[Sorelg]

Also it was fairly busy so I tried the snuffle mat for decompression. We did it several times and his response was pretty consistent. Below is typical and was before the above run.

[Sorelg]

Hi,

We’ve worked find my face at home, so I added it to the pattern game / volume dial with more group distractions.

Also first try at the tunnel discrimination.

[Sorelg]

Hi,

I flipped the sequence around and gave it another go. 🙂 I added a pattern game and volume dial before each run. A few are on video. A question. He did the up/down game the first time I tried it, but the other times he ignored the cookie. So I switched to the back/forth game which worked. It seemed harder for him to do the up/down game after he was stimulated by the first run. Does this mean we need to play it more in less stimulating environments until it’s stronger? Do you ever up the treat value in the moment? I did pull his collar mid-session as the tape had given.

Here’s the BC.

Then the RC with a couple of tries.

BC on the landing side

And finally the 2nd sequence. I totally planned/walked a post-turn, but that’s not what happened in the run. LOL I was trying to understand this last sequence where you RC on the take-off side of 5. Which side do you then pick them up on? I confused myself when I tried walking it so I didn’t try it.

Yesterday we played the volume dial game and then a snuffle mat. My question is do you usually do just one session (volume dial/mat) and then take a break or do you go back and forth? Thanks!

[Sorelg]

Thanks for taking a look at that and confirming he’s just having fun.

I totally agree with “handlers look to control the outside forces and sterilize the environment.” I see it in agility, obedience and nosework. Very interesting that flyball creates a different environment. I want that big toolbox!

[Sorelg]

Yes that makes sense and I felt like it was me with the spin. I thought the post turn would be slower, but I wasn’t thinking of it as a send and get out of dodge. 🙂 I’m excited to try it!

[Sorelg]

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll add in the “pattern game-to-volume dial before every run” next practice. Sounds good.

I had walked the different handling before I started everything, but I still agree with you. 😂 I think it’s too much time and muddies things while I’m trying to figure out teamwork. I’ll walk each one right before we run. 🙂

I want to make sure I understand your comment about the pinwheel. 🙂 So it’s like a send to the middle jump of the pinwheel? i.e I show the line out to the pinwheel, send to the middle jump and then show the line back to jump 5 and the tunnel? So he knows the line back to the tunnel before he takes the middle pinwheel jump? Is that right?

I was thinking of reversing the sequence direction and giving it another go next practice with the changes. Thanks!

[Sorelg]

This last video is a snippet since there was a lot of talk tonight about shaking the toy.
My take is that it’s decompressive and he also just enjoys it. Ever since he was a puppy he likes to lay on his back on the floor and whap this 4-foot snake all around his head and body. Then he’d pile up all his toys, lay on top of them, toss different ones up in the air, and whap them about as he tried to catch them (really cute puppy videos). Obviously, we wouldn’t do this ringside, but I thought I’d include a video clip and get your thoughts.

I read today as decompression as he didn’t return the toy to hand until he’d had a chance to work through it and it seemed obvious when he was ready. It happened at the end of the training so we didn’t run after it this particular time. I put away the equipment and he hung out in the yard.

[Sorelg]

We took a break and then tried the last sequence. I meant to mention above that jumps are at 16″ like we talked about previously.

[Sorelg]

Hi,

Thanks for the call tonight. It was great. I found it fascinating to think about the arousal states and then the different levels of sustained focus and how much distraction they can/cannot block out. I found it even more interesting from the obedience perspective with the extended time element. It made all of the games we play in between obedience exercises (ones you can 😉 make more sense as to why they work as well as the pre-cues to transition into the higher focus for actual exercises. Folks with tons of practical experience shared what worked with me, but it’s cool knowing the science behind it.

Before the call, I captured video from our practice earlier today. The video’s longer than usual, but I wanted to let it run so you could see all of the in-between things and the pattern and arousal games. It was cool to see him come back during the pattern game when he heard the sheep. I could totally tell what caught his attention. 🙂 On the last run, I realized I was out of position and ended up backing up. LOL Looking forward to your feedback. Thanks!

[Sorelg]

Yes, this does make sense to me. Since my yard is small and will be covered with snow, I added in a couple of sessions for winter where he and I will have extra time to work together. My agility history is too long without a good Margarita LOL, but I think we need time to build up our confidence together.

[Sorelg]

Thanks so much for your observations and comments about handling young dogs and dropped bars. It is really helpful to get your feedback and support as the dropped bar debate is alive and well. The comment “Why was the dropped bar my fault” was sarcastic as I didn’t stop. I knew it was my fault and was happy with him.

Your comment:

“So running the sequence clean is not that important – but developing the teamwork is! If something goes wrong, just roll with it and keep going then reward with a toy right in the moment (rather than on the group off to the side). And if you know what went wrong, try it again. If you are not sure – watch the video 🙂 That way he does fewer reps, but he has a lot more information and support!”

is what I’ll focus on along with lowering the bars to 16 for sequences and working through the height in grids with motion.

[Sorelg]

Thanks for the detailed feedback. It’s really helpful. I’ll add the toy in more than the food as I too think he likes it better. Tonight I’m going to set things up again and focus on trying to just run with him with connection. See if I can get that flow with him through the different sequences, with lower bars:).

[Sorelg]

Search means to find one cookie. I have been known to screw up my mechanics and drop two, but usually it is just one. He’s gotten the idea that it isn’t an endless search for cookies. I do nose work with him, but he was taught on scent directly and it has a different cue.

I think I should ditch the “search” cue here as it doesn’t mean a placed cookie. I’ve never had a cue for a placed cookie. 🙂

I’ll add it into our practice field tonight :).

[Sorelg]

Here is our second try using a different one of the sequences. I wanted to include this practice as it was one where I just felt like I couldn’t get in synch with him. I figured it’s good to share the practices that just don’t work. I quit early because I was getting frustrated with myself and caught myself just stopping which I try not to do. I bagged it and switched over to weaves instead.

[Sorelg]

Here’s our first session working on the first sequence and some pieces. I’m trying to incorporate the games into our practices and routines so they become part of things. Here’s where I’m wondering how much to make it more like a trial by bringing him up or aiming to find the top of the curve.

I feel like I’m just late (like the FC) and for sure when he lands really hard 🙁 on the first push, he didn’t have the information he needed. You’ll see one run where he drops a bunch of bars. He does great on grids, but adding my movement ups the challenge for both of us. Jumps are currently at 20″.

Looking forward to your insights!

[Author]

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