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Thanks, Tracy!
Yes, she catches the ball. 🙂 She loves to jump up and catch it.
We will keep working. She had a really good class today with the delayed reinforcement and some pattern game. No porridge heating and the weaves were obstacle 3 and she rocked the sequence. 🙂
Thanks for always taking us to the next phase! I really appreciate you!
Amy
Thanks, Tracy! We will go back to the basic pattern game. I will see if she will tug with me in the pattern game. I did teach her ‘tug’ as a command, but it is not her favorite. Hmm. Can I toss the ball as part of the pattern game? I now have two that she likes (both red 😉 ), so I could alternate tossing one and then the other to her.
For engaged chill, she likes to sit or stand next to me, get her neck rubbed against the grain of her coat or have her butt scratched just above her tail. She also likes her face rubbed. So, I will work on those for engaged chill for now and continue to look for other things.
We will also keep building on the remote reinforcement. Phew! She is both the most amazing and most challenging dog. Crazy that we are still working on this at 9.5/almost 10 :-O, but who is to say there won’t be another, and I don’t think she is really ready to retire yet. Maybe this will give me a head start the next time.
Thanks again!
Amy
Hi Tracy,
Looking forward to the info and more games.I also wanted to share my learning for today with you. 🙂 Tango and I played with some things today, sensitive soul that she is. I decided to see what she would do when it was just the two of us and I didn’t do any ‘heating of the porridge’ before asking for a couple of behaviors and then trying to run her. I didn’t bring her ball out and just put some med-high value treats on a chair in the shed. She was willing to walk along with me and do a right and a left and some nose touches (no treats/reward other than verbal). She was even willing to bark at me. When we moved to the ‘start line’, she did her shut down, wouldn’t make eye contact and could/would no longer perform any behavior. I waited her out to see if she would give me side eye, make eye contact, wag her tail, take a step toward me, do a nose touch. She finally wagged her tail and came in for the nose touch and we ran back for the treats. Needless to say, I continued with this strategy asking for more as I determined she was ready for it. I ended up getting some nice trick out of her and running some nice short, fast sequences by the end of our little session. We then ended our training session by me starting to teach her the between the legs line up game which she thought was a lot of fun. Very interesting learning for me.
Amy
Tracy,
Here is Tango’s history. Also, I have spent some time thinking about why she deflated again after having so much success and improvement over the years. After being stung in the summer of 2020 (not related to agility in any way), we were at a trial in Jan 2021 outside and there were no spectators allowed due to COVID. I guess someone decided they had to see anyway and flew a drone over the site. It must have flown directly over our set up because Tango jumped out of the x-pen, which she had never done before ever and fortunately came running to find me where I was working. Since then, Paul and I have spent the last year plus helping her feel safe again in our set up and comfortable hanging out in an x-pen or a crate. She can relax again in our set up this season and will even sit in an x-pen at class again. I am certain that the drone incident contributed to the regression, but she usually only stresses now when there are bees or other buzzing insects around.
Amy
General Information:
Tango, 9.5 yrs, spayed female brittany
What is/are your main sport(s)? Tango and I have run agility since just before she turned 2.
What is/are main sanctioning org that you compete in (like in agility, AKC, UKI, USDAA, CPE, NADA, etc)? AKC with some USDAA on the side
Dog’s training level: She trains at the master/international level depending on the courses used for classes.Dog’s trialing level: She trials at the Master’s level in both venues.
Is there a history of any medical issues, physical issues, fear issues, and/or medications? If yes, please explain:
Tango physically has always been in good health. My primary vet during her life has been increasingly changing her practice from small animal specialty to rehab and physical wellness, so Tango has always had the benefit of full pain checks as well as blood work etc. She has always been extremely agile, and while she is aging, she is still very athletic. She also get’s regular massages and her massage therapist and vet both agree she has great muscle tone and is in overall excellent health.
When Tango was 2+, I had her spayed in the late summer/early fall. By the following January, her demeanor had changed. I attributed it to handling and having moved into excellent/masters in AKC where the pressure of being perfect for the handler can translate to the dog. She is a sensitive soul. However, her coat changed dramatically and her demeanor in other circumstances also changed, but not as dramatically. Long story short, after a couple of years and a need for her to go on hormone replacement for urine leaking, she started to look more like her previous self, but never made a full comeback to pre-spay attitude.Observations *Describe your dog’s behavior outside the ring while waiting for his turn to run in training. This can include body language, eye contact, tail set, reaction to other dogs and people, reaction to dogs running, and anything else you have observed:
Tango is either relaxed or barking for her turn during class. If she thinks I have treats in my pocket, she will bark. If I don’t respond she may watch what is going on, sniff around in the grass and try again, or simply hang out. She will make eye contact when she is trying to get my attention. Her tail is generally up or relaxed, but not tucked.
*Describe your dog’s behavior outside the ring while waiting for his turn to run at a trial. This can include body language, eye contact, tail set, reaction to other dogs and people, reaction to dogs running, and anything else you have observed:
Tango is relaxed outside the ring. She loves to go visit her village of people that she knows and loves. She willingly engages with me, will play game with me or even other people, and barks, wags her tail and chases treats around as part of our get ready games. She does not like it when there are bees or other buzzing bugs as she was stung the summer of 2020 by yellow jackets.
*Describe your current outside the ring routine when getting ready to run in training:
We warm up by playing with her ball. We will play fetch and if she is happy, she will even tug with me with her holey roller. If she is up and happy, which she usually is at class, I utilize few or no treats. If she isn’t barking for the ball, I will switch to treats and play find my face, chase the treat, lefts and rights, etc.
Describe your current outside the ring routine when getting ready to run at a trial:
We warm up if room allows by playing with her ball. If there is an off-leash area, we will play fetch and if she is happy, she will even tug with me with her holey roller. If there is not off leash area, she will catch the ball, chase it short distance, or we can play get it, get it with the dead ball on the ground. If she is up and happy, I utilize few or no treats. If she isn’t barking for the ball, I will switch to treats and play find my face, chase the treat, lefts and rights, etc. If we are on grass I can throw the treats and play more active games.
*Describe your dog’s behavior as you move from the ring gate to the start line in training. This can include body language, eye contact, tail set, reaction to other dogs and people, reaction to dogs running, and anything else you have observed:
In class she is usually pretty happy moving to the start line. There is not ring gate at class and while I have worked to set up simulations, and taught her the word gate to try to take the stress out of the ring gates, it is just not the same as a show. Sometimes I will bring treats or the ball with me and sometimes everything is at my set up. There are times I really want to reward after the first few obstacles or that we are working on a difficult training sequence and I will make sure I have treats or the ball on me. Usually she is relaxed or alert with her tail up and can bark or play other games on the start line.
*Describe your dog’s behavior as you move from the ring gate to the start line at trials. This can include body language, eye contact, tail set, reaction to other dogs and people, reaction to dogs running, and anything else you have observed:
If there is an actual gate at a show, and I am not doing anything to keep her attitude up and focus on me, she will start to deflate as we approach the gate. From the gate to the start line she can lag and start to avoid eye contact. Her ears go down and she usually cannot sit or play any game with me. We don’t do start lines and I have tried everything from restrained start to a run from behind start to a swing start to make things more positive for her. If we can walk through a chute to the start line, we can maintain eye contact and play a game or two as we walk. She is able to look around more in a positive sense and acknowledge the first obstacle. On a good run, she will put her ears up and will move out easily for the first obstacle. Once we get past the first 3-7 obstacles, she usually gets into the running and will pick up speed and even fly through a course.
In Training (if this varies by location, please explain): Where is the dog crated? Is your dog able to eat treats outside the ring? Is your dog able to play tug outside the ring? Is your dog able to eat treats inside the ring? Is your dog able to play tug inside the ring? She is crated right in front of the field set for the week with class mates nearby. Yes, she can do all of those things in training.At Trials (if this varies by location, please explain): Where is the dog crated? Is your dog able to eat treats outside the ring? Is your dog able to play tug outside the ring? Is your dog able to play tug with a toy or leash inside the ring?
Because of Joy, we are always crated on the back row or a good distance from the ring at a show. We have a canopy where the crates and x-pen are set up. She can do anything outside the ring unless she is tired and then she won’t play tug with her ball. No, she cannot tug with a toy or leash in the ring even if we run FEO.
Responses What is your current ring entry and start line routine in training: How do you bring the dog to the start line? How do you ask them to line up and stay? How quickly is your dog able to respond to your cues: ● Immediately ● Within 2 or 3 seconds ● Needs multiple cues ● Unable to respond If this varies depending on the cue or location, please explain: See above. In training, she responds immediately or within seconds. She can hold a start line for several seconds and I can lead out as far as I want – a line of 5 jumps or to where I can handle a sequence at a distance.What is your ring entry and current start line routine at trials: How do you bring the dog to the start line? How do you ask them to line up and stay? How quickly is your dog able to respond to your cues: ● Immediately ● Within 2 or 3 seconds ● Needs multiple cues ● Unable to respond If this varies depending on the cue or location, please explain: See above. I have almost no lead out most of the time. If I really need one, I can take a lead out up to about 10-15 ft, but she is slow to release unless she is really up and happy.
In training, is your dog able to maintain a focused stay position while you lead out If so, for how long or how far? Does he break the stay or look around?
She doesn’t break her start line and rarely looks around.
At trials, is your dog able to maintain a focused stay position while you lead out If so, for how long or how far? Nope
Does he break the stay or look around? Won’t break the stay, but definitely looks around and avoids eye contact if stresses at all.
When your dog is on course in training, is he able to run pretty well or does he struggle with distractions or certain obstacles?
She runs pretty well. If we repeat a sequence too many times, she begins to stress thinking she has done something wrong even if she has been exuberantly praised and well rewarded with treats and ball.
When your dog is on course at trials, is he able to run prett well or does he struggle with distractions or certain obstacles? Does this vary in different locations? If yes, please explain.
She struggles with he first few obstacles and then runs the rest well without difficulty.
Reinforcement Hierarchies In training, what are your dog’s favorite rewards? When there is a reward present, what are your dog’s favorite tricks? When there is no reward present, what are your dog’s favorite tricks?
She loves both her ball and treats in training and even the level of the treat makes little difference if she is happy. She will work for kibble as readily as she will work for meatballs or raw beef. Cheese is probably her favorite, but it gives her diarrhea. IN a show, raw beef and rib bones are the best for increasing attitude and engagement when stressed.
Let’s Plan Ahead Ideally, what would you like your routine to look like between the entry gate and release from the start line?
Ideally, I would like Tango to walk into the ring happy and able to do a left or right and a hand touch and maintain eye contact and connection with me. I would like her to be able to look at me or the first obstacle and indicate a readiness or desire to go. Even if she doesn’t sit, I would like to be able to leave her on the start line when necessary to lead out for a handling maneuver.Hi Tracy,
The physiology part could be interesting. I am not sure how you do that in a trial situation once you are in the ring, but I am all ears. 🙂
Yes, when we can walk through a chute as opposed to a gate, she is more engaged and stimulated on the starts.
Amy
Hi Tracy,
Yes, I will get the video emailed to you.
We did some engaged chill today with a chair near the ring. I will have pay more attention in order to find more things that might work for engaged chill. She doesn’t have any natural behaviors per se.
This was a hard trial for her for some reason and each day and run got harder and more shut down. The funny thing about Tango and I don’t know if you caught it in the run or not is that once she gets into the game, her stress reduces and she actually runs. If she didn’t like the game, I don’t think we would have gotten this far or had the kind of runs that keep me loving running her. When she is on, she is so much fun. Last weekend we had chutes into the ring instead of gates and we had much easier transitions to the ring. I have had runs where she can engage with me on the start line or make eye contact once we enter the ring, but what worked last week, doesn’t usually work for long.
Amy
Hi,
At home she can run whole courses with a good attitude even with the reinforcement at our set up. During class I run both with reinforcement on me and with it back at our set up with a let’s go get the cookies finish. Paul took video of one of our pre-runs and subsequent run today that you can consider for our next training night chat if you want. 🙂
Amy
Hi Tracy,
Tango can do the remote reinforcement, tricks with cookies not in my hand, and the pattern games. None of these consistently carry over to our transition into the ring. 🙁 So, maybe I am missing steps with her to carry these to the next level. I definitely need to figure out engaged chill. Apparently, I have no engaged chill behaviors with any of my dogs. :-/ I will also teach her a new line up behavior and hopefully it will be more fun. We are constantly adding games to our routine, so today I started teaching her to weave through my legs. The between the legs line up should be an easy game for her also. Any suggestions for teaching an engaged chill or improving our transition with games to the ring would be great!
Amy
