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Good morning!
>>We walked out to the sequence yesterday on leash. Changtse shut down!!! She said that this was a strange way to start our training session in ouryard!>>
That is terrific feedback from the dog, and indicates that you need to use the leash a whole lot more in simple environments like at home. You can use in the house for simple pattern games, and simple pattern games in the yard. The more you incorporate it into the everyday things, the less weird it will be 🙂
>>Today, we went out with no leash, just doing the “GEt It!” Game (Back & Forth).
If she did well with it, time to add the leash! Add it in the house first then bring it to the yard.
>>Broke down the sequence with the bowl to drive to. That went well, except I noticed that she was very distracted by the bowl. On Seq 1, placed the bowl at exit of #1 jmp, then near tun ent., then at tun exit. C opted togo from jump 1 to the bowl. After 2 times of skipping the tunnel, I put the bowl inside the tun. ent. Then again at the tun exit. That went very well! We took a break after running more of the sequence.>>
She might have been confused about what the indication was for the bowl versus for the sequence, so be sure the the bowl marker is very specific and clear. That might help!
>>Later, we went out with no bowls. She is having difficulty with her start line sit/stays. Should I try your bowl to bowl exercise at the start line?>>You can definitely try that! She did well with the stay here on the video, so was she breaking the stay when she was struggling? Or was she not able to sit?
>>Here is her start line and then some tricks that she also could not do at the start of the session.>>
The start line and sequence looked really good here. You might not need to add bowls to it at home, that might be something you save for harder situations.
For the tricks – that is a great repertoire of useful tricks! The higher your energy was, the more she was able to do the tricks 🙂 That was mainly visible when you were giving little hand cues or physical cues to help the tricks, and that is great. The one thing to add to this is more energetic cookie delivery. Rather than handing her the cookie when she is stationary and delivering to her mouth, make it more of a chase-my-hand moment: have her follow your hand as you run a couple of steps, then hand her the cookie. Or, you can have her jump up on you to get the cookie. That will help to optimize her arousal but adding action!
Great job here :)
Tracy
A kong is a good option! And it is good feedback to note that she was able to walk on a loose leash 🙂 You can try adding the down to class, to see how she does in her next run – that is also good insight from the dogs 🙂
Tracy
Good morning!
Thanks for posting the complete video, I love to nerd out on the entire process 🙂
>>If I let him he would constantly be running circles around me when we are walking.>>
It sounds like we are on the same page that running circles around you the whole time is going to send his arousal the wrong direction LOL!! You can add his leash to the process, even at home, so it is a part of the process that you both don’t even have to think about, and also so that the leash does not become paired with the arousal of the trial environment.
Glad he could eat food, the pattern games look good!! Practice makes pathways! (Neural pathways 🙂 )
He looked lovely on the sequence. He is a gifted agility dog and all of your efforts to help him be comfy in the environment are going to pay off BIG TIME with huge successes in the ring! I am excited for you! In fact, it is really cool that. I can obsess on the tiny handling details here 🙂
>>You’ll see he started in full run mode :-)>>
I want full run mode – giddy up!! Of course, we have to figure out the cues and I think that is what happened here at the beginning of the sequence.
On the first release 1-2: I would give him the benefit of the doubt on jump 1 to the tunnel – the tunnel is not actually on his line there the way it is set up, and he is inexperienced enough to run past it. Marky would go in the tunnel. A youngster would run past the tunnel. And you acknowledged that by changing your handling which really helped! YAY!!
It is a good moment to look at how to handle oopsies on course with him: if something goes wrong, stay happily engaged, use a reset reinforcement (toy or treat) and try again. You got stationary and very quiet, which indicates error but when it is not *his* error or he doesn’t understand, you will see frustration/arousal creep in very quickly. You can see after the 2nd error, the arousal changes and he starts to circle a bit
Also – I highly recommend that you do NOT punish bars, for two reasons:
– he is managing a lot in terms of processing and speed and arousal and if your cue is wrong or weird (because we are human), he is likely not going to be able to always cover you and keep the bar up, especially at this age. So if a bar goes down, unless you can see the *exact specific mechanic* that caused it and you are willing to wager $100 that your handling was very clear (I am never willing to wager that my handling is very clear LOL!!!), just mentally note it but carry on. Then look at the video to see what happened.
– punishment needs to give feedback about the precise thing that he did that caused the bar to drop… which is something agility handlers are really NOT good at LOL!!! What happens is by the time we process that a bar in down, the dog is long past the moment of whatever mechanics or choice called it, so the feedback doesn’t make sense. That makes us humans pretty unpredictable and creates a lot of anxiety/arousal/frustration.
So looking at 2:33 where bar 7 dropped:
You were very decelerated and quiet in your cues, so at 2:32 he landed was approaching 6 in relative collection, responding to your cues. As he was lifting off, you dropped the connection, dropped your arm, and accelerated. He was like WHAT!! OH CRAP WE ARE NOT TURNING and hit the bar trying to adjust (you can see based on his placement on the bar that he thought it was a turn based on the cues).
The marker that he was wrong came 2 strides later, when he was facing jump 7. That is too late to indicate what the error was precisely.
Also bar 3 was down and he didn’t get feedback on that (it was a late FC so he was trying to adjust in the air) – but stopping for one bar and not the other bar is also really unpredictable.
So even though it looks like he got a cookie or toy, the marker and stopping is a definite punisher. It will skew the arousal in directions we do not want (over-arousal) and doesn’t help the processing that we need to get around the course. He is a really strong jumper on the next rep he actually started jumping HUGE over 3 and 7 but that is not really form we want because then he will stop responding to turn cues (because they can be unpredictable and sometimes come before a punisher).
So the key is to stay really connected and work on staying in high motion on the go lines. Dropping your arm down lower so you can make better connection and so he can see it will really help! And on these smaller setups, you can run closer to the lines so you can stay accelerated – if you get too far away, you might end up doing the decel-then-accel which confuses the dogs a bit. And for the FC 2-3-4, let’s test his commitment: as he exits the tunnel, be connected. Tell him to jump 3 and when he looks at 3, start the FC. So you will be running forward into it then rotating – you were running backwards into it while rotating, but backward motion can still present as forward motion.
>>I didn’t take a break after the first complete run to show you a bit of his escalation. >>
I thought it was overall a strong session and nothing worrisome in the escalation. The bits of arousal shift that I saw were due to the confusion when he was being told he was wrong. But he bounced back really well! The #1 easiest path to regulating arousal on course is to set things up so you don’t tell the dog he is wrong (because the dogs are really almost never ever wrong :)).
And I do have some more tools coming to help him regulate the arousal because when contacts & weaves get added, there might a time where we say “dude, no leaping over yellow please and thanks” LOL!!
For the next session: add the volume dial game. We need to bring him into that higher state of arousal. He is ready!!
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Good morning!
Outside back and forth looked good, he was very quick to re-engage and your timing was good with the cookie tosses! He definitely did get to practice assessing the environment and re-engage, because every now and there something caught his attention and he looked at it… then looked back at you. Perfect!
When you added the new obstacle – also a great session. It was the perfect level of distraction: out of place but not too weird and definitely not scary. At first I think he was wondering if he should target it LOL! And there was one moment when an outside distraction caught his eye but he returned his engagement to you there too.
Volume dial was definitely a different energy level and that is perfect!
His downs look good (although he doesn’t quite move into the sit easily after the down, so maybe keep those separate). The spins are great for this game. And the touches are also great. Talking a lot during this game is PERFECT FINE 🙂 It is the pattern games that we want to keep quiet on.You can take the volume dial game outside and into other locations and see how he does!
Looking at the handling:
At the end of the first video, you said something like “most excellent” and I agree! There were no warts on this video LOL!
That session of 1-2-3-4 on the first sequence went great! Lovely stay, he found the line very easily, and you got the FC 3-4 very easily. Yo can try starting the FC sooner to see how well he is committing to 3: when he is halfway between the tunnel and the jump, you can be saying “jump” and starting the FC. Otherwise, don’t change a thing!!On your first sequence outside: Also lovely! I think he was confused when you lined him up and stepped backwards so he ended up being lined up sideways especially on the 2nd run. O the 3rd run, he was a LOT straighter and found jump 1 with no questions. So be sure he is totally straight and facing the jump so he has no questions.
He found his line here really well on both runs so you can totally start the FC sooner on jump 3: you were starting it when he lifted off for 3, so now try it at the halfway point between the jump and tunnel. As long as you are connected, I bet he has no trouble.
>>taking it outside takes it to a whole new level, he stays with me, but he checks in sometimes and I think I talk too much
Yes, outside amps things up but it went great! I don’t think you talk to much and in fact, I think you need to talk MORE. The checking in happened when you got quiet, either on the 2nd to last jump or on the jump before the tunnel at the end.
On the first run, you told him to go and then you got quiet, so as you fell behind him he looked back at you to be sure. On the second run you were saying go then you said something else (I am not quite sure what it was, maybe ‘get in’? ) so he looked at you, thinking you wanted at turn – then you said go so he tried to adjust and hit the bar. And on the 3rd run you got a little quiet and mixed in get in with go, and I think that caused him to look at you. So feel free to be extra noisy and name the entire line by continuing to say go go go tunnel tunnel tunnel 🙂 He seems to understand that better than get in, because he looked at you when you said get in.
Great job here!!
TracyHi!
>>So I’m watching everyone else’s pattern games and their dogs don’t seem as frantic as Tipsy gets…I’m using pretty low value treats and she is hyper-arroused to eat anything. Is that normal and okay?>
It is normal and ok and actually pretty helpful! Terriers can get into that more frantic-looking state, but it is possible she is not frantic but just REALLY motivated 🙂 And that is helpful because it simulates the higher arousal state you get in classes, for example – so she is offering engagement and practicing self-regulation in that higher state! Super!! One thing I had to learn when I got my first terrier was just how quickly they can move – fast feet, fast decision making, fast everything. BIG learning curve for me, but they were not necessarily over-aroused or frantic. Sounds like she is similar 🙂
>> Last night she started being focused on where the treats would be thrown next, to finally offering focus to me.
Brilliant and hilarious! And totally terrier, trying to think 6 steps ahead of us. If you have done a lot of shaping, it is possible she was thinking it was a shaping game and looking for the reward placement? Definitely an overachiever 🙂 But she sorted it out nicely. And I am glad the up and down game is going well!
You can definitely add moving and the leash, and even a novel object in the environment. Keep me posted!
Tracy
Hi!
>>Covers don’t help. It’s the sound I think.>>
Could be the sound! Will she lick something off a lickimat or from a Kong?
>>I can try outside the pickleball courts in a few days. >>
Oooh that is a fun distraction!
On the down video from class:
She was not calm here, and that is fine! She was able to hold a stay and self-regulate a bit. Relaxed? Nope, but not frantic and able to do a stay. Yay! So then… what happens next will be good to know. Was she able to work with focus and engagement?On the 2nd video – thanks for the singing, Gemma! Very cool! EVERYTHING moved faster in this session and that is great – we need to add arousal to all of these games and this definitely accomplished that. Plus YOU were in a higher arousal state too, probably closer to what you are like at a trial, and that is great for her to see in training 🙂 Sprite was great here!
>>We played in the backyard with Gemma and the ball. I’m tossing small pieces of food, so they might be hard to find. >>
You can use bigger pieces and shorter sessions so the amount of food remains overall the same.
>>Interesting about the left and right. Is it my tossing to that side?
I don’t think it is your tossing. I see it here, and in the park video, but not the first home video. Interesting! Notable! But nothing concerning. Maybe it is a processing thing when in slightly higher arousal. The answer will reveal itself eventually 🙂
Great job :)
TracyHi!
He read 1-2 really well on most of the reps! At 1:40 it was hard to see if he was in a line up spot that was off the line or you pushed to it too much (or both 🙂 ) so he missed it but the rest was good!The send to 3 depends on what your next cue would be. When you went closer to the 3 jump at :54, he had a better line and that sets up the rear cross really well. To get the BC, though, you would need to send from much further away so you can takeoff to do the BC between 4 and 5.
On the RCs, you can put more pressure on the line to get a better turn to the tunnel: you were running straight for a few steps then adding the RC pressure, so he was turning to his right first before turning left.
For the blind – sending to 3 from far away (as soon as he lands from 2) then taking off for the line 4-5 should get it! Doing the blind on takeoff side of 4 totally supported the off course at 1:58 – that is totally rewardable with the toy 🙂
You can do a BC between 3 and 4 but it would have to be finished before takeoff for 3 and it doesn’t set a good line to 5, so it works better on the landing side of 4.
Great job here!
TracyHi!
This also went really nicely!!!
The best reps on jump 1 were when you set him up on more of a slice facing jump 2 (like on the 2nd run) so he had a better angle and a more direct line rather than turning after he landed.
The 3-4-5 line looked really good each time!
Be sure to cue the turn on the exit of the tunnel before he goes into it. In this context all he needs is a soft name call to tighten up the turn on the exit.
The only tricky part here was the 7 jump. The bar came down at 1:50, due to a late turn (you were facing straight til after he was in the air so he tried to adjust and hit the bar). At 3:24 you were too early, disconnecting a bit early so he came off the jump. If that happens you ca just keep going. The last rep looked really good, it was a nice balance of timing and connection!
Great job here!
TracyHi!
This is going really well too, especially because he has a strong stay. Keep rewarding it so he doesn’t release when you reconnect. When you get to your lead out spot, always reconnect, then praise.. then either reward or release so the release/reward is not simultaneous with the reconnection.For this type of lead out, you will want to be positionally further across the bar at 2. I like to stand on the line I want him to take to set up the best turn (because of course when he lands, you won’t be there anymore LOL!!)
That will set up a better turn over 2 – at :41 and 2:25, based on your position he thought you wanted a straight line over 2. He turned after landing, but that didn’t give him quite enough time to set up the tight turn at 3. So better position at 2 (more in the center of the bar) will get a better turn, so when he lands from 2 you can start the decel to get the tight turn for 3 🙂The ending line looked great! He is very committed and very fast!!!!!
Tracy
Hi!
Great job adjusting the handling to show him the lines! One thing to keep in mind is that when you are running sequences, his response is a reflection of the info you are giving. So if he ends up somewhere unexpected? Just keep going, get on the next line, then reward. That will be less frustrating for him than stopping or being marked as wrong, because he is not wrong 🙂
On this first sequence, you did really well with making the adjustments to show the line such as calling him less out of the tunnel, and connecting more to show him 3… then you got earlier and earlier on the FC, added the turn verbal and it was great!!
The 4-5 line was tricky here – the natural line as to the backside of 5 so you had to decel and get the turn. That is a good place to keep going – if he ends up on the backside of 5, note it in your brain but keep going and fix it on the next rep.
One other thought: you can praise him less as you run (praise is not informational and he has plenty of motivation so doesn’t need the help). Give more directionals and obstacle names : )
Great job!
TracyThe up and down game is looking good here – nice quick response from him in terms of re-engagement. You were getting eye contact here before putting the next treat down – that is fine for an easy environment like this, but if the environment is harder he might not be able to offer eye contact. And that is also fine – you can place the next treat down for any type of re-engagement and looking towards you, even if it does not have eye contact involved.
Next step is the leash on for this game too.
And the step after that for all of the pattern games is to add a novel thing in the environment. Nothing scary, just a new random thing. That will teach him the pattern game framework to assess the environment and return engagement to you!
T
Aha! Back and forth with a leash on. Perfect! It seems strange to train with a leash in a comfy environment, but it gets you and him ready for doing this on leash in trial environments (where he will be on leash outside the ring).
He did a great job here too, both with the leash on and the quickness to re-engage. Yay!! I will give you the next steps if I don’t see them in the other videos LOL!!Tracy
Nice job here with the back and forth pattern game! He was very quick to re-engage, so he is clearly very comfy in this environment. Super!
The next steps are to add a leash and to start moving – you might have this in the videos below.Great job!
TracyHi!
He did really well here with the volume dial game! The spins are a great trick for this. For the sits and downs, be sure to release him from the position (so he doesn’t release on praise) and it is also fine to use a small physical cue: when he is in the higher arousal state, it is harder for him to differentiate verbals so you can totally use a hand signal to help him get the sit or down.Next steps are to add a leash (because you will be doing this with a leash on :)) and to try it in different locations to see how he responds.
Great job!
Tracy
