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Turn and Burn
Some progress here but my send hand is too high. I did add a verbal. I think lengthening the run out also helped to promote some speed.
Look forward to your feedback.
Prop Sends and Rear Crosses
I lengthened the pathway in an attempt to be able to accelerate a bit more. I think that is an improvement. I do realize that I am still often throwing too late but am pleased with our progress with both the Sends and the Rear Crosses.
Look forward to your feedback.
Toys 101
So tonight after supper I took Rusty to the basement in hopes that we might play with some toys. I left the beginning in the video so you could see his immediate interest in the area where the toys were piled on the workbench. Interaction! The braided flannel seemed to be the least interesting to him. The other three seemed to be tied for first with the sheep fleece one perhaps the front runner. The last one with the rabbit fur is actually a pouch. It did have a piece of lamb lung in it. I thought it best to not reveal that aspect so that he doesn’t come to think that toys always predict treats. I think it is best to let the lotus ball be the only toy/food combo.
Look forward to your feedback.
Backing Up and Prop Games
Some more work on both of these exercises.
More work is still needed on the rear crosses. Can I get him to drive ahead of me on this one so that it is easier to get behind him?
Look forward to your feedback.
Resilience Game 3
I am in the garage – a place Rusty has never trained and to which he has little access – not outside – it is still a frozen tundra. I think I am now doing the game as intended as opposed to the last time. Just want to make sure before I take it further.
Collection Sandwich
I think Rusty got the hang of this quite quickly – probably from the prior week’s work. I need to monitor how many times a turn to each side. In this series it is out of balance – way more turns to my right.
Look forward to your feedback.
Another question . . . Sometimes you pose questions in your responses. I do not know the proper way to respond to them which is why I haven’t done so. Do I just do another reply?
Parallel Path, Countermotion and Rear Crosses
To some extent we did them all but clearly too long a session for Rusty. Notice his enthusiasm for pouncing on the prop in the beginning of Parallel Path. That dwindles. So in the future, I would try these in separate sessions or just do way fewer reps of each. This time I was also working on what I should be doing. Now that I have that mostly figured out, it should be easier next time. He did do a few of the rears ending on the proper side without the spin but I got the sense that he thought the prop was his cue to spin. What is the best way to address this issue?
Look forward to your feedback.
Stealth Self-Control Novel Exciting
First I used Rusty’s food bowl, then put a ball in it followed by two different treat containers – the second one with treats in it (smell factor).
Getting into the rhythm of the game definitely helps him to ignore the Novel Exciting item.
I definitely need to up the ante here to make the game somewhat more challenging.
Look forward to your feedback.
Turn and Burn 2
I tried three different toys – food pouch tug toy, the lotus ball and a black furry tug. You will see the results. The lotus ball is the winner. Then at the end, keeping in mind your statement about using what the dog finds reinforcing, I just used food. I would have to say that I think the food won though I do like the lotus ball. At this point I am reluctant to use the toys for which there is little interest because I think it will dampen his enthusiasm for the work. On the side, not associated with these agility exercises, I will continue to work on toy play but at this point I think it is detrimental to mix the two.
Look forward to your feedback.
Resilience Game 3: Patterns
I made the criteria of looking in my eyes, which is important in my obedience work. Unfortunately I hadn’t pushed record the first time I tried this game and Rusty wasn’t quite sure what was up. I guess it seemed too simple to him so he was offering behaviors to earn his treats – quite cute – backups, spins, twirls, sits.
Look forward to your feedback.
Backup 2
We tried backing up again per your recommendations plus one. This time I was on my knees so Rusty’s focal point to my hands was closer to the floor than when I was standing. I think it was easier for him to organize his body with his head in this lower position. I think his backing up is looking much better.
Look forward to your feedback.
Turn and Burn
Tried a few of these. Deleted a few where I was throwing with my dog side arm. Thought I would take the opportunity to get some feedback on these before going on. Yes, I am using the lotus ball and not a conventional toy. I did try those but they did not create any drive. At least with the lotus ball, Rusty is eager to be in the game. I am continuing to work on play with toys – had a very good session this morning.
Look forward to your feedback.
Backing Up
I initially shaped backing up a couple weeks ago and have since added a verbal. Here is where we are at the moment. Should I be concerned with his erratic movement? He obviously understands the concept but it seems to me that he needs additional work to smooth it out. How is that best accomplished?
Look forward to your feedback.
Stealth Self-Control Folding It In! 2
This time I introduced another Reward-Specific Marker that I have been using in obedience – ‘bowl’. Then, as you suggested last time, I did a send followed by the reward-specific marker. Not so sure that the best send word in this situation is ‘Go’ but it worked for now. And we did it from both sides.
Look forward to your feedback.
Toy Races 2
This time I included my attempts with a variety of toys. It is not that Rusty can’t play tug. He does so with our older Golden Folger often. He and Folger have tugged for an extended period of time with the first toy in the video. They both seem to love it. Other than that one and the white one, he had absolutely no interest until I brought out the lotus ball. So what do I think is going on here? I think Rusty has outsmarted us. He knows that I have access to food whereas Folger is only a play partner so if I don’t have food involved in the play, he refuses to participate. He just doesn’t see it as worth his while. Fortunately he seems to like playing with the lotus ball and can open it himself.
Look forward to your feedback.
