Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Out of curiousity – did you have treats with you?
Yes I had treats with me at both stores and he refused them at the front of both stores.
You can test the theory: go to the front area of same store but very first thing in the morning so it won’t be crowded (weekday morning bright and early are the least crowded) and see how he does! And if you didn’t have treats, test the theory without treats. Then go back to the car and see how he feels about that front area when you do have treats.
Note: When I went to Lowes, it was on Monday morning with hardly anyone in the store.
Below is a video of Knight at a foundation class in a building he has not been in since late spring and the dogs in this class was the first time he saw.
Tracy,
Just wanted to pass something along to you that I found interesting with Knight. I have taken Knight many times in Home Depot and Lowes and never saw an issue. On Sunday I had to run to Home Depot and I took Knight with me since I knew the store would be really busy. He really was his self in the aisles the back of the store. Did tricks for me, etc. except when it came to the front of the store. At this time of year they had all kinds of displays in the front aisle (Basically making the front aisle into 2 aisles.) and there was a crowd. When he was up front, I could see he was concern. Would not do any tricks, etc. I then took him into the side aisles and he was normal. Happy etc.
Today I took him to Lowes. Lowes basically I am sure you know has the same setup. Since today was a weekday there were very few people around. But when I took him to the front of the store and walked him, he came very concern like he did at the Home Depot store. Side aisles again he was happy.
Note: I only stayed at the front of the store for a very short time.
Wondering if this pressure he feels in the store, is the same type of pressure he feels at the start line? or is it 2 different issues? Your thoughts greatly appreciate.
Mary Ann
I think I know enough people in your area that will be willing to help, if you want me to hook you up with them!
Got Knight in as a drop at Wednesday night class. Thank you for your offer!
>step 1. per the above, go to the rally class and have dogs warm up, outside the ring.>
Yes! And if there is a running order like there is in agility class, you can have him out and getting ready while the previous dog is finishing their turn. Build up to making it trial-like!
I was able to attend the rally class yesterday. Everybody there was great! I had a Belgian Trevan behind him before entering the ring along with the other dogs by ringside and he did terrific. He was engaged and having fun.
>step 2. If Knight passes step 1, then I could possibly arrange with an agility instructor at a different location to do the pattern game, spin, bounce, etc outside the ring and then enter the ring, go to jump 1 and see his reaction similar to what I did on video at the rally class. >>
Also yes! There are lots of good agility instructors in your area that will allow a drop in.
Going to arrange this for Knight. Figures crossed
And in classes, mix in runs that are fun without all the pressure: easy fast courses where you do have cookies in the ring.
Will do.>Also where I train at there is a UKI trial every month through the winter (Dec through April) with mulligans. My thinking is doing the pattern games outside the ring which I know he will be happy doing the first day. Second day only sign up for one run. Pattern games. >
Remember to do tricks too! If you sign up for a run, I think it is a good time to find something he will enjoy inside the ring, like a lotus ball on a fur toy that he this chase around. That way there is a toy inside the ring! And his reward station should be right outside the ring and he should be able to see it.
Thank you for your thoughts on the UKI run. I will put them to good use this weekend.
Since next Monday is the last day of this course. I would like to put my thoughts on paper for you to review and comment on the next steps with Knight.
step 1. per the above, go to the rally class and have dogs warm up, outside the ring.
step 2. If Knight passes step 1, then I could possibly arrange with an agility instructor at a different location to do the pattern game, spin, bounce, etc outside the ring and then enter the ring, go to jump 1 and see his reaction similar to what I did on video at the rally class. If reaction is positive, take collar off and have him go over the jump and put collar on and say lets go and go to his goodies outside the ring. If reaction is shutdown, run him out of the ring and say lets go and get his goodies. If he does shut down, what are your thoughts on proceeding to the second round? Take back in and run him back out if he shuts down?
Also where I train at there is a UKI trial every month through the winter (Dec through April) with mulligans. My thinking is doing the pattern games outside the ring which I know he will be happy doing the first day. Second day only sign up for one run. Pattern games. Take him in the ring. Gage him. If he is in shutdown mode, run him out of the ring and go get the goodies. If engage, take collar off and do a jump or a contact (second day first runs are agility. He loves the dog walk, teeter) and out of the ring and do a mulligan.
This is all great!! Sounds like he was really excellent and happy, even when all the people were added in. And it sounds like this was a lot of people but no other dogs in the environment. Maybe it is the proximity to the other dogs that makes it challenging for him? So the next steps would be to add one dog in (a calm dog :)) and see how he does. Then keep adding them in – at trials, they will be milling about near the entry/exit, barking, staring, eating, tugging, etc, so we can address that and see what he says.
Thanks Tracy for all your comments. I spoke with my rally instructor friend and she said that we can work something out of having the dogs warming up, etc. outside the ring. (When I did the runs yesterday they were all crated about 5 to 6 feet from the ring.) Start small and add on the second round.
I did this session with Knight around 11/18 It is a long video but showing the first steps from that session. Feed him with the collar on, taking the collar off and putting it back on, etc. As you will see he was a happy boy.
Before the rain came, I decided to do the go out with Knight just with 3 jumps to see how he would do. I figure I can set up the rest of the criteria when I do a rental.
This morning I had the opportunity to take Knight to a rally class that a friend runs and do the 1 jump with Knight. Knight was at this location when he was a puppy over 3 years ago. As you can see from the 2 videos below which was his first time in the ring, he was having a great time. Notice he took off before I told him too. I forgot though to just take the collar off and run him. Going to try that in class this Wednesday. (Note: Did not have class for 2 weeks – UKI Open and Thanksgiving)
(No video sorry but everyone was helping me)
On my second turn the jump was moved in a different location. I had the gate closed open it and proceeded to the jump. This time the people in class were clapping and yelling. My friend was the judge and a person in class was sitting in a chair next to the jump. Knight came to the start line and was a happy boy. Sat there until I gave him the okay to continue. Second time I was on the other side of the jump and the judge on the other side. Again no issue. Third try. Judge behind him and when I took the leash off and threw it behind him and again no issue. Note the first two times on the second run and I had the leash with me and when he jumped I just put the leash down for him chase it and he decided to tug it.All the times before I went into the ring I did pattern games and had him bounce and spin. For my second turn I just chilled watching the person in the ring. Knight just laid down in front of me.
Finally when we were exiting the ring, each time I told him lets go after I put the collar on. This is what I have always done.Video 2. Let me know if it was supposed to be a different video.
Yes different video.interesting how he didn’t want to tug with the leash coming off at first here – is there where the collar was on?
In class when the collar comes off he automatically goes into a sit for his start line stay. My thought is to have him tug on the leash when he comes through the gate to keep him engaged and then take the collar off, do couple spins, and have him bounce to keep engagement. Your thoughts.
You can trust his line commitment here to get the BC earlier: send to the tunnel from further away so you are more ahead of him as he approaches the jump after it.
Have to admit my blinds suck period. It is a long work in progress with him. As you know adjusting to different dogs is a challenge but I will do it. Just have to trust the little guy.
The physical cues were excellent so he got it, but with his speed we don’t want to rely on physical cues only. Since ‘come’ and ‘here’ probably mean ‘turn towards da momma’, you can add a ‘tunnel threadle’ verbal that means ‘go to the other end of the tunnel’. I use ‘kiss kiss kiss’ 🙂 and it means something very different than the turn cues on the jump.
Good winter project to work on. Thinking about POW POW POW!!!
Good Evening. Here are the videos for tunnel discrimination and mid course challenge. On some videos I just had him tug on his lead. Others I put his collar on. Also on some videos I put his food by the camera mimicking that it was outside the ring. Note: I noticed when he had the collar on he didn’t want to tug.
Here is the outside run of Find my Face I have been playing with him in the house with tugging on his leash with the treat holder attached so I used it in this lesson. Figure if he likes tugging on the leash it might help me keep him excited going into the ring no matter if it a NFC run or live run. Let me know what you think.
He was fantastic here!! Absolutely perfect about seeking out engagement. Yay! The only thing I suggest adding is a bigger reaction from you when he *does* seek out engagement after you disconnect: when he finds your face, give him a big GOOD BOY!!! with smiles and praise, then toss the treat as a reward and to reset the next rep. That GOOD BOY! moment will definitely be surprising and exciting in a good way 🙂 And being quiet like you were was perfect for the disconnection moments – he was fabulous. You can totally play this game outside the ring as part of his mental warm up.
Will do! Smiles and praise and Good Boy! I will try this game outside the ring tomorrow in class..
ThanksFor now, let’s hold off on trialing, even NFC, til we’ve hashed out what he will play with in the ring and worked the first few remote reinforcement games. Check them out and let me know what you think!
I can hold off on trialing. No problem. I primarily did the UKI trial to caption what he does in competition.
You can also ask people in your class to come into the ring to act as leash runners, judge, ring crew, all the things he will need to get used to seeing.
I have already done this and never an issue. In class I had people yelling, dogs right at the ring side, my instructor being a judge, etc.
Gave Knight 2 down days since he was a busy boy this past week. Going to start to work on playing with toys.
This is a video of Find my Face.
The top 2 factors were that it is a big leap (pun intended :)) from indoors with food in your hand to outdoors without food – too big of a step forward for now until we add a few more skills to his toolbox. We begin those steps tomorrow!
I understand. Just FYI This shutdown happens indoors as well as outdoors. Where I train weekly has UKI trials and in a trial environment, he shutdown also. The trial site this past weekend I have done dropped in classes too. Looking forward to the next steps.
– will he play with the toy on the leash, or a toy in your hand? That can smooth the transition from outside the ring to inside the wing, by bringing the fun into the ring at trials. If he won’t like a tug toy, we can use an empty lotus ball attached to a long line. That will both increase his arousal in a good way, and help him transition into the ring.
He loves to play tug at home. Since I am not looking at any trials until December to run NFC. I am going to see if I can transfer him playing with a toy in the ring. Also I have used a treat holder in the ring. Maybe I can attach a long line to that.
– if he will play with a toy and you do an NFC run, don’t start with a stay 🙂 That is the most stressful position! Instead, run to a tunnel and send him through a tunnel to get him running. Getting him running and chasing you with a toy will be a big breakthrough moment!
What he loves is his contacts. I could just go to the teeter or dog walk. I have done that in the past and he gets focused.
Took Knight to a small UKI trial this morning. As you can see he was very happy outside the ring. My execution could have been better but he was happy and jumping up which I am training as bouncing. When he went into the ring his happiness faded. Took the lead off and as you can see he wanted to leave. Put the lead back on asap and ran out of the ring happy. You can see his demeanor changed for the positive and got his goodies. Kind of happy this occurred so you can actually see what goes on. Working on 2 games bouncing or jumping up and leg weaves.
