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HI, Tracy,
Here is another round on the set point exercise. The jumps are 5 feet apart and the reward was moved quite a way out. This does seem to be a good distance for her right now. She started stepping over the first bar on the third set, so I moved that first bar up a tad for the last 2 sets. ~KristieHey, Kim! Glad to see you’re continuing on with this session, too! Sly is sooo darn cute – and fun! Keiko is really enjoying the new exercises with more motion. We’re still working out the right distance and jump height for this “set point” exercise, though. Take care and see you online! 🙂 ~Kristie
Hi, Tracy,
I wanted to share something with you regarding a relatively new software program (free) that’s called Loom. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? If not, you may be interested. I’m taking an online handling class with Amanda Shyne, and she is using it for the first time. As a student, I absolutely love the program. The user/teacher is able to capture my studentvideo and control it, while giving voice over, suggestions, feedback, etc. It’s like having the instructor sitting on your shoulder as you go through the motions. Because I can still recall what happened during the exercise, and the feedback can be given step-by-step, it’s incredibly helpful. It’s also much easier for the instructor to be able to “talk the feedback” rather than try to type things out and bounce from typing to looking at the video, back and forth.
I realize you may have heard about or seen Loom, and not find it useful. I just wanted to share my student experience with the program in case you haven’t seen it.
Take care, ~KristieHI, Tracy,
We worked on the set point. This video shows a bunch of experiments. I tried different distances between the jumps, and different heights on the oxer. I’m somewhat inclined to think that once she is jumping at least at mid-height, we’ll get the rocking consistently. What do you think based on what I’ve tried here?~Kristie
Hello!
I took your suggestion about sticking closer to the wing, and focused on getting Keiko to run ahead of me on the way to the jump. I used the tennis ball once, and she tended to look at me to see when I would throw it. The rest of the time, the reward was pre-placed. On the last couple of runs, the wing and the jump were 35′ apart. She really enjoys this activity, and ran ahead happily. 🙂Hi, Tracy,
Here’s our take on the more advanced level of the tunnel/wrap exercise. I did use verbals but I realize I also sometimes used motion, too. Is the goal to do this sort of thing with no body/hand cues at all, just verbal, or at this stage is what Keiko and I did okay? ~KristieGood evening!
Well, today the weather was beautiful, the humidity really low, and it was a perfect day to do these exercises for the first time. Then we have time later in the week to work on them again after we get your feedback. 😉
I want to explain something about my verbals here – you may or may not agree and I’m open to discussion. For me, my “around” verbal has always meant go all the way around the obstacle and come back, while left and right are verbals for turning in that particular direction and taking the next obstacle in that direction. I think Left and right directionals are particularly useful for bottom of aframes and dogwalks with tunnels, and for turns and rears at a distance. Also, I prefer to teach right and left in isolation – starting with left and keeping at it until the dog is able to turn to the left over a low jump or bump, than adding right. This is where Keiko is now, just working on left.
I use “around” as our wrap word. In this particular tunnel/wing exercise you present here, my “around” is the word I would use on course to tell her to wrap around the wing. Left (or right) would tell her to go on to the tunnel. Since I’ve trained my other girls this way, and find directionals confusing enough when I’m running a course, I hope you don’t mind if I stick with my usual verbals.
Here’s the video from our wrap proofing. I did one set on both sides at a bit of distance with some motion help, then another set on both sides with the wing pretty close to the tunnel and no motion on my part. (or at least I tried not to move). She was pretty much spot on. Some hesitation here and there, but I was pleased with her ability to discriminate the verbals.
Take care. ~KristieHi, Tracy,
This is my reply to your feedback on the Set Point exercise. The jump setup where I got the rocking at the end of the video was a little under 4′. So I’ll give 5′ a try with your suggestions to make the first jump lowest, then set up 2 jumps close to each other (6″ apart) at 4 and 6 or 6 and 8 depending on her behavior. I’ll let you know (via video!) how that goes. 🙂 Thanks, ~KristieHello, there!
Keiko said she wanted to do something with more pizzaz, so we gave the Wind in your Hair (Fur) a try. 🙂 I experimented with a tossed lotus, a tennis ball and a ball on a rope. I was interested to see if there was a difference in her speed and enthusiasm. She loved the running! When I watched the video, I realized that, while I did stay connected as she went around the wing, I often then turned my head so I was also looking at the jump. I should have planned my trajectory better so I could keep a full connection on her face and see the jump in my peripheral vision. I also noticed that I didn’t always say “go” since I tend to use that when there is more than one obstacle ahead or she needs encouragement. The last clips were done with a placed reward. I ran with her at first, then sent her around and on to the reward. At that point, I couldn’t recall which action you wanted to the stationary reward. As you can see, it didn’t bother her to leave it and then run to it. I do find that she is faster and more excited when I run with her, or if I get her revved with a restraint and then release – pretty normal responses. Fun exercise, thanks for making sure we have at least one “run and fun” piece to do. 🙂 ~Kristie
Hello, Tracy!
We did the set point exercise. As you know from the first class, Keiko and I tried a lot of different set ups and approaches, and the touch and go aspect just wasn’t kicking in. For the most part, she just trotted through. So, I decided to experiment more today if the same thing happened. As you will see in the video, we started slow and steady, bars 4′ apart (Keiko is slightly over 18″ tall). I tried a variety of spacings, going out to 5′ and in to just about 3′. No go. I tried adding some motion. That didn’t do the trick, though she enjoyed it more. 😉 Then, I decided to add some height. I raised the bar to 6″ and locked them in, which made them about 5″. The last few clips on the video show the results. Looks to me like she’s finally doing the rocking touch and go. She has lovely, long legs and does lots of bouncing and running and I think the bar on the ground is too easy to ignore and just step over. Keiko will turn 10 months old tomorrow. So I think a few 5″ bars on and off should be okay, especially in an exercise like this that is so controlled. Do you agree?
Hi. Tracey – some commitment games would be great! Keiko and I have worked on a few things, and more is always good! 🙂
Hi, Tracy,
I thought the commitment class sounded advanced but thought I would check. Your winter class for one year olds sounds good. About the turning video- yes, there was tree cutting going on at the street and the neighbors are building something, so there was lots of distraction. She seemed more concerned about it when she was going toward the sound than away from it. Will also work on the verbals to try to differentiate more between the sounds. Looking forward to the exercises for next week. Take care, KristieHi, again! I just noticed you’ve posted a connections class scheduled to start in about 3 weeks. If I’m figuring things correctly, this part 2 puppy class will still be running at that time. Is the connections class something Keiko and I should consider taking, or is it too advanced for us? Will there be a different class we should consider? As fall and winter approach, we need to figure out what we can do. Thanks! Kristie
Hi, Tracy,
We gave the left/right wrap verbals a shot. This is the first time Keiko has heard these cues. There was tree work going on at the street, so she was a tad distracted, but she stuck with it. I mixed things up a bit at the barrel to keep it from being too rote. I have taught my other agility dogs verbal directionals, but have never used them in agility classes or at trials. I find it too easy to mix up which way the dog and I are going, even with pre-walk planning. We will use them in this class – and see. 😉 ~Kristie
