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*Now… push out harder 🙂 Let’s see if we can find where the commitment breaking point it. On the FCs, try to be running away to the next obstacle as soon as she passes you and before takeoff. On the spins… don’t even look at her take off 🙂 Just cue and leave, trying to finish the blind in time to see her land. If it is too much push,then we can dial it back but I think she will be able to handle it!
Ok…tried to keep this is mind as we tried sequence 3. Don’t worry…I will be going back to sequence 2 this week!
I left all the warts in for you to see…but very happy with our last rep! I really tried to push…but have not hit the breaking point of her commitment. I will retry this again as well! I will also try to remember to wear the new pants for show and tell! LOL.
*You are doing a great job, it is easy for me to see the successes!
Thanks! I’m really trying hard for her…for both of us!*you had great shifting connection to her eyes (and more good conversation LOL!) – after you connect to her eyes and see her collect, don’t need to then shift to the landing spot – you can start to just move forward to the next line without looking back at the landing spot.
THIS! Yes…that I noticed on the video. I’m definitely looking at her eyes, but I then WATCH HER jump and land before making the turn. So I redid sequence 1 actually before I read your response and did fix that and my position some on the throwback. I was gonna post it last night, but I didn’t want you to get sick of me…and to be honest, I fell asleep as the videos were uploading! LOL. My defense…working 16-18 hour days, had an assignment due…then had a wild night owl banding and only got a nap before my 4AM alarm for work! Anyway…probably why there were so many conversations, I was a bit punchy! LOL. Glad you enjoyed them at least!
Oh…here is that video
*The connection to her eyes like that is also the commitment cue, I bet she will commit without you needing to then also support the landing spot. She is a smaller version of my Voodoo (the big black dog) who needs the connection directly to his eyes but no support of the landing spot.
Yes…making a mental note! I thought I was getting a little dog…somehow I would up with a 20 inch jumper in a 12 lb body!
*You mentioned not liking your arms on these, but I think your arms were great – low so she could see the connection, but also natural so you could move freely. Yay!
Yay!!!
*She did well on the wrap at :46! We can challenge her commitment skills now: as soon as she passes your feet, there is nothing more you can do… so move forward out of the wrap to show the line to the tunnel. This is harder for her to maintain commitment but I think she can do it!
She can! I think because I don’t have anywhere exactly to “be” I’m not thinking about leaving to help tighten the turn. Will mental note this too!
*Who knocked over the camera at the end? LOL!!
She did! I ordered a real tripod…sorry, soon no more comedy! LOL
*So overall – your arms are looking good: low and natural! Don’t worry about them too much 🙂 Connection to her eyes is the way to go on the tight turns, but you can leave sooner rather than wait to see her landing.
Got it!
*I didn’t want to jinx it while watching and typing the comments… but her jumping effort on ALL the videos looked great, there was only one big takeoff and that was on a late cue.
Yes!!! I am definitely unlocking what she needs from me to help her process…she said she will train me even if it kills her! LOL
Ok…sequence 2!
As always, first run is my first attempt. Runs 1 & 2 my brain hurt trying to figure out the right combo for the spin…I’m gonna blame sleep deprivation! I started to figure it out at 3, and gave her more direct eye connection at 4.
Sadly it was a monsoon here today so I didn’t get to make a new video with my new pants! LOL. Soon!
I think you didn’t reward because she didn’t take the tunnel – but you were standing still praising, so she probably thought you didn’t want the tunnel 🙂
Meant to mention…I did reward! Gave her food, not the disc…but I think you can see me reaching for my mouth..I chipmunk cheese in there…someday all leggings and sweats will have pockets. ALTHOUGH…I just bought a great pair of running pants with pockets for $7 at Walmart! Little boys section…the benefits of being short…but the tag said I am the same size basically as a husky 12y/o boy. :-/ LOL
Your dad is so funny, completely ignoring the agility. And I loved hearing the rooster’s opinion LOL! And Kindle at the beginning of the first video: the noises, she has no patience LOL!
My dad is great…I guess he is just used to it! LOL. He calls Kindle my “colon” after a commercial for some medicine where this guys colon was following him around! Kindle does NOT leave my sight willingly.
Scuttle is awesome, and yes, Kindle has about as much patience as her momma! LOL
Ok…I swear I am listening. I tried to remember low arm…and everything else! There are some moments of comedy left in for your viewing pleasure!
Overall take home from this session was I need to be smooth…she is taking off where I stop, so trying to work that out. Why am I going to the tunnel exit so much??? Ugh, cause sometimes I need to to be smooth, and have room to run. I swear I will get it.
The FC wrap was the hardest for us…I already want to go back and fix my hands…
The other 2 short sequences weren’t as bad…
The long sequence…some good stuff, some stuff to work on. The line coming out of the tunnel in the opening is hard with her “bubble”. Makes it hard to get up there to show decel…I apparently need to do more sprints! Overall though, not a terrible turn over 4 in some.
The last jump before the tunnel…my ass is in the freaking way!!! UGH!You will have a more positive critique…looking forward to it!
Also, it is entirely possible that the jackpot moments create something in the *trainer* that has not been looked at – dopamine release? A moment of relaxed body language? Change in cortisol? A moment to plan the next rep after seeing a really good one, which leads to better mechanics? This can actually all be read by the dog and have a major impact on the training session
So many many possibilities!!!
I say if it is happy-making and not invasive or harmful… let’s do it!
Agreed!
Noted your suggestions and yes, sound good! I will keep playing with them for sure!
I got a jump on Week 2…this week is gonna be a bit hectic sadly…
Ok…first video contains some comedy for you…I think Kindle is adorable when she’s excited to play, so I had to include it!
Appearances in the videos this week include my dad…doing something on the roof of the barn, and a vocal appearance by Scuttle, my pet rooster. He can fetch a ball you know! He’s very cool.
My dad is cool too. LOLOK, videos. Sequence 1 was tough for us…but happy with some of the FC wraps
Sequences 2 & 3 I feel play into our strong suits. One bobble with our ME…but otherwise I’m pretty happy here!
Hi Janet!
OMG, that is the nicest thing…thank you! Kindle gives everything she does 200%…I just adore her as a teammate and hope I can get better for her!
Thanks for the encouragement regarding school! It is cool, and I love the stuff I’m studying…but I do get easily distracted with dog training too! LOL. BUT, there is so much work to be done! The concept of jackpots…there is little evidence to even support their efficacy, and one study found them detrimental, although, old habits die hard and I still use them…mainly because I get excited and can’t stop! LOL. There is also NO BODY OF EVIDENCE to support positive training methods benefit the human/canine bond…that is crazy! Not because it doesn’t, but because the studies haven’t been done. It leaves a huge hole in the argument against adversives. Anyway, you can always tell me to stop!
But, I can’t believe you went to Rutgers! What department did you work in? I live outside of Allentown, NJ…so 45min-1hr south of New Brunswick.
Ok…back to class…
I tried the blinds…why can’t I turn my head faster? Watching myself is painful.
I also tried the fronts again…improving I think! I definitely feel more comfortable with the fronts in this sequence…but I want to work those blinds too! Especially turning my head before she takes off so she knows! UGH!
HAHA! Procrastinating is fun…until you do it too much and then get overwhelmed! I’m actually pretty good time management wise…I have to be!
Yes! It is actually vet school, but my course of study is Clinical Animal Behavior, not Vet Medicine. I took the course as an elective because I thought it sounded interesting (nerd) and would be useful in my day job…I work at Rutgers University on the research farm managing the small ruminants (sheep and goats) and poultry. I also teach there. Anyway…
Definitely playing with the bubble…the hardest place to get ahead is a situation like 2-3…exiting a tunnel. I keep telling myself, Rome wasn’t built in a day!
I wish you could’ve seen my face when I read to try the blinds! It was excited! I love blinds…used them all the time with my older dog…but have been hesitant to utilize them more with Kindle because I find it harder to keep connected, and my being able to get waaay ahead is limited by her bubble at the moment. Looking forward to trying them! Stay tuned!
Rebecca
Ok…still procrastinating…plus, Kindle wanted to play after we got home from work today!
Sequence 4, take 2…we had one crash when I deliberately took off after the tunnel. She REALLY makes me connect coming out of tunnels…not just “I see you” but like, “look directly into her eyes”. I’m finding her name is helping here…
Sequence 5! OMG, I am so happy with the last rep! Jumping behind me on a FC wrap is something we’ve been working on…not that it often shows! LOL
Ok…now back to my school…
And OMG…it I go missing for a few days it’s because I’m devoting waaaay more time to this compared to grad school! Although this week in ethics of anesthesia and euthanasia (yeah…) we are talking about the ethical implications of breeding dogs with phenotypic health problems (ex brachycephalic). Kinda looking forward to that reflective assessment!
On the videos – I had to watch the beginning of the first one a few times because I thought you said you needed alcohol LOL!!!!!
I did!!! I need something to help with “Team Chill” LOL. I actually don’t even drink…too many carbs and I prefer ice cream!
The threadle arms looked different: If I am using a cross arm on a threadle, it is much higher, across my body (above my boobs, at my opposite shoulder). And if I am using the dog-side arm (not the cross arm), I swing it back a bit like I am opening a door (I don’t swing my arm back on serps, I just hold it there and run :). Let me know if that makes sense –
It does! I will try this again too! And I was asking for IN the second rep…but can see the difference. I just was worried because I am able to be at the bar and cue IN and she knows the difference…she is fast, I didn’t want to lose that ability!On the video: what did she do at the beginning? It was hard to see what happened but you ended up on the ground LOL!
I think the audio isn’t as clear as on my phone…she was jumping and jumping and grabbing the toy and making her noises and I couldn’t help but laugh because all I could think was team chill and she had me laughing so hard then I fell over her (her BC comes out and she will relentlessly circle me). LOL
start to soften the obviousness of the toy across the body – make the arm smaller but maintain the eye contact, it was fabulous!
🙂
In terms of commitment: She doesn’t question whether or not to take the jump, it is more like she is asking *how* to take the jump.
THIS!!!! YES!!! Exactly what I was trying to initially describe!
You were earlier with the rotations on the last rep and she was very happy to commit and turn – so I bet she will let you turn wicked early!
Trust your dog, trust your dog, trust your dog…god Rebecca!!! She will!
Try those tunnel exits with your arm waaaaay back to her collar (still low like you had it) and a more direct eye contact… as you keep running like you did
Got it!
(I know, I am a pain in the ass LOL!) and let’s see if that helps the commitment we want.
No way! Not a PITA!
One other overall suggestion for this sequence: you were nailing the connection (woot!) so on your next training session (on these or any of the others, whichever you like) – try to see if you can still nail it and stand up a little more on the bigger lines.
I’m not struggling right now in these sequences to keep up (obviously…little area) and I generally for being 5’0 can cover ground…but I will certainly be more cognizant of it when I do need to haul especially!
Having soooooo much fun!!! Thanks!!!
Rebecca
Ok! Here is round two! I hope you enjoy comedy! LOL
I wanted to reattempt the exit line connection with the wrap…I hope that’s ok! Can you believe I got the best turn when I used our verbal for a tight turn??? Imagine! Not that verbals override body, but she is a very verbal dog, and I’ve worked hard on them too.
Question about the serp line exit connection. If I am using my opposite arm, how do I differentiate between a serp and an IN? I played with it a bit…her IN is very strong, but I don’t want to confuse her and I think she did get a little confused.
Sequences! I think I set her up too close to the first jump a lot…don’t trust her to pick a good take off…mental note to do better about that!
Wow! Thank you for such a thoughtful reply!!!
So Kindle is a Blue Cedar dog out of Ginger/Tac. She is essentially/mostly BC/Border Terrier/Whippet/JRT in that order. Everyone thinks she is a JRT because of her color…although you must’ve noticed her whippet body! She is scruffy perfection as far as I’m concerned! 🙂
As for reinforcement hierarchy, that is tough! Kindle loves all things lol. Disc is DEFINITLY the BEST! And tugging…but food is great too! Any food, kibble, hotdogs, she doesn’t seem to have a preference, which makes it hard to make a clear hierarchy. I would/have kinda used disc & food as like her jackpot type reward, or disc and vigorous tugging. Just disc with no real tugging play could possibly be for a good attempt, and food for just ok. Kindle does care about being right, very much actually…sometimes I get so frustrated with her jumping the ‘no’ comes out as a reaction, sometimes she scares me! I will definitely be better about that, because deep down under the crazy, she is a sensitive soul!
Ok…Team Chill…that I’m struggling with! So…my human life…I’m boring as…I am not the life of the party, I’m introverted. BUT, when it’s me and my dogs…especially when we play…I get…excited! LOL I think it also has to do with my previous dogs needing that level of excitement from me, whereas with Kindle, it’s a bit different! I have found with Kindle I need to handle aggressively, but not be wild myself. THIS I am struggling to figure out! Did I mention how much I hate lead outs? If I were a dog…I would probably be Kindle…we are a good match! lol I have been telling myself I need to LO more…I just have a hard time making myself. Do you teach impulse control for humans?
You nailed the jumps that are typically hard for her…jumps out of tunnels and pinwheels of death (our bane is Open JWW right now). While I think I generally do have good connection (thanks to Kindle teaching me it is a must!) I think I struggle with keeping connection and still handling. That and the whole picture of not running wild, but delivering her the information timely and handling aggressively.
We have done some exercises similar to the head turn video, however, I have never specifically marked the head turn. I will go back and try that!
Ugh! That first rep on the exit line with the spin…I wouldn’t have even posted that, that was my fault and I even apologized to her! Obviously the spin completely turns your shoulders and gives a more clear cue of the turn than the wrap…do I just need to move sooner with the wrap to get a better turn? Work her head turning on that type of jump? She also had the worst jump form over that one. I felt like she needed to see a rhythm change more as she approached the jump?
Ok…my turn to apologize for the long response! I hope you don’t grow tired of me too quick! Luckily my dog is super cool! LOL
Ok…here is my intro and first video submission!
My name is Rebecca, and I have an awesome mixy-mix named Kindle who just turned 2 last week! Kindle has lots of drive and commitment to obstacles and lines, in the form of she will go and take an obstacle easily, but is also easily distracted by my motion, other obstacles ahead, etc. This manifests itself mostly in her jumping, as she frequently rushes her jumps and takes off early, neglects to put extra strides in where they would be needed, etc. She is athletic and can often get away with it, but sometimes bars do come down. I’m hoping to work on her commitment in the form of “commit to finishing the task in front of you before you rush off to the next thing”. I hope this makes sense!
Some of this is apparent in my videos. The sun was terrible this evening when I went out to play, sorry! I also didn’t get to audit the live seminar sadly because I was working on schoolwork (I’m in grad school). But hope to watch the recordings when posted! Anyway, back to videos…the reps are in chronological order, with the first always being first attempt.
Connection 1 & 2 (Regular Connection & Timing) https://youtu.be/Wq_yktV0ZIQ
Connection 3 Part 1 (Exit Lines) https://youtu.be/8mOFfPlUhbk
Hope I did this right!
