[Kristie Foss]

HI, Tracy,

Thanks so much for the detailed look at the “tale of 3 positions”. I was really focused on connection and support on that first run – one and done was going through my mind. As I experimented, I modified those pieces she needs – and should have from her handler. Question – If I decide to try something, such as not going as far in toward jump 3, I assume I should still keep everything else the same when it was so successful the first time round, correct? I was changing more than distance, and it showed. She is really keeping me honest, and is really clear in her communication back to me, isn’t she.
BTW, we did another Speedway trial and Keiko earned her first little title. ;). She ran steadily and did some distance when sent, but her pace is slower than at home or in class. It seems that she is taking everything in while trying to follow my handling and perform the obstacles. I think that’s in her personality – and being a Covid child. I’m really pleased, though, that she is handling things in the big world better and better. 🙂

[Kristie Foss]

Hi! Sounds like the Blue Ridge was beautiful – not sure I’d want to be driving an RV on those twisty roads, however. You have so many talents!

Though we’re in pkg 5 (can’t believe we’ve already been at this for over 8 weeks…) I wanted to do the Live 4 exercises, so here’s Seq B.
She did really well on her first run, so I decided to try not going in to jump 3 as much. In stopping where I did, I was not supporting the line to the far jump, so she trotted to the tunnel, though she was not particularly confident since “out” is not the verbal for tunnel….We did it a third time, I altered my position, and she read the cues well. I realized later that #5 was supposed to be the back side. Actually, I had to pull her over to go over the front, and I was up there in plenty of time, so I don’t think a back side would have been a problem for us. We may give it a try again on another day, but she did well and I think that’s a good place to stop. 🙂

[Kristie Foss]

HI, Tracy,
No patience required on our part – you’re allowed to have a life outside Agility U. 😉 I’m always impressed that you reply to our posts so quickly and thoroughly. Hope the trip to Iowa was a good one. That’s a long drive, and rather boring on the highways. My family traveled annually from California to Illinois and we kids always hated the mid-west part, especially since those were the days of no AC in our cars. Hot, humid and boring. Welcome back to VA!
Thanks for the tips on body location. I’ve got to learn to pay attention to location, in addition to handling, all tied in with connection and (when appropriate) a verbal or two….Agility has come a long way from the “run with your dog and go forward” days. 😉

[Kristie Foss]

Hi, Tracy,
We started working on the Live sequence A. I tried varying the start for each run. You’ll notice on the third run she went around the second jump. I repeated the first sequence after doing the second one, just to keep the either/or focus. When I walked the last sequences, I just couldn’t seem to get to the left (farther) side of #4 – it didn’t feel right. So you’ll see what I did in the last run. It felt much more “natural” to run it this way. Comments? Thanks!

[Kristie Foss]

Hello, Julie,
I’ve been observing all the LIVE classes, and wanted to thank you for being one of the “demo” teams for the rest of us. I really enjoy watching you and Kaladin run. You are so positive and upbeat (even in the heat) and your relationship with your boy is lovely to see. I’ve been learning a lot from watching your handling and how you work things out, even without any chance to practice!
Thanks again. Take care and give that boy an extra toy tug from me.

~Kristie

[Kristie Foss]

Hi!
Love the LIVE sessions. Thanks so much for making them available.
Here’s our ESC Sequence 2. I did this before I saw your suggestion about tunnel starts. We’ll get those on the map next. 🙂
I went to the 4-5-6-7 section first to see what seemed best for us, then put the whole thing together. In my walk through, I actually thought about being closer to 6 when doing the blind, ot farther along the path. That obviously left my mind when I did our first run, and I sent her handily over jump 2. I was slow on that BC, and I have a feeling having that right arm out didn’t help anything either. So I concentrated on turning sooner and using a “right here” verbal. I think if I turn closer to jump 6 or more along the bath between 6 and 7 tht she would have had the cue to turn tighter and come to the blind side. Every run is a lesson, isn’t it.
Here’s the video:

[Kristie Foss]

Hi, Tracy,
I’ll keep working on those low arms. I may alter the beginning of these sequences once in a while. She really hates going backwards to go forwards. I have the same feelings. Maybe it’s genetic (like mother like daughter….) 😉
I agree that the BC and my verbal to her need to be given earlier. I sometimes worry about pulling her off if I do something too soon, but she’s been proving herself to be pretty consistent, so I think I should push my timing a bit.
I realize that a FC could be used. I tend to avoid them whenever possible. Knee surgery 11 years ago has made fronts, especially those with a bit of turn in them, difficult and sometimes painful. Unless there is no option, they are at the bottom of my “choice” list.
Looking forward to the Live session this evening. It’s so helpful seeing other handlers and other dogs give these challenges a try. Thanks!
~Kristie

[Kristie Foss]

Hi!
Here’s our work on Sequence 3. I chose to do this one next because it’s more similar to the first sequence, and I wanted to put the tunnel back in the equation.
The walk through was okay. I was thinking “arm back and low” but it so think it could have been more back and lower. I’ll have to keep practicing. I also tried both the BC and going to the far side of jumps 5 & 6. The way this sequence is set up, it would be possible for the course to head off in that direction, and I wanted to see what it felt like. I didn’t like it as much as the original side, and that’s what we stuck with for the runs. Our 3 runs are here. The first is the numbered course, the second I sent her out to the tunnel, the third was back to “normal” so I could check on her attention and understanding – and, of course, my handling. ;).
My arms could still be lower, and, though I thought I did pretty well with keeping my arm and shoulder open as we began, I think I tended to close up again as we ran. As long as she’s behind me, I should try to keep that focus and arm/shoulder/front line open and clear.
Let me know what you see. Thanks!
~Kristie

[Kristie Foss]

I almost feel like we’re catching up – it was tough doing anything outside (even breathing) with the ugly weather, but we’re in a relatively nice stretch right now. Warm, but more conducive to short sets outdoors. So – on to package 4!

Here’s my walk through (with Keiko popping in here and there to see if I was talking to her or not…). You’ll notice I stopped myself and between 2 and 3 tried to make the FC more definite. I thought she’ll need (or at least appreciate) a little extra push there so she stays committed while I move in the opposite direction. I tried keeping my arm back until she was moving past me and forward – and I think I was close in figuring where that would occur.
Then the “real” thing. I think we would have been One and Done IF I hadn’t had such a lovely, sunny, enticing tunnel nearby and almost in a line…I thought I stayed connected from my end, though when I look at the video I see that I had started moving my arm forward and should have kept it held back until she was over the jump. She, on the other hand, saw a choice and took it. I took the tunnel out of the equation for the next run, and she did well and stayed connected and on course. I’m tempted to unwind the tunnel tomorrow and see if I can keep her focused on me at that juncture. Might be a good thing to practice.
One thing I wanted to ask you – does it look to you like she veers toward me for a second ever-so-slightly between 2 and 3 in the second run? It just doesn’t look like a smooth straight line to me, and I thought I saw her do that when we were running. Perhaps it was a check-in to be sure she was supposed to keep going ahead?
More sequences and excitement tomorrow. Enough for now. We’re having a good time, and I really appreciate the dissecting of our handling form- both conscous and unconscious.

Thanks! ~Kristie

[Kristie Foss]

Hello! We went out later, and worked on the other two sequences.
#2: She did swing wide at the first jump – the draw of the dogwalk, I think. So I tried to keep her focused sooner on the next 2 runs. I thought she would probably do better with a blind so that I was visually on the “other” side rather than a send from the close side of the tunnel. She did great and turned left on both runs when I did the BC. I find it tricky sometimes to use the correct directional verbals when we’re running a course, so I wanted to see if her “turn” verbal would work here. I should have started saying it while she was in the tunnel – will have to go back and try that to see.
Here is seq #2:

Then we gave #3 a go. In the first run, I didn’t support her line and was too far back for jump 3. I did give her a cookie when we met at the end of the tunnel – wasn’t her, it was me….So I drove in to #3 on the second run and used her “far end” verbal. We were both pleased and she was happy to chase her tennis ball. :).
Here is seq #3:

Hoping our cooler temps hold on this week so we can work on package 4. You must have fun dreaming up some of these challenges!
Take care,
~Kristie

[Kristie Foss]

HI, Tracy,

We tested various theories on sequence 1 from Live class wk3. She does love her frisbee! We did have to spend some time with the mole distraction. It rained last night (only for a couple of hours, but we’ll take whatever we can get right now), so it seems the mole smell was stronger in a new place. I’ll have to start running her only in the snow…..
However, we were successful in getting that far jump. The video shows our 4 runs on this. The first had a placed lotus and she made a beeline for it. Then I picked up her frisbee and used that as a reward. As you can see, she really liked that. Since these had gone well, I moved the line back to the middle of the tunnel, and used the frisbee again. I turned toward the tunnel much too soon, and she read the turn and took the tunnel. In the next run, I tried to hold back a bit so I could still be moving as she reached the tricky spot. I tried to stay facing forward longer, and I think I also was stronger with my verbals. As you’ll see, this is what the monkey needed. 🙂
Onward to the other sequences. 🙂
~Kristie

[Kristie Foss]

HI, Tracy,

Thanks for the feedback. I saw that she lost focus and impetus when I stopped. I took that extra step on the first 5 and back just to add that bit of motion and it worked. So hanging back a bit and pushing verbally and physically but not racing may be just what she needs. When I looked at the videos, I also wondered about placing a reward “out there” but didn’t want to push our training time any longer. I like the idea of the frisbee, though sometimes when I get it out she gets so excited she won’t do anything more than a jump or tunnel and then she wants to race! We’ll give all of these tips a try and see what works best. Nothing wrong with multiple incentives! 🙂
Thanks,
~Kristie

[Kristie Foss]

Hi, Tracy,

Well, it took a couple of days (and some short but strong rain) to help Keiko lose some (but not all) of her interest in the mole’s hole. ;). So I arranged the set up for the second LIVE class and we gave it a try.
Here’s our first session. She had no difficulty doing wing to 5 with the bar in the closest and middle position. Then I tried 5 to tunnel. She was able to do it when I stepped in toward #3, but when I tried from the middle position, she cut to the tunnel. I think my handling was not as strong toward #3 and my feet and body were already anticipating the tunnel. We did another round in the original direction. Since I wanted to limit how many runs we did (it’s still plenty warm and a bit humid, and Keiko doesn’t like too much repetition) I decided to give the whole thing a shot. Didn’t quite make it to #7, but I was really pleased with her effort. Then we played a bit of frisbee and she was quite happy herself. 🙂
So, what should I be doing to be more supportive of that far jump? Also, I know in the class you had people running to the far wing on jump #5. My dogwalk is right there (and not moveable) and I was concerned I’d be sending Keiko right up the ramp. Should I try that far wing anyway? I realize it sets up a better curve/line to get to jump #7. Other thoughts? Thanks, as always.
~Kristie

[Kristie Foss]

Hi, Tracy,
We went out really early to beat as much heat as possible (sort of wishful thinking, but we’ve been missing our agility time!). As you’ll notice during my walk-through, I had planned on working with Keiko on this PopOut. Unfortunately, as I finished my walk through and was about to call Keiko, she discovered a mole running along one of the tunnels. I’ve trained her for ignoring toys, treats, other dogs, delivery folks, other people (including her human daddy) but I’ve never had the opportunity to train for ignoring moles. It raced to its hole and Keiko was beside herself….and lost to me.
So, I got Yuki, who doesn’t have the same fetish for chasing little things. Hence, the change in working dog. 🙂

Ok. About the walk-through. I tried to make my verbals louder, though they fade when my back is to the video. You’ll notice I spent some time on the 7 to 8 path and handling. I did consider a blind there, but even getting over off the path still seemed to block the dog’s visual of the jump itself. So I figured a tandem/rear was my best choice there.
It was almost a one and done, but I wasn’t where I wanted to be, and botched the 7-8 sending Yuki over the jump in the wrong direction. She never knew it, and seemed to enjoy the run.
For the second run, she let me know it was getting warm. I finally got her to start, and then she seemed happy to go, though this run was slower than the first. I focused on getting 7 to 8 clean, and I do think we succeeded. Too hot to do anything more, so back inside for AC and water.
Here’s the video:

[Kristie Foss]

Thanks, Tracy. I did see that on the second and third runs I pulled more to the right after number 4 which opened the path for her. On that first run, she was totally correct. She figures out what makes sense, and does it. Smart girl. I absolutely need to pay more attention to her path when walking – that should make a huge difference. I think I get hung up on the handling and don’t pay enough attention to my position relative to hers and where I need to be so she is able to execute the course the way it’s numbered. She doesn’t care about no stinkin’ numbers, just what makes sense. 😉

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