[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Tried the blind cross game today. All I can say is OMG…I cannot do things on the one side vs the other! The video seems long but lots of toy play, rewards and stay rewards mixed in. I feel like this was way harder than doing BC on course with Benni because of the tighter spacing of the jumps. I had them at about 17 ft from the tunnel and from the center jump. On the last rep I did the best on that side (I think) because I put the toys away. I think trying to remember to reward across my body and then the toy isn’t in the correct hand just throws me off. But no excuses, we did our best here 🙂 Brioche had fun no matter what and he’s a bit sassy!

Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,

Here is a peak at what we did at U Dog today:

Not perfect but showing what the future holds!

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Started on week 2:

We’ll be leaving tomorrow afternoon for a trial so he won’t be jumping for a bit. We do have a lesson with Jess for half hour tomorrow but we work on various things including his running contact work.

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Finishing up week 1 games:

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
I was all set to work outside today and progress the lazy game but the weather had a different idea. Boo!

I have Benni and Brioche taking turns on the small wobble disc on the tile and have been able to get him to where he doesn’t need the muffled sound. Just quick reps but watching Benni do it is very motivating!

Teeter work:

Raised Plank: Not only slightly elevated but wobbly because the board is warped

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

The tugawaycuwin product is very similar to what Jess has but hers does not have a food plate. What color is best for the dogs vision or doesn’t it matter for the target?

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

I’m curious as to what you use as the end of see saw target for training? And how do you secure it? What are the approx measurements of it? Jess has a prototype from clip n go but they aren’t marketing it yet.

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Thanks for the clarification on the backing up to the see saw. Here is what we did so far with the games.

Not as willing to put back feet on here so I didn’t push it:

When we are with Jess, I have him load low from the side and move forward and Jess controls the drop which isn’t a lot but it doesn’t slam. And eventually he will do it without her doing that. I just brought this see saw to the basement and lots of distractions as you can see. I didn’t want to put it in my main working area on the blue mats.

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Question on the see saw. Jessica is having Brioche learn a front foot target on the end of the see saw. This is apparently a new method they have used to train Spike who is Perry’s first small dog. I’m wondering about the back up/back feet targeting in the see saw game we have this week. Will this muddy the waters with what Jess will have me training?

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Lazy Game. After I did this I put a toy and in my hand and he took all 3 jumps easily…more motivating for him I think.

Plank Work:

Turning on the Plank:

Are you counting the lazy game as “jumping” work? Just so I know for repetitions.

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
I’m sorry this video is so long. I pressed pause instead of stop so the 2 videos became just one. The grid is about 5 min and the remainder is the RC. For the grid you suggested adding more distance so I did 5 +3 +3 +3 and then reversed it back down to just the 5′. He broke his stay once so corrected and then reinforced. Do you like the 5′ distance for the ladder grid for him?

I don’t know if I missed the info on Max Pup 2. Is there a deadline for submitting videos or can we submit up until Max Pup 3 begins? And yes, movement is definitely better for him when training outside.

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Another game. Tunnel Exits.

Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Well, I donned hamstring wraps and tried the smiley face game today. The only tunnel Brioche has seen at my house is the 10 ft red tunnel in my basement. I didn’t realize he might not go thru the dark blue 15 ft tunnel so the beginning was just trying to get him to go on thru the tunnel and not come back out the entrance. Once he got that, I think it went fairly well with my personal limited speed at the moment.

I had a conversation with Jess regarding verbals. We talked about using left vs right wrap cues as well as the RC cue. She uses “check” the same way I use “tight” regardless of which way they are wrapping. As for “switch” she does not use directionals (right/left on RC). For my brain, it is hard for me to remember to say the left wrap cue in the moment. I’ve tried it for our little games thus far (“loop”). I have to say I prefer just using “tight” on both sides but then I remember you said your RC wrap is the same as the regular wrap verbal for the right vs left wraps no matter RC or regular….did I understand that correctly? (i.e. same word wrap left = RC wrap left). She didn’t try to sway me one way or another. I only do AKC so don’t need as many verbals as maybe UKI would require. Still processing it in my mind…

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
I had some steak cut into half inch pieces…you would think they were 2 inches by the amount of time he took to chew them. Worked a bit of pattern game into the mix. Still distracted. Broke his stay on rep 2 and the last rep I said the wrong release word. Oye. I carried him back to the line after he broke. I know you are going to say don’t do that! My bad.

I tried RC again. I think I am moving towards the middle of the bar and then I watch and I am not. Clearly this is a habit of mine. I tried hard to do it better than the last time. I think there was one good rep. I will try again later.

I contacted the vet and she recommended the nutriscan food allergy test and also something called VDI GI panel. I did the nutriscan years ago with Benni and didn’t really believe the results which said the only things he didn’t react to was oatmeal and lamb. Considering he had probable pancreatic issues, lamb was not the best thing to be feeding him. Will take some time to get this done and get results.

Yes, they are related thru Benni’s sire. Benni’s half sister is Brioche’s mother who has the same sire as Benni. Brioche’s dad was an outcross.

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

PS I also wanted to mention that Brioche is unable to settle on his cot during his puppy obedience class when we are in between exercises. He stays on it but when told to lie down or “relax” which is my cue, he will lie down for half a second and right back up again. Any suggestions?

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