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Viewing 15 posts - 2,221 through 2,235 (of 21,411 total)
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  • in reply to: Kirstie and PoweR (Sheltie) #86730
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi!

    You are 100% correct, he rocked these 🙂

    Ooh the ladder added to the shpile game was a fun twist! Love it! He did great. I bet you can add cavalettis too – make a crazy trail of stuff, get him wild, and have him walk across the trail. He already has good proprioception so we can really crank up the challenge!

    Turning away in the ‘u’ turn was pretty perfect with you standing still – he looked pretty balanced on both sides! Super!
    The circles were also really strong and you were moving too! He had no trouble so you can ramp it up now: be moving more on both the ‘u’ turns and circles. For the “u” turns, you can toss the treat back so he gets used to going one direction while you are going the other direction. For the circles, keep moving the whole time and see how fast he will let you move 🙂

    Great job!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Ginger and Dot #86729
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi –

    Yes, shots and vet visit stress will knock them out a little for a couple of days. Backing up was a nice low-key game! You can scoot yourself backwards a tiny bit, so she backs up a little more 🙂 Then when she can do that… scoot back even more! She is doing well so you can start to add more distance.

    Nice work!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Tina and Chaser #86728
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi!
    >Please tell me there’s a break week coming up! Lol>

    A couple of lighter weeks ahead, but also multiple weeks at the end for catching up 🙂

    >he’s doing fine but the one person who’s done it the last two times says he’s still biting food hard. His body language is softer but clearly it’s a lot. Should I be doing something different?>

    It is interesting to note but probably nothing to worry about other than the mechanics of the person giving him the food 🙂 ask them to give it to him in an open palm rather than from their fingers. A hard mouth just means he is stimulated – that doesn’t mean it is a bad thing if he is happily going to the person 🙂

    T

    in reply to: Kate and Jazz #86726
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi!

    > Today is “groom one of the other poodles” day (we have a trial this weekend)>

    That’s relatable. Today was supposed to be Groom The Papillon Day for a big event this weekend. And I did not do it… so tomorrow is Groom The Papillon Day. Or maybe Friday hahahahahaha

    >No treats or toys on me for the Remote Reinforcement. I guess she’s just one smart poodle!>

    She is a rockstar!!!!

    Great job with the threadle wrap foundations! I think it was easier for her to turn to her right (off of your right hand) – you both looked more comfy! The left turns started off looking like you both had to think about it but then looked a lot smooth by the end! Yay!

    This went really well, so you can move to the advanced level where you are moving too – cuing the “u” turn as you move forward, and then if she is happy with that, you can do the full circle while you are moving forward too.

    Great job!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Liz and Babby Barry #86725
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    OMG! I hope everyone is safe at the national event!!!!

    in reply to: Kathryn and Gruffudd #86724
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    He did well here but yes – give him a smaller space 🙂 You can start with low arousal when give him a tiny space, but then get him into high arousal pretty quickly – if he learns it in high arousal, he is more likely to be able to do it in high arousal. If he learns it in a different (lower) arousal state, he is less likely to be able to do it which might be why you aren’t seeing as much progress as you like.

    And as you add more arousal, you can totally wear gloves! That way you can still give him feedback if he touches you but it won’t hurt or break skin. I totally wore gloves when I was teaching my youngster to tug on a tennis ball, where my hand was basically inside his mouth.

    One of the things he might struggle with in terms of hand grabbing is when he re-grips it. So you can add that to the games too: when he lets go of the toy, leave it there and move it up slowly rather than lift the toy up fast – that will add more self-control on the re-gripping.

    Let me know how he does!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Kathryn and Gruffudd #86723
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    He did well here too – he had an easier time sticking with you on your left side (probably more value there?) and he wanted to offer the prop hit on your right side – the little bit of extra hand cue to keep him with you was very helpful.

    He was drifting a bit on your right side, but he stayed on the same lead (coming towards you) so he was still correct 🙂 His last one was perfect!

    The ‘get out’ part was super easy for him! You were very good about trying to keep your feet straight – it is NOT easy! The lines on the floor from the mats help give you a visual.

    You can add more distance laterally away from the prop here to see how far he will send out – and more motion too!

    As you add more of these running games – it looks like he has a harness that sits across the front of this shoulders/chest, which can restrict movement a bit. You can take it off for these so he can move his shoulders/front end freely 🙂

    Great job!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Kathryn and Gruffudd #86722
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi –

    Rocking horses are going really well! When you were connected, he had no trouble going to the wrap in both directions and had a lovely turn and burns too!
    His only questions where when you did not have clear connection at :35 and :51 on the sends, so he curled into you. Compare to the rep at :55 where the connection was very clear and he was super smooth. The reps after it all had the clear connection and you were able to do the FCs, post turns, and spins!

    You can add a little more distance between the wrap objects here and you can also add the wrap verbals (I thought you might have been saying them but you were quiet so I was not sure :)) 


    Great job!
    Tracy

    in reply to: Kathryn and Gruffudd #86721
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Great job getting the RCs going here on the first side!You moved up the diagonal line so when he lifted his head from eating the cookie, you were ahead of him and easily seen – and he turned the correct direction.

    The second side starting off just sorting out how to get to the correct spot in time and when you did, he turned correctly each time. Super! You probably needed just a little more room on that side.

    If you have a longer hallway, you can give yourself more room and can run to the position – I think he is ready for more motion on these.
    
Nice work!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Julie and Spot #86710
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hello and welcome!!! It will be really fun to look at what helps him process info well!! I’m looking forward to it!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Kim and Sly #86709
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Great to see you here! Have fun with the games, I think they will sharpen up skills for many of the challenges we see on course lately 🙂

    Tracy

    in reply to: Jean-Maria & Venture (Cocker Spaniel) #86708
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hello and welcome!!!
    We can totally adapt to your space. It might mean a smaller tunnel or weave poles as jump bars, but we can make it work! And sure, share trial videos especially if there were any juicy discriminations 🙂

    Have fun!
    Tracy

    in reply to: Kate and Jazz #86704
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi!
    This looked great! What a good girlie!!!! And your marker was nice and clear. Super!

    >So well that I think she may have thought that I had a treat in my hand. >

    Nope, I think she was just being brilliant 🙂 Their noses are sooo good that I am pretty sure she knew there were no treats in your hands. Were there any treats or toys in your pocket? If so, you can do the next session with nothing in your pockets at all.

    You can play this game in the house too: the the treats on a table in one room, for example, and have her move with you into a different room… then mark and run back. It makes it all really simple and fun, and is a fun way to teach this critical trial skill. And you can try it with a toy too, because she does love her toys 🙂

    Great job!

    Tracy

    in reply to: Ginger and Dot #86703
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi!

    >Sprite will NOT tell the pip to big off. She’s hiding in a crate or behind the sofa these days. Dot is only out on a leash with me. She relentless with dive bombing Sprite.>

    This is where you can be active in the yes-or-no process. If she dive bombs Sprite and is over the top? You can gently remove her and she is back on leash with you, just hanging out. If she can peacefully co-exist, toss some treats for both of them. It is all very passive but as black and white as possible.

    >We need to talk trade training. What’s the best way to start it? >

    The thing that helps the most is having quick access to toys/chews/treats. This can be on the floor for toys/chews, or up on a table (or in my pocket especially if I am outside). Yes, I have toys/chews on tables and counters, appropriate things to pick up on the floor, and there are usually treats within easy access. So if the pup puts something in his mouth, I just say “can I have that?” and offer up the trade. If I want to trade for a treat and I don’t have one, I go get one from the kitchen or wherever the treats are. Very calm, no chasing, and no time out for the pup (I mean, he doesn’t know he should not put *everything* in his mouth hahaha). And the trade is either something that re-directs him into a better activity (toy or chew), or a treat then I go get him something more acceptable to do 🙂 It is very consistent, he doesn’t get a bit reaction or a lot of attention (which might be why he doesn’t pick things up to get my attention) and results have been great!

    I do this outside as well – there is no way I can remove all the sticks/toys/etc from 3 acre so when I take the pup with us on a walkabout, I am armed with treats and toys 🙂 for the “can I have that” moment.

    And yes, the other dogs might come over to investigate what I am trading for – and I give them stuff too, because social learning is HUGE! It brings all the dogs towards me rather than any moving away.

    >What I have is Dot grabbing and running away as fast as possible and not returning for any reason. When I do catch her she’s removed. So, no fun for either of us.>

    It sounds like it might be a cycle that is getting more grabbing/running away, rather than less – if you chase/catch and then remove her (time out/negative punishment), you will see an increase in running away with whatever the precious object is. This might be happening outside too. So you can move the needle with the ‘can I have that’ trades.

    Bear in mind when I say “can I have that” to the pup, I have ZERO expectations that he will bring it or give to me at this stage. But he doesn’t run off and often comes towards me so I can present the trade options. Basically it is a marker that something is coming (the trade) so he doesn’t move away or continue to overly covet whatever is in his mouth. Plus he is really good about letting me dig around in his mouth to make sure there is nothing in there, like toy fluff or anything I don’t want him to swallow because it is all followed by some sort of trade/re-direction.

    T

    in reply to: Mary Ann & Spirit #86701
    Tracy Sklenar
    Keymaster

    Hi!

    >Also, THANK YOU about him getting his back feet on the mat. Never thought about that.>

    Usually for a Sheltie, we look for back feet to hit the mat for running contacts. I like to stare at the mat (not at the cute dog :)) and count in my head for each foot I see: 1-2-3-mark! That way I am saying ‘get it’ when the 4th foot (2nd back foot) is hitting the mat.

    >Another thing I noticed with him is when he does this exercise he knows I have treats and he jumps to my hand to get them.>

    That is part of the training here: teaching the pup to ignore a reward in your hand and commit to the obstacle. It is a bit of self-control 🙂

    Keep me posted!!

    Tracy

Viewing 15 posts - 2,221 through 2,235 (of 21,411 total)