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Hi!
>>I’m excited that he has already gained speed and it is only week 2.I totally agree! It allows us to spend the summer maintaining the speed, building the bars back up to full height, adding skills and in general planning to get this speed into the trial environment (things are always different at trials!)
On the videos:
REALLY great job here!! I only have little suggestions for you about a couple of handling ideas and some timing.1st video – LOVELY opening. Great job on the around cue – do the blind instead of the FC to get to 5.
2nd video – GREAT job on the 5-6-7-8-9 section! He sent to the tunnel beautifully (tunnel #6) – for now, send by also keep running towards it, so that when he is exiting, he sees you running hard and not decelerated. He didn’t lose steam on the complex section 9-10-11-12 and you were brilliant to reward him!!
3rd video – at 12 (:05) I think he doesn’t need the spin on that jump – you can try the old fashioned move of “fling and run” haha! The spin asked for collection and he is so precise on his running lines that I bet he gets that line in full on extension to the 13 tunnel. If I am wrong and he picks up the off course jump because he is running so hard… that is actually great news LOL!! I would reward ANY off courses he drives to – because he is driving. He is definitely NOT naughty, so an off course would be legit! We can always use a soft turn cue there (decel, because he reads it so well) but I think fling-and-run would be the first option LOL!
After the tunnel, you can give the around cue sooner and as soon as you see his head turn to the backside, do the blind – you were a stride late at :10 so he had to land and adjust, which bleeds off speed a bit and isn’t as much fun for him. As he gets to the backside, you should be finished with the blind. I think you were trying to serp him in and then blind… but his skills are pretty advanced, so I think you can cue the backside and then when you think he is heading that way, just do the blind, Trust him to take the jump. And, if it turns out he doesn’t understand, we can train it. So far, he seems to understand *everything* 🙂The full course on the last video looked great! So happy with how he is doing!!!! If you play with it again, try the blind after 4 . You did the fling-and-run at 12 and he went a little wide – I think if you adjust your running path to fling to 12 from further away, staying closer to 11, you will be able to run and he will not take the wider path.
I liked keeping him on your right for 14-15-16! You can cue the backside and leave, letting him chase your line even sooner – and not having to worry about the blind rakes out any timing of a side change and puts you far enough ahead to control the line at the exit of the a-frame. NICE!Lovely work here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi! Really nice work on these – hard courses!!!
>>I didn’t feel like Demi was ready for any coursework yet, so we broke things down.
It was a great set of sessions for her. You made it so she had a lot of success while you worked on hard stuff!
>>On the first sequence I was disappointed that I couldn’t get the turn.
Nothing to be disappointed about – it was a Goldilocks situation – too early, too late, just right. You had to sort it out and you kept it fun for her!
>>My FC was super icky,
No it wasn’t LOL! Just a little late for now.
>> I couldn’t get her to take the jump while I did the blind. I will def be working on the “commitment” skill set!
Yes! More commitment games in new places and a verbal jump cue to help her will really make it easier.
>>In the second video, I tried Wilson in the master stuff. I really tried to be conscious of my verbals and their timing.
Mission accomplished, so much good stuff!!!
>> So much for the connection I thought I had! What’s up with that? What am I doing wrong?
I don’t attribute the slipping to a connection issue. He was just struggling with the footing – he might be out of practice with running on turf. Or might have a hard time on turf in general.
Here is more:
Demi, first video – that opening line is super nice – great lead out! The cross to the tunnel is hard one – first rep was a little late (FC, bar down because she tried to adjust in the air), second rep was a little early (sorta, not really – she is just young, so a verbal jump cue will definitely help and more commitment games. Young dogs often lose a little commitment in new places or new situations, so that plays a role here too). 3rd rep lovely!!! Look how she drove through the blind!!When you broke it down to 1 jump to begin the next section, you never really connected on the very first attempt so she didn’t commit. The next attempt at much clearer connection and that set up a really nice line into the next part of the sequence. Lovely job showing her that line and rewarding.
At 1:05, you asked if it was a push or not for jump 6: it depends if you think Demi will have a choice on which side to take. If you think she will exit 4 and most definitely no matter what easily see the side you want without having to move away (she will easily pick it up while turning towards you) then no, it is not a push. If you think she has a choice of which side to take when she lands from 5, or if she would need to push away from you to get it… then yes it is a push. The way this was set up, especially with a low bar where she would naturally land very tight on your cue, it might indeed be a push for her (at 20″ it might be a different story, because she lands in a different spot).
It cracked me up when someone (Christine?) said she was not qualified to answer that LOL!!!!You handled it nicely though!
>>You can hear our “go” discussion relative to the tunnel to the jump. What do you think? Obviously I think it is a go go go, but we are not all in agreement.>>
I agree with Kris – it isn’t a GO to 5 because you don’t want her landing out on the other side of the planet in full on extension 🙂 You want a turn on 5, so a ‘jump’ or left verbal would fit better.
Next section: speaking of the jump verbal, you used it for the jump after the tunnel at 1:35 – perfect spot for it. Great connection and line-showing there!
And great reinforcement for the jump and then after the tunnel on the next rep to build the sequence.Nex line – lovely connection from the tunnel up the next line! You were a little late on the turn cue on the jump before the tunnel the first time through (bar down) and a little early on the turn cue for the wrap jump on the first time (refusal). So yes, be earlier and later haha! But also the customs skills sets have little games for both of these as they are both common oopsies that young dogs make: proofing the jumping and committing anyway when we are early but near a jump.
You nailed it on the second time through there. Just lovely! The future is bright with your teamwork! You are really focusing on connection and timing, excellent priorities. You tend to get quiet when you are that focused on those elements, which is fine – we will add back the verbals more when you aremore comfy running her (it takes a while to get comfortable running baby dogs!)2nd video – hellooooo Wilson!
>> When I reviewed the video, I was discouraged to see how much wilson was slipping and falling.
Yes, he was struggling with the footing so he was running with a more ‘up-and-down’ motion and trying to avoid slipping, which affects timing and connection for sure!
On the opening line: try to push to 2 from further across the bar – at least from the middle of the bar 2 – so as he is going to the backside, you are passing the exit wing and heading to 3. At :06 and :21 you were at the entry wing so as he was approach takeoff for 2, you were still trying to get away from 2 – so he landed looking at the frame (correctly). That made the threadle to the 4 tunnel a little late (bar down at :12, off course at :24). For the off course moment, remember to turn towards him on that threadle and not away, and use your threadle verbal. You had a much better threadle physical cue at :30 (looking at him with fists of fury!) and he nailed it. You did a strong “WIL HERE” at 1:05 and turned away, but I think that makes it iffy – the upper body towards him at :30 was a much clearer cue.
You left sooner on the push to 2 at 1:01, and it set up a nicer line! Trust him more to be able to do that on his own and play with sending to 2 from further away – the goal is that you can leave sooooo early that when he is on takeoff side of 2, you are also on that side of the jump, heading to 3 🙂
Really loved your connection and line on the entire middle section form 4-11!! Nice!!!! Twice!!! As you sent to 11 at 1:21, you turned forward a little too soon and he dropped the bar on 10. That is a really hard sideways jumping effort required for 10, and he liked your connection and finesse on the first time through better.
Nice job getting the wrap on 12 at :48 and 1:24! . If you call him right before he enters 11 (tunnel) he will have an even nicer line there (he was wide on the tunnel exit). You can also play with turning him the other way on 12 (to his left) because it will set up a better line over the bar and to the tunnel.
And the toy throw at the end (:54) is why the bar came down – be patient on those, let him land and then throw the ball (be late LOL!) You were patient and connected on the next rep at 1:28 and it was so lovely!
Course 2:
Nice opening! You had a little extra motion on the push cue at 1:46 to jump 4: your intent to send him from further away was perfect, he just didn’t need the motion into it – you can probably just use your upper body and a more intense connection (the naughty dog glare LOL!) and he will get it. He was so proud of himself, getting the target position there LOL!!! Good boy.
Ah, much more finesse on the next rep at 1:56!!! Nice! And if you freeze the video when he takes off at 1:58 – you are basically done with the blind and in a great spot. Click/treat for you! SO NICE! And it set up a really great line through all of that crazy middle section: I think you did a great job of showing him 5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12!! Great connection sprinkled with verbals.
So far, the bigger dogs are telling us they need more of a turn cue on 12 to head back to the 13 tunnel. So you can use a bit of a soft brake arm and decel (and a little bit of his name) and that should get him landed looking at the tunnel (and keeping the bar up at 12).Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>> First, my stupid computer is doing many weird things.
Tech difficulties drive me crazy! Fingers crossed that your computer gets back into good behavior 🙂
>>On sequence 1, reps 1 and 2, I tried to “release in motion” (running!). I admire this technique and I have seen lots of people (including you) use it with great success. But. It is just not going to make it in to my handling system at this time. Perhaps after E has been showing for a few months and we have a rhythm going, I can try it again. Right now it makes everything too late and to difficult.>>
That is fine, of course! 🙂 You can gently ease it in by releasing while walking. It produces a lot of speed for dog and handler, which indeed is a good news (speed! Yay!) – bad news (speed! eeek!) situation. Plus it changes the mechanics of movement for both of you. It can go on the back burner for now.
>>Not sure about more turning cues at 4 – I guess I was late…
At this ‘learn your dog’ stage, you can play with just how early you can give info and get the turn, without pulling him off and without being so early he loses the info. When we get a bit of wideness, we always try earlier info and see if it helps. If not, changing the choice of cue or adding a dog training layer are on the agenda to.
>> I agree that the wraps on #6 were both very pretty. Hmmmm that is almost (not quite) the turn we’ve been looking at in the head turn section.
Yes – 100% agree on this that we were getting head turns!!!
On to the novice courses.
Course 1:
very nice opening on this! Smooth, connected and fast 1-5. The slicing R on 5 worked nicely!
On t he around at 6 – you can stick a little closer to the wing and decel to start your rotation sooner to tighten up that FC, he was a little wide because you started your rotation as he was already in the air. You can be closer to the wing to start it and then move off the line as you rotate out of it to set the line to the tunnel.You were MUCH clearer on the come-flip cue at 8 – the first time he only saw a shoulder turn. He might drive through it more if you used the outside arm, more like a tandem turn. Same thought for the come-switch at 9-10-11: turning to fae the parallel line a la tandem turn and an outside arm can help him come in to 10 then set the flip away.
2nd run – Another nice opening line! Lovely! I liked your timing of the rotation for the FC 6-7 a lot better, yo uwere rotated before takeoff. He was a little tighter but not much, mainly because of your running line: he jumped directly out to the line you ran (something we tackle in the week 2 package!) So you can try to be right on the outer edge of the wing (not past it), don’t go past it, to start that turn, then rotate through it getting off his line as you rotate away, that will help set it up better.
I liked your handling of the come-flip & come-switch moments on 8 and 10 – more obvious shoulder turns helped him a lot, you can turn even more (especially on 10) for that.
He dropped the last jump there –>> I’m inclined to think it is just carelessness, since he knows the stop after the last bar is the toy.
Agreed! I think he was rushing for the toy, took off a little too soon (really locked onto the toy) and it looks like he hit the bar on the way down. I also say “oh honey!” to my dogs when they do that haha! So that is a great proofing game: drive towarsd a toy, but only give permission to get it if he doesn’t touch the bar. He definitely had a better jumping effort on the re-do!
I like the aggressive strategizing in the next run! He was a little wide over 3, my guess is because you were very fast through the FC? You were on time for sure but there was a sudden explosion of motion 🙂 Definitely keep working on rewarding him turning on that because it set up a nicer line to 5!
Also a you can do a blind on this because you won’t need as much mtion to do it and that can create en even tighter turn.You were further ahead on 4-5 and that is great (definitely faster there!) except it put you way ahead on 6-7, so you set a wider line. Strategize to hug that wing of 6 to set the turn to 7. It is posssible you were also planning ahead for the blind after the tunnel (love that!) but having to take the step to push him back to 7 is what made you one step late for the blind (definitely living on the edge there, and that is great!) You can also play with a tight blind 6-7 because you can keep running forward to the next blind – rotation is slower but it is a matter of if he can see the line.
Last rep – you had less explosion of motion on the FC at 3 (1:41) and he put in a turn stride, producing a lovely AND fast turn!
You did play with the blind 6-7! It worked nicely to help get you up the line. He was a little wide over 6 here too – not because of a FC or a BC choice, but because of the running line. You will want him to jump on the very inside corner of the bar next to the wing closer to the 5 jump, so you will nee to set that line by being right on it, not going past it.
Nice job getting the blind to 8!! You were making sure yo ugot connection so your shoulder turn was a little late so he wasa little wide… but it actually set up a good racing line to 10!I timed the difference on the ending lines (switch versus wrap) and the switch was about 2/10ths faster, coming in from 8.
Course 2: very nice run here!! Little details:
Love the lead out! Makes things easier for sure! You can send and leave 3 a little earlier and that will tighten up the turn to 4. You stayed parallel for him a bit too long there.Based on your position and connection on the 5-6 line, you did not need any sort of come or threadle – he was over 5, looking at 6 so all he needed was the tunnel cue. Great running line and connection set it really well!
He also completely understood the exit of the 6 tunnel to the 7-8 line, so didn’t need as much of a verbal Enzo Come Here Dear (which is so sweet <3) - good to know that he follows the line so nicely!
Great line 7-8-9 and he knew exactly where 10 was, so yo ucan start that cue and rotation even sooner.
And on the entry of the 11 tunnel, you stepped forward and gave him the swoosh noise, so he exited in extension - a step way and right cue or name call will set a prettier ending line.So it was a really lovely run and basically about hashing out what he needs on big lines versus what he doesn't need. A lot of this falls into the "good to know" category to be filed away for future courses.
Great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
>> I sort of feel like I am behind on this work, although I’ve been working hard on it. Not sure how it compares to how others are doing.
You are doing an awesome job! You are actually a little ahead 🙂
Run 1 – I liked the way you chose to handle the opening line – she really knew which lines and turns you wanted! The switch worked well and it put you ahead to control the tunnel discrimination and the line after the a-frame.
I think I can see why she turn right on that 11 jump on course 2, based on how you handled 6-7 (the tunnel discrimination) – you gave the verbal cue and pulled away, strongly, then flicked her back. It was a similar physical cue to the pull from 11-12 on the previous course, so she might predict that the strong pulls mean to be prepared to flick back out. Let me know if that makes sense! She did much better on the softer post turn on11-12 on course 2.
On the send to the 7 tunnel, try not to get quite as close to the tunnel entry, it will help you get back up to the 8 backside after it more easily. And for a verbal before the tunnel entry, add in giving the backside cue right before she enters so she comes out moving away rather than towards you.
The 8-9-10 choice is is difficult, in terms of which lines to choose. You chose the S-left on 8-9, but because of her turning ability it would be fun to try to do the S-left on 8, then a circle wrap on 9 so she lands facing 10, or the S-left on 8 and the S-right on 9 (towards the tunnel) to then push her back over 10 – she turns really well so the only way to know which is fastest is to time it from the tunnel exit all the way to 11.
You can decelerate a little earlier (landing of 11) to get a slightly tighter wrap on 12, but otherwise all of those lines are good!
She ended up on the backsie of 16 because as you were moving to position, you pushed in and opened up connection strongly to her, which pinged her off to the backside. It would be fun to try to give her a GO cue before she entered 15 then layer that 9 jump as you drove to 16 (based on how you set it here)Video 2: Another really nice opening! Yes, you were a little late on the cue for the 2nd tunnel but also you said something different – on the first run you had a really strong threadle verbal, and on this run you were quieter with the cue (and a different one, I think) so she didn’t really process it)
Video 3:
Another really nice opening, you really “own” those skills 🙂
You had the strong physical cue again for the 2nd tunnel discrimination, but I think you had a different word this time too (‘come’) – which is your cue for the discrim? I think you were saying “see me” on the others.
Nice middle line on the 7-8-9-10 section!! You were earlier on the cue sfor the wrap at 12 – super nice turn! At :23, before she took off, you were already rotated – but still connected so she committed and turned beautifully.
Watching the last jump here – yes, it is the running line required to get past that 9 jump that is causing her to push out to the backside – you can play with sending her to the backside jump at 14 from further away, so you can use verbals to commit her to the tunnel and layer that 9 jump. That should work! Let me know if that makes sense 🙂
Great job here!Tracy
Hi! Nice work on these!
First rep:
Very nice opening line and great job with the push to the backside at 4! You had a great independent push from the other side of the jump!
You can start the blind sooner on that backside – as soon as she is heading to the entry wing, go ahead and do the blind. At :05 you called her in on your right side and did the blind when she landed, so she had to pop around you to find 5 at :06.
I think you skipped the 7-8-9 line and went directly to 10-11 🙂 At 11 – it was interesting that she was convinced it was a right turn! My guess is that she read it as a pull-then-flick rear cross, where we close our shoulders like that on a post turn then turn the dog away on the flat.2nd run – another nice opening! You are really doing a great job with the backside send! You were a little earlier on the blind 4-5 but ideally it is finished before she takes off. So try to start it when you see her *almost* at the backside wing, definitely before she gets around it.
This one had 7-8-9, looked great 🙂
On the 10-11 section: THe FC works nicely! You didn’t have the same dramatic pull of your shoulders at 11, a little more decel, a little softer on the shoulder turn and more connection – so she definitely knew it was a left turn.
I like the serp-blind on 14 to get to the ending line! She had a little zig zag getting to it in on the exit of the 13 tunnel, so you can start telling her to ‘get out’ or go to the backside before she enters 13 to smooth it out. You cued it when she exited, but she was already turning to you – by telling her right before she enters, you will see her already be on the correct line before she exited 🙂
Great job!! Onwards to course 3 below!Good morning!
>>Let’s just forget the skills stuff and my verbals. I’m going to blame it on the heat. Good?
Good! HAHAHA!!!
Video 1:
I agree, she was GREAT with people there and I believe she is going to turn out to be a “game day” dog like Voodoo and Hot Sauce. What I mean by “game day” is that during practice, they are lovely and speedy… but when there are other people and dogs around like at a trial…. GAME ON WE GO SO MUCH FASTER. Josie was like that here, a whole new gear. Love it!!! Not easy to handle at first… but you will learn how to handle the speed!Course 1:
More connection to 3, longer lead out like on the 2nd rep, then a turn cue to the tunnel on 3.
I really liked the longer lead out and blind cross at :46! To get her to see the side change there, two things to help:
as you start the blind, change your running line more directly to the tunnel and less forward. And then make a massive cross body connection (even showing her the reward, getting the dog-side arm totally out of the picture – then reward it, You probably haven’t done a lot of blinds yet with this much speeeeed! You broke it down and had better connection at :58 but you were still running forward – so she read the side change but didn’t really read the turn.On the ending line, try for the slice to the last jump rather than the wrap – slices are almost always faster on these lines. She read the wrap cue really nicely on that first rep. Great job with the verbal 🙂
Course 2:
Really nice opening line, great connection and outside arm to get the jump after the tunnel at 1:14! You got a little pointy (pointing forward, breaking connection) at 1:17 which turned your chest to the front and so she was correct – be sure to reward her and then fix, she was getting mad 🙂 You got it by getting to a better position to point and step at 1:45… but I think the only way pointing/stepping works is if you are in that perfect position. So, work on using more connection to her with your arm back and less pointing, so you can get it from anywhere 🙂She followed your line to the off course tunnel at 1:51 – you turned forward so she was correct – you stayed connected on the next rep so she got it 🙂 Yay!
Because of her speed, to get the jump after the tunnel, you will need to handle that line from more laterally away so you can be a little ahead after the tunnel. You can do that if you are really connected, you can try to be 10 feet away from the jump line to cue it and commit her to it!
Working the backside of the tunnel there is a good skill to isolate – when you tried to really run, she didn’t take the tunnel. So, you can break it out as a skill and work first on sending her to the backside of the tunnel from anywhere, then build up to send and run run run. She loves tunnels, so I am sure she will figure it out very quickly.
Masters 1 –
This is hard stuff, glad you broke down the opening – to get it, the handler needs some distance on that #2 jump!
After the tunnel, it is a ‘get out’ lead change away so you will want to tell her before she goes into the tunnel and have the arm/verbal/connection happening before she exits. The first exit did look like a normal ‘follow the momma’ and the 2nd exit had the correct physical cues, but they were a little late (and then the wind blew dow nthe gate, eeek!!! You got it at 3:42 but it was happening after she exited: try to reach into the tunnel with the cue, so she sees it before she even exits, rather than see her exit then cue it. Ideally, that lead change happens while she is still in the tunnel.YAY baby dog for finding that big line from 5 to 8! You can be more connected and run even harder to support it 🙂 Great job with the verbal and reward!
Ending line: she found the jump to the tunnel really nicely – you began the dig dig cue on the wrap nicely but then you started there halfway rotated… so she was correct to take the jump behind you at 3:54. Reward that! If you are standing still and she takes the jump right near you… she was correct 🙂 You rotated more fully on the next rep and it totally helped! Ideally you rotated and move away to the tunnel, all before she takes off.
Ti’s course:
I think the main thing to try with him (and Josie too) is to run without pointing. You were tending to point at the lines and obstacles, which was turning your shoulders where you didn’t want him to go, and also stopping your motion (which made it harder to get places, because he was moving fast!)Here’s what I mean: you had a really connection backside cue to 4 but then at :07 pointed to 5, so he took the wrong side. At 1:22 , MUCH better connection and less pointing, so he was easily on the correct side of 5.
(You are actually too early on the verbal push cue on reps 1 and 2 (1:20), it is happening before 3, you can wait til he is over 3 or landed from 3 :))
Then while pointing to 8, he ended up on the a-frame. He got it after you sent him around again but you were standing in position to point, which is when pointing is most likely to work. It is least likely to work when moving to position, as happened on the first rep. When you used more connection and less pointing at 1:29: perfect!I like the handling choice of the lap turn at 10-11 – you moved backwards for a little too long, so he did get the turn but he ended up on the backside – you can plant your feet and just take the one step back to set the turn. It was better on the next rep, but still had a little too much backwards which caused you to move forward more than needed, which set the off course line at 1:02. You had less motion backwards through it and a better turn at 1:37 – I think he still needed a little ‘soft brake’ for 12 and a name call or left cue: you were saying “tunnel” which is more of a forward cue for him, so she was accelerating forward. You did a stronger “here” and shoulder turn on the very last rep and it really helped! If you do the here sooner, you won’t need as big of a shoulder turn.
But it was connected! That second run was overall a lot more connected (including the ending line) so he did a lot better with the lines. That emphasis on connection will also help Josie, so keep that in mind when you tackle the next courses. Great job working through these! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi Jill, good morning! First rep – yes, as you mentioned, you had a couple of spots of what I call “Young Dog Panic” where you were running fast but not connected enough 🙂 I feel that! LOL! On thing you can do to get the first run more connected is to run it at full speed… without him. Do it a few times so you feel totally connected and you can see your invisible dog on the landing of every single jump and tunnel exit – then get him out to run it 🙂
On the opening line – leading out a bit more to be at or past jump 2 when you release him will help. You released a little too close to jump 1 and he smoked you, curling in off 3. If you are past 2 when he lands from 1, then you will more easily be able to show 3 and connection won’t matter as much.
Then after 3, look him right in the eyes and give the tunnel cue – you will see him turn his head and start driving to the tunnel, and then you can move to the next cue. The turn cue on the tunnel was a little late but only because you were conmitting him. You had good connection and running line to get him to the last jump!
The 2nd run was SO much better connected, loved it!!!! You lead out a little more so you showed a better line to 3, both in your running line and in your connection. And you stayed connected to get the tunnel. Yay! Sure, the tight turn cues can be sooner but they are less important than the connection – so don’t worry as much about how tight to turn him, really focus more on the connection. I am not worried about the tightness of the turns for him because even when he is a little wide, he is running fast and having a great time 🙂 I don’t see any frustration from him and he is not falling on his head LOL!Even when you were fixing something, he was relatively chill, happy to fix, didn’t seem frustrated. Plus, you are not nagging him, you are letting him BLAST around – perfect! As you get used to his speed (sooooo fast!!!!) you will be more comfortable with it and then the finesse of the tighter turns will be so much easier. For now, the connection is more important and I am loving his improvements in commitment. Brilliant!
Great job, let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
First video –
you named it ‘train wreck’ but I think it is a pretty normal first attempt on a bigger course: more distance, more speed, jump bars to think about (for her LOL!) and also some good distractions: smells, birds, dogs barking, etc. All good and you did a nice job of helping her out and keeping it fun fun fun!!
Nice job rewarding the start line! The hardest part with the baby dogs is putting the skills onto big courses, so this is going well – You will have to over-connect at first to support the lines, like in the opening (1-2-3-4). Try to put more of the reinforcement out after jump and not after the tunnel – the tunnel is a great way to catch the dogs LOL!! and we all get into a habit of rewarding the tunnels – but more reward for the jumps will help keep the commitment level high. As far as handling choices and such – you are doing a great job but it is hard to implement them all at the moment because these first few runs are really all about the transfer of skills onto bigger courses. So, I am super happy with this: you got lines and you got rewards in – a ery good start with a youngster!The 2nd video had a really lovely connection from you and strong running lines – you really supported her and you were not rushing to get to the next line, so she ipcked up the lines. Nice job rewarding on the jumps, both on the tight turns and also on the go go go at the end. On this session, we could almost see a lightbulb over her head, saying “oh that’s right, I know this!!!” and she was looking for her lines a LOT better. I totally feel this because it is such a normal part of the young dog progression: first time on a big course, they need so much help (video 1 here :)). Then they are all like “AH! Agility!” and the skills you have trained come right back up – note her tight turns her, much stronger commitment and great job on the GO at the end. Super!!!!!
3rd video – VERY nice fancy rear crossy move after the tunnel! That is a hard move and she got it! She had to slow herself down to think it through for a moment but with more experience, she will be able to go full speed. Great use of connection there too.
Speaking of slowing herself down – she is doing the normal “I’m going to go a little slower right now to sort out all of this” on these sessions, and that is actually GREAT. Having had both ends of things (slowing down to think through puzzles and just going as fast as possible no matter what) – things always work out better when the young dog slows down a little to sort it out. They are better able to solve the puzzle then work back up to full speed – that is what she is doing here. The only thing we humans do is keep the rate of success really high like you did here and support her as she sorts it out – and then you will have so much speed on course you will need roller skates LOL!!!!>>My space is 60×120 so we will modify as we go or do bits and pieces.
Perfect! You can stretch things out to be long and narrow, that is still plenty challenging 🙂 Great job here!
Tracy
Hi Eileen! Ivan looked fabulous on these!!!
First video:
He seemed to like the tension on the start line, the suspense of it all! Great job here! He actually made you a little late on the blind to the tunnel because he was pushing you. You pushed in a little too hard and got the wrong side of 5, but that is fine – it was great to keep on running and then reward for a fast line.2nd video – OMG this was GREAT! He was *on-the-edge* on the start line and that is what we want (I promise we won’t teach him to break his stay LOL!!!) You had to work a lot harder to get the handling in and he really liked it – there was an excitement to it because you were driving so hard! Loved it! And he didn’t slow down through the wrap at the end – he powered right out of it. Great running reward at the end too, both of you kept driving after the ball.
3rd video – the fun run was great. He really likes when you crouch a little and engage like that on the start line, he came BLASTING off on the release!!! He was not quite sure about the line after the a-frame so he pinged away to take a jump, but that was fine and you were 100% correct to keep going. On the tunnel-af-rame-tunnel section, you can go closer to the first tunnel so you don’t have to be standing still when he exits. He didn’t seem to slow down but it is good to always plan to keep moving.
4th video – I liked your happy response when he broke his stay – we don’t want to reward it but we want to keep him happy 🙂 And you did! He did not deflate from what I could see, he was still fast when you ran it. This also went really well, he was fast and happy. Great reward!
So, planning for more: You can spread out the rewards so he gets rewarded for jumps a lot, and also for driving out of tight turns (those are two places where dogs traditionally slow down). You can also plan to reward very early in the sequence: if he comes blasting off the start line after a release, you can surprise him with an early reward 🙂
I will also be working on a game plan so we can sneak the jumps back up to full height while maintaining this speed, and fading the ball out so he stays fast even when he doesn’t see the ball. We have plenty of time for that ahead! Great job here!!!
Hi there! Really nice work on these!!! Many beautiful moments!
Some ideas for you:
Course 1:
Backside at 2: Your first impulse on how to handle it is correct: send and leave! She needed a little training to come in – good job training it there! It really helped remind her of the commitment so you could just move through it. Adding connection also helped! You can also add calling her name to help get commitment – and keep training so you can work back up to running through it.
On the 3-4 (jump-tunnel) section at 1:09 – as she is approaching 3, give her a threadle cue or a cross. You clapped and called her name, so she landed and didn’t know what you wanted for a couple of strides.You can start cuing the line to 5 sooner, tell her while she is in the tunnel so she exits already knowing where it is 🙂
good job 6-7-8-9, it looked great!!! The ending line also looked really good! You can tighten up the turn at 12 but decelerating sooner to turn sooner, then take one more step more directly back to the tunnel. You can also try turning her the other direction, which might be slightly longer yardage but sets up an easier turn and better lines.Course 2:
To smooth out the very beginning, put her on a slice line 1-2 for a better line and not a zig zag line when she lands from 1.
I agree, your backsides looked good on this one! Your backside pushes look REALLY good and on this course, you help your connection longer to get her to take the jump. Yes, hold your connection but keep moving – on the first run, you had a good push to 4 and strong connection to get her to take it but you slowed down and ended up with the wrong side of 5.
6-7-8-9 looked good, great connection! Really nice! You stepped in a little too much to 8 on the 2nd run, almost getting the frame, but saved it because you were connected 🙂For the 9-10-11-12 line – Call her before she goes into the #9 tunnel and move away more so she chases your line to 10. The first rep didn’t have enough info so she took the line from the previous course. The 2nd rep was much better – you did call here, but it was a little late and she did look at the wrong jump for a moment. If you call before she enters the tunnel, you will have a great line on the exit.
For her, I think the best way to set the 10-11 line is a lap turn: face her to bring her in, then step back and turn her head away to set the turn… and when she has the turn, indicate the jump. On the first rep you were a little too forward there. On the 2nd rep at 1:05, you had MUCH better foot rotation to face her but indicated the jump before turning her. These lap turn moves take a ton of patience (so hard for us humans LOL!!) to be sure the dogs are turned before you give permission to take the jump. Having her follow your hand cue will really help!
Really nice ending on both runs!!! Great job here, these were hard!!
Tracy
Hi there!
Seq 1: She really is such a nice turning dog – it is impressive, especially considering all that power and speed that she also has. The opening line on both reps looks lovely and she is collecting nicely for 3! I think we can give her a slightly different style of cue for 3-4:
At :04 and :15, you were decelerating (which she reads really well) and rotating towards her, kind of like a reverse flow pivot, then rotating back to the tunnel. She is collecting and turning, but landing and looking at you on both reps, waiting for the cue to go back to the tunnel. And it results in you running a backwards a little. That doesn’t create a problem on this sequence, but it might in other places because running backwards can delay your exit up the next line. So, something to try on 3 here is the soft-brake where you decel like you did, but use the other arm (or both arms) to indicate that you would love a little collection there – you will be connected with her but don’t turn towards her – turn towards the tunnel. This should get the great turn and an earlier cue to go to the tunnel which can then give you a change to make a more dramatic transition into the rotation to tighten up her exit line as well there.Seq 2:
On jump1, you can line her up on a slice for 1, so she can get a straight line to 2 rather than land then turn. Rep 2 and also at :52 had better line ups and had more slice, making her line there straighter than reps 1 and 3 and the last rep.You had more of a turn-towards-the-tunnel cue on 4 on the first and 2nd rep and the last rep (especially that 2nd rep and last rep, really nice!) and she turned well! But then you disconnected and didn’t cue her to take the tunnel on the 1st rep so she ran to you, good girl!! The other reps had much clearer tunnel cues 🙂
You rotated a little towards her on the 3rd rep, but the lines wher you turned away were quite perfect.She dropped the bar of 3 at 1:11… it looked like just a slightly late shoulder turn there. She did well with her jumping on the rest of it!
She did totally have trouble with that last jump! I think the exit of the tunnel was pointing to a straight line that did indeed go to the backside, so on your RUN cue, she went straight. An your running line supported it on the first couple of reps. Good to know for future backside sends!! Then as you were changing your running line, you got quiet on the tunnel entry so she did turn and look at you – your upper body was a little “open” to her, so she pinged back out to the backside. You closed your shoulders forward a bit more towards the end and added calling her, that is when she was able to get it. So I think the main thing is that she is pretty literal (that is good) so as you set and walk courses, check out what the literal line is on tunnel exits to see if she needs a name call before entry, or how a run cue will create a line. She needed a slight turn cue here, so was being a good girl to go to the backside for the run cue 🙂
Seq 3:
Breaking this down into sections:
You had her set up on a good slice 1-2 so she had pretty straight lines there!
Now, back to tunnel exits 🙂 On the exit of 2, she definitely needs a turn cue before she goes in – not a physical one, necessarily, unless you can do it from way ahead of her – but definitely a verbal cue (I would use a right cue) – you did add a verbal but I think you were saying “left”? LOL! What were you saying there? It helped her though. You also had a brake arm going, which also helps! Try to be further up the line to release her, she will still the the brake arm before the tunnel and then it is easier for you to get to 3.On the wrap at 3:
Turning your feet before she passes you totally helps tighten up the wrap there. At :09 and :16 you were a little late with the rotation, so she dropped the bar at :09 and was a little wide at :16. You were earlier at :30 and she was really nice over the bar!
Then you can get away from 4 sooner – send and go – which is probably all she needs to tighten up the line from 4 to the tunnel. She was a little wide because you were facing forward until she took off, so she landed long. By leaving sooner, she can see your line of running sooner and you will have time to use a verbal, to get a better turn towards 6.
OK, 6 🙂 The back jumping is more of a dog training moment than a handling moment. Even if you are late, we still want her to drive around the wing and never back jump it (the back jumping was an impressive display of athleticism, though!!!)
So two ways to tackle training the skill:
replace the jump with just a wing – so after the tunnel, you cue the wrap on a wing. It will be easier for you to move away from ‘just’ a wing at speed and she is more likely to wrap it and not back jump it. That way you can work at full speed and get correct behavior
Work with a jump there, but use a slower, steady motion (don’t stop, just walk through it at a steady pace) and drop the reinforcement at the outside edge of the wing as you move through, to encourage her to go there as you continue to move forward, and not back jump to try to catch up to you. You can then steadily increase your speed so eventually you will be able to full out run 🙂 And no more rewards for back jumping – you can tell her she is cute and a gifted athlete 🙂 but the toy is only for NOT back jumping LOL!!!Great job on these! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
Nice job sorting out the verbals and connections on these!!
Video 1:
First rep – first wrap was good! Good verbals! Good transitions! She is definitely getting really good at turning, even with the bars higher. 2nd wrap was a little late but also she did well on it. Yes, more connection needed on the backside – plan for it in your walk through by reminding yourself to look at her eyes as she comes around the previous jump and give the backside cue directly to her eyes 🙂2nd rep – You had the good verbals going again, but keep starting them earlier – the verbal was really late on 1st wrap (she was already taking off) and a little late on 2nd wrap. She got the backside on this one (yay!) – you were a little more connected but also you added a little step to the backside at a good time, and that totally helped as well.
3rd rep – high energy from you really helped her out – it looks like it is hot out! Your timing on the 1st wrap can be a little sooner, but I am thinking you were pushing a little harder to get her speed up. 2nd wrap was really nice, she really does well on the send-and-go when you have that little decel!!
On the backside – you were totally looking forward at the jump and your step to the backside was too late at :46, she was already locked onto the front. So you can totally use the step, but be sure to do it really early and make a massive connection to her eyes (you made a great connection on the 2nd video when she was on your right, so maybe you are more comfy with backsides on your right than one your left?)
You showed her a better connection on the backside right at the end so she got it, good girl! Be sure to throw the toy nice and long after it so she can run ti it and not land on it 🙂2nd video
You mentioned focusing on the decel: It shows! And yes, the decel really helps her and she is setting up her turns much tighter even with higher bars. Nice!first rep, you did a regular blind on the first wrap (rather than a spin) so she pulled the bar but my guess is you were distracted by her lack of speed off the start line – she did look hot or something here at the start. The early summer heat is hard on the dogs, so you can work her on the taller bars in the cooler parts of the day, and then if it starts to heat up or after a few reps, you can lower the bars a little so she can stay really engaged.
The next wrap looked great good though and you were really connected after the blinds here! And the backside was good! You mentioned feeling like you were not connecting enough… I think you were, here. And she was speeding up through them, which means she liked them too!
second rep – she wasn’t really driving off the start line so you had a little refusal on 2, I think it was that more of the timing getting thrown off than the verbal – but yes, don’t say “here” LOL! You were smart to not lead out as much on the next rep – you ended up with a little RC there on jump 3 but then you had super high energy and great connection on both of the last 2 reps. When she got hot, you had to increase your energy and connection, which was actually really good practice because it gave you a feel for keeping up the intensity all the way through – and you did a great job with that on the last 2 reps. She liked it too – ran fast and happy, even though she was hot.
When you look at the custom skills sets: there is one about commitment when the connection is a little soft, or the handling is sudden… that will help her commit even if you aren’t perfect. She sometimes pulls off at the last minute when she is very close to the jump, so that game will help her (and make your life easier too :))
Great job!!! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>>We need work on tunnel exits!
Package 2, coming Monday 🙂 Great tunnel exits can provide a tremendous advantage on course for handling, so I am looking forward to it!!
>> And I need more help paying attention to the course map.
Ha! I drink lots of coffee for that 🙂
>>Mas. 1. I see where a tiny break in connection caused her to not take the backside of 6. On second rep I added our cue for go away from me. I don’t know if it helped her or re-enforced my connection.>>
Possibly both. I like to give the dog as MUCH info as possible: connection, verbals, physical cues, etc.
>>Mas 2..i was asking myself why I was taking such a long lead out.
I think maybe I will add strategizing lead out positions to the list of CAMP stuff… I definitely struggle sometimes to know exactly where the best lead out spot it!
>>Mas 3.. I think I can send to the tunnel and leave earlier, and yes I thought we should take 5 out of the tunnel, totally missed 8. I am crediting all this to “humid head”>>
Fingers crossed for better weather ahead, but somehow I think we are stuck with the humidity LOL!
T
