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Hi!
Your connection was great on t he first video! The tunnel entry on the right side of the screen is offset from the line, and it was your connection that got her to it each time. She found the line perfectly and you delivered all the verbals directly to her cute face 🙂 and I love how you connected before you released her from the stay. Super!!!!
My only suggestion is to add some praise and sometimes throw a reward back to her (or go back to reward her) after you connect to her when releasing from the start. If you connect then release without mixing in praise or rewards, she is going to think the connection *is* the release… and start releasing herself. By separating the connection moment from the release, we can help avoid that by making the release very separate from the connection.
The wrap session went really well too! Your connection was super strong throughout this session too and that really helps her!
She was sorting out her jumping mechanics on the pinwheel jump (jump 4) at the beginning and also when it was jump 6 after the wrap. It is a hard angle so she was taking a few extra steps and hit the bar at :33. But no worries – she had it all sorted out by rep 3 and the last 2 runs looked great! She wrapped really well and looks ready for more challenge with that:
You can spread out the jumps as much as possible, so you can accelerate more around the sequence and then as she is taking 4, decelerate into jump 5 (the wrap jump). That might mean that you are not next to the wrap jump, but that is fine – she will be able to respond to the cues from anywhere 🙂
Great job!
TracyGood morning! I hope you had a great camping trip!!
>I found as long as I kept my chest/gaze directed at least towards the take off spot for each jump that was enough connection for her. Any less and she bypassed the jump.>
That is really good for a young dog! She will keep developing her commitment and as an adult will likely find lines even when connection is very soft.
On the video – she di best when your hands were lower and not pointing ahead or blocking her view of your connection. You were really good about keeping connection, but sometimes your arm got high and blocked her view of it.
I think the only time you pointed ahead was at :16 – too much pointing at the obstacle blocked her view of your connection and caused you to turn too soon, so the bar came down. She was able to read cues more clearly when you were keeping the dog side arm lower so your arm follows her nose rather than indicates what is out ahead, plus keeps your connection visible.
You were great with the connection and arm at :27 & :44 (also at :54, but I think your arm is higher in general on your right so connection is not as clear for her) and she is already working with impressive distance! I love how she drives around the line… that is going to be SO USEFUL for current course design trends!
>Only real errors were when I released her when she was looking at me>
She is an honest creature! I find that sighthounds and sighthound mixes continue to read cues and don’t just go on autopilot or pattern things in handling – that is good! Keeps us humans from practicing unwanted stuff.
At 1:21, your arm was really high on the release (higher than normal) and blocking connection – she seemed to be looking at that and processing what it meant when you released her. It won’t be an issue when she is more experienced, but a lower arm so she sees connection will help.At 1:32, she was reading you perfectly! You were still on the takeoff side of 1 and your second footstep turned you to jump 3, so all physical cues said ‘don’t take that middle jump’. And hup is an obstacle name so she was correct to take 3 as a reward.
Now… what to reward in these situations? At this stage, I would probably reset her into the sit with a cookie at 1:21 when she didn’t take jump 1 and not give her the toy (you didn’t give her to the toy there and I am on board with that). Sure, the handling was not perfect but all the other context cues were saying to take the jump. But when she skipped jump 2 at 1:32, I would have rewarded with the toy when she exited the tunnel because off courses like that are 99% of the time handler error – and therefore rewardable.
>also one where I turned my chest laser away from the tunnel opening too soon/broke connection.>
Yes – and soon enough she will save your bacon there and take the tunnel as she recognizes context and the verbals override early turns or softer connection.
>but not sure if I’m being “lazy” enough here to really test it, I like running with my dogs! >
You can try doing this game at a walk, holding a cold drink! I bet she still drives around the sequence 🙂
>The times she left the camera to the right she was heading for the pool as it’s still hot and steamy here even at 9:30 in the morning.>
I don’t blame her – it has been a steamy summer so far!!
Great job here!
Tracy
Good morning!
>I think my set up is a bit more spread out than the diagram, but I felt like it’s about as small as I’d want to go with him.>
You can spread it out even more! That will allow him more room to run and also let you set up more transitions into the turns (see below).
Your connection was great throughout this session!
>The sprinkler is for the soft turn -pinwheel type turns. He doesn’t really know it, but I’m using it (I’m pretty sure that’s how Dellin learned it – on the job).>
Learning on the job is a great way to learn it! It is associative learning and it works like a charm.
Question: on this pinwheel, would you use the sprinkler on all of the jumps including the one before the tunnel? You were using it on all the jumps for most of the reps (except the wrap jumps) so I was not sure if that is what you intended or not. There was a whole lot of sprinkling going on LOL!
The jump before and the jump after the tunnel are pretty much extension jumps, so I don’t think you need the sprinkler cue there at all. It seems to fit the middle pinwheel jump the best, which means you would begin it when Judge is at the jump before it, the stop sprinklering when he gathers for takeoff of the middle jump.
On the wrap sequences:
Let’s look at the last rep first because it was the best rep 🙂 At 1:06 when he landed from the middle jump, you began the check check for the wrap cues, then decelerated shortly after that. He was able to collect before takeoff and had the best turn of the session there!
On the other reps, you were a few strides late so there were some dropped bars and wider turns.
At :28, the sprinkler verbal over the middle bar is actually when the wrap verbal should start. That made the collection verbal late, causing the dig dig happened at takeoff to the wrap (so he turned when he landed). The same thing happened with the check check at :47 (bar came down and he turned on landing) and also at :57.
So in terms of timing the verbals, you can begin the sprinkler verbal as he is over the jump after the tunnel, then switch to the wrap verbal as he is at the middle jump.
You can also match the handling to it by accelerating more through the opening obstacles (jump-tunnel-jump-middle jump) then as you begin the wrap verbals when he is at the pinwheel jump, you can also start decelerating so he sees it in progress when he lands from the jump. You might not be near the wing of the wrap jump, but that is perfectly fine 🙂 He can read wrap cues from wherever you are.
If the spacing is tight, it might feel weird to create a transition, so you can run in close to the tunnel to really be able to accelerate. Or, spread the whole thing out so you can run run run the decel.
Nice work here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Hi!
>I feel I am not lateral enough from the jump before the tunnel but also feel that at this stage if I am too lateral I will pull him off. It’s a fine line.>
Totally agree! I tihnk your timing was good (like at :38, that was great!) but motion and position were showing him the off course line.
You will want to be more lateral, heading away to the correct end of the tunnel and showing him that as he exits the middle pinwheel jump. On the reps where he ended up in the tunnel, you ran the same line as if you wanted that end of the tunnel (looking at it from the motion perspective :)) He did not see the connection change on the off course rep partially because of the motion, and partially because your arms were a little too far out and blocking connection.
When you increased the connection, he read the line even when you were showing motion towards the off course tunnel. So you can try 2 things:
– be more lateral in your position, heading to the center of the curve of the tunnel rather than towards the jump before the tunnel– as you start the blind, bring your arms in tight to your ribs (and bent at the elbows so you can run) so he can see the connection on the new side quickly and clearly.
Nice work here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Hi!
> maybe wanting to get through them too fast and not enough muscle memory.>
Is this happening in sequences, or all the time? You can open up the weaves (like if you used channels or 2x2s, making them a little easier) in a sequence, so she can stay in them better.
>We may only have a speed stakes career! We have a trial weekend after next. Taq is entered in 1 speed stakes each day plus we have a practice ring. I will be sending video!>
Speedstakes is the most fun! I am looking forward to the videos!
Tracy
Hi!
>She was heading to the weaves and we have been highly rewarding/working on weaves, so she was a very good girl.>
Good girl!! She definitely thought that is what you wanted.
>So I tried it and it worked! I do not have enough experience with backside handling….that is a new world but Indy does it so nicely when I cue it properly.>
Your timing on the 6-7 line at :12 was perfect! She had a great turn and read the threadle beautifully! You got the FC on the tunnel – a ‘get out’ to push her away would get the jump after he tunnel.
The other option is to stay in your threadle position on jump 7 and from there, send her to 8 (with turn cues and both hands on the send to get collection). Then try to get her into the tunnel on your left side 🙂
Great job here!
TracyHi! It was great seeing you on Sunday! You and Roux are really coming together as a team!
>too hot to do more reps.>
Yeas, it has been a HOT week! But also, you ran this really well so no need for a lot more reps!
Her only real question was at the opening: she was sitting straight towards 1 which lined her up to 3. She needed the big send with your arm back, big step and BIG connection to lock onto 2, which is what you did at :34.
The serp line 2-3-4 looked good! As soon as she exits 4, start cueing the FC on 5. You were late there (she was already jumping) so she had trouble with the turn.
Gorgeous send and collection at 6!! Wow!
7-8-9-10 was really nice!She was mad about the front cross 10-11 and barked at you and looked at you – Maybe the FC was in her way or you were on her line? It was a little hard to see on the video. I thought it looked good but Roux had opinions about it LOL
12-13-14 went really well too – you can do the BC sooner (before she goes into 12) to get a smoother line on the exit. The backside on 13 was great – she pushed to it really well and committed to the bar without needing you to stick around to help. She was really good with the threadle to 14 too – you can ‘release’ the threadle sooner and indicate 14, because she looked at you there before going to the jump.
The turn on 14 was great!
Super nice timing of the tunnel cue while she was still weaving – she still looked at you when she exited, probably because you were not moving. So no need to get as far ahead there – stay more parallel to her in the poles so you can use motion as well as verbal to senbd to the tunnelThen tell her to GO before she enters the 16 tunnel (and keep saying it) so she exits straight to 17 – you got quiet so it looks like she curled towards you when she exited. 18-19-20 looked great!
Great job here! Hopefully cooler weather is coming!
Tracy
Hi!
Pop out 3 – this went really well and was a good rehearsal for trials!
Really nice opening line – you can set him up on a slice to 1 so he doesn’t have to turn much at all to find 2.
Nice timing of the FC on the 4 tunnel 🙂 He saw it all before he went in!
You did a spin on 6 which got a lot of collection and he looked at you over the bar… I don’t think he needs a super strong turn cue there. I bet a brake arm (opposite arm cueing alongside dog-side arm) as you turn your shoulders to the tunnel is all he needs there.
Super nice backside push at 8 and lovely ending line!!!
Pop out 2:
He ran the opening line well but you can give him more connection 2-3 (:48, 1:06, 1:34 and 2:45 so he doesn’t look at you. You were looking forward at the line more than at him, which turned your shoulders away from the line – so he checked in. Really nice decel into jump 3 there got a great turn there!You ran 5 as a front side on the first run, it looked good 🙂 On the other runs, you handled 5 as a threadle wrap – he needed one more step forward and less arm flip on the first one (1:11) but the other reps were really lovely at at 1:21 and 1:41 and 2:51!!!
The spin on 6 and 8 were getting some questions from him – I think in the small space, it is more collection than you need and also it doesn’t move you to the next line. By staying too close to the line on 6, the moment of the spin carried you a bit towards the tunnel so he looked at it at :56, and actually went to it at 1:44! And the spin on 8 at 1:00 and 1:29, for example, got him looking at you rather than at the line. So those are good spots to use brake arms and shoulder turns, starting as he is landing from the previous jump.
Great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
Good timing of leaving the wrap position to get to your next line! His commitment also looked really good – you didn’t have to do much at all to convince him to take the bar as you were moving forward.
You will find these are even easier if you are not as far ahead – that way you can keep moving, plus you won’t have to step to the side to get around the wing. That is what happened at :12 and 1:16 where he dropped the bar: you had to step the side to get around the wing then stepped forward, so he had to change his line over the bar. Going in closer to the tunnel entry means you won’t be as far ahead, so you can actually keep driving forward more (he will pass you before you get locked into the position at the wing).Nice work!
Tracy
Hi!
These are going well too! He is finding the line really well, so it was all about exactly when to begin your decel.As you begin the decel, be sure to maintain connection to his eyes. At :09, for example, you looked ahead at the jump when you started the decel and wrap cues, so he looked up at you.
On that rep, you can be one stride sooner with the decel so he can collect before takeoff: when you see him land from the middle jump, start decelerating while still facing forward.
On the other dog-on-left reps:
I liked your timing at :58 the best! It started earliest! You broke connection there by looking forward so he pulled off the jump, but I bet the turn would be perfect if you decelerated at that same time (just after he landed from the middle jump) and kept looking at him as you said the wrap verbal.The timing at 1:22 was also good, plus you were connected so he collected before takeoff. This was his best turn on the video!
Looking at the dog on right reps at :34 and 1:38 – these can have the decel start sooner, like you did when he was on your left. He was seeing the cues when he was almost at takeoff of the wrap jump, so he did the turn after he landed and was a little wide. So with this side, you can start the decel when he lands from the middle jump too.
Nice work!
TracyHi!
>She’s very impressed with his foundation training so she signed up for Max Pup1!>
That is so fun! Max is looking fabulous indeed 🙂 Thanks for the referral!!! I am excited to ‘meet’ her here 🙂
The timing and connection video looks strong!
On the first side (dog on left) your cues were very timely!
On the 2nd side (dog on right) you started off with timely cues and then the last cue for the last jump ended up being a bit late (he was already at the jump :)) And you can use your ‘get it’ marker and throw the reward sooner so he doesn’t look back at you – you can throw it as soon as he looks at the last jump! Your connection was spot on so I am sure you will see him looking at the last line.Great job!
TracyHello and welcome!
The one step sending to the middle jump went well!
Video 1: On the first 2 reps where she was on your right side, I think you were too pointy 🙂 meaning you were pointing ahead of her at the jump with a high arm. She took the jump but the pointing ahead can break connection and cause questions on harder sequences.
When she was on your left, though, you kept your dog side arm out of the way and used connection and a big step: those 2 reps were super!!!!
On the 2nd video – is starts with a question due to a pointy arm cue 🙂 You ran forward after releasing with your arm up, so it was not a send and she went past the jump. You lowered the bar right away – but it might not be the bar height, it might be the cue so look at the video and see if the cue is clear before lowering the bar 🙂
When she did take it at :58, you can see how much wider the pointy arm cue plus motion sends her over the jump (as compared to :58 on video 1, for example, where it was a really nice send cue and she was turning really well too!)
Nice work here! You can move forward to the next set of games posted yesterday!
Tracy
Good morning!
Millie is like the Lazy Game Spokesmodel. She loves it so much and that is hilarious! She is pretty explosive here on the sends to the wings, but also accurate in terms of finding the wing and turning really tight – she must find the stay as a fun anticipation for the sending. Perfect! And you can add your wrap verbals here to begin using them with her too.
She only had one question here:
The send at 1:17 didn’t have much connection so she was careful but went anyway – she saved your bacon there! LOL!Note the difference in speed at 1:30 and on the next reps with great connection. Fast and confident, but still really tight around the wing!
Adding the tunnel was easy peasy and just as much fun for her. I love it!
> Her first tell is that she just can’t hold her sit. It’s like the amount of effort that she has to put in just completely wears her out.>
The hard stuff does deplete glucose and oxygen in their brains, so they can be fidgety and not as focused. This is clearly NOT that hard for her, just very motivating which is why she was so fast and engaged the whole time.
Her success here leads right into the games posted yesterday, where we get to do some real handling and timing of cues! Great job here and have fun with the handling games!!
Tracy
Hi!
She did REALLY well here, especially on the 2nd part of the session! This is hard and she had a lot of success!During the first part of the session:
She had trouble finding the jump in the face of the tunnel – good job rewarding the jump even when it was the backside then using the wrap cue to help her out too. The wrap cue seems like a more powerful cue than the ‘jump’ cue.The 2nd part of the session had even more success. Yay!
You can add in the 2nd wing to start from, and also does she have a go-around-behind-your-back start? For some reason I remember that she does – you can use it here to get her moving before the wing wrap, so you can start the verbals even sooner.
Try to mix things up each session so you can also swap positions – tunnel is closer and jump is further. And then add the weaves 🙂 You can revisit the game as a mental warm up a couple of times a week, using short sessions and different obstacle positions.
Great job!
TracyGood morning! These runs went really well! I liked your course strategy and you set up really clear, fast lines. My feedback is only on some subtle stuff:
The opening looked really good both times! You can set her up on more of a slice a 1, so there is more extension and less turn. That will make the line even speedier!
The blind after the a-frame looked really good! You can do the blind sooner on the landing side of 6 (:20 and 1:25) – she was over the bar and had to wait for you to clear the line, which slowed her down. So when you exit 5 and see her looking towards the backside of 6, you can start the blind so it is finished and out of the way before she takes off.
Another option there is to keep her on your right 5-6 and handling 7 as a rear cross. You can flip her away and even play with layering the 6/18 jump while she is on the dog walk!
She had a really nice weave entry both times after the dog walk! On the first run, lovely blind to 10-11. The FC there at 1:38 worked too but blind will be earlier and quicker info for her if you are waiting to do it til she exits the weaves.
The 11-12-13 line looked good too – you can play with layering the 10 jump while she is going from the tunnel to the 12 jump. Another really nice blind after that, this time to the teeter. It set up the backside at 14 really well!
You handled the 14-15-16 line two ways, which was fun to see. The first way was as a threadle wrap on 15 – on the first rep through there, you can turn to face her line more (and away the front of the jump) at :41. You sounded urgent there, so maybe she was looking at the wrong side of the jump? You turned away from the jump and set up a better parallel line to the threadle side more at :55 and she had a smoother line.
> The first run I forgot what side of the jump before the tunnel.>
Yes, 16 should be the front side/threadle side – when you handled the line before it as a backside send to the other side of 15, that set it up really well and *might* be the faster option (is probably the faster option). I couldn’t do a direct comparion with a timer because it looks like she went to the backside of 16 on the first time through there.
She had a small question exiting the 17 tunnel, so you can tell her what you want there before she enters – the backside verbal can start before she goes in, so she extends more on the exit and doesn’t slow down waiting for more info.
The rest looked great! The only thing to note there is that 20 is a backside not a straight line. Working it as a front side, though, set up really nice layering and a super fast & smooth ending line!
>Taq did ok on the parts I ran but was sticky and not wanting to take obstacles. I will try it again with her this morning.>
It is hard stuff for a youngster – you might have to ramp up the connection to help clarify the cues. There are so many obstacles everywhere that she might need more support. And you can tweak the sequences to have fewer backsides (for now) because she might think they are weird 🙂
Great job here!
Tracy
