[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Did a couple more things before dinner.

Advanced perch work:

And threadle slice…oh good lord…between me getting the mechanics and the the manners minder running amok, this took a bit to get any sort of rhythm! I was about arms length from the stanchion but not sure if my position was correct or whether he just needs more practice targeting my hand. I suppose for the first effort it wasn’t horrible. 🙂

He had a nice long nap this afternoon because I was out. He also got very spooked by the guys here doing window washing in the morning. So after trying to get him to sit by my desk and settle on his cot, I decided to just put him in the car. No need to be heaping more stress on him. Benni was already out there because he is an alarmist and he doesn’t need to teach the puppy that!

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Perch work this morning. He probably could have gone on to the things taped to the floor to step over. I’ll do it another time. Still working on the toy retrieve. It was better before he went away for a few days. I could do the 2 toy thing also.

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Much needed sniffari today. Too much time crated and restricted in the breed ring life. I think he was a bit stressed from being away and a whole different lifestyle. He enjoyed chasing leaves and dragging me around this very expansive park for an hour. This video is the calmer part of the walk:

Tried the 360s tonight. He was at the groomer today getting all the hairspray washed out! Yes, I do have photos of him but not sure how I would attach to this. I will send it via e-mail. 🙂

Here is the video. He did well with the food…the toy was a little too much excitement. He really has trouble following a toy. He just wants to grab and run. Maybe you have some tips on that? I’m sure you do!

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
He’s BAACK…and he is CH Eaglehill-South Upper Crust Full Tilt, TKN!!! 2 long weekends, 11 shows, 5 majors including 3 specialties, one BOW, 2 best puppy awards. He cleaned up! 🙂 Hair cut coming shortly after the points are officially recorded.

Here is what we tried today.
Back Up part 2…I didn’t realize that board was going to wobble in the beginning so I turned it over, then at the end when I wanted it to wobble, it did not! Oye.

Next up threadle wrap foundation. You can see when I was playing with him I was thinking something didn’t seem quite right when I did the 360 so I paused the video and went back to watch the lesson…and continued on.

We’re back in action. He is very happy to be home 🙂

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
A little update. Benni earned MACH 6 this weekend and drum roll…..Brioche won back to back 3 point majors on Saturday including Quinnipiac Poodle Club Specialty and then one more point on Sunday!!!!! He has 7 points from his first weekend out. Amazing!!!

Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
One more chance to play before we get in the car this afternoon. I did 2 videos of the serpentine work with a little break in between. I felt like using the food was not very motivating for him so just wanted to try the toy a couple times on each side.

Then I piled up the stuff. It’s a bit longer than I thought but he was more interested in the pile when we started the game than he was to engage with the toy so I had to take a bit to build up the arousal in the beginning. Then it got better. He really liked walking on the plank the best LOL

And that’s it until he gets back Oct. 26! Wish us luck in the breed ring 🙂

Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
All groomed up and ready for delivery to the handler tomorrow. We couldn’t pass up a chance to try the new games 🙂

Thank you.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
We continue to work on the barrel wraps which he loves any which way and from a bit further for the send. Also working the RC with the prop, and calm setting back and forth game. No videos.
But the all-important sit/stay is coming along. It is interesting that he sits more aligned with me on my right side. On my left he turns 90 to face me. I attempted to see if I could get him straighter on one rep but then immediately rewarded and just let it be for now. Not sure if we will get another video in tomorrow but will try. He leaves on Thursday to go to the breed ring and will be gone for 10 days. I do throw white food but it bounces. Sigh. Don’t want to throw greasy treats on the mats.

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
I did the back and forth resilience game at an agility trial today. There was nothing running in the ring at the time. One lone crate to our left which we were not near but a reactive dog in there so you will see a startle and recovery. I decided to do a 360 turn with him just to maybe help him shake it off although he seemed okay to keep going with the pattern game. Ended back at our crate and grabbed a toy to play with.

Earlier in the day, I had him out and a friend came up to greet him and bent over to say hello. It was the first time I’ve seen him back away in fear. I asked her to stand up and then he was fine…trying to bite her shoes…he has a foot fettish… I don’t remember if anyone has tried to greet him by bending over him or if they usually squat down or let him jump up on them. He is usually happy to meet anyone. And he was fine once she stood up.
Also, having a big problem with him constantly play biting people who are trying to greet or pet him. Also, grabs clothing especially pant legs. IF he does finally close his mouth then he reverts to “Kissing”. He is non-stop movement. Do you recommend some sort of calming protocol of any sort or are the pattern games supposed to help with this? I see many people sitting ringside with their puppies sitting nice and calmly and receiving treats for making good decisions. He is always on the move. It takes a good bit of restraint for a minute to get him to stop and just breathe without biting, licking, wiggling etc. Maybe I have been remiss in addressing this. I have been told by a couple of “professional dog trainers” to make him lie down with a very short leash so that he cannot get up and then just ignore him for however long it takes for him to completely settle and chill out and then to practice that a lot gradually increasing the environmental challenge. I have a feeling you probably don’t agree with that approach…? I don’t know if there is a name for that approach so I am just describing it.

I did practice his sit/stay ringside (on leash) with nothing much going on around us. He did do it. But he had a job to do. It’s when he just needs to do nothing that he has a problem.

He does well in his crate at shows but I cover the crate…but I always cover my dogs at shows anyway.
Just wondering what your thoughts are about this. He’s definitely not a lap dog at the moment!

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Tried the rotated sends today, Stayed close to the barrel.

Then we worked on sit/stay some more…who would have ever thought! LOL

I mentioned to Jessica about what she is looking for as far as hitting the mat. I have a lesson today so I guess we will go over that.

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

What is up with YouTube? It does not copy if I do two in a row and then I end up sending a repeat video. I will resend the sit/stay. I’m sorry about that.

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Parallel Path Commitment. I’m late with my marker word. I did one video before this where I started close to the jump however, I apparently didn’t quite push the record button. So this is a continuation on that one.

Continuation of sit/stay. Did you see my question about stopping or continuing my motion as I reward?

Toy Retrieve, 2 toys: He clearly favors the lambs wool toy with the pink handle. I use this method when he has a lesson because he has an entire arena he could choose to run around…

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Question on mechanics for increasing distance on stays. If I am moving away…do I stop my movement and then say “catch”/throw food OR do I keep moving (obviously in slow motion) while saying “catch” and throw food?
Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Sorry, sent you 2 of the same. Here is the stay work:

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
I include a short video of sit/platform work which I took from the canine conditioning course I purchased. It uses a lure.

Some more sit/stay work. A couple times I did lure him to my side to sit because he really just wants to be away from me and turn to face me to do the sit which then makes it hard to do some sort of “lead out”. I think he is doing better?

Did a make shift “small space” while we were down training to see what he would do without a solid wall…overall okay (an escape or two). I worked toward standing up a bit.

Finally we did the running contact work that Jessica specifically gave me at my last lesson. I hope you don’t mind if I follow that. Once I get distance from the mat she will give me another assignment. But here is what it looks like. At the lesson when we did it, he was turning the wrong way when approaching from my right side. So this is much improved.

Thank you!
Sandy

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