[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
I was never good at RC. And somewhere along the way over the years, I used my dog-side arm to kind of sweep across my hips as a sort of “flip” cue for lack of better description. I remember we used to pull the dog to us and then flip them away on the switch lead path (or at least that’s how I learned it long ago). And since I’ve had very little opportunity over the past 5 years to train a dog, I guess I never re-learned correct execution. I can see my dog-side arm in that first segment coming across my body. Is that wrong? Should I work on not doing that?

The only thing I didn’t really get to revisit was the serp and threadle but he seemed to do well on the serp with motion. So then really just the threadle that I never had a chance to add much motion to and definitely no height except maybe 4″ so the bar didn’t roll.

All in all I think we got thru pretty much everything! Yay! And now I have a plan for the jump height using set point for future use as we get closer to trialing….whenever that is. I just read rules for trials in June/July that you have to wear a mask pretty much all the time except when running your dog or are outside. Yuk…does not appeal to me. Seems like outdoor trials would be a better idea…

Looking foward to Max Pup 4 🙂

Benni and Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,

Three videos today:
Video 1:
Set Point:
2 reps at 10″
2 reps at 12″ (first time doing set point at this height)
1 rep oxer at 6″/10″
1 rep oxer at 8″/12″

Video 2:
Re-try on rear crosses. I’m kind of hesitant to use my verbal yet because I feel like it’s hard enough to get my physical cue timing correct let alone saying the verbal at the wrong time too (usually late)
Not sure what you think about that. Should the dogs be able to read a RC on body motion alone or does it need a verbal too?

Video 3:
Advanced mini pinny. This one is a challenge for us. This is only our second try at it.

Thanks!
Sandy and Benni

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

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
For the one step send on the wrap vs GO, am I still starting out by holding his collar and saying my tight command before I take the step to send?

LOL…my “running backward” on the rocking horse thing was actually supposed to be the step back send! So much for that! Hahaha! OMG….you must spit out your coffee watching some of these!

Thanks.
Sandy and Benni

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,

Today I retried the turn criteria exercise based on how you said to address the problem we had last time.

Video 1: practicing the wing wrap, holding his collar and saying “tight” before I released him did work like a charm. Whew.

Video 2: wrap vs GO

Video 3: I mixed a little rocking horse in with the decel. Still need improvement on my mechanics or timing…

I’m going to try to work one more time on the advanced mini pinny since we struggled on that one and maybe more threadle and serp with motion. Threadle is one that I have the problem of him taking off with the toy which makes it a pain in the butt for filming!

Thanks!
Sandy and Benni

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

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Here are some videos redone per previous feedback:
Video 1 Set Point:
I don’t know how to do comments on the video itself so I edited it so you can see when I changed the jump. Starts out at 8″ for 2 reps then goes up to 10″ for 2 reps, then I set up an oxer jump 1 rep 6″ and 8″, then 1 rep with 8″ and 10″ if I remember correctly. Should I have separated them by 4″ instead of 2″ on each oxer (ex 4″ and 8″ on a rep?)

Video 2 Progressive Jump Grid repeated since he got ever so slightly ahead of himself on the final rep last time…still at 4 – 4.5 – 5 – 5.5′

Video 3 Turn Criteria:
I don’t know what in the world was going on with this because he had done so well the 2 times we’ve done this before. I used only the one wing centered on the far jump with a 4 foot distance this time as opposed to the other times when I had 2 wings set up like a jump but without the bar for the wraps…he did the wraps and had a hard time with the “GO” back then. Now you will see he suddenly decided to take the jump a few times instead of doing the wrap to the right. I finally had to totally move the wing off to another area by itself to remind him of what he was supposed to do…and yet he was able to do it to the left….very weird. Before I totally moved the wing, I tried putting more distance between the wing and the second jump but still not able to do it. I did not use cones last time – I used regular wings – I have no idea if that changed the picture or what. Crazy. Any ideas?

Thanks.
Sandy and Benni

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

[Sandy Mainardi]

Wait here’s the 10″ set point!:

Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,

Here are some videos from today:

Progressive grid with toy reward:

Set Point using jump bump:
Video 1: 8″ jump, 4 ft spacing:

Video 2: 10″ jump, 4 ft spacing
He got distracted by something on the ground in the second rep which I didn’t think looked as good as rep 1.
stay tuned…still uploading

Thanks!
Sandy and Benni

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,

Here are 3 videos:

1. set point yet again – with your suggestion of 4′ spread, 6″ jump and a toy instead of MM

Since I was trying to work on increasing his jump height to 10″ with the set point, I’m not sure where to go with this exercise. Is it not advisable to start trying some 10″ jumps in a sequence if he isn’t looking good with the set point jump at 10″? Now going back to 6″ not sure what the plan is.

2. Understanding Decel part 2:

This made me laugh….he doesn’t smoothly decel, he kind of pops a wheelie so to speak or maybe it’s the way I’m cueing it. But anyway, here it is! I’m fumbling with holding the toy, some treats and the remote for the treat n train and not doing a great job of it. I’m forever hitting that remote button inadverently….oh well.

3. Progressive Jump Grid:

I probably committed a cardinal sin by doing the backchaining all in one session but I wanted to get it on video and then see if/how I should continue backchaining or if he’s looking okay with the 5 jumps or what. I noticed he jumps bigger over the last jump. The spacing here is 4 – 4.5 -5 – 5.5 ft. His regular ladder grid was done at 4.5 ft. I slipped and said “okay” a few times instead of “break”. This is the first dog I have changed my release word and I still use “okay” for CAVU.

For the last week, I will review all the feedback and also revisit things I didn’t get to add movement to like the serpentine and threadle, continue with advanced mini pinny (directionals), rear crosses, and our wrap/turn criteria wasn’t that great as I remember. If you think of anything you specifically want to see, please let me know.

Thanks.
Sandy and Benni

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

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
I asked this question on your new ladder grid post but I’ll ask it here because I also have another question so you can just answer one time here:
1. Do we do one run thru on the regular grid prior to introducing the progressive grid in the same session or just go right to the progressive grid?

2. Benni was working at a 4.5′ ladder grid distance but if I use that as the starting point for the progressive grid, that means the last grid spacing would be 6′ assuming I increment by 6″ in the progression. 6′ sounds like a lot for him to bounce or not? As you remember he got ahead of himself at the 5’spacing I had tried before. I was thinking maybe to try 4′ – 4.5′ – 5′ – 5.5′ at first. What do you think?

Thanks.
Sandy and Benni

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Do we do a run thru on their regular ladder grid before adding the challenge or go right to the variable distance on the first run?

Thanks.
Sandy

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,

I’m getting behind on the games! Yesterday was a weather wash out with a small window of no rain where I decided to just do a quick tweaking of the set point exercise as you described….opened up the spider V point and decreased distance to 3.5′ instead of 4′ with a 10″ jump bar. Let me know if this needs more tweaking or looks good now with this set up.

I just noticed that 2 of the 3 wing jumps I have do NOT have 10″ jump cups…only 4-8-12 etc. My clip and go jumps which are wingless 4 ft bars have all heights. I can put wings next to it but prefer the 5 ft bars for some things in sequencing. The aluminum slatted wing jumps from Max 200 have all the variations in height.

I do have a question on the decel exercise and a verbal I’ve been training which comes via Soshana Dos. The verbal which I chose to copy from her since other words that people use I already use for other things (close, here, etc). The word is Suda (Russian for “close” apparently) and I shorten it to “Su”. The exercise she had us doing is like the toy race/decel where I release him “break” and either with or without motion using toy or food in my cross body connection say “su su su” and when he comes to my side I do a 360 spiral in place and give him the reward (or send him to the food bowl/toy up ahead). SO…is this the verbal I would use in the scenario of the decel games? I use “here” so much in his life at home and I don’t like to over use his name…what do you think? Soshana was teaching it to us as a bypass verbal as in “come directly to my side and do not take any obstacles until I tell you”.

Question on the advanced mini pinny. Since I have chosen to use “switch” for a rear cross…maybe I’m over-thinking this but…say I’m doing dog on left for “right” mini pinny and then I want dog to take jump 1 and go left to the MM reward from my left side…is that not considered a rear cross? I can see if i do the mini pinny dog on left and then kind of do a FC so dog is on my right side when I say “left” to go to the MM. That would be how I would use a left command in this instance. I guess the dog should “know” right and left no matter what side of you they are on in the case of the dog being too far ahead of you in which case then maybe “switch” might not work? Just trying to clarify in my own mind so that I do not dilute my verbals and cause dog confusion…and handler confusion! LOL
Today the sun was shining so we got some games in:

Here are the mini pinny videos:
1. https://youtu.be/NyRau6ZpiTc

2. https://youtu.be/hWPHAq0QTVI
Video 2 – I don’t know whether he was getting distracted by something in the woods and got stuck or was having brain freezes or what! Then I finally got what I wanted and had the stupid MM remote in my pocket and rewarded way late…oye. I tried to get one more good rep but it wasn’t going to happen so I stopped. When he freezes like that what do I do…call his name, keep saying the directional verbal, just collect him and start over…not sure how to make it easier if I’m getting too many failures.

Starting on the rear crosses:
Video 1: https://youtu.be/ohttTZPKiJI

Video 2: https://youtu.be/ctBHJDI3xvM
This one did not go as well. I was using a 4 ft wingless to which I did add one wing after we got started on it although I’m not sure if it really mattered to him. Initially I was using an udder tugger with food stuffed in it placed on the ground and something I didn’t have to time a remote button for reward and could toss if needed without him running off with it. But you will see he didn’t get it until I tossed his favorite toy…which he ran off with for over a minute. So I only did one more rep after that and let him run with the toy again. I think I use my verbal late (and I know from years in the past it was a thing I did and couldn’t seem to time it well enough). So today I tried a couple reps of saying nothing and I think it might have gone better with my silence? Better to be silent than give a late verbal?

Well, that’s what we got for now! Thanks!

Sandy and Benni

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

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
Here are a couple of videos we did today. Revisiting things from before:

Video 1:
Set Point new height of 10″, spread distance of 4.5′

I squatted down on the first rep like you had suggested to help him keep his head low but I think it confused him and he ducked under the spider. Then I played around the next 2 reps on my position to avoid that happening again. Let me know if I should repeat this and how much of it to do prior to starting to do sequencing at this height…or does he look fine and I don’t need to repeat this exercise until we bump up to 12″ eventually?

Video 2:
Ladder grid backchain jumps 2-5 and then completing jumps 1-5 @ 4.5′ spread.

I’m still in the process of getting photos off my phone and filed…a huge project before I factory reset my phone. I did try the tunnel decel game and he was getting it but I did not record it yet. Just to clarify, what is acceptable performance on this… if the dog passes me but then stops himself and comes back is that not showing understanding? Is the dog supposed to just come right to me as I either stand still or move and then decel/stop? There is no verbal cue associated with this right?

Haven’t dived into the rear cross yet. I started teaching it a different way but haven’t worked on it much so I’ll try it as you have instructed. I have always used the word “switch” for my rear crosses meaning change lead and take the next obstacle you see versus “turn” for the dog to turn away from me on the flat and then look for the obstacle. Is “switch ” okay to use for the rear cross?

Thanks.
Sandy and Benni
PS thanks for the response on my extreme connection exercise…i know it was past the 48 hour mark. I appreciate it. 🙂

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,

Here are 4 videos. Two of them are revisiting the turn criteria…aside from my bad toy throwing on the go, I don’t think he is quite getting this challenge even on just the turns on the wing and I’m not sure if you think this but it seems like he does a bit better turning right? Anyway, please let me know what to do to improve his understanding. I have about 4 – 4.5 ft distance between the wings and the second jump.

As for the toy race and decel work, I used the manners minder to start out with rather than a toy. He will gladly self reward if he gets the toy on an incorrect performance and run off having a good old time. So I didn’t feel that was going to help me train him on the concept too well. Maybe progress to a toy later. I hope that’s okay.

Video 1 wing wraps:

Video 2 wraps and go:

Video 3 toy races and adding decel standing still:

Video 4 decel adding motion (not sure my mechanics were right on this):

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,

After watching Benni yesterday on the course work jumping 8″, do you think I could begin to raise the bars to 10″? Should I do set point first at 10″ and how much of that should I do if that’s the case?

Here are some videos:
1) Progressing on the backchaining of the ladder grid using 4 1/2 ft spacing for jumps 3-4-5.

2) Turn criteria wing wrap (4 ft between wings and the jump):

3) Turn criteria wrap vs GO:
“GO” did not “go” so well which surprised me…LOL… and I was too close to the wings or shoudn’t I have been running forward?

4) Threadle just a couple of reps and I forgot about looking down at my hand….I thought he was going to go straight to the toy. Haven’t trained this yet with him. I’m thinking “in – in”…is that the right way to use that verbal?

I’m thinking that the next exercise on deceleration is going to be a challenge with his party of one episodes…it may take me forever!

Thanks.
Sandy and Benni

[Sandy Mainardi]

Hi Tracy,
My phone was cutting my videos short today which was really annoying. I’ve been deleting videos as I go to avoid storage overload so I guess I better delete more things. And then it started raining…

I wasn’t up for starting anything new today on the threadles so we worked on the ladder grid as you sugggested at 4 ft distance….he over shot the 4th jump a few times. I was lazy and didn’t drag out all 5 of the homemade ladder jumps, therefore jump 1 and 5 are “different” in appearance (which didn’t seem to bother him when I did the 5 ft distances) so I moved the blue jump to the 4th jump position, I also tried putting a wing by jump 5, and tried putting a toy in the space between 4 and 5. I also wasn’t sure about rewarding these reps where he was incorrect. I think I rewarded it the first time for his effort but not after that…let me know about that.

So maybe I should try 4 1/2 ft? And should I make all the jumps the same type?

Here is round 1 and 2 (rd 2 got cut off for the last rep by my phone):

Here, I put the blue jump as jump 4 instead of jump 5. I’m trying to remember what got cut off on this, but I think he went back to overshooting the 4th jump…he choked on food the last rep.

Next video is mini pinny with slightly opened middle wing jump:
the second round of going “right” got cut off so you can’t see if his rhythm got any better. I don’t know if you were expecting him to bounce this or not.

In case you didn’t see my message in Google classroom for boot camp 2, please let me know if the test assignment for submitting a video worked. I submitted a random video, not training related.

Thanks.
Sandy and Benni

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

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