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Hi!
I think 34″ might be the sweet spot! She did well here. And the pool noodle was not fully cooperating but it was good enough for what we needed here – she totally stepped in better. Using this 34″ distance, one thing to try is getting a pool noodle for jumps 1 and 2, and then using the bar for jump 3. That will lead us into the accordion grid, where jump 3 changes distances and can also start changing heights. You can use the 4 inch bar on jump 3 and as the jump gets further away, you can raise the bar more! Do your jumps also have a 6″ cup?>I’m excited she has a “Foundations” seminar on the weekend. I am less worried about her skills than if she’ll come back to me with her keenness for all dogs and people.>
That will be so fun!!! Part of the problem is that she is SO CUTE that everyone will want to meet her 🙂 but don’t let any big dogs go near her (I feel protective of her tiny self!) And no worries if she goes and visits, you can bring amazing treats and toys and she will stick with you. Have a blast and let me know how it goes!
Tracy
Hi!
The zig zags are going well! He does indeed like more movement and the bigger cues. The next step is to add the bars, and he is ready for that.
As you work through this and other handling stuff, you have reached the stage where bloopers are all handler errors, so if something goes wrong you can assume it was you not him, and reward 🙂
For example, you can totally reward that first rep – he did exactly as you cued 🙂 You released quickly before fully reconnecting, so he saw you step out to the wing… and took the wing where you were stepping/pointing. Good boy! In handling, bloopers are 99% human error, so it is always good to reward 🙂 You handled the next rep differently so he did what you wanted, but he was still correct on that first rep.At :26 you released the cue and started a FC before he had a chance to get into the gap, so he was correct to go past the gap to the next gap. You held the cue longer so he was able to commit on the next rep.
So, it is always good to assume handler error and reward him, so he doesn’t get deflated after reading the cues correctly.
On the turn away videos – these were tandem turns, (where your feet face forward, not turned to the pup). He might read them better if you use both hands to pull him in and turn him away
At :11 he saw one hand drop low and turn him away, and he read it well! Two hands doing that will be even easier to read when he is running the big courses.
At :17, the cues were pushing him to the other side of the jump – the arm was asking for the turning away, but the feet/hips were pushing him out. Getting your hand a little lower to pull him in and then push back out worked well! You can keep your feet/hips facing the line more (and the wing less), and that will help too!
The layering game went really well too! Yes, he loves hi Manners Minder so having it out there to jump start the skill was great. You faded it really fast by switching to the toy, and that worked beautifully.
> Almost too successful and I started to question if I was doing the exercise correctly!>
Ha! It was just really good dog training! You were doing it correctly 🙂
Since he was so confident: yes, you can move to the next step with the proper tunnel 🙂
Great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
These were great sessions – the added motion didn’t change his arousal level (he was still terrific with his focus and arousal level). And, he was still able to produce amazing turns (I must have said WOW ten times while watching LOL!!)
He is reading all of the different cues for the Wind In Your Hair really well. And you are cueing them well, which of course really helps 🙂
A couple of small tweaks:
At :05 – you can be earlier on the RC cues here, more like you did at :33 . You ran forward on the Go line until he was pretty close to the jump, then moved into the RC. He looked at you then adjusted over the bar. At :33, you were pressuring into the RC line a step or two after he exited the wing wrap, so he was able to set up the RC sooner.
Remember to show him the wing on the push/backside wraps. The Push at :14 had a bar down, but that was because you were blocking the line for a few steps and moving faster, so he didn’t quite have enough time to set up the jumping. He adjusted really well on the next rep 🙂
At :42 you were showing him the line really well, not blocking the wing, so he was able to set up a lovely tight turn!! Wow!
\>Not sure why he wrapped the wing to the left a couple times when I told him right?>
That falls into the “Dogs See Every Move We Make” category. If you watch it in slow motion, you will see that you were sideways to the wing and stepped sideways with your right leg.. which cued the threadle/left turn. You can see it at :26. And when you were still sideways (but didn’t really step to it) at :28, I think he was guessing that it was the same thing. On the other reps where you were closer and/or stepping to the wing, he had no questions.
Smiley face is looking great too – he is very responsive to your decel and can turn really well! Wow! He turns so well that you don’t need as much decel on the race tracks, because he collects a little too much! You can move more and you can also show him a higher bar here (12″ for now then we can move it up again).
His only question on the Smiley Face game was the bar down at :56, but I think he was surprised it was a wrap as the first jump.
I scrolled back to your first post:
>He’s a lot of dog and doesn’t lack any enthusiasm lol but goes over threshold and starts screaming, throwing behaviors, and trying to tear things up very easily/quickly.>
You’ve done a lovely job with him – yes, he is a lot of dog (in the best way) and also yes, he has a ton of enthusiasm. But he is working beautifully and you two are becoming a great team! Exciting!!!
Tracy
Hi!
Yes – getting the wrap on the start wing was the hardest part at the beginning! When you added the wrap cue and started turning earlier (at :40 for example), he was able to find the new line really well. You transferred that timing to the other side and he did well there too! Super!
And he did well with the racetrack into the tunnel threadle as well – even with the added speed, he was able to respond well to the cues.
He only had 2 questions in that part of the session, and both were connection questions. Be sure to remain connected and don’t look forward ahead of him 🙂 – when you looked forward at 1:05 on the racetrack, he almost came off the line. When you looked forward at 1:14 so he came to you and didn’t go to the tunnel right away. Compare to 1:27 where you stayed connected and he zipped right into the tunnel. Yay!
Great job!
TracyHi!
Yes, the decel class at Paws would be great!>I feel like I owe a donation to the SPCA!>
Ha! No, you don’t owe, that was only for people who were being mean to their dogs. You and Zyp did GREAT! He did lots of excellent sequencing with focus and accuracy and speed. SUPER! He never once did his own thing – you reinforced him a lot, so he never got frustrated. The work you have been doing with him really helped him shine!!!
Tracy
Hi!
The left side zig zag session went well! I htink that his questions on that side are more about mechanics in arousal on that side, so you can help him out a little in terms of session structure:He might only have two good reps on that side in terms of mechanics before the arousal for the toy kicks in. So you can take a ping pong approach on the harder side: do an easy one with you closer, then one or 2 hard ones (with you further) then an easy one. And by “easy” rep, it can be you being closer, or you using food rewards, or both! You did go back to a slightly easier one after he had 2 failures, but you can plan to do that before any failures to help him maintain the mechanics.
Nice work! Keep me posted on how the tunnel threadles went!
Tracy
Hi!
>Our startlines need a bit more practice!>
She is loving the agility 🙂 so you can throw back lots of rewards to keep convincing her that start lines are worthwhile 🙂
She did well on the grid – I think she is having to jump it in collection with the bar at that height, so you can add a little more space as we try to find the sweet spot. If that was 28″, maybe try 32″? That is a guess based on her size, so you can set it up, do one or two reps, then watch the video and see how comfortable her bounces look.
The step in on the first jump might also be playing a role:
Even with the lowest possible bar, the first jump with her set up close (correctly) is a little high – you can use that little blue stride regulator you used with the set point to replace the first bar.She is doing really well reading all the jumping games, so this is more about finding the sweet spot of distance so she can really power through it and not slow herself down to get the proper elevation.
Nice work!
TracyHi!
He did great here! 12″? No problem at all. I think he is also ready for you to run more – you can really accelerate on the Go lines, and more acceleration will make it easier to show decel into the FC wraps. He has been beautiful in his optimal arousal and toy play, so adding more motion will be more arousing but I totally believe he will be fine (and he will also love it :)) The backside pushes had more motion already and he was PERFECT!
>He missed a couple fronts turning left but watching the video my handling looks like I wanted a rear so he was a good boy!>
Yes – at :14 it looked like the RC (especially since he had just done 2 nice ones :)) So as he is exiting the wrap on the start wing, you can be driving forward – and let him see you shift into deceleration right as he exits the wing (you will decel but face forward to the FC wing). As he passes you and collects, you can then do the FC and I think that will look significantly different from the RC cue.
When he did get the FC wrap at :22, you had more motion then a little decel (all facing the wrap wing) and then the FC itself. He read it really well! You can exaggerate the decel more and it will be even easier.
His turns are looking really good, and so is his “go”. I am *most* excited about those rear crosses, though: he did a great job sliding past you with the rear cross pressure and reading the turn the new direction. YAY!!!
Let me know how adding more running goes! Great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
>Hope the rain has moved out of your area now!>
It moved out of where I was… now I am home and it followed me (torrential storms happening!). Sigh.
>MissL got to go practice some drills on the big agility field we train at and did AMAZING! She even showed a little start line stay. I was exceptionally proud of her by (mostly) sticking with me and did not run off to go explore (like her brother Wayne used to do!)>
This is exciting!! She is getting more and more into the game with you and it is fun!!!
She did great finding the jump (and playing with the toy :)) I think she really liked all the motion, so we are seeing her open up & run when you are also moving. Since she had no questions about finding the line (even when you were adding more directionals and turns), you can add more distance so you both and move more. One way to do it is to put the tunnel as close to the fence behind where it was here, so there is 15 feet or more to the jump. Or you can rotate the setup so it sits lengthwise in the yard – and see if you can get 20 feet or more between the tunnel exit and the jump. That will also allow you to add more lateral distance from the jump, as well as more options for you being way ahead or deliberately putting yourself behind her by running close to the tunnel before moving up the next line. She is ready for all of that!
Great job here!
TracyHi!
This is the turn away video – can you report the tunnel threadle video? I am excited to see it!Tracy
Hi!
>I went back and pulled out the reps from our not-so-good side.>
It is great to see these and compared to what did work! I think this was a human side preference question, and she read you correctly every time.
On the side where she kept going straight, your motion and shoulders were all forward, which conflicted with the verbal and the outside arm (I don’t think she saw the outside arm at all). As she exited the wing wrap, you were facing the straight ahead tunnel entry for a step or two, so she correctly went that way. To get the threadle end on this side, you will want to match it to the handling you showed her on the other side:
When you were on the other side, when she exited the wing wrap you were turned facing the threadle side of the tunnel, so she correctly went to the threadle side.
Here are the visuals:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JydwyGN4MxaGiQl-V-f1z2Qe0_9CckIjgx2AW4SVFu8/edit?usp=sharing> Nothing really worked that well though and I was getting frustrated, so I banned this side’s reps from the initial video>
It is definitely harder to watch our videos when were are frustrated, but important to watch to see both what we were doing to cause the questions, and how our responses affect the dog:
If the dog is absolutely *convinced* that she is correct… she probably is and withdrawing the reinforcement is going to create frustration. So, reward her then go watch the video to see what is happening before the next rep. You can see her stress response to your withdrawing of reinforcement (folding arms, stopping your movement, etc) – she lowers her head, pins her ears, flanks out a little. She will keep working (because BCs will keep working) but we don’t want her to work in a frustrated state.
Then there was confusion about whether she should get the toy on the next rep when you were stationary – the yes marker and hand movement said yes to the toy, but you kept it bundled up in your hand so looks like she accidentally grabbed your hand – then more stress after that.
So it all comes back to making sure she gets rewarded even if she did not do what you wanted… because she was probably doing what your cues were telling her to do 🙂
>I’m submitting this game early since we’re going to be learning serps in Ellie’s class Tuesday evening and I’m hoping you can keep me from causing her to wipe out on the serps like she did in this video …>
The lateral lead outs on the one jumps are off to a good start – she is committing nicely with you on the takeoff side of the first jump and on the landing side of the first jump. Nice connection!
She is having some jumping questions setting up the turn on the first jump which bubbles over into jumps questions on the 2nd jump (lots of front foot pattering to sort it out), so she should see this game with a wing and a jump a few times before adding 2 jumps with bars. This is not unusual or bad, it is normal 🙂 and she just needs to practice a bit more.
The first wipe out at :46 was not on a serp, it was on a FC – partially it was because the FC was late so she was surprised and slipped when she landed, and partially because she had not sorted out the jumping yet. There were not any other wipeouts in the video (the others were post turns to front crosses which all looked really good!), but the wipeout definitely told us she needs to see this with a wing and one jump (and probably an 8 inch bar on that for now) to let her sort out the mechanics.
And for serps in class… angle the jumps and lower the bars, especially if she is running on turf which is more slippery than your grass (your grass is really nice!). Also, staying in steady motion but not fast motion can help her get the mechanics on the harder jumping lines.
Nice work here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Hi!
I am looking forward to seeing you at Paws For Thought!
> I am going to start taking him to different places at the end of the month to run now. (Before I do, Harmony will give him another massage to make sure he is A OK!!) Planning on doing the start line routine that you saw in the video. If he is not happy, etc. thoughts on what I should think about doing. I will be going to Five Point (Joel Bassa) where he has been on 5/25 many times so it is not a brand new place. Also, I am hoping I can catch a drop in with Deb Bogart at PFTF before July.>
Before solidifying a routine (which could actually increase anxiety rather than decrease it), just try to ‘read’ him and see how he feels – and make it fun fun fun and easy 🙂 For now, bring food into the ring with you especially for the first time in new places. And reward him a lot – you can do pattern games on the way in, tricks for cookies, etc, all to keep him feeling good as he goes into the ring.
>FYI Fitness is moving along. And he is finally starting to back up. YEA>
Yay! That is great! Keep me posted 🙂
Tracy
Hi! They are on the course syllabus page under the Extended Edition Chats:
[AU-072A] MaxPup 4 Transition To Trials: To The Line – And Beyond! Extended
Hi!
She did really well here, lots of nice balanced one-striding. She didn’t seem to have many questions about anything you changed, she was good about still looking for jumps. One jump on a harder angle was more challenging to find, so you can definitely add in weird angles to all of the jumping stuff 🙂You can add a little bit more arousal, 2 separate ways:
– add moving right next to the jumps more, not pulling away or trying big shoulder turns to get her to take the jump if the line is hard. We don’t want her to need you far away 🙂 So think of it as slow jog/fast walk right next to the line and still toss cookie rewards for finding jumps. No rewards for passing the jumps, just keep going and see if she can fine the next part of the line.
– without adding more motion or anything, add tugging before you start and before each rep. The food will still be the primary reward, but the tugging will get her internal state a little more ramped up 🙂 which is also an important element.
Great job here!
TracyHi!
> I have noticed in the last several weeks that she seems to be happier and more settled with a bit more working and less downtime than what she needed say 6 months ago.>
Nice! She is both learning/getting comfy, and maturing!
> Not included in the long list is the Midwest Cup in June since she’s staying at home for that one. I was a little tempted to put her into SS Challenge there but then decided that was rushing things for no good reason. I’ll get my jollies running her in SS Challenge at our Midwest Classic instead.>
That is a good call. She can do Cups next year 🙂
> Actually what I could do for Snooker or Jumping is to declare NFC and go in without a toy but have a friend ready to toss it as a surprise right and then hustle out of there to our leash and a party.>
That is a great idea!
>Yes – will need to see how she does with outdoor heat. Last summer when training it didnt’ seem to affect her, but who knows if that’s changed. I do think she is more “heat-resistant” than Mr “I like to be a Slug when not working” Kaladin. (seriously – Demi’s nickname is Sloth and his is Slug which we mean in the most loving way….)>
Right – I remember in her puppy sequences last summer she didn’t have heat struggles. She also wasn’t really an adolescent, so that *might* be a factor (or might not, we won’t know til she is in the moment LOL!) and also the outdoor environment has a lot more visuals of other dogs all around the ring. That is an added challenge for the youngsters too.
>Weaves are coming along nicely but we only just got to the 2 sets straight a few feet apart. Also done the first find em (set of 2 by the tunnel) and a few channel sessions where I start doing crazier things.>
Perfect! Things will come together nicely now!
>Question on the channels – if I am serpentining across the front, fading laterally, or doing other things, should she be following that handling once she exits vs carrying on to the Pet Tutor? Like should I not trigger PT and reward from my hand instead? I can’t remember that detail when I was training Kaladin.>
I personally like to keep rewarding on the line rather than put any value on me as they are learning the skill. I promise she won’t ignore your handler position or motion when you are running for real 🙂 But the reward out on the line seems to get better results for staying in the poles with fewer reps of having to do it.
> But – contacts will be a priority this summer since I really don’t want to go through another winter of “well – didn’t get that trained when I was able to work in my yard”. So no USDAA Steeplechase just yet!>
I bet her a-frame comes together quickly. Sounds like she is doing great with foundations!
>I think I also need to go way back for the teeter. It was coming along nicely last fall and she’s still great at the bang game, but she’s more hesitant at mountain climber which was solid last fall.>
It was probably just the time off and will need a quick re-build. She will sort it out pretty quickly.
>Quad Cities – I thought I was on the friends & Family early notification list for your end of May seminar there but then Dawn forgot to tell me about it. >
Darn it!
>Luckily the August dates are probably going to fit better in my schedule anyways. As of 3 or so weeks ago she was “working on the schedule” and asked for my input (I requested a novice session on Sat). And said she was planning on rolling out pre-reg in the middle of May so it’s on my calendar to ping her tomorrow. (last time around I was too polite and didn’t check in more and then totally missed it)>
Yeah, don’t be polite LOL!!!
>Frizzer rolling – yes! She is doing much better chasing in our yard. Total flop when I tried it at Fusion yesterday – wouldn’t even chase it the first time. If Kaladin is there, she loves to chase her frizz and grab it and then jump on him with it in her mouth. He’ll keep retrieving to me but she prefers to accost him and she mostly ignores me. The change lately is that she will tug with me for a bit with it as we are wrapping up and she will cue into me the first time I toss it for her.>
Have you ever done alternating Frizz chase games (apologies in advance, Kaladin): you have both dogs and several frizzes. You hold Lift and roll one for Kal. Do that once or twice. Then hold him and roll one for Lift for her to go get. Often we see social learning kick in and the dogs go grab it and bring it back to play. I dont’ send both dogs at the same time, because of the collision risk and also because some dogs back off the frizz in order to just chase the other dog LOL
>Set point distance was 3.75ft (ish). Slightly less than 4ft. The 12in jump did surprise her but it was like her 2nd ever 12in jump. We’ve done more grid work at 10in. I’ll try it again with the distance but set up closer to the first jump and see how it goes. Are you thinking she needs a slightly long distance between jumps as the height goes up?>
She might need a longer distance but we will let it percolate for now with her setup closer and getting used to 12″ jumps.
Keep me posted!
T
