[Mary Ann]

Backside Slice

Believe he got the concept of the backside slice.

[Mary Ann]

Strike a Pose – Part 3

After we completed this exercise and took a break, I decided to try him doing Part 2 and Part 3 with 2 jumps and he read it and did great.

[Mary Ann]

Strike a Pose – Part 2

I did the next three videos in my lower yard as to the upper yard. Leaves were flying at times and the wind blowing. So really feel proud of my buddy completing his tasks even though Mother was not connecting sometimes like she should and remember what exercise we were doing. I believe he will be saving me in the ring in the future!!!

[Mary Ann]

Good morning! Happy Halloween!

Here is Spirit doing his tight turn and tandem turn. I noticed when I was reviewing the video he was doing tight turns while I got my brain functioning properly.

I will definitely send you a video of Spirit when he decides to nip and go over the top.

Also I really noticed with him more then any of my other dogs that I have trained is that he needs to try it one day and then the next he has it. Yes I know there is a word for this and you have spoke about it so many times but the mind is blank. 🙂

Thank you.

[Mary Ann]

Tunnel Threadle Foundation

Started working with him off and on the last few days and I discovered I have to keep it calm as you will see in the video, otherwise he goes over the top. Circling, trying to nip me, etc. Know there is more work to do, but I believe this is a good start.

Lap Turn and Threadle Foundation with Post

For the first time working with him on these 2 turns with a post, I believe he did really well. Going to keep working on them since these turns will be used on the course.

[Mary Ann]

Lap Turn and threadle foundation

Spirit picked up the lap turn really quick. The threadle wrap on the right side was very difficult for him at the beginning. I got on my knees and showed him the cookie for him to do the U turn. Once he understood it, I then started standing.

Parallel Path

I shot another video of this and you can see he definitely got the hang of it. Going to keep working on it to get more lateral distance.

Going cone wrap.

Video his cone wrap and thought he did a good job.

Mat work (No Video)

I have been working with him on the mat work more and made sure he is hitting with all 4 paws. I am walking back and forth with him and trying to get lateral distance. Should I work with him more with the box and walk with him and get lateral distance? Your thoughts.

[Mary Ann]

Video 1:
The running contacts game is going well with both the mat and the box. His rhythm and striding all look really good. My only suggestion is to use a ‘get it’ marker when you throw the reward instead of ‘yes’ to help keep him looking ahead and not at you. For the mat, try to mark when his back feet are on. You can add more distance away from them too!

Thank you for pointing out the get it marker instead of yes. Also, THANK YOU about him getting his back feet on the mat. Never thought about that.

Video 2:
The cone wraps (rocking horses) are also going well! Try to do only 2 wraps or maybe 3 before rewarding. That way we humans are more likely to maintain connection and the dogs don’t lose focus because of the repetition.
You can add your wrap verbals to these now! And you can also add a little more distance between the cones 🙂

Will do. Another thing I noticed with him is when he does this exercise he knows I have treats and he jumps to my hand to get them.

Video 3: excellent start to the threadle/serp game! He is driving to the target hand really well and your reward placement is really good too! You can hand him the treat rather than throw it, so you don’t need to move your shoulders. When using the stay, be sure he doesn’t self-release when he sees the hand target. You can reward him for holding the stay (by throwing a treat to him) when you get into position and he doesn’t self-release. You can add the toy to this and also start moving to the reward to the ground (advanced level :))

Will do.

Video 4: Parallel path – he is doing really well when you are close to the jump, almost perfect! When you were further ahead, he was having more misses by coming to your side rather than through the uprights. So you can add being ahead very gradually and keep throwing the reward like you did – he was really getting the idea by the end of the session so I know adding more distance by being ahead of him (and also being lateral) will be easy for him 🙂 And as you mentioned, maintain connection because that will help too!

OK Will Do

Thank you

[Mary Ann]

Catching up!!! I have had a bad head cold but we are back not 100% but back. Below is some of the exercises I have worked with Spirit the last 2 days.
This video is the box and another surface. I am happy with this exercise.

The next video is Spirit going between 2 cones. I have been working with him the last month or so with him on this exercise. He has been making good progress. The first series I lost eye connection.
And not realizing it, I believed I pushed him a little more then I should.

The next video is the start of the threadle exercise.

This exercise is the parallel exercise with the jump. I know I lost eye contact and I tried to get a little lateral distance which did work out to well. Going to with Spirit more on this exercise for I know I will need it.

[Mary Ann]

Here is the Wing Foundation game. Spirit and I have been during the game. I did it from a sit and then to a stand. Enjoy

[Mary Ann]

Here is a video of Spirit and I doing the advance turns. I have always did my turns counter arm and truly don’t want to change now since I will be running 2 dogs.

[Mary Ann]

Here is the blind cross. Spirit really did well since I never worked him on blind crosses.

[Mary Ann]

PreGame 2

Remembered his tug toy this time!!!! I have already taught him to touch my hand when it comes out and I use the word “touch” so I think he was a little confused. I believe I got some good nose touches for this session. I cut it short since he wasn’t engaging at the end.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 4 weeks ago by Mary Ann.

[Mary Ann]

Pregame 1

Used a white bag that is on the ground. For the first time he did this, I thought he did a great job.
After looking at the video I should have gave him a cookie a few extra times. Us humans who want perfection!!!!

• This reply was modified 2 months, 4 weeks ago by Mary Ann.

[Mary Ann]

I was trying to get there on your lunch break but traffic was insane and the weather not cooperating. Definitely Paws for Thought. Sent my registration in for Young Dogs for Knight but told Kristen if this class is overflowing to put me in Masters if there is openings instead. I know he can do it, but my main goal is for him to RUN HAPPILY!!!!

Need your thoughts since this is the last week of the class. I am going to start taking him to different places at the end of the month to run now. (Before I do, Harmony will give him another massage to make sure he is A OK!!) Planning on doing the start line routine that you saw in the video. If he is not happy, etc. thoughts on what I should think about doing. I will be going to Five Point (Joel Bassa) where he has been on 5/25 many times so it is not a brand new place. Also, I am hoping I can catch a drop in with Deb Bogart at PFTF before July.

FYI Fitness is moving along. And he is finally starting to back up. YEA

[Mary Ann]

This morning the little guy is sassy as ever.

Oh yes, I did take him to his fitness appointment on Monday. I finally over the weekend got him to back up but he always wanted to go to the side not straight back which I thought was due to the weakness on his right side which was the area that was injured. Harmony confirmed my thoughts. Got another set of exercises to work this area along with strengthening him.

FYI The Aframe in class Knight was going deeper into the yellow which Darryl and I were working on before we discovered his injury. So getting him back on track and the fitness course I believe is helping.

[Author]

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