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Good morning!
The FC worked really well on the 6 jump! Try to decel and get that even sooner – you were finished before he landed but I bet you can finish before he takes off to make it perfectly on time 🙂 The spin also worked well, you were basically fully rotated and almost done with the blind before he took off, so he read it well but you can still see how hard of a turn it is there.
Same with Min – you had a good FC there and even though it might seem Iike three are more turns, it was still faster.
I don’t think this is an overuse of the spin – it is ”correct” in that it cues the turn and the next line as you rotate. Generally if it creates the best line and turns your feet to the next line, it works! The post turn or send there widens the turn but also has your feet rotate towards a line you don’t want, so the spin is better there when decel alone doesn’t get it.
>>I wonder if one of your responses got lost in the forum black hole. I posted Games 5, Seq 2 right after Seq 1 on Aug 28 but I think you only replied to Seq 1.>>
It probably didn’t get lost, my guess is the Seq 2 came in as I was posting the reply or just after it so I didn’t see anything marked as new. I will go take a look – there are lots of videos here so I more than likely won’t be able to see them all til tonight because I have a seminar day today (I am on Pacific time, so it might be late).
>> I’m so happy with how Kaladin did in Duluth on Sunday. >>
Yes! It sounds like he did a great job!!! Trial ring distractions are really the one thing that we can only present to the dog in that actual environment… and since covid set us all way behind there, it will take more exposures. But it sounds like he did really well! And being in close proximity to the other dogs, even ones with their noses in the wrong place, will be a skill he will be able to recover from a lot more quickly with more experience there 🙂
Tracy
Oh no! I have been watching the news reports and it sounds like power is a big unknown right now. Is there anything you need? I can totally send stuff or find stuff for you, just say the word.
T
Good morning!
Ugh, so sorry to see it is so smoky! I hope you all get some serious rain soon!!!!!>> When is the last date to submit work?
September 10th.
On the videos:
I think layering the tunnel skill is smart because it is something that we are seeing on course All.The.Time now!!! You were not being lazy – you were being strategic 🙂
She had no problem with it as long as you took that one step to commit her to the wing behind the tunnel like you did at :45. And on that sequence you did starting at about :55, setting up for the layer required some *serious* connection on the wing wrap at :57 and you nailed it. Super nice!!!
She was nice and tight on all of the wing wraps except at 1:19 – yo were facing forward for a long time on that one and didn’t say the wrap verbal til she was past the wing, so she (correctly) kept going straight til told otherwise. Good girl!
And on the last rep when you did go more behind the tunnel for the wing, you still had a really nice challenge of sending to the backside of the tunnel and she got it – these are going to be really important and useful skills for her generation of agility dogs 🙂When I saw your setup, I thought it looked like a tunnelers course LOL!!! Tunnelers is the MOST fun for the dogs and not so easy for us humans 🙂 I would say there is NO question about her tunnel commitment HAHA! She looked fabulous – look at her start stay! And based on the amazing speed in the tunnelers course…that start stay will be VERY useful because she is fast fast fast blazing fast and she is still young enough to not be running at full speed. You had to hustle! And you did, great connection and great hustle. Lovely run! I am so excited for her future because that was a really impressive run!!!
And, to be honest, it makes the first video even more impressive because she was able to shift her focus to the more wing-wrap centered skills and didn’t look at the tunnel when she was not asked to look at it. YESSSS!!!
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
These are really good tricks! It looks like you also have the ‘legs’ trick which is a great line up at the start line. He seemed VERY engaged and excited to play! And I love how he was also engaging with you without the tricks. At the end, the ball came out – he REALLY seems to like that ball! This is all good to know 🙂
So now, for next steps – you can have a pile of treats on the table next to you and nothing in your hands. Do the trick, then reach over and give a cookie. You an start right next to the treats, then over the course of the training you can move further and further away, so he is moving with you and doing tricks and engaging…. all while the treats are behind you on a table somewhere. This will help transfer to the start line at trials, where the treats will be behind him and he will be doing all sorts of tricks, also known as running the agility course LOL!!
You can also take this game on the road, and engage him like this before he does anything in new places – start it exactly like you did here with the treats present and visible, then move to having the treats on a table behind you, and so on.Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyAwwww he looked so great here! You two really looked like a team 🙂 Those were some big courses and he ran well – I am really excited to hear that he was able to do a full day of it too! Onwards to an exciting career in the ring! His contacts looked good too, he looked pretty happy to be on that teeter!! (Great song choice as well, you always pick excellent tunes :))
Thank you for sharing it!
TracyHi!
>>A follow-up question for you regarding trials if weave poles aren’t successful: If I retry weaves with her at trials it typically gets worse and digs a hole (even if you make weaves easier). So is it best to just go on if she does miss them? I’m trying to balance consistency between training and trialing, not digging holes, and marking correct/incorrect behavior to increase understanding. Weaves at trial speed/arousal is a challenge for us.>>
There are a lot of ways to approach this –
You can do more NFC runs with the weaves mixed in with real runs in classes without weaves. The main goal here would be to help get her acclimated to the trial environment with simpler stuff so that the arousal levels are lower and she is more successful. Then when she successful with the weaves in NFC runs and also during non-weave runs “for real”, you can start adding “real” runs with weaves 🙂Separately, you can work weaves still in higher arousal in training – more tunnels before them, different locations, etc.
These two paths will come together to help get success in the trial ring 🙂
T
Hi!
>> The 5-> 9 line is an example of how I am not seeing all the choices to help figure out the best line/handling choice. Once you point it out, the circle wrap on 7 seems like it should be considered. Alas, the course is gone; since I’d have to get timings to decide.>>
Finding the wrap rather than the slice there might be part of the decision marking process – I tend to work backwards on those, looking at the exit line (from 7-8) then finding the fastest way to get to that entry line, so that is something to consider when choosing the path.
>>I would never do the blind at 10-11. Here is how I’m thinking: I am likely to be late trying to get to 11 because of how far I have to run. If I’m late with the FC, then it is ugly but clean. If I’m late with the BC then he is lost in space somewhere but not in the tunnel.>>
A couple of thoughts to help you consider the blinds 🙂 :
It is another spot where I would look at the end (getting the line from 11-12) and what is needed there before I decided how to get to it. So I would need to be up there and show the exit cues before the dog enters 11… so how to get there? The blind 🙂 And about it being late – as the dogs get experience with blinds, you can be a little late and still be clean – just focus on connection. And then you can still be timely for the cross 11-12. The FC being late will make The next cross late too.It is worth trying, you’ll be amazing at how well he reads the blinds so that don’t have to be perfectly on time!
Tracy
Hi!
There are good runs here and also things to learn from. Was the “I need to poop” run the only NFC run? I think that the Speedstakes run and the Jumping run were both good, fast and focused!! (the off course tunnel in jumping was because you took one step towards it, one little step :))
After that, 2 things I noticed – the courses got twistier, and also he got more depleted. So those 2 things might have combined to flatten out his arousal and make distractions more interesting. For planning, if the speed courses are early in the day, you can do more NFC as the day goes on so that he gets more play on the harder courses when he is more tired. That will help build up his ability to be both fast and focused on the harder courses, and as he gets mentally tired as the day goes along.How did he do with his warm up games outside the ring? He was having a little trouble jumping up in the air in the later runs – you can try standing up straight or stepping back to help encourage him to jump up rather than lean over in those moments.
Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
Looking at this, she was getting it right when you were either:
– rotating your feet towards her to get her attention (this is less desirable) like at :01, :23
– turning her better on the wing before the tunnel threadle then turning your feet to the correct end of the tunnel (this is GREAT!) like at :29When she was getting it wrong, you were running fast and facing the off course tunnel so even though you were saying the verbal, the body language was saying go go go 🙂 like :07, :13, :41.
So as she is approaching the wing before the tunnel threadle, decelerate and turn to face the tunnel entry you want – then give the wrap cue for the wing, then as she is collecting at the wing – give the threadle cue. Do it slowly at first so you don’t have to turn towards her, then you can add more and more speed.
Let me know if that makes sense! She will figure it out with more practice 🙂
TracyHi!
This is a hard line of jumps, she did well! I think the looking around was a combo of the grid not having a lot of running in it (so maybe a bit boring LOL!) and also probably some distractions on the street. Yes, she was taking an extra stride so a couple of ideas for you:– try moving the MM further away, so it is maybe 10 feet past the 2nd jump. That way she can power to it and not slow down. It was pretty close, so she might have been slowing down so she wouldn’t land on it.
– to get the distances shorter and more bounce-able, try using weave poles (3 foot poles) as the jump bars, instead of jump bars (which are 4 foot poles). That can help her find the bounces!The only other suggestion is to connect and open your shoulder before you release her. When you did that, she was perfect! When you released before connecting and opening your shoulder, she went past the first jump.
Nice work here! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
You two look great here! I really love watching him develop into a superstar!
On the walk through – any time you find yourself doing a front cross, take a moment to see if the blind cross will be easier/faster. Because Razor is SO FAST, I bet you will find doing blinds to be sooooo much easier for you to handle him around the course.
So the 3 spots I think the BC would be effect here are:
4-5
7-8 (or landing side of 8)
9-10 (although the FC there might be more comfy after the send to the tunnel)Also, 11-12 – the post turn there briefly opens up the line back to 10 and it is a lot of work for you – a spin rotation there will both tighten the line and get you to 12 faster 🙂
One more thing to consider during the walk through “rehearsal” – after your FC4-5 you were looking forward so be sure to rehearse the connection back to him as you finish the cross. Make it the same as your connection after the post turn at 11: big eye contact 🙂
On the run – he dropped the bar on 1 at 5:03. If you watch it in slow motion, I think it was because you were beautifully connected on the release then as he took off, you closed your shoulder forward and disconnected a little – youngsters often drop bars in those moments. Note the difference at 5:38 and 6:03 when you were connected for longer and he was great.
I agree that your running line 4-5 can be a bit better but his question there was mainly a connection question. At 5:07 and 5:41, you did the FC then looked forward before he could read the side change, and he read it like a spin. When you did it again at 6:05, watch your head: as he is approaching 4, you are making a direct eye contact connection and you maintained it all the way through landing – he nailed it. Yay! The FCs with you looking forward looked exactly like the walk through – so when you are walking courses, practice the connection after the crosses just like you did at 6:04/6:05, with eye contact back to him so he can read the side change.
You did the BC between 7-8 (spur of the moment, LOL! But effective!!). And note your gorgeous re-connection after the blind at 5:11 and 5:47 and 6:10. Click/treat for you! You can get the blind in sooner by sending to 6 even more, it looked like he had great sends skills there!!
You had a little bit too much acceleration into 10 at 5:16 so he was wide there but then on the next rep at 5:51.The post turn at 11 did open up the off course at 5:54 and had the bar down at 6:15. You can try adding more decel to it – but also try to do the rotation of pointing your feet forward to 12 and let him run across your feet – then pick him up on your right there.
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
Oh no! I am sorry to hear that you had vertigo, that must have been awful! It is great to see you up and running again!
Super nice work on this course! It is a whopper LOL! He seemed perfectly fine with the jumps at 22 – any bar issues were not related to the height. Looking at it in sections:
On the in in you stepped in towards 2 too soon on that very first rep and did a much better job maintaining the line on the 2nd rep so he got it nicely!
On the tunnel- weave line – you over-helped LOL!!! Try to give him a turn cue before he enters the tunnel and then when he exits, cue the weaves 🙂 You called him after he entered the tunnel then I think yo said ‘yes ready go weave’ and he was looking at you a lot – so I think just cuing the weaves and a little rear cross on the flat (tandem turn) handling will smooooooth that out 🙂
Nice line from the weaves all the way through to the end of the DW!!! You gave him mainly info there (I think a little praise snuck in LOL! But it was mainly just the facts) and he did great!
When you asked for more independence in the weaves at 2:36 – wow! Great weaves! The push was harder with you that far away so he needed the ramped up connection you gave him on the last run.
I liked your forced blind better too (your first run) – it was just smooth and easy for both of you!
The line from the end of the DW to the teeter looked good except I think he needed one more step to get to the jump before the teeter – your verbals and rotation looked good until he landed at :47 – when you said over for the next jump, your shoulder closed forward so he didn’t see a commitment cue for the jump and ran past it. Opening up more connection b ack to him will get that nicely. On the fix at 1:51 – better connection indeed, but still not quite enough – connection and one step at 2:06 and 2:15 made it perfect!
He dropped the bar after the teeter at about 1:08, possible needing more connection? The push after it looked great! You moved up the line nicely towards the a-frame at the end but he missed the jump. When you get that far ahead (which si a GOOD thing :)) add in a lot more connection after the tunnel to get the jump before the a-frame. I think he could only really see your back so he was not sure which side to be on. You had great connection there on the fix moment, so use that same connection as you keep moving.
>> when does this course end as far as submitting videos?
It is scheduled to end on Sept 1, but I need to check the calendar to see if we can work a 1 week extension for folks, it has been a crazy time for a lot of people!
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi again! This also looked really good! A few ideas for you:
Yes, that 1-2-3 looked really strong!!! As he made the turn 2-3, his butt swung out a little wide – possibly he was jumping a little long to your position then had to swing back to get the weave entry or he just needs more experience on this lead out. 2 ideas for you – you can handle it like a forced front on the weaves, positioning yourself on the entry side and letting him drive to you more directly.
Or, lead out between 1 and 2 with him on your right, then send 2 to the weaves and you run past the exit (serping the exit) to get him on your left for 4-5. That option is more running than the forced front option (so that is a con) but his weaves will be faster (that is a pro!). Enzo’s weave understanding will allow you to play with any of these options 🙂I think your flick on 6 looked great at :12! Good spot for it and it looked as good as a reverse wrap would look there!
Call him sooner before tunnel 7 – you were quiet as he entered so he exited wide. He was not going to go off course there, so the earlier call is just to chop of some time on the clock 🙂
The 10-11-12 section was harder to hold onto, which might be why you had the refusal at 13 – I think you can totally do the blind 10-11 🙂 You were there, you had plenty of time to slide through the blind – the FC ended up being late in terms of finishing the rotation, which made the FC rotation late for the tunnel exit to get a good turn to 12.
So, as he is heading towards 10, start the blind and cue 11, so you’ll be further ahead there and also you can show the FC before he enters tunnel 11.The refusal on 13 looked like a ‘thinking ahead’ moment where you got 12 then started thinking about the backside at 14. Oops! But then the rest looked smooth (you can start giving him the backside cue for 14 before he exits 13, so he exits directly to it and doesn’t look at you at all – tiny detail indeed, but it chops off some time on course by a 1/10th or two 🙂
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
I understand the caffeine as a critical element of the drive home LOL!!!
Nice job on this course!!!
I think your walk and your run matched up nicely and you are really getting a feel for his rhythm on course (this is great for trialing!)
The opening 1-2-3 look good – one thing I suggest is a BC from the 3 tunnel to the #4 weaves – you can start it before he enters the tunnel and then be finished and reconnected before he exits to set a smooth line to the weaves. The walk through looked like the FC would be late there, and it was during the run – he ended up going wide towards you out of the tunnel at her than directly towards the weaves. I believe his weave skills are strong enough that the BC there would be easy for him to read and find the entry.Looking at the 5-6-7-8-9 line: based on what I would want to have the dog do on 8-9 (enter 8 on the side closer to the yellow #3 tunnel to land facing 9 squarely, the line you set at :35). You can consider a circle wrap on 7. The slice on 7 works well for the 5-6-7 section but makes it harder on 8, so you don’t get as good of a line 8-9. At :35 his backside serp was LOVELY but it still makes for a really hard line to find 8.
So I think it might be one of the rare times that the circle wrap ends up being part of the faster line overall and you can also be strategic to run the line – you did a FC 5-6 at :18 and as he landed four 6, you were in a great spot for a reverse wrap on 7 to pick him up on your right for 8-9.
Another option would be to keep him on your left 5-6 and do one of those threadle wrap thingies to get him to your right for 7-8. Now, you have trained lovely independent weaves, so my personal preference (maybe yours too) would be to do the FC that you did or a BC 5-6 and do the reverse wrap. But judges might put a straight tunnel there on course or a curved tunnel, so the FC between 5-6 would be really hard to get so the threadle wrap is a great option. Food for thought in terms of things to practice.The rest was really strong! I love how much you trusted the backside sends and his jumping on the slices looked great!
2 small details:
You can add a bit of a brake arm (outside arm giving him a “whoa nelly!” Moment as he lands from 12) or decel (or both :)) to tighten up the turn on jump 13 at :46. Yes, a spin would do it too but… that would make it harder to get the next one so a decel or brake arm would allow you to cue and then sliiiiiide away to 114-15 without having to accelerate out of a spin.Also, he had a little question on the 2nd to last tunnel 17 to jump 18 (looking back at you) at :53, so you can leave for that line and turn on the go go go sooner – the go verbal needs to override your position there. Pr you can handle it is a bit of a tandem turn with a left turn cue (or turn away on the flat, maybe an application of your switch?) so he can look to 18 sooner.
Great job! Onwards to the next course!
Tracy
