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Thanks, Tracy. Our start line is a killer. She has a great stay away from equipment, however, it just doesn’t happened around equipment. We will get to work on all of your suggestions.
The seminar went pretty well the first day and the second day (half days) blew her mind. The first day she left me a few times, but returned when called and continued. The second was a hard “no”. She was completely stressed. I had to leave the ring for her to return to me. So, I stopped running her. Right, wrong, or indifferent, I used our last “turn” to work her pattern games inside the ring on leash. I hope I didn’t destroy all of the progress we’ve made.
Thank you!
“One other thing to consider: start lines! There is a lot of pressure on the start line already, so be super consistent but don’t add pressure on the start line. She was moving forward on them, and you were fixing it a lot –
<<but on the first run, released while she was moving forward (which reinforce it). >>
You put more pressure on the other 2 runs and you can see her looking away from you a 1:31. So try to line her up (I don’t think a cookie in that moment helps because dogs often leave the stay after they get the cookie) and reward for now moving sa you lead out with the release forward or the reward thrown back to her.”I don’t know what to do about the start line. Nothing? No pressure? I practice with my Toppl and will randomly through it back to her..and then release her to it off of a jump.
I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying about her moving forward when I leave her. I’m reinforcing that it’s okay? It’s reinforcing for her to do that? Im creating a pattern I don’t want?It is common for her to turn towards me when I do a lateral lead out. Ideas to help with that? Just one jump with my Toppl?
Could I have patterned her not to do a start line when we are just out playing doing agility spontaneously?
Threadle stuff – I should keep my feet moving in the direction I want to go and just use my inside arm to “open” the door?
And my timing is super off on the other stuff as I wait around to see if she is going to respond correctly…😣.
Also, should I be running with her more rather than sending her?
Thanks so much for your comments!
Hi Tracy. We worked on the added complexity sequencing a bit. My threadle is still too exaggerated. And I need some help keeping her out of that tunnel, please!😂
Thanks!
I use the smaller Toppl – it fits in the vest pocket. It had sardines at the bottom and yogurt on top – I froze it. She got a few licks during the first run and just at the dog walk on the second…and, of course, finished it off after the run. Sardines are soooo stinky.
More –
I’m actually in a seminar in about a week. I’ll see how it goes and I can always trade out my BC if she gets too stressed. She has been to the venue previously. Should I take a big stock of toppls with me and do the same thing?
ThanksThanks for your help. I did review the original games and found I was doing them wrong. So played them correctly a bit today.
I have no video from class. 🫤 It was a big success for us. We played the games with people walking behind us and she was really good. She gave a glance and was back to me again with eye contact. I carried the Toppl on our first run. She was full attention at the start line just inside the gate. At the end of the dogwalk, I placed the Toppl about five feet out from the dogwalk. She was completely focused on me and that damn Toppl. I told her to get it. We went on from there and I had her total attention. On our second run I kept it in my pocket except when I rewarded at the end of the dogwalk. I was all good.
Someday I’ll need to know how to fade this.
Thank you.Hmmm…I don’t know what to think. I do know I need to review the ARE videos from the beginning again. But this is basically a new twist from what we’ve learned in the games. So this is her own personalized game.- meaning the reward with movement. She’s actually quite good on her stopped contacts (teeter and dogwalk) even without a reward. I will use the Toppl and see if that helps. Should I carry it in my hand Or in my pocket? And should I use it at the start line?
And I should do a little preview training in the house and/or yard.Sounds like we’re in ARE mode for the long haul for sure!😂
Thanks, Tracy.
I’m not sure I fully understand this part
“….both of those involve movement and a Viszla needs movement as part of arousal regulation (I have never met a V that didn’t need to move as part of arousal regulation). So the reward process on the DW can look different – or you can release and reward with movement.”Tell me more about arousal regulation. Is it like decompression?
And, it’s okay if I “cheat” n these situations to keep her attention? I could toss the Toppl which is highly rewarding to her.
Thank you
Thank you, Tracy. I’m including a short video from class where I disconnect. I try to make a point of getting a good connection at her stopped contact as that’s a place where I have lost her. That said, I reconnect and then fail miserably at staying connected. She went straight to check out a new person that was hanging over the fence to the field. It took her 10 seconds or so to return to me. I think my substitute dog is loosing its power.
Here’s the video.
Thanks!
Hi Tracy. We started week four sequences. This is just the first one. It started warming up here quickly today. As you will see, I screwed up our first try at it.
**Oops I didn’t do the whole course! Sorry!At class last night she ran away on the first run – I have video. It wasn’t our best performance for sure even though she seemed to enjoy running fast everywhere searching for critters.😂
Hey Tracy. Hope things are going well for you and the weather is being kind to you.
Just wanted to update you. I haven’t been shooting any videos…probably should have this morning ☺️
We have continued to play lots of leash on/off games. We have progressed to being able to sit in front of a jump at home and working on the basic behavior at different places. I tried to “fake heel” her like you suggested and she was a brat about it. So, I changed that picture to doing circle work on leash. That is working. We do some circle work, then some tricks, sit, reward, remove leash, do some behaviors, reward, leash on. And now sometimes leave her at a jump or tunnel. Sometimes I throw treats to her from the lead out side and release her to the treats – I mix it up releasing her over the jump and giving treats or tugging.This morning she worked in front of family – just with the tools above and nothing extreme. She did great. Of course, when I released her from our play, she ran directly to her dad and jumped all over him. I called her to me for a quick behavior and released her again – did this twice – and she was great. So, little bits of change are showing up.
I’ve also started giving her a tug when those times when she turns into a velociraptor and starts biting me. So, it’s only taken me two years to figure out what she needed to displace her arousal. 🤣
I’ll try to get working on our course work the next few days.
Thank you!
Thank you, Tracy.
So, only have a few weeks left of class. Should I just focus on the engagement exercises or do the new lessons or mix it up or?
I will stop putting any demands on her for a start line and just make it all a game.Do the webinars you have this weekend address any additional games?
Update –
Enjoyed the zoom chat while I drove to class. And for sure, I need a flow chart! Just like I need field notes!
This morning we practiced leash on/off games with some tugging thrown in..and just other games and play.
Class was mind blowing. I had a partner that engaged with me and played the volume dial game. She gave me her full attention at the gate and as we went through it. The start line was a little tougher but I got excellent attempts at full attention. She wasn’t ready for me to leave her at the start, so I didn’t. I took the leash off and held her collar. I whispered to her – are you ready…ready… when I felt her pull, I released her. She stayed with me the entire freaking course! And on our subsequent runs! Like I said – mind blowing.
Had to share.
Thank you!🙏Here are some videos For the tunnel threadles and dog going on.
Tunnel threadles
These are out of order. I did several without a videographer first even though the nes with the videographer are first on this. It’s obvious from my voice that I’m all wound up with the videographer- a huge distraction. She ran to him twice. I’m not even sure these resemble the course map ar all. 🤪
Going on
We did a few of these. Looks like I was nowhere near where I should have been to execute a rear cross properly.
So, we seem to be stuck in on/off leash purgatory, and lack of engagement/focus hell. I assume it is going to take us a very long time to get out of this “limbo”. So, I need to practice leash on/off anywhere and everywhere away from agility. And I need to do the same with more engagement/focus games.
She is getting a little better with the leash since we do it in everyday life and have started making a game of it. However, she’s obviously not ready for it around equipment without getting a treat for it. And even with that, she’s not comfortable enough to have a start line.
I just don’t feel the love with engagement and focus at the start most of the time or if there are people within 100’ feet or so. And yet, at class, she’s better than if a family member is videoing us.
Thank you, Tracy.
