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Good morning!
It is great that you got to train with friends in a new place! Perfect!
>I must tell you I giggled every time you said Shpile in the video lol! >
Ha! That is good, it was not entended to be entirely serious š
The session went well – she was happy to interact with the pile and that is good! Teaching her brain to deal with her legs is the goal š You can keep changing the configuration of the shpile each time you revisit it to keep challenging her.
>She did decide sheād rather go back to the Shpile than tug after the recall. We are struggling going from food to toy at times.>
The energy that you used for the recall and the tugging was great! It is possible that the toy was actually a little too small for her to grab – what I mean by that is you started with it long and when she got to you, shortened it and lifted it so she didnāt really get a chance to grab it. So try keeping it long and you can even tie it to another toy so you donāt have to bend down.
Plus, she is probably teething and that makes tugging a little harder right now – no worries, it will come roaring back when teething is less painful.
The strike a pose game went well! It think she found the threadle correctly on all but one rep (she ended up on the front for that one rep because it was what he saw most after getting the start cookie). For the next session, you can replace the cone with a toy on the ground or a manners minder, so she zips out to the reward without you needing to move at all! That will help us add motion.
>I donāt know if my darn feet are doing the right thing. Should they be facing the reinforcement cone?>
The feet will make more sense when we add motion š Ideally, the feet always face the direction of the next jump which would be towards the reinforcement cone you had out š But when stationary, the feet are less important and it is the upper body and arm position she is mainly reading.
Great job here!
Tracy
Good morning!
>Should always do a quick rewatch video for mechanics and not go from memory lol.>
Or use the field guide! Those will have the mechanics and are easier than re-watching the video.
He did well with the tight turns but he did have a question – I think he was confused about where to look: at the cookie hand? or wrap the upright? He was not sure if the hand movement was the cue to wrap, or if you tossed a cookie. Three thoughts on that:
– clearer markers! In this game, a click for the head turn followed by a ‘get it’ for the tossed cookie will help (you were doing some of that). In other games, be consistent about using a clear marker for ‘cookie in hand is available’ versus ‘get it’ versus “yay” and just throwing š
– make the hand cues look different. If you have the cookie in the send hand, you can make it look different than the hand looks when you are tossing or delivering the cookie. It can be something like the cookie is in a closed fist and you are pointing with your index finger (our hands definitely don’t look like that when we toss a treat)
– send & turn his head with an empty hand, toss reward with the other and a get it marker.
Backside slices – he did a great job finding the correct side of the barrel!!
>Heās going so wide on these. My position? Timing?>
Two things were happening:
– by starting with your hand on his collar or with him next to you, he was going wide to get a look at the full picture (seeing it from further away broadens his view). So, start either with a cookie toss or from a stay, so you can be moving up the line ahead of him. That will allow him to lock onto the barrel sooner.– also, move over so your line is to where the bump/bar and barrel meet – you were blocking the line so he had to go a bit wide to see the barrel. You can see it clearest at 1:55 where you were really centered on the barrel so he was going wide to find the line. Being on a parallel line further over will help him stay on a parallel line and be tighter to the barrel.
The toy placement was really good so it was great to see him beginning to default to coming over the bar. Yay!
Great job!
Tracy
Good morning! Really great job on these, it is very fun to see her sequencing!!!!
Your connection overall is looking great and your timing is looking strong too. Normally, timing is a little late with young dogs at this point, partially to support commitment and partially because we donāt know what they are going to do and we donāt really trust them LOL!! But your timing is looking really good!
Seq 1:
I think the FC and the BC 3-4 went really well. My only suggestion is to get in closer to the tunnel on purpose, so you donāt get too far ahead and end up waiting for her. What happened when you were too far ahead was you decelerated to let her exit the tunnel, then exploded forward into the FC and BC. That motion explosion my counteract the turn cues of the crosses, so youāll get even better turns if you move in closer to the line of the tunnel so you donāt have to stop moving, and then you can decel into the FC or BC.>ried it with a blind on 3 on that first sequence and it actually felt good (those tight blinds in Max pup 3 were very challenging for me!) so I was happy with that.>
It looked great – very nice connection and that really showed her the line. She read it really well.
She sent really well to 5 (nice turn!) and found the 5-6-7 line nicely with you staying in motion.
>but still got a bar on one rep.>
That bar was at :30 – things got VERY EXCITING as you accelerated/turned forward and started cueing the tunnel with loud exciting verbalsā¦ so she accelerated and hit the bar. That is a pretty common young dog thing and it is actually something I work on in jump grids: setting up a simple grid and then I add lots of motion and sometimes yelling GO GO GO or TUNNEL lol!
On the next rep, you were more connected (1:03) with less explosion of motion so she did great – and we can look at showing her the loud verbals and big motion over the bar. I bet she was just surprised and can keep the bar up even when exciting things are happening š
2nd sequence – I am so proud of her for committing to the 1-2 jumps that well so you could have perfect timing! You nailed the timing. Yes, the BC starts as she lifts off for 1 (1:20) and it was finished and re-connected a solid stride or so before takeoff for 2. SUPER! It was adult dog timing and she did great. And she balanced all of that extension with being able to turn really well on 3 in response to your decel and sending. Then, right back to big acceleration. That is one of the superpowers of these BorderWhippet types (and whippets) – the ability to be in big extension, collect for amazing tight turns, then land facing the new direction AND in big extension again. It is a huge advantage on course š
>Another NFC run at 12ā at a trial tomorrow. Just one run, and I wonāt bother with a start line stay and I might try to trust her on a few more extension lines.>
Fun! Keep me posted, canāt wait to hear how she does. I am guessing it is UKI, so you can bring in a helper to throw the toy on those big extension lines. And then have a 2nd toy tucked into a pocket so you can get her back quickly after the other toy is thrown. That is how I worked the big lines with my dogs: a helper comes in to surprise the dog with a thrown reward, then I got the dog to bring it back with a 2nd toy š Gotta love the UKI NFC rules!!!!
Great job here, have fun today!!
Tracy
Good morning!
Bummer about the bad weather and double bummer about the Blue Jays last night! Onwards to Game 7!
>I thought we were going to warm up slowly and see how far we gotā¦lol. He said, letās go!!!>
He was HILARIOUS!!! And brilliant. He was on fire and did SUPER well wrapping the barrels – you might have to run away from them to get the toy reward involved (like a turn and burn) so he doesnāt take the motion of indicating the toy as an indicator to go to the barrel.
You can add your wrap verbals to this game now, if you didnāt already have them added (I didnāt hear them but wrap verbals are quiet and might have been hard to catch on video).
You can also bring the barrels in a little closer and see how he will do if you didnāt run as much, and just sent: so it would be one-step send, front cross, connect, one-step send. That way we can get more distance going too!
And the tunnels looked fabulous – a real grown up tunnel! Yay!
Great job here!
Tracy
Good morning! I am sorry that you were hospitalized and I hope you are feeling better!!!!!! And I am glad Carly is better too. Sounds like October was a hard month.
We have time built in at the end of the course for any catching you will want to do š So no worries about being behind, we will catch you up!
>Iām having knee replacement surgery on November 14th.>
I hope that all goes smoothly, I am sure it will! We have had other folks get knee replacements during MaxPup and we have been able to modify the games to suit the needs of the new knee š We can have you doing things sitting and standing as you recover š
>What happens in every training session is that Carly starts running in circles and cutting behind me. This starts as soon as we enter the training room. So now, I put a leash on her before we walk into the room. But as soon as we start playing the training games, for example, on the Parallel path games, she will ping-pong back and forth without connecting with me. Iāve tried calling her name as soon as she gets the tossed cookie and she will come but only after making a quick circle around me.>
We can definitely work on this – it probably makes it hard to feel like you are having an efficient training session!
I think the behavior comes from being really excited to train with you and stimulated by the training. And she seems to love the work and the training! So overall this is a good thing – even when it might be annoying š remember that she is really excited to train with you š
Putting a leash on her was very smart! And just to be sure I know what is happening: once the āworkā begins, she keeps doing the work work work work work work even when you are trying to reset her to come to you and line up, etc. If that is not correct, let me know (and get a video if possible, that is helpful too!)
A couple of ideas for you:
– We can play with reward value. What I mean by that is the tossed treat for the work (parallel path game for example) can be relatively low value (like boring kibble :)) and the reward for coming back to you can be amazing – cheese, chicken, favorite toy, etc. And only do one rep of the āworkā (one kibble for one pass over the jump setup) then have a massive party for coming to you by showing her the incredible rewards you have available. The goal is to begin to shift the value in the training session away from work only, and to the nice balance of coming back to you for being reset for each rep.
– We can also teach a fun line up! One of my young dogs lines up between my feet and he loves to do it. He LOVES to work, so the lineup predicts that I am going to ask him to work – and so he lines up every single time and doesnāt obsess on doing the work/training game without me. Now, with a new knee and the recovery, I am not sure I want Carly between your feet because she might trip you up and I donāt want you to fall – but we can work on having her line up at your side, with a hand target cue pulling her back next to you, then lining her up into a sit:
– We can also give her a āstationā behavior, like hopping up onto a cot or something to break the cycle of ping-ponging that you described. Getting up on a station will allow you to reset her with focus on you, and I think she will like it because it is very rewarding! I toss lots of treats onto the station and I have also put the manners minder up on it š I donāt think I have video of it but I can grab some if you like! Dogs love to station because it is work š and we love it because it re-focuses them and gives us a moment to be ready for the next rep.
– in week 9 (coming on Tuesday!) we have an arousal management game which also helps direct the pupsā focus to us! And it will be great for when you are recovering rom the knee surgery because you donāt need to be running around for it š
Let me know what you think! I will send along more ideas after I have more coffee š
Tracy
Good morning!
>Well, found out we canāt use any kind of cheese for rewards. After using it for the Threadle slices yesterday she woke me up at 3 this morning needing to go out. Poor girly.>
Oh no, poor girl!! Maybe small chunks of chicken for when we have to throw treats. But also, we can really look at the stay as the start behavior because it does not require a tossed treat š How is her stay going? We might use it instead of a start cookie if she is doing well with it! And we can use manners minder as the start spot too!
>I use āin-inā for both sides of my Threadle slices. Is it too soon to add them? If not, Iāll add that when we work on this again.>
Do you mean āin-inā as threadle slice to the left and threadle slice to the right? Then yes, that works! I am unconvinced that we need separate verbals for threadle slice to the left and to the rightā¦ our position and the jump bar provide the info for that. But a different verbal for threadle slice and threadle wrap – yes, that is something we need. So many words!
Connect a bit more especially on your right side. You were looking ahead which was creating a conflicting indicator: line of motion said backside, line of shoulders (and the go verbal) said front side based on where your chest was pointing. On her stronger side (your left side) she was able to get it but the other side was definitely harder.
Your line of motion was great! So we can look at giving her more connection.
A good example of the connection being too far forward is on the rep from about 1:08 to 1:12 – you were looking forward so she was coming in to you and looking up at you to figure out: front or back?
So it is just one suggestion to give her more info: Look directly at her as you move up the line š That will have your line of motion and your shoulders both supporting the backside line. At first do it quietly, because āgoā will indicate the front of the jump.
Then yes, add the verbal:
>s I want to get the verbal added before going to the harder positions. I use the same verbal (push) for both sides. OK to add that now?>
Yes – as soon as she can do it pretty well on both sides and you can reliably predict you will get the backside, add the push (backside slice) verbal. It is useful to have a verbal because you can say it directly to her cute face. I always remind myself to talk to the dog and not to the obstacle š and that helps me stay connected.
Great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
This went really well! She IS paying attention to the verbals!!! You were pretty disconnected (on purpose haha) and she was processing the verbals really well – especially the tunnel verbal. Getting the tunnel when cued was great because it was not on her line when exiting the wing wrap, so she was really listening to the verbal. SUPER!!!! Progress being made!!!!!!
Great job here!!
Tracy
Hi!
>Sorry it is so hard to hear on some of the videos ā outdoors with the wind blowing does not work well with my iPhone.>
No worries! Usually it is the quieter verbals (turn verbals) that are hard to hear, but that is good because we want them to be quieter. Although a MaxPup student wears her ear buds which videotaping outside and the sound is amazing, I am going to try that soon!
>Iām still wondering about #4. I think if I had seen that with Patt in real life, I would have done a Japanese. That way I would carry him to the backside and be out of the way on the jump to tunnel. Might have to try thatā¦>
Yes! I love a good blind cross on the takeoff side! It also takes out a lot of the discrimination option which is why we didnāt really suggest it here. But it is challenging and fun!
>that I got my new 10ā tunnel and it, of course, lives in the barn because it is all new and beautiful. >
Of course! New fancy obstacles live indoors for a while š
>We did the āJump-Tunnel Discriminations Around The Clock Verbalsā and I was astonished. Possibly because of doing the first weekās work, but at any rate, Casper was GREAT at this.>
Yay!! Yes, you will see these games improve with practice. I think the easier version of this game is the first part, and he did great (jump closer to you). The harder version is the 2nd part, where he has to find the jump on the other side of the tunnel. Many dogs really struggle with this one!
This is where the handling all kind of looks the same (you were facing the wall the same way for most of it) but he did really well! And on one rep, your motion said ājumpā but mouth said tunnel so he took the tunnel (:58). You did end up with the weaves at one point but I think they were visible when you changed sides and he might have been guessing you were changing the setup.
But overall, a very high rate of success! Super!! This will help as you move into the handling games too.
Nice work!
TracyHi!
>and for now I will stick with walking them on leash when we go to the beach with an occasional stop to swim. If there is any jumping on me, I will put him back on leash and get walking again. He will likely be annoyed if Artie is allowed to continue off leash. Does that sound like a reasonable plan?>
What is happening when he jumps up on you? Give me the details š That way we can plan to have it not happen in the first place. Putting him back on leash is for if it happens, but it would be better if it did not happen š
>His default behavior is to offer a sit. So if we are playing tug and I say giveā¦he will release the toy and wait to see what is nextā¦.if I donāt throw it, I am pretty sure he will offer a sit. I will test this tomorrow.>
Does he have a stay verbal? I build my freeze off my stay verbal.
>I would like to do some handling because he is so different from Artie!!! (I would also like to do a Masters handling with Artie.). I wasnāt sure if I should ask for something like crazy commitment or distance/layering or discriminationā¦..any suggestions?>
It can be something like New To Masters Handling – young dogs that are just getting up into Masters and are faster/bigger strides/still learning all the skills. That way we can look at timing and handling options. I don’t think crazy commitment or discriminations are as useful – and distance/layering is built into everything nowadays š
>Also, have you started to plan your 2026 calendar? Will you still be able to come to JAG in early May? Just figuring if you are, that Ringo would get another opportunity to work with you then. yeah!!!!>
Yes, I think that would be great – which dates do you have in mind? I think May 4-5-6 would work best!
Thanks!
TracyHi!
Her stay is looking good! Be sure she doesnāt stand up or self-release when you stop moving, and add in a ton of reinforcement thrown back for holding the stay.She is really getting the idea here and did well coming in to the threadle side of the jump. Super! For the next sessions, you can add a reward target so you donāt have to move or handle to get her to take the jump – if you are too early in your movement, you push her around the jump. And also, we want her finding the jump on her own and not waiting for handling from you.
For a reward target, you can put an empty food bowl or manners minder down on the landing side (where you were throwing the treat) and then when she comes in to the threadle side of the jump near your hand, you can trigger the MM or you can toss a treat to the bowl from the other hand without moving much at all.
Great job!
Tracy
Hi!
>The exercise Iām having trouble with is the parallel path and denting lateral to the weird object. When I have food she just runs snd hits the object(chair pad) without caring if I sent her there or not. Will try to get video one of these days.>
Yes, grab some video and we will figure it out!
The 360s look strong and easy to her left! Nice! It looks like the right turns (2nd half of the video) were a little harder so you can help her out by slowing your hand down and giving a big clear turn away cue. That will keep her tighter and turning her head more.
Nice work here! You can start looking at the circle wraps (advanced level).
Tracy
Hi!
> I have no idea what the beeping was. I didnāt hear it. Must have been concentrating very hard ā lol!>
That is because your adult brain can tune it out very easily. Her puppy brain had to work hard to tune it out but she did great!
>Side-swiping the hand target ā How do I judge that? Do I consider she is coming in as long as she goes through the stanchions? Or should she still be coming close to the target?>
She should be heading towards your hand and making the S-shaped line we want even if she doesn’t touch the target. Basically, it should look like a grown up dog doing a serp where they don’t touch our hands š
Tracy
Hi!
>Tried to do crate training in the living room and she zoomed all over after the release. Itās hard for her to focus in there now. Previously she did ok.>
Seems like she is in an active, zoom-filled stage! If she is zooming a lot, you can add zooming around to appropriate places: on a long line in the park, in the yard, in front of the house, etc. That way she gets the āmust zoom zoomā need fulfilled and wonāt feel the need to do it in the house.
The pivoting is off to a good start – you can toss the treats on an angle that I more toward your heels/off to the side/almost behind you. That way she gets her front feet on but pivots back to center with more steps.
Also, because she is still small, do you have anything lower (maybe an inch tall) – a lower perch can distribute her weight more evenly and a tall perch puts more weight in the rear (so she is less likely to move it).
Nice work!
TracyHi!
>He has trouble finding the tossed treats and gets a little put off.>
Being outside definitely game him more room, which is great! You can put a mat down for the treats to land on, making them easier for him to find (and move the mat around to the different positions). But also, I think he was a little put off by not being sure when the toy was available.
For placing the toy on the reward line: try to put it down (rather than toss it, that was hard) then reward him with cookies for walking with you away from it to start the next rep. And use your ātoyā marker when he comes in to the threadle side. Tossing it got him a little too focused on the toy and I think walking away from it with food rewards will help him focus on the game – plus I donāt think he liked being moved by the collar, so walking away will be more fun for you both!
We can also clarify when the toy is available after he comes to the threadle side of the jump: When he touches your hand, donāt turn your shoulders to the jump – that is what was pushing him to the other side. You can stay frozen in position and use your toy marker – if you move and he goes around the jump but youāve already said the markerā¦ no worries, he can have the toy and we can smooth out the mechanics on the next rep. It was when he was told yes then no that he was unsure of what to do.
He is doing well understanding the game, so I think clarifying the rewards will smooth it out really well.
Nice job here!!
TracyHi!
I love that he loves the perch work! I think what is causing him to stumble a bit is that he wants to go faster (which is fine because I think he generally has the correct mechanics) but his head is too high to go faster AND stay balanced. He was having to reach way up to get the treats and that was causing him to lose balance on his hind end.
An easy adjustment to try would be to have your hands lower, so you can deliver the treats with his lower jaw more parallel to the ground (that would probably mean your hands a few inches above your knees?)
That should allow him to keep offering the fast balanced perch work while staying balanced, and you wouldn’t need to reward faster because he will be able to offer more steps without jumping upwards.
Nice work here! Let me know how he does with lower hands!
Tracy
