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Hi!
>>I do not no what is wandering around in my yard at night, but they dogs have gotten very distracted out there. She was better than Biscuit with the sniffing, but still a minor lapse of reason.>
That is a great distraction to work through! You can use your pattern games to get her attention off the sniffing, and the volume dial game to get her ready to run the sequence. It is a different distraction than she will see at trials, but still a great opportunity to work through them as if they are trial distractions.
>>“Whippets don’t bark”, >>
Wait, people actually think that is a thing? My whippets and my part-whippets definitely bark LOL!!!! And they are not aloof 😁
Looking at the videos:
The first sequence went well! I can see why you added the lead out: starting with her at jump 1 put you caught behind the jump, so she thought you wanted the other end of the tunnel. A short lead out or starting on an angle will help that. The ending line looked GREAT!!!!
A couple of extra steps on the lead out in the 2nd video set a good line but when you pointed forward, she thought you wanted the jump (the pointing ahead of her turned your shoulders to the jump). So a softer/lower arm with a little more connection to her eyes will smooth that out.
You used a low arm and big connection to cue the backside at jump 3 – nailed it! Lovely! And excellent connection on the FC there back to the tunnel.
She did a great job on the ending line there too!
On the 3rd sequence, I see what you mean about the sniffing – when she does that, you can do some tricks for rewards before lining her up, to help increase her arousal state and increase her focus.
At :20 here, you had a softer lower arm and a little more connection to the #2 tunnel and she read the line smoothly. The backside push and the FC after it both looked terrific again!
And this was her best ending line yet – big strides, forward focus, lots of speed. Super!My only suggestion is that you can use the manners minder on the end of the line so she can get an immediate reward and not wait for you to get there (and she won’t run off with the MM :)) You can have it really far away and let it sit there the whole time, even when you add the RC sequence to this – that way she learns to go to it only on cue and not simply because she can see it.
Great job here!!!
Tracy
Hi!
Yes, the lazy game is basically a game to teach the dogs to please please take the line even when our handling is mediocre or just plain bad LOL!!!Tracy
Hi!
The hands-free driving ahead went great! He ate the cookie, drove to the toy and even brought it back. SUPER!!! You can add more distance on the throws, and add your movement too so he can see that you will be moving up the line as well.The blinds also went well!
>I am thinking-it-through slow.>
Better to think it through and have great mechanics like you did here! He thought you were very clear, and he was happy to wait the few seconds you took to sort it out.
> I think I also switched hands on the second one, which I will try not to do in the future.>
Looks like you changed hands after he got to you after the blind, and that is fine – it probably felt better to tug with him with the dog side arm because he is so small 🙂
Looking at the wrap foundations – I had to laugh at the beginning when you were like “c’mon we are doing a thing” and he was like “oh! Ok!” Hahahah! So you can show him the treat before placing it in the first bowl to get him started 🙂 Once you got rolling, he did great! He had a little question moving to your right side when you did the quiet cookie placement, so good job going back to slightly more visible hand movements. I felt that you split the difference there and he was very successful: rather than have the big obvious hand movements that you did at the beginning, you had smaller quieter movements to place the treat. That will help him bridge the gap to when we fade out the visible hand movements.
>>Probably my third attempt – the previous tries, he ditches the game in the first 20 seconds (boring).>>
You can do super short food sessions with crazy high value treats! Small bits of cheese is usually a good one. They might not make a noise when they hit the bowl but the value will be very motivating and less boring.
The other thing to consider here is that, since he loves toys more than treats, you can play this game with 2 toys. Even if the mechanics are not as smooth, he will stay engaged longer. The smaller dog on the demo video did not have a ton of food drive when I started this game, so you will see her working the early parts of the progression with 2 toys as I was building up food value. She is now a total pig for food LOL!
Great job here!
TracyHi!
He liked the driving ahead game! Having you run with him is great for teaching him to accelerate on big straight lines and he seemed to be happy with the GO verbal after the first time he heard it. Turning and running the other way is great for countermotion and we will definitely be adding that soon too.One thing I notice here is that he is sensitive to the pressure of you being close to the line, so he turns away – rep 1 turns to his left, rep 3 turns to his right – both of which were opposite what the handling would indicate. On both of those reps, you were close to him and decelerating before he got to the toy (which pressured into his line), so it is possible he is reading it as a natural RC cue. Since it is not a RC cue, you can stay a little further away and also keep running forward until he gets the toy – then turn and run away from him on a 90 degree angle in the direction of the correct turn, rather than do a FC to run the other way.
The blind crosses are going really well! Think of the toy placement as part of the cue, not just the reward, so get the toy visible to him as soon as you do the blind. The toy placement is what opens up the shoulder and that is the main blind cross cue If you watch the session in slow motion, he doesn’t switch sides until you have shown the open shoulder and the toy. Since he is a powerful critter, you can let him run through the toy (he grabs it, you let go, he keeps running forward). That will be better for his neck and for your shoulder 🙂 and give you a chance to then ask him to retrieve it too 🙂
>Going to try the first stealth game later. He’s a dog who sees everything (no surprise), so it will be interesting to see what he says about the game.>
Sounds good! He will definitely be aware of the stuff in the environment in these games – that is not the stealthy part LOL! The stealthy part is teaching massive impulse control without the dog realizing we are teaching impulse control LOL!!
Great job here 🙂
Tracy
Hi!
>>you’ll see in some of the videos he was able to get on the toy and some he couldn’t stop thinking about his food which is something we will keep working on for sure.>
What type of treats were you using, maybe they were too high in value? But for some dogs, ANY treat is super high value LOL! So you can separate the toy play by moving away from where you were using treats (a different room is perfect!) and start dragging or throwing the toy. That can get him further from the cookie spot and cookie smells, which will help with the toy play.
>>I think I trained for too long, quantity over quality happened today>
One way to limit training time is to turn on a song and train for the length of the song… and that is it 🙂 Then you can take a long break and come back to do another game later in the day or the next day. That will help get the quality because we don’t need the quantity 🙂
The hand touch is going well with the get it cookie toss! You can help him maintain the strength of the touch by looking at the target (not at his cute face) as you present the target. And you can add a little challenge by tossing the treats on different angles, so he approaches the hand target from different angles too! We build on this game in week 3 🙂
>>I don’t think he minds the grab so much as not being able to lunge for the cookies immediately, lol>>
He looked super happy here, which is great! This session was starting to make the collar hold a fun thing and not a frustrating thing. I added a couple more games for this too:
Nice work on the decel foundation! He came into your hand really fast on the first one and didn’t really collect. But on the next reps when yo were stationary , he collected really well! Yay! So now you can add the pivot – that will help him keep his butt in tight to your leg if you decel then pivot slowly, with your hand nice and low like it was here.
On the prop game video: I agree, this went really well!
The transition into the send will be easier if you start with a big of engagement by having him in front of you while you do a little ready dance (talking to him and being engaged, getting him into handler focus) and then sending him to the prop with your arm and leg. That will give him the clear cue about when to look away from the cookies – that was the only thing that he seemed to have a question about.
You can also move a bit off to the side, to give him more room to turn to you. When you were right next to his line to the prop, he is turning to his left a lot even when your send should indicate a right turn. Giving him more room will help that a lot.
His response to the YES! Marker is adorable and hilarious- it is like it is a joyous New Years Eve celebration every time you say it. So fun!
He did well getting on the bag for the goat trick! He very emphatically SMACKED it a couple of times too, which is awesome and adorable 🙂 You can create a pile of different things for him to get on, climb around on, etc, so he has a lot of experience on different surfaces, things that wobble, etc.
For the forward focus game:
He was looking at it very clearly when the toy landed, so you can release him to it the instant it lands. You started doing that on the 2nd and 3rd rep and he was great! The toy play at the beginning was really strong! And he was not too mad about the collar holding. He is at his best when you get in there and play as soon as he gets to the toy.He did well switching the toys but it might have been too much ‘ask’ in that session especially after the other sessions. Tired pups are not great with toy switching 🙂
Bear in mind that this is a high energy game for the pups, I think things went on too long and he was getting tired. You did about 40 seconds of tugging after rep 3 then did another rep – he went to the toy but just kind of chewed the end of the toy. Getting tired! That was at about the 2.5 minute mark, which is a nice long session, so you can end the session there rather than change toys – that is a can of worms to open at a different time 🙂 He was having a little trouble going back and forth between toys and then kind of clamped on the new toy at the end, which is generally a sign of a tired pup. Nice job ending on a positive with trading the toy!!
Great job here!
TracyHi!
That is amazing news about the B12 and how he feels better – wow!!! Really amazing and I am so glad to hear it!
>>We saw our rehab/chiro vet the Tuesday in between -> he found zero issues with the little guy
Is that normal, or are there sometimes little issues? Just interested in hearing more about how the B12 might be helping.
>He had a fantastic class training session this past Monday. So…I think we’ll keep on the B12 inj for now, maybe find some B9 to orally supplement. >>
Wow! And since he is feeling good, all of the training games will be much easier to teach.
>>Retest both & maybe thyroid in like 2 months.
If he is not showing any of the behavioral signs that we see with thyroid issues, then probably no reason to test.
>Subclinical levels can definitely be a thing (personal experience),>
That is so true!
>>You may have touched on it, or maybe it will come up, but what about pressure? ie those *awesome* starts that have the dog facing the start area/fence for a wrap back to the course?>
We start sliding in the pressure by adding one novel but neutral thing to the environment when training the skill… then adding more and more exciting and challenging things like people! I like to work pattern games through crowds, to help pump up the rehearsal of processing and ignoring people nearby and looking at the dogs.
>> I have a bit of catching up to do & it looks like the weather is going to turn to winter next week :(. I’ll probably have more questions as I work through things.>>
Yeah, I want it to be warm and sunny for another 6 months! Keep me posted on how he is doing!
Tracy
Good morning!
This went really well!!!
She was hilarious backing up on the first stay when you looked at her – maybe thinking you were going to toss the reward!>>I kept it easy by not doing the straight line first and leaving the tunnel out. >
That was a smart way to set her up for success!! You be moving towards the RC line (center of the bar of the purple jump) even sooner here – you were running straight til she was about halfway between the jumps then pushed in – but when she is running full speed, that will end up being late for the RC (or she might add strides on the straight line waiting to see if it is a RC or not). Plus getting on the RC diagonal sooner helps her get used to handler pressure and keeps you from getting too far behind her after the RC 🙂
The backside looked good! The BIG cue helped her – it is possible the fence right there added some pressure which made it harder, so the bigger cue helped support the line.
And the go line at the end looked fabulous 🙂
>>After dinner we did some tricks with her “slightly squashed skunk” toy and she gave me really snappy responses when I asked for a sit and led out so I did an inhale while looking back at her and her ears snapped forward and she released faster. Tried a 2nd one when I did 2 tip toe steps and she thought that was great fun too. >>
Yay! I am glad she liked it – the games should make it super fun and a bit silly 🙂
>Then Kaladin (who was lounging on the couch) decided to join in and she dropped the skunk and started jumping on him instead. >>
Ha! Cartoon games are irresistible!
>I think she may fall into the camp of liking the cartoon mashup. We’ll see.>>
The “we’ll see” approach is spot on – my guess is it will depend on the environment, so it is good to have all the options in your toolbox 🙂
>>I am laughing at your spot-on response that boinging at meal prep is annoying to household life. (how did you guess that was a likely scenario?)>>
Because it is annoying AF for me too, with 9 dogs to feed LOL!! And a little overstimulating for the other dogs too 🙂 The dog that wanted to do it (Jitterbug) now has access to his crate with the door open, so he now just goes and stands in his crate til the meal is served. So much less annoying LOL!
>>Test results came back and the ACTH Stim test was normal so the unlikely possibility of Addisons is ruled out. Thyroid was also normal (and on the higher end).>>
Hooray for clean test results!!! And it is great to have a thyroid baseline!
I love that your vet has a really detailed rehab program after the spay. So many vets tell people to return to regular activity was soon as the stitches are out in 10 days (that’s crazy, of course). Even with the lap spay – there is a long healing time! I had my gall bladder out laparoscopically and it was at least 6 weeks til I felt normal again. I mean, it might have been a little earlier if I had done a rehab program LOL but still –
Great job here! See you in Jacksonville!
Tracy
Good morning!
This was very impressive! Sooooo many amazing moments on this run, and complete focus in the barn. I loved it!!!Holy WOW look at that lead out – he was calm during the stay then EXPLODED forward when you released him. SUPER!!!
Looks like he didn’t read the side change on landing of 3 – you can give him a really big connection with your arm back so he sees where to be. You made the big connection at :40 after the cross and it was lovely!
Excellent job continuing, though – both of you were great with getting right back on track!
He totally thought weaving into the darkness and a wall was WEIRD. Looks like you gave him a reward for a great effort at 1:10, which is very appropriate!! He was trying super hard and that was a really difficult setup for a youngster.
The blinds on this run looked great too! Looks like he didn’t take the 2nd to last jump – probably because after the blind you said “yes” and looked forward, so he looked up at you 🙂 He definitely is an all business dude who likes info and connection (and praise at the end :))
Because this went so well, maybe he can join a league team?
Great job!!
TracyGood morning!
>>We worked on the leash up game again tonight (no video) but he was really starting to get into with continued luring. >>
Super! You can start fading the lure by making it less obvious and then starting to show the treat after he shoves his cute face into the leash 🙂
Looking at the video – I love his snappy line up! He was definitely jazzed to go, so you can mix in lots of throwing the reward back to him to help him remember the joys of staying 🙂 I like that he was so pumped up, so shorter lead outs and more reward will help.
The other thing I would recommend is to watch him as you lead out – I think he is anticipating the release coming when you look back at him. So the easiest thing to do is look at him the whole time for now 🙂
>>Something *between* cartoon mashup and calm server do you think?>
I think this will depend on environment (internal and external). If he is feeling pumped up? You can definitely be calm, smooth, connected. If he is feeling concerned or the environment is hard? The cartoon mashup will totally help! So we want to teach him both so that you have them both in your toolbox.
Great job here!!
Tracy
Good morning!
This went really well!!! He seemed to have no questions about the discriminations here. He did not quite drive to the tunnel after the teeter on the very last rep here – I don’t think you did anything too different other than being not as far ahead when you released him from the teeter, so you can keep moving forward when you are not as far ahead til he is really locked onto the tunnel.
>>in hindsight, I didn’t give him a good line to the frame so i did shape it a bit on the 2nd rep.>>
That was a good adjustment and set a much better line!
Looking at this setup – you can actually use this to enhance the discrimination options: by starting with what was the exit of the yellow tunnel/blue tunnel bags here, he can exit with the tunnel facing straight the a-frame. Then you can use discrimination handling to get the tunnel under the frame, or send him straight to the frame, and even push him out to the weaves!
Or, start on the a-frame heading to the tunnel – and use discrimination handling to get him into the non-obvious end and balance by sending him to the tunnel straight ahead.
That can offer a variety of options without having to move the course setup 🙂
Great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
For the toys, I think the best answer for now is keep going with the toy on a long line so you can engage her and play without a lot of pressure, but also so there is not any rehearsal of the running off or guarding behavior. Rehearsal builds neural pathways, so we definitely want her to not rehearse taking the reward and moving away with it.
>> This was her second round and she ran into the building and straight to the ring with eyes on me>
Which is why you definitely want to play 🙂 We don’t want her to be totally locked on the ring at this point – locked on you, yes, so playing will keep her engaged even when you are not in the ring and also helps balance the value so that being in the ring is not the most reinforcing thing 🙂
T
Hi! I am looking forward to seeing you at the Open!
>>I’m using a tongue click to mark it. I do have a verbal as well, but I find that I can do the tongue click faster, so I typically use that.>>
I could hear it! Something to experiment with is if you can do that as precisely while you are running so we know if that will be useful in those scenarios or if you will want to pump up the understanding the eat-from-hand marker. We have a lot of running games coming up 🙂
Tracy
Good morning!
>>I am not liking my prop. It’s big enough it not easy enough for her to place her big feet.>
I think the prop is good and she was able to get her feet on it – and having a smaller space for collection stuff will help you 🙂
>>I used really good food so she was a little stuck this session.>
High value food is great!! I think a couple of little tweaks in mechanics will make it easier:
She was having a hard time leaving the food in your hand, when the hand was part of the send. So two approaches to play with to help her watch the hand less and move away from it more:
– Use empty hand on the send hand (food in opposite hand) so you can use the hand to send and not just a foot. That might be easier.
– When food is in the send hand, use a boring treat in it (and then you can add in rewarding with a higher value treat between the boring treats 🙂 )
You can also toss the treat more: rather than feed from the hand, we can switch it up to getting the treat tossed to the prop more so she look at it more.
And remember to do some yoy play before and after because we want the arousal built in from the start.
Her forward focus is looking good! She had a good resilience moment after the wind blew – nice bounce back for the next reps and no residual concern about it. Super!
You had lots of distance and she had great forward focus while leaving you in the dust. SUPER!!!
What is her status with toys? This looked like a lotus ball and that is useful, but I really want to get toys involved. Plus she is taking the lotus ball and moving away from you, so we want the interactive value of the toy too!
Great job here!
Tracy
Good morning!
She totally loves her bowls! Yay! She was super great here!!!!
Two suggestions about mechanics:
Be ready with the treats before the bowls are placed on the floor – that way the reinforcement can start immediately. You might need 3 hands (sorry haha) but you will want to pull the treats out and then put the bowls down, so the first behavior gets rewarded. This also folds in some self-control, because she has to see the treats and ignore them in favor of going to the bowls. It is a small detail but might be a big moment for a food-driven dog.
You can also break this off more often (every 5 or 6 treats) with toy play by pulling the bowls up and throwing a toy around and tugging. This can help her learn these skills in a higher arousal state, which is really helpful for future course running and trialing.
Because she is so tiny 🙂 you can add 2 things for the next steps:
– move the bowls further back behind you, lined up by your feet when you are kneeling, so she has to make a bigger arc and has more room to turn around
– move your position to sitting in a chair and if that proves to be easy peasy for her, you can change to standing up (bowls can be back your feet too on those)
Fantastic job here! She is so fun!
Tracy
Good morning! Great job with these – she is a super smart puppy! And cute too 🙂
The foot targeting looks great – she was adding in some nose targeting to it too with her feet, but I think that was just her being very emphatic about it, and the nose part will go away as we add more action. You can switch to a verbal marker on these rather than the click here (using a ‘get it’ marker for the toss, and a ‘yes’ or ‘snacks’ 😁 marker when delivering from your hand). The clicks were all really good, so my suggestion about verbally marking instead of clicking is more about freeing your hands up for other things and also building up the understanding of the verbal markers.
She looks totally ready for you to go to the sending game we added on Tuesday!
The nose touch the target in your hand looked great too – she was starting to look up at you towards the end, so rather than click (which often builds in looking at us in many cases), you can mark the nose tap with a verbal ‘get it’ marker and toss the treat. Dogs almost automatically look at us when we click when they are puppies, then they watch us throw the treat so that is where the looking at us gets built in accidentally. Since you have now established the behavior with the clicker, you can use your verbal marker to tell her both that she is correct and also where to look for the reward.
We will build on this game in a few weeks 🙂
Super job here!!
Tracy
