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Hi Tracy,
Ok, I’ll play with these and see what happens. I’m a klutz and tripped over a dog cot hurting my knee and twisting my ankle. Plus, we have intermittent rain. So, it is a low key training day.
Here is part of leash off. The first and just reps were completely out of view. Sigh.
I also did remote reinforcement. She wanted to eat hackberries rather than walk away with me. I could have put her leash on. But, I decided to add more energy and switch to a toy.
BTW, how are you getting to forums while course building and running? Superwoman!
P.s. Sprite practiced couch chill while I watched the US open. I saw you with HSM and Bandit!
Hi Tracy,
No video during class, but I have a bit after class to see if this can be part of engaged chill. Sprite likes to be across my front legs and get a shoulder pet or under her chin pet. She likes to be touched.
Today in class we tried the tricks and tug to the line. She could tug and out. Also, Sprite could do the hand touch and then tug. She could NOT spin while walking towards equipment. On our first run the instructor asked everyone to take the leash off and just “be” with the dog like there was a tunnel adjustment or bar being set. You could do anything, but no toys or treats. So, I tried the engaged chill. Took her leash off and then just her in by my legs and petted her for my 30 seconds. Then, line up and go. She did pretty well with the line up considering it’s class. Plus, there was a dog behind her on a cot. I’ll try to get class video next week. We had to park really far today, so I couldn’t go back for the tripod.
But, at the end I asked someone to film so you can see what I’m working with. Sprite had just weaved several times for photos. While we were doing this two dogs were out for their photos. This instructor takes great pictures.
So, here’s what I’m starting with. Is this workable and how does it progress? I shouldn’t have tried to ask her to change sides. But…I did.
Option 2. But, being up on her hind end for a long time might be harder.
Hi Tracy,
Sprite is an Aussie that doesn’t bark. How lucky am I? Gemma more than makes up for it. She didn’t understand high five from a stand and we don’t have walking on two legs. So…it’s hand touch and spin. This went ok. I’m competing with hackberries with the pattern game. The last sit was definitely slower. I knew it in real time so that was our last rep. Unfortunately, my yard isn’t really large enough to have the tripod catch everything and decent space to the line as well as a mini course. Also, I should have lined her up in a different spot for the third rep. But, I’m trying to keep everything in camera range.
This doesn’t feel like a clean loop since there will never be food after leash removal. It feels like that should be the loop. Walk to the line, tug, leash off and reward. Then, lather, rinse repeat. Separately work line ups with no food and the leash off already. Then, put both back in the chain of getting to the line. But, I’m sure you have a scientific arousal manipulation comment for me. I got myself into trouble using food for the line up in the first place. Things were great until the food went away. Then, it went in the toilet and created stress and probably a negative CER for lining up. She grabs grass as you know on the way to the line. Do you wait for a pause and eye contact after a pattern game like with the arousal dial? I didn’t really have a clear transition that ended the pattern and now I’ll ask for a line up. It felt and looked sloppy. How do I clean that up with my mechanics?
I have a few local AKC trials coming up that I could enter. But, I’m really hesitant to enter Sprite even at FEO. My only options are T2B or Fast. I’d only get 32 sec with fast. I think you get 50-60 sec with T2B. I could tug on the leash, take the leash off and cue strike with the toy. But…not sure it’s in her best interest. Plus, the toy can’t leave your hand which is a silly rule.
Well, the pulling is my spatial awareness. Probably the same going in too deep to the pinwheel jump. But….I was very pleased with her. Plus, I did NOT try the BC again as I felt she’d done enough reps with the various sequences. Most were one and done.
I’ll probably need more tricks. Other than a spin and nose touch what else do you use moving? I don’t think I can leg weave with a leash attached. Or, can I?
So, if I understand correctly… get her “give” command under better stimulus control, use moving tricks and reward with tug on the way to the line, take the leash off and immediately go into either the up and down or back and forth game, then ask for the line up?
I can practice this in the yard tomorrow and try it out in class Tues. Today is a mellow day while Gemma recovers. She can’t tug for two weeks so I don’t want her overly excited today. Poor thing. That tooth has been rotting for a long time. Failed root canal from 6 years ago. It basically shattered. Luckily, no other teeth were involved. Dogs are so stoic! I’m sure she’s been miserable for awhile.
Hey Tracy,
Sprite and I went to the park for the tunnel bypass sequences. I’m showing the lines ups so it’s a bit long. We did the tugging to the line. I think this will work, but she’s not necessarily letting go when I stop tugging. So, it’s a work in progress. Before the first run I did back and forth latter game abs then the volume dial. It’s not shown. We snuffled after each run and I threw in another pattern game before one of the later runs. I’d be happy with these sits in the ring. But, since I’m not necessarily waiting for eye contact she’s sometimes not really paying attention when I ask her to line up. I think that’ll improve as she understands this is access to the fun. Nothing in my hands. Toy toy stuck in my pants. But, I did have some food in my pocket.
Very happy with this! No extra tunnels…. Yay. She came off a jump once which I’ll take as she’s trying hard to listen. This was the jump turn with no tunnel.
I thought my BC was on time, but I barely got across her line. The tunnel bypass cue seemed to work better. However, I wanted to try both. This is her session do she followed the handling well.
Hi Tracy,
I’m not sure what you mean by “open the 2×2 of a straight set.” I have one set of 12 poles in line. So, are you suggesting using 6 of those and then 3 sets of 2×2 with an angle on the last set? I might need a visual.
Bless my vet. I called the dentist that did Gem’s root canal 6 years ago. It is a month for a consult and then they schedule the dental. They were going to check with the vet and call me back. No news in 6 1/2 hrs. Talked to my personal vet’s staff around 8:30. Vet called me back at 9 am and she’s creating space tomorrow to extract the tooth. Poor Gem. It’s likely been bad for awhile. She will feel so much better soon!
Sprite had a private today with a full course out. The instructor had to go inside for a bit so I was playing volume dial with the leash. Then, you see line up number one with a leash. Second line up was after the sequence and setting for a repeat. No leash. These were decent line ups for Sprite. Not super fast, but not too much extra time either. She did some lovely work today. She did acclimate when we first got there. Plus, she was in a down while waiting for the instructor and when I walked sequences.
I’m hoping for the park tomorrow, but Gemma won’t be there. I’ll see what I get with the tunnel bypass sequences.
I have no idea how long it took to line up. No video. Seemed like forever. But, it probably wasn’t. I’ve mentioned the instructors dogs out before. She’s not likely to change.
Sprite pops at 10 on the weaves. She’s holding the entrance. I don’t have 24 in channels. Just inline and 2×2. That’s why I was thinking of trying the guides.
No chance to film in class tonight as I had to take Gem to ER. She cracked a tooth and it’s hanging. But, they can’t help her so I’ll call my regular vet in AM. I guess they don’t do any dentals. I’m supposed to have a private with Sprite, but if my vet can see Gemma then I’ll need to cancel. It’s always something. Poor Gemma. If I have the lesson I’ll film her line ups.
All of this is fascinating! I’ll see if I can get video in class tomorrow night so you can see what she’s doing. Or, more likely what I’m doing.
She’s in two classes. One Tuesday AM and the other Wed at night. Today’s class she did better. I asked for 20 in to go first as last week she had to listen to 5 other dogs run before her turn. So, it was walk and then her turn. We tugged to the line. When I took the leash off she stood there for awhile, but she did ultimately line up and sit. The instructor had her dog out literally right where we needed to sit which was extra pressure. The second round didn’t really require a start line so I didn’t used a leash and just started her. Sprite did pop the weaves after nailing a hard entrance where I layered a tunnel. She does pop occasionally and I taught her with 2×2. She jumps over guides, but I might need to teach those to her. After an error she gets super slow in the weaves so she doesn’t seem to know what the issue is. My instructor wanted me to use a NRM, but I declined. If I send her back to weave she already knows there was an issue.
I also had her out a bit while two of the calmer 16 in dogs ran. She was in a down and I used food particularly if she glanced back my way after watching. I was seated.
P.s. my friend Danika and her adorable DSFD puppy Taq are in your max pup one class! I sent them your way.
Hi Tracy,
I meant if she glances after a tossed treat during the volume dial game. I can guarantee she’ll stay more engaged with a handed treat as there’s not a chance to glance around as much. If I’m playing back and forth and she glances I just keep playing that game. If she got really sticky, then I’d go to the up and down game. Is that the general order of operations? But, on the volume dial if she glances a tiny bit after a tossed treat do I keep playing or go back to pattern games? One glance versus every time after a toss is different. Plus, in my yard right now it’s hackberry snuffle mat all of the time.
Sprite can watch Gemma work. That’s pretty easy at home, but not at the park. However, she’s whining in her car crate so she knows I’m out with Gemma. Typically I work Gemma first.
She struggled with long backside slice in class and I wanted to practice it. Oops! It’s raining so no tunnel in my yard soon. But, if it dries up I can put out at least two to maybe three jumps.
So, when I add the leash…. Previously I was told to wait for eye contact to remove it. What is your thoughts on that? If she can’t offer that and is scanning there is little chance she could line up.
I just did a quick session in my living room with the leash and tugging to the line. She’s swinging her butt into line up! It’s raining out today and it’s bath day. So, no mud until at least tomorrow. lol. I can show it if you want, but I don’t want to over use my time. Hopefully tunnel bypass cue Thursday at the park.
Yep…nature’s snuffle mat in my yard. More sit to jump training. Treats in my pocket, but nothing in my hand. I think she’s getting the hang of it. Tried to get her to eat the hackberries at the end. Next time I’ll use a scatter as well.
We also went to the pet store today. No video, but she was able to LLW while sniffing all of the delicious bags of kibble. She was able to do pattern games and a volume dial on a different aisle. If she glanced around on the way back from a tossed treat I went back to pattern feeding. The store people kept asking me if I needed any help. She did pretty well. Then, I let her go sniff more bags of food. Mostly she kept a loose leash so that’s a big win!
Yes, I knew I was late, late, late with the blind cross. So, if I start when she’s over jump 3 what shows the line to 4? I just assume she will take it? I’m usually taking 1-2 more steps than I need which makes me late.
So, my first Aussie loved the havkberries as well. I took her in Dec for hip X-rays. Got a call from the vet asking if she ate a pearl necklace or a beaded garland off my Christmas tree. I laughed and said it’s hackberries. Apparently they saw tons of small rounded objects in her colon. I’m not sure they believed me as they wanted to keep her until she pooped. I assured them that I saw berries daily!
Hi Tracy,
Yes, the last part of the clip was her decompressing eating hackberries. I told her to go find them, but I’m not sure she knows what that means. She snuffles them every time she goes into the backyard. I am not more interesting than the hackberry! Luckily, they don’t cause GI issues. But, they do cause alarm on xrays! Ask me how I know. 🙂
We did the set up at the park with the tugging and waiting for the offered sit. It’s a little hard for her to release the toy and there was some definite grass grabbing. She is getting the hang of it, but it’s hard! I used my phone to film as it has a wide angle lens. But, I still didn’t get the edge of jump for the turn in sequence 2. My first BC was a year late! Tried to clean that up. She snuffed after each run and I also gave her some toy chase tosses. One rep we had a mom, stroller and kid watching. After the training she put herself in a down and I just let her take in the environment while I took everything down.
P.S. I need some AU tshirts and ideally a crew neck sweatshirt. I’m not a big hoodie fan. Where do I find the merch?
Hi Tracy,
So, Sprite’s eyes were as wide as saucers in class last night. She’s moved into a new class on Wed night that’s a higher level. I was able to have her out while the dog before her ran. We did pattern games and I did use the back and forth game with a treat toss to get her out to the first jump. No grass grabbing last night. Yay! She did some nice work with good contacts, hard weaves etc. There was a hard send to a German about 15 ft from the teeter. Tried once and she doesn’t have that skill yet. Aldo, she had to find weaves parallel to a tunnel. That was hard!
Here’s the tug sit game in my yard. I left in a hackberry snacking clip at the end. This is hard brain work for Sprite.
Yes, yesterday I wasn’t trying to set tight lines. The jumps are too close and I mostly just cared that she offered the sit. I’ll try to get to the work for the course tomorrow.
I’m happy to geek out about this as I’ve been working on it for months and it’s not improving. So, I’m doing something wrong. I agree the line up is hard in general and not letting her jump may be a punisher. Ideally she would understand sit gets you access to agility. But, she hasn’t made that association yet. Or, she’s not in the right zone of arousal. Plus, adding remote reinforcement is lumping as she has to leave her reward AND sit AND stay. So, which of those pieces is being reinforced? If I take the jump out of it she may find that is not really a reward. In yesterdays video she offered that sit and I stupidly asked for the hand touch afterwards as that was the piece I had planned. So, I didn’t actually ask for a line up and sit.
In class…she cannot be out of her crate when either Aussie runs. That’s why we changed the order. She’s whining in general in class, but it’s a little better. I could just use kibble and feed her when they run if you think that would help. This particular class there isn’t a great place to be where you wouldn’t hear the dogs. I do cover her crate which helps. So, if she’s glancing around on the volume dial then go back to a pattern game? I can try that tonight in class. Tonight’s class she’s in a barn, so she can’t see the action. It works much better for her.
I don’t think I can do another dog without a start line. Gemma took 5 years off before I decided to run off the line with her. But, there is usually an off course somewhere between obstacle 2 to 6. It’s very hard to set lines from behind right off the bat. Sprite is capable of staying in a lead out. She was fabulous when I was using food to get the line up snd sit. Plus, the sequences were easier back then. But, she never made the association without food and it’s just adding stress and leading to grass grabbing. She definitely wants to play the game. I’m just concerned that I don’t have her brain going in and after Gemma I know that’s not all that fun to feel completely disconnected and having a dog everyone thinks is out of control and untrained.
Of interest, after the last run on this video she decided to snack on hackberries! So, I let her eat some, then I put her up and got Gemma.
Hi Tracy,
Sprite has a toy and food remote reinforcement marker. I used the leash and had jumps out as she still really struggles walking towards jumps. It’s becoming a negative CER and making me sad. This clip is a little long as I did both markers.
I tried hand touches in class earlier, but she just couldn’t to it. Her brain is elsewhere and she can’t respond to much in that environment as she’s walking to the line. We ended up changing the order of dogs in class. She typically runs after two very barky Aussies and she’s not allowed to be out when they run. Her first run I could never get her attention so we didn’t run. Walked round two and then she got another chance at round one. Once she lined up she did a lovely job with some hard weaves and layering a dog walk. Once the order switched I could have her out. She’s definitely glancing around with the volume dial. Pretty split brained. Round two started on the table do that was much easier for her.
Anyway…here is the video.
