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Hi!
You had your serp arm back on the releases here on the first 2 reps – terrific!! To help him pick up the line to the next jump – keep the serp arm back and keep the connection, rather than use the arm to point at the next jump. The serp arm position cues the next jump as you keep moving. If you try to point to the next jump, you might send him right past it if your position is not perfect.
On the rep at :27 where the serp jump was the 2nd jump, you had your closed shoulder pulling him in – this is where you can open up the serp arm back to him so he sees the full serp cue.
Adding the angled jumps after the tunnel – it is an easy line for him, and you had your serp arm back too! Yay! So keep that arm back as you also cue the next jump – it will feel weird at first 🙂 But it really helps show the line without a lot of extra work from you 🙂
Great job!
TracyGood morning! This went well!
There was one blooper about which end of the tunnel to go to: Remember to look at him when giving the cues, not tat the obstacle. Looking at (and pointing to) the tunnel at :17 caused him to think it was a blind cross so he cut behind you to the other side of the tunnel. You had connection at :25 and he knew exactly where to go
>Serpentines, a little struggle. It is hard for me to get to where I need to be in these short fast sequences. >
I think one tweak will make serps much easier:
To cue the serps from anywhere, remember to lock your serp arm back, extended away from you (like strike a pose from MaxPup 1 :)) And looking back at your hand (and his landing spot) really helps too.
You were trying to cue each jump with your arm going in and out, but the serp arm being back will cue the whole line 🙂
If you are ahead of him enough, the arm position is not as important but it becomes critical if you are not that far ahead. That is what happened at 1:19. You were not as far ahead, and the serp arm was not clear til after he was passing the jump. He got it on the last rep, but having the arm back sooner will make it easier for you both.
>Max rules, he is so smart and catches on quick. His work ethic is amazing.>
I totally agree – he is a superstar! And you are doing a great job teaching hi the game 🙂 Nice work here!
Tracy
Good morning!
Most of the technical/close handling stuff looked really strong here (and the a-frame was blocking part of it), so we will focus on the layering sections.
On the layering work here, remember to build the skills with reward, not repetition. Especially if you fix something, reward her (like for working away on a line, or coming in to handling) otherwise there is not a lot of quick skill building happening. Instead, she is learning the course which is not as helpful for future courses where she needs to know the skills and you need to time the cues correctly 🙂
On the first course, starting at 4:
Running with her 4-5-6-7-9-10 works until you get to 11 (jump after the dog walk) because of all the forward motion of having to run up the DW with her. To get a better turn to 11, you need to decelerate and give the cues when she is still on the top ramp of the DW at the latest – but that puts you kind of trapped behind the DW and changes the cues for the tunnel-tunnel section.
That is what was causing the trouble there on the first run, and at 1:02: you got too far past the DW (closer to the first tunnel) and ended up putting a turn cue on the 12 tunnel with your motion. Plus the go verbals happened after she was already in the tunnel so she had to make a turn decision based on your motion she saw before entry (which is why she kept turning left, because that is what you were showing with the physical cues).
When you were on the correct side of the DW so motion was correct, she got it easily at 1:15.
By 1:40 and 2:11 she had learned it, so she did look at you (because motion said to turn left) but kept going.She didn’t really get rewarded in there – Those were handler errors, so reward when she got it especially if you stopped to fix or work a section! And we want toy rewards instead of obstacle rewards, because obstacle rewards will not create enough balance in handler focus and line focus. She is very line focused right now, so toy rewards will help a lot.
To get the sequence without the question tunnel-tunnel: layering is very helpful! Send her ahead after the teeter and layer the DW while she is weaving. That puts you further ahead so the exit of the DW will be tighter and you will be able to show the physical cues to the tunnels very easily.
She took the backside of the last jump at 2:18 – stronger/clearer cues needed to bring her in off the backside line like you did at 2:28: name call, eye contact threadle verbal and threadle arm moving back – all before takeoff of the 2nd to last jump. Look for those lines on courses so you can give the cues to keep her on the correct line. Maintain that each time – you got later with the cues when you were running the full courses later in the video (starting them when she landed) and without as much intensity. That will get an off court when she doesn’t already know the sequence 🙂
Looking at the weave entry layered on the 2nd course – she didn’t see the weaves the first time. She did get them after she knew they were there – that I a great spot to reward!! And then reward again when you put it back into the sequence.
When you were running the big courses – she was able to put the skills together because you had sorted out the handling and shown her layering lines, so you were both already really comfortable with the sequences. So the next goal is to be able to solidify the skills so you can cue them and she get get them the first time. You can do this by isolating certain sections like you did here, rewarding them out on the line for the layering elements. And if she comes off the line, watch the video before trying again to see what the physical cues are telling her, and when the verbal cues are coming. That way you can change the info for the next rep and cue the elements in the bigger sequence.
Nice work here!
TracyHi!
>Should I leave props in for BOTH front side and backside jumping?>
Yes, for now, because we are going to add motion to it all.
>I have trouble with props in agility. I almost never used them in obedience because of how hard they are to eliminate
You are 1000% correct! I agree! My motto is: get the behavior with as few props as possible. Then systematically and quickly fade the props. We are almost ready to fade the props – just need better head position on the backside and more motion added.
>My experience with props in agility has been pretty negative. I have used them to try to create better backside jumping without much success – perhaps because of removing them too soon (?). >
Do you mean using a cone or barrel to shape the line? It might be that you have removed them too early, but general that prop fails because it does not actually get the behavior: the dogs are using it to round their lines so they have a better takeoff spot… but it doesn’t teach them how to organize the hind end (they still jump from the front). Plus, often those props are not correctly faded: they are simply removed, which doesn’t help things remain systematic.
>I am pretty afraid of baking the prop into the behavior. >
Totally agree! Which is why as soon as you have a session or two with motion that we like… we start the fading process.
So we are on the same page about using props sparingly and removing them quickly. If we are obsessively systematic about it, you will have the behavior and won’t need the props 🙂
Tracy
Hi! I think the pacing was good, but there was also good info about which choice were most effective and when she needed cues.
Looking at the walk through:
The FC on the landing side of 2 works but it seems like it would keep you at 2 for a long time (with stuff needing to happen on the other side of the DW) and it might show too much propulsion to 3 (so 3 would need a break arm).It was hard to see what the cues on the DW exit were on the walk thrugh, it was very subtle 🙂
The rest looked good, I liked your choice of a BC between the 2 tunnels. The BC to the threadle side of 13 might be hard to get to.
On the run –
Run 1:
1-2-3 ran well, but there was too much propulsion on 3 so she went past the DW.You decelerared on 3 on the 2nd run and it gave her a better line to the DW. Yay! You can stay in acceleration there and use a brake arm.
I did like the threadle opening on the 3rd run the best! It set up a nice turn on 3 and got you way ahead!
It looks like she turned left on 5 and you wanted a right turn. Think of it as serping off the DW exit, so you would be continuing towards the 6 teeter. You stepped in a little too deep which created the left turn there.
She didn’t even see the weaves the first time or 2nd time, is this is good to practice! Try using your weave verbal before she gets into the tunnel under the dog walk – the go verbal might not have enough info. She was going, but didn’t have an obstacle name to lock onto until it was too late.
You had really good countermotion on 11 (jump after weaves) – just be sure you look at landing at 1:23 to support his commitment.
The ending did not go to plan but you ran it well! That is why we always keep going: because you can still get a clear round!
The wrap to the left on 13 worked fine, or you can do a RC slice to get the planned right turn.The rest looked really good!
Nice work here!
TracyHi!
Novice jumpers started off great!
He went to the off course tunnel because I think for a moment that was the line you set – so yes, don’t call him back, just make something up if needed and keep going. Good job catching it on the video!>I wish I had planned a more flowing course but lesson learned for tomorrow.>
Yes – he was like “2 teeters in a row? Weird!” LOL! So getting a fast flowing opening will really help! When you started moving at the end, he was happy to pick up a line and go go go!
The regular run went well too! He really liked the ready-set-go tunnel opening! He is definitely letting us know that driving up onto the a-frame at speed is hard, so I think lowering it in class and doing fast lines onto it will really help.
He is not really seeing the weaves because the competition environment is hard. As he gets used to being in that environment, I think he will be able to find the weaves more easily.
Nice work here! How did today go?
Tracy
Good morning!
He is doing well with the jump work! Keep it really systemic for now, leaving the structure in place while just adding one new thing. The bowl was a hard brain-bender for him, but it was helping produce the head position and tightness of turn we want, so leave it on for both the wraps and slices for longer. He did really well moving past it, despite him looking longingly at it LOL!!!
On the backside wraps, keep adding motion like you were doing at the end of the jumping session – try not to stop til he sits (there might be a delayed response because a stationary behavior has to override handler motion), just keep slowly moving through it so he learns to organize his hind end even as you are still in motion That was hard for him on the wraps and slices! Don’t release til you are on the other side of the jump on the wraps (the same side of the bowl).
You were moving through the slices really well and he did well too! He was having a delayed response to the sit because sitting (and collecting) while you are in motion is quite challenging!
For now, add motion as the only variable change: leave the plank in, and leave the bowl in. Those will start to come out when he can organize for takeoff with you moving pretty quickly.
The weaves looked terrific! He was finding really challenging entries!!! Good boy!
Nice work here!
TracyGood morning! These courses do look like a lot of fun!!!! She is running well!
I didn’t see an extra backside on run 1 – just the bar on 1 and then the reconnection was late after a blind towards the end, so she didn’t see the side change.
On the other 2 runs, basically the same issue caused her to pick up the wrong line at :22-:23 on the first SS and :24-:26 on the 2nd one.
As she was taking off for the jump before the jump I question, you were setting a line to the parallel path backs (which is where the natural line went).
The decel was not really noticeable, because your shoulders and motion still faced the backside line long enough that she read it as a cue.
Also, both of these were on left turns, so that is something to keep track of in case the left turn side is the weaker side.Ideally, as she is taking off for the jump before the potential backside jump, you are already turned to face the correct side, calling her (definitely call her!), and probably at this point I’d be using a brake arm too (showing both arms) to help get the turn.
In the walk through, look for the potential backside lines because they will be there, especially in UKI 🙂 Making the cues earlier and adding the brake arm will definitely help.
Let me know how today goes!
Tracy
Holy wow this went great! She had a small question right at the beginning (probably because she didn’t see the wing and needed you to take a couple of extra steps).
But after that? Fantastic!!!!! She was SO FAST and knew exactly where to go. Perfect!
So definitely move on to the next set of games, and keep going with the ‘lots of connection, no hands’ approach to handling. She looks great!!!
Nice work 🙂
TracyHi!
Looking at the first video – this went really well! She seemed to have no questions about finding the jump on the Go cues, versus turning on the tunnel exit when asked. The only blooper was when you cued the left too soon and didn’t acutally cue the tunnel… so she didn’t take the tunnel. Everything else looked great!
She also did really well with the weaves: the soft side entry is a little harder (she did have one miss coming out of the tunnel but then on the next rep, it looks like you converged towards the tunnel entry which supported her line to the weave entry. That is definitely something to remember for now, as that soft sided entry gets solidified.
She did really well on the other side of the weaves too!
>didn’t realize that I moved the wing in the way – sorry!>
No worries, I could tell by your reaction if she got it or not LOL
On your next session – you can use 12 poles and also – don’t give her a warm up on the weaves: start right from the wing into the tunnel to the weaves, and see if she can find them immediately.
Course 1:
I think you said “LEGIT!” at the end of the run and I agree – that went great!!!The walk through looked really clear – I could easily tell your handling choices, nice connection, good verbals too! The only question I had was about the cue for 2 – it looked a little like you were facing forward too much and not facing the line as much. She seemed to agree on the lead out, when she did not immediately look at jump 1. You can angle a little more back to her so she is more confidently looking at jump 1.
Small details – with nationals coming up, decide on what you want your teeter release to be. She left before the release here. Since it is a week away, you can release as it hits the ground to be consistent rather than change it and risk flyoffs or creepy teeters.
Looks like she stayed in the weaves – hard to tell from the video but the layering went well!
And did she get the jump after the DW on the turn away? I think she did, but it was not that visible.
Your timing was strong here and she had really nice turns. So keep working the connection which is what leads to the good timing, which is what leads to the good turns!
Great job 🙂
TracyHi!
This is a good update! I am glad things when so well with Mookie: he is on fire lately!!!
For Alonso – it sounds like it was more of a brain game for you and the courses challenges were not what was causing the trouble! When you structure your work with them, you can build in taking a break before running Alonso, maybe re-walking the course, etc so you attack it fresh! Or you can run him first (and run Mookie when you are more tired :))> In my defense, I did have little sleep due to highway construction noises 3 nights in a row. They decided to pound pylons until 2:30 am. >
Ugh!!! That sounds annoying! Hopefully they are done with construction and you can get some good sleep 🙂
Thanks for the update!!!
TracyGood morning!
>I have been resisting sending to #1 with 2 arms because I can’t make that work in my head. I’d have an easier time spinning it.>
The 2 handed release is definitely getting useful on these opening! The spin can delay your movement up the next line… but you can do a backwards send to jump 1! That is exactly how it sounds – you are facing the next line and send him back to get 1. It creates a fantastic turn plus you will already be facing the next line. I use this plenty but it is just strange enough that I don’t teach it a lot LOL!! You will see it in the Super Independent Handling Skills video coming on Monday, as I send to a wing to start an exercise.
>He had a seizure early this morning (only his third in 7 years). >
Oh no 🙁 I am sorry to hear that, you both need 2025 to be kinder to you!!! He might have been a bit sluggish, he did seem slower and not jumping as fluidly as normal, but did work beautifully anyway.
He turned really well out of the tunnel here!
Th backside wrap at :12 was where the bar was down – a big contributor to that was your position. As he was coming to the backside, you were moving towards the exit wing as if it was a slice so he was surprised by the FC line.
When you worked it at :19, your position was spot on for the first rep – you were moving further across the bar on the next 2 reps which was not as strong of a position.
Your FC on the backside was definitely better at :38 but he was still wide , he was almost tossing himself over the bar rather than engaging the rear. So it is something to revisit when he is feeling 100% – and if he still needs help, you can brush up the skill like you did here and add stronger turn cues as he is approaching the entry wing (yes two hands, so incredibly effective even if it feels weird :))
Next pop out: this one really challenges the dog to NOT take any extra tunnels or the weaves! He did great! He is not wrapping as tight in his collection but it could be that he was still feeling a little off, or needs a little brush up on the skill now that he is back in action.
The only thing to add here is to decelerate into your switch cue. He through it was the weaves because of the acceleration and the verbal cue was a little late. So decelerating into the switch and calling him as he is collecting for takeoff will get hi eyes off of the weaves 🙂
Casper did great on the backsides!!! He seemed to have no questions. He was really using his hind end well here. Super!!!
>In the course of one session, I let his sit almost completely deteriorate. <sigh> >
Ha! Maybe you were just fading out the sit, that is next on the list 🙂
But before you fade the sit out: out a bowl down on the exit side of the wing (so he lands and then finishes the wrap to the bowl) so he is looking down to where he goes next and not jumping with his head up looking at you. That bowl to get his head down will really help solidify his form then we can move to the next steps.
>Also, the weaving was brilliant, if I say so myself.>
Yes! He is doing an amazing job with his weaves!
Great job here!!!
TracyGood morning!
>I tend to try to get him to have some speed going into the frame so he doesn’t struggle to get up it.>
Yes, more momentum helps! And working on a lowered frame to help him organize to get on should help too – there is a lot of impact getting on the a-frame if they are not sure of how to get on, so maybe he is having some self-preservation when he feels he might splat himself? I like self-preservation LOL! Good boy!
>Then yesterday evening he decided he could not possibly open it and even started retrieving it back over the jump. What a goober?
>Strange! Maybe the value of retrieving it has grown – or is it a little confusion over if he should eat the treats or retrieve them (if he is retrieving the other similar clam toy, he might have generalized it to this lotus ball?) Or maybe the Velcro was too tight to open or too hard so he didn’t want to shove his face in it.
I think the struggles in the video had all to do with the reinforcement – you were throwing it but it was not really a reinforcement because he drove to it less and less, wanting to stick near you.
Looking at the reward on the video: he was not opening it when you threw it, so he was not driving to it either (it was probably more efficient to hang near you and let you get it, because he needed your thumbs LOL) Then started retrieving it – because he needed you to open it. Smart dog 🙂
So don’t change your setup – let’s change the reward to help motivate him to go that far away from you. Since we want to build value with rewards out at a distance (while avoiding the giant lure of something like a Treat N Train), you can also try a kong or toppl with cream cheese or something equally delicious in it. That way you can throw it and he can lick the yummy stuff when he gets there. They are nice and heavy, which makes them easier to throw pretty far.
I bet once the reinforcement works better, then the behavior itself will be easy!!
Let me know what you think and how he does with the different reward.
Tracy
Ah yes! Definitely wear the hat for walk through videos and not the run, it did make it easier.
I think the walk and run matched up really well!!!
Good morning!
Nice job starting the threadle wraps! I think he ha the idea when you set the line (like at :08 and :10, that was a clear line set so he easily found the correct side of the wing). When he was going to the ‘front’ side of the wing, it was probably just that you were starting close to the wing and he is an over-achiever, so he was locked onto the front which did not give you much time at all to set the line 🙂 So you can start him from further back and even add a wing wrap before it, which gives you time to set the line like you did on the successful reps.
His commitment on the FC wraps looked awesome!! Nice job sending and doing the FC early! Plus he did great with the race track at the end – he didn’t need any support with your arms there, you can just run with connection.
As he is exiting the wing wraps, be sure to make connection back to him. If he doesn’t see connection, he goes wide, waiting for more info (connection provides the side info). For example, at :24 and :34 you were moving towards the camera and your shoulders were closed forward as you were running. So you did have your head turned back to him, but he couldn’t see it so he was wider there exiting the wing. If you drop your shoulder back or even point your arm back to him, he will be a lot tighter because he can see the connection clearly.Great job here!
Tracy
