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Good morning! She is doing great so now we fine tune the little details š
Bang game adding your motion: She as wanting to step off the board as you moved, so we can tweak the reward placement to help her out.
You will see a lot more independence on the teeter is you do *not* feed from your hand o the board. If the rewards come from your hand on the board, she is not going to be as likely to hold position as you move away. She is going to want to stick close to the magic cookie hand š
You can throw the reward back to her with the catch marker (you can praise then say catch then throw). Or release her off it sometimes to get the reward from you – but since we donāt want you to have to be at the end of the teeter with her, we can fade out delivering the treat from your hand at the end of the board. That will make it easier to add more motion for sure!
The sequences are going well! her stays looked great and I am also happy with her jumping form!
The only timing blooper was when you were too early starting the blind at 1:12 – she was just taking off for 1 and you were already blinding, so she correctly did not take 2. The spin on that sequence was really nice there!!!
And she did well driving up the next line for the GO ending. You can throw the reward sooner (as soon as the looks at the last jump and before she gets to it) to keep her really accelerating forward.The timing and connection on the other lead out reps looked strong – so the next step is to put a line on the ground to keep you from ending up in a position that sends her jumping straight over 2 (she should be turning left before takeoff to 2).
On the blinds and FC, you were moving towards the center of the bar on 2 as you did them – ideally you are moving towards 3, so draw a line or place a line on the edge of the wing of 2 (or even better, halfway between 2 and 3) and donāt let yourself go past it towards 2 š And for the lead out push, draw a line from the center of the bar of 2 to the center of the bar of 3, and that is the line to run on to set the best line.
She did really well with the dish work! You can addy our movement and same as the teeter – letās get you throwing the reward to it rather than hand delivering to the dish. You might need a HUGE dish to be able to catch the reward throws (and she will also be happy with it if the treat lands near the dish LOL!!!
The next session should have you moving while she in her stay. Release with the dish then chuck the treat into it as you keep moving. If she continues to look forward? Then we can add the mat to it š
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Good morning!
>>I know āhowā. Because someone often ācanāt thinkā when machine is out. Or we can only go direction TO the machine >>
That makes it perfect to work through š He was thinking SO HARD here!!! Not surprisingly, the further from the magic cookie dispense he was, the harder it was so he slowed down (plus there was not a lot of room for you to move either, so he seemed to be careful about getting it right while using a LOT of brain power to ignore the MM :))
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āØ>>or it was a ābad dayā today (but weather was nice!); or ābad setupā, or my ābad handlingā because he was so slow and at times wouldnāt even āreleaseā on sit/stay>>āØ
I donāt think it was any of these thingsā¦ I think it was a great training plan to teach him to work away from the reward set behind him. This is what he will need to do at trials! And it ws really really really hard, so what you were seeing were processing delays. He had to devote a significant amount of brain energy to ignore the MM, so he couldnāt quite blast off the start line or run fast yet. But he was successful and got rewarded so I think it is a big win!! Yay! Your connection and handling was clear, which is why he was successful.The only thing I would add is a marker that indicates that he can run to the MM. You had āgoā for the jump line but we donāt want that to also be a marker for permission to go to the MM. You can use a verbal like ācookiesā or something to release him from the sequence and focus so he can go run to it š
This is a great game to play with (sequence while ignoring the MM) but expect some sticky slowness at first as he processes it. And since it is so hard, you donāt want to do it all the time, just sometimes. And mix in easy versions of the sequence where the MM is not out there to be ignored and you have the cookie in your pocket or hand (when you hand feels better :))
Great job here!!
Tracy
Good morning!
>>Adolescents are so weird.>>
These are the truest words ever. The vet neuroscience people tell us that the rate of brain development is incredibly high and basically their brains are different every day. Add in hormones and all that fun stuffā¦ weird for sure!!!!! And some days they are adult-like and other days they are, well teenagers LOL!!
You both did GREAT in the 104 degree temps!
Video 1 – sending to the tunnel from further away was great and leaving early when you dded the jump before it worked beautifully. Connection was really strong! My only suggestion is that you can open your shoulder sooner (as he exits the tunnel he should ideally see you moving between the uprights of the next jump with your serp arm open). Opening it up when he is already on the way to the jump is a couple of strides too late.
>>In the second session, Venture missed the second jump twice going towards the tunnel. I then adjusted the angle on the second jump and he was successful.>>
Missing the jump here was a handing question from him – when he landed from 1 (the serp jump) at 1:05 you had great serp position. Then to cue 2 you turned forward, which lines your shoulders up past the jump and basically cues him to NOT take it. So he took it at 1:06 but hit the wing.
For the serp cue to work fully, it cues both the come in over the jump and go back out over the next jump. To make that happen, you will want to give the clear serp info you were giving for the serp jump and then hold that shoulder position and big connection as you run up the next lineā¦ you will see him turn away to the next jump and that is when you can ārelaxā the position. You were turning forward as he was coming over the serp jump, which actually cues him to skip the next jump based on shoulders/feet/connection.
A similar thing happened on the other side at 2:02 – 2:03. Fantastic serp shoulders for jump 1, then you closed forward so he went past jump 2. Getting closer at 2:50 didnāt help because it is connection not proximity that gets the turn away to the jump.
Angling the jump on the last rep helped but you also gave great connection at 3:29 – that is what made the difference š Yay! So hold your serp position as you move up the next line until he turns away to the jump after the serp and he will be able to get it.
I grabbed some screenshots because the visuals might be more helpful than the words here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L_jrKNvi2VHeYvcEs7t1_MZqwgoduPIZNWNhOgrZORw/edit?usp=sharing
You might also see a side preference here – one side is easier than the other in terms of moving away to the next jump. For example, my whippet can do serps pretty well if he comes towards turning to his left then moves away to his right. But coming towards me to his right them moving away to his left is soooooo hard (he is definitely a righty so that subtle left lead change is really hard to coordinate as a teenager :))
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Good morning!
>I could see right away after watching my walk-through video, why both boys missed the backside of sequence 1. My shoulder was turned on the walk-through and I lost connection there with both boys.>
This is good! This is why I torture people with this exercise LOL!! It really helps us see the info we are giving the dogs. And it is great to do it with 2 dogs because if they BOTH do the same thing, then obviously it is something we humans are doing š
On the first video:
On thing that will help is adding speed to your walk through – things happen very quickly with your two boys so a āwalkā through really needs to have elements with you running not walking. That will give you the feel of how quickly things need to happen, so you arenāt trying to execute at speed for the first time with the actual dog.
Adding speed in the walk through will help you be able to get the BC and then keep moving through to the backside. In the walk through, you were a good distance away from the 5 jump before the blind, but on the run you ran to it, maybe because things were going rally fast so it felt like he needed more support. That sent him over the off course jump. For the backside – overall, your connection was really good but yes, you can add exaggerating the connection to really turn your shoulders to the backside line. Then also add in getting closer to the entry wing to support the line with position as well.
On the 2nd video:
Doing a FC on jumps 1-2 does work but also yes, it is more than needed when a serp would be great there!Be sure to work the timing of the tunnel exit turns too (including verbals and doing it at speed) – it looked like you were ding the BC 4-5 later than would be needed for such a fast dog because the invisible dog was exiting the tunnel on your left, you took a few more steps, then did the blind – you would probably do the blind right away as he exited, which gives you time to execute a turn on 5.
On the run – you had switched to the simpler serp opening and it went well! He didnāt quite recognize it on the first run but then was great on the 2nd run Yay!
He was wide on the tunnel exit on the first run (less so on the 2nd run) so definitely plan those blinds sooner.Definitely use more verbals in the walk through too – you were very quiet as compared to the runs. At the jump 5, you said ājump rightā but it is a left turn š And also, with his speed, you donāt need ājumpā. The jump cue is mainly a commitment cue and not a turn cue – the right (or left :)) cue (or a wrap cue in this particular case) will give him more info about how tight the turn is. And you can start to deliver it as he is over jump 4, with decel and maybe even a brake arm, to get more collection. By using the jump cue first, he doesnāt hear the left or right until after he has to make a takeoff decision so he can only turn when he lands.
He did great on the big ending line on both runs, and that 2nd run was especially smooth!!
Watson also did really well! He dropped the bar on 2 when you disconnected (looking at the tunnel) and cued the tunnel. Your blind with him was earlier and also you had decel going into jump 5, so he had a REALLY nice turn! I think a āleftā verbal is all he needs there. And he was GREAT on his layering at the end!!! YAY!!!
>>All went well except for 1-2 3 for Levy. He held his start line but just couldnāt make the tight left turn to jump 3. We eithe>>
For sequence 3: the timing of the turn cue is pretty early, as soon as his feet touch down from 1 and he looks at 2. If you are late (especially if you did a blind) and running up the line, he might turn but probably wonāt get 3 (make sure you had exit line connection there). Or, if you turned too early (like while he was taking off for 1) the side change would pull him off of 2. So definitely lead out pretty far (probably past 2 and on the way to 3)and get the commitment to 2 before starting the cross. He would probably benefit from a front cross there as that can show clearer rotation and makes it easier to show the exit line connection.
Great job here!!!!
Tracy
Thanks for the reminder about the collar! I will send it on messenger.
My whippet’s breeders are on the West Coast, so I will ask them for toe references and pass along the info.Tracy
Hi! Lots of lovely work here!
>>I forgot to use verbals here.
Handling without the verbals was fine here because you really emphasize connection and he was GREAT!!!
He had the bar down on the FC 2-3 because the FC was at :30 and :44 and 1:11 – you were moving laterally across the bar til he as taking off then did the FC so he tried to adjust in the air and could not. So send to 2 but move directly to the tunnel. And you can start the turn when he has landed from 1 and is looking at 2, so it eill feel pretty early š
When you were connected and not trying to out run him he was great like t 1:31- 1:38. Gorgeous! He can go fast, all you need to do is be connected and stay in smooth motion.
The next sequence was lovely too 1:49 – 1:57 and so was the last sequence, even with the bar down. The decel was late on that bar both times, so he was trying to adjust in the air. But he was really really beautiful on the rest of it You handling was smooth and connected and you were not rushing. SUPER!!!
So take that relaxed approach: smooth, connected, but YOU donāt need to be fast (he will do that for you :))
Great job!!
TracyHi!
Good job adding the walk throughs here ! That rehearsal really helped the runs!!
>>I also wasnt impressed with my course walking either ā seems was more mental than physical walking.>>āØ
Yes, but it still helped! You can add more connection back to her – you were looking ahead very quickly and she is fast, but no way she is fast enough to get ahead that soon š And to really practice it, run the walk through more so you can feel her timing more.O nth first video: I think the runs went really well – because you were not using verbals, you had to really connect and handle and it was almost perfect! She just needed an earlier turn cue for 2 (shoulder turn is fine there) so she could turn before takeoff, and then she had an extra jump because of a late cue on the 2nd runā¦ but you were smoothly in motion throughout and very connected. SUPER!!
On the 2nd video – she had a lot of questions :51 – :58 because your arm was high and blocking connection – but she kept going and didnāt get mad at you and that is great!!!
After the first tunnel, you dropped your hands lower and connected more and she got fast again. Yay!
On the 2nd run at 1:19, you turned away from the line and she correctly followed you. Much better support on the next run, but you pulled away and she questioned the tunnel. The parallel line will support the layering line, with your feet and shoulders facing forward until she is in the tunnel and not turning to the next jump too early.
Getting her to the backside required a really precise running line, which is why she had questions the first couple of times. You got it perfectly at 2:03! Yay! Great position, connection, and low arms.
3rd video (and also the 4th video)
That is a hard turn on the tunnel exit at 3 without a verbal! Click/treat to you for getting it done! YAY!!! I am REALLY liking this experiment in handing without verbals š
The rest looked GREAT!!! This is so nice!!!!I think the next step allowed will be only tunnel verbals (tunnel cues and turns cues on tunnels). But keep the jump verbals out of it because it is really smoothing out your handling and connection!
>>PS for someone who relies almost totally on verbals I felt I was very restrained on the verbals but had to keep biting my tongue.>>āØ
You were SO GOOD here!! Connected, moving, handlingā¦ not stopping and just using verbals. She worked really hard, paid attention really well, and didnāt get mad at you š I am liking this crazy experiment!!! OK, next step – you can use tunnel cues and turns for tunnels but not the verbals. And try that on bigger courses or spread things out, letās apply this to more yardage!
Great job :)āØāØTracy
Hi!
I am glad you found your phone!She is doing so much better with her lead outs, and your connection was REALLY good here! She still kind of dislikes stays so can mix up the session – do a little sequence with a stay then do something without a stay, maybe using a cone to start instead.
I think this went really well! It was NOT a hot mess but also yes, using wings will give you more time. You had great connection and not a lot of verbals. When she went to the other side of the jump, you were in too close and that pushed her through the gap. No worries, it was great connection and that is what we are going for.
You can add the next sequences now, that will have more movement for you both!
Grett job :)āØTracy
Yay for a diagnosis! A sprain sucks but it is still a good outcome. We will sort out either a credit or refund for the working spot stuff you can’t do, no worries! I have found that back on track coats draped over feet and also an Assisi loop have helped.
About exercises – since it is an injury, I suggest only a veterinary rehab expert. I worked with Dr. Leslie Eide – she was amazing. it was all online and really help (and kept me from going insane :)) She is also an agility competitor at a high level and her Ghost is an Aussie š I can find her website if you like!
And the whippet racing people that I got Ramen from know ALL the things to know about toes. If the wind blows too hard, a whippet pops a toe… so I will ask them for a recommendation.
Tracy
Hi!
Serps on 1 jump – looked good – easy coming in towards her right but not towards her left! She was thinking so hard and that gave her some molasses movement š She worked it out and was great on the 2 jump and 3 jump reps, plus there was more movement in those.
2 jumps – there is a lot of pressure on serps! You pushed in towards jump 2 by maybe on toenail on the first rep so she went into the gap. Angling the jump was 100% the right thing to do and things went really well after that. The 3 jump sequences went well – she might need an additional jump or wing to start the first send, so there is a little more momentum but she read the serps nicely!!
The mountain climbers looked great. Cream cheese is life!
I think there is no tip on this teeter yetā¦ I also think you can add a teeny tiny bit of tip! Yay! LOTS of cream cheese needed and stick closer to her the first couple of times (but I think she will be perfectly fine :))
>>I still need to locate friends with Galican & Max 200 teeters. OK to do some angled entries before I get her on other teeters?>>
Absolutely! You can keep working the progressions on the home teeter(s) and then add easier steps when you get to the other teeters. You can also attach weights to the end of the board of your teeter so it moves differently, kind of like the other brands of teeters would.
Great job!!!
Tracy
Hi! These were a good challenge for him!
First video:
He had no trouble finding the line on the first run!
Tiny place to save time is at 4 – show that turn cue before he takes off, ideally when he lands from 3 so he can adjust before takeoff and not land and add a stride (:06)Tunnel layering looked great with a strong parallel line at :19.
When you were changing the angle of the jump to be a backside, things got more spicy š
The key is going to be partially your line of motion and a whole lot of verbal cue understanding.
He had a conflicting indicator at :35ā¦ voice saying to turn by you gave a BIG step and arm cue to the lineā¦ which sent him to the tunnel. He was more careful at :52 and 1:17 there and got it, but we donāt want careful (and we donāt want to lose the advantage o being way ahead when you decel for the send). And then there was confusion at 1:25 when you wanted the tunnel but it was the same body language as when you wanted the jump. You got it with a decel and not really layering, but we donāt want that either š
Try it without the arm and leg send – just use your verbal and parallel line motion like you did at :04 and :19, and I am confident he will get the jump versus the tunnel.
Threadle wrap looked great! It might put you a little too far ahead on this specific sequence, but that is also a good training moment to get him to send away to a big layer line without a lot of motion before it.
That line behind the tunnel was challenging. (I saw it on a couple of European courses recently and also on an EO course so I figure we better train it LOL!)
On the 2nd video, adjusting the angle of the jump behind the tunnel was a great idea and really helped him!!!! Clicktreat to you for great dog training!
The push wrap worked really well in this context because you didnāt end up too far ahead. The tunnel send went really well – he had it based on parallel path and you didnāt need to decel .
Keep breaking down the line behind the tunnel so he gets REALLY comfy staying out there basically on a verbal (he canāt really see your feet or your upper body there) – throwing the reward at the end really helped!!! Even the slight angle was hard at first, so breaking it down and very gradually turning the jump will help. You can also replace the tunnel with a smushed down tunnel or a but of random jump wings, so it is easier for him to see you and handle rather than have the tunnel blocking him.
Great job here!
Tracy
Ugh!!! It is so hard to have to wait!! I hope there is a cancellation so you can get in sooner!!!!
Tracy
Hi!
These overall went really well! There were two things that cropped up consistently, and if you smooth those out you will really have perfect runs:
– when setting turns like on FC or BC side changes, be sure to run literally on the line you want her to take. Right on it š Then since you are ahead, you will be clear of it when she arrives on it. Dogs are reading our position as well as our motion, so they are going to jump directly to the line you are on (kind of like a water skier behind a boat). If you set the right line? Amazing turns! If you set a wide line? Wide turn š
When there was a wide turn, you were way wide of the line so even really clear connection was not as much of a help – more specifics below.– when you use a brake arm or threadle arm, move it back towards her so she can really see it. When you did that? Fantastic! When you āhidā it by closing your shoulders forward and leaning forward, she didnāt understand the turn or line.
Did you video your walk throughs on these? I would love to see them, to compare walk to run so we can fine tune things. This totally takes things to the next level! It is kind of a pain to do but it will be sooooo worth it!
Seq 1:
Nice opening!
The cross 5-6 is a spot where you can literally run on the tightest possible line you want her to take, then be moving forward and clear it when you are exiting the cross. Since you were wide from the line, she was chasing your position (correctly) and was wideShe also had a wide line FC on 8 backside – it was because you were across the bar on the opposite wing, When you walk the sequence, sort out the perfect line you want her to take, and run the cross on that exact line. In this spot, it would mean getting close to where the wing and bar meet so that you can be right on the line.
Good job working the connections on the cross exits!
Seq 2: You can be closer to the line 1-2 to get a tighter turn there too – do the serp basically on the ideal line you want from her š
The decel and brake arm on 5 is a spot where you can show her the brake arm rather than close your shoulders forward. You were a little late and forward-facing at :05. MUCH better timing at :23, really nailed the timing – but how her the brake arm, donāt hide it š by rotating at the waist more towards her.
The tunnel is a little off the line at the end, so you can call her and turn her on the last jump to set that line nicer
Seq 3: This opening is a good one for running on the perfect line and not wide of it – being well past her line was causing the wide turn. The timing and exit line connection was all good! It was a position question.
On the first run, she went behind you but got it – keep going so you get the think-on-your-feet practice š
You said something about āa little more effortā but she made a huge effort to come find the 3 jump based on the line she was shown.At :21 you are al the way across the jump so at :22 she jumps out exactly to that line (good girl) . Here is a visual:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z2FOtOxY2TyVwRtZiVQyrGRM9aY6n8AztV9yRh0NfoA/edit?usp=sharingSo as you walk it, walk her ideal path as perfectly as possible and then put the handling right on that path.
The RC can work but would need more of a lead out so you can be up at 2 sooner and show a bigger turn cue at then more RC diagonal. I like the FC or BC there better š
You pushed in closer to the line you wanted at 1:24 and it was already better! Yay!
At 1:53, she was wide again because your line was wide. She is giving really good feedback on your positions!The threadle 4-5 was also challenging here:
First the timing needed to be sorted:
At :25 the in in cue started when she was halfway between the 2 jumps, so it was too late.More importantly, the physical cue (arm cue) was closed forward – you can how her a more upright posture and the threadle arm swung back, like you did at :58 and then in flow at 1:28 and 1:57 – those worked beautifully!!!!
You can also add a turn cue for 4 – as she is exiting 3, give her a collection cue or name call to help set up the threadle line.
The rest looked strong – she had a little question about the layered jump, so that is a good spot to connect more and throw rewards. I think the directional followed by your ājumpā cue might be most effective
And you donāt have time to praise while handling, it delays the info so she slows down and looks at you. It was much faster & smoother on the last run where you didnāt praise š
Sequence 4:
Nice opening! I like the rear cross on 5 to set the great line back to the 6 tunnel.
The threadle wrap is also a place to keep your shoulders more open to her. Donāt disconnect on the transition into the threadle wrap – you called her pretty hard and then as she lifted off, broke connection by looking forward and dropped your hand in low and ahead of you. You could probably see her, but your shoulders turned forward blocked the info and connection and the bar came down. Much more connected and smoother on the 2nd rep! Super!!!! The arm was more visible back to her and so was the question.She set up the threadle wrap turns really well! Great turns! She is REALLY locking in her threadle wrap understanding!
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Good morning! Thanks for the update!
>>For seq 1A & B I needed to be careful of my hand movement for Mookie or he would go to the backside of 1. The further away he was from jump 1 the better for him. >>
Interesting!! You can definitely be careful with your motion, and also use a front-side verbal as your release. I was using my wrap verbal as the release, which only ever means front side, never back side.
>>He was fine the rest of the sequences. I did both a Rear cx and Blind cx between 3 & 4 of seq 1A and all 3 dogs were fine. No one took a WC tunnel >>
SUPER!!!!
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>> All 3 were good for seq 1B.Double super!!!
āØ>>For seq 2 A & B I went straight to the true backside. All 3 dogs were fine.>>
Yay! For added challengeā¦. Move the tunnel in closer.
āØ>>For Seq 3 the backside circle wraps were good. Both Seq 1 thru 6 and 1 thru 8 flowed. Got a nice āinā at jump 5 to take the proper side of the jump for all 3 dogs.>>
Fabulous!!!! I am glad it went so well!
āØ>>I have been happy Buddy has been joining in this summer. He only has one rep in him for each seq but all have been great for him >>
That is great! There is no pressure so he is thriving and having fun!!!
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.āØ>>My ass pass on jump 5 to 6 is good and consistent. Itās the blind cross between 4 and 5 then the spin to 6 that I am still turning the wrong way. >>Take out the spin element for a while: do the Blind cross 4-5, then a front cross wrap on 6 and run up the line. No spin. That will get you turning the correct direction. When that is super comfy, you can do the BC 4-5 then the FC on 6 and starting running up the lineā¦ then as he jumps 6, you do the BC as if it was a normal boring old blind, not a spin š
>>I will try parts of the Jumpers and/ or Standard Courses next.āØAnd the Spins, forever and a dayā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ or third try is the charm >>
Fantastic! Keep me posted! And as always, thanks for the update :)āØāØ
TracyGood morning! This went SUPER well!
Run 1 – super nice!!! Lovely lines and connection on the opening. You can call her before she goes into the tunnel to get a tighter turn to the #4 jump.
As she was coming over the 2nd to last jump, you hit the brakes too hard and disconnected to send forward so she hit the bar trying to figure out what you wanted (:15)
Compare to the smoother decel and clear connection at :35 on the 2nd run – nailed it!You gave a decel on the tunnel on the 2nd run – but I donāt think she needed the decel. Just a verbal and maybe a brake arm is all she needs, and she proved it at :48 when that is exactly what you did on run 3 and the turn on the tunnel exit was great. We donāt want you to have to decelerate there because you will need to big hustling up the next line on a bigger course š
I am really loving the FC on the #6 backside!!!! You absolutely smoked it every single time: great connection, timing, lineā¦ she had zero questions and jumped it with gorgeous collection and speed. Click/treat for you both!
Nice send to the tunnel for the TW – you cased from further away so you donāt get caught behind the jump on the way to the threadle wrap. Also, send and post turn there rather than spin on the tunnel entrance. The spin delays you from hustling up the next line, plus it cues a turn on the tunnel exit and we donāt want her to turn there. She didnāt turnā¦ so that also means we donāt want to dilute a turn cue by having it mean ādonāt turnā š
>>I need to work on the threadle wrap more. Itās a new handling move to me. So I think I did a tandem turn again.>>āØ
You are almost all the way there with it! You got it as a tandem each time, meaning you turned your feet to the jump. So to get it as a threadle wrap, decelerate into it more (so your feet wonāt be tempted to turn to the jump) and let your upper body flip her away. Hold your position near the TW jump until she turns away and takes the first step towards the correct wrap wingā¦ then you can move forward again. I bet she gets it!>>Iām hoping to have time to build out training package 4ās hot topic course today and play with that one.>>
We have a little more than a month left for video submissions, so hopefully they weather cooperates and you can get lots in!
Great job here :)āØāØ
Tracy
