[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
Update # 11
Raise your Game; Pkg 5
Seq. 1 I needed to review tunnel turn cues with Mookie. He was clean with bars up run 2 & 3. I needed to really work to bring Buddy’s arousal level up before we tried anything. He got the verbal cues for the tunnel turns and nailed the course on his second try. Alonso was full of it and had to really watch his head. He got the verbal cues for the tunnel turns 🙂
Seq. 2 Mookie was really up today and needed to be settled before he ran again. He becomes very jealous and whines when the puppy is running 🙂 Once settled he nailed this course with bars up. Buddy struggled with attention because the building was crowded with strange people and dogs. But once engaged he did well. Alonso could do seq 1 but fell apart with this seq with the tunnel turns. His teeneage brain came in just one run later 🙂
Seq 3 If I was perfect Mookie was perfect 🙂 Buddy nailed this seq first try but the building had emptied out of all the people 🙂 Alonso was wild when he came out to play for the 3rd seq but he settled and nailed it. These were hard sequences for us. I will be re-visiting these in the Fall when Camp is over 🙂
Jumping Course Pop outs I chose 2 pop-outs to work on.
Pop-out 1 Mookie kept the bars up and was great. Buddy did well, the building was quiet. I nailed it the second time with Alonso as I needed to adjust my handling. It has been a good learning experience for me running 3 very different dogs on the same courses 🙂
Pop-out 3 I nailed it with Mookie on the second try. He took the backside of jump 9 my first run 🙂
Buddy nailed it the first time. Alonso was the last of my 3 and we did great as I really had this one down.
I still have one more set of exercises to go through. I will be able to watch the Zoom live on Tues Aug 8th which I learn so much from 🙂
And on happy note. I ran Alonso in AKC T2B and he was fabulous. I posted the run on my FB page. I had some bobbles, not him and I kept going and he really nailed the lines was so perfect and did get weaves which he loves. We used remote reinforcement which we had been practicing for agiltiy league and he was a happy boy knowing his tug was waiting for him. We played tug games afterwards for a long while. Mookie after running gets to play fetch with his ball and Buddy gets loads of food, actually a hot dog on a bun 🙂 All 3 are so different 🙂
Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
I continue to have a hard time staying positive for myself as it has been so hard to be perfect for Mookie. I did slip and the words “I suck” came out. I had been trying to keep it together 🙂 I had run 3 dogs on a course. The puppy nailed it. He runs like my Liver Dal Mickey did. Buddy nailed it and then all goes to H in a handbasket as they say when I tried the same course with Mookie. So discouraging. What helped me the most afterwards was your “What went wrong. Why it went wrong and what can you do to fix it.” I figured out that I did not adjust for the a pole in the way when I walked the course for Mookie. Time walking the course was very short also. He is totally handler focused and watches my body. (I think due to him being a rescue dog who worries where I am at all times ). He needed extra verbals and support to get to a jump before going in the tunnel. When his view of me was blocked by the pole he went between 2 close jumps to get to the tunnel. What went right: No bars came down 🙂 which is our biggest issue. And I was able to re-run the course with what I figured out and we nailed it. So thank you for that valuable tool to put in my toolbox. I will make cards up to bring to trials and events with me as it was calming for me to write it out and focused me. Also the fact that you said there is a high rate of failure in agility. However, most of the people I know Q consistently but don’t have the speed to contend with. And your telling me at your last seminar that people would give their right kidney for Mookie will always make me smile no matter what we do 🙂 Little do they know how hard it is to really run him 🙂 He really is a sweet and good boy 🙂 Just excitable but wants to do what I ask of him but at full speed all the time. I will continue to focus on performance with all of my dogs.
As for songs: Mookie’s will be Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz and Alonso’s will be Zoo Station by U2
I will be switching to Nosework for Buddy who took to it immediately 🙂
Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
Update # 10
For the Agility Standard Course Pop outs: Mookie nailed all 4 nicely. For seq 1 Mookie could do the layer. For sequence 2 we could wrap 3 to the outside but it seemed easier for Mookie to wrap to the inside. For seq 3 it was faster and easier to turn to the outside on 4. For seq 4 we could wrap 3 to 4 in either direction.
I needed to work on the turns for the puppy. We are still in the process of learning the turns. He needed increased support to execute the turns both to the inside and outside. Question: Are you doing another Motion Counter Motion Class on line or will just the Indep study be available. I am thinking of going through those exercises with the puppy when Camp is over. Let me know Thanks.
As for Buddy he needed extra support to go to the outside. He seems to turn more efficiently to the inside and reads it quicker and better. I will be starting nose work with Buddy next week which will give him another activity to explore. And I am glad I got in what we did for class this week as it was hard to work outside with this weather. It should be cooler next week 🙂
Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,

I think you are right 🙂 Alonso is developing a new gear of speed. Help ! Yes, he ends up on a line and does keep going. I really have to grab that head of his 🙂 and have not been successful at times. I wish I could use a whistle to get his attention 🙂

As for Buddy, I have taken every Fenzi course for sensitive dogs and your Brain Camp which is great for understanding all 3 of my dogs and I have been doing pattern games with all 3 for a while now. Buddy just has to see who is in his flock and who is not. It think it is strong genetics as he was bred only for herding.

Linda and her pack of 3

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
Update #9 : I got in the RYG Challenges.
Seq. 1 Mookie and Buddy got it on their first try. I broke it down for the puppy then put it together and it went well.
Seq 2 I had to work on setting Mookie’s rears and then it flowed. He was turning crazy over jumps but it still would have been a clean round. Alonso and Buddy needed front crosses 5 to 6 and a come to avoid jump 5.
Seq. 3 Mookie and Alonso nailed this their first time after doing the other sequences first 🙂 Buddy needed a strong come 10 to 11. We passed on the second run 🙂 I kept it to 1-2 runs apiece so it fast. 🙂
We also did the Jumper Course Popouts this week: I did them using different handling each time with Mookie and he nailed them. He always has fun doing any agility 🙂 Alonso became a tunnel sucker at first. His teenage brain kicked in more than usual this week:) He just turned 19 months old July 20. He then paid attention and we did well. When we connect together he is great 🙂 Buddy struggled as we did these sequences indoors at my training center and there were extra people in the building. I had to fight to keep his attention 🙂 He has the skills. Just difficult with people distraction. He is 5 y/o and his teenage brain turned back on this week. Last week for agility league Buddy ran the best he has ever done and flowed 🙂 I was thrilled 🙂
Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Quick Update # 8
Hi Tracy,
Its been a busy summer for me but I was able to get through some pop outs and the zoom sequences.
Pop Outs 3 and 4 from the JWW courses: All 3 dogs did better outside in the heat than their previous time out doors 🙂 I also had the opportunity to do them indoors as well. All 3 nailed the sequences indoors but this was our second time through as well. Great learning for both Buddy and Alonso. For Pop out 3 jump 3 to 4 to 5 and for pop out 4 jump 3 to 4 to 5. I really got to teach my come in command for the puppy 🙂 Mookie was my seasoned old shoe:)
The Zoom Sequences: For Buddy and Alonso I needed a strong come in cue to go through the box and not take jump 3 for both seq 2 & 3. Mookie the old shoe had a good time doing these sequences 🙂 We kept all the bars up for both the Pop out courses and the Zooms 🙂 He and I are together. I work on timing of cues with the Mookster to keep the bars up 🙂
Alonso continues to progress with his flyball training which I am finding really, really fun 🙂 Never thought I would have a flyball dog. It is kinda cool 🙂
Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
Update #7
I was able to work on the Raise Your Game Challenges Pkg 3 this week outside. We did seq 1 A, 2 & 3. For Seq 1A All 3 dogs did great. For seq. 3 Again all 3 dogs did great. Sequence 2 gave me some trouble. Buddy was fine with this. I struggled with Mookie keeping the bars up. I needed early cues for him and really needed to watch him as always but it was harder in the heat outdoors. My land is also not level at all places so Mookie had to really pay attention also to jump higher to clear the bars ( I even lowered them to 16 inches) . I also had 2 non wing bars that came down the most. For Alonso I needed to get my verbals out there so he knew where to turn as he flew by. He continues to be a very verbal dog where with Mookie I try to keep verbals to a minimum as they have to be perfect to keep the bars up. I also have to really watch my little man fly over jumps to stay connected. Hard staring at both of them. I can have a burger and fries when I am running Buddy 🙂 He just goes with the flow 🙂 It was hard to keep up on a hot day but we had no wrong courses or refusals. Going too fast for that 🙂 I will try to get in some of the POP out sequences next week. Linda Mookie Buddy & Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
I need to let you know that I have been coming into the Mental Management Zooms late as I am just getting back from Mookie’s obedience class, but I still get to hear most of it live 🙂 You were talking about visualization. I have been using it since your Mental Management class in 2019. However, I have been really focusing on it since this April and it has helped me find the flow of a course as I visualize actually running the course with Mookie. A judge saw me in the hall as I did the visualization dance and then said to me “I know what you are doing 🙂 and I do it all the time “. We went on to nail the run the judge saw me visualizing 🙂

As for Boundaries: I have been ignoring any training advise to not reward the dog unless the exercise is done perfectly. I can see that rewarding my dogs for any effort has increased their confidence to try anything I ask and then I shape it to the behavior I want. My dogs seem to learn faster that way also 🙂 Obedience is mostly where people want perfect or the dog doesn’t get paid. Mookie knows that if he even tries he gets paid 🙂 He seems more relaxed in class that way 🙂

As for Outcome Goals: I am putting my Big One for me out there. MACH Mookie by the end of this year:)
There I actually posted it 🙂 A good friend at trials told me to just chip away and it will come. I liked that advice 🙂
And that Mookie will be included in our club’s obedience Interclub Competition doing UTILITY. He was in the competition last year doing Open and we nailed it 🙂

Performance / Process Goals: Mookie : To continue to refine my handling skills with him as the dog is perfect 🙂 It’s me who needs fine tuning but I feel we are getting there.
To continue to focus on one fancy move a run with Mookie at trials. It makes more of a fun challenge for me.

Alonso: To develop our trial routine and become a team with my little man at trials. And to progress with his flyball skills.

Buddy: Since he is environmentally sensitive to progress slowly. He is now participating in agility league and is doing nicely ignoring a stationary male judge inside the ring.

So thank you as always for all this great info to digest and learn to utilize in real life.

Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
Zoom Sequences update: I was able to work on last weeks zoom today 🙂
Seq 1. Mookie wanted to do a backside at 8 and I needed to reinforce taking the front of the jump with my “close close” vc with my wings tucked in. I also needed to work on his turning out of the tunnel to jump 6. Mookie was all jazzed up today as I was away at the breed shows part of the weekend. Buddy who is much slower nailed it. For Alonso who is a learning phase I needed to emphasize coming “in” jump 2 to 3 but he understood my vc and physical cues and nailed this seq also.
Seq 2.Mookie nailed this seq 🙂 Buddy needed a stronger “in” verbal for jump 3, the rest was great. I worked jump 2 to 3 with Alonso separately before putting it together and he did great. He turned nicely out of the tunnel.
Seq 3. This was the hardest one for Mookie man. He needed support for the backside jump 4. I really needed to work to get the turn on jump 9. I decided to work stuff separately for him then put it together and he was fine. He was extra impulsive today 🙂 It seems the older he gets the crazier he is. Buddy my buddy, nailed it and seemed to have fun doing these sequences. Alonso needed a close close command to get tunnel 5 and not go out to the layer jump next to the tunnel. Alonso loves to send and layer:) He nailed the turn on jump 9. He is really a great little man. I am grateful we found each other 🙂 And his flyball work is progressing. He did not retrieve a tennis ball when we started and now he is. Such a quick and happy learner and I give credit to your brain camp info. He has always been rewarded for effort. All of my present dogs have and it really makes a huge difference. For Mookie any extra advise on controlling impulsivity would be very helpful 🙂 I do warm him up with ball throws and reward him with his ball after every run and training run. These were nice and challenging training sequences for me and my BC boys. Linda Mookie, Buddy, and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
Alonso was perfect in breed, showed well and looked happy but I found that the the breed dogs are huge and he looked so tiny. I rather have Alonso as he is. He has great attitude, has great focus and his body size and athlecticism fits both agility and flyball which are fun sports for the both of us. This is the last time we will dabble in breed. We will continue with the exciting stuff. 🙂 Linda

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
Brief Update # 5
Too crazy of a week and weekend. I was able to fit in pop up one from the agility course package and all my guys did pretty well. Worked on Buddy’s sending out to layer and placed food to the send spot letting him see me do it and he layered the weaves beautifully from the pop up from the jumpers package. Buddy is a solid food dog. He will not send out for a toy.
I wasn’t able to watch the zoom yesterday due to being at a breed show with Alonso. His reward was an Act2 jumpers course which they had on the show site and we nailed it. I wanted to see if he would run a course out doors and maintain his focus as he does indoors and he can. We used remote reinforcement with his tug left on the table when we went in the ring and he was happy to get it when we got out of the ring tugging like mad. In all a great expereince for my little man. Breed not so much. I wanted to dabble and we will be done with that after this weekend. I hope to be able to watch the zoom and try the courses next week. Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
I went to a trial for 2 days this weekend. I hadn’t trialed for 2 months. I decided to limit myself to 2 days if I have to drive over an hour back and forth each day. And the wait between runs has been hard on me. Day one of the trial I warmed Mookie up with his usual ball throws. I talked postively to everyone and smiled 🙂 Checked the map of the first course and felt okay with it. Lots of funky angles. Walked the course, we ran right away and 2 bars came down probably due to me losing connection and the angles as I watched my jet plane fly along. I said to myself to let it go and carried on. That has always been hard for me. The wait between my 2 runs turned out to be 7 1/2 hours. In between I took Mookie for walks and more ball throw sessions which he loves. We also practiced obedience exercises. I brought a good book and really got into it. I didn’t need to stay as we only need DQs. We have enough points for 2 MACHS at this point. It is the DQs we need. But I did stay to work on me and my focus. I also looked at the course and it seemed to be made for us and Mookie loves his agility. So I really stayed for him 🙂 I walked the course and still felt good. We ran and we nailed it. Mookie always gives me a high after a run but I felt extra good and was glad I ended on a great note. Day 2 I took the focus I practiced from the 2nd run first day. I stayed focused and my support person was there the 2nd day. We ran the first course which was a jumpers and nailed it. I was beyond thrilled. Jumpers runs have been the hardest for me with Mookie due to his speed. He is the Standard King 🙂 The wait time was less Day 2 for my second run. The standard course was very tricky but I worked out a plan to make the angles easier on my big guy and it worked and we nailed it for a DQ. I was estatic and still am !!!! While I was watching some of the other dogs run a friend came over and started talking and we discussed the plan and she said she “sucked”. Since I had turned on my positive smiley brain for this weekend my brain heard what she said and didn’t know what to do so I said nothing as if she never said it and the conservation started again briefly then quit. My brain said not to go there. I was amazed how I reacted then let it go. I am taking July off from trialing Mookie to focus more on Alonso’s agility and Flyball !!!!!!! I will be back at it in August. I hope I can keep up the positive and let it go attitude as it really worked for me this weekend 🙂 I am so glad I am in in your Mental management group. I really needed to practice and re-reading your handouts helped a lot. Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Update # 4
Hi Tracy,
We are strapped for time this week as I am showing Mookie this weekend. We did the tunnel layering challenge and all 3 of my Monkeys layered the tunnel nicely for the sequences you had. Buddy really flowed and was having a really good day :). Then I changed the ending of the last sequence and layered the tunnel to the front of jump 6 and ended in the tunnel at opening 2. Mookie was fine with this. I had to work on when and where to cue Buddy and Alonso so they would layer the tunnel in the other direction but we worked it out with my body position and hand cues:) I got to do the first pop out of the jumping courses and Mookie was fine layering the weaves. He is my top sending dog, Alonso a close second. Buddy could not send that far, he is much slower and does not get ahead of me or go out well. I did not try to layer the weaves with the puppy as yet . I know he will layer tunnels :).
And on a different note, OMGoodness Tracy !!!!! I did my first flyball class last night with my puppy Alonso and it was beyond fun !!!!! I am also auditing Shelly Switick’s Flyball course on Clean Run which has been invaluable. Shelly is wonderful. I know I am hooked and Alonso seems to be a natural for this sport. I realize it will take years of training like agility and it will be super fun to watch Alonso progress. He is so into it. It was a great feeling to start a new fun Sport 🙂 Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Update # 3
Hi Tracy,
I was able to do the ZOOM courses both outside and indoors. None of my dogs took the off course tunnel. Alonso: My puppy did much better indoors then outdoors as we live on a corner and things are very interesting. For the Zoom coursesI needed to work on the balance sequence threadling from 2 to 3 but he got it 🙂 I also needed to rear cross between 3 and 4 to 5 for sequence 2 due to space constraints but he reads rears nicely and did a nice backside to 5 as well. I also have still been working on the first pop out sequence of of the standard course package and Alonso will now go from jump 5 to the far tunnel hole 6 as I walk briskly to it. He will also now do the sequence at speed and go from 5 to the far tunnel hole if I remove jump 2. That jump was close due to my space contraints.
Mookie: My big guy did the Zoom sequences well except that I also had to rear cross between 3 and 4 for Sequence 2 due my space contraints. He did the pop outs from the standard course package well.
Buddy: Did well with the zoom courses but needed extra handling for the balance sequence for the threadle 2 to 3. I still needed to work on the first pop up sequence with the 5 to the far tunnel 6 with him as well. I will continue to work on my tunnel verbal cues (comes and outs) mainly with Alonso who needs to learn them more and Buddy who definitely needs extra handling. He tends to loose comnnection with me as he is too concerned with the environment. I found praising him on course for paying attention to me really helped him 🙂
I have been enjoying working on the coursework 🙂
Linda Mookie Buddy and Alonso

[Linda Kaufman]

Hi Tracy,
Update # 2 : I found some more indoor time this week and started on the pop-outs from the Standard course sheet. For the first pop out Mookie my “old shoe” nailed it using his verbals. Buddy needed a strong visual threadle to go from jump 5 to the tunnel 6 with an outside arm to the tunnel as well as his verbals. I struggled with Alonso who would either take jump 2 to the tunnel or go in the wrong opening ignoring my physical and verbal cues. Granted jump 2 was probably closer to the tunnel then it should have been due my space contraints. I could not do this at speed with the puppy. If I started Alonso at jump 5 and stared him down as he went over the jump to catch his head threadling and using his verbal he was successful getting into the # 6 tunnel hole. I know I have to keep working on teaching verbal tunnel cues to Alonso. But, How else can I handle going from jump 4 to 5 to tunnel 6 at speed ?? Please help 🙂 Thank you. Linda

[Author]

Posts