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  • in reply to: Kate and Jazz #87389
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Good morning!

    Good session here! I agree – she seems to know that it is about getting her front feet on the perch. And she was thoughtful about it, which I love!

    So why was she having trouble with it? I think the perch might actually be too small to let her be able to put both front feet on it in a comfortable stance. She could get one foot on it comfortably but not the 2nd foot. If you look at where she had one foot one (like at 1:44), the 2nd foot was either up in the air or on the ground next to it. When both feet were on, she had to squish the together a bit – and that probably is what her brain was devoting all of the bandwidth too: getting feet on and staying balanced.

    Easy solution: you can make the perch bigger by just enough than she can get both feet on very easily. This can be 2 or 3 inches – do you have another perch like this and you can duct tape them together? We don’t want it to be massive 🙂 but it should be wide enough that she can easily step onto it without having to think about it too much.

    I think the height of the perch is really good – we just need a little more room for her front feets. 🙂

    Then it will be pretty easy to get her hind end moving by tossing treats to the sides so she can circle with her hind end back to front.

    Nice work!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Deb and Tribute [Australian Shepherd] #87388
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    This is so true about the peer pressure. Be sure to hang out with supportive people only! And I have found that staying off of social media helps too, so I don’t see all of these young dogs doing adult things. Even though I know it is not what I want to do, it can still mess with my head! Social media is bad LOL!!!

    T

    in reply to: Amy and Skizzle #87387
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Good morning!

    >>The 80% rule is a good one but I like to be a little more like 90% with adolescent dogs due to their ever-shifting adolescent sensitivities LOL!
This stuck out to me – good to know, and makes sense as they start to process/remember more things.>

    I believe that 80% rule came from Bob Bailey as something he taught trainers in his chicken camps. It was perfect for chickens (and trainers-in-training) because chickens are intrinsically motivated to do the tasks asked of them with the chicken feed we are holding. Plus the chickens were not adolescent and honestly, I am not even sure if hens have an adolescent brain development period like dogs/mammals. LOL!

    And dogs are different from chickens – I don’t think a Dalmatian, for example, is intrinsically motivated for agility so the reinforcement needs to be really great and paychecks need to come pretty often 🙂 Or a Papillon and flyball… I don’t think there are any genetics or epigenetics or intrinsic motivation there! So being as close to 100% rate of reinforcement as possible while also leaving enough failure for the help in learning and motivation that failure is useful for.

    >Skizzle and I participated in a nosework trial this past weekend. It was a great “trial weekend” for him – just 15 months now. He handled the dogs, site, people, environment quite well – not without some moments of distraction, but very good considering his baby brain. It was also a bit of a break from agility things, which is ok.

    That is great! The behavior people have been telling us for a while that scent sports are great for dogs, and now there are studies confirming it!

    >IDK – seems like through the legs is valuable for setups/training for agility (and obedience, etc) – where maybe I need to incorporate it more into multiple settings instead of reserving it for fetch? >

    I think setting up between our feet is a good lineup for sports! I use it as a way to come into me for some control before whatever we do next – basically, the dog lines up and waits, and whatever happens next usually takes a short while (no immediate explosions LOL!) If it is only for fetch (like go between ight feet then run because we throw it), it becomes less of a line up and more of a run through to get the toy – same as a behind the back skill that people use for disc throws, it becomes associated with the high value fetch or chase game so the dogs start looking out ahead for that.

    >I still haven’t sent him over a jump bar yet (only cavaletti) – so he cracks me up with his hops over the bar on the ground.>

    That was so cute!!! And he did a greta job finding it! He is old enough for a bar so it is on the radar for being adding to this game soon. We do add jump organization work in MaxPup 2, which will help him get over the bar efficiently.

    The backyard parallel path session was definitely his best one so far!!!!! YAY!!! He is looking for the jump now almost perfectly. You can put a pool noodle or low bump between the uprights so he has a bigger visual there and it is a precursor to a bar.

    I see the rep where he went between your feet and took off running for the toy throw… he didn’t take the jump there and it looks like he ran *next* to it and jump an invisible bar hahahaha So yes, I think the between-the-feet lineup might be something you stay away from around the jump for now. A different type of lineup, like being at your side, will provide a context cue that we are doing jumps rather than the between the feet lineup which is a context cue for chase the thing 🙂

    For the backside slice game – he did well staying on the parallel line to the backside! Yay! Great job adding the verbal. And he was easily able to find the ‘front’ of the bar when asked too. To add more lateral distance (where you are moving to the center of the bar) it will be easier if you are a step or two ahead. You can use a stay to get a couple of steps ahead if you think his stay is strong enough for you to release while you are moving a few steps ahead. If you want to protect the stay, you can send him to a bowl with a treat in it so you can be moving up the line just before he moves up the line.

    Great job here!!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Julie and Spot #87367
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Good morning!
    OMG – BASEBALL sized hail – EEK!!! I am glad you didn’t get any damage at your house. I like the non-dramatic Spot doing his thing. This went really well!

    >I see that you use 2 hands for your threadle wraps. I’ve been working with Lee Gibson and he has made me stop using the offside hand I used to use.>

    That is perfectly fine! It is really handler’s choice, based on feedback from their dog(s). There is no one-size-fits-all approach. I found that one hand worked perfectly for all of my dogs, big and small, when I was comfortably ahead. But when I was parallel or behind? They didn’t see the one hand as well – especially the smaller dogs (I have 2 dogs running in the 12″ class) and when I was behind. They saw the 2-hand cue perfectly no matter where my slow-running-butt was 🙂 so, 2-hands it is for Sklenar doggos. And it has to be the same for all of the dogs, because I do not have the mental bandwidth for different cues when running 4 or 5 dogs LOL!

    But the other elements of the threadle wrap cue involve line, motion, verbal – and that is important regardless of hand preference.

    Looking at the video:
    Well done on the push to backside versus front side reps!!! Your running line was basically the same (as we wanted it to be): to the wing closer to the tunnel. But the cues as he exited the wing wrap were different: there was a bit more shoulder turn on the front side of the jump cues, a bit of a softer connection and a different verbal of course. Compare to the backside push cues like at :26: more intense, bigger connection, more urgency in the verbal. LOVE IT! That easily cued the backside will allowed you to nail the timing and position of the blind at :27. Click/treat for you and Spot!!

    You were a little late with the push cue at :36 – he was a stride past the exit of the wing wrap and looking at the front of the jump, but he did respond to the push cue and went back out to the backside. You got the FC really nicely (good timing!) and then had a good running line and verbal to get to the TW on the wing at :39. I did not see the dog-side hand clearly as part of the cue, so you might need to emphasize it more when there are other options out there or you are not as far ahead.
    The next rep of that sequence :43 – :53 was even stronger, because your ‘push’ timing was better and the blind set up the TW more easily. I think you were trying to get the TW dog-side arm cue in, but in the moment he would need it you were switching the reward to the other hand, so a reward in your pocket will make it easier for the quick hand cues.

    Play the next section without the sound:
    Compare 1:02 where your line of motion which looked exactly like a front side cue
    versus the runs at 1:11 and 1:19, where your line of motion was a big pull away and your dog-side arm swung back then dropped forward, and he got it

    Yes there were TW wrap verbals on all 3 of those reps but the physical cue overrode it on the first one (you can see him looking at you to figure it out).

    So definitely keep the shoulder turn that changes the line of motion to indicate the TW. I would like to play with getting it, without having to pull away laterally because that negates one of the reasons we like TWs: they can get us really far ahead on course!! Plus the lateral pull away in this setup put you almost in the tunnel 🙂

    Things to consider – instead of pulling away laterally as he exits the wing, you can turn your shoulders and feet parallel to the line he needs to take to get the TW while you continue to move forward. That can cue the line AND keep you ahead! And of course, use your TW verbal and dog-side arm. Are you doing the arm cue as a straight arm, closed hand, kind of punched down at your side? That can fit really nicely with turning your shoulders to the line!

    Because words might not be as effective in describing this, I made pictures of what I mean by the line, versus what you were doing. It is here:
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CTxU0pZJM-9LixMdUBtkzBQ61tEd2By4YhcvjfQI7J8/edit?usp=sharing

    Let me know what you think!
    Great job!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Lora, Beat, and PIck #87364
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Good morning!

    > in addition the dogs nails can really sink in deep because it’s pretty high piling.>

    Deeper than good grass, or same as?

    >Then I tried to move my hand along the surface and because of that high piling the whole carpet moved with my hand, up to 1/2”. 😔>

    YIKES. That would explain why she slid sooooo far.
    
>Running Beat, yeah, it FELT like she was slipping, and I thought I could hear it, but watching the video I couldn’t actually see her feet slipping (other than the obvious). >

    She was doing a great job of NOT slipping for most of it, but running short, almost a bunny hop movement. I see tons of dogs doing that on turf which is why I take the unpopular position of most turf being detrimental to the dogs (even though I love it for myself!)

    >I think the sound is the carpet fiber moving against itself. >

    This is entirely possible. It definitely sounds different.

    >I think what is happening is the dog’s brain is getting conflicting information: foot pads say the surface is stable, nerve endings in tendons and joints say it’s unstable. Recipe for disaster. >

    Also entirely possible. There is SO much sensory info going into their brains that is makes sense that the brain is devoting a lot of bandwidth to the ‘don’t fall over’ stuff and not as much to the ‘read the handling cues’ stuff.

    >To be honest, I hate most dirt surfaces and feel on average they are more slippery than is ideal, but at least the dog’s brain is getting consistent information about whether their foot is stable or not. >

    Totally agree. There are some dirt places that I really love. But dirt takes a TON of work to get decent (I am NOT looking forward to dealing with that at the US Open) and then after a bunch of runs, it changes and can be too deep or as slick as an ice rink.

    >And unfortunately our dogs need to be able to run on dirt since all national events are on it. Just like with dirt, I think they can learn to adjust for the slip, but is it worth it?>

    I guess it depends on how they learn to adjust for it? On turf, they adjust by going to an unnatural stride which I think results in injury. I REALLY want all of those research people to do a SURFACE study and not be as concerned about the dog walk for now.

    Dirt can also have weird issues but I see less compensation overall in dirt, Plus, I can also advocate for my dog by asking for it to be raked or stomped down if I see an issue. I definitely prefer dirt over turf (there are some turfs that I have liked in the past but haven’t run on them lately, so I might change that opinion :))

    > After videoing my own hand moving with the turf, ugh, I’m not sure I even want to run Roots on it. >

    I think center of gravity might have something to do with it? Beat has a higher center of gravity than Roots, which might contribute to him being more comfy on it? Plus he is adult and more experienced so might not have had to devote as much bandwidth to processing proprioception info?

    >He’s never had an issue and was even moving with extra oomph than usual as even good dirt is usually his slowest surface and that’s what we’ve mostly been on. >

    He did move well! And the course played to his strengths too in that regard.

    >I hate “untraining” good proprioception so will have to think about it. >

    Good point. I worry a lot about injury risk and wow, agility has sooooo many injuries. I was honestly shocked when I started flyball that there are far fewer injuries in flyball as compared to agility – and the predictable surface is likely a big contributor to that.

    Keep me posted on what you think, especially from the veterinary perspective.

    Tracy

    PS – in the live chat last night, I posted some ideas to help with the jump-before-tunnel bar!

    in reply to: Deb and Tribute [Australian Shepherd] #87363
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Good morning!

    >Going on a long car drive to a new place can be a lot! I was so nervous!>

    It IS a lot!!! And he did really well – that is why we do a lot of resilience work with puppies, to teach their bodies how to respond to stressors like long drives, new places, etc.

    And yes – I can TOTALLY relate to being nervous at a puppy seminar! I used to try to calm myself down but now I just go with it and let the puppy see me being a bit nervous… that helps them recognize it as a good thing (puppy gets treats and toys even when mom is WEIRD) because I am going to be nervous at trials!

    >I’ve had dogs that I thought would be OK in a new environment, have a meltdown, disengage and try to leave the ring. They wouldn’t take food and tugging was definitely not on the menu >

    That is definitely harder! And those dogs need more support with resilience than Tribute seems to.

    >so I was thrilled when this little guy walked into the building ready to go. >

    YES!!! It is really so joyous!!!

    >Some were a couple of weeks older, while many were in the 7 to 10 month range. They all had incredible startline stays and sequencing skills (through the wings no jumping). I am wondering if I am being too conservative and if I should be doing more. I>

    A puppy with incredible sequencing skills at 10 months old has started learning to sequence when they were too young. It makes no sense from the neuroscience/behavior perspective to start that young. And from the veterinary perspective – it is absolutely too young to be doing it even if there are no bars. It can all lead to burnout, poor arousal regulation, etc etc

    You are NOT being too conservative. It is better to spend the first year or so of training (which brings him to 14 months old, approx) getting ALL of the pieces in place (including body awareness, arousal regulation). And letting the puppy’s brain and body grow up. Then when you go to put it all together? Easy peasy and your pup will be further ahead than pups that started sequencing earlier because Tribute will have a better foundation.

    > have seen young dogs that were amazing at first and then fall apart mentally when things became difficult.>

    Sadly true. Physically and mentally fall apart. Poor pups!

    >Question: How can I gage when to ask for more without crushing confidence and desire for the game?>

    Part of it is making sure he has a very high success rate – a failure or two is fine, but repeated failures (more than 2 total in a session) is too much. And if he asks a question, we answer it with reward even if we simplify the goal (rather than add pressure or tell him he is wrong).

    And part of it is making it all about play – lots of toy rewards, smiles, and laughter! And resisting doing too much repetition because that can really kill the joy.

    Take your time getting him trained, ignore what other pups are doing 🙂 and enjoy the process! The long term goal is a long, happy career and partnership.

    Let me know what you think!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Kyla and Aelfraed #87362
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Good morning!

    >Aelfraed was in a very funny mood today. We got one great repetition to start and then he wasn’t interested in his toys any more. I tried switching to a variety of other toys and he was not into it. He was however very into his cookies today, except cookies in the dirt were extremely offensive so tossing cookies for any of the games we did was not possible.>

    I agree, that first rep was great! And he was tugging hard! I was watching to see if dirt got on the toy and that was offensive, or if there was a pain response to the tugging because he is teething? I didn’t see it on the video but it might have happened after the edit? My guess is it was teething pain, poor dude – he should be at the end of teething (he’s 7.5 months now?) so keep an eye on it! You can also show him a lotus ball for cookie tossing in the dirt, because dirt is a way of life for you in the winter.

    The cookies reps went great, so you can keep adding distance and speed to the rocking horses!

    Parallel path looked great! I think his commitment to the line is going really well, so we can play with the reward type and see if we can get him to look at you less.

    You had targets out for throwing the food reward but he was trying to track the throw from your hand more than driving to the target. This is where a lotus ball or treat hugger can help for the cookie throws, so you can show them to him separately and see which one he likes. What will happen is you’ll get one reward then have to reload and do the next rep, but that is perfectly fine because the reps will have really high quality so you won’t need do that many. The other option is to have a couple of lotus balls so he gets the reward from one, then you go the other direction and throw the 2nd one.

    He did well with the ‘get out’ the prop! It is a little harder when the pup is parallel to us, because they don’t see the line of motion or cue as immediately. If you feel his stay is strong enough that you want get a couple of steps ahead, you can use a stay. If you feel that the stay is not ready for this yet, you can load a cookie target, send him to it as you begin moving up the line a bit so you can get ahead. That will also allow you to add more motion in the form of jogging and running, and I think he will like that!

    Great job!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Ginger and Dot part 2 #87361
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Good morning!

    >Do you think I could put a tarp under the jump for the treats?>

    Maybe? But I would be concerned that she would slip on it when she was running back and forth. I think towels on either side of the jump are good landing spots for treats plus they are visual aids to get more forward focus.

    >Dot thinks a lotus ball is something you grab and run away with.>

    You can put it on a line – most lotus balls have a piece of fabric on the bottom for attaching a line or another toy to it.

    Rocking horse video:
    This is coming along nicely!

    >She’s pretty distracted there as she doesn’t get to wander it on her own.>

    She was actually really focused until there were a bunch of failures then she left at 1:35. We ca smooth out the mechanics to make the session more ‘clean’, which will reduce failures and so she won’t be looking at other things.

    >The toy was hard for her. She spent a lot of time trying to grab it rather than work. >

    That is a really good toy! And you might not need the highest value toy in the living room – you can use something a little lower value But also, I think cleaner mechanics will help with her begin able to ignore the toy. At the beginning, you were sending with the big toy in the hand right in front of her nose which was tooooooo hard for now (:22). She didn’t really know where to look (she is still young, of course) and when she was told it was incorrect by lack of reward and resetting, she got frustrated and jumped up for it.

    Having the toy more tucked away helped later in the session: It was up in your armpit which was good! A smaller/less valuable toy will help too, saving the extra great toys for the outdoors.

    Also reward her for giving it back, rather than going directly into the next rep. The reward can be a cookie or another bit of tugging. That will also help her not jump up for it as much plus it will keep her giving it back really well.

    And if something goes wrong (like she doesn’t go to the cone, or heads to the wrong side of it, etc) it is fine to assume there was some lack of clarity and reset her with a cookie. That effort cookie will keep frustration levels down and let you keep cleaner mechanics.

    About the mechanics: a clean lineup and start will make a big difference.

    You can line her up (cookie) take a breath, connect, then send. Reset with a cookie if something goes wrong (because this is a new behavior, it is entirely likely the cue was not as clear as it needed to be).

    For example, at 1:20, you were kinda lining up but then immediately stepped into the send and she was not really connected on the new side yet so she went to the toy.

    Compare to 2:21 to the end: that was a very clear, clean setup so you were both ready and that was a lovely rep!! You can see the heartbeat of connection at each stage: lineup, connect, breathe, send. BIG difference!! So nice!!!!

    She did well with the serps! That last rep where she found the jump on a hard angle was excellent!!!

    >The pool noodle wouldn’t stay in place either.>

    Yeah, it was a pain! LOL! You can try a strip of duct tape on each side to attach it to the carpet, very lightly so it doesn’t get gross stuff on the carpet? But it ended up being basically in place enough that she was able to work the concept really well.

    You can move to the next step here and have the reward dangling a bit – it adds a self-control element and also brings in toy placement to get her going in-then-out. Eventually the toy goes to the floor – but for the dangling and toy-on-floor element, be sure to use a more boring toy at first 🙂

    At this stage, with the placed reward, you might see the serp behavior change: she might start to side-swipe the hand target. It will look like her coming in but also turning to face the line to the reward. This is perfectly fine and rewardable, and it is actually what we want the behavior to move to being as we fade the hand touch/target. So if she comes toward the target but doesn’t touch it – you can totally still reward.

    Great job!
    Tracy

    in reply to: Jessica and Bokeh #87359
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Good morning!

    The threadle session went great! Having a strong stay definitely makes the whole thing easier. Yay!!

    Your ‘pose’ and looking at your target hand were great! And she did a great job reading the cues.

    >Watching the video I think I need to be further off the wing for threadles.>

    Not sure if you mean more centered on the wing so she can see more of you outside the line of the wing… if so, then yes 🙂 You can totally center your torso on the wing (rather than centered to the bar) so at least half of you is visible outside the wing (like you did at :52 and 1:45). If you are centered on the bar, with most of your torso visible between the uprights, then she will read it as serp (like at :33).

    You can also be closer to the wing (close enough to touch it with a relaxed, bent arm) so that she bends around the entry wing and can easily see the bump/bar.

    Next steps: Add the threadle slice verbal (it does release her from the stay – you can use it before you say ‘ok’ if she thinks that ‘ok’ is the only release). Also, you can replace the empty bowl with a MM or a toy on the ground so you don’t have to move to get her going to the reward. That will make it easier for when we add your motion, but helping her default to going over the bar after she gets to the correct side of the jump.

    Leading with the head – this is definitely a game with harder mechanics! You can toss the treat from the clicker hand if that makes it easier.

    To smooth out the mechanics, you can use the send hand to draw her further across the front of you, then turn her away to go back around the wing. Getting your hand to her nose level will help with drawing her across the front of you as well as turning away, in 2 distinct steps.

    What was happening on the reps that didn’t get her wrapping the 2nd time was you were trying to pull her in front of you and turn her away at the same time – so the turn away hand was happening while she was still somewhat on the other side of the jump which is why she thought you wanted her to go back to the other side of it.

    Doing the cues separately – pull her across then turn her way – was when you were most successful, like at 1:46 – 1:59 for example. Compare to right after that, at 2:07, where the cues were more simultaneous and she didn’t make the 2nd wrap. So keeping the ‘come across the front of me’ and the ‘turn away’ cues very separate will really help. It will feel almost slow motion, but that is correct 🙂

    Nice work here!!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Sandy and Brioche #87358
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    PS – I forgot to mention that you can move to the advanced level of the head turn game and do the full 360 wraps with you moving!

    T

    in reply to: Sandy and Brioche #87357
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Good morning

    The head turns on the upright went well!
    The nice low hand helped him get a good head turn.

    That barrel is huge! LOL! But he did really well with it too :_)

    >When I switched to the barrel and the wing, I wasn’t sure when to click.>

    The timing of the click is the same as you were doing on the upright: click as soon as he turns his head away to tart the 2nd wrap and the cookie gets tossed to the other side – this is what you were doing on the barrel and he did well!

    The wing was different for him but he quickly adapted and wrapped really well too. The timing of your click was actually early here – on this section, you were clicking when he was heading to your hand (finishing the 1st wrap) which was early because he had not yet turned his head away. So when using the wing, you can use your other hand to cue the head turn away and then when he does it, click then toss the treat.

    On the stay video:
    The stay itself if going well – once he is in position, he is being great about not moving. You’ve really done a lovely job with this because just a few short weeks ago, he was all movement and no stays – look at him now! SUPER!!!

    >I am going to start doing more platform work for positional awareness with him. >

    Totally agree!! He probably needs to learn proper tuck sits and also roll back sits (both of which are very valuable).

    Do you have a conditioning person who works with Benni? You can bring him to a puppy fitness evaluation – I don’t recommend truly doing fitness or conditioning with a puppy, but you can do proprioception stuff like sits on a platform, balance, etc. If there is no one local to you, there are a couple of online classes I can recommend. I can offer some very basic exercises (like tight sits on the platform) but it is not my area of expertise so I defer to the certified fitness folks.

    The Canine Conditioning Coach gets great reviews and I can recommend her as an all-around lovely person too! I just looked at her site, and she has this:

    https://canineconditioningcoach.com/listing/posture-sit-beginner/

    And also a puppy program! Looks pretty inexpensive ($79 if I read it correctly for a lot of info), I might be signing up too LOL
    https://canineconditioningcoach.com/program/puppy/

    Great job here!!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Gaby and Carly (Shetland Sheepdog) #87348
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi!

    > I’ve introduced her to the “Station (cato board), and she really likes it. So we start at the station, go to the start of the game and return to the station afterwards. She gets a high value reward (chicken) for coming back to me after taking the jump bump.>

    Fantastic! I knew the find-the-jump element would be super easy for her so I love that you worked on the other elements too! You can keep doing this, and take it outside so you can add more distance. Bring the Cato board outside too!

    The rocking horses are off to a great start! You had clear connection and nice job with the verbals! She was perfect on the 1st two wraps. Her question here was on the 3rd barrel, so maybe she needed one extra step? But she was also happy to get her reward then go back to the cato.

    You can also add in more tugging and getting her more excited, so she maintains this level of focus and impulse control even when she is a bit wilder 🙂

    Great job! And keep me posted on how she does with the end of run games too!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Deb and Tribute [Australian Shepherd] #87347
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    How fun! MEB always does fun puppy workshops.

    Thanks for the video – it looks like he was super engaged and WOW that drive back to you on the retrieve!!! He was adorable when he dropped the toy trying to run back to you and was trying to pick it up. He did a lot of running so I can see why he would get tired 🙂 He was super – you must be so proud of the little guy! Yay!!!!!

    T

    in reply to: Ginger and Dot part 2 #87346
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi –
    Yes, the software reaches a point where there it has trouble processing a lot of video in a thread so it might struggle to load especially with Apple devices. Starting a new thread will solve the issue.

    Looking at the parallel path:

    >She is still going by the wing a fair amount. >

    She did really well and had a lot of success! Her questions were mainly at the start of each session, like at the beginning where you came in and just started so she missed a couple of times because she was just following you. Be sure to engage and play a bit before starting the session, to get her into training mode. And if she goes past the jump, don’t reset her – just keep walking then turn and go back the other way so she has another shot to find the jump. Once she got rolling, she did really well.

    The other thing that will help is making the reward easier to find. The difficulty finding it interrupted the flow and probably interrupted the chain of thought (and unravelling the line did too at one point). So let’s look at options to get the reward delivery cleaner which will clean up the whole process:
    – you can use big huge obvious rewards, like big chunks of white cheese. You won’t be able to do as many reps because of the bigger chunks, but they will be high quality reps 🙂
    – you can put large mats or towels on each side of the jump for tossing the treat onto. That way she can find it easily and get right back into the next rep
    – you can teach her about a lotus ball or treat hugger. She definitely won’t miss it in the grass, but she might think it is very fun and grab it LOL!

    Having you stay closer and not moving as fast definitely helps too, we can add more speed and distance soon enough. 


    >I’m not sure I should even try the threadle or backside stuff yet as the front side doesn’t have a ton of value yet. Let me know if that’s reasonable.
    >

    I think she has done well with the serp, so you can do the threadle because it has rewards for the jump but from the other side of it. For the backsides, give the parallel path 1 or 2 more sessions then we can add the backsides.

    Great job adding standing for the fold it in cone game! She definitely likes the new toy!! And she did a great job going past the toy. Yes, she had one error but we actually need that one error! It is an important piece of clarifying what we want (around the cone) and not just go to the toy. She did really well when the toy ended up back in the same spot where she had the error and was successful twice! Super! She was thinking a whole lot there, good girl 🙂

    You can try it with a cookie in a food bowl too 🙂 and in a separate session, work the other side.

    Great job!
    Tracy

    in reply to: Kate and Jazz #87345
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi!

    >We both had to figure things out and it felt like we were successful. Yeah us!!>

    Exactly! It was great!

    The tight turns also went really well – she was doing a great job with her turns and your timing was good!

    > I’m not sure if my mechanics are right as once I got out there I couldn’t remember which hand when.>

    Yes, your mechanics worked really well. You had her lined up at your side then sent her and turned her with the same hand (rewarded with the other). It feels weird at first but she read it really well!

    >Some turns are a bit wide, most likely due to the position of my hand. >

    That leads to my only suggestion: having your hand a little lower, more at her nose level, and right in front of her. When you did that, she was nice and tight (like on the rep at :44-:47, super nice!!) When your hand was too high or too far, she was wider – so you can either lean over or sit in a chair to get your hand nice and low.

    Great job!

    Tracy

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