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Bumping up – I will be offline on Monday driving home from the US Open. I will be back in the Forum either on Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Thanks!
TracyHi!
She is looking good in the set point! The hardest part is the moving target and the stay š You can try dragging a toy or a lotus ball attached to a leash – anything that she can use as a focal point will work. She was holding the stay pretty well and had trouble when you were bending over to pick up the MMās leash š It looks like she was predicting the release as soon as you stood up, so a toy or something might be easier because you wonāt have to bend down.
>>I did not give her a reset cookie for the breaks on her waits. Iām hoping that is the right way to handle it when it does happen. Iāll be adding in more ācatchesā to help her with this too.>>
Yes, that was good (just tell her she is cute and reset when she breaks, no cookies). But if she fails too much (more than twice), then you will want to make it easier so she can still have a high rate of success.
>>Adding a question: For the Accordion, If she is doing 30 inches for the set point, for the last jump in the accordion, I would add 15 inches (45 inches total) for rep #2 and add 30 inches (60 inches total) for rep #3. Is that right?>>
Yes, theoretically. But because she is so small, we also have the option of showing her striding distances as well – so you can put jump 3 at 6 feet away (probably at least a one-stride distance for her, maybe 2 strides) then move it out to 9 feet, etc. That way we can build up to competition distances.
>>I think my body language & connection is better here?
Totally yes! She was very successful! You can gradually start spreading out the jumps so she can see more distance.
āØ>>start out throwing the toy in front of the first jump at first. That helped her.>>You can now start to toss the toy on a slight curve towards you, so it ands somewhere on the line she will be turning on so we can get that tight turn going too.
āØ>>Again, the āwaitā was very hard for her.She is probably predicting that when you are arriving in position, the release will be happening so she is probably anticipating and releasing when you are settled into position. So keep going with your ācatchā rewards. And also, take your time before the release or catch – get to position, make eye contact, praise her, move your handā¦ and reward for not moving or release to the jump. You can totally practice this away from the jumps so she gets used to holding position even after you are in our position at the wing
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyBumping up: reminder that I am offline tomorrow (Monday) to drive home from the US Open. I will be back in the Forum Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Tracy
Bumping up: reminder that I will be offline tomorrow, driving home from the US Open.
I will be back in the forum either on Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Tracy
Hi!
Prop sends are looking good! She is getting better and better at NOT looking at your hands š The last rep on this clip was particularly strong! Be sure to work both sides and you can add a little bit more distance away fro the prop now.
The wing wrapping is going nicely too! You are standing and the upright is in position, and she is fine with both. Super! Great job oh-so-gradually adding distance (while she was not looking LOL!) and she was super successful with that too. You can keep adding distance, but I think a more important next step is to play this with a barrel or big cone, to set her up for what we are adding this week š
>>Rolling the treat under her seemed to confuse her. It was like Iād done a magic trick and made the treat disappear every time. >>
That is hilarious! A classic example of different dogs needing different approaches to this behavior, so the foot target was definitely the right choice.
You might need a bigger foot target so she can get all of her body on it easily – this was a little small so it might have been a little harder for her. And a slightly more elevated target can be super salient too, making it easier.
>>The last rep she was off the target but she did back up, which I thought was cool! I think she was catching on.>>
Yes! That was great!!! And we can always use things to help her back up straight (like broad jump boards) but it is great to just get backing up in general at this point with the foot target.
>>I did a little more experimenting with her sitting and laying on the plank. It seems to be a surface preferenceā¦I put blanket on it and she was happy to sit and down.>>āØ
HA! Whippetsā¦ LOL! You can put a mat or blanket on it and see if you can get her to do tucked sits! The down is not important, so the turning around and sits are fun to play with.Separately from those, you can also keep elevating the plank a tiny bit, to add more challenge.
Great job here!
TracyHi –
This went really well! Staying closer helped him be more successful.
When you were very quiet, he was pretty precise with moving to the prop and touching it on most reps. When you added a little ready ready excitement at the end – he lost some of the precision (from :55 to the end). He had a little more looking at your hand and then on the last rep, he turned away from you rather than towards you. This is good to know, because we want to get him stimulated and still get the precision. So definitely use the ready ready excitement before the sends on the next session so he gets used to working in higher arousal.And if he is happy with. That and very successful, you can move to the sideways and backwards sending.
Great job!
TracyIt was great that he got right on with his front feet, and I like the āget itā marker for the cookie – it adds clarity like you mentioned, and it resets him so he can get back on again š
He was able to get on with all 4 feet when he got on from the end (not the middle). So you can totally start him at one end and see if he will get on with his back feet too. If not, do you have a 2nd plank that you can put alongside this one, to give him a wider playing field? That will for sure help him get on the plank and will also make it easier for him to turn around when he is on it.
Nice work!
TracyHi!
He offered a lot of good wrapping here!I think at this point, if he starts to sit or down, we can move away from throwing treats to get him out of the position. Just wait him out and see if he can get himself out of the position – there is a lot more value on the bowls and wrapping now, so hopefully he can get himself moving again without you throwing cookies š
>>I set the area up and once he saw the bowls, I was unable to get him to tug before we started.>>
No worries – I am sure once the bowls are faded that we can get the tugging back (and we do start fading the bowls soon :))
Next step: everything the same as you did here, but now you are standing up š If he is happy to keep offering while you are standing, then you can start moving the garbage can a little further away.
Nice work!
TracyGood morning!
She is doing well here, you are definitely getting the backing up! Happy dance! She is backing up pretty straight, but you can also start the next session with the broad jump already in place to help keep her straight. It is normal that they are a little angled at first.
And as strange as it soundsā¦ training this less will actually produce more learning LOL!!
This skill requires new neural pathways in the brain (in terms of mechanics and motion, because backing up is just not something any of us are naturally wired to do š ) and also is depleting to their puppy brain and musclesā¦ so you will see that it is better to do short blasts of 30 seconds then give the behavior a rest for a day (a good deep sleep overnight between the training sessions is when the behavior is actually ālearnedā and cemented.)
The first 30 seconds of each session here is when you got the best behavior, and then at around 1 minute, she started to change the behavior and turn around rather than back up. The turning around could be a sign of the depletion because it is easier on the brain and body š So to get the backing up without defaulting to turning around , do 30 seconds or 5 reps, then give her a break and do something entirely different for a while. And then you can come back later for another 30 seconds, and then let her sleep on it. Latent learning is magic for this stuff!
Great job!
TracyHi!
>>I can totally have a reward station that I take with me. Would a small cooler work that has the treats, toys either on top of it or inside of it?
Yes, that would be great! And the cookies can be inside it, or the toy on top of it.
She did a great job with the lines and jumps here! Her only question was on the last jump of the long line.
For the big straight lines, rather than throwing the toy – for now, place the toy 15 feet past the last jump and lower that last bar – seeing the toy get thrown AND having to organize takeoff for a 16 inch bar at the speed was too hard and we donāt want her using Brad as the target š She did get a bunch of really good reps but getting her to look forward on the line and trust the reward will be there will really help š
>>did have a glitch with the backside. After looking at the video I wonder if I should stop putting my arm forward as that rotates my shoulders? I>>
On the 2 misses she had at :36 and :51, she was wide exiting the tunnel (just how the tunnel was angled here, no big deal :)) but then as she was coming back to you: pointing forward did indeed turn your shoulders to the front side and stopped your motion up the line – so she curled in.
At :43, you had more parallel line motion and didnāt point as much, so she got it.
So to get the backsides more consistently, keep moving on the parallel line and yes, use less of an arm cue – keep the arm back til she is passing you.
>>Would this be a back side wrap verbal?>>
Yes, on the first backside where she is jumping tight to the entry wing – that is a backside wrap verbal. On the 2nd sequence with the backside, I would use the backside slice verbal because she is entering on one wing and exiting near the other wing.
Great job here!!!
TracyGood morning!
I agree with your thoughts on the RR video – Really good progress here! Nice job with the clear marker and quick reinforcement!
>>Or any distraction except the surrounding traffic noise which doesnāt bother her a lick. But right in front of the house? I can see her struggle with engagement when thereās so much to look at.>>
Yes, it is a distraction level similar to the level at a trial – different distractions, but still very distracting. Plus, in the front of the house, she has a history of running off to chase squirrels (hello neural pathways!) and that is a probably a huge dopamine release for herā¦ which makes it very motivating for her to do it again. So you are creating new neural pathways which takes a bit longer, but it will happen! And in the meantime, be sure there is no more front-of-house taking off to chase squirrels, so that behavior doesnāt continue to build.
>>Next week Iām going to add a simple behavior. A sit or down or twist or spin. Just a little something very close to the station. Or do you think I should just try to increase the distance from the station before adding a behavior?>>
Yes to adding a simple fun behavior – what is her most favorite simple trick to do?
And you can add in distance too – think of it as ping-ponging the amount of challenge you add: sometimes easy, sometimes hard, then easy, then hard, and so on.The pattern games are looking good! The back and forth is really easy for her. Adding the delay and engaged chill was harder for her – she started to look around more. So keep working the engaged chill, but work it in the house in a less distracting environment so she gets the idea of just hanging out – then you can take it outside again š
>>I really donāt need the leash when I have food in my hands. But I left it dropped because Iām getting ready to take the game show on the road. >>
Actually, holding the leash is really important because when you take this game to different places (like outside the ring at a trial), you will be holding the leash. So it is super important that both of you are used to the mechanics of the leash. And also, if there is any chance she might take off after a squirrel or something if the leash is dragging, you will want to hold the leash to prevent that rehearsal of taking off. Stepping on the leash will result in a leash correction to her neck if she tries to take off, which we want to avoid.
It is easier to loop the leash on your wrist, and for the back and forth cookie tosses you can toss it only a couple of feet away.
Great job here! Let me know how she does with her field trips!
Tracy
Good morning!
>>Yes, I was thinking that a K Turn/Spin on the first jump may have tightened her turn a little. Iām not a huge fan of throwing these in on course just to tighten turns but for her I think maybe that is something worth exploring in some scenarios?>>
Yes – I agree that I donāt want to just do spins everywhere! Some young dogs find them helpful and then we can fade them out in favor of sending. My general rule (for myself LOL!) is that a spin on a significant turn is fine if it turns me to face the next line sooner than a send or post turn would.
>>There was a big emphasis on straight tunnels followed by tight wrap away/rear cross and she was actually adding strides which hasnāt been a thing for her before so very happy.>>
Wow, that is fantastic that she was adding collection after the straight tunnel extensions! YAY!!! And yes, we are seeing a lot of straight tunnel to a turn or tunnel-tunnel-turn as well.
Looking at the video:
>>she loves this as she really knows the joy of driving forward with no turns.>>
Yes! She did really well and it is an excellent skill to have. We have our big national event this weekend and MANY of the courses end with full on straight Iines that are 100 feet long. EEK!
You can cue her to get on the straight line for her āgo onā even earlier: as soon as she exits the tunnel and looks at the next jump, you can start the cues. You were saying it when she landed from the jump after the tunnel but you can definitely name that line sooner.
The next 2 sequences has backsides on jump 3 – you can get a better turn on the backside at :28 if you are tighter to the wing she is approaching the backside on. You can literally be on her landing line there as she goes to around the wingā¦ then before she takes off, get outta there LOL!! But keep moving forward on her line until she has landed and looked at the tunnel entry. You were further across the bar, so she jumped longer and then had to adjust after landing.
On the 3rd sequence, the spin and positional cue you did for the backside on 3 was great! That set up a perfect line to the tunnel.
>>I probably needed to call her while she was in the tunnel on the last sequence to try and get a tighter turn out of the tunnel but she was a good girl.>>
Part of the design challenge of that sequence was that the dogs were definitely going to turn wide on the tunnel exit so we handlers could not get that far ahead because we had to set the line. But we can definitely get it tighter! At :47 you did a name call before she entered (it was after she entered at 1:06) and it was a little late – try calling her name or giving a ārightā verbal plus showing the FC rotation when she is about 2 meters before entering the tunnel. And then yes, keep calling her as she is in the tunnel – the cues should come early and often there because it is such a hard turn.
Good job getting the last line anyway – the sequence deliberately puts the handler behind in a weird position, and she still drove ahead brilliantly. Super!!!!!
>>Iām interested to really up the game for the remote reinforcement out on the field so we might try that next.>>
Perfect! Let me know how she does!
Tracy
Hi! I am glad the seminar went well! Yay!
>> I guess I was probably stuck on ābut she can doooo thiiisssssā and didnāt quit when I should have.>>
Totally relatable. The other thing you can do is grab one of your other dogs – if Muso is using questions, give her a break then try it with one of the others. That can help you sort out the handling and lines without also having to go at baby dog lightening speed š Bear in mind that adult dogs can also save us if the cues are not clear, but they can also show us when the cues are unclear LOL!
>>Darkness, rain, wind and lack of time is not helping me make good choices.>>
Yes, winter is annoying. WE HAVE PUPPIES TO TRAIN, MOTHER NATURE!!!
>>I SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO WATCH MY VIDEOS AFTER ONE ERROR. >>
It is such a pain but it is SO worthwhile. If after one error you know what went wrong, you don’t need to watch the video. But if it is still going wrong? Definitely watch the video in slow motion, freezing it at the point where she is taking off for the jump before a turn or off course. That can be really helpful š
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
TracyHi!
Yes, I agree that she is really confident here! She didn’t even mind when it was spinning like a Disney ride LOL! Good girl! You can get a rug or yoga mat to put under it, so it doesn’t slip out from under her.You can create a field of moving objects for her to walk across, such as this little wobble board, any bigger wobble boards you might have or any fitness stuff like discs or fit bones (keep them a little under-inflated for now). The more practice she gets with different moving surfaces, the easier it will be to teach the teeter. And be sure to play tug before and after.
Great job!
TracyGood morning!
>>It rained today but we managed a fun Farmdog family walk. We practiced cookies for checking in.>>
This is awesome! I am glad she had the chance to do this!
Excellent work on the video! Her tugging looks great and she is happy to switch back and forth to cookies. That makes training so much easier!
Backing up – both sessions of this went well!!! She really had some good steps back in the second session at the end of the video. You will get more backing up steps if you can keep your hands low, so they arenāt moving up and down. Ideally your cookie hands stay just below your knees, so she keeps her head low. When she lifts her head as your hands come up she stops moving backwards.
Now, you are welcome to do the whole session bent over but your back might get angry about that š So the other option for low hands without back pain is a regular chair, and you can lean a little and rest your elbows on your thighs, so you can have quick cookie delivery without your hands moving up and down.
The wrapping games are going super well, both with the bowls and with t he tugs. YAY!!! She seemed perfectly fine with the laundry basket as the ājump wingā š
Onwards to the next step here, which will be you standing up š The easiest way to do it is with the 2 bowls and the laundry basket, and you can drop the treats in (or near) the bowls as she goes around it. That will set her up perfectly for the new games coming next week!Only one other suggestion: she has very quick feet, and sometimes slips on the floors indoors – so since she is getting faster and faster, you might want to get a couple of cheap area rugs or yoga mats so she can really grip the footing for when you play the games indoors.
Great job here!!
Tracy
