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Welcome back to you and Mister Jackpot!!!!
>> Some exceptionally welcome behaviors are emerging, but not without a few vexing adolescent concerns as well.>>
You have just summed up the entirety of canine adolescence in one sentence LOL!!! Ok, maybe human adolescence too. Ha! One of the “joys” of adolescence is that the brain is in a rapid development stage… and there is a lot of learning but also a lot of emotion. And days when previous learning seems to have entirely disappeared (this is normal).
As we get started, give me a list of the vexing concerns so we can make a plan! I am just getting out of adolescence with one dog, in the middle of it with another, and getting ready to go into it with a 3rd. So I am all about adolescent dog planning right now LOL!!
Have fun!
TracyHello and welcome back!!!!
>>we tried your suggestions at flyball – running around him before recalls and changing direction before he reaches the tug and they worked really well!!!>>
YESSSSS!!! Very exciting!!!!
>>I am having trouble remembering his no reward cookie fast enough and he jumps on me – sometimes even before I have processed that what happened>>
We have lots of little sequences in this class, so we can do a combination of getting you to either keep going or reward super fast, or going right into a pattern game after a stop in the action. His adolescent neurons are doing typical adolescent neuron things (JUMP ON DA MOMMA!!!) so we can definitely help him out 🙂
>>And functioning around toys, people, other dogs, or a new place, or any situation where he is having a turn (class, seminar, recalls at flyball) is challenging. I feel we are working through this / but it’s a significant focus right now>>
Yes, definitely a significant focus, I can relate! How strong are his pattern games? Those will be your absolute lifesaver 🙂 They give his brain a way to process the environment and really help balance the arousal. I promise we will survive adolescence LOL!!!
>>The struggle that I am feeling very anxious about is the lack of a stay when he is aroused …. But that is a big topic – so for now I’ll just say it’s on “the list”😊>>
We will do some stay work in this class for sure! No anxiety needed, we will sort it and he is doing great. We keep the pressure off as we build it up. An example is a Golden from the previous MaxPup generation was having the same exact issues as West as this age: stay struggles, trying to balance arousal, all totally normal stuff. She kept the pressure off and she just started trialing (I think he is 2 years old now)… his stay is spectacular, no jumping on da momma, and he is very successful with his runs!!!! I mention it because I feel that West is on the same path and I know we will get there 🙂
Have fun!
TracyHello and welcome back!!!! Perfect timing after your trip!
>> Now to see how we can get things done with 100 degree temps. Might need to look for ring rental options so we don’t melt.>>
Ugh, I can relate. I live in the mountains of Virginia and we are in the mid 90s every day now… EWWWW!! So, this morning it was training at dawn and with a lot of daylight at this time of year, I can train outside at 8:30pm LOL!!! I also use very very cold treats and that has helped the dogs a lot!
>>Ven turned 13 months old this week. How did that happen? He’s struggling with the concept of not getting to say hello to every person and dog he sees so we will also be going places to “watch not greet” for a while.>>
He is the best boy! Do you remember that patten game from Maxpup 1? Use it to get him ignoring people… and then put ‘go say hi’ on a cue so he does get his fill of hugs and kisses 🙂
Have fun!
TracyFor me, it is the Summer Of JimJams! First, Minnesota. Now, online. Next, Chicago. And then maybe Iowa too? I am so excited!!!! Have a blast!!
Tracy
Hello and welcome! I am so glad you joined us!!!
>>at the same time ‘worrying’ if we’ll do good and if it’s the right class for us 🙂
We will make sure it is exactly what you want it to be 🙂
>>Fly is almost 2 years old Great Dane, so isn’t exactly ‘a puppy’ by age (but Danes mature later LOL)
So fun! I love Danes. I got to work with a “tiny” puppy Dane in New York recently, and I have also had the pleasure of meeting and working with Tabitha Plambeck’s Danes from Alaska. Do you know her?
>>we didn’t do previous classes in this series – but I hope ‘training and skills-wise’ we will be able to ‘catch-up’ and follow the class.>>
You will have no trouble at all – feel free to ask questions and we can fill in anything we might want to add for Fly. We have had lots of folks join the program here in MaxPup 3 and have a blast!
>> While it’s our first class here, we have some ‘experience’ with AG – foundation classes at other online school and in-person classes.>>
Fantastic! I am really excited to see you and Fly!!!
Tracy
Hello and welcome back! He is ready for the bigger sequences and I am excited to see you both!
Have fun!
TracyWelcome back! I am excited to see more of you and Taq! These are getting closer and closer to running real courses and I think you and she will have a blast!!!
Have fun 🙂
TracyWelcome back! You and Rouz looked so great in MaxPup 2…I am excited to see what you do with these games! She is going to be ready to trial before you know it!
Have fun 🙂
TracyWelcome! I am excited to see more of spicy In Synch! The Pap mixes are FUN and yes, big personalities LOL!!!!! Have fun!
>> their anyway of having list of enrolled courses in reverse order of enrollment rather than having to scroll thru all the time.
On the My Recently Enrolled Courses page, they should be sorted started with most recent. Is that what you are looking for? If it is not showing up like that, let me know and send a screenshot!
Hi!
>>– Duh!! If I had a nickle for every time I coached someone about setting their dog up at the startline on the line to the next obstacle I could…..well….now for me to remember it for myself>>
Ha! This is relatable LOL!!!!!
>> I found myself last weekend just giving him an OK, he blasts out and I wanted to “scream” sit, because of our discussion I stopped myself. >>
Good catch!!! Yes, that could totally have an impact!
>> when you are interrupting behavior or putting a stop to behavior? – More interrupting, I think. Guess I’m not completely sure of the difference……doesn’t interrupting stop the behavior?>>
I guess the intention would be different: interrupting is more like “hey buddy, come here” and putting a stop to it is more urgent like “I WILL SHIV YOU IF YOU DON’T STOP RIGHT NOW” hahahahaha
>>a couple of weeks ago I started some with the puppy and thought it would be fun to play with Sly as well. Took him a minute to remember the game but once he remembered we had a blast. I added a new dimension……layer an obstacle >>
Fun!! This is great!

>>His mat behavior has always been a down so not sure if asking him to sit on it would create confusion/stress?>>Yes – don’t change the mat behavior. You can change the stay-on-the flat behavior to a stand or down or mix it up!
>> What if instead of his mat I use his platform that we used in the jumping skills class? That has always been a sit and we do sits on in several times a month – it’s kinda become one of my easy core exercises for him. >>
Sure! It doesn’t slide and is easy and fun!
>>I’ll just cue a “wait” and he gets to choose position. He’s almost always in a stand when I do this and he’ll choose to stay in the stand>>
I do this a lot too – I cue they wait and the dog chooses the position. It has really strengthened the stays!
>And my husband is actually starting to understand (and do) some of the stuff I’ve been telling him to do with both of them…….. YEAH!>>
That is awesome!!! Family harmony!!!
Keep me posted :)
TracyHi! These looked great! You are really getting into the zone of driving through the handling. We are now at the finishing stages of just how long and how much cue she needs. This is exciting!!!!!
The 3 runs you did were a Goldilocks game: run 1, not enough. Run 2, too much!
Run 3? JUST RIGHT, loved it!First run: you were rushing a little, so you needed one more step at :16 (one more step to 4 before the layering) then one more step to 8 too. You needed to get more on the RC line at :24 – there was too much shoulder
pull to the left turn side before the RC so she started to turn left then had to adjust, thus the wide turnAt :34, you were too quick to leave the threadle, so don’t leave the threadle til she looks at the jump like you did at :45. And one more step needed to get :15 at :49.
Think of it as seeing a certain “window” like in flyball: looking for a specific behavior that cues you to do the next think. So for the threadle, it is the head turn to the jump. For the RC, it is as she exits the tunnel and looks at the jump, you drive to the center of the bar. For the wrap at :15, you face forward as you decel til you see the ‘crunch’ of collection (more on that below). It will make it a lot easier for you to get the timing if you think of it like that 🙂
On the 2nd run, you over-helped a bit in spots: too much go on 4 at :07 so she was very wide (correctly, good girl, you did tell her to go LOL!)
At :16 on the RC, definitely too much pull to her left (and your left verbals sounded like they were still going as she exited the tunnel so she wrapped instead of doing the RC
Fantastic job continuing there!!!Excellent patience on the threadle after the weaves! Nailed it!
You were too quick to leave 15 at at :28 – look for her cue to you to go: decel facing forward til she is past you and ‘crunching’ into collection… then when you see the crunch as her feet lift, do the rotation and leave. It will get easier and earlier as she gets more experience.Video 3: LOVELY! She started to smoke you by the end o you switched to rears – it is great to be able to make adjustments like that! YAY!!!
So rather than try to handle fast, think of looking for her “windows” (behaviors you need to see before you can move to the next spot or the next part of the cue) and handle based on those!
I love that Kyla ran her (IN A SKIRT TOO?!?!?!? Impressive! She looked really good! It is so fun to see the dogs work for other handlers. Kyla will be wanting a whippety sport mix soon they are addictive LOL!
Great job on these!!!! Onwards to the next one (look for your windows!)
And I found out yesterday that I *will* be coming to the flyball tournament in Canada!!!
Tracy
Hi!
Yikes, that is some major heat for relatively early in the summer!!
>>The spacing is pretty tight and I only have 4 jumps. >>
You can make it feel like big spacing by setting the bars at 12” 🙂 That makes it harder (but better!) for you because the speed will feel like a real course, and it is physically easier for her so she won’t get hot as quickly.There are some things we can do to help with the heat – there are some nice cooling vests out there that are great, and you can have her in it the whole time except for a run then back into the vest. I’ve also seen one that the dogs can run in. I can look up the info!
Sequence 1 went really well!! Great connection from you!
Forward focus on 1 at :04 – lovely!
Nice FC 2-3 (:07)
She was a little wide on 3 but stay tuned for more stuff on that coming in the live class this week!!!!Looking at the next section of the sequence: I think it might be faster/easier turning her left on 5 and doing the slice backside on 6 and push through on the backside to 7 (rather than wrap to a wrap then push to the backside). It was hard to get into the wrap on 5 to turn right, and you were a little on her line. It looks like the sequence would work with the left turn on 5! It sets up a good slice jumping challenge 6 to 7 but I think she is ready for that!
Seq 3:
She seemed to take longer to look at jump 1 (hard to tell from this angle) – maybe it was you being a little behind her and leaning? We will keep an eye on that and you can play with it as a one jump setup to build the value more.This went well too! I love this sequence because it is like a puzzle that she has solved – same jump, a bunch of different turns. Super!
She was a little slower than usual in the middle section but it might be the heat, or it might be that your shoulder was a little forward (no place to run to so you might have been controlling that turns with a closed shoulder) so the connection was not as clear. But she was great on the ending line, SUPER nice turn at the end!
Seq 4: This also went great! She was staring at you instead of the jump here (I think, it was a little hard to see) so definitely we can get more forward focus when you are a little behind her. You can do it indoors with the a/c 🙂 using a food bowl or something to get it started!
I think you handled the sequence beautifully! You did the wrap turn on 6 (turning her to her right) – you can call her sooner (before takeoff for 5, maybe when she is halfway between 4 and 5) to get a better line to 6 (looks like she looked towards the off course jump).
And if you are feeling spicy, you can try a BC 5-6 and send her to the other side of 6, to set up a slice to 7 (and either BC n landing of 6 or do a RC on takeoff of 7).Seq 2 was last on the video here 🙂 The cone was great to set up the opening line!! Clever!
You did a spin at 1:20 and 1:38 on the 5-6-7 line – it can help change the line at 6 if you do it s part of the commitment cue from 5, so it is visible no later than halfway between the jumps and so it doesn’t delay the wrap info on 7.
I *think* you wanted her to wrap to her left and not slice to her right on the first rep? Good job with the poker face to keep moving!!!! The late spin caused your feet to set the line to the slice side. You got your feet more rotated on the last rep here, so you got the wrap – feet rotated to face the next line really help with this type of wrap.
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi! So much good work here!
>>She could not take the jump at all for any reason with it set to 16” >>
Maybe it was the panties? They might have felt weird on 16? She was focused and engaged otherwise! Or she had trouble processing the 16” jump with the reward out ahead? But 8” sure was good!!
Also… the stay!! WOW!!! Yay!
The warm ups looked good!
She had a long look at you at 1:11 – but a great stay! It is possible you were just a little too far away on the first true lead out. You can also rotate a tiny bit more towards the jump – you feet and shoulders were a little turned away so she had a question.
I am not entirely sure that jump is a powerful release cue for her yet… so you can say “jump break” for now then fade the break on these lateral lead outs 🙂 Saying break then jump will get the release but won’t help her understand that jump is also a release.
First full run: As you build up the lateral lead out, you won’t have trouble with the blind because you can release her with you closer to 3 🙂
For now – no need to go close to 2 or 3. You can support the line as you run to the wing of 4. That will make it easier to get the reconnection after the blind, and it is the reconnection which will keep her off that juicy off course tunnel behind you.
(Great job rewarding like it was NOT an off course)
2nd run:
Ready gets her to bark and do an adorable head toss when she is pumped up, so maybeOne thing I notice here and later in the session: sometimes you use your mark hand, sometimes you just kind of lean towards her. The mark hand seems more effective, so try to be more consistent and use it all the time.
You were later starting the blind (2:30) but quicker showing the connection (2:31) so got a better turn and got the jump. Yay!!!
3rd run – look at her looking at the jump at 2:42!! SUPER!!!!
On this one, you sent to the tunnel layer. She did great on the verbal!!! Strategically, to get more acceleration and not dilute decel: run in closer to 2 and accelerate to 3, taking out the lateral distance. That way you get her flying to the tunnel and you don’t end up decelerated at 3 waiting for her to pass you (2:46)4th run – she also did great looking at the 1 jump at 3:11!
She did not take 3 on this one… I think it is because it looked like you were about to do a BC. Play it in slow motion from 3:14 and you will see that as she is landing from 2 at 3:15, you are decelerating and turning forward: aha! Looks like a Blind! Sure enough, it was, and she was correct to change the line. You were just a shade too early.
Good rewards! She was really paying attention!5th run – she did not look at the jump on this one… I think you missed your window (she looked at it as you walked away then went to staring at you). It was probably one run too many so you were totally correct to just do one quick rep to get the cookie and be done. Nice!
Super great job here!!!
Tracy
