[mccoolk7]

Tracy,

We worked again on backing up and parallel path.

For backing up I stood up this time – I was pleasantly surprised!

Bandit back up with me standing

We do have more work to do on parallel path. He is still looking at me and not 100% hitting the object. Let me know if you have any tips for getting him to look forward more.

Bandit parallel path Day 2

Thanks,

Kirstie and Bandit

[mccoolk7]

Hi Tracy,

We started working on backing up a few days ago, and Bandit is doing well. Here is a video showing his progress thus far….

Banding backing up on elevated board

We also did both the parallel path and counter path prop games.

Parallel path with prop

Counter move with prop

Thoughts appreciated!

Kirstie and Bandit

[mccoolk7]

Hi again,

That place looks great! I need to figure out how far it is from my house, but I cannot find the address on their FB page. I was not able to locate an addresson the FB site or Google. Could you please send the address? Also, are you teaching any other seminars/courses while you are here? Would love to join one if so.

Now that its finally warmer, we took the line of obstacles outside for the first time. I put them in front of a tunnel, which he started learning this morning! I don’t think anything phases this little guy – he just does his stuff!

Line of obstacles outside

And we did the wraps with both a solid seat and me standing up. It took him a minute when I stood up, but he eventually got his groove.

Bandit wraps with standing

I will start working on other games in this week in my next post.

Talk soon,

Kirstie and Bandit

• This reply was modified 1 week, 2 days ago by mccoolk7.

[mccoolk7]

Hi again,

Crazy that you are in FL experiencing this cold right now – I assume you are just visiting? I would love to learn more about agility training venues that you recommend in Central Florida. I live in Orlando and goto a practice facility on the East side of Orlando (Practice Makes Pawfect). But would like to expand to other venues that are in the area (both for diversification of environment and to learn from experienced trainers). I have only been at agility for about a year, and have lots to learn.

Today we worked the barrel wrap with me seating. For his first try I think he did good. The only thing that seemed to throw him off was when I moved the metal bowl on my right side back to my ankle. Before that he hit all his reps.

Wraps with chair and barrel

I also setup a “trail” of obstacles. I was not 100% sure how you wanted me to lure him across them, so started with a toy. He was WAY into the toy, which distracted his focus away from the obstacles. He did better with food lures, but think there might be a better way to work the lures (both toy and food). Take a look and let me know what tweaks I should do to help Bandit with this mini-baby-course.

Obstacle trail

Stay warm!

Kirstie

[mccoolk7]

Hi Tracy,

Its very cold outside despite being in FL (low 20’s with strong winds). So we kept working on inside games.

Wing Wrap foundations: He rocked it with a small crate, so we tried a barrel. And he seemed to do just fine with that as well!

Wraps with larger objects

More planking – we continued to work on up-downs and jumping off and on the board. I added a toy towards the end to up the arousal as well. He is getting better with his up downs I think and continued to show high interest and no fear when interacting with the plank.

Bandit more planking games

Thoughts appreciated!

Kirstie and Bandit

[mccoolk7]

Tracy,

Bandit is back! More planks and wobble boards.

Plank – I raised it up as you suggested. He seemed very comfortable with walking across and turning at this height. For Up-Downs, this was frankly the first time I had him do a “down”. It took a little bit but we got a couple of reps in!!

Bandit plank raised with up downs

Wobble board – added the tugs. He is very comfortable with this game I believe!

Bandit wobble with tugs

We have a trial this weekend, so may not hear from me again until Monday.

talk soon,

Kirstie

[mccoolk7]

Tracy,

Some of this round of exercises are right in Bandit’s wheel house. We have planks, wobble boards and tippy boards in the living room, and he plays on them all the time.

Bandit Plankrobics – you can see he is very comfortable on the plank. I was going to start working his 2 On 2 Off with this board this week since he has no problem interacting with it.

Bandit plankrobics

Bandit wobble board – again, he plays on this obstacle all the time so is very comfortable with both the movement and noise.

Bandit wobble board

Folding it in – he would pit stop on the way to the bowl to smell my hand because I had treats in it. He did well on the first side, so I decided to try the other side. He did the first rep OK but then started skipping the cone. It was a long session so I put it down to puppy fatique and me not starting with the bowl closer. Will fix that in the next session

Bandit folding it in Day 2

Talk soon,

Kirstie and Bandit

[mccoolk7]

Hi Tracy – excited about the new content!

Collar grabs – I want to work on getting Bandit to come to my side, so chose that option. He was a bit confused at first on how to turn to get next to me, but he started getting it at the end. I touched his collar longer than I think you wanted, but he didn’t seem to mind. He did much better on my right side (last rep at the end).

Bandit collar grab day 1

Stealth self control – I was probably confusing Bandit a bit with my inconsistent target pointing. Despite that he started to get the idea with the toy towards the end of the session.

Bandit Stealth Fold It

Goat game with inflatable disk – He did well with this game. He got bored with his toy once he figured out food was associated with the disk! But he got back on track with a different toy.

Goat game Number 2

Thanks!

Kirstie

[mccoolk7]

Hi Tracy,

We added some of the new moves that you recommended.

Wrap shaping – I started with the cone and then moved it out a bit. He did great with the cone close to me. He also did good when I moved it out a few inches. As he started to get tired, he would go in between the cone and I occasionally. But I was happy with his first attempt!

Bandit wrap shaping with cone moving out

Drive to handler with rotation at the end – I thought he did very well given Copper was barking right outside the door.

Drive to handler with rotation

Toy drive – I used just toys this time around. He LOVES that ball – I had to work a bit to get him to bring it back to me (he was playing chase with it under the camera).

Toy drive without treats

GOAT game – I used two different objects (magazine covered in plastic and a metal sign).

Goat with different surfaces

Thoughts appreciated!

Kirstie and Bandit

[mccoolk7]

Hi Tracy,

Bandit and I worked on a few things this morning!

Toy drive – I dropped some treats towards the end of this session so he was distracted. But I thought he did well overall
Bandit toy drive

Goat game – Day 2:
Goat day 2

Wraps with a cone added:
Wraps with a cone

Drive to handler:
Drive to handler

I will move the drive games to a different location/outside tomorrow.

Thoughts appreciated!

Kirstie and Bandit

[mccoolk7]

We are back! Copper had a trial this weekend – almost qualified several times, but kept jumping his contacts. Alas, another opp to learn from you if there is a course around contacts. Also interested in intermediate distance training classes for Copper.

Back to baby Bandit….

Bandit Wrap Shaping – he did much better with the food today. I found treats that he REALLY likes and now seems to want them more than his toys.
Bandit wrap shaping

Bandit drive to handler – we are working on sit-stay as well, and he is starting to get it! I noticed I need to do a better job of placing the treat next to me more.
Bandit drive to handler

Bandit blind cross shaping – I am a hot mess with directional changes, so you will see me working through which hand should hold the toy. I may have the timing a bit off on when to switch as well. Thoughts appreciated!
Blind cross shaping

Bandit Driving ahead with me moving – I think he is doing well with this game!
Bandit driving ahead with movement

Bandit Goat game first round – he did good finding and staying on the platform, but doesn’t yet know the “break” command. So he just stayed on the platform because he was getting lots of treats on it!
Bandit Goat Game 1 Jan 20

Thoughts appreciated!

Kirstie and Bandit

[mccoolk7]

Good morning Tracy,

Here is Bandit starting some new or more advanced games.

Wrap shaping – I tried first with the two bowls and treats, but he was not highly motivated with the treats I had. So I went to toys, which seems to be his favorite gig. I tried again after this video with better treats, and he started getting the idea.

Bandit wrap shaping with toys

Drive to handler using treats – you will see his energy level is much lower when I use treats instead of toys. But I think you want us to work with both, so will continue to work with both treats and toys as we progress through the games.

Drive to Handler with Treats

Driving ahead with me moving – this time I used toys, and he was much more motivated! Let me know if I was moving too late?

Bandit driving ahead with movement

[mccoolk7]

Hello Tracy,

Here is Bandit’s first attempt at Send and Commit

Bandit Send and Commit

And here is Day two of building drive ahead. I worked on some distance in this round.
Bandit driving with some distance

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by mccoolk7.

[mccoolk7]

Tracy,

Here is day 2 with Bandit

Foot target Day 2:
Bandit Foot target Day 2

Drive Ahead Day 2:
Drive Ahead Day 2

Drive to Handler Day 1:
Drive to Handler Day 1

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by mccoolk7.
• This reply was modified 1 month ago by mccoolk7.

[mccoolk7]

Thanks for the feedback Tracy!

Question: Can I post videos of Copper for this course as well, or do I need to just stick with Bandit? Either is fine, as I will be working with Copper even if video feedback is not allowed for a 2nd pup.

Best,

Kirstie

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