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Good morning!
The starfish went great!!
She really liked the tandem turns in this context: run run run is her favorite thing 🙂
>In the beginning she wanted to just wrap the jump. However, I think it’s because I was running too fast.>
It is possible that with a lot of motion, you were facing the wrap line and not the threadle line. Your line on all the successful reps here looked really good!
>We had one disconnect on the left turn to the tunnel because I didn’t get there fast enough.>
That little question at :51 was not a moment of not getting there fast enough, your position was good! It was because you were looking ahead of her on the line. That turned your shoulders away from the line you wanted so she almost passed the wing. Compare to 1:19 where you were basically in the same spot but very connected and she had no questions. Super!
She only had one other question, at 1:04 – nice timing of your verbal! You were moving forward when she entered the tunnel rather than turning to the right, so she probably just anticipated going to the far wing because she had just done that a few times. So you can let her see you turning too – she was perfect on the next rep so it might have just been a small anticipation moment on her part.
>Should I start using a treadle cue now?>
Yes! And also, spread it out so you both run more. That is Kyla’s homework too with Aelfraed so you can really open it up to be 6 or 7 meters between obstacles 🙂
The backside sessions went well too.
She was more than happy to get the backside here, no both sides. The second side seemed a little harder? It was harder for Aelfraed too so I wonder if there is a visual thing in the environment that was pressuring their line inward? She didn’t take the front on the 2nd side (dog on left) but she was not as fluid getting to the backside.You did a great job of dropping the reward in earlier and earlier so she was looking for the jump more (rather than running parallel to your line). That early reward drop is going to help her look for the bar as you add more motion.
>She was great until I moved past the middle of the bar and then she was unsure of where she was supposed to go.>
Part of that is her just needing more experience, and part of that is about your line:
I cracked up when Kyla said “Where was your arm” LOL! It was in European position above your head! 😂 But a high arm is fine as long as your connection and line are still good. Sol’s question at 1:04 was more about your feet there -you were turning your feet to the tunnel before she got commitment to the backside. So definitely keep your feet facing the line parallel to her line til she is just about at the entry wing.
For the countermotion, release after you pass the exit wing now, and look back behind you to help support the commitment. If that goes well, you can start delaying the reward throw until you see her heading to the jump.
Great job!
Tracy
Good morning!
The starfish game is looking great!!! He was really responding to every cue and he even got the tunnel threadle at the end! Yay! Well done with your connection and timing (and all the verbals :))
Only one suggestion: add decel into the threadles that wrap him back to the tunnel. Note the difference the decel brought to theturn aways there: the 1st and 3rd reps had no decel so he was wide. 2nd rep had nice decel so he was super tight.
The same held true on the other side even though it was harder to see your motion with the tunnel in the way LOL!!The acceleration through there when it was more of a tandem turn served you well at :54 and 1:10 and 1:27 and 1:43 where he needed to accelerate to the next wing, but it widens the turn when you want him to come back to the tunnel.
For the next starfish: spread it out so you really have to run run run 🙂 Maybe 6 meters between obstacles? I bet he will LOVE that 🙂
Backsides: Yes, the first side went really well – that seems to be a very comfortable side and lead for him. You had a really clear nice parallel path and connection. You can move a little faster so he can accelerate more too, and you can probably start to fade out the opposite arm (unless you want it to be part of the cue) but using it less and keeping and intense connection.
I see what you mean on the other side:
He was not comfy with the leads, wanting to turn left instead of shifting away to the left to stay on the backside line.You can move faster here too so he can’t slip in front of you to the front of the jump 🙂 and you can also you can intensify connection even more, very directly to his eyes, which points your shoulders to the line more clearly.
But the thing that can help the most is angling the jump a bit, pulling the outer wing towards the start wrap wing, so it is easier to find the backside line and harder to get to the front side. Your line is identical but angling it can help him sort out his footwork more easily.
Great job here!
Tracy
Good morning!
The turn aways are going well!
>I knew the tunnel would be distracting but thought we worked through it well. At least she could self reward>
Ha! Yes, having the tunnel there was a bit too hard as she told you 😂
Try to send her to the start wing from further away so you don’t have to back up a much on the lap turns. And you can slow down the motion of your hand movement, on both the lap turn and tandem turn – when your hands were moving slowly, she could read the cues really well but if you are moving your hands too fast she sometimes turned towards you and not away from you.
Mission transition is going really well and she is responding beautifully to the decel!!!
For the FC at the beginning where she ended up in the tunnel – don’t use your toy hand to reward like that 🙂 Have the toy in the other hand so you can reach across your body to how it to her. That will open up the connection to show her the new side. When she took the tunnel, what she could see from behind you didn’t show the connection clearly enough for her to come in tight.
Great job here!!!
TracyGood morning!
I don’t want to jinx it. Bt maybe bring is coming finally??
>I definitely think we might revisit some of the foundation with just the tunnel. I’m wondering if this might have gone better with a little more space between wings and tunnel.>
Overall he did well with the tunnel threadles! He was basically perfect with turning towards you (and not staying on the line) in the threadle cue moments. He still sorting out the turn away element of it and I think you did a fabulous job breaking it down at the beginning then halfway through again.
You also clarified your line by moving more directly to the tunnel entry you wanted. The delays you are seeing are him just processing the cues, I believe: for example at 1:55 I thought your line and your cues were really good! He had to sort them out, ignore his family who were cheering him on 😂 and turn away. So he looked at you (processing), barking (processing) then did it correctly. YAY!!!
My guess is he will sleep on it and it will be even easier next time. So when you take the game outside and add more distance: yes to your plan of breaking it down a bit at first, then you can do what you did here and see what he says.
Nice work!
Tracy
Good morning!
Blowing leaves are annoying but definitely better than snow!! He will get over it when he works outside more.
The front view looked good – I mainly wanted to see his sit and I think it is fine! He is not moving at all, not leaning or slouching, feet in a good position, jumping form very strong! Keep an eye on it but don’t obsess 🙂 (I know, I obsess on a LOT of things so I have to consciously remind myself not to obsess over:) ) He has long front legs and just needs too for them – this is similar to my sighthounds at that age, all front leg and no place to put them LOL so I just let them sort it out. The speed, power, and jumping form is there!
The accordion went GREAT! I am so proud of him! He was so good about reading the distances. I am guessing as he gains more power and as we raise the bars, he is going to bounce the distance on reps 2 and 4 as well. He was lovely with his flexible one-stride! You can revisit this maybe once a week or so, changing the distance on that 3rd jump by even more each time. Definitely video so we can the striding.
>I did try the focus forward idea on the lateral lead out but as soon as the toy was not out there, he just stared at me. >
You can start with the toy and then fade it to a target on the ground (a plastic lid or something like that) and then throw the reward to it. Be sure you are far enough away that he has to take his eyes off of you 🙂 and also you can release/reward if he even flicks an eyeball towards it 🙂
>I never trained Benni to focus forward. He does fine. I take the step to push out toward the first jump and he takes it.>>
Benni might need to learn this game too 🙂 AKC agility is evolving to include this forward focus lateral start a LOT now and the handler position is evolving to need to be behind the dog or way lateral. So having this skill is a huge advantage for what is coming next 🙂 It is not a super high priority but both Poodle boys are brilliant and I know they will learn it 🙂
Great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
>Interestingly enough both dogs read my front wrap as a rear cross. I believe I opened my chest to the opposite wing instead of turning my shoulders more towards the wrap wing before presenting my arm across my body. Did anyone else have this issue? I could take a peek at their video.
Yes, that is actually a common blooper! It happens when we run had then rotate for the front cross… so we accidentally step right toward the RC line. If you decelerate facing forward to cue collection then rotate, the accidental RCs go away 🙂
I think so far *everyone* has seen this happen 🙂 Check out Julie with Lift & Kaladin if you want to see video, she worked through it real well!
Tracy
Hi!
>The get-out went well, I thought. Once he got the idea, he stayed in or got out and stayed out. At least as far as the barn would let him.>
Super interesting session! He was magnetically drawn to the out jump even on the first rep. Running past it was HARD – I am glad we are working on it because running past jumps in boxes is a core skill in AKC.
It went better when you added the wrap wing before it because he could see the line better and he was definitely getting the idea! Try not to run towards the get out jump at all, to get even more distance on the skill. And I agree – working the sequences all help solidify his understanding.
Soft brakes:
>My setup for the soft turns was not very nice, as the tunnel was straight ahead. So I used it as part of the triple: tunnel, wrap, soft turn. I am very happy with his wraps but the so-called soft turns, no bueno. >
The wraps looked GREAT!! And the tunnel sends were strong too of course 🙂
But actually… the soft turns were not that bad! The cues were late so what you were seeing was late info.
The soft brake has the opposite arm that accompanies the shoulder turning away to the new line – you were trying to get the opposite arm in his face but then to finish the turn, you had to open back up. That caused the wider turns because when you opened up you ended up facing straight so you either got the tunnel (1:12) or a wide turn (1:43, 1:47, 2:09, 2:12).
>The last 3 reps (X,Y,Z) were an attempt to give him the information very, very early.>
Your arm rotated to him was early! But that made the shoulder turn really late for this type of line.
Your best timing was on th rep that started at 1:18 – you had your arm present but also turned your shoulders to the new line, so he was able to get the nicest turn there! The earlier you turn your shoulders to the new line, the better he will read it.
>Also, his starting wrap around a wingless standard (for the get-out) looked pretty nice but the wraps with the soft turn were around a wing and they were pretty awful.>
You were not connected on those (exit line arm needed) so he drifted wide trying to figure out which side you wanted. Note how he instantly drove to the line when he saw your connection.
So for the soft brake sequences – yes have your opposite arm present but it doesn’t have to be as much in his face. It is more important to turn your shoulders towards the next line, really drawing the line for him so he can adjust before takeoff.
Nice work here! Let me know how the sequences go!
Tracy
Hi! She did really well here! Sounds like it was a fun day!
She did well with the lateral sends too! Good for her for ignoring other dogs working, that is impressive!
>I did notice that instead of walking in a straight line (over then straight up) I walked out on a diagonal. Didn’t seem to confuse her for these but I could see how that would come into play more when I move the wing out further.>
Yes, it is good to show the parallel line but also, try to look at her more and at the jump less- the disconnect of looking at the jump on the first rep was why she didn’t take it (you can totally use a reset cookie if that happens!
>When I took her in for the xray I did ask the vet about doing a pain trial. Her assessment, based on the physical exam and x-ray results, was that it wasn’t necessary. I’ve followed up with our chiro vet as I feel like she has a better understanding of the pain points and hope to hear back from her in the next couple of days.>
The recurring pain in the right hip area and the on-and-off interest in working/running is what definitely warrants further investigation. The x-rays happily ruled out stuff, but the Chiro keeps finding stuff and we are seeing some behavior that could be pain-based in training. Soft tissue stuff won’t be diagnosed with X-rays, and regular vets are great but they are not good with soft tissue diagnostics.
For example, I love my vet and she does agility! But she gave my 5 year old dog a clean bill of health based on X-rays and said the issues were behavioral… but the soft tissue people found an injury in her elbow and soft tissue injury along with it that required surgery. She never limped – she just shut off of doing sports.
And endorphins/adrenaline will mask pain, so you might not see a reaction at the vet office 🙂
>We will see her again when we are in Chicago as she will be there as well.>
Are you going to the invitational? This is the one year I decided not to go and I will be sad to miss you!
>For this weeks games, Given that I am only doing one rep with her, I’m postponing the Accordion game as it seems like those should be done in one session and will set up the starfish next.
You can do one-reps on the accordion! She does one rep – Jack does a rep. She does the 2nd rep – Jack does a rep. And so on 🙂
>I plan on entering MaxPup 3 and was hoping to take it as a “Live” student, but if we are only doing one rep it seems like this might not be the best session to plan on being live. What do you think? >
I think we can creatively pull it off, but going back to you between every dog or something 🙂 She can watch her classmates on TV 🙂
Have fun!
Tracy
He was definitely clever! And being able to turn away at a distance will be really helpful in the future 🙂
T
Hi!
Thanks for the video! Her stay looks good even with the little blooper on the ‘nice’ word 🙂
One thing to add is walking away from her forward rather than backing away – I think the first early release was when you turned to walk forward so she came with you. She caught herself and put herself back in the sit on the last one, good girl! You can say the praise quietly but more drawn out (‘niiiiiiice’) so it doesn’t sound fast – the longer words can often help with the stay because they are not exciting at all LOL!!
But overall she is doing GREAT with her stays! Keep up the good work here!
Tracy
Hi!
The new place is really nice! And he has a TON of good value for his mat!!!
For the rear crosses, you were both starting pretty close the prop so there was not enough time for you to get to the other side. Ideally, he would need to see you fully on the new side before he hits the prop, so he can adjust his striding.
You can start with the prop about 15 feet away and as soon as he starts moving towards it, you can be moving to the new side. That should help him see it sooner.
He read the blinds really well! You can make the new side visible sooner by moving away before he finishes his treat. You were waiting for him to tart moving back to you, but that meant the blind was late. So as he is heading to the cookie, you can be running the other way so you have plenty of time and room to get the blind in. That last rep was very timely ad he knew exactly where to be 🙂 Great job!!!
Tracy
Hi!
>I do know I need a sitting, down stay and also standing stay for Rally. Would you use this method for teaching those too?>
Yes – but to help clarify the different positions, I would cue them first so he knows what you are looking for (sit, stand, or down).
>We passed our Star puppy test and novice trick title Thursday night so yesterday was a rest day. >
Yay! Congrats!!!
>Today we did a rental at another facility that he has been too but hasn’t been in weeks. It was challenging. >
Overall, he did well!
> We started with the pattern game
Pattern games were definitely a good starting point, maybe outside the ring before going into the ring? You can also up the value of the treat or something really new and exciting in a new place. That will help with the recall too – amazing treats that he only gets in new places 🙂
It only took him about 2 minutes to be able to engage, but then you can end the session before it goes too long.
The tug was very exciting in the new location! He did a GREAT job ignoring it to move to the barrel! And he did a fabulous job on the barrel wrap, decel, drive to toy: impressive!!!! The decel/pivot part was especially great because he could easily have just gone to the toy. What a good pup!!!
He did a great job with his tunnel! He was a little obsessed to making the reward in your hand obvious so he could line up with you was great.
>I also learned smells are more interesting than our recall. Many things to work on and this was harder for him.>
I think he was lovely here! And you can also do shorter sessions (2 oe 3 reps total) then take a break. And those reps can have his favorite toy or mind-blowing treats 🙂
Great job!
Tracy
Hi!
>I edited this down into two as we had a few minutes of “out of control tunnel zoomies”>
Ha! She was definitely fire for the tunnels here! And she was enjoying scampering around with her toy LOL
Both videos looked really strong. The only thing she didn’t seem to love was being moved by her collar – that ight be why she didn’t come back to you that fast between each rep. You can try lining her up with a treat in the spot you want to start from, rather than moving her by the collar.
Have you decided what you want your tunnel threadle verbal to be? She is definitely ready for you to add the verbal – ‘tunnel’ will be the ‘on your line’ tunnel entry and your tunnel threadle verbal will be the ‘come in to the off the line tunnel entry’ verbal.
Great job!
Tracy
Hi!
The serp/threadle foundation is going really well! She got faster and faster a she figured out the game – and had strong touches!
She was also really funny – she was asking if she could just go directly to the cookies on some of the reps LOL! What can help that is if you let her see you shift your gaze from her face to your hand – that will also help her shift her gaze to the hand 🙂
Great job here! You can add in a toy reward and try to get the toy to the ground!
Tracy
