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Hi Tracy,
With all the rain, I haven’t been able to get to anything from week 5. Is there a date for the end of this course?Thanks.
Sandy and BenniHI Tracy,
My mistake on thinking the PDF suggested a BC on sequence 1 for backside/wraps. The way my printer printed up the sheets made it look like that text went with the map of sequence 1. Oh well, maybe it was nice practice for me to try it anyway!I have to be honest and tell you I don’t think I am actually thinking about when his head turns for the backside! LOL I have to concentrate more on that. I think I generally am waiting for him to move his body in that direction. I’m definitely going to do a few reps of the toy drop for independent backsides on a regular basis. I think we both need that.
And I didn’t realize about needing to reconnect at the middle jump on the GO lines. Good tip. Thanks.
It’s like summer here! Yay!
Thanks.
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
We worked on week 4 sequences this afternoon. Got very dark for the last one.Video 1: GO sequences
Video 2: Backsides/wraps sequences 1 and 2. I was wondering if a serp could work on seq 1 to get the tunnel at the end? Not sure I would have come up with putting a blind there without the homework sheet suggestion.
Video 3: Backsides/wraps sequence 3
Video 4 Backsides/wraps sequence 4 (oops on the second run, I didn’t do the backside of 5)
Video 5: Backside/wraps sequence 5 too dark outside, tried some lights but they made the camera glare so I had to turn some off and Benni was not able to find the backside of 3, kept trying to cut thru the slats on the wing so I switched out the wing type and that helped…going to try to avoid training in the dark again…hate when the clocks change!
I couldn’t remember what you did on the demo videos so I did my own thing! 🙂
Thanks!
Sandy and Benni
Hi Tracy,
YES it was NOVICE! So NOT a novice course but you should have seen the open course after that which involved a pinwheel going into that zig zag line….I was working ring crew and it was just awful to watch. Yikes. BUT, it tested skills and he passed with flying colors. I’m in no hurry to get out of novice but that tunnel thing was kind of a bummer! LOL Sigh. Of course I saw the map for today and it’s a beautiful, flowy novice course…but I’m not showing today! By the way, I didn’t see anyone else do serpentines for that JWW opening…all kinds of crazy crosses were being attempted….I was VERY happy that it worked for us because it simplified everything.
And that car alarm/horn honking! Good lord! Well, good thing a sound sensitive dog wasn’t in the ring. That was bad.
So I’m not exactly sure what you mean when you say to drop my shoulders forward for the run across the ring to the tunnel in T2B? Can you please clarify?
Any yay for weaves in the dirt…this dirt is nicer than where we train.
He is the best boy! Just love everything about him. Thanks for watching our runs 🙂
Sandy and Benni
Hi Tracy,
Today was trial day. Here are the runs:T2B/FEO – he did not read the RC after the A frame. Because I was training the see saw, I did not attempt a BC after the AF and I do not like to do FC before the AF if I can help it. Well, good to know we have this problem so I can work on it. I also do not think he could hear my verbals. I typically do NOT enter shows where a mask is mandated for running….not my cup of tea…but they changed the policy and I wasn’t able to withdraw. So be it but all other entries pulled for the remainder of the year.
Novice JWW – this was a very zig zaggy course for novice and of ALL the things I obsessed over, the tunnel start was not one of them. I might add I did a tunnel bypass drill earlier in the week which looks exactly like this tunnel set up….I didn’t say “by”, I said “tunnel” but he got a bit happy there for a moment and cut in front of me. Oye! I also noticed I stepped to send on the outside foot which is weird, should have been dogside leg so maybe that contributed to it. Also, I did not say “break”, just said “tunnel” and it was almost like he hesitated a split second trying to process that which led to the bark and the mishap. Would have been his title but no big deal. I was quite happy with the rest of it with him reading the lines. Some of it could have been tighter but for a baby dog, I thought he did a great job.
Totally behind on the homework so maybe we’ll get some things done this weekend. Maybe even something short this afternoon since he did some jumping already at the trial.
Thanks.
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
I don’t really understand the difference in outside arm position for out vs backside. Also, I had not been using outside arm for a backside cue so that obviously didn’t happen the way it should have.
To me the “out” and “backside” outside arm looks the same except maybe the pulsing of the arm towards the jump for the out. So maybe you can help me decipher this.
Thanks.
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
Today was the first day it hasn’t rained in a week and I was already behind so we did some things from week 3.
Video 1: Get Out Drill, dog on R
I think I must be connecting too much in the simple releases? It was easier to get him to go out than to come to me.
Video 2: Get Out Drill, dog on L
Video 3: Push to Backside from stationary position
Video 4: Push to Backside starting with motion (this seemed much easier for us)- I wanted to do one more rep but my husband was being extremely distracting with the lawn tractor and Benni aborted so that was that
Video 5: Week 3 Short Sequence 1, partial sequence inadvertently
Video 6: Complete Sequence 1, Get Out
Video 7: Sequence 2, Get Out
Video 8: Sequence 3, Get Out
Video 9: Sequence 4, Backside – a disaster
Video 10: Sequence 4, final try
Video 11: Sequence 5, Backside – I really had to go in and help him get those backsides…maybe doing the “get out” drills on the same day was just too confusing? Or maybe it’s just my mechanics are not clear enough….good possibility there…but very frustrating.
I decided to keep the videos separated so it is easier to reference in the feedback. I find that the drills where he keeps having to start from a sit are very demotivating for him and things don’t generally go as well as I know they can which is why I went to using the cone for the backside drill like we had done in summer camp I think it was.
Thanks.
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
Video 1 at about 29 and 40 sec for the BC to the spin….am I positioning myself correctly…seems like he is taking the middle of the bar or is that okay?
Sequence 2: yes, he was kind of setting up sideways…but then he sort of does that at trials which you said was okay for some dogs so I let it be. Might as well see what happens at home when he does it…less than optimal for sure and I prefer him setting up straighter. So next time I will correct that. As for the BC….I thought we were supposed to get the BC completed PRIOR to entry to the tunnel or does that “depend” on what happens next? In video 1 (find the 4) with the last game where I did the BC before he entered the tunnel, it was better early because the spin was coming up next. Different here in seq 2 because it was essentially a straight line over the jump after the tunnel. So I was doing it very early on purpose because I thought that was the correct way. I need clarification on that particular handling scenario apparently…when to complete BC prior to tunnel entry vs when to do it as he exits the tunnel.
Sequence 3: Hmmm…I am not all that comfortable on how RC are supposed to be done. I thought you wanted decel to get a tighter turn? When I was outside working with him, I knew you had not done a RC but I couldn’t remember what so I just went with what came to me naturally which is what would happen at a show. I will review that so I can think about what that would have felt like for me. Not sure I will be setting that up again right now. I need to get better at seeing options rather than getting one idea in my head.
I think my habit has become shift connection to the landing side…perhaps from past training OMD style. It is NOT natural for me to look him in the eyes. And apparently I like to swoosh as well! LOL. Sigh. Well at least I am remembering the exit line connection better than I used to so there must be hope that I can do better on the eye connection. I know we are going for optimal performance but I think even with my mistakes he is doing so well and showing progress and understanding. Always room for improvement.
Thanks.
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
Today, we finished up week 2.Find The 4 Game: God bless him, on the third game, he did not get good information and he kind of bunny hopped over the jump so I retried it getting the BC in sooner.
Sequence 1: handler oops in the beginning
Sequence 2: last rep I tried a lap turn but I wasn’t positioned well so it was wide
Sequence 3: In retrospect, maybe I should have tried a different ending like rearing that last turn even though more yardage probably but maybe better on speed?
Fun drills!
Thanks.
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
Just having time sit and digest the feedback tonight. So I have 2 questions:
1. when should I be using the outside arm to cue directionals…according to your feedback and then with Jessica today, I guess I am overusing that physical cue.2. when you say cue him before he enters the tunnel so he does better on the exits, what verbal am I using here because he really isn’t turning but just coming to me sort of straight out. Just use his name right after I say “tunnel”?
Also, I thought the lap turn and the throw back looked confusing and I still don’t think I understand in this scenario how to make it look different. I watched your videos and the feet are kind of similar? I know the hand and the eye connection is different but as he comes out of the tunnel – to me it looks the same initially. And on the lap turn, there is one step backward correct? But no stepping back on the throw-back?
We haven’t done the longer sequence for week 2 yet and you just posted week 3! I still didn’t catch up with a week break! Tomorrow is a day of rest so we’ll try to get up to speed over the weekend.
Thanks!
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
We are on to week 2 short sequences today and wrapped it up with a couple of ladder grid reps which I do every now and then and today I added more handler motion to that. I will include it but you don’t have to watch it if you don’t have time.Week 2 Shifting Focus, short sequences. I had trouble with the last one. I don’t think I am placing myself in the right position for that throw back. Near the end, I tried proofing him between the lap turn and the throw back…hmmm…needs work. I also tried using “in in” vs his name but not sure that is really the verbal I need here? (not to mention, I STILL haven’t trained in-in anyway!) Why do I find it hard to look him in the eyes? LOL…seems weird when I do it or try to do it but I see the value of that transfer from his eyes to my hand on those sequences where I need him to come to my hand. Interesting.
And here is the 3 reps of the ladder grid with handler motion:
Don’t laugh…I never knew there was a pause feature on my phone video recorder so in the past, I have done separate videos for each sequence. Today it was all one video. Do you have a preference? I found it easy to follow your feedback on each particular sequence so I could have it in my brain when thinking about what are saying. Whatever is easiest for you is fine…now that I am aware of the “pause”. I have to review the sequences before each run most of the time!
Thanks!
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
The slackers are back in action! We finished up week 1 sequences and driving ahead connection today.Sequences 1,2,3:
Sequence 4: well, not my best effort but I could definitely learn from the camera angle that although I have the toy across my body, I am not opening up the dog-side shoulder which defeats the whole connection thing. Also, I am not in good position on the cross so I am blocking him from seeing the line which didn’t help much either. Something to work on…
Sequence 5:(my oops at the end is because I thought I screwed up but actually I didn’t…LOL)
Driving ahead/connection:
Thanks!
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
Ah…good to know about the loss of connection on the A frame. It was higher than it should be so I will work on that.Yes, I am determined to get these BCs better and not to chicken out…come what may. At least this week he didn’t get on my wrong side so some improvement I guess even though he had to hop over my foot! I did walk the course with the rolled up map in my hand (in lieu of a toy) but for some reason that upper body rotation was difficult…maybe I drove in too close to that wing?
His JWW time was 17.43.
He is super amped and also quite distracted when setting up at the start line so that is why I “placed” him there…I expect as he gets more used to things (exciting dogs and smells), he will set up easier and more independently. I ask for the high five so he gets his head back in the game with me….part of my established routine…tells me he’s ready to go. He typically will set up straight/facing the first line but he was very interested in something on the sidelines yesterday.
He actually weaves faster at trials! He did another “I don’t like weaving in dirt” in class last week…skipping poles due to divots in the dirt. Sigh.
Because of the special workshop and then the trial, we did fall behind on week 1 and now we have rain for a couple of days. So I hope we have some time to catch up along the way. I’m trying hard to be good and not over work him so we do not jump 2 days in a row.
A sheltie “person” gave Benni high compliments after his T2B run. Proud mom here! 🙂
Benni is studying up on the next assignment:
Thanks!
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
I’m so used to the summer camp videos coming out on Tuesdays! We are still on week 1…Benni got 1st place in novice JWW today and his second leg so far. We also did T2B for training.
T2B:
Novice JWW: still working on those blinds but he got 1st place!
Thanks.
Sandy and BenniHi Tracy,
We will get to the rest of this week’s work on Saturday. We had group lesson yesterday, seminar with Jess tomorrow so we are conserving his jumping for those.However, I have a question about something we did in our novice class yesterday. It was called “setting lines”…I think it used to be called or maybe still is called V set (?) where you shape the dog’s path on the take off side of a jump to manage what they see on landing. So she was having us step in on the dog’s line and then peeling away to whatever the next obstacle was…we practiced 4 different options. It felt weird to be doing this and I don’t recall anything you have taught us resembling this. The set up was a U shaped tunnel to a jump to another U shaped tunnel and 2 jumps sort of serpentine style off to the right of the second tunnel exit…so it was 1) get the non-obvious end of the second tunnel 2)get the jump to the right of that 3) get the jump to the right of that and 4) V set to get the first tunnel where they started from….3 obstacle sequence each time. Have no idea if you can picture this….I did my by-pass cue to get the non-obvious end of the tunnel when I ran the whole course but then we did this particular drill for practice. It was drill 1 and 2 that she had us shaping the dog’s path…the other ones involved crosses/spins of some sort. Benni went very wide because he has never seen me do this before and I’m wondering if this is a useful tool to have or just let it be that we “tried” it and be done with it? I do have the map of it but have no idea of how to load it into my feed.
Thanks.
Sandy and Benni
PS Back to being fussy about weaving in dirt because of dirt divots…oye!
