail with my directional verbals. I am just not able to process directions. I walked this several times before starting and carefully set it up ahead of time knowing we were only making one turn, and I still said the wrong verbal every rep. I just got it in my head wrong. I’m just so bummed and horrified, but I am not sure I can overcome this. It has been this way my whole life. I’m hoping that all the mechanics of throwing the toy & which hand the toy is in etc is what is adding to the difficulty for me. Hopefully in a trial situation, I’ll just need to pay attention to the verbals on the walked course & not be worrying about what is in my hands.I really worked on looking at her as she came out of the tunnel. When I was able to do that, I think she was able to get the turns. If I am not doing that, I think she is looking for the toy to tell which direction to go.
Thank you!!!
Hi Tracy!
We had a super rainy day but it cleared up and we tried the rear crosses again. I am just a mess trying to concentrate on throwing the toy & saying the verbal.
I’m looking forward to the weekend to have time to do more. I have Zig Zags set up and we need to start on the new games too.
I’m excited to try the blind crosses again. I am finding that I’m having a tough time keeping my eyes on her. I really need to get that down. Crucial!
Thanks for watching – have a great weekend!Hi Tracy!
Strike a Pose: Proofing Serps & Threadles
>>– lead out a bit and go faster and faster to challenge her to differentiate the cues even when there is more speed and more excitement
>>– lead out less and move into it, so she differentiates the cues even when you are not ahead or not in perfect position. For example, as you are passing the first wing, can you get her to go to the tunnel? Or come in for the serp?We did another session with movement. I tried to vary where I was when I released her. I think I was in the “threadle area” a few times and she came in (as I think she should have).
I think I need to still release at the same spot (or at least just as I am passing the first wing – but not before it – even though I may lead out less or more as described above?
Ladder Grid – Slices
I set this up again & I think you are right, she processed the changes since the last session! She jumped over 2 noodles (not Ramen!) on 2 tries, so maybe the way I am settign it up is too tight for her.
The Diamond – Tight Blinds
We tried this one! Whew! I need some quicker moves! She read the blinds but we were a little wild about it. Adding the tunnel was too much for me! I couldn’t keep my eyes on her. Maybe after we (me) get better at the blind cross mechanics, I’ll try that again, but I didn’t want to smush her. Also, I really need to be careful on these games where I hold a toy. I didn’t do a good job at the toy training and she doesn’t know not to grab for it until I cue her & is doing a lot of pogo bouncing to try & get the toy as we set up and move around. I’ll work on my mechanics so the toy isn’t so visually tempting. During these reps, I’m working on letting her tug, offering a treat as a trade & then presenting the toy again to “get it” & not just doing the next rep so that I’m not always taking the toy away from her. I just have to make sure she eats the dang treat & doesn’t choke on it! BOSTONS!
Verbal Brain Spiral
>>But another side of it is that dogs are absolutely brilliant at sorting out context so you can use the same verbals in different context, as long as you maintain criteria. For example, I use ‘stay’ on the start lines. And I also use it at home, when I am want the dogs to stay in a sit when I open a door. They seem to recognize the difference in contexts but also recognize that stay means ‘don’t move til the crazy momma says the next cue’.Thank you for the extra help in thinking about this! I think you captured the very important nuance & why I feel uncomfortable with what I’m doing & that is because I am not maintaining any criteria when I ask her to “wait” and then take another dog outside. I pretty much just leave her there for several minutes before we come back. So I do think I need another word. I like “hold-on”. The criteria for that is – you don’t get to go out the door, but there are no other criteria.
As always thanks so much for watching!!
Hi Tracy!
Thanks for the feedback & the awesome detailed info on the rear crosses – that was very helpful! I gave her a break on these yesterday and I’ll give it another try.
I’ll do our next session of the serps/tunnels with your suggestions too!We set up the Ladder grid. She was a really good girl on her stays! I backchained & did a few catches at each of the jumps and then did a break or two from each jump. I angled the jumps, but maybe when I did it, they were too far apart for her or she was tired. She got 1 jump & 2 jumps but for the 3 jumps she took all the pool noodles with her! Poor girl! (not that she cared – haha). So I ended on that & gave her lots of treats. I’m going to rewatch the video to be sure I am setting up the angles right.
I have a question about verbals and wanted your advice & some verbal suggestions. ☺
I don’t want to muddy my “break” in the agility ring, so I don’t use it as a release for other things like a sit & or leave it. For those, I use “ok” which isn’t the best since I say “ok” a lot in day-to-day life, but I’m not doing competition obedience either, so I think I can get by with it. But what about “wait”? I think that should only be for agility too. Is there an alternate verbal that I can teach for day-to-day stuff instead? Like waiting at the door or when I put the food bowl down? I don’t like “stay” because it is too loaded a word for me – hahaha. Also, I have always taught that “wait” means hold until I release you and “stay” means wait until I come back to you and give you a reward. But to be honest, I never use “stay” and haven’t taught it to Bazinga.Thanks for your help!!!
Hi Tracy!
We did another session of Proofing for Serps & Threadles.
>>She still needed motion to the tunnel (for now) – When she could see you between the uprights and not moving, she was convinced it was the jump (which is a valid guess). So you can dial back the amount of motion and walk very slowly, then eventually fade it out.>>But, more important than fading out the motion, is getting her to differentiate between the serp and the tunnel cue while you are moving the whole time on both. So definitely try to be walking on both cues for now, and the verbal & upper body are what cues the different obstacles.
I tried to stay in motion for both and it seemed to help her! What do you think? Keep slowing it down to fade it out?
We also did another session of Wind In Your Hair, Part 2: Rear Crosses and Backside Wraps.
I think I am keeping my line too straight & throwing too late? I think she was watching the toy? She did great tugging & releasing for a treat & staying engaged with the toy!
Thanks for watching!
Hi Tracy!
We started Feel The Wind In Your Hair, Part 2: Rear Crosses and Backside Wraps!
I knew this was going to be hard on ME with my left-right issues. It kept feeling like I was in the wrong place. Eventually, I decided to keep the toy in my dog-side hand & say the verbal that matched my empty hand. Just to help my brain.When I do RCs now, I never really think about what direction, just that we are switching sides. I’m also pretty sure that the way I do them with Frankie is not how we want to do them with Bazinga. I used Frankie as a guinea pig and worked with her first & she read it just fine. I was just terrible working out the mechanics with the front cross, getting my bearings & throwing the toy.
Let me know what you think.
We also did the Strike A Pose Proofing For Serps And Threadles game. She was really good with her stays & the serps. I was surprised that it was hard for her to take the tunnel.
Thanks for watching!
Hi Tracy!
Thank you for the feedback & the info on the lead legs!
We did another session of Sends & Serps. I started with the jump less angled than last time and it was a little too hard for her, so I moved it again. I think we were still a little less angled than the first time. I’m losing her when we line up to wrap the wing. I’m not sure if I just don’t have her full attention yet, and I’m starting too soon or if I am too lateral from the wing for her.
Looking forward to watching all the pups in class tonight!
Thank you!
Hi Tracy!
We have beauuuuuuuuutiful weather today!!! We did some things ☺
Hope you had a fun weekend! I got to watch some of the WC Open.Set Point with Moving MM
Set Point Progression
>>I think the order of festivities should be:
– first add the moving target MM-on-wheels with the noodles for one session
– then if that goes well, go back to the stationary MM and put a bar in on the 2nd jump as low as possible and see how she does!We did a session with the moving MM. The distance for the jumps here is the shorter distance we did last time – 30 inches. It was very exciting for her. I have to bend over to get the handle and that amped her up a bit. I think we only got one true stay where she waited for me to actually say “break”. After the session, I moved to the deck and just put the MM on the ground and did some start lines with “catches” and then I bent over & squatted next to the MM before releasing her. She did much better without the jumps in front of her & the MM moving. I’ll do that a few more times today and hopefully, it will help her excitement level on the next moving session.
We did a second session of the Zig Zag game with the wings 4 feet part. I think she did well but what am I really looking for besided that she moves through the wings. Should I be looking at which leg she used to lead off with? If she is moving to her left, she should use her front left leg first, is that right? I could use a better understanding of lead leg/changes.
We did Find the Jump! I used a toy and we even tugged between reps. She magically was both super into tugging but happy to trade for a treat on almost every rep. I left a clip in the video. We are not to a formal “out” yet. It is more like a quick trade before she changes her mind!
Thanks!!!!Hi Tracy!
We have been working on the Minny Pinny between classes since it didn’t involve a lot of running. She really wants to go around the jumps herself. I am trying to hang on to her so that she can hear the verbal first. On the more advanced “sends” where she is turning away or neutral at the center, if my feet are pointing in the direction I want her to go, she does much better. Do I need to fade that out? I’m looking forward to your feedback on this one.
Minny Pinny with Verbals
Zig Zag – 4 feet apart
So the next step for this game is to bring the wings closer together so she gets to practice doing her lead changes quicker and quicker. Move the wings to 4 feet apart and see how she does (your cues will need to be quicker too). And if that goes well, you can eventually move them to 3 feet apart for ultimate lead change quickness!We moved the jumps to 4 feet. She did skip a jump here & there. I am guessing that it was my handling – maybe not obvious enough?
Smiley Faces Calm Your Hands with Water Bottle!
We did it! I still think my arm is too forward but I really tried to stay looking at her as I ran. Bazinga was chasing the water spills! LOL
Thanks for watching!
-KathyHI Tracy!
Thanks for the feedback on her set point & especially about when to mark/not to mark. I like that distinction!Great class last night! It really did help to hear how you progress your serp cues. My current one (which cracks me up) is I yell “serp!” and rely completely on body language and Frankie loves serps, so she reads them well and everyone thinks I have a 3 jump verbal! Bwahahahahaha! I’m really saying “serp” for me so that I get my handling right.
Do you give a directional on each jump of the serp line?Sends & Serps
We did our first session of Sends & Serps! I was happily surprised that she read it. When we tried it a few months ago it was very hard for both of us. She wanted to go fast, so I tried to keep up with her. I’m not sure I really succeeded in opening my shoulders and keeping my arm back. I lost connection with her on the wraps and remembered to look at her & BOOM! It worked.
Zig Zag!
She liked this game even though there was no Manner Minder🙂 haha
