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Thanks for the input! Working on the counter-intuitive part 🙂 I am going back and watching the lessons on Volume Dial.
We ran VTs (Virtual Trials today- something offered in NADAC where you run a specified course and if you Q you can submit it). A little difference between this and regular trials is we only have 1 dog out at a time, so there is no waiting on leash for our run. This reduces the amount of time for Volume Dial and pre-run engagement (which we are still working on).
We ran 4 runs today and I learned I definitely need to work hard on “leash off engagement on” I couldn’t get a good sit at the startline today. He had a couple of runs where he disengaged and ran off to the north 40, but also a couple of well engaged runs or I was at least able to re-engage. I am still working on keeping that connection with him and my arm out of the way (obviously I need to work harder at this!)This run he skipped the 2nd obstacle and blew past the A frame, got him back to the A frame and was moving nicely until he took the tunnel off course then got distracted. I was able to re-engage him with a tug toy and he continued to flow with me (the last obstacle was my fault)
We definitely had fun on this run! He missed obstacle 2 (the barrel- went the wrong side) then skipped obstacle 7. He skipped obstacle 10 and took the tunnel instead.
I had a mini self induced panic attack last night when I realized that we have a trial in 3 weeks (it will only be his 2nd trial). Self induced panic because he is still not comfortable on the walk- and we will be running at least 6 runs with dog walk (Regular/standard course). We are running at the Intro level (in NADAC these are shorter courses for beginning dogs). I channeled my “Inner Tracy” 🙂 and reminded myself that we can run these FEO…I can run any of the runs FEO! Our weaves also aren’t real solid yet, definitely not where I hoped we would be at this point and I signed him up for Intro Weavers too. We do have a couple of weeks to keep working on those weaves. Not having a full dog walk at home, not sure we will get much practice on that obstacle before trial.
So…I am thinking trial strategy and would like your advice/input/suggestions! Day 1 we have the Intro Regular, Intro Weavers and Novice Tunnelers. Definitely planning on FEO for Regular and will make game day decision on Weavers (we also have the advantage of running 2 rounds of each, so I can always run round 1 FEO and round 2 for real if desired). I think we can run Tunnelers for real- he has run the Intro level in trial before and it’s all tunnels). The rest of the weekend I am going to wait and decide after I see how he is doing each day (I don’t have to declare it an FEO run until I walk up to the line).
Also thanks for the tip on where to buy the tugs, I had forgotten that is where I purchased from before, so I have ordered him some more super exciting tugs too!
Contrary to popular belief, I did not fall off the end of the earth! Wayne had to take a couple of months off to work on regrouping his male adolescent brain, but he is ready to work agility again.
Here is an example of running drills a week or so ago. I kept in the part where I was trying to engage and using a little Volume Dial as we walked out to the field. I did have a little struggle getting his leash off (it had tangled with his collar). He still has ZERO start line stay….definitely something we can use help with!
As you can he disengaged and took a detour (he does this in the wide open field we practice in.) The good news is he didn’t go as far away as he typically has and I was able to re-engage him much quicker than in the past. I pulled a tug out of my pocket too. Of course the tug got his engagement but also sent him to a very high excitement level. He was rewarded after the fun with the tug also.
(Try and ignore the squeaking/whining dog in the background, that is my dog Noka)
Thank you for the additional information!
I can totally relate to needing time until after the holidays to get the brain space!
I would love to be able to switch Max Pup2 to the live/online class in March and then we can just swing into Max Pup 3. The timing will be perfect for us because we are doing an in person sequencing class to work on directionals and get her moving to more obstacles in a sequence. Let me know how we can transfer my Independent Study Max Pup 2 to the live version 🙂I want to thank you for such a great class! This has been the best online course I have ever taken!!!
My apologies for not posting much, we started a little behind and just as we were getting caught up, we had to stop some agility training to recover from loosing our man bits and having to concentrate on some other behavioral training.
I am hoping I will be able to post at least another round of pattern games or practice sessions from the ARE Toolbox before the class officially closes.
I was so happy I was able to finally make the zoom call in person. So much good information. Your feedback during this course has been very helpful.
After the Zoom meeting I looked around to see if there was any UKI or USDAA events near me just to try some different venues since we run NADAC (and maybe some day in the future will dip our toes/paws into some AKC). Unfortunately there is no UKI or USDAA events in my area on the calendars yet. I suspect there will be an UKI event this year near me as I know there was one last year and remembered they had a fun run on the day before trial. All things I would definitely entertain.
Originally we were going to travel to a NADAC trial at the end of the month, but this little bump in our training has thrown a wrench in that plan. We will be running local NADAC trials in January, March and April.
Also very interested if you are able to set up a follow up forum as discussed in the Zoom!
This might sound silly, but is there a cheat sheet for all of the different pattern and arousal games. I tend to get stuck in routines and revert back to the same games.
I have the Weaves class and the Max Pup2 class in my independent study library and will start digging into both of these. Wayne has had some basic training in weaves but we have a LOT of work to do on them.
I am going to work the Max Pup2 class with the now 6 month old puppy, MissL. (oh and I will sneak her secret in here because no one else is probably reading this post 🙂 …. her BIG secret that I can not wait to announce in all public forums….she is in the 2025 Puppy Bowl!! She had just returned from NYC before I adopted her. Her name at the time of filming was “Redbud”, so if you tune in February you can cheer for her!)
I enjoyed your teaching so much, that I would like to get her into the live Max Pup3 class. Do you know when you will be offering it next?
Thanks again for the great class!We have had some life interruptions to some of our training. The beauty of having a teen BC, HA! Currently on restricted activity protocol, which means no running or jumping for another 10 days. Send good thoughts we survive because keeping a 16 month old BC to these standards is a challenge to say the least!!
We continued to work some toolbox drills, remote reinforcement and a down startline stay. We have a lot of work to do!
In our training he was very engaged at first and then was becoming distracted by the barking from his housemates. I stopped and did some volume dial and that seemed to re-engage him.
The last part of the video I was just working on teaching him a new active trick. Only the 2nd time we have worked this.
Any feedback on our practice is appreciated!
It’s been a long hard week for us (some male teenage BC issues) and I didn’t get much video. I am almost caught up on all the lessons, just need to do the practicing, drills and games. Also finally got some supplies to make my jumps, just need to assemble.
We did get to do Sequence 1 & 2 of the Mid Course Challenges today. Worked these in between learning the A frame (only his 2nd time to see the A frame and he was a bit cautious, but I think doing the mid course sequences in between working A frame really helped,
And this was a good challenge since he hasn’t worked jump sequences before (other than our feeble and disastrous attempt at that novice jumpers course the beginning of November)
Holy Heck! What is this voodoo training you are teaching us? 🙂
>>say it to him (being connected) rather than looking at the hoop or pointing ahead of him to it. Looking at him a bit more and pointing to his nose 🙂 will turn your shoulders to the line you want him to take.>>
This comment blew my mind! I had never thought of it like that or it’s never been described to me like that!! Thank you!
Fingers crossed for decent weather this weekend so we can get out back and work the next sequences.
Meanwhile, we went back to the garage and did the “volume dial” exercise. Obviously we need to work on his “drop” command, especially when he gets excited. I shifted a bit and had better luck getting the toy when I would throw a treat to get the release. Just more skills to work on!
Again thank you for your “voodoo” training 🙂 Based on my personal experiences training and trialing with my klepotmaniac PWD, I have always concentrated on calm connection with the dog before entering the ring. I was AMAZED at the connection I got from the volume dial and active engagement games, especially from my PWD. I worked him in the garage while the other 2 were in the house barking and he ignored him. What really blew my mind was when my adult son opened the door into the garage and my PWD stayed focused on me and did not even acknowledge my son!
Sorry for the long post- I am just very excited about all the things I am learning from you! And the video is a bit long- you will need to use the FF button especially where we were negotiating over the toy.
I am not sure I played all the games correctly, but was able to assess his engagement level. I do know that certain toys (like the frisbee) take him to a different arousal level. I will keep playing with different toys to try to find ones that get him in the right arousal zone.
We definitely need to work on that start line stay, Like most BC’s he just wants to do everything fast, you should see him at disc, I take his leash off and give the ready signal and Wayne starts going around me in circles until I start the disc throwing.
Still catching up… this is a sequence from week 1. Again I used the equipment I had and my hard was a bit narrow so we improvised
Tonight we practiced Find My Face in the garage where we usually don’t practice. As you can see he got a bit distracted with smells but re-engaged.
Another big win with Find My Face tonight: Wayne got grumpy at my PWD and I was able to get Wayne to Find My Face and reward him to interrupt his undesired behavior.
I wasn’t looking to add to my pack, but this puppy just appeared and I knew she was for me.
Our local Humane Society pulled her from our local shelter at 6 weeks old. They immediately saw her potential. They wanted a special home for her and were not advertising her to the public. She is currently just shy of 5 months. We thought she was BC, did a DNA test and she is 50% MAS 30%ACD a bit GSP and random breeds.
She will be famous!! (I can’t spill the beans just yet) when I got her she had just returned from a trip to NYC from Oklahoma!
She is smart and ready to work. She has been serving as the demo dog for our agility fundamentals class and a pattern games class. So fun to watch her learn a new skill right in front of the class.
I named her MissL (pronounced missile) she was previously called Redbud.Rookie posting mistake!
Debut video
2nd run
Jumpers with all the distractions
Bonus: jumpers with less distractions
OMG! I am still here and behind yet trying to catch up!
I am slowly working through pattern games, I need to pick up the pace.
Last weekend Wayne debuted in NADAC agility!It was a double (or quadruple) challenge as I was the trial secretary and decorations chair. I ran my PWD, my trainers dog on Friday, debuted Wayne , and I don’t think I told you about my new puppy ( I may have officially lost my mind!)
I am very proud of Wayne in his agility debut. He ran 2 rounds of grounders, 4 rounds jumpers and 2 rounds tunnelers at trial. He actually got a Q on his 2nd grounders and his 2nd tunnelers!
Jumpers he flowed but was a hot mess. Since he is only 15 months we haven’t done much jump work and I don’t (yet) have jumps at home.Here is his 1st grounders and first time in the trial ring
This is his 2nd run (part of it cut off, that’s what you get for asking others t video for you: lesson learned!)
The jumpers run where he disconnected then saw kids running in the front of the arena. Typical BC is not a fan of running children
I will get the week 1 practice we did uploaded and be better about recording our games training.
Thank you!
The PWD is a notorious cone thief on the agility course! In practice he leaves them alone. Steals because he goes over threshold. Calm before we enter the ring, walks in the ting and goes from 0-10!
Wayne too gets very excited, struggles with a start line stay, flows well but inconsistent obstacle commitment. We practice on a 2 acre field and he often likes to run off to check everything out.
He does better if I run with a toy, however he gets so excited and focused on the toy.
I’m here for all the suggestions and feedback!
