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Hi Tracy ..so here is Sparky .. with engaged leash off. its raining so only had a few minutes. My intention was to use my trial leash but it was too wet find it! So I have a few questions. Do u need him to look into my eyes for engagement or will just looking be sufficient. Also do you want a verbal for the engagement?
Hi Tracy ))) I’ve been competing all weekend – so no homework for this course. Unfortunately no video .. however I can report that Sparky’s start lines were heaps better!! I was trying to get a place in the State Titles – unfortunately that didn’t happen but I was very happy to see his improvement. So working these games plus other engagement work is paying off. So first up – the weather was bad – heavy rain .. so I altered my usual start line set up. The rules now allow u to carry the dog into the ring and that’s what i did…I figured if I led him in in heavy rain – he would just shoot away – so I carried him .. put him down and ran .. this worked. For the second run when there was no rain – I brought him in on lead – he ran out to a sniffing patch but shot straight back without me having to beg! that was a terrific run – a small handling error led to a DQ. 3rd run we took off .. all good … but … during the run in a small part where I was deliberately stationary as he ran towards me.. he put his nose down and sniffed. This taught me a lesson in running him … if I had run further into the obstacle and we were chasing each other – he would not have put his nose down .. so note to self on this one .. then 4th run we started but abt 3 obstacles in he started sniffing .. so I guess he’d had enough … but honestly yesterday was abt 80 percent improvement so I’m feeling happy …what exercise should I be looking at next…Also .. what do u think abt caring a dog in as the start line procedure?
Hi Tracy. Ok so I went and looked at engaged chill and realised we really don’t have anything close to that. I tried to think about what Sparky likes .. and .. he likes to lie next to me when I’m working in the study or wherever .. he’s always at my feet. So I thought I would go outside and place a mat down and just lie down and see how he went .. it took him a while to relax and be with me .. his nose was up smelling the air and he was alert to noises outside. But there were times when he did relax … should I try to do more of this or try something different. He’s not a dog that really likes to be patted but he does like to be patted around his cheeks and will sort of do a chin style relax into my hand when I’m patting him. the video u see is speeded up … even tho its hard to tell .. it was more relaxed than u are seeing…
Hi Tracy … I had entered Sparky in a rally comp today … just so I could expose him to working with dogs around. He did really well and didn’t seem to freak at the start line at all .. mind you .. the leash stayed on. But … he was so chilled he was lying down at the start .. anyway .. I took the opportunity to do a bit of games practice remote reward on leash and dropping the food from my hand close … I re read your instructions and now realise I should have done either drop treats close or deliver from hand. But gosh .. look at his strange reaction when I offer him food from my hand … if I was in motion he would have taken it .. but this scenario sees him not wanting to take it from my hand…any thoughts on this?
Anyways … I feel the session went quite well. Here is SparkyHi Tracey .. yes .. he has never seen treats thrown close to me before .. it was new .. and now I’m wondering bec I spent so much time getting him to work away from me that this is part of the problem? Anyway that doesn’t matter now. You will see my new trial purpose leash. Light, short .. to enable me to slip over his head and then slip over mine. I have found leash on/ off and then placed on my body .. very difficult .. and had this leash made specially bec it’s not not allowed to dangle when we run ..great idea to put lead on.
Hi Tracy .. this includes a small part with pattern games ( he’s very familiar with these)..which Sparky loves! And remote reinforcement which is a bit better I think ..
PS … I’ve just looked at your comments to some of the others …if I take Sparky to any other environ he will always be happy with the pattern games because he’s so focussed on the food!!Hi Tracy ha ha ha .. yes it’s really hard for me not to be excited!! But I’m getting the hang of it .. I also noted to myself to calm it down for remote reinforcement so thats good!!
I can totally see that once I step in the ring everything is quiet ., so no wonder he’s nervous and unsure!!! I think this class is really going to iron us out!! Enjoy your weekend ..Hi Tracy … here is my follow up video. I feel I can Sparky can do the tricks without my energy – sent you a short bit of this … then remote reward .. what do u think ))
Tracey .. I’m worried I have almost used up my 5 min capacity .. can I send I a follow up video in a few days showing our progress ..
Wow yes I see exactly what you mean .. thanks Tracey. What I’m doing is super high energy and tiring.. so I can see esp in walking to the startline .. that energy is no longer there for him. Ok .. big work ahead. I’ll get to it!!! Will you tell me when to progress to the next game .. so I’ll stick here atm and see what happens!! Going for my morning coffee now )))
We can do not for comp here in trials now whenever we want and like I said .. he only plus for food ..Game 1
Hi everyone .. as its daytime in Sydney .. I thought I’d get in early with Game 1. Tracy this is in the grassy public reserve next to our house. Sparky trains here quite often .. small 1 jumps sequences etc. If you look carefully you will see there are a few moments where he does want to sniff .. but he knows food is in the vicinity so he sticks with me! I’m very excited to be doing this course .. thanks for putting it on!
Hi Bobbie … out of all the sessions we’ve done .. today was the session where I felt I did a poor job. I was confused in giving my signals .. now I’ve just re read and its clear I should have counted down.. then added target … Sparky is a super confident boy … I feel he will not stop at the end of the board and I think its making me nervous so I’m holding food in my hand instead of having it waiting for him in the bowl. Also this is a really garbage see saw I have .. but I have to make do with it…
Here is Sparky and his confused mum with lesson 13.
Hi there!!!!
Ok here are 2 short clips .. elevator game. Sparky’s silly mum realised half way through that she had forgotten to give the target cue!! next time .. but here is todays effort
And here is Sparky again showing love of the plank ))) He loves the planks…maybe as a baby I had him walking on wood and rewarded high…
Hope everyone there is ok…
