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Hi! I was scared when you said it you were too embarrassed to post this, but it was really a fine session LOL!!
I love that she was so pumped up to play here! You were really working the connection and sending, and I think that is why you were doing the spins and not the FCs. They were nice spins LOL! Nothing to be embarrassed about though! The FC line should be the same line as you ran with the BCs (those were really good). I think the issue was that your body was all like “WE DON’T DO FCs THERE! We DO BCs THERE!!” hahaha!!! And that is fine – I agree, it is a better BC spot 🙂 This week will have more FC opportunities.The BC looked good through the pinwheel at 1:03, After you connect on landing, you can slde that cross arm out of the way to help her commit to the last jump. On the next 2 reps on the other side – you were getting a little pointy for the middle jump – pointing forward when she was behind you, which broke the connection so she came off the line (perhaps thinking you were already cuing the blind?)
You helped her on the next 2 reps by going in a little closer and staying MUCH more connected – lovely!
The BCs on the other side are more comfy for you in general, you are more connected started on your right so remember to be that same level of connected starting on your left too! No worries about missing the first jump right at the end, she was set up a little sideways to it – a green dog error to not be able to adjust, no biggie. You were correct to carry on like it didn’t happen.Nice work here!!!!
Hi there!
Yay, so much better! The first 2 reps looked really strong with timing and connection. And yes, you were too early at :31 (woot woot!) but then you fixed it on the next rep. Last rep looked lovely too! You were really working the *just enough* commitment on all of these to show the line but also turning early – it looks like she had no questions. She had really nice turns too!! And her squeaking is a sign that she was chasing your line the whole time, and that is correct. YAY!! The only thing to add is…. verbals 🙂 In the heat of the moment when things move that fast, remember to use your words 🙂 Great job here!!!! Perfect timing to have nailed it so now we move on to week 3’s fun 🙂Tracy
Hi!
>>I’m having a problem with him running into me on the front crosses on the 1 jump. If I do it on the 2 jumps he does fine.It is definitely harder on one jump! It might be happening because you are reaching the outside arm towards him on the FC rather than dropping back the dog side arm? See below for what I mean 🙂
On the video:
I am really liking how he is committing to the jump after the tunnel!
On the middle pinwheel jump, you can give him more connection as he lands from the previous jump (arm back, eyes on his eyes) to support commitment at :28 and :43. It looks like you started looking forward too early so he went into handler focus and came into you, perhaps anticipating the blind cross.
Your blind at :52 looked great!!
The pinwheel to the blind on the other side looked really good at 1:07! It looks like you held connection a little longer and had your verbals going, setting up a nice blind!
He did well with his commitment on the FC at 1:26 and also at 1:38!! You can start it sooner (which probably also means sending him away to the tunnel more so you can get up there). It also looks like you were moving more towards the center of the bar on the blue jump (the FC jump) and not as much towards the next jump, so resist the magnetic pull of the jump bar and stay outside the wings on the FCs, heading to the next jump (the red jump here). It think as you start the FC, you are turning towards him with your outside arm and that is pulling you towards the center of the bar. So to stay on the correct line, think of the FC more as dropping back with your dog side arm rather than reaching for him with the opposite arm. I also think you will find the blinds much easier on these type of turns 🙂Great job!
TracyHi!
>>before it rains all week!Smart!!!! We will add extra time to the class because most folks are going to lose this entire week to rain rain rain rain and then I think it is going to rain more. Ewwww!
I think the tunnel is helping in our anti-leaping crusade!!! She is still figuring out how to drive past you (she looks up at a little when she needs to go past you) but I am happy with her jumping effort here! Watch her start line – I think at the end she was thinking about leaving early as you added motion 🙂
In between rain drops (or next weekend, which might be the next possible time) you can add more motion to this and also you can use the wing wrap to the short ladder. I think you should keep the tunnel out ahead – her form is still good and she is not leaping!Stay dry! Great work on all of these!
T
Hi again!
Ah yes, the sequences are easier for you because you have taught her commitment really nicely! The first FC looked really good – she was a little wide on the jump after the tunnel but I think that was just a product of a lot of giddy up from her, and I am fine with that 🙂 Timing on the FC at :07 was good and she had no trouble finding the jump after it. On the tunnel at the end of it, you disconnected and turned your feet away so she came with you. Look her right in her cute eyes and say tunnel a few times, and keep moving towards it until she is really committed. It will get easier as she gets more experience.2nd FC (other side) was a bit late but I think it was mainly because you didn’t get quite as far ahead on the line as you did on the previous rep. She also didn’t go in the tunnel (:21) so try to exaggerate the connection as you say the cue to her (you were looking forward and pointing forward).
3rd FC rep – VERY nice on all elements: connected, timely FC, great connection to convince her to take the tunnel at :33. Click/treat for you both.
4th FC rep – FC was nice! She was really turning and burning! Connection back to her on the tunnel cue was not as good as the previous rep – you looked forward and leaned back so she didn’t take it.
1st BC rep – nice! 2nd BC rep – EVEN nicer! On both of these, you were really working the timing and it looked good – and I think it helped you stay further ahead and even more connection on the tunnels after them!
3rd & 4th BC reps (landing side of the jump before the tunnel) – these looked less comfy for you but you did nicely on them too! She is committing so nicely, it is great to be able to just tweak handling for her. Try sending her away to #3 (2nd jump after the tunnel) so you can get past #4 sooner (jump before tunnel). You were supporting her more than needed with motion towards 3, so that made you a little late getting to the BC on 4 – so you ended up on her line a bit and she went around you. If you send, you can get across that jump sooner to set a nicer line.
I know you mentioned the BCs are less comfy for you but you are doing a great job and she seems to really like them!!!!
Nice work!
TracyGood morning!
>> I also have been watching the videos in slow motion which really helped. She really makes me run fast!
OMG yes, I am thankful for the slow motion on youtube because she is small and FAST – I watch all of your videos in slow motion. A truly Champagne Problem hahaha!!!!
The crosses here are looking earlier, yay! Being ahead is helping you you being able to time then sooner which is not easy with the tiny sports car you are running LOL! Her commitment looks good. Now we can obsess on running line: You were overhelping a little by getting between the uprights o nthe cross jump, which draws a wider line for her. So, stay just outside the wing of the jump, to move to the next jump. That should help tighten it up even more. It looks like you have also done the sequences – yay! They might be easier because you can send her to the tunnel and get away up the line 🙂
Lovely job!
TracyGood morning!
One-two jumps:
yes, keep playing with cuing *before* takeoff. It is going to feel really uncomfortbale but we can totally break the habit of being late – you generally are waiting for her to takeoff then you turn. It is not a big deal on a low bar on one or two jumps, but it will be a big deal when we get to faster courses and higher bars. So – your set up spot for her was really good. When you release her and see her start to move, start your cross even if it feels early. Have your videographer yell NOW or something hahaha Try to be too early rather than too late (and reward her no matter what she does as you are messing around with timing 🙂3 jumps:
1st rep at :48 she didn’t take jump 2, This was because when she landed from 1, you were looking ahead and pointing ahead, so she was looking at you (it looked like the beginning of a blind cross). Try to have your arm back nd eyes on her when she lands from 1 and tell her to jump 2 before starting the cross.
Same thing happened at :58 (your head turn was really obvious and she was paying attention) you got her to take the jump by moving closer to it but connection will add independence.You can also ‘prime the pump’ on all of these by doing a pinwheel with connection before you add the crosses.
You got her to take 2 on the blind and also when you changed sides for the FC and BC – but you were late on both, starting when she was in the air.
Nice chicken photo bomb hahaha!
At 2:07 you threw in a lovely connected pinwheel with verbals! YESSSS more of this please 🙂
On the last 2 reps, you had the pinwheel and nice connection but then you were late on the cross on landing from 3 – you would need to send her away to the middle jump to be able to out run her (I am glad she is moving so FAST!!!!!)
So I think you will have an easier time with these if you have more connection on landing of 1 to help commit to 2 – and when you see her land from 1 and look at 2, use your verbal jump cue and start the cross.
VERY lovely job with all of your reinforcement!!!! You are really emphassizing that and it looks great!
Tracy
Good morning!
>> I started with the FC, BC thing.
The reps of those looked good – nice crosses, nice connection! You can go to the sequences on these for sure.
>> On the FC, BC thing I see I’m still late on my FC’s. It feels like I’m moving faster than I am, but once I look at it on video…sigh.
I think the timing was fine for working it on one jump here, and the sequences will give you more of a feel for the timing and connection,
>>He was happy to play with a toy for the first few reps then I lost him.
I think there are a combination of factors (difficulty of task plus heat!) so I think you should go into one-hit-wonder mode… get one rep, cool in the pool, he gets to rest in the shade, Wager gets to play… then get another rep. Always end before he does. He has never known heat like this because he hasn’t been alive that long 🙂 My 7.5 month old puppy was born in October so when it got hot this past weeked, he was exhausted after one zoom around the yard.
Plus, ending the session before he does will build the value of the game and of the reinforcement! He won’t associate being hot with the jumps or with the toy, for example, and over time he will develop a lot more stamina for longer sessions.
1st 2 reps of the grid were good! I would have ended the session on either the 1st or second rep. The 3rd rep and 4th reps had harder challenges (you lead out a lot less) plus he was hot… he didn’t fully understanding the driving ahead and was looking at your hands a bit – plus the MM loses value fast in the heat. The last rep was a better challenge in terms of you leading out further – but he was done by then.
>> Will keep at it with me past the last jump dog on right and work back from there.
yes – keep at it…. but one rep at a time. In the heat, I don’t think he is ready for even 3 or 4 reps (my puppy isn’t either and we don’t have the same heat that you do!). Try the one- rep-at-a-time strategy and see how it goes. You will actually end up with faster learning and more efficient sessions, because he will be more engaged with the session and with the reinforcement. And if it is cool out, you can get more in – but still quit before he does 🙂
Let me know what you think! Fingers crossed for cooler days ahead!
TracyGood morning!
>>He looked the same so I added about 3 feet and now that I look back at it was way too hard. I will go back to single jumps and move the last jump one foot. the 1st rep was at 15 feet the last was 18 feet.
I watch the grids in slow motion because it is so hard to see what is going on with a small fast dog 🙂 Even in my own training sessions, I do maybe 2 reps then go watch the video 🙂
>>He has not seen the double that much so I am not surprised he had trouble. I will need to start adding different types of jumps so he can start getting use to them. When do you introduce triple and broad jumps? I think he is old enough now.
I add all of those in set points, at the lowest possible setting. Maybe one session a week to introduce the concept is all that is needed for now.
T
Hi!
On the ladder grid – I don’t think motion bothered him but it definitely affected him a bit 🙂 I can see him having a bit of a side preference here – yyou can see it on the first couple of reps when he is on your right. Note how on the first 2 jumps, he jumps to his right (not straight) and is on the far side of the bar away from you. He straightens out a little over jumps 3,4,5 but has that right side lean on each rep. Interestingly… he also leans to his right when he is on your left! When watching the reps with him on your right, I thought the lean was perhaps a bit of a BC stimulation issue (BCs push away from pressure when stimulated) but since he is still leaning that way on the other side (and not pushing away or jumping to his left) then it is more of a strength/balance thing and less of a BC pressure thing 🙂 Watch it in slow motion and it is easy to see where he is on the bar (he is too fast in real time LOL!)
So – I suggest no added motion yet – show him this same session one or two more times until he is straight. Also, if you can video tape from the side (even if it is further away) then we can get a look at his hind end better to see if he is pushing off one side more strongly than the other (that is my guess but Ican’t tell). That will help us decide on how to add balance and strength on the other side. BTW – this is totally normal with young dogs that like to go fast 🙂On the wrap to short ladder – I don’t see that lean at all! I think having the toy already on the ground REALLY helps him! So this i the grid you can add more motion, with the toy on the ground. Try adding more motion with the toy on the ground for 2 short sessions, then at some point (if it ever stops raining this week) do a session with less motion than the previous session, with NO toy on the ground.
And, going back to the 5 jump grid aboe – put the toy back on the ground and let’s see if we still get the lean 🙂
There was a little discussion on the video about how many times to say go – you can say it once or twice here because the distance is so short – but as the distances get bigger and there are 3 jumps in a row, 20 feet apart – feel free to yell Go about 10 zillion times LOL!!
FCs – the are wraps so this is probably why you mentioned using the opposite arm/’new’ arm to cue it – yes, I also handle wraps this way with the new arm presented pretty early. I figured we were generally talking about the same thing LOL! The drills where I mentioned committing the dog with dog-side arm & leg when landing from previous obstacle or exiting tunnel (then rotating) were what I call “fluffy” FCs, where you are going through a pinwheel or box, for example – and you are doing a FC between the middle jump of the pinwheel and the 3rd jump (not a wrap). When you play with those, you wil feel the difference. We wil be addressing wraps more specifically in this class too, soon 🙂 For him on this video – give him more of a transition into it: go fast, then decel then rotate to that new arm. It will add more speed into and maintain the collection. He was turning well but not driving in on the first 2 reps because you were in decel the whole time. The 3rd rep had more motion and the 4th (last) rep was my favorite – you did a fast-slow-turn transition and he was fast AND tight. Woohoo!!!!
One note about using the ‘new’ arm – keep it on takeoff side of the jump. You were leaning back and putting it more on landing side of the jump. Takeoff side will allow for an even earlier turn cue and prettier turn, plus you weight shift will be in a better spot for the new direction. More on that coming shortly 🙂Nice connection and reinforcement on all of these!!!
BC video – for these BCs, try to do fluffy ones, through the pinwheel, rather than wrap BCs. A wrap BC also needs the transition or it becomes what I call “backwards info” – on these, you were decelerated then accelerated into the blind, so the cue ended up late. Run deeper into the tunnel so as he exits, he sees you running hard for a step or two, then slow down then turn on the takeoff side of the jump… all before he makes a takeoff decision – that is no easy feat! And then with the reinforcement: yes, reward across the body for connection but more importantly: keep run run running so he drives out of it. But for now. play with the fluffy blinds thorugh the pinwheels so you can work the timing and connection with more speeeeeeeed 🙂
Nice work here!!! More on the wraps coming shortly 🙂
TracyHi Jill!
On the handling video:
Rep 1 – he came off the line before the cross because when he landed from 2 at :03, you were already disconnected, toy changing hands, so he came off the line(it looked like you were starting the cross so he was paying attention, good boy!) You were early 🙂Rep 2 – so much better connection on landing of 2! But then maintain the connection on landing of 3 after the FC so that he can see the line (he slipped there).
Rep 3 and 4 – he went shooting out of the tunnel past #2 – he almost did this on the first rep, so he probably needs you to be a little closer to the middle jump as he exits so youcan show him the jump more clearly. You had better position on the last rep, a bit further over, but you had also just rewarded him so he was looking for it. You can definitely work on speed lines from tunnel to jump, with rewarding for finding the jump, that will make it even easier.
I loved the timing on the BC on this last rep! Woot! Nice turn! And he found the line after it 🙂 You can give him a little more connection here, keep reminding yourself to look him right in the eyes after each cross.Jump grid – he thought the progressive was really hard! First rep was easy for him, nice big one stride to the last jump. Did he do more than one rep on that? I am curious to see if he liked what he did there and repeated it on the same distance, or if he changed it on the next rep.
2nd rep was harder, he had trouble sizing up the distance to the last jump and shortened up. On the last rep at :26, he wasn’t sure of where the take off point was in extension so he added a collection stride in. That means it was too hard (distance plus a relatively tall bar for a youngster plus the distance between bars on the oxers. So – try this progressive with a single jump, no oxer, and a really low bar. And since he is small, you can move the jump out by a foot on each rep or two and see how he does!
The only other tweak is to start him a little closer ot the first jump, so after the release the fitst touch of the front feet is between 1 and 2 and not in front of 1 (I don’t think this had anything to do with his question on the last jump though, it just makes it easier to power into the line).Nice job on these! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
Jump grids:
video 1: he had better use of his rear – he was pushing from the rear rather than carrying the rear, so this was good to show him again. When you were behind him, though, he was lifting his head (on that 2nd rep in particular) and not driving ahead as much – so you can back chain this a bit, starting him right in front of jump 4 an you are parallel, release and move forward (not too fast) so he can figure out driving ahead on these grids. We want him to be happy with that before we add more that might require driving ahead.video 2: You had more motion, so he didn’t have to drive ahead – he maintained his good form on the first rep and then the 2nd rep was even better. Yay!!!
>>I have not been able to do more work on the progressive striding grid based on your guidelines on maximum jumps. So maybe next time instead of the ladder grid, do you want to see something on the progressive striding or continue the ladder grid work this coming week?>>
The grids all pinpoint different things, so you can work them in a rotation: on one day, do the ladder with him driving ahead. On a different day, you can revisit the striding grid. I always like to see the dogs practice this as the jump height at the end goes up and as the distance increases.
sequence 2B –
On the first rep – you can call sooner out of tunnel (say his name just before he goes in, that is probably all he needs :)) and you can also blind sooner on the jump after the tunnel. You were starting it as he was taking off, so it was a bit late. Also, you can send to the tunnel and leave sooner to get further up the line so you are more out of the way. On the tunnel sends, you were post turning and then leaving, but you can send and get outta there, either with an immediate step away or by doing a spin on the tunnel entry (which will also turn him really well on the tunnel exit). On the 2nd blind – good timing! Be sure to make more connection on the exit line – but one thing I think will also help if is you are closer to the wing of that jump. This is a relatively tight turn, so the tighter the turn, the closer you can do it to the wing to help tighten it up. And that will also make connection easier on the exit.2nd rep – better position on the first blind, you can can still be earlier 🙂
2nd blind – still good timing and much better connection!!3rd rep – First blind – you can get away from the tunnel sooner to be earlier on the blind as well as being further up the line – which makes it easier to make better connection on the exit
Good timing on the FC!! He needs more connection on the exit here too – he was turning nice and tight but then slipped on landing, looking for connection.4th rep – Other side – you can see the tunnel line you ran better here – you sent and your line of travel traced his line in the tunnel, which made you late for the blind and position. The send and leave (or a spin to get out of the there) will really help! Your timing was better here for sure, yay!!!! But getting away from the tunnel sooner will make it easier. to be earlier and off his line so he sees the next jump clearly.
On the 5th rep – at 1:06 you had the best timing on this blind so far, nice and early! But you were still a bit in his way, so definitely focus on leaving the tunnel sooner so you are off his line when he lands from the BC jump.
The FC definitely works better on the turn there than the blind (turns your feet to the next jump sooner :)) so playing with it closer to the jump will make it even prettier.
At 1:20 – I think this is a harder side for you – this rep was later than the previous reps nd also, remember to make exit line connection with the dog-side arm back. You were looking forward with your arm forward, so he almost ended up on the wrong side and had to make a quick adjustment when he caught up to you.
On the timing of the BC on the last rep here – you don’t have to hold onto the serp of it for that long (1:25). You can call him and keep moving, doing the BC as soon as he turned towards you.
Last video – yes, so much better with the sending and timing of the blind! Nice!!!! After the blind, run more directly forward, almost to the center of the tunnel. You ran a bit of a wider line so he went wide. Because it is hard to see the line and also connect to him, you can work on staying closer to the jump and sliding right past it which will keep you on the line.
Nice job here! We are basically just tweaking handling, which is really cool because it means the training elements are all coming together.
Tracy
Hi Cindi!
He looked really happy to be out on the grass even if it was hot and windy! The pinwheels are looking terrific. His turn over jump 2 is *super awesome*, it is pretty perfect for this type of pinwheel, doesn’t need to be tighter at all!!! And his commitment looked really lovely. AS the middle jump got further and further away, he was slowing down a little bit (probably asking “why are you hanging back there??”) so you can throw rewards for him to the landing spot of jump 2. On a ‘real’ courses (rather than this set up where we were working commitment specifically), you could do in past the first jump for another step or two, which will get more speed out to 2 (something to add when you put a tunnel in front of it for this set up, or when you move to the week 2 games 🙂 )>>On rep 2 here I think I said Go as a cue to jump 3. But I cued after he had landed and was turning toward it already so looked like a Go at that point. I think ideally I’d be saying Come as he’s taking off for or landing from Jump 2.
I think that is a great place for the go – he had landed and was facing the go line! You used a jump verbal on the way to 2 – it appeared to mean “go to the jump and turn back to me” so you can repeat the cue (“jump! jump!” on the longer distances. You can use a ‘come’ cue but he was already turning so brilliantly that I don’t think you need it – and it might even pull him too tight to you on the bigger distances. You can try it and see how he does!
>> Since this is kind of a wide-spaced pinwheel for him I could theoretically see saying Come before he takes off for Jump 2 as signaling a tighter turn in the air but worry that could pull him off the path to Jump 3.
Totally agree – he looks amazing on the turn, I wouldn’t want to ask for more.
>>It’s kind of hard since his strides are so short and turning is so easy. I’m used to a bigger, long strided dog where I would really need to cue collection for this type of turn from 2 to 3 so end up overthinking it a bit.
It is what I call a Champagne Problem haha!!!! I think you’ve done a lovely job of teaching him send-and-go commitment so he understands how to commit while setting himself up to turn, Looked great!!!!! I think you can move on to the week 2 games that add in crosses to get even more of an idea on how to handle your little speedster. Well done!!!
Tracy
Hi Nelci!! Hope you weekend is relaxing after a busy week!
Your 1 jump reps looked terrific! I particularly liked the reps at :07 (BC) and :11 (FC): great timing and connection, and you kept running with the reward so he really powered out of them. NICE!
2 jump drills: also looked great. The FCs and BCs on both sides looked terrific in terms of timing, connection, and running line. Note how nicely he turned AND how nicely he powered out of them. Yay!
On the 3 jumps – on the first rep, you did a ketchsker/spin (FC to BC) – it was nice LOL!!!
2nd rep – BC on the landing of 3 – very nice send and great timing of the blind, it also looked great!
At :40 you did a BC between 2 and 3 – perfect! This is what the exercise is supposed to be LOL!
4th rep – FC on landing of 3 was also really nice!
5th rep at :49 – he had a question (dropped the bar) and it was a really good question LOL! – you completed the blind before he took off for 2, so he should have NOT taken 3, not sure if you wanted it or not? If you want to do a blind on 2 and not take 3, try it closer to 2 so he can see the line better.
Same thing on the last rep at :56 – you were totally finished with the blind before he took off, and you were i the spot for a Forced Front Cross… so he should have come to the backside of 3 (freeze the video as he takes off for 2 and you will see what I mean :))
So on these 2 reps… you are too early, Send to 2 and run away, but do the blind after he lands from 2 like the 2nd rep here.Overall – looking really great!!!! We can start to fade out the exaggerated exit line connection with the toy across the body, bit by bit – make the first connection at the exit of the cross with it, but then relax the arm so it slides away(don’t hold it up the whole time) as you move to the next jump while maintaining your connection.
He looked really good at 12″! You might want to play with these a bit at 14″?
And he is definitely ready for the sequences. Great job!
Tracy
Hi!
Yay! He is totally finding those lines with a lot more independence and you can now be nice and lazy 🙂 He was finding the jumps after the tunnel particularly well! You can raise the bars on this, but you can also move to the week 2 games which will have similar challenges 🙂The send and go pinwheels are looking great! Your work on the commitment in the lazy game is showing here – he looked great! You can start him further back (both of you further back) so you can drive him in and try not to go past the first jump 🙂 You can also add a curved tunnel before it – so send him through the tunnel and into the pinwheel, then take off and head back towards the tunnel. The excitement of the tunnel will definitely add challenge! And as the pinwheel starts to get more and more spread out, you can also start to raise the bars.
Well done on both of this!!
Tracy
