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Keep me posted on how he feels! I see up and down levels of focus and drive in all of my pups until they are over a year old. My older pup just turned a year old and he is now consistently focused and drivey but when he was between 4 months and a year, it was not always predictable. And my little pup is almost 7 months old and she is sometimes completely game ON and sometimes a bit distracted for whatever reason. It is all good, we get it sorted out 🙂
T
Hi! The go reps are looking good at the beginning! She is reading the rear cross pressure but I think the verbals can be more clarifying: On the straight lines, you were using go or go on. On the rear crosses, the first thing she heard as you starting moving up the line was also go or go on – a bit lower in energy/volume than the go lines, but same cue. The turn cue was a bit later. The go cue can cause her to ask a question because it means go straight but the body cue was showing rear cross, so I think you can leave the go or go on to only the straight line cues. For the rear crosses: you can use turn as the commitment cue (as in, take it then turn) or if you think she might turn too soon: you can use a general commitment cue like “jump” then give the go cue. That will help her power into the RCs like she does on the straight lines.
What she is doing on the rear crosses is moving over to the correct side of the jump – but not turning her head to commit to the turn until after landing when she sees the full picture 🙂 Part of that is due to her being an inexperienced rear crosses and part was also due to her wanting to be sure it was a rear not a go.
The backside wraps looked awesome!!! She was good on the first reps when she was going to the backside on your right, and you dialed back your motion really nicely to help her commit. But she was amazeballs on your left side in the 2nd part of the video – she flew to the backside and wrapped beautifully!! I don’t think she had any question about going to the front side instead: your connection was spot on so she knew where to be. yay!
Great job on these!!!
TracyHi!
The chuck it flying squirrel is a favorite here too LOL!!The OK release on the serps is perfect (setting her in a way is super useful for this) and she looked really good on the serp at the start. After the tunnel release (you gave a quick ok then the tunnel release) she thought hard about doing the tunnel again on the next rep – but decided to come in for the serp instead (GOOD GIRL!)
And she did really well on her threadle reps – that is unusual that a youngster can get that right early on in this proofing game! She had to think about it on the first threadle rep but you also helped her by not moving too quickly. Your next threadle rep had more motion and she did just fine and dandy on it. Nice! Nice position on your releases for the threadle too, that helped her get it right as well.Since this is going so nicely, 3 ideas for you:
First – add more motion to all the things 🙂 Set her up further from the jump/tunnel and build up to running into all of the cues. She is doing really well with her stays so I bet you can start to jog *then* release with the cue for what you want. You can also release and explode into motion: that is a pretty big exciting distraction for many dogs so we can show it to her and see how she does 🙂Second – without motion – start going to the super advanced level of moving her position around the clock so the threadle is a bit more challenging. Make very gradual changes so she still has a high rate of success.
Third – this is also to get her ramped up like she would be at a trial but don’t also do this when running (or at least, not at first :)) – flap the flying squirrel around on all the reps! The toy is stimulating so flapping it around would challenge her to ignore it and still listen to the cues. At first, use stationary positions and see how it goes – if it is easy, you will be able to add motion into it as well.
Nice work!
TracyHi! This is perfect! Sweet spot: achieved! She did the straight line grid with power and balance – very nice especially for such a young dog!!! The angled jumps did set her back a little: she was not quite as fast on the release exploding into it like the straight grid, but she maintained her balance and organization and that is GREAT! We want the pups to look at the grid and think about it rather than just plow through. She did really well here! And click/treat to you for stopping after just these reps – she is doing so well that it is sooooo easy to do a bunch. But I am a bit over-protective of their bodies so it is always better to stop 🙂 She really only needs to see this once a week, maximum, at this point now that the sweet spot is sorted out. And we build on it in 2 weeks 🙂
Great session here!
TracymWow, really nice job here!!
On the first rep, perfect exit line connection to get the tunnel! You did make connection on the exit of the tunnel but then looked forward as you threw the toy – it is a fine art to maintain connection while throwing the toy LOL!!! He did a little head check but was a good boy to take the jump.On the 2nd rep – you were connected on the tunnel cue, but you were moving up the line too soon. That tunnel entry is hard for baby dogs so he needed you to serp into it – which is exactly what you did on the next rep! He did try to go take it at :10 but couldn’t quite figure it out 🙂 Good job carrying on and rewarding him before starting over. Your connection on that go line was great, I don’t think he had any questions!
Last rep – very nice clear connection to get the tunnel entry!Great job here!!!! When you are connected like this, he really drives his lines beautifully 🙂
Tracy
Hi! Overall, these are looking really good! We can nitpick the tiny details but I think they went really well. And she is young, so that requires you to be perfect. When she is older, you won’t have to be as perfect 🙂
Regular connection:
1st rep – almost perfect – I think you needed to move more after the release, she jumped towards you over 1 then had to go back out to the tunnel. And then stay connected as she is jumping 3, try not to peek forward.
2nd rep – gold star to you for the use of close up and slow motion to isolate your moment of disconnection hahaha! It was similar to your slight disconnect on the 1st rep, but earlier so she pulled the rail.
The error of not taking 1 at :22 was probably just a young dog moment: she was lined up not really facing 1, you were not moving, so she went past it. A better line up and more movement will help that. Also, note the high pointing arm on the release, it points your shoulders to 2 and that is where she went. Arm back, eyes on her eyes, and stepping more towards the takeoff spot will help there.3rd rep – you put yourself in better position on the lead out. You can also line her up on more of a slice and you can lead out less and move into it.
You had a little too much decel at :33 plus you looked forward when you said go, so she didn’t take the middle jump. On these drills, you can move in towards the tunnel more so you don’t end up too far ahead with no place to go.4th rep – nice connection on the opening line! Try not to peek forward when she is in the tunnel, it causes her to look up at you when she exits and doesn’t see the connection.
5th rep – very nice!!!!! I think she had a little question on the tunnel exit, so I will keep bugging you to make a very strong connection to the exit of each tunnel.
6th rep – also really nice! I think you can send less and move in near the lines more on set ups like this one – the send causes you to be too far ahead which causes deceleration where you don’t need it, plus it rehearses pointy arms 🙂 which we don’t want 🙂
Exit line connections:
Front crosses – she turns a little better to her left on the FCs than to her right? She was definitely tighter when she turned left. On the first few reps which were right turns, your timing got progressively earlier and that helped. The games I posted yesterday for shifting connection will help polish up the tightness. The left wrap rep was really nice!!! And your exit line connection looked really strong.Spins:
There was not enough connection on the tunnel exit for first spin – you were looking ahead – so she didn’t commit. I will keep bugging you to always look for her at the tunnel exits.
2nd rep was better – you ramped up the connection after the tunnel and had clear exit line conneciton. When you switched sides, remember to look at the tunnel exit to catch the timing moment – you tend to want to look ahead while she in the the tunnel, which draws her attention up to you or delays your next turn cue.The serp rep at the very end – fabulous! Perfect everything!
Nice work here! I will keep bugging you about maintaining connection on the tunnel exits 🙂
Tracy
Hi there! Your connection work here looks great!!! You are really emphasizing it, making very few errors, and she is reading the lines nicely.
The Serpentines are looking good! My only suggestion is to *not* call her name so much on the serp after the tunnel – the repeated name calls are basically saying “I need you to turn right now” but we don’t really want her to turn after the tunnel, so she had to pop back out to find the serp. You can tell her to go or jump and that will smooth it out.
On the sequence:
I think your connections on all of the reps here looked great!!! My only suggestions are about whether to call her or not after the tunnel (I vote not in this case haha) and also you can replace the RC on the flat with a blind 🙂
first rep at :28 looked good! Resist temptation to keep calling her after the first tunnel 🙂 And I think you have plenty of time for a blind cross instead of a rear cross on the flat there, the blind makes it easier to show the lines.
2nd rep at :47 – nicer! You called her less on the tunnel so she had a sweeter line to the jump after it and you were smoother on the RC on the flat.
3rd rep – you didn’t call her after the tunnel at all at 1:07, and she had a perfect line to the jump. She needed one ore heartbeat of the ‘here here’ hand/turn cue for the RC at 1:09. Good job rewarding her when she did find the jump!
4th rep – a little bit of talking to her after the tunnel and the RC on the flat was a little late, so she dropped the bar.2nd sequence:
first rep at 1:40 – yep, connection is critical for finding the tunnel 🙂 She landed, you looked forward/disconnected and said tunnel, she was looking at the wrong end of the tunnel: and the verbal cue affirmed it. You should reward that because she was correct 🙂 One of the golden rules of verbals is: Never say a forward verbal such as “tunnel” or “Go” unless the dog is looking at the line you want them to take.2nd rep – better connection so she got the right line to the tunnel. Yay!
The turn cue at 2:06 was a little late – she was in the air and you added the here cue. When she exits the tunnel, start decelerating so you can give her the cue before takeoff. Good exit line connection on the FC after that on 4!
at 2:17, the FC started late so she was a little wide
You were quiet on the tunnel exit and she found the line with no questions!3rd rep – also a good opening with connection to #2!
The FC at 2:40 was a little late but your exit line connection looked really strong so she got back on the line nicely!
At 2:46, you broke the golden rule of verbals: you said go while she was looking ahead straight, so she went straight (because “go” does indeed mean go straight :))4th rep – another nice opening and I really liked how you did an early shoulder turn on 3 at 3:02, it set up a nice turn! Maintain your regular connection there – you looked forward so she saw the connectiob break and dropped the bar.
You can decelerate into the FC on 4 sooner to help set up more collection. Very nice exit line connection!!
At 3:08, it looks like you pointed forward to the jump which turned your shoulders away from the line, so she didn’t take the jump. Keeping your arm back should help that commitment so she can see your connection and upper body pointing to the jump more.The last rep had the best connections all the way through! The only ‘almost oopsie’ was when you said GO at 3:35 – and she was looking straight so almost went straight past the jump 🙂 Be careful of when you say your go cues 🙂
One other thing to consider on this sequence:
You can get a faster, easier line if you turn her to her right on jump 4 (rather than to her left towards the tunnel) because it sets up a much prettier line from the exit of 4 back to 5 then 6.
And it is a good handler challenge because a FC or BC would get it done (more opportunity to practice exit line connection!)Overall – your connections are looking really strong!!!! Keep up the great job with those! It allows us to obsess on timing and also which words to use where (or when to be quiet).
Nice work! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning! Looks like you are still having really nice weather!!! Yay!
>>I had a question concerning the verbal after the serpentine. I started with a right tight turn but from the line, I figured that really wasn’t correct and changed to just a right turn. Is “right” the correct verbal for that line?>>
Good question! Of course it will vary depending on exactly what each verbal means… I think for the big dogs, on this line, I would use the tight turn verbal because we want them to collect and immediately come back around the edge of the wing. A right turn verbal should set them up to not come back around the wing, or come back around it more gradually further down the line.
>>We worked the non-seminar exercises during this week at low bar heights, and those went well so I figured I’d send the video where we struggled the most.>>
Perfect! The struggles are where we get the most out of training!
In general, your connections are very strong! And she is used to that so she also responds immediately. Yay!! Some specifics:
On the first drill with the different endings:
She looks at you on the serp jumps here (:06 and :20and :35 and :55) – I think part of it was that you were decelerating and actually being a bit early on the verbal for the next jump. Try to keep moving til she lands, then cue and leave. That extra step should help her not look at you, along with keeping your serp arm from dropping (she was watching that too) The first FC at :23 can be a little sooner but you had a nice decel into it and super clear exit line connection, so she read it really nicely!! The BC at :38 looked very timely (hard to see her for a moment), nice exit line connection, and she read the line really well! The next blind started late at :57 but she reads exit line connection so clearly from you that she was able to make the adjustment very quickly.Sequence 1:
On the opening line, nice connection! You can turn your shoulders on 3 one stride sooner at 1:09 to set a better line to 4.
You had a bit of decel as she was entering the tunnel and not quite enough connection when she exited at 1:15 so she didn’t take the jump – but that was really your only connection oopsie on this video.
The blind at 1:19 was a little off the line to the next jump so she never really saw it (looked like the line to the tunnel) so move closer to the wing as you exit the blind. You can also slide out your exit line connection arm sooner too – it was in play for a while she might have been thinking she needed to stick closer to you and not look for a jump.2nd rep – you had more verbal on 3 and earlier shoulders, at 1:34 and she lined up better for 4.
I liked your movement through the serp line at 1:40! You pushed it harder so the line was smoother. But then you got a little too far up the line 🙂 So you can leave that one step sooner (she lands, you send and leave). Even though you felt behind (based on your verbal exclamation there haha!), you maintained the good connection and the FC was maybe one heartbeat late but still really nice, because of the connection. You are really good with the exit line connection and that gives you the leeway to not have to be perfect in your timing 🙂
The BC on the wrap on the jump in front of the tunnel at 1:45 is risky because the first footsteps are towards the off course tunnel – you were a little behind in the timing here but you used verbals and exit line connection to get her attention!
You got back on track and then your FC at 1:53 was really nice!3rd rep – nice job on the turn at 3, you stayed connected and turned even sooner to set a good line there. At 2:16, you were decelerated exiting the jump after the serp, and she was already turning right based on your decel – and you said right again so she didn’t take the jump and turned right towards you 🙂 But at 2:34 you overhelped with commitment to the jump by getting in very much on the landing side and ended up on the backside line after it. So that is one of those moments where you can keep moving and just say “jump” to help commit her. Because your connections are good, you don’t have to worry as much about perfect timing – she can see the cues coming and the connection really helps her set up her own lines independently. Perfect!
Nice work here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi there!
>>The concept of jackpots…there is little evidence to even support their efficacy, and one study found them detrimental, although, old habits die hard and I still use them…mainly because I get excited and can’t stop! LOL. There is also NO BODY OF EVIDENCE to support positive training methods benefit the human/canine bond…that is crazy! Not because it doesn’t, but because the studies haven’t been done. It leaves a huge hole in the argument against adversives. >>
The fMRI results on dogs we are beginning to see support the positive training methods and also support the concept of jackpots in some ways: we are starting to look past things as being just operant conditioning and more into how the brain lights up 🙂 Jackpots can be done in a such a way that we are achieving helpful results and also in ways that we are conditioning other things (words, postures, expressions) with positive associations, which remain in place even when the food or toys are no longer in the picture. So I guess the more we look at it in terms of respondent conditioning and less in terms of operant conditioning, the more interesting the results get! I can obsess on this stuff all day.
Also, it is entirely possible that the jackpot moments create something in the *trainer* that has not been looked at – dopamine release? A moment of relaxed body language? Change in cortisol? A moment to plan the next rep after seeing a really good one, which leads to better mechanics? This can actually all be read by the dog and have a major impact on the training session – but it has not been looked at or quantified, so we are still squarely in the anecdote realm 🙂
But anecdote is where science gets some good ideas from as a starting point for research, so I say if it is happy-making and not invasive or harmful… let’s do it!
>>But, I can’t believe you went to Rutgers! What department did you work in?
Yes – I was in the music department. Same as dog training, right? LOL!! I lived in Matawan, NJ for about 7 years.
On the video:
The blinds are going pretty well! I have ideas to help you feel like you are moving through the head turns quicker. One is to keep moving through the lines, it will make the head turns feel easier that way – you were stopping, which means you had to get your whole body moving again to get the head turns, which is slow than just turning your head while already in motion. The stopping was also drawing her in off the line like at :11 after the tunnel. The other thing to get the blinds feeling easier/faster on tighter lines is to emphasize your exit line connection – you were starting them nicely at :04, :20, :38, right on time! But you were then using your dog-side arm (left arm) as the reconnection arm – which makes it harder for you to complete the head turn and harder for her to see the new connection (so she was wide). The exit line connection (frizzer in your right arm, presented across your body on your left hip here) will add more quickness to the head turn because you can do it faster and she will see it sooner.
You can get more of a visual here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTeOIcYLjMThe other blind here at :28, :46, 1:26 can come sooner in terms of starting them, but also be moving down the line to the tunnel entry and not across the bar as much. Moving across the bar of the blind cross jump will send her long over it regardless of timing because the dogs always chase our line – so send her to the jump but be running towards the tunnel entry you want.
The FC here is getting a nice turn because you are rotating earlier but also give exit line connection at :59 YAY!
Your timing was nice and early for the FC at 1:05 back to the tunnel AND your position was great (heading to the tunnel entry) so that was a good turn too 🙂 You were a little late at 1:26 (she was already jumping) so keep working on the timing at 1:05 where you were almost done rotating when she took off.1:19 had really nice exit line connection – be sure to keep moving so she can drive the next line. She did a great job of reading it and NOT jumping behind you!!
Nice work here! Let me know what you think 🙂
TracyHello and welcome back!
Thanks for posting the runs where she didn’t take the obstacles – those are more helpful than the perfect runs LOL!Watching the first video where she didn’t take the tunnel on the first rep or the jump after it on the 2nd rep, it looks like a processing thing: It think what is happening here on the bypass moments is that she is trying to sort out how to go fast, see you running, AND still commit. Jump height higher plus slightly shorter distances here plus she is going really fast and you are running all combine to result in a common youngster moment: Go fast! Jump high! But can’t organize herself to commit to all the things so she bypasses them so she doesn’t have to sacrifice the going fast element. Connection from you looked really good overall so I don’t think it was a connection thing.
Video 2 had a similar thing on the first rep where she looked at the pinwheel jump but couldn’t sort it out so went around the outside. Then the 2nd rep looked great (she sorted it out!)
On the 3rd video – Nice first rep and also great toy throw out on the line!
Loved your reward choice on the 2nd rep too – perhaps turning to her left is her stronger side? Perhaps she was more organized here after having gotten a look at the set up because she did really well turning right too on the 3rd rep and 4th rep.So, a couple of ideas 🙂 I support her in not wanting to slow her down 🙂 but we do want her to be able to process is AND commit to all the things. So on the early reps, you can angle the jump bars so the inside line she will take (on the pinwheel jump, for example) will be easier and also the angled bars will be a more distinct visual for her to think about.
When the bars are full height on the early reps – stay connected like you did but don’t move as fast – speed and blur the processing because it is stimulating. Then if she can commit – swap the elements: lower the bars but add your speed back. If she can do it? Keep your speed and put the bars back to height.Keep throwing your reward out on the line, especially the hard jumping lines like the pinwheel jump, because that will keep her looking at the lines. This is a pretty normal part of the learning curve, so she will get it sorted out! Her own speed is a distraction and that is why she can’t always figure out how to make the commitments happen 🙂
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
He was a good boy in his stay as you turned on the camera, then I guess he ran out of patience LOL! He seemed to be taking the moment you reconnected when you got to your lead out position as the release – so feel free to connect, praise and then release – the cooler weather makes them do crazy things LOL!!!Timing on the first rep was really good, basically perfect! My only suggestion is to add a GO cue before he goes into the tunnel so he knows how to exit it. Nice connection and timing here!
On the 2nd run, you had really nice timing of the tunnel verbal after the release and also called his name before he entered the tunnel, so he turned really nicely, exiting looking at the correct line at :50 (you had really good connection which also helped a lot). In than moment, you can switch to your collection cue instead of a general jump cue, to help him tighten up the turn.
Excellent exit line connection at :52 back to the tunnel! Made for perfect timing on the tunnel verbal. Because this sequences requires you to face the tunnel to commit him to it after the wrap, this is a great spot for the Go cue just before he enters – that will help him exit straight (he exited looking at you at :54). Nice timing on the jump verbal after the exit!Great job here!!! Let me know what you think!
TracyYay! This is an awesome update!!! Great job to both of you 🙂 So fun to hear that you both ran with joy 🙂
>>My only question is, is there a trick for not breaking connection on a turn? That seems to be one I tend to repeat.>>
Do you mean on a post turn/shoulder turn? I tell myself to keep my arm back and look at the dog landing, then deliver the cue right to the dog’s face 🙂 I remind myself to emphatically tell the dog what I want (and not look forward to the jump and tell the jump LOL!!)
Let me know if that makes sense 🙂
T
Hi! Good work on all of these!
>>I can see that my arm is still very high at times
I think I only saw it too high on one moment – otherwise they were fine!
>>and my verbals are really late
I find that when focusing on connection with a young dogs, my verbals often go to poo at first 🙂 They will get more natural feeling soon 🙂
On the video:
Overall, you were really emphasizing connections and there were a ton of good connection moments! It think timing is more of what we will chat about here 🙂 She is small, yes – but she seems to drive lines exactly like my big black dog, Voodoo: so much PUSH! I love it! But that also means you will need earlier timing so she can set herself up to turn – she basically needs timing that is the same as a 20″ jumping fast dog. That will challenge her commitment because she has to take more strides (because she is smaller) but I think she can do it! Here are specifics:Sequence 1: connection was strong overall! The front cross timing was a little late at :04 :12, :24 so she was wide. You were tending to run forward then as she was committing, start the FC – so she couldn’t adjust til she landed. Add in a deceleration while you are moving forward when she exits the tunnel, then before she passes you, you are already rotating. I talk more about this fast-slow-rotate transition in the games posted yesterday – and because she is so drivey, she probably also needs you to add in shifting connection to get the exact turn you want. It will make more sense when you look at the new games from yesterday 🙂 Your regular connection and exit line connection were good here, so now we can play around with timing and connection to set up the tight turn.
Sequence 2, with the wpin to bring her to the other end of the tunnel:
Your spin at :33 was earlier and turn was better! And then at :43 you were even earlier starting it and her turn was even better! Her commitment is looking good with you starting early and your connections were strong. At :54 you started the rotation later and you were also a little too fat past the wing of the spin jump, so she was wider there and adjusted after landing. So far, I like your timing at :43 the best!!sequence 3 – Your regular connection looks great! Your arm was a little high at 1:27 (this is the one spot I saw it as being too high LOL!) but your motion was good on the line was good and she seemed to have no questions. The serps at 1:08 and 1:19 and 1:29: all fabulous! She read them perfectly: tight slices AND at top speed. Yay!
Seq 4: Once again, your opening line regular connection was great! On the FCs here – they were a bit late at 1:39, 1:52 and 2:19 were a little too much on the landing side of the jump, which draws a wider line so she was a little wider there. At 2:05, the FC was both earlier AND had the verbal – nicer turn for sure!!!
For her, on these FCs (and on the sequence 1 FCs) – lining up more on the takeoff side with the deceleration/transition into them will help tighten up the turns and also make it easier for you to get up the next line. When you move to the landing side, it sets a wider line and makes you a little late in starting the turn.Seq 5: This one is a doozy 🙂 You can run with empty hands or with a toy in each hand LOL!
First rep – You can give her more regular connection (looking back to her more, instead of ahead to the jump) on the tunnel exit at 2:30: you broke connection a little there amd that created a question so she didn’t commit to the 3 jump.
The FC at 2:41 can be a little sooner and further down the line to the tunnel – but your exit line connection was really good!2nd rep – You had a big difference in connection after the #2 tunnel and she committed to 3 AND turned nicely! Lovely! The FC at 3:02 to the tunnel can start sooner here as well.
3rd rep – AS she exited the tunnel at 3:12, you were not as connected as on the previous rep, so she asked a question by putting her head down. That got the turn cue at 4 to be a little off balance so it did look a little like at RC at 3:14 (you got there early and turned your feet). You got right back on track and your FC at the end to the tunnel at 3:25 had the best position and timing so far, and strong exit line connection.
Two other options to try on this sequence – you can also try a FC (or blind cross) 3-4 to turn her to her right on 4, which sets a nice easy line from 4 back to 5-6.
And, you can do a blind cross before the last tunnel instead of a FC – that will help you finish the turn quicker and get to the exit line connection, while moving up the line you had at 3:25. That will keep you off her line because you won’t need to rotate, you will just turn and go 🙂So overall I think you are doing a great job with your connections here and her commitment is looking really good!!!! The next step is to figure out the exact turn cues she needs to both commit AND turn nice and tight – which is perfect timing because that is what I posted yesterday 🙂 I *think* she will be more like my Voodoo (big black dog) in terms of what type of connection she will need, but she will let us know as you work through the games.
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
