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Great feedback Tracy, as always. 🙂
Practiced a few tunnel exit thingys today. In watching the video I can see many losses of connection (boo!) but it’s more o work on. For some reason I keep thinking I’m going to run into things so it’s hard for me o connect with him.
I did take your advice and practice a walkthrough without the dog to get the verbals better and that helped – still not perfect but better.
Also I tried to stop saying useless encouraging words between cues and I think it was better. I still sometimes forgot thee mechanics for releasing to the toy with “Get it” but I guess I’ll focus on that next!
~Kristin
Hi Tracy – thanks for the great feedback.
It was a balmy 33 degrees outside today (so nice!!) so I thought I’d take it outside to get more room, even though there’s still snow here in MN. The cold doesn’t bother Ronin in the least and the footing was still pretty decent.
Got some jump bumps for the set point and worked it with the toy drag this time. This was a great suggestion because I think it did produce a better form over the jumps, like we’ve seen with some others too.
Wind in your Hair:
It was so hard to see if he was really looking forward or not. I’m going to have to do more to train my eye for this. 🙂
Smiley Face:
Only did a couple of these. I think I had better connection but still have a lot to improve upon 🙂
But seriously I don’t know what the heck is so confusing about my left/right verbals!!😆I have never taught left/right before and I guess I am struggling to remember which should NOT be that hard. Maybe I’ll practice with Emmett if he feels up to it – he’s pretty deaf ow anyway so it won’t matter if I mess it up! Ha!
Anyway, it was harder than I thought also to stop saying the encouraging words in between commands. I may have done a little better but not a lot, so I’ll keep working on it.
Any other reminders I need on this and I’ll try it again.
I look forward to your thoughts!
KristinHere we are with Week 1 (Pre-Games were a breeze) homework. I’m already wishing I had more space! 🙂
Set point:
It’s kind of killing me now that I didn’t teach the tuck sit. I was thinking about that this whole year and never got around to it and now…regrets. Would sure come in handy for this one! 🙂
Wind in your Hair:
Definitely wanted more room and learned a few things on this first round. Namely, the way I had it set up cramped at the end made it hard for me to really have a fast, smooth path to the end and if nothing else Ronin really showed that he can read decel! :/ 🙂
<<EDIT AFTER INITIAL POST: So I just re-watched the demo AND the live class and I see some of what made this harder. 1) I didn’t have the wing lined up with the side I was sending. The wing was in the middle and stayed there throughout. 2) I wasn’t watching for his face to look at the jump to reward right at that point. I am sure there were other things I could improve to but those I see how right away after watching the videos again.>>>
Smiley Face:
I missed connecting on a few reps, so that was a good learning for me!
Let me know what you think. Thanks!
KristinHi Tracy,
I didn’t bring my ‘A’ game to training today, but at least I did something. 🙂
Rocking Horse Tunnel:
I shortened the tunnel and moved the wing back to make more room between he tunnel and wing, but that’s as much room as I have right now. Can’t wait until winter is over! And I realize this camera angle doesn’t show the increased distance between the obstacles but you’ll just have to trust me on that. Ha! What should I do next if I don’t have more room to put in two obstacles? Shorten the tunnel to like just a few feet or something?
Countermotion:
Tried to focus on him at the start of each iteration, and also to add a bit more motion. I think in most reps I should’ve held my cue arm back longer. We did have a few moments of confusion here which I am quite sure was entirely my fault. I’m assuming holding the arm cue and joining Team Chill on the motion would help! 🙂
Decel:
Mostly stayed on the landing side of the barrel this time and that was better.
Let me know what you think.
KristinWhew! Finally got some time to train this week!
Rocking Horse Tunnel:
Well obviously I didn’t quite have my commands and arm signals all worked out before I started, but was mostly okay.
Serp Countermotion:
I was pretty much only brave enough this time to do the throw back without adding the countermotion yet. The very las rep had a little. So we didn’t too far on this one, but I wanted to be sure he was confident (and me too, in what I was doing!😀) before adding much motion.
Lateral Lead Out:
Once I got into this one I kind of forgot about how much motion or cue I was supposed to use, so I kind of winged it in the moment and tried not to be very extreme either way – neither too much nor zero cue. Will be going back to watch demo video!
Simple Decel:
This seemed generally okay. I like all the great stay work we got to do this week too!
As always, thanks in advance for your awesome feedback! Feel like we’re almost doing real agility now. 😁 Since Emmett had to retire this year, I’ve really missed it!
Kristin
Hi! I think there was too much time between when I read your feedback and when I recorded these videos because I did forget a couple of the points, but not a big deal.
Turn and Burn
I tied two toys together and a bit more of a chase game going and he thought that was pretty fun. I think I got some good commitment there. The part I wish I had done more of was to get a bit more distance going TO the wing, as you suggested, but will try that next time.
Threadle and Serp
I had a few sessions of this so I can only show some of the highlights here, but I was working to start out with more motion, to reward stays (which I didn’t cut into the video much) and to consider my arm position. I didn’t really like how the threadle was going with one arm compared to when I tried it with the opposite arm up so I decided to make that switch. So threadle cue will be opposite arm. I think it helps me turn my shoulders for a clearer differentiation, at least at this point. I guess I’ll see in the future if that’s the best long term choice or not, but it felt better to me now. Serps were certainly easier. On this one I wish I’d remembered to stay closer to the wing – not so much space between me and the jump – but I will work more on that too. 🙂
Kristin
Started Week 11 games today!
On the Threadles & Serps….this is such a great example why video is important and helpful. I thought I had it down but in reviewing the video I feel like I should’ve had Ronin a little closer to the jump for one thing. Secondly, I think I should’ve been moving for a bit more before giving the ‘Close’ command. It was more a simultaneous command & move. I suppose, if I’m being truly honest with myself it could be I did that because I was worried about him breaking the stay, but I either shouldn’t be or I continue to work that separately. What else should I adjust?
Turn and Burn
This was fun of course! I was running out of space for the burn part and had wished after reviewing the video that I’d have thrown the toy more ahead of me and more consistently used the Get It command, but I will work on that. At least this time I managed to remember my wrap verbals. Or wait, wasn’t I supposed to here? (just had an ‘oh crap’ moment)
And oh my gosh, when viewing the treadle/serp demo videos, I had it on my laptop and Ronin was absolutely obsessed with watching everything Contraband was doing. It was cute – CB seems like quite a fun character!
~Kristin
Okay, I think I get what you mean about the rewarding tossing on the landing side of the barrel for the Rocking Horse. Or, at least I’m a little closer. 🙂 I’m not sure about my moves overall on this one, but I was focused on where to toss to see if it seemed right.
Mini-Pini:
I dolled out 7 total treats this time and here a subset of the training. This time we had NO ERRORs in terms of going between the wings. Only error was when he was looking for the toss before coming back to me, but no biggie, he only did that the one time. Anything else I should be doing on this one to advance before whatever is next with this one?
Thanks!
KristinDid a little more mini-pini today:
It was interesting how he was doing so well with the right turns and then kind of lost it and started cheating even when nothing had really changed. Hopefully the altered reward placement to get him back on track was okay. It did seem to work. Had no issues like this going to the left, only the right (same as the tunnel threadle issue, incidentally)
Rocking Horse
So I got into this one today thinking I knew what you meant in the previous feedback of rewarding but then wasn’t sure when I was actually doing the training. You said: “…you can mix in tossing th reward to the ‘landing’ side (other side) of the barrels as you continue to move away… have a lot of the reward tossed to the other side of the barrel when you move away…” Wait, what?! Can you explain if I did any of my rewards in this one right as far as what you meant? Or explain more please – I’m really slow this week I guess! 🙂
I kind of forgot to add in the turn and burn part and didn’t have much room anyway, but will try adding that in next.
Thanks!
KristinThanks Tracy! Great feedback throughout!
>>just work with starting the tunnel verbal, then let go, then reward him for turning away without you moving at all to help get the turn.>>
When I use the tunnel verbal in this scenario where he is turning away, should I use the threadle verbal (I decided to use “Flip” instead of “Kiss” since I just couldn’t remember/get the hang of that one), or do I say “Tunnel”?Mini Pinwheel
Regarding my commands…This is probably the nicest way anyone has ever pointed out that I am an idiot and was for sure using the wrong command for the turn! Ha ha ha!!! I was totally not thinking and just said right/left based on what arm I was using. Doh!! Well at least I only did one session of that so I’m sure the verbals haven’t stuck yet and I can change it. 🙂And on another funny note, somebody managed to get a hold of their hand target somehow and had a shred fest. 🙂 I guess I will have to get a fresh one. Ha!
Have a good day!
KristinHi Tracy – getting back to training after a super busy week or so.
Tunnel Threadle
This one continued to be a bit difficult and I know my handling in the first reps was pretty rough, and Ronin struggled. So, I went back a step or two with the tunnel threadle for a few sessions and that helped a lot. Still, Ronin seems to have a lot more difficulty turning right into the tunnel vs. left. Not really sure why!
And then, a little porridge-heating…
I did do this with a toy as well, but at least for this session I got a bit more heat with food. That actually surprised me since he’s usually more animated with a toy, but somehow not that day.
Mini Pinwheel
He did okay with this one. Part way through the session I pushed out the middle wing a little. Should I make it more advance now?
Rocking Horse
Eased back into rocking horse with a few front crosses then did a few reverse spins. I haven’t had time to advance it and add another turn and burn, but let me know what you think.
Thank you!
KristinHello! Here is our first video for the Threadle Part 2 – Verbals, etc. He advanced pretty quickly but maybe I went too quickly in hindsight since had a few issues towards the end. It was fun anyway and I’m not too worried about it. Had one little error where I started the reward too soon and he pulled out of the tunnel (same thing like one rep in your demo). I think it will come along okay. But I kept feeling a little confused about what arm to be using for the obvious tunnel cue. Let me know what you think. 🙂
~Kristin
Okay! We got a new perch! 🙂 Hopefully this is more appropriately sized in both height and width.
Did two separate short sessions with this and I cut together a representative sample of what went down. We have hind end movement! He picked that up super fast.
Let me know what you think!
KristinOkay, so I tried to take the feedback, which made total sense, and remember to apply it correctly to another round. I did a lot of training today!
Strike a Pose – lots of good stuff, and a few errors that I am not sure I handled quite appropriately despite trying the cookie toss to reset. I also tried to delay the MM trigger until he started over the bar.
Backside slide – of course you made it look so easy exactly how we were to move parallel to the bar and reward spot, but I don’t think I quite nailed moving parallel and rewarding in the right spot.
Lead with the Head – 360s – I think this was better than yesterday as far as the cueing. I don’t see him offering the head wrap very independently yet, but will keep working on it.
Perch – tried this out with a few different objects today and I think he’s starting to get it. I’ll have to go back and read the instructions/watch video on how to progress in getting the hind feet moving.
It’s gonna be a busy week so we’ll see how far I get! If nothing else, I will be squeezing in some super fast, short sessions without but taking time to upload video. Unless I get stuck with the new lesson, that is. Some weeks are like that… 🙂
Kristin
Hi Tracy,
We got a lot of training done today, finally. 🙂
Perch Work:
I tried a bunch of things for a perch and finally selected the Pawd because, although it’s small, everything else I had he’s already used to putting his whole body on, or is too slippery, or not stable. I think this will work though. It was an interesting session. Although he’s been on the Pawds before, I have always set him on; he’s never had to consider getting up on his own so it was like starting from scratch. Seemed like he was slow to get it but then when I came back after reloading the treats it was like he almost completely figured it out! Anyway, I assume the next step is to try to get his hind end to move. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Backside Slice:
These were fun. I think I was not walking as parallel a path as I should’ve been in the first few reps, but I think he did okay, except for the one rep where he ended up on the wrong side (I think due to lack of connection).
Strike a Pose Part 3:
Have two sessions on this video. I wasn’t perfect, but he still did okay. 🙂 I realized after it happened that after the error at 1:09 I should have THROWN the cookie to restart it like you told me last time (Doh! Do you ever feel like no one is listening to your advice sometimes? LOL!!) but I just plain forgot in the moment and I had to reload anyway.
Leading with the Head:
I found this one quite difficult to cue properly and turn my hand how it was supposed to! Not feeling confident about how to do this right but will watch the videos again. 🙂
Fun stuff this week!
Kristin
