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Tracy yes I made a big mistake leading out without connection. This was all my doing … I’m pretty low as it all went to crap yesterday. Still I have to sort it .. he is my only comp dog atm. In training I don’t need food or ball .. I run to the reward station .. it’s like that start line has been poisoned.
Hi tracy .. ok we are back with mixed results. The comp, was very relaxed …small .. pleasant. I’m sending 3 videos. First playing before the run – very good boy .. no issues … but then it was a while before the run and I must admit I was feeling anxious.
Then i thought i would try and lead out – disaster .. you will see. I just can’t seem to start him at the start. When he does start -he’s fast and keen as you will see in the 3rd video where I started him – midway through the course bowling ball style. I think I need to from now on maybe the next few months start in the middle of the course with his leash already off. Anyway – I am really looking forward to your assessment of my runs today as I need a plan moving forward.
Hi Tracy … I have a trial tomorrow .. mid week – not crowded – 2 jumping runs – I will still run with the ball in my hand!!! See how we go with that to make him happy. I think i will try a proper line up tho – it depends on how he is .. I will see … thank u for training in the ring part 3 – I would not have thought of running with the toy on my body – really great – but tomorrow will b toy visible as I took into account your emphasis on this being a big step. Also – you have not mentioned ( I don’t think) that running with the toy and having already disqualified relaxes the human completely… )))))
Tracy yay!!!Yes leash off was his moment to start sniffing .. I loved how he pranced into the ring with me on clip 2 .. I actually did spins beforehand and him touching/ trying to bite my palm and throwing the ball. I also did Alex’s 😉 Handler Activation with him .. I’m so happy. I have a seminar today.
Hi Tracy …I’m just back from trialling. Well the proof is in the pudding … here are Sparky’s not for comp runs. I ran with the food ball in my hand … and made up my own course within the course. I also decided that I would start him on the tunnels so he couldn’t sniff … and he was awesome. I think I have said to you that he flies around the course when I can get him to lift his head!!!!
So my question is … should I have set him up properly ie in the middle position before the tunnel … I just sort of came in and let him stand where he wanted and ran. i didn’t ask him for a behaviour.. I thought it better to just let him go.
Also .. I will keep doing this for a while .. but when will i know when to take the ball away … and maybe place the food ball on the reward station?
Here is Sparky
Hi Tracy. Very good Q snd A this morning 😊 I have 2 days before travelling out to my weekend competition. Can u recommend what I should practice over the next 48 hours please ..
Hi tracy … thanks again for your advice ..
So today I thought I would make some changes to my start line procedure. When we first started I did have Sparky between my legs and then I changed it .. long story but was abt faffing around with getting his clip on leash off.
Anyway .. I have decided to go back to between my legs. i have a slip on leash now. He has had high reinforcement for this position and knows it well. Also .. in this position I seem to get better engagement … I touch his leash and remove it and he looks up and engages. Also I think it will prevent him going wandering/ sniffing and make him feel more secure in a strange environment. So here is a little we did in the side lane and I think you’ll agree he looks very happy with this. i say ‘legs’ he goes to middle and then I take the leash offf.Ok so now I understand much better … building up the history of reinforcement . So yesterday basically we were unable to be in the working area ie the horse arena until it was our go .. outside the arena didn’t cut it as it was a large wooden wall / barrier between the arena and where we set up with our dogs. The dogs could not even see over the wall .. I won’t beat myself up any more. I have events next weekend and will try and work hard on engagement with Sparky. Next weekend I will be able to do some not for comp runs as well!!! Thanks for your good advice …
Hi Tracy – ok so I’ve just come back from my seminar held in a horse arena. I was super depressed with Sparky – until I talked to my friend who reminded me I am making progress on grass. So obviously the area had heaps of smells and basically – Sparky would not run. I guess Tracy I should have taken my food ball out but really I wanted to see if there has been any improvement. It was a disaster. The video is of Sparky trying to do a few jumps at the start. I just couldn’t get enough attention from him … so the seminar instructor then had me play crate games with him and he was super with this. We put the crate onto the arena and had him break to obstacles .. there was no sniffing when we were doing this.
i have some vids of the crate games if u would like to see them .. but here is Sparky.Also we were not allowed to walk the dogs on leash around the arena so i guess this didn’t help …
And now I’m thinking abt all the things I could have done instead of rushing to the start line …I feel terrible ….
Actually i did have food on me and used it for a nose touchHi Tracy .. it’s pouring rain but we have secured a covered horse arena for a seminar on Saturday .. so I’m really looking forward to sending loads of start line clips …
Hi Tracy weekend event cancelled already bec grounds too wet and more rain coming. Maybe Thursday will hold ..
Start line stays
Silly me brought the food ball with me …but … he would have done just as well without I think. Tracy .. do u see in the second clip he puts his nose down to have a little sniff of the grass .. and this is an area he knows so well but it is public. At a trial he will get up and follow the scent (((
So I’m hoping if it doesn’t rain .. I can train with a trainer on Thursday and I have a big agility event on Saturday – if the grounds dry out. I’ll make sure to get video this time. So my line up routine is to walk in saying ‘break break break’ when I’m walking and when I stop he sits automatically .. then break is my release word? Does it look ok to you? PS I think I look/feel too serious .. should b spinning twirling when i walk in?
