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Good morning!
This session went really well 😁
He did really well with finding the big line and jumping it – I didn’t see any bars down!The circle wrap commitment is looking really good – he was turning really well and you had nice timing of moving forward after he passes you!!! From this angle, it looks like you might have been blocking the wing a little bit at :22 and :36 – he was looking up at you and had a rounder/wider line to it. You can tuck right into the landing spot – that way he sees the full wing and you do not need to rotate to show him the bar at all (that can be confused with the cues for a backside rear cross, which does have rotation).
The threadle wrap is coming along nicely!!!! You are using the outside arm to do the come in and flip away… which ends up with your feet also rotating to the jump.
Ideally, your upper body cues all of it and your feet don’t turn at all (feet going forward are part of the threadle wrap cue to differentiate it from the slice), so you can consider using both hands here – you might find it easier to help him turn away for now, and more importantly – easier to fade out the big turn away cues. You can use the hands and then make the turn away cues smaller and smaller until he doesn’t need your hands to cue the turn away.
The rep at 1:28 had the best timing of the blind to get to the threadle wrap. You can be closer to the threadle wing, which will also help him turn himself away.
As you work the independence on him turning himself away when he sees the cue, you can carry the toy with you and toss it to the landing side of the threadle wrap jump as you move forward. Having it down by the tunnel negates the placement of reinforcement opportunity – it is fine for the simpler skills but for the newer/harder skills, definitely bring it with you so you can toss it to the landing spot and build up the independence,
Great job!!
TracyGood morning!
>>the distance on the exercise is 19 feet.
That is a very civilized, normal distance that he will see on course, so we can definitely get him organized for it.
>>I have used 7,7,7,15 then 16, 17, 18, until a stride is added. Then back down a foot at a time to 15.>>
I like that grid too! I figured he would have an easy time reading 1 foot increments, which is why I suggested 3 foot increments for the last jump which is much harder to read.
Thanks for the grid video – he did well but also watching it in slow motion… his footwork is a little all over the place 🙂 He was not consistent in his striding in the compression sections (6’) and he was definitely having to think about reading the distance to the last jump.
– lower the bar on the last jump to 16” so he gets the mechanics going before it goes to full height. Full height adds an element of challenge he is not ready for until he can effectively sort out a slightly lower height. And 16” still has enough elevation that he will sort it out.
– he wants to watch you and also is tending to lift his head/invert his back. So, let’s give him a focal point that is not a reward, so we can also give feedback about the jumping as needed. I recommend a cone (or wing) to wrap, about 18 feet past the last jump (it will move in and out as the jump moves). So it will be 5 jumps then the cone to wrap. If it is a clean effort, he gets the toy. If it is not clean, you can nope it before he gets to the cone. That way he looks forward, improves mechanics, but you can still do a bit of yes-or-no for the jumping.
When he learns that new setup with the cone, you can add more of your motion, particularly with you behind him. For now, start him in the same spot consistently close to the first jump. We might start with a cone wrap at some point to add in more driving ahead, but I want to see how he organizes with the cone out past the last jump.
He did keep the 2 bars up in isolation but watching in slow motion – he is off balance here with his butt going higher than his shoulders and head up. Then when you added the tunnel, he had so much momentum on the first rep that he lost control and tried to bounce and hit the bar. He added a stride after that, but I think he was also decelerating off of your position and motion at the last jump.
Not being able to control the momentum also speaks to possibly needing core strengthening/plyometric stuff added to his routine? What kind of stuff is he already doing? That can make a huge difference even if you only do it twice a week.
>>I threw the toy anyway (an error) which proves it is a good thing I train with almost all positives, since errors just mean extra toys/cookies.
>> These are the most true words LOL!!!! The worst case scenario is he get one extra rehearsal of incorrect mechanics, which is no big deal. Punishment (especially when we screw it up LOL) is much less forgiving. And, accidental rewards in situations where a reward is expected actually might not lead to learning/encoding – the science is really interesting!
Nice work here! Keep me posted on how he does!
Tracy
Good morning!
>>OMG, I went to an agility trial this weekend and looked at the courses which gave me the opportunity to do slices and wraps and really set the lines for Mookie. My goal was to try things out from camp and what I ended up with was 3 DQs in a row, all first places. Mookie’s speed was incredible.>>
Good for you!!!! Congrats! That is an impressive feat – getting all the Qs AND getting them at a high speed where they are also first place. WOW!!!!
>>It was hard to refocus back on camp after such an incredible weekend for us >>
You can stay on Cloud 9 for a while, it is well-deserved!

>>The warm up went well for all 3 of my boys. All 3 got the backside easily >>Perfect!

>> For sequence 2 what I thought I would have a problem with I didn’t. I could either blind or front cross 3 to 4 the first course seq 2. Course 3 of seq 2 went well also. >>Great – it sounds like they had no trouble following the handling to change the line, and you got around all of the stuff in your way 🙂
>>Course 2 of seq 2 with the send around the tunnel is where we needed to focus on. Buddy needed practice with this then he was fine. Alonso was fine with this until I decided to proof it and send him into the tunnel then the next run layer the tunnel >>
Yes, that is a hard element! I left in my blooper with my boy – it is hard to get around the tunnel without running into it AND maintaining connection. Or, sending past it to layer the tunnel is also hard and requires a lot of connection and understanding on the part of the dog. But that is why we practice it here, so it is easy when it shows up at a trial.

It sounds like they all sorted it out with a little bit of breaking it down and rewarding. Super!

>> I wound up working a lot on seq 3 and proofing by one time going into the tunnel then next time layering the tunnel. Mookie needed a come tunnel and an out jump command and he rocked it. Alonso and Buddy needed more support with verbals and an out stretched arm to layer. >>Awesome!!! It is good to know all of this for each dog, because you will see this on course for sure in the coming year. Alonso, because he s the youngest, will probably end up needing cues similar to what Mookie needs as his understanding develops.
>>Now I will look at the new pkg of stuff. Always lots of stuff to do for camp and the dogs love it >>The Hot Topics has big long lines – you are already seeing big long lines at the end of courses in AKC where the handler is not ahead, as well as across the ring – so definitely focus on getting all the boys to drive ahead. Then you can put a double or triple at the end of the line, which is where it is showing up on course a lot.
Have fun! Thanks for the update!
Tracy
Good morning!
>>Unfortunately, I found a blister on Sprite’s pad. Boohoo. Probably the ridiculous heat here. >>
Ugh, that sucks! It could be the dry grass? Those heal up pretty quickly, thankfully, but it still sucks!
>>Hopefully, we can still go this coming weekend, but I’ll have to see. Sigh. Of course, the weather is a little better still.>>
If it heals and you want to protect it from happening again, it is legal to protect her feet with powerflex in UKI!
>Pop out 1: I felt like I needed to serp to a blind on the line from 6 to 7. So, I should blind earlier and pick a better running line?>>
I think if you start the blind earlier and keep moving like you did, the line will take care of itself because you will be showing the info soon.
> I see a theme with my shoulder not being back enough on the threadles.>
Think of swinging your dog side arm back like you are pulling her through a door 🙂
>>Haha, the first opening I just messed up. I’d freak if I was supposed to get that as a threadle to 3. It was impressive!>>
And she jumped it really well too!
>>Pop out 2: yes, I was trying to get a right turn for 4-5-6. The wrap was an error, but I just kept running because that’s a useful skill and it happens!>>
Good for you!!! I always tell people to make it look like it was intentional and not an error, to keep things in flow. You were great!
>>The spin at 9 makes sense. Post turns aren’t my friend, but I use them occasionally.>>
The thing with the brake arms now is to figure out where we need a spin versus where we can just do the post turn. Course design nowadays is mostly post turns but some spin moments do pop up.
The visual for wrap v>>ersus backside slice is helpful. Intellectually I understand it. But, my feet don’t always cooperate. Maybe I’ll play in my backyard with just me while Sprite heals.>>
Here is a one jump game to get your feet happy with it:
>>Pop out 3: haha, you are funny thinking the threadle wraps are getting comfy.
They are looking SO MUCH BETTER and you & Sprite are executing them really well!!!!
Keep me posted on her foot!
Tracy
Hi!!
I am excited about your new pup!! So fun!!!!! I am looking forward to photos!!!
Icy winds sound like the exact opposite of the desert weather we have here LOL! And I agree, she did really well!
<>BTW, should I be focussing more on the packages, rather than the lives?>>
For the lives, you can get some of the skills like brake arms and navigating around other stuff that you can then use in the packages. So maybe do the lives first then the packages.
On the video:
The blind to threadle on rep 1 worked well on the first rep, but when you added the tunnel to it, I think the FCs worked a lot better because you could give her the info a lot sooner in terms of what was next. The blind sends her a little wider so she dropped the bar on the 4 jump after it. Compare to all the FC reps that had clean jumping efforts there, because she could see the line to 4 sooner.
>> Suspect I was a bit late on jump 3 given her extension jump.
Yes, a tiny bit late because the distance was tight. You can stick closer to the 4 jump and decelerate there, so when she exits the tunnel she already sees the turn cues. Moving towards 3 is what sent her a little wide.
I think you were saying right on that turn over 3? It is a left, unless the video got mirrored then please ignore this LOL!
>>Pretty sure the last bar was her watching me with the treat ball.>>
Yes, you can throw later after she lands so she doesn’t hit the bar chasing the reward 🙂
Great job here!!
Tracy
Hi! Very nice sessions here! And it sounds like she did great in Winnipeg – baby girl is growing up 🙂
On the videos:
Nice new toy!! She definitely seemed to like it when it was moving, so drag it or throw it to keep her engaged with it. When it is a bit too dead, she lets go.She is reading the lines well and wrapping well! The most important thing is to be hyper-connected as you start the wraps. This will get easier as she gets more experienced, but I think connection supports the lines for her just as much as motion does.
At 1:05 – you were ahead, there was not a lot of connection, arm forward, she doesn’t know if it is a wrap or blind, so she jumps up with a BIG MAD.
On the first rep on the other side (dog on right) you were parallel (also at 2:26) to her so connection was easier to see and motion also supported the front of the jump. She got it beautifully!
The rep at 1:42 was a little more connected (dog on left) and she got it nicely!!!
At 2:07, you are ahead and looking forward over the bar as you decel, so that shifts her into handler focus – she doesn’t take the jump
But then look at 2:44, last rep on this video: you were ahead but also very connected and she nailed it!! This is the perfect one!! YAY!
On the 2nd video –
>>I think some of the Jumping up is in reaction to her not wanting to drop the toy.>>
This is entirely possible! The toy does change arousal states so it is good to look at how she feels about it when using it! I am happy she likes it 🙂 Looking at this, I believe an arousal bridge is what she needs, to transition from the higher tugging arousal into the sequencing arousal and focus.
At :26, you took the toy and started the sequence, all in less than a second. You were not that connected and she was definitely not ready (plus lack of connection didn’t help her find the jump). So, she got leapy.
You used arousal bridges on the next rep! She did well with the food at :55 and then going back to BIG tugging!!! That is fantastic! Then to bridge into the sequence, you used food, then took a connected moment for about 2 or 3 seconds then at 1:15 you showed a clear connected line to the first jump. She ran beautifully! So definitely keep that toy moving and exciting like you did here… and build in those arousal bridges and I bet she has no more questions.
>>For the mountain climber, should the teeter be on the base (set lower) and resting on something or can I just use the teeter board propped up against the table? Just trying to see what needs to get dug out of the shed for this. (I did find my teeter tip it thingee though)>>
I use the full teeter with the ‘get on’ end on the ground, and the target end propped on my tip it thingamajig. The dogs are running up the full height teeter. Now, because she is small, you can have the teeter lower (on the base, or on a table) so there is less height. It depends on how you think she will feel about climbing it.
Great job here!
TracyHi!
It is crazy how 80 degrees probably felt really nice after all of the 100 degree days! He did great here!
>>First rep – just running circle, nothing more
Very nice! Great connection from you and he was very speedy!
>>2nd – wrap. BTW when we late tried front-crosses, I wasn’t sure what is the difference between ‘wraps’ from week 1 and ‘front-crosses’ from week 2. In other words – which one I’m doing wrong LOL because they look the same to me>>
You are correct in that they are both front crosses – a side change from one arm to the other. The wrap refers to the extreme amount of collection needed, and that he is going to come all the way back around the wing. A regular front cross does not has as much collection and he proceeds to the next jump without coming back around the wing. I call those “fluffy” because they are wider but I am probably the only one who calls them that LOL!!!
On the wrap here, the verbal and front cross started just before he gathered for takeoff (:14). You can start it earlier, because then he will collect more. For now, let him land from the previous jump – when he has landed you can start the verbal and start to decelerate, both of which cue the collection. Then as he gets to the 2nd jump and is collecting, you can do the front cross.
For the verbal, you don’t need to say ‘over’ – you can say your check verbal a couple of times, because check means ‘take the jump and turn tight’.
Compare to the timing of your wrap cues at 1:53, on the other side: VERY NICE! You were earlier with your deceleration, starting when he landed, and you also rotated sooner. He was very tight on the turn there! As you finish the FC and head to the next line, this is also a spot to keep your arm back to his nose so he can see your eyes and front of your shoulders.
The last rep at 2:01 was good too, with the timing more like the first one at :14 so it was a little late. And the turn was wider. I liked your timing at 1:53 the best!
>>Then we tried blind crosses. LOL – should I mention that blind cross is NOT something we had done often before? My Golden is fast (for me), Danes too, so I’m typically behind – means my ‘favorite’ and most-used cross is rear-cross 🙂>>
Your blind was great here!!!!!! You sent him away on the line and so you were at the next jump and finished with the blind cross here at :26, all before he took off for the blind cross jump. That is SUPER!!!!! You might not feel totally comfortable yet so you moved a little sideways out of it, but your connection was lovely and he had no questions. You can be connected like you were (low arm, eyes looking for his eyes) and move forward – he will totally find the line.
Yes, I also love rear crosses but when you can send him away on a line and get to the blind like you did here? PERFECT!
The next blind was strong too (:36) and you added a wrap at the end – add a little deceleration after you finish the blind so he can prepare his collection for the wrap front cross sooner.
>So you can see me ‘struggling’ on video trying to figure it out 🙂 And after 2 ‘unsuccessful’ attempts I just put him into his crate and walked it without him few times 🙂>
I think what was hard was maybe you were trying for a spin? The spin is the front cross on the jump, then the blind cross as he is jumping – he starts and ends on the same side of you, but with the rotation of a front cross sandwiched in the middle to create a tighter turn.
The blind at :50 was strong and also great at 1:28 on the other side! You did a post turn for the wrap after the blind on those and he did not like that as much as the front cross 🙂 I think it was not as connected (same at 1:15) so he had to slow down to figure it out. At 1:29, we have a good video of the connection: yes, your head was turned but your shoulders were ‘closed’ forward, meaning your arm was at your side so he could not see your chest or eyes as you turned away. I am sure you could see him, but he could not see the connection as well. To help him there, you can point your dog-side arm back to his nose so he can see your eyes and the front of your chest (which points to his line). He picked up speed again as soon as he saw connection.
>> He is slow but it’s either because he is doing it first time OR I’m not handling it right>>
The slow moments were the moments he was looking for more connection. He was running on all the connected moments!
>>2 times where I ‘lost him’ – at first I though because he is hot or tired or it was too many reps on the same setup; but looking at it again I think because I lost a connection with him.>>
Yes! It was connection. At 1:00 and 1:39 you were turning forward too soon and he lost connection. That connection makes a big difference in terms of knowing where to be, so he will slow down to wait for more info if he is not sure. When he is sure, he was very fast!
Great job here!
Tracy
Good morning!
It is really exciting to see her read all 4 cues so well!!! I am sending you a high 5!!!! It went really well, I only have small suggestions for you:
The GO lines looked great!!! You can deliberately go in closer to the tunnel to see if she will drive ahead, or you can try to leave her in the dust and get miles ahead: will she still find the line?
The backsides were probably the hardest skill for her here. You can add more connection on the send to them. As she is over 3, you were looking ahead so she was looking at you at :11 and :31. If you look at her as she is at 3 and you are cuing the backside, she will send better. Then keep driving forward to the wing to support the line until she is just about at the entry wing – you were a little too early leaving on the first one. At :31 I think she felt too much pressure of you running in, so she flipped away. The next one looked good!!
She did really well with the rear cross! You can go in closer to the tunnel so you don’t need to decel and wait for her as she approaches 3 – you can be getting right on the RC line as she is over 3, then decel further up the line to get the wrap.
The wrap FC had really timing of the verbal and great job facing forward (after all of the reps to the other side of the bar, she was great to turn left here!) You can add in decelerating soon, (as she lands from 3 not when she passes you) to get a tiny bit more collection.
The sits were a little harder with the agility obstacles (and hose LOL!) around but that was probably just an indication of higher arousal… so it was good throw in a couple! Yay! She needed a little extra help but she did get it. Definitely revisit it after a bit of sequencing and see how she does next time!
Great job here!
TracyYay! I am glad you found the visuals helpful! I will keep doing them – freezing the moment in time really helps us see what the dog is seeing too!
Have fun! Stay cool!
TracyHi!
I think the outside arm reveals more connection than the dog-side arm when you are that far away. So it is not a bad thing at all! You probably don’t need it though – low arms, connection, parallel motion & verbals can be all her needs for now. That way the outside arm can be saved for things where he has to move away from you (like FAST sends or crazy lines :)) If he ran by the jump the first time, no reward, he will have a lightbulb moment of “take jump = big party” LOL! If he misses it twice, you can check the video – make sure your connection and motion were good! And if they were, you can help him by getting in a little closer to the line.
Let me know how it goes!
TracyHi!
>> I can see in the videos what you mean about being early on the BC’s. Thanks, I wasn’t sure what I was doing to cause that jump to keep coming down. It makes sense now.>>
Also, you can measure the distance and see what the yardage is here. It might be tooooo big, too much speed 🙂 You can aim for 24 foot distances which will be very different feeling! Or, aim for less is you might do AKC with him.
>>I keep reminding myself to get more dynamic range for my verbals and then we start running and I feel his intensity/power and I ramp away. LOL :). I keep telling myself to start with at least a pianissimo and fortissimo between collection and a go-go-go. 🙂>>
Yes! Run it without him and practice the verbals!
>>For the left turn break arm, I added it because he was zig-zagging a line between the tunnel – 3 – 4 when we warmed up on the circle jumps. Maybe just let him figure out that line more?>>
Yes, let him sort it out – it might have been that the line was set on a zig zag, or you needed to turn him with a name call before he entered the tunnel.
Have fun!
TracyHi!
>> I’m hoping by doing the drills with Enzo, it will sink into my head that that there are more choices than I usually consider.
>> Yes! That is the goal – what other strategies are available to get you up the line ahead of him when needed!
This went really well to help us sort that out 🙂
Sequence 1:
After the push wrap, you were at the tunnel entry when he enters the tunnel
After the threadle wrap, you were at 2nd to last tunnel bag when he enters the tunnel. That is pretty significant!2nd sequence:
After the push wrap – good hustle out of there! As you were cuing it, you have your left arm up at :16 but it will be more effective to get a tight turn if you have it in front of his line on the way to the entry wing. You were halfway up the tunnel when he enters the tunnel.After the threadle wrap – you were at the tunnel exit when he enters the tunnel. Again, it is pretty significant! You got the blind – he did slow up right on your heels to let you get past. You can be even further ahead if you don’t face him on the threadle wrap – move into it more so you are facing the tunnel and moving while doing the threadle wrap… then you will be miles ahead!
Full sequence looked good! Really nice lead out and turn on the tunnel exit!
Strategically: you can get more on his exit line for the FC on the 6 backside. That would be going in a little closer to 6, on the line to where the wing and bar meet and doing the FC there. That will serve 2 purposes:
– tighter turn on 6. You were wide of the line, more on the outer wing of 7 at :59 and 1:33 so he went wide there to your position
– easier line 7-8-9 which makes it MUCH easier to get 10-11. When he was wide, you had to hold position to get 7-8-9, closer to 7 and moving to 8. That delays getting past the 10 jump for either handling option. If you are closer to 6 and set a better turn, you will be able to send him 7-8-9 from closer to 6 (which also means closer to 10) and can very easily get up the line for whichever 10-11 option you want. And ifyou are further ahead on 10, the threadle wrap on 11 is even more effective because you can set a better line to it.
I timed it (of course haha) and the threadle wrap not only put you further ahead, but it was also a shade faster (less than a stride). That is good to know if there is a big line to get to forward past 11!!
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Hi!
>>I guess you must have thought we didn’t have enough to do — there are a lot of hot topics in package 3! Happily for me, my dogs “go on” really well, so that part doesn’t need too much work.>>
Ha! I added the GO lines in because it is surprising how many dogs don’t drive ahead, or slow waaaayyyyy down and have a beautiful (and unwanted) collection on the last jump. And with a big trend now of massive lines across the ring, I figured we should open that can o’ worms 🙂
I am glad we did because we need to sort out the bouncing and bar down! It didn’t matter if you tossed or placed the reward. He is bouncing with his head up, and also not powering enough to clear the bar.
First thing to do is measure the exact distance, if it is still set up. I didn’t think it was too short and it might indeed be something he sees in AKC!
>>Maybe I should shove it out a few more feet, so he has to add another stride.>>
Yes, that is one approach. He might not add another stride and maybe he will think it is uncomfortable, then add a stride? Maybe not 🙂
And I think lowering the bar might actually get him bouncing more, which is not actually want we want. I would prefer he put a stride in!
So two other approaches:
Before revisiting this setup with him, work on a ‘reading’ grid. This is 4 jumps in a straight line – jumps 1-2 and 2-3 are set 6 feet apart and very low, like 8 inches. Jump 4 starts 12 feet away from jump 3 (maybe a 16 inch bar on the first session or two, depending on how he does).
Rep 1 – he should bounce that 12 foot distance.
Rep 2 – jump 4 moves out to 15 feet – he will probably still bounce
Rep 3 – jump 4 moves out to 18 feet – he should add a stride
Rep 4 – jump 4 moves out to 21 feet – he should still do a one stride but it will be slightly longer
Rep 5 – jump 4 moves back to 18 feet
Rep 6 – jump 4 moves back to 15 feet
Rep 7 – jump 4 moves back to 12 feet
He gets exactly one rep of each, per session, total of 7 reps 🙂 The goal is that he reads and adjusts the first time (no do-overs – we want him to read it the first time, not get it right because he has seen it before LOL!)
If he has never seen a jump grid like this before, then the height on bar 4 should be 12 to help set up some success. And if he has never seen this concept before, you should be stationary, 20 feet past jump 4 (maintaining that distance as the 4 jump moves, so you are always 20 feet past it) with a toy attached to a long line. The toy is on the ground and as you release him, you move forward at a walk and drag the toy on the ground (a moving visual target).
If he has some education on this concept previously, you can have jump 4 at 16″ to start, and you can be adding more handler motion. You can be out ahead running, or you can lead out to jump 2 or 3, release, and move forward.
I do a ‘yes – no’ game on this version of it, with my focus on jump 4: I don’t place the toy, and I will only throw the toy when it is a “yes” meaning, the bar on 4 does not get touched. And a ‘no’ if it is touched or dropped. I might use a quiet ‘nope’ marker but it is very neutral, and I always follow the 2 failure rule: 2 ‘nopes’ in the session means it is too hard and I dial it back (reduce my motion or drop the bar height).This will potentially take a couple of sessions to lock in! And it will be physically fatiguing (there is a conditioning element to it) and mentally expensive (a whole lot of mechanics processing!) so itis best for every couple of days. And when it is far more ‘yes’ reps than ‘nope’ reps, we apply the yes/no concept to the bigger lines here.
Let me know how it goes!
Tracy
Hi! I am glad you are getting a break in the weather!!!
>>I forgot to try the leadout to threadle in sequence one. It’s not something I would normally try.>>
It is lower on the priority list for now – the other skills rank higher, meaning you are more likely to use them soon. That lead out to the threadle will be useful too, but not as soon as the others. Leading out to a threadle will work really well on more straightforward setups like Jumping course 2 in package 2!
I am really liking her focus focus on all of the lead outs here!!!
>> I’m not sure if I set the jumps wrong, but I had a little trouble getting 3. I was in her way.
I think it was a blind cross timing thing causing the questions. It is more of a normal BC there so the timing is sooner than it would be on a German:
– the timing of a normal landing side blind is starting as she is approaching the backside entry wing
– the timing of a German turn (wrap exit) blind is later – it starts as you pass the exit wing.On the first run, you went too much into the gap before doing the blind at :07 (after waiting for her to commit, which also showed decel!) so she collected. It did look more like a german with the tight turn exit, so she pulled off an impressive move to the threadle to 3!
Your line there at :20 and :39 was better for sure! The blind was a late (you were starting it when she was in the air – so you can start it as soon as you see her heading to the entry wing. That way you will be finished and showing the next line before she takes off.
>> The backside push to 6 to the blind threadle worked really well. That didn’t come to me staring at the maps.>>
Part of the goal for Package 2 and Package 3 (and 4 and 5 haha) is to get us finding places to use that skill more easily. It is cropping up everywhere so we need to be ready for it.
Nice push to the backside on 6!!!! She is finding those and jumping those beautifully. This is another spot where you can start the blind sooner (as she is approaching the entry wing) so you are finished and showing threadle before she takes off. At :28, you were a little late and she was surprised by the hard slice so she dropped the bar. You can make the threadle cue “bigger” in terms of arm back immediately and verbal. The cues at :47 was better there! You are using 2 low arms for the threadle slice cue there – you can be more upright and let your dog-side arm (left arm in this case) swing back more to show the threadle slice.
Sequence 2: The opening looked good!
On the 4-5-6 line: you got a right wrap/rear cross at 1:09 and 132 and 2:05 on 5 – I was pretty sure that is what you intended until you did a FC/left wrap at 2:39… Let me know if it was a blooper? For the right turn/rear crosses, you can show more motion up the RC line (putting more pressure into the center of the bar) as you flip her away with your hands, and a little more decel. For the FC/left trurn wrap, just decel is needed, no need to push in towards the center of the bar. I think the right turn/RC wrap is better because it sets a GREAT line back to the tunnel!
The Brake arm at 9 got really lovely collection at 1:14 and 1:40 and 2:11 and 2:46! The post turn showed her the 5 jump more than desired there. This is a spot where a spin can be more useful even with the brake arm. You got outta there sooner at 1:40 so the turn was better but a spin will get you up the line to 10 sooner and get a tighter turn on 9. I don’t love to throw in a lot of spins, but this is a great place for one because it turns your feet/motion to the next line sooner than a post turn does.
The brake arm on the way to 10 was very effective! It was a little late at 1:18 but much sooner at 1:41 (before she made a jumping decision) so she got a nice turn there!
>>Sequence 2 I struggled with jump 11 since you said not to wrap it. I’m still not sure why you can’t?>
On this sequence, wrapping to the left creates a slower, harder line to the 12 tunnel because the collection is very hard, and then it sets up a line with more turns – a left turn to get back to the tunnel, then a right turn to get into the tunnel. The slice there is a faster/easier line for the dogs (less collection) and then when she lands, she has basically a straight line into the tunnel – so it is easier plus will be a lot faster.
>> I am BAD at whiskey crosses and tend to get a wrap rather than a slice.>>
The cues that make them look different are upper body and feet 🙂
For the wrap, upper body and feet are facing forward to the next line, and your upper body & feet do not turn to face the bar at all (this includes hands, because arms pointing at the bar will turn shoulders to it.For the slice, upper body and feet DO turn to the bar (the center of the bar, specifically) and you push around the entry wing a little to face the center of the bar, until she is past you and turning the correct direction.
Here is a visual:
On the reps on the video: at 1:20 you kept moving forward so she didn’t commit at all 🙂 Just a blooper LOL Then each rep got better and better: At 1:46 your upper body was good but your feet didn’t turn to the bar. You fixed that at 2:22
where your upper body was really good and turning to the bar. Your lower body (feet) faced the bar better and she got it. And it was even better when you got it in flow at 2:51!!! NICE!!! It is a patience manuever there – get there, decel, show RC, let her get past you… then move to the tunnel.>>The back lap didn’t work as it was poorly executed.
Just a little more patience needed on the turn away: your position there at 2:15 was really good! To flip her away, you need to use your left arm (opposite arm) to turn her away and stay in that position (even take a step forward to the turn away line) before taking off, You took off a little too soon.
Here is a visual (I am in a visual mood today haha) of making sure the dog is turned before you take off:
>> Unfortunately, I forgot to try the threadle slice. After I’d taken a break, filmed sequence 3 and broke down the tunnel I remembered. It’s just in isolation, but I wish I would have tried it as it seemed to work well.>>
OH WOW The blind to threadle works GREAT there!!!! YAY!!!! Great job getting it – and you know it was legit good handling because she had not seen that part of the sequence in a while – and nailed it. YAY!!!!
>>Sequence 3. Have I mentioned that threadles scare me? I’m better, but still not great.>>
You are doing great! I think you are at the point where ‘normal’ threadle slices are fine and easy! And you are consistently executing the ‘normal’ threadle wraps. Now we are adding the crazy different threadles which is definitely going to feel weird at first 🙂
On the video:
You can start your backside cues for 3 as soon as she enters the tunnel – she was turning towards you then you had to push her back out, which made it harder for you to get 4. If she already knows she is going to the backside after the tunnel, you can be even further away from the entry wing of 3 and won’t need to step to it. Your handling was definitely more effective at 3:33 and 3:57 when you were further across 3 and showed the line to the threadle wrap really well!Now that threadle wraps are getting more comfy (hopefully 🙂 ) you can do a blind on the threadle wrap exit (will feel like a spin) to get her on your left for 5 without a post turn and to tighten the line 4-5.
>> I managed to get the threadle wrap, but then got another one rather than the slice at jump 7 before the tunnel.>>
The cues on 7 looked different and she read them really well:
at 3:42 you rotated to her to bring her into the threadle, then you opened up again your feet were facing forward to the tunnel so she (correctly) did a threadle wrap.
When you opened up for 7 at 4:05, your shoulders and feet faced the jump and she read it as the slice. YAY!To make it easier, you can take out rotating towards her when she is taking 6 – use verbal turn cues and upper body brake arms, but turning your feet to her delayed what was needed for 7.
These were hard and I think you and Sprite did a great job!!!!
>>What would you recommend next assuming I can get to the park this week? The live layering or standard pop outs?>>
With UKI coming up – layering! And if you want to skip ahead, look at the big lines stuff (just the first hot topics, not adding the threadle wraps or push wraps) to work on driving ahead on big lines, as that is a theme in UKI.
>> We are just in beginning though. I’ve only done one UKI trial with her and I think we E’d all runs. Oops!>>
You won’t need threadles in UKI next weekend unless you entered Masters Series or some of the other crazy classes 🙂 Any backsides will be pushes and they will be in flow for Beginner/Novice dogs. Remember that refusals are not counted in the beginner level!
Great job here!!! Stay cool!
TracyGood morning!
Yes, it has been a HOT summer! I am well-acquainted with sunrise training LOL!!
And I am glad you liked the setup – did you add other things like front cross wraps and stuff? I love all sorts of variations!!!
I think the session went well with Sly!! I think there are three subtle details to look at that will make it perfect 🙂
>>Sly definitely understands the handling…..when I get the timing right >>
Yes! You were pretty good with the timing, but it can come earlier 🙂 In general, the cues for whatever was happening on the magic backside jump 😁 were happening as he was taking off for the previous jump. So that was a little late, and causing the other cues to be a little late too.
For example, the blind to the threadle wrap or threadle slice should be finished by the time he takes off for the jump before it, so you can start that blind sooner: when he is landing from the jump at the top of the line, you can cue the next jump and begin the blind. Your motion down the line should help support the commitment to the jump.
That way, as you are finishing the blind, you will have plenty of time to begin the next cues:
For the threadle wraps, the is the decel and verbal. On the threadle wraps, because the blind was a little late, the decel was a little late. You ended up coming to a full stop and that is when he got it as he was arriving at your leg (:05, :40, 1:00, 1:28 are good visuals).
If you finish the blind sooner and begin the decel as you are finishing it, you will see that he turns himself away sooner and then you can move forward again sooner.
The same for the blind to threadle slice – the earlier you finish the blind, the better he will see it as a threadle slice and have time to adjust.
Something that will also help timing is using real estate differently for each cue. You were running the line after the tunnel pretty close to the 3rd jump then coming down the line for the backside or layering. If you send more to the middle jump at the top of the line, you will be able to get to the blind cross a lot sooner because you will be well ahead of him. And on the blinds, you can be closer to the entry wing of the threadle jump on both (rather than moving to the landing spot of the BC jump).
And to make the push wrap and push slice backsides different looking earlier than arrival at the backside, you can use real estate differently there too:
For the push wrap, your destination is where the wing meets the bar on the landing side, so you can send away on the previous line and run directly there. Running alongside the line then moving into the backside wrap position causes the timing to be late – that is partially what happened when he ended up in the tunnel on the first rep (you moved a little too soon there also, he had not fully committed and moving forward pushed him off the line and sent him to the tunnel).And for the push to slice (German) – you can stick closer to the jumps after the tunnel so as he is going around the back line, you are running on a parallel line to the exit wing. That positional cue really gives him an early warning about the backside 🙂
And for the layering – strategically get really close to the jumps after the tunnel so you are sending him away to the jump at the top of the line, then setting the layer up with parallel line motion.
At 4:08 You went in too deep to the line and so as you sent to the tunnel, you also pulled away to get the layering. That caused a question: over the jump before the tunnel, he is turning towards you and looking at you. He did go back out to the tunnel, but you can get a straight line/no questions but staying closer to the 2 jumps after the tunnel so you can send him to the line before the tunnel and run on a parallel line the whole way to it.
One other thing that I think will help: use your verbals sooner and repeat them a few times 🙂 As you are finishing the blind for the threadle wrap and slice, you can begin saying the verbals and say them a few times. You were saying them a little late, and only once as far as I can tell. They were quiet (which is good for collection cues but the sending cues can be louder) but saying them once makes them easy to miss (I missed them a couple of times and yes, I have had my coffee hahaha!) So repeat them along the line until he commits, same as you did wit the tunnel layering cues at the end 🙂
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
