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Viewing 15 posts - 136 through 150 (of 429 total)
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  • in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55547
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Here is find my face. I’m competing with the hackberries which are apparently doggy caviar. Both girls come out in the yard and start munching. They were mostly fine until the weekend winds knocked a bunch more down.

    I tried the hand touch back and forth, but it didn’t go well. She would only nose touch to one side and it was the end of the session. Maybe try can show me tonight as I couldn’t figure out a way to get anywhere.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55526
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    We didn’t get closer while dogs were running. It was very windy and cold and there was a long time between classes with one judge. However, I do the pattern games in class while other dogs run. Getting video is harder in class.

    She absolutely grabs grass at class and in the training yard. So, teaching a different coping skill is my preference. So, if I do hand touch and a tossed treat is it a back and forth game by my side? How would you fade the food?

    I can play with leash tugs on the way to the line as well.

    So, I’m trying to teach a between my legs trick. Gemma loves it. Sprite doesn’t want to come in between. I’ll have to see if I can dig up a video somewhere as I’m doing something wrong.

    “See” you later today. Thanks so much for your suggestions.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55498
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    Originally I was having her go through my legs and then line up by my side. But, she just couldn’t do it. So, I am trying to make it simpler. Yesterday at the trial we worked far from the ring. I’ll post some video for you. It was very windy which is distracting by itself. After the posted session and a break we went between the two rings while one ring was down and the other one walking. I was chatting and she was in a down. She was very calm and just taking it in. We then tried some games and lines up. Nothing on film as I didn’t trust leaving the tripod out in that area in the wind. Interesting comment about hand touches. Yesterday once she gave me eye contact I cued a hand touch to the side o wanted her to line up. She seemed to like it. I’ll see if she can do that in class. What currently happens is she starts grabbing grass as we walk to the jump. Don’t love that behavior.

    Here’s trial footage if you are interested.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55450
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hey Tracy,

    I’ll try to set her up better on the first jump. I don’t want to fuss too much with it now as she’s starting to line up and sit faster. The last thing I want to do is get her up and move her. So, I’ll try harder to pick a better position. Seeing lines is a work in progress for me.

    Yes, I think snuffle and pattern games between runs helps her. There were areas that could have been tighter, but I didn’t repeat anything either. So…that’s information as well. Maybe best to move on and repeat something later if I’m trying to “fix” something. I was very happy with this session. No extra tunnels at all! 🙂

    Today we are going to a trial. I’ll see if I can film some pattern games and arousal dial far from the ring. I’m just dropping by for a few hours. It is cool enough to pop her in the car crate for breaks and I’ll bring a chewy for her.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55415
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    I did some up and down and back and forth before these sequences. Also, some in between and snuffle breaks.

    She did so well I just did each sequence once except for option an and b in the second run. Not sure about the bar, but I didn’t repeat that sequence. There is uneven ground.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55356
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Thanks Tracy,

    There are a few trials in the next two months at better facilities. But, until I feel she can line up in class it’s probably not worth entering her. She isn’t better with a toy in my hand. Last night in class she immediately starts grabbing grass as we walk towards the first jump. I don’t think the position matters as she isn’t listening to cues. Just scanning the environment. Of interest, if I back off and then tried to set her up but at a further distance from the first jump she did better. So, I’ll try that next time on the first attempt. I am also playing around with a spin at my side as we get close. She’s clearly feeling pressure in the approach and line up. Once she sat, she did very well. She doesn’t vulture, lean forward etc on the start line. We did pattern games on the side while the dog before her ran plus a quick snuffle.

    Here’s back and forth outside a dog park. As I’m getting ready to start a lady lets her pug pull her towards us as she thought it would be great to let her dog say hi. Sprite was on leash and I just walked away adding distance. But, I need to be careful with off leash jumping in this location as people are clueless.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55304
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    I agree it wasn’t a very user friendly facility. The bad news is it’s 35 minutes from me. I generally only trial at localish shows. Sprite still isn’t really ready as she struggles to line up and sit. Once she does she stays. But, she’s a bit overfaced by going in the ring and lining up. So, no point in adding a 2-3 hour drive and hotel stay at this time.

    The surface wasn’t ideal either. But, the rumors are it’ll be used more now. I’ve no idea. AKC doesn’t have a lot of NFC runs, but I guess they did allow a toy for those classes. I do have a fleece leash. So we can use that.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55263
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hey Tracy,

    Congratulations on your fly ball win! I’d planned to set up the sequences today, but it had the audacity to rain. So, it’ll have to wait a few days.

    I’m happy to tweak things. However, a new site that will likely be used more is a horse arena. There’s a wooden enclosed area and both rings are inside with only one way in and out. No food or toys allowed once you go through that area and that means the start gate could be 30-200 feet once you get in. You have to pass an entire ring to get to the far ring. So, I need something that predicts work is soon, but not yet. That’s a long way with no rewards!

    She still struggles when other dogs are running. Sprite can watch me run Gemma. Well, at least at home. But, it’s hard for her to see other dogs run.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55179
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Ok Tracy!

    Phew. Busier than I anticipated. I’m working on Sprites start line routine in chunks. The ultimate goal is down outside the ring while the last dog runs, LLW through the gate, eye contact, line up and go. So, todays session is down followed by LLW predicts work. I did a total of 4 loops. First “work” was my ready to work protocol, second was the up and down game which I can show if you want. One treat was lost in the leaves. I might have stepped on it. This is rep 3 and 4 for the arousal dial with toy and food. Then, it was leave scatter and go to the car crate.

    There was pickleball, two kids soccer games, the play structure and the usual random people and dogs. As I was setting up people were walking through my work area. I used targets for me to keep the distance short. I’m very happy with this!

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55114
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    I can try a Kong. Sprite is not trustworthy with many things. Termite might eat the entire licky mat!

    After the down we actually left class. But, she was able to walk on a loose leash. That’s a skill in progress around agility.

    I’ll try the pickleball courts this weekend. I didn’t notice the side difference. Guess I need to watch again.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55090
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    I can try music at class. This particular class there isn’t a way to work out of the car. Several dogs don’t settle in their crate. Sprite has a chewy stick, but she won’t eat it. Covers don’t help. It’s the sound I think.

    The park is variable. Sometimes people are walking by with dogs, but this was early. I can try outside the pickleball courts in a few days. It’ll be too hot today by the time I get back and procedure tomorrow.

    Interesting about the left and right. Is it my tossing to that side? We played in the backyard with Gemma and the ball. I’m tossing small pieces of food, so they might be hard to find. Plus, she ate grass after one rep. I also threw in the down at class.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55056
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    We went to the park. Unfortunately, I didn’t set my tripod back far enough. So, you can’t see the up and down game well. I also did the volume dial with toys first and then food. I’m completely out of the frame with the food. Oops!

    Sprite did pretty well in class. Unfortunately, she tends to whine on her crate, but we are working on it. At the end of class she was in a down while a lower energy dog did some agility right by her. I have video of that if you want to see it.

    Yes, it was Gemma on the side of the fence. I can give her a toy, but I’m not sure how to throw stuff for her and work Sprite. I can have Gemma out with a ball on the field running around. I’ll see what I can come up with. Actually, the soccer ball is a huge distraction. So, it can be one of the items out.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55031
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    How many novel objects in the yard? My energy is low today. Covid vaccine yesterday and I’m having mild side effects. I’ll see if we can get to the park tomorrow! Also, I didn’t see a leash in your volume dial video, so I thought it would be okay. 🙂 I’ll add it at the park. It is a PITA, but likely needed. Do, I best get my mechanics down.

    Sprite does know how to weave between my legs. It’s a warm up. At one point I tried go between my legs and line up at my side. But, she got sticky and wouldn’t be parallel or she wouldn’t sit.

    Today in class I did use the back and forth game walking towards the first jump. She did well. New class with two loud barking Aussies. We did pattern games and short sequences. I have a procedure Friday, so I might not get to the sequences until this weekend. But, it’s really crate to gate where we need the most help.

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55027
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Hi Tracy,

    I moved outside for the games. The hackberries on the ground are actually a huge distraction. Both dogs love to eat them. I did back and forth with a leash and a novel object. Then, I did the volume dial with food first and then toys. However, I use spins and it’s hard with the leash on. I’m assuming I need to work on that too? I didn’t combine the videos so it’s two separateones. I hope that’s okay?

    in reply to: Ginger and Sprite ( Aussie) #55002
    Ginger McMullen
    Participant

    Pattern games are easy peasy in the living room. We’ve done these periodically. But, it sounds like they should be revisited often? I’ll add a leash next time, but up and down is easier in class or trial locations. I could do back and forth by my set up.

    Isn’t engaged chill the up and down game, but slower?

Viewing 15 posts - 136 through 150 (of 429 total)