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Hi!
When considering the live seminar(s) – the Live seminars are basically handling seminars, so you would need a pretty decent sized space – 30×30 or 40×40, approx. Double check access to a fairly big location (because there is running involved in the live seminars :)) and in that spot, double check that you have good cell service or internet access to stream your work back to us 🙂 And if you find you are good-to-go in both of those areas, then yes – the lives are super fun!!
TracyHi!
>> The reward was on the ground several feet away a high value tug. The black furry thing.So he probably just needed to sort out the distance on that first rep, he did really well on the rest 🙂
Tracy
Hi!
Nice work here!!
I am a big fan of latent learning LOL!!! I admit to not being able to tell exactly where he was looking on all of these reps… black head was hard to see! I *think* he was looking towards you over jump in particular on reps 1 and 5, and maybe on the other reps- but less so when you led out more and didn’t move as much. It might have been because your hand was in your pocket…. because cookies or toys might be in there LOL!I think his 8 foot bounce was good! I think he was better on rep 2 – on rep 4 he was a little surprised and more ass-over-teakettle which is the scientific term notation for a little too forward on his front haha But he made really good adjustments and that is the goal.
To help him look forward, you can go out to the Pet Tutor and then release, to let him think about mechanics and not look up at you at all.
>>I’m familiar with Susan’s progressive grid so I’ll work that one in for the future. So Susan often has 5 jumps in her grids necessitating 4 bounces. Are we working with 3 jumps mainly because these are younger dogs or because the 5 is just plain excessive?>>
I think that starting with 5 jumps is a bit of lumping 🙂 especially with younger dogs. We can get better behavior and also do fewer jumps with the shorter grids – and then when the concepts are solid, we can add a jump and get better success. What I found was that with 5 jumps, we wouldn’t get great behavior so then we would end up doing *more* jumps – which also didn’t lead to great behavior LOL! I actually now do most of my jump work without ever going near a jump or jump grid, to try to save the dog’s body 🙂
Tracy
Ah, I see what you are asking 🙂
>>I’m most interested in the teeter concepts and the contact work. Do those concepts correspond to a specific seminar or ?
The contacts & teeter games will be in the online classroom only, kind of like the tunnel/wing handling games here like the Starfish. They will be posted and you can work on them, but the live seminars won’t address them. I thought it might be too hard for folks to have access to the contact stuff for the live seminars, so I have them planned as classroom only. Let mw know if that makes sense 🙂
Tracy
Hi!
>>He’s about 16” tall I’ve been jumping 12” preferred so do I need to increase the distance or ?>>
For a 16″ tall dog like him, I would suggest a 4 foot distance between jumps 1 and 2 but also lower bars for this grid – this first interval is to challenge balance and not height, so 4 inches is the highest I would go for him on this grid for jumps 1-2 (think they were 8″ here?”) We add more height on the second jump of the set point and the last jump of this accordion grid when it gets out to 12 feet or so away from jump 2.
Good session here – on reps 1 and rep 2, the stay position was not as precise and that affected the jumping: on rep 1, he was rolled on a hip, so be sure you get him into a tight upright sit like you did at :50 and the reps after that – that really helped his jumping because he could immediately power in with his hind end. On rep 2, he had a nice down but it was a little too close to jump 1 so couldn’t quite get organized and dropped the first bar. So if you use a down, start him on step further back.
On rep 1, he was a little inverted, meaning his head was up – it might have been that he was figuring out the grid, or that the reinforcement was too high (I couldn’t see where you had it) so remember to have the reward on the ground if you didn’t have it there. I think lower bars will help there to.
Rep 2 – he dropped the first bar but then did well with his striding between 2 and 3!!!
rep 3 – I liked it all – good sit, better striding and lower head!
rep 4 – good rep here too – it was even more balanced than rep 2 (which was the same distances)
rep 5 – he is definitely sorting this out! Yay!! Good boy – this was much more balanced than rep 1.
Great job on these! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi Abby! Here is the info:
Seminar 1: Saturday, December 12:
Concept Transfers: Young Dog Handling! (3 jumps and a tunnel)
10am – 2pm EasternSeminar 2: Sunday, December 20:
Wingin’ It! Complex Handling Sequences Using Wings And Tunnels
10am – 2pm EasternSeminar 3: Saturday, Jan 16:
Concept Transfers: Young Dog Handling! (3 jumps and a tunnel)
10am – 2pm EasternHi!
>>1) When does this class officially end?
The last day for videos will be November 22 🙂
>>2) We have access to all the material for how long? There’s SO many good games still for us to play!
Lifetime access! You can access the classroom, PDFs and youtube videos for as long as you want. The Zoom recordings might need to be downloaded and used differently at some point in the future, but I will let people know if we change access to the Zoom recordings.
>>3) And Sly and I DEFINITELY want to continue with you for the winter. I just saw your Facebook post and part of me would love to do them ALL…not very realistic, huh?
Ha! I did try to put up interesting options for the winter!!
>>What would you recommend? He’s 13 months old now, I have a 40×120 indoor heated training space with all the equipment
The next MaxPup builds on the work we have done in this MaxPup and the previous one, taking us into pre-Novice sequencing as well as looking at contact behaviors – some RDW, but also games for the frame and teeter.
I think the Independent Backsides class is *not* what I would suggest for baby dogs… at this point, I like my 13 month old dogs to understand independent FRONT sides hahahaha we can always add backsides later on, when they are 18 months or 2 years old.
The Want To Stay – Ready To Go class is something different and appropriate for youngsters – emphasizing holding all the elements of the transition into and out of the start line, which makes for great trial prep.
Blinds will be fun, but you will get a lot of that in the MaxPup class so I would suggest either Blazing Blinds *or* the next MaxPup, but not both at this moment.
The Winter Puppy Camp is almost the same as what you did during the Summer Puppy Camp, and the Proofing 101 will have games that you have done here and are also in the upcoming MaxPup.
Hopefully that sorts them all out a bit more 🙂
>> and we are in Katarina’s Young Dog RC Foundations class and plan to continue with that. We do an every other week lesson with Lo Baker so are getting in some sequencing.
Fun and fun!!! Excellent instructors 🙂 And RDW training is SO FUN 🙂
Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>>o with the accordion game what is the final goal we are looking for? Are we wanting 1 stride jumps, progress to 2 strides; or varying between bounce and multi strides?>>
In general, we are looking for balanced, rhythmic jumping with hind end engagement. What that likely means for a male Viszla is: bouncing at the 6 foot distance, bouncing at the 9 and 12 foot distances, likely bouncing at the 15 foot distance (or a collected one-stride). At 18 feet – one stride. At 21 feet – either an extended 1 stride or a 2 stride. The goal is to eventually have him work up to 25 feet and 2 strides in that distance. Because he is young, you might not see this striding for a while but that is fine! My young male dog (BCxWhippet cross) should also have this striding, and I figure it will take 6 to 8 months at a minimum to get it, or more. And if he develops a balanced jump style that is different – then that is fine too 🙂
Tracy
Hi!
Sometimes, we just have days where the connection is off 🙂 Totally us! But you recovered really well!
Some ideas for you:
On the first run – I think you position was a little off on the opening, he saw too much pressure on the first attempt and thought you did not want 2. Much better position on the opening on the redo! You can also start him on your left at 1 and lead out or run into a BC or FC 2-3 🙂
Nice blind at :44!
It looks like you got a little too far up course for the ending line? But overall a strong run.2nd run – on that first jump, give him more room and also set him up on a slice -that will help him see the turn sooner. He was facing straight, close to the jump and you turned late so he ended up dropping the bar at 1. That might have thrown off your connection – you were disconnected as you mentioned through the middle, but really reconnected after the table! Good recovery! You can also practice running with your arms lower, not pointing to the jumps – just connect and urn, pumping your arms on those big lines 🙂
run 3
This video takes me to run 1, can you repost? Thanks 🙂Run 4 – SO much more connected! Yay!!! This is also a course where you can point less and connect/pump your arms more. I think the pointing slows you down and blocks connection a bit, so he head checks to confirm the info. About the blind – based on where you were, you would not have gotten the blind from that position, the RC was the better choice. He jumped the triple really nicely on it! Nice run!!!!
Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
I was so busy watching you that I didn’t realize that Ti was out there til afterwards! LOL!! I need to change some “she” to “he”. I guess I should have noticed it was quieter? LOL! But he was vocal too 🙂 Both dogs did well, lots of good stuff here!On the video:
OMG she is too funny on the contacts!! “MOM! MOM!!! MOM!!!!!!” hahaSeq 1: this is going well! She is showing strong commitment (especially for a baby doggie!) and you are actually trusting her more!! Yay! You were not overhelping 🙂 You can add in pushing to the backside on 4 from further across the bar – as she is exiting the tunnel, aim for center of the bar so you can disconnect and get outta there sooner. You were on the bar closer to the entry wing – she got the backsides nicely but then you had to scramble to get off her line. Being further away will help!
The wrap at 5 (and getting out of it) and get out 6-7 looked good!!Seq 2:
I noticed this on sequence 1 but you can see it REALLY clearly on seq 2 at jump 3: she (and Ti too hahaha) is really developing that default commitment to come in and jump the bar on a backside as you disconnect to leave and move into your blind! You can see it at :58 and 1:09 really clearly! And looks at you all the way across the bar for the push to 3 at 1:23! Nice!!! You were across the bar at 1:40 but facing forward more – the difference between that and 1:23 and 1:45 was that she exited the tunnel for 1:23 and 1:45, you were running a parallel path with pressure towards the backside and clear upper body cue. At 1:40, you were running facing forward more, not as parallel and not showing pressure to the backside.Nice FC at 1:01! And REALLY nice send-and-leave at 1:09 and 1:25 and 1:48 – that was the perfect combination of supporting commitment with connection while the rest of your body left for the next line. Yessss!
Getting the blind on 5 backside at 1:01 and 1:12 requires an earlier reconnection AND a very strong reconnection directly to the eyeballs 🙂 She is completely inexperienced on those so you have to exaggerate it – when she realizes that such a crazy thing does actually exist, she will respond on the beginning of the head turn and you won’t have to exaggerate it as much.
You were early at 1:27 so she got the wrong side. It is a delayed blind so the dog knows to come to the backside there. You NAILED it at 1:50 plus she is recognizing it more there too, so she is responding sooner pus you had really good position.Seq 3:
I believe this was Ti LOL! The BC 3-4 to the other side of the tunnel started on time… but relies on exit line connection which was late, so he didn’t read it. Note the difference at 2:10 when you showed him more exit line connection! 2:35 was too soft in the exit line connection so he took the off course. 2:47 was more clear in the exit line connection, but now we can talk about your running line: As you were doing the blinds, your feet were still pretty much moving towards the off course tunnel entry so even with stronger reconnection/exit line connection, he was still going off course. Note the difference in your line at 2:53 where you turned and ran directly to the correct entry. So on the blind, decel on the wing and do the blind and run to the entry you want. You did the spin on 3 at 3:11, it worked really well – note your running path! Directly towards the tunnel entry you wanted 🙂He did well when you showed good pressure to the backside by moving up the parallel line (2:53, for example and on the last rep of it) – when you faced forward, you got the front side.
And one other little detail – step straight forward past the wing to set up a clear line to the next backside. When you stepped away from it sideways, you got a bit of a wider turn.on the last Sequence, same ideas about stepping straight out of the turn – at 3:26, you stepped sideways then forward, so you got a wide turn there. Compare that to how you stepped straight out of the last wrap at 3:28 and she was SO tight!!! Nice! She is really good at driving the line you set, so be sure to set really precise lines 🙂
Great job on these, it is looking awesome!
TracyHi again!
>Then I redid the second sequence to improve the Whiskey turn on #5. Surprise, #4 was supposed to be a front side.
Ha! Yes, I just looked at what you posted and didn’t worry about the front if 4 LOL!
I think these are looking really strong! I have little things to suggest – but I think the little details will make a nice difference in the spots where he can be tighter.
First up, the last sequence:
A theme on this sequence and on your redo of the 4th sequence is exit line connection, particularly when you exit a spin or German. I think your timing of starting the collection cue at 3 was really good, it was a reverse v-set style cue (works beautifully there) – he had really good collection before takeoff on the first rep and on the 2nd rep. But he drifted wide, especially on the first rep… why is that? You had great connection and emphasis on the collection cue but then as he was approaching the jump, you stayed connected on your original side (right arm) til he landed at :04 and :15 – which delayed the timing of the exit line connection on your left side. So, he drifted/delayed to buy himself some time. That is probably why the first rep in particular felt wide. So – as soon as you see him start to collect (at the latest) – disconnect and get your connection strongly to your new side so as he lands, he can drive to the new side and maintain the tightness of the turn.
The rest looks great, that soft brake on 4 works like a charm for him!On the seq 4 redo:
On that first rep, you can disconnect the instant his nose gets to the entry wing at :26 so he can drive to the exit line immediately. He is chasing your line of motion really well (you are running a great line there) but he is lifting his head a bit, waiting for more info.
On the exit of 4, you can also be more urgently connected on the exit line: your dog side arm was back but he didn’t quite see your eyes so he drifted there as you set up the whisky at :31.
The Whisky looks great there, very clear line!You had *perfect* exit line connection at :42 as you did the backside serp – that plus a great running line equaled a fabulous turn. And nice switch whiskey at :48!
On the last rep – this is another spot where you can do the BC sooner (jump 3 backside at :57) – you had a fabulous running line there but he had to wait behind you to see exactly where he needed to be. He didn’t drift wide because your line was so good, but he settled back a bit (a little too polite LOL!) You can also give him clearer exit line connection setting up the circle wrap 360 at :58, but check out your exit line connection as you ran to the tunnel at 1:20: great!! And he really powers into the line when you do that.
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi there!
Great job on these!
First video:
I think the bar at :07 was because you decelerated waiting for him to exit the tunnel then as he lifted: you accelerated, did the arm cue, added the verbal. Ideally you would be in motion the whole time with no sudden stops and starts (moving closer to the tunnel will help that) but also it is a proofing thing – sometimes we humans do sudden stops/starts/flings/yells and we pay up in toys and cookies when the dogs keep the bars up 🙂 I don’t think it had anything to do with connection, as he was over the bar at :06 you were perfectly connected.
You were smoother through there on the 2nd run and 3rd run – you were coming in from different handling moves to the tunnel, but there was no stop and start and tons of good connection. Yay!
He was lovely finding the backside on 4 on all of these 🙂 so I will now keep bugging you to disconnect and go to your blind cross sooner on all of them. At :08, :44 and :59, you were connected on your right arm on all of these while he was jumping and ideally you would be already past the wing and looking over your left as he was jumping. It won’t make a massive difference on this particular sequence because you were so far ahead on the send and the next line was not terribly difficult to get to… but it will make a massive difference elsewhere (I rejoiced in this send-and-disconnect skill on those huge speedstakes courses this past weekend!!)Nice collection cue at 5 at :10! You can start your next cues even sooner, he looked up at you for a moment when he landed. I liked your collection cues on the 2nd and 3rd reps there even better, you had a clear ‘brake’ moment but not as much lower body rotation as on the first rep, plus you were earlier on the go cues back down the line. Really nice!!
Was the cross arm cue (when you fixed the stay) a visual marker for “hey, you moved your feet”? If so – I like it! Marks the moment precisely.
>> I wanted to practice the “no leadout” on this setup and I thought he handled it well.>
Yes, I think that looked great too!
Video 2:
>>On paper, I wondered why you went around 4 the way you did; then I tried it both ways. >>
To stretch the limits of commitment and disconnection
The way I handled it was pretty demanding in terms of connection switches and stuff – and it is a skill that I use plenty on different types of courses because all I have to do is run forward, turn my head and yell things 🙂 >> I really do need to do it enough so that it will be successful. 😉 Looking at the video, I am out of position both times: Enzo cannot see the jump because I am blocking the wing. Will have to rework it later…>>
Yes – you have to decel and tuck in to show the wing, which requires a lot of patience when you are ahead. Getting closer to the previous jump and set it up so you don’t have to wait at the whiskey as long.
Nice push to the #3 backside! On this backside because there is no blind, you were spot on to maintain your connection over the bar and show exit line connection at :06 and :23.
As soon as you see his nose at the entry wing of 4, though – disconnect and leave. You watched him jump at :08 then tried to get out of there, finishing the spin – which messed up the timing of the RC at :10 because when you reconnected, he was already needing the next cue (showing the wing and decelerating into the whiskey).
When you repeated it, you held connection and then set up a great threadle at :26!!
Also a super nice push at :35 and :50 – you are all the way across the bar and he is going to the backside! Yay!! Because you did a blind exit here (German turn) at :36 and :51, as soon as you see his nose at the wing, do the blind. Your position was perfect. You started the jump as he landed which delayed the info, so he looked up at you for a heartbeat at :37 and :52 and had to shift himself back out to the backside line.
My general rule of thumb about watching a dog jump when I am planning a blind: We should only see them jumping over the new shoulder 🙂
SUPER job with the FC-BC at :40!!! And great job getting the FC to whiskey at the very end: there was some impressive connection all through there on both reps. My only suggestion on both of those moments is to head more directly to the wing of that last jump rather than pull away from it,
So overall, really really lovely connection throughout 🙂 I will keep bugging you about *disconnection* now hahahahaha
>>Did you decide to do the discrimination class for the winter?>>
Yes – the proofing class is coming! Stay tuned for a whole lot of upcoming class updates, because thanks to Covid, I will not be leaving my house for work until March at the earliest. Lots of time for computer classes 🙂 Wheeee!
T
Oh yes! This looked great!!! Gorgeous turns!!! On the first rep, strategically, don’t go quite as close to 3, handle it from a little further away so you can get back around the wing sooner for a sweeter push to the backside. You can also disconnect and get outta there sooner 🙂
2nd rep was really nice! I bet you can leave even sooner there too, her commitment is REALLY strong!
3rd rep was pretty darned perfect 🙂
You can challenge yourself to disconnect and leave as soon as she passes you, rather than waiting to see her take off. That will really help you test her commitment.Great job!
TracyHowdy!
>>Thanks for the link. I do like seeing what and how the “live” classes do, and your tips to them can be helpful for Keiko and me, too. 😉
All of the classes turned out so different, it was really fun!
>>I was wondering when this class ends? I know we have access to it “forever” but was wondering when the official end of student postings is, since I realize you’ve finished posting new exercises.
Official end of student postings is November 22nd. I will be posting more about that later today.
>>I know you’re being challenged to come up with stuff for us for over the winter, but you’re creative, & I know you’ll have good options for us. Perhaps a combo of short and longer sets so people have choices if they can’t do it all?
I think I figured it out 🙂 The next MaxPup should be posted today or tomorrow, and I have other plans as well for skills work in big or small spaces. More coming today on all of that 🙂
Talk to you soon 🙂
TracyGood morning!!
>> Your additional demo video was super helpful!
Yay! I can do it on a jump if anyone needs to see it, after my quads heal from running those giant Speedstakes courses LOL!!!
>> I was wondering if I should have more space between the starting wing and the jump? You can, but you don’t need a lot of space – you need to just be parallel. So if starting with him at the wing keeps you parallel to him, that will work. Or if he blasts past you 🙂 you can send to the wing so you have a head start 🙂
On the video: I think this went well! He was feeling good in the cold weather LOL! Small details: on the push cue, keep your feet moving forward, try to not rotate them. On the first couple of reps you were a little rotated but then when you felt more comfy and then especially when you reversed the set up, you did a really good job of keeping your feet straighter to the line.
I also think you can say the push cue more often and with more urgency: PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH instead of push. Saying it once, and politely, may not get processed. But saying it a few times and with urgency is much more likely to be processed 🙂 1:47 is a good example of being too polite about it: you were quiet and said the cue once. He had just had 2 rewards for the front side, so the softer push cue didn’t quite register – a more urgent one will! You helped with a tiny step on the last rep which is fine, but changing the tone and urgency of the verbal will really register.>> Then there was an error on a backside and I could feel the difference at the time and can see it on the video.>>
I think we are talking about the same moment (1:47) – I don’t think it was an error in position or anything, he just didn’t quite process the cue, no worries.
He seemed to have no trouble finding the bar after the backside! And adding more distance between the wing and the jump will add more motion, which can work to your benefit because it will support the line more easily.
>> I ran the speedstakes course yesterday just for fun with my 8 year old border collie after Jen and River ran.
That massive one from Saturday? It was a DOOZY. My legs still hurt LOL!
>>Yesterday, I turned my upper body to her and used my opposite arm for extra good measure and it turns out she can commit to a backside from like 20 feet away without question.
YES!!!! So cool 🙂 My Voodoo won that event because I have spent the summer doing demo videos of 2 things with him as demo model: super independent backside sends, and tunnel exits on verbals only. Boom! I was so happy that he went and did his thing and oh yes, I was using a lot of upper body rotation and outside arm with him too 🙂 For some reason, people really HATE using the outside arm. It has been drilled into them that it is a bad thing – but it clearly is not 🙂 I used my outside arm on backside sends, threadles and to indicate tight wraps – on the same damn course. No question from the dog and believe me, Voodoo does NOT let me off the hook if he has a question LOL!!!
>> She never missed a single one or had any questions or brought bars down (also a problem we’ve experienced with backsides). I was very impressed.
That is awesome!! I have also found that Voodoo doesn’t touch the bars based on the independent training we’ve done, I have REALLY been bugging my CAMP and Crazy Commitment classes to work the independence on the backsides and now I have some good results to show them about why they should do it 🙂 With the puppies, we have started all of the elements: independent push. default come-in-and-jump-the-bar, as well as the zig zag jumping to teach them how to jump the backside slices. In the masters-level classes, we have also worked on having the handler see commitment then disconnect and leave for the next line: another skill that was SUPER useful for the speedstakes insanity. And independent backside class is on my list for winter training – all 4 of the major elements separately then putting them back together. It will be fun!!!
Tracy
