[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy!
Boy am I glad I signed up for this class because we can do everything at home and still participate! Great timing 🙂

So, Benni had some minor eyelash surgery on Wed therefore we kept this session inside which isn’t ideal but I wanted to do something with him that wouldn’t jeopardize getting dirt or anything in his eyes. This is the Extension and Go game even though space was limited. I figure I can always re-do it outdoors when he’s had a bit of recovery time under his belt and the swelling goes down around his eyes.

Video 1:
“Go” with dog on left:

I think maybe I wasn’t able to run enough to get the straightest of lines with him. Also, I’ve been doing a bit of a focus game with him where he gets released when he looks at the jump. I thought maybe that would be appropriate to try here in case you wonder what I am waiting for before releasing him. Maybe you like that, maybe you don’t? LOL

Video 2:
“Go” with dog on right:

Video 3:
“Go” straight to jump
I didn’t have enough room to run around wings so I used cones instead.

I have a question on set point jump height. We’ve been doing young dog sequencing at 8 inches for a couple of months now. Should I set the oxer jump at 6″ and 8″ for the 2 bars? When I did the video, I think they were at 4″ and 6″. I am hoping he is going to measure into the 12″ class ultimately.

That’s it for now. Thanks!

Sandy and Benni

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by Sandy Mainardi.

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Thank you for the feedback on toy play and increasing rewards for tricks etc. It gave me a lot of insight as to how to make things better for him. I will say he is a dog that does not like much repetition in training so less is more (polar opposite of CAVU who will train until he keels over…well not literally…). But he loves to play with me which is awesome. So I will take your advice and if you see things in my videos that could be better in that regard please feel free to bring it to my attention. Sometimes I get so caught up in the assignment and getting video that it becomes too serious!

First video is the intro to the set point. I hope it’s okay with you that I used the device that I had for CAVU when we did Susan Salo. I tried setting up the V like you describe with the jump bars propped up but I couldn’t get it to where the bars would stay in place and I was afraid if they fell on him or fell while he was jumping it would spook him and create a problem. I feel like it’s the same concept using the thing that you see in my video. If you don’t like how it looks, let me know. We have done a bit of this work before. The distance from where I set him up to the jump is 3’9″ Here is the video:
Intro to set point:

The next videos are for the bend work. Since we’ve also done a bit of this before, I did parts 1 and 2. If you would like me to work on specific things that you see, then I can do that and make another video in a couple of days to improve performance. I didn’t edit these since we went pretty quickly along so you can zip thru the parts where we tug briefly or me walking out/back from the camera.

Part 1 Bending:

Part 2:

Thanks!

Sandy and Benni

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by Sandy Mainardi.

[Sandy Mainardi]

Total video to date: 1 min 32 sec.

Hi Tracy,
I combined multiple sessions here and realized after spending time editing that I should have split it into 2 shorter videos so do with it what you will…either speed thru parts you don’t particularly need or want to see or just watch half of it one day and half the next or…whatever. I will pay closer attention next time. This one still keeps me under the 6-8 min total for the entire week. By the way, are we going Tuesday to Tuesday for the videos? Each Tuesday we reset the clock and have 6-8 min total?

Part 1 is getting some tricks and engagement prior to approaching the “ring gate” where I begin the “stay tour” using the gate, a jump and the tunnel. Notice he also “offers the jump” when I’m trying to set him up (I’m probably too close to the jump but he does like to offer that…I’m thinking I need to figure out a way he doesn’t take the first jump at a trial when he’s not supposed to yet). We are not trialing and don’t plan to for awhile.

Part 2 is tunnel commitment. I use “go” for straight extension out of the tunnel and “dig” for tight turn either direction based on where I am relative to the tunnel.

I took your toy play self-study. I’ve worked on getting him to bring the toy back to me. I left the part in the video where he takes off with the toy. I’ve done toy switch, running away with another toy, I’ve played in small spaces where he can’t run off. I let him win, I push him away so he brings the toy back towards me etc. I feel we have a good toy play relationship but he takes great joy in doing a few laps before he will bring it back. In seminars, he’s been pretty good about it…he seems to need that release of energy to do a run out and back once in seminars and pretty much will bring it back. Sometimes I use a food swap especially when the clock is ticking during our turn to work. In the backyard, he has much open space and he makes use of it. If you have any suggestions that I can try let me know and I will keep working on it. For this video, since he was just doing his own thing no matter what I tried, I walked into the garage as if I was going back inside and then he came to me and we had a party and continued on. Perhaps I asked for this…his registered name is Benecio Joie De Vivre! LOL Actually, I love his attitude and joy.

Here’s the video:

Thank you for your time in reviewing it.

Sandy and Benni
video total for week 5 min 23 sec

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,

Does the spacing of the bars on the ground for bend work change for smaller dogs? It seems to me they would put in more strides between the bars on the bend work if not adjusted? I don’t know if this matters or not for this exercise if they did add strides…or maybe they won’t because they will take a more inside path. Just wondering. Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Thanks for the feedback! So I do have a question on the sends when I am leaving early…related to the feet forward stuff I did with CAVU where we changed our lower body early to indicate the lead change for the turn….I’m thinking that is what you mean by rotating 3-4 feet before he reaches the wing? Also, when we are doing the running with opposing handler motion, do we still send with a step or keep our motion going and use our motion to send the dog?

Also, so as not to overdo with repetition for the sake of the dog, how many short sessions are advisable for exercises…especially wrapping with tight turns? I keep the reps low per session. Twice a week?

Here is the tunnel commitment 1 game:

Sandy

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by Sandy Mainardi.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by Sandy Mainardi.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by Sandy Mainardi.

[Sandy Mainardi]

Thanks for the feedback. So I do have a question on the sends when I am leaving early…related to the feet forward stuff I did with CAVU where we changed our lower body early to indicate the lead change for the turn….do you want us to stay facing the wing and step with dog-side leg before doing the rotation to leave for right now?

Sandy

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by Sandy Mainardi.

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi,
I’m late to the party and this format is different than in the past so I cannot figure out how to start my thread…help!

Sandy and Benni

[Sandy Mainardi]

Yes, good on tunnels.
Sandy and Benni

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