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Hi!
>> I hate to be behind!!! >>
Totally relatable! Because Mother Nature can’t be controlled 🙂 We do have the break week in the middle (and a couple of extra weeks at the end) in case anyone gets tied up with bad weather
>>when you’ve done agility for SO many years and someone (you) presents an concept that has been shown and talked about along the way, but not to the extent and with the explanation you give, it’s HUGE!!! Love the lightbulb moments when they happen!!!!>>
That is good to know! I think we have all been talking about connection for literally decades without ever really defining it as a handling cue and exactly what it was – in a way that is simple for us humans. I get a lot of feedback from the humans and dogs that helps ‘tweak’ the definition and descriptions so it is easier to connect and hard to disconnect 🙂
>> Footing is always just a little different on indoor turf than grass (Karma and I both love the grass best)!!!>>
I’m with you – grass I my favorite! Turf sure is nice when the weather is bad but the dogs don’t run nearly as well on it (although it makes me feel like a track star LOL!!!)
>>Hope the storm moves out of your area………….where do you live??????
I am in central Virginia, a little south of Charlottesville. Today is GORGEOUS weather (sunny and 50s) after tomorrow’s grossness. My baby whippet took one look at the weather yesterday and sprinted back to his cave bed where he spent the rest of the day LOL!
Have fun!
TracyGood morning!
>> So I don’t want to lose her drive for toys, but would it be easier to use a treat n train?
Maybe we’ll try both (treats and toys) and you can tell us!>>I think both is the way to go – you can have the TnT as the reward target, and the toy in your hand to play in between reps and reset the line up. You can test if the reward strategy will work by trying it without jumps (in the comfort of your living room LOL!). Do a little tugging with the toy. Click the TnT, let her get a cookie. Then ask her to tug again. Repeat this a few times. If she thinks this is awesome? Onwards to adding the jumps 🙂 If she thinks it is STUPID lol then we can try it with 2 toys or all food.
>>Might be irrational fears but afraid if we go back to reinforcing with food/ she’s go back to running off and disengagement. She does enjoy the treat n train. Or are these type of exercises that food would be beneficial to make us both slow down and think?>>
I don’t think food will slow her down 🙂 She is fast no matter what we do (and that is great!!) I think food-only *might* not be motivating enough unless it is ridiculously high value food (one of my dogs was trained fully in flyball using Egg McMuffins, she is VERY focused now LOL!). But, toys and food would be ideal so we can play with it and see what she says 🙂
Keep me posted!
Tracy
Good morning!
>>most of the action wasn’t in the camera view. (whoops!)>>
I am glad she is doing so well in he trial environment! Yay! Video is not as important as having a great time 🙂
On the video here:
Great job starting with a bit of volume dial game for engagement & arousal at the beginning! You can build more action into the cookie delivery by running a few steps or tossing it, to really bring her into a higher state. A calm cookie delivery is not as stimulating 🙂Using the leash and harness is great! You can take the harness off too – those can be restrictive in terms of shoulder movement so let her run naked on these 🙂
She definitely was liking the tunnel here, starting without you LOL!!!
>>Clearly need to work more on picking her up better for the next rep when I don’t want her to to back and forth through the tunnel>>.
The cookie to reset her was totally helping 🙂 You can try to almost turn it into a loop: send her into the tunnel, she gets the PT cookie, then you all her to a cookie in your hand to start the next rep. For the threadles, you can call her to the threadle side so she is between you and the tunnel which will definitely increase the challenge! But will also help solidify the threadle because she will get lots of rewards for passing the ‘wrong’ end of the tunnel to come to you, then get more rewards for going into the threadle tunnel entry.
Great job! Enjoy the rest of the trial!!
TracyGood morning!
>>my phone can’t handle the long thread so I hope it is ok to start a second one. It keeps giving me an error message when I try to scroll to the bottom.>>
Sounds good! Is it an iPhone? Sometimes iPhones and iPads struggle with these sites (which are powered by google) because google and iPhones/iPads don’t always like to get along LOL!
>>My question is on the backside wrap. When do we introduce that verbal. For the threadle slice we added it really early. You will be happy to know I have verbals cues for backside slice, wrap and threadle wrap and slice>>
Hooray for all the words! You will want to introduce the verbal as soon as you can reliable predict she will do the behavior. Based on the video below, you can add it – is Twist the slice verbal? If so, carry on! If it is the wrap verbal, you will want to stay by the entry wing to reward and not move across the bar.
>>I grabbed the Cato Board and thought I would try a sit.>>
She was really good with the Cato board! She probably needs a session or two with just the board to isolate it as yes, a place to do a sit stay 🙂 before adding it to a lead out. She was a little confused especially on your right side, and had a lot of breaks (and some really good offering of a stay *next* to it LOL!)
On the backsides at the beginning and the end – she was finding the correct side of the jump really well! YAY!! Positionally, you will want to let her see the whole wing as you move up the line so she can find it independently and you can start moving further and further away (laterally). At :01 and :08, for example, and on reps on the other side, you were moving up to the outer edge of the wing which meant you were blocking it. The ideal line is to where the wing and bar meet o she can see entire wing. And then you can move over bit by bit so you are further across the bar for the slice reps.
The Serps and threadles are also going really well! For the serps, remember to be close enough to the jump to be able to causally reach out and touch it with a bit elbow. On the first reps, you are too far from the jump so she was turning after she got over the bar. At 1:38, it looked like you were nice and close, and that got the best turn 🙂
For both the serps and threadles, the next step is to have the reward (toy or MM or food bowl) placed on the exit line so she doesn’t roll the bar getting it when you toss it. You can also use a jump bump instead of a bar.
Plus having the reward placed will help build the default in and out behavior on the serps & threadles – right now on the serps she is going straight til you throw the toy and we want the turn as she is approaching the bar without you having to move.Tunnel threadles – these are going really well too! Yay! For the next step: you can fade out moving towards the entry that you want and keep moving straigh-ish as you are doing the cue until she turns herself away into it. That can also help build even more independence into the skill and verbal.
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Good morning!
The threadle versus serp looked really strong! Your showed very different positions and also had really good clarity with the threadle verbal.
One tiny detail is to keep your shoulders frozen on the threadle until she reaches the reward – you were moving the m forward a bit and we don’t want to build them into the cue to take the jump by accidental. You were very good about not moving your shoulders with the serp!!
>>Was it ok to use the RT machine for this? Or should i just toss a treat?>>
It is better to use the RT because that helps create the in-and-out default behavior better (less upper body movement than treat tossing would have).
>>On her one error, I started to say something but then caught myself and shut up lol. I don’t think it’s a no reward marker so much as I’m responding conversationally to her, >>
Yes, it was good to not really say anything and to just go to the next rep.
Because dogs are brilliant at figuring out context, we don’t even have to use the same words for it to be a no reward marker – conversation and even happy things like “oops!” and “nice try!” all take on the value of no reward aka negative punishment. So, they know the rep was incorrect even if we just toss a reset cookie to start it over. And the reset cookie is faster, rewards effort, as well as immediately gives the dog the chance to try it again.Great job here!
TracyHi!
>>Do you have a preference for 1 video per post (faster to review) or 2 videos per post (fewer posts to review)?
Thanks for asking! If you have multiple videos ready to post, it is better for me to post them all at the same time – that will get them reviewed faster because as I cycle through the difference classes, it might take a longer time to get back into this one.
>>but sometimes when things go well and I’m not expecting a ton of feedback I might have two videos ready to go at once.
You are welcome to post videos that are ready, regardless of if you think they need a lot of feedback or not 🙂
He did really well with the get out game! Using a clear cue to keep him with youis a great way to build value on the balance reps. He did really well on all of them! Yo can move the prop further away which will add challenge to the get out and should (theoretically 🙂 ) make the sticking with you easier.
You can cue both behaviors sooner: as soon as he turns towards you, before he even takes a step, cue the behavior. That way he has more time to process and execute. You can also start to fade out the help staying with you, and see if he will just stick with you when you don’t cue the get out (to help make staying on the line with you the default behavior rather than peeling away for obstacles off the line).
Great job here!!
TracyHi! Happy New Year!
>>I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth (lol) Its been a busy month with family health issues, Holidays ect so I am a bit behind.>>
I can totally understand about it being a busy time. I hope all of the family health issues are resolving easily!
>> I came up with a lid to a pasta jar. BINGO it worked issue resolved .. >>Good catch about the peanut lid and I am glad the pasta jar lid worked so well!!!
>>> he is able to start right in without going back to baby refresh and the cone is about 3 feet from me. He is a amazing fella in his learning. I thought my Toby was a fast learner but WOW Sealey has him beat!!>>
Awesome! That is really exciting!
>>Now another wild question cause I feel like I am missing something when teaching Sealey to stay I have watched the video several times and I am getting this amazing stay but do we put a cue word “stay” or hand jester or we are just walking off when we have them sit .. >>
I am glad the stay is going so well!!! You can put a stay verbal on it if you want to – you don’t need to, but it makes us humans feel better 🙂 I totally say “stay” and I think my dogs just roll their eyes LOL because sit means stay… so maybe stay means “I am moving away now”. But you don’t need to.
>> Its probably a stupid question because something is working in my Good canine citizen class he is the envy of everyone else in his stays. But I can’t explain it on how I am doing it from your video..>>
Not stupid at all! Basically, the games teach the pups that the sit cue also means stay-until-released/rewarded. So theoretically we don’t need an additional cue to stay… but it makes us happy to it is fine to do it.
You don’t need a hand signal. Just be connected and lead out and he will be fine 🙂
>>Although we are a bit behind than everyone else Sealey is really picking up these games and now I am incorporating the handling moves with out objects in hands when I call him to come inside I will do a blind or a front. Did get a tandem in one day and wasn’t sure how I did it (lol) Since its been hard to do some of the homework. Been trying to incorporate where I can so he is getting something daily.>>
That’s super clever! I love it! Throw it in wherever you can!!!
>>I am still pondering what I am going to use has verbals for all these different serpentine and throttles.>>
You don’t need a special verbal for a serp – you can call him or say jump. I sometimes say “left” or “right” or if it is a really hard exit, I might use a wrap cue. But that is pretty rare an generally I just sue the name or a jump verbal. Threadles are different: A treadle-slice verbal is really helpful, and a treadle-wrap cue will be too!>>Next and last question in the resilience game where you walk the puppy around an unfamiliar area letting him smell ect .. Is there a point that they are sniffing to sniff n locate free treats left , stress to be in building/class or situation , needing to go potty >>
The point of a resilience walk is to let the dog explore the world 🙂 It is great for their brains and body chemistry. They don’t have to do anything and it is generally out in the world. I personally don’t do resilience walks in the ring because I want a different conditioned response to that environment.
>>Sealey’s nose is on the ground all the time at our dog club and I can’t get him to focus on me while healing . I mean the whole time we are trying to do healing exercises his nose is plastered on the floor.. Doesn’t do it for stays or recalls ..>>
Sounds like he needs more exciting and more motivating reinforcement for heeling 🙂 You can use explosive tugging games are rewards (I have done heeling with a toy tucked into my arm pit, then dropped it to the dog for the reward then tugged :)) I also go to really high value food reinforcement if the dog is struggling: my youngest girl dog struggled in the flyball environment so I trained her in classes using Egg McMuffins from McDonalds. It took exactly one reward and I had her full attention, and never lost her attention LOL!
Let me know if that makes sense. Keep me posted!
TracyHi!
Same here, I am not a fan of cold. I like heat!>>1. Not as connected as needed, 2. Late in my indication of the jump, 3. Trying to figure out holding the toy correctly.
Yay for video review!!! I will rank the FCs in the order of quality if ELC 🙂
1:17 was my favorite here, because your opposite arm was most across the body and visible, and your dog side arm was back and out of the way 🙂
1:42 was my 2nd favorite (2:04 as 3rd favorite) – they were similar to 1:17 but not quite as clear.
The reps at :12, :37, and 2:38 were not as clear – your reward hand (opposite hand) and dog side hand were both in front of you and not back to her, so she was seeing more of your back and not a lot of connection (wider turn here). And 2:19 was least favorite because you took off and ran without a lot of connection 🙂 She read the line based on motion and context, but you can exaggerate the exit line connection with the opposite arm (left arm in this case) across your belly to your hip as if showing it to her, with your dog-side arm pointing back to her as well.
You might find it easier if you are more upright and not leaning forward as much? Think of it as showing her the connection cue rather than trying to get a tight turn – the tight turn will t take care of itself with the clearer connection.
The short was marked private – can you switch it to unlisted? Thanks!
Great job here!
TracyHi!
This went really well! She was flying! Lots of good stuff here 🙂Nice job on the lineups and the send to the wing! At first it looked like you were not really trusting her to commit to the wing so you were waiting a little longer than needed. You got better and better at taking off earlier and earlier, but maintaining connection really well. SUPER! You kept the regular connection when she was behind you and when she was ahead – she had no questions on the line.
One small detail:
You can have the remote in your hand so you don’t have to reach into your pocket (trying to run with your hand in your pocket can inhibit running).She was distracted by something at 2:30-ish. If that happens, you can break off the session for a moment, do some tricks for treats to get her back in the game, then go back to the sequence. That way you don’t end up physically trying to turn her head or get her to line up. That way you can trust she is fully engaged and ready to go. She did do the rep nicely, but you will want her to offer engagement rather than have to physically help her.
Great job here!
TracyThis last one went really well too, especially your exit line connection on the very last FC – gorgeous! Keep working on making that eye contact after the crosses, it makes a HUGE difference for him!!
Great job on all of these! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
Your ‘regular’ connection here looked really good, so he had no trouble finding the line. Yay!As you add the FCs into sequences remember to add the exit line connection too – after the FC at :04 and at :07 especially. At :07 you were pointing forward, which breaks connection and turns your shoulders away from the line, so he went around it.
You used a little more motion to the jump there at :18 on the 2nd video and he got it, but more connection will allow you to also use more distance
Nice job getting the FC at the end of video 3!
Video 4 – really good connection for the FCs – keep trying to keep the dog-side arm back and looking across yourself to make connection at the very end (:22) you were looking ahead a bit and not back at him, so he missed the jump. He is a very honest dude LOL!
That happened at :05 on video 5 (not enough connection back to his eyes) but compare it to :10 and :13 where you made much more connection and he had no questions. Yay!
On video 6, I think you were trying for a spin – no worries, you can still reward him as you figure out your mechanics.
You nailed it on video 7! Love the exit line connection here!!!!!Hi!
You did great here! Vicki’s coaching of Front Cross then Blind Cross was spot on – that is exactly what it is. As you get more comfy with the spins, you will be able to do them faster but for now, keep focusing on the proper mechanics like you did on videos 1 and 2 here – nailed it!Videos 3 and 6 were normal blind crosses – you had super exit line connection so he had a gorgeous turn and no questions about where to go.
Videos 4, 5, and 7 were front crosses – also lovely! On video 7, you almost transferred the toy to the dog-side hand but caught yourself and maintained great connection. Yay!
Super great job with all of these!!!
Tracy
