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No Kim, Blanche will not drive to a dead toy. Even her toy that holds food. However, she will drive towards a target of food. I will do this using food. I will get something posted tomorrow. Then I we will be off to the Invitational.
It’s in youtube under Blanche lesson1
“http://Blanche lesson1”
I felt I could have easily been so far ahead of her, in 3 or 4 areas, that she would have missed obstacles to keep up with me. I would like 7 more seconds of speed. I felt like I was working too hard with a seasoned dog.
Oh, I hope I figured it out Kim!!! This was our last competition run.If this goes through alright I will record and send homework.
The easiest device for me will be an old iPad propped on a camera tripod. I’ve got an old JVC camera that attaches to the tripod but I don’t know how to download camera to computer. So, I will use the iPad, Kim.
Thanks Kim, yes, I will need more in-depth instruction in how to upload to youtube.
I will continue using this thread versus the others I inadvertently started.
What I have found that has worked to speed my girl up have been a series of things. Each time we have gone further. Unfortunately I did not write them down so in no particular order:
I hid food rewards around the practice course so she never knew when she was getting it.
I worked hard on my handling to get as many blind crosses in as I could (but sometimes I would get un-nerved to do them and end up with fronts)
Carry her out to the start-line (she prefers not to be carried out) If I walk her out she trots the first sequence.
Got her to enjoy chasing a toy and light tugging as part of her warmup. Treats for all her pre-run exercises.
Stopped treating her at her crate after her runs. She gets them close to the exit gate. (out of the way of others)
NEVER talk negative AT ALL, including critiquing, about her run within her earshot!! This was a biggy. NEVER talk about her speed within her earshot.
Take her out early for her run so she can sit out with me as her pre-run activity.
Don’t talk much on the course. Only what is necessary to direct her.
Feed her some of her major meal so she isn’t starving prior her run.
Take her for a monthly massage. This was critical after she healed from a freakish anal gland rupture, then rectal prolapse. After getting abdominal adhesions worked out by a reputable therapist she gained ability to enjoy sleeping in extension.
Took great joy in every fleeting smile she gave on her own initiative.
Gave her a lot of attention apart from our other 2 dogs, that got her tail wagging. Took great joy in every tail wag on her own initiative.
When she was 4 our older dog was slowing down some in play at age 11 so we got a puppy who is now 2.5 yrs old. (Blanche is approaching 7) This gave her more purpose at home.
She likes dressy, special collars/bows. The other 2 dogs don’t. So she gets them.
In practice and on the course I work at showing no sign of wrong doing. That can be hard since redoing in practice tends to demonstrate things did not go as planned.
Had a pendulum reading done with her that revealed that she felt she was living in the shadows of her older “sister”. That she felt she could not make a mistake, that would be bad. She runs at home but can’t run on the course for fear of the mistake. She loves running.The reader and I got her to understand she couldn’t make a mistake, wasn’t possible. Just run. That was valuable. Whether you believe or not, my Blanche jumped all over that reader with affection VERY UNLIKE HER.(She has had full blood panels done to assure there is nothing internal going on.) I can’t think of anything else right now.
Kathy
