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Hi again!
She did REALLY well playing this with 2 other dogs in the ring – what a great simulation for what a trial will be like!!!!!
You did a bit of back and forth pattern game which is great – if the space is tight, you can do it as an ‘up and down’ game where you bend down to put the cookie on your shoe rather than toss it back and forth.
You can add more active interaction to this – tricks and the toy right before her run, and heading into the ring. It looks like she grabbed the leash (or was it a toy in your hand) as you entered. That might be her saying “I need an outlet for this arousal” so you can direct her to tug, providing that outlet (tug toys are allowed in the ring in UKI along with the leash, or she can just tug on the leash :))
But overall, I am really excited about how well she did – ignoring the distractions in the ring is going to go a long way to helping her in the trial context!!!!!!!!
Great job here!!
Tracy
Good morning! It is really exciting when the dogs realize that going into the ring is really fun because agility is really fun!!!
And in this video, she was doing this while someone was yelling tunnel and weave (maybe a dog was going through them?) so she had good distractions too.
She seemed happy with the concept of enter the ring, do t he thing, come back to leash and toy. You can play with her on the way to the start line (her stay went well!) and also play with the toy/leash before putting it back on.
One note about this – be sure that having the sequence going towards the leash does not get paired with the marker to go to the leash/toy – otherwise she might anticipate it and head to the toy before the marker (leaving the course). So add in the course curling around away from it so she passes it and continues, and also marking the ‘get the leash/toy’ when she is heading away from it in variable places on course.
Great job here!!
Tracy
Hi! This was also a good session! Looking at the things that went wrong is just as valuable as looking at what went right.
>Before doing this, I had Max jumping onto the end of the teeter for high value treats. He has become fine with the noise and a few inches of movement, so I will stop because he has become obsessed either way the teeter.>
Aha! That would explain why he kept going over there – the teeter is high value! And I agree with your thought that the toy was a bit lower in value.
>What went wrong, I ended up switching toys because he was not interested in the long handled tug. >Yes, that was the right thing to do.
>He runs away either the frisbee outside, I know I need to put a string on it, but haven’t. Except at the end, when I beat him to the toy, I still played with him. >
The frisbee was high value so the driving ahead looks great! You might not need to put it on a line – you can have a treat or 2nd frisbee to trade for the first frisbee, to help build up the retrieve and stop the running off.
Looking at the reps where you started with the cookie toss: he lost sight of where the frisbee was on rep 1 but then did great finding it on the other reps – he almost beat you to it! On the very last rep, he switched sides behind you – adding more connection back to him as he finishes grabbing the treat will help him know which side to be on.
>Hopefully tomorrow is another day and I will do better.>
You are doing great! No worries if there are bloopers or unexpected things happen – that is part of the fun of puppy training. And he seems to be having fun and learning!
Great job!
TracyHi!
>This was not a great session. My mechanics weren’t very good. >
Actually, watching the video, it was a really good session!! Your mechanics were almost perfect 🙂
>I know he understands this game but like everyone he just takes the easiest route if possible.>
The 3 or 4 times he cut through rather than wrap. the object were the times when you started moving the treat to the bowl too early – so as he was turning around to start the next wrap, your hand movement was almost drawing him through on the easier line. And when you stood totally still til he wrapped? He never made a mistake. YAY!!! So, just and totally still til he gets to the next bowl, then put the cookie in it.
He did so well here that if he can do the same on a cone or barrel, you can move forward to the Turn And Burn game 🙂
Great job!!!
TracyHi! Thanks for the videos!
Video 1 – the seminar work looked strong! He did some really hard handling stuff! Yay!!!
And Teri is great about helping with focus and stuff, along with the handling.One thing about the magic cooler 🙂 is that it doesn’t have to be on course – it can move outside the ring like where it would be at a trial. This is mainly because we don’t want him using it as a target on the line. And in training environments, you can have food/toys with you in the ring to work the hard handling. And sometimes do really easy handling (like novice sequences) and have the cooler outside the ring so you can use your maker and run to it.
Looking at the fun run video: yes, only having 75 seconds can make it feel rushed, I can totally relate.
>I tried some pattern games but I think the pressure of the real world and having 75 seconds made me rush a little. >
You can do the pattern games outside the ring while waiting – then as you move to the line for your turn, you can do more tricks to raise his arousal to a more optimal state as you move into the ring – you were doing control exercises which might not be great for optimal state.
And for this one, the cooler can be back by the entry or exit gate kind of like where it would be at a trial. Having it in the ring was a bit challenging and since we don’t want to use it as a target during the run, you can leave it outside the ing (especially because you had food with you :))
>I friend recommended that I do pattern games a distance from the ring and just go over and go in. I took his leash off that time and he stayed engaged. >
Yay! Excellent advice from your friend!
>I still had a long line as I did not want failure. We sent to the dog walk contact and the understanding of what he should do click in. I took his box 10 feet away and then 30 feet away. releasing him to it 3 times. He stayed engaged and even walked to his leash to leave with me.>
This is great! So keep working the pattern games on the way to the ring and outside the ring. Then add in more exciting tricks to really dial him into the engagement right before you run. And try moving the cooler outside the ring, so it becomes more of an end of run reward.
>I was amazed how often he checked in. Plenty of pure running.>
Super! It sounds like the sniff spot party was perfect decompression!
> I do not think I can be available on 16 Dec as we are leaving for Christmas in the motorhome. Off to the beach and friend’s house. >
That sounds lovely! I can look at the calendar and find another day when you won’t be traveling, so we can add an additional zoom chat.
>Additionally, tomorrow we are expecting a strong Santa Anna and power shutdowns. I may be off line for a couple of days.>
Yikes! Stay safe! And great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
>Did I understand that I should use a slightly value toy when training in my yard and save the balls for remote reward?>
You can do that, or use the higher value toys like the balls when you get into the harder environments (like with a lot of people nearby).
>my Tracy pouch (aka go banana slug hoodie).>
HA!!!!! 🤣😂
>I thought she did great. I felt like there was huge improvement. I do not think it was just this toy.>
Agree, agree, agree! She really did well with the people/new dog distraction. And your handling was smooth h and connected! Here are some thoughts:
Video 1: Her tricks at the beginning looked good! And I think it is GREAT that you were practicing in a giant unfenced field (people on this side of the country would freak out LOL! We ar eused to indoor buildings :))
Her sequencing looked great here. It looked just like your sequencing at home, and maybe even faster. Your connection was clear and she knew exactly where to be.
She definitely noticed Ginger in the 2nd video! You can use the pattern games for that – they give her a framework to assess the new person in the environment without having to go over and investigate her. And you can do the pattern game (and then the tricks) on the edge of your ring here, before moving in to do sequencing. Don’t take the leash off until you are sure you have her focus 🙂 which will make the sequencing even easier because she will be ready to run and able to ignore the ‘judge’.
You can do the pattern games to help her ignore the strange man and dog too is the last video 🙂 She definitely found them to be a bit of a distraction – perfect! So when you see her looking out into the environment, you can shift right into the pattern game to engage her. She will let you know hen she is ready to run 🙂
So that is the main thing – we know the sequencing will be gorgeous when she is ready to ignore the people so take a little extra time to work that (pattern games then tricks for treats or the ball). When she is fully engaged and not looking at the people, then you can go into the sequencing.
>During the week there would be many people here. I may just bring her and see if she is ready to work?>
Yes – starting off with limited distractions was perfect. And now you can try with more distraction! But help her ignore them with those pre-run games, rather than going right into the work/sequencing.
Great job here!!!!
Tracy
Hi!
>I was able to attend the rally class yesterday. Everybody there was great! I had a Belgian Trevan behind him before entering the ring along with the other dogs by ringside and he did terrific. He was engaged and having fun.>
Fantastic!
>Going to arrange this for Knight. Figures crossed>
I think I know enough people in your area that will be willing to help, if you want me to hook you up with them!
>
Thank you for your thoughts on the UKI run. I will put them to good use this weekend.>Great! Keep me posted!!!
Tracy
Hi!
>So I realized I put Jakes JWW run in that video from yesterday. Here’s Indy’s run>
Omg that is hilarious! I thought he looked a little different and then when you said he ran pat the weaves, I thought it was too hard to see in the video because it looked like he weaves LOL!!
This was definitely Indy – he did great!!! He really tan the shape of the course – even with running past the weaves, he was still working the line of the course. And he didn’t approach the dog coming into the ring for the next run – yay!! Super!! I am really excited to see what the future holds from him!!
Safe travels and best of luck at the Invitational!! We will be cheering for you!!
Tracy
Hi! Thanks for the videos!!
>– Worked him crated in my car all day – that’s the way to go for us>
Great!
>– Trial site was tight, I had a hard time finding space to play the pattern games, so I defaulted to letting him chill. would playing pattern games outside before coming in help him or is that an experiment I need to try?>
Yes – outside is great! Plus you can do the up and down game and the cookies can go on your shoes, perfect for tight spaces.
>– Volume dial games in the ring were hard for him all day, a sign that his brain was on the downslope of the curve heading to the abyss – yes. >You can jog to the line, that is a great way to get him more engaged! And then hand touches and the line up can be good volume dial moments.
>Need to find some places to train these better under distraction>
Since it is hard to find other places to train, can you ask your regular classmates to stand near the ring entry, with their dogs, when it is your turn? That can feel trial-like.
>Run #1 – ring entry, jump tunnel jump sequence, ring exit to jackpot in the food area. Went well, Not on video, forgot to start the camera.>
Great!!!!
>Run #2 – ring entry, 5 obstacle sequence, ring exit to jackpot in the food area. Went well, Not on video, someone moved my tripod so I got a 2 minute clip of the back wall.>
Also great! But bummer about the video of the back wall LOL!
>Run #3 – video below – Need to do some setups in class with the leash runner leaving with the leash. >
Yes, plus faster transitions. It can be something like you jog in, gently hold his collar while the leash comes off and you toss it way. Then after that, you can cue your sit or ask for a trick. I think if he is already in the sit and a leash runner is nearby, it is too hard for now (but definitely get your classmates to be leash runners :))
Once you got him moving, he did great! Jumping towards the reward box was really hard so try to reward him before he sees that challenge. Take a less-is-more approach to the number of obstacles, and head for the reward before he take himself to the reward 🙂
>Run #4 – video below – was going well >
Totally agree! He was more relaxed on the 2nd run and it was looking great! The future of your trial career was what was happening in the run – smooth and fast!
>I tried to add in the unplanned 2nd time for the tunnel instead of running to the exit – stick to the plan Tom!>
Yes! Stick to the plan to reward before it goes wrong – don’t be greedy 🙂
Run 5 –
>Should have probably just scratched instead of trying to wing it.>Yes, plus he might have been tired by then – 5 runs is a LOT plus all the travel, new environment, etc.
Great job here!!!! It was a very successful day!
Tracy
Hi!
It was fun to watch the video at the beginning – I would have thought that the toy in your left hand was really fun! She disagreed LOL!!! So you can approach this in a different way: play with the first toy, ask her to give it back, then reward with the second toy. That might help smooth out the process (but I am so excited about her toy drive!!)
The cone game is looking great!!!! She is fast and happy to wrap the cone and the other objects. Fabulous!! No questions from her except when the BCs were barking, but then she got right back into the game. She was considering going over the top of the box LOL but that might have been simply because the box had the flat top, which could look like a couch or something to hop up on to.
She did really well with you standing at the end, which means you can now move forward to the turn and burn game. I think the cone is the best object for that. It will add toys and more action, which I think she will really like! One suggestion in advance: since she is o little and you will be standing and moving, tie several toys together so you end up with a toy that is at least a meter long. That will be easier to move and drag for her to chase as part of the reward.
Great job here! Keep me posted on how she does with turn and burn!
Tracy
