[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

You are right – I tried to stay longer at the wing and this was much better.

Here is the video, together with our attempts on the last set up.

I really cannot believe that the course is already over. It was so much fun and I am SOOO grateful for all your support and advice. I will miss ithis terribly and I checked already your next courses.

BR Nadine

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

We were at class today and we all were quite exhausted.
I was trying to get Jazz into speed which caused me being late on my blinds. I decided to stop and switched to play. The weather forecast is so bad for the next days, I am not sure whether we can try it again.

BR
Nadine

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

I decided to send you the video from the first sequence, before I go ahead.
I need to spend much more time to train all jumping/directional cues. My boys had issues with ALL – backside sends, threadle, even soft turns…
I thought it is better to ask for your advice instead of torture my dogs further with my bad handling.

Sorry for the long video only on this! But I left in a bit more to show you, how we went through.

BR
Nadine

[nstegmann]

This will help so much! Thank you!!!!

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

Yes, that is absolutely true. And I can really feel when I do these challenging sequences that my motion is missing or at least not supporting my dog.
But I am still overwhelmed with finding my right position related to the dog for a line change and look where to go next. Only if I (would) repeat each sequences 5 to 10 times in a row I gain enough fluency to focus on appropriated movement too.

The dogs understood the “get out” in this context and specific set up very quick, but it is not generalized.
Now I am facing the same issue on the last sequences with the backside treadle wrap. Maybe you have an additional video which shows how you cue it (how your arms and body cues support the line)? This would be really helpful! (You seem not to use the opposite arm in the videos on set up 2? But I would have expected to train it from the “lap turn cue” Does it consist 2 cues: “come in” and “take the jump”?)

BR
Nadine

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

We had to train the “get out” first. I was happy how quick my boys understood that.
Here are our runs – not nice, but we made it in the right order:-)

Only in the last sequence I set up Jazz on the other site of the jump. It is very hot these days and I wanted him not to start slow.

BR
Nadine

[nstegmann]

On sequ 6 I was not able to get early enough to the blind for the tunnel. Especially with Jazz as his backside sends are not that strong.

BR
Nadine

• This reply was modified 2 weeks ago by nstegmann.

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

I filled out the form yesterday…

Please see our runs on sequ 4&5 of week 3. Jazz was puzzled by my handling on the front crosses. He is much faster when I nearly not move. I left some seconds in of it. Is my handling confusing him? Or should I not decelerate that much?

BR
Nadine

• This reply was modified 2 weeks ago by nstegmann.

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

Thank you so much for your detailed feedback! I went through it and all what you say makes 100% sense. I hope I can put in practice in future – at least partially (it is still a lot for me to consider connection and my speed simultaneously).
But what really bothers me is the topic of Jazz. It is for sure no pain. He is “just” not able to work in such a challenging environment. (Unfortunately, I have no video, but you can imagine a hunting dog, 100% focused on a trace. Nose magnetic to the ground, not recognizing anything else than the smell.) On the first trial day we started right in the beginning, and we had less other dogs and people around. On the next days it was more crowded and the smell of female dogs (even dogs in season – both my boys are intact) was getting more and more.
I presume his inability to work in such environments is a combination of a lag of motivation (choosing to work with me despite other rewarding things in the environment) and his quite sensitive personality.
I am aware of some mistakes I make in that regard (although it seems to be no issue for Sammy), but I am pretty sure there are much more things I do wrong in that regard.
But I do not have any clue how to solve this huge problem and train through this step by step – especially at this can certainly not only be done in my backyard.
I am wondering whether you might be willing to support me in that with some online private lessons?

BR
Nadine

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

We had terrible weather beginning this week. And over the weekend we were at trial – our second trial. Sammy was great – obviously my connection is getting a bit better:-). Jazz was very good on the first day. Yesterday he started to sniff between the obstacles. But today was anightmare. I was very careful with his “ready to work” routine. He was motivated and connected before at the start. But then he was sniffing between all obstacles the whole run – I was completely helpless. …

Here are the first sequences from week3:

BR
Nadine

[nstegmann]

On the second two jump game I focused on connection with Sammy and did it a bit slower.
Jazz slowed down at the wing before the jump and even more on the wing wrap at the second jump after the tunnel. Therefore I switched to give the tunnel cue directly after the wrap. It took all my attention to accelerate and decelerate appropriated.
The blind after the tunnel felt a bit weird to me. My body offered continuously a FC instead. But I am 100% sure that I saw both dogs before entering the tunnel entrance in the last runs.

Nadine

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

Thank you. You wrote: “Basically it is all tandem turn work that varies depending on the situation and the timing”
It works sufficient on weave pools and on the dog walk, but not on a jump.
The dog shall take the jump from the front and flip away when landing.
Sometimes it works, sometimes they do not read it at all, but very often they take the backside (like a push to wrap). Obviously I do something wrong with my upper body when cueing with the opposite arm. Or it might be my position related to the jump – but I played with it and it seems to have only a slight influence.
Is this also part of this year summer camp?

Nadine

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

Thank you, this game looks great. It looks like a lot of fun for the dog. I am pretty sure that Jazz will enjoy it. He knows already how to circulate me from RallyO and frisbee. But I will start from scratch and try to make it as fun as possible for him.
I always try to Jazz push up before we start. When I am leaving him for a lead out I have the melody of “Pink Panther” in my ears as you told in one of your course videos;-)

I am wondering whether I may ask you a question on another class of you? In case this is not appropriate, that is fine with me:-)
In your “Say What” you show “On the flat: Turn away after obstacle exit” with many examples, but not how to teach it.
Is there any other class of you which goes into these details?
I assume that the body cues are equal to the tandem turn, correct?

BR
Nadine

[nstegmann]

Hello Tracy,

It is really a challenge for me to think about all when moving. I feel that Sammy is reacting very strong on missing connection. And Jazz much more on my lag of movement and my inappropriate deceleration.
I am a bit more confident on the tunnel exercises, knowing that they will commit.
Yes, the opposite arm was missing, but I assume my biggest issue is still connection while keeping continuously moving.

Please do not laugh! In the 2 jump exercise I spook out the word “blind” loud, as cue for me;-). It should remind me to use the opposite arm.

I followed your advice on the wing wrap. I made several short sessions with Jazz throwing the toy just for commitment to the wing. I know that such things take time. However, I am still wondering what I can do in addition. There are several points that I am thinking over again and again:
Jazz has this issue on all obstacles. Whenever he presume that I am not follow his line the release to the obstacle is slow – even to a tunnel.
It is much more obvious when he starts directly next to me. Whenever I release him on a position behind me, he is faster.
Sammy does not have this issue. And I trained both dogs exactly in the same way.
I know, this only a minor issue compared to my general handling. But it bothers me that I do understand it.

Have a great Sunday!

Nadine

[nstegmann]

Thank you:-)

I tried to keep moving during the blinds, but moving and keeping the arms under control is a challenge.

Nadine

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