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Hi!
Let’s do the 2o2o on the board, because it isn’t moving and the release to the MM sounds perfect for this! We can save the 4on for the teeter when we add the bang game š
Hi! Sounds like you had a busy and fun weekend!
This was a great session to get back in the groove! Her commitment looked really good here and you were definitely going faster.
>>I donāt know if I was really testing the commitment as much though, but this skill is hard for herā¦
Your motion was definitely testing her, and she did well!!! And the skill is one of the hardest skills – I am happy with how she looked. The one thing to change for next time is to now reward her from your hand for going all the way around and finishing the wrap š On her left turns at the beginning, she was watching you a little and not quite finishing her turns til you tossed the toy (clever dog hahaha) So now she can finish her turn and get the toy from your hand š She was fine with that going to her right, so now you can reward from you hand on that side too š āØāØGreat job!!! You can add the tunnel to this now, just remember to let her see the whole wing and if you are ahead, stay at the wing until she is past you and turning to the wing.
Tracy
Hi!
OMG I am watching the video at a cooperative work space so there are people everywhere and I just busted out laughing at the graceful front cross LOL!!! I am getting interesting looks but it was indeed, a graceful moment LOL!!
What happened there was that Ronan smoked you – you thought you had time to gently arrive thereā¦ and suddenly the speeding blur caught up and you tried to accelerate AND front cross. At least you stayed upright! Whew.The blind works so much better there (most FCs on course are now replaced with blinds) but you still need to get there sooner. As he is heading to the tunnel, you can be moving u the line more towards the pinwheel jump and less towards the jump after the tunnel – that will get you into the blind cross area to begin it just after he lands from the jump after the tunnel.
The spin after the blind is fine but I think the send and go will work better to get you out of there sooner – Ronan had to wait a bit for you to finish the spin because like FCs, rotation takes longer for us to finish in most situations.
Watching the rest of the session – I think the lower arms work best for him, to help get commitment and to help get the crosses sooner.
You both had shoulder height arms for a couple of reps, like at :36, when he didnāt commit to the middle jump with Karena and the FCs and BCs that were late with both of you (probably late to make sure he committed).Then at about 1:05 Mikeās arms got lower, hip-height, and things were getting better in terms of timing. Then at about 1:28, Mike stopped used arms much at all -just basically running for your life – and those reps were great! Ronan committed and the timing was earlier, as you can see by the collection on his turn at 1:30, for example. The very last rep was a little late because you game him an extra āoverā when you could be starting the cross, but I really like the super low arms and the no-arms approach for him: it totally reveals the upper body connection for both of you and he finds the lines really well. When the arm is shoulder height, it is really hard to connect and keep shoulders on the line. So, if you use an arm, have it low and pointing back to his nose, no higher than your hip. Or, you can use sprinter arms and just run š āØāØGreat job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
That serp opening actually ended up looking like one of the jumping courses I posted! Nice! He read 1 and 2 really well but needed more connection to find 3 at :14 – it is a bit of a push to see it, and when you pointed forward your shoulders turned away, so he came with you as your shoulders turned. You can keep your arm back and give him more eye contact, and a jump verbal.
If something like that happens, just keep going and fix it later. He knew it was not quite right and we want to keep him pumped up – more running will accomplish that šSO much clearer on the 2-3 line at :45 and 1:40! Your line of motion was better and also your connection was much stronger. Plus you said āoutā as he landed from 2, very good timing!
Nice job on the blind 4-5 at :47, very clear connection and good timing. But the blind at 1:42 was PERFECT timing – as he landed from 3, you were already starting it. NICE!
As you send to the tunnel, try to keep your arm back more and make a stronger connection: you were looking forward at :51 and he looked at you, wondering if it was the other end of the tunnel. (And ticked the bar there at 1:45). You can also call him before he goes into the tunnel, to get a tighter turn there. (It looks like he was running through the weave entry, but in his defense there was really no good way to get around the weave entry there LOL!) The wrap jump after the tunnel looked good!!
Does the facility send out course maps? If they send one, I can send you ideas for next time you go! Great job here š Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>>I am just wondering if maybe he gets used to where the equipment is placed in his regular practice area (he trains in this field 1-3 times per week). With this course the teeter and dogwalk were completely flipped from where they had been the previous week.
Ah yes, based on what you describe – I bet this is what happened. And the teeter error threw him off on the dog walk on the first rep. if it was a random occurrence, then no worries, nothing to worry about.
I am so sorry I didnāt see the weave video!!! Thank you for putting it here again. He did really well! I like how you started moving away immediately, no extra help with handling. The soft sided weave entries on your left seemed very easy for him! It was the āhardā sided on your right which were, needed a little harder – he had a miss and also had to think hard about it. And the countermotion reps were DEFINITELY hard š You can place a toy on the exit line for those, so he can drive through with more confidence (I could see steam coming out of his ears LOL!!!)
OMG the ice cream came out on the 2nd rep, look how much faster he goes for ice cream (I, too, would run faster for ice cream LOL)
Good mix of easy and hard here – The soft side entries all looked great. The hard side looked a little easier for him, almost as good as the soft side. And he was faster already on the countermotion reps. Yay!!You can take this wing into course work for some of the crazy weave entries! And, in training, you can begin to fade it – replace it with a wingless jump, then with a pool noodle (zip tied to the weave pole) then eventually we will get rid of it entirely.
The jump-tunnel verbal game was hard at first then he did MUCH better! You can spend a lot of reps just doing the jump and not the tunnel at all, to pump up the value of all things jump related with a delicious tunnel right there. I am pretty sure it will be easy enough to get him into a tunnel on course but harder to find all the jump variations.
Behind the back starts look great! He has a strong stay so you wonāt need to rely on these but they are sure fun to have in your toolbox. He picked up the new direction really nicely! So now you can play with these where yo cue him to go behind you hen to a jump for example – and you take off running too when he is going around you.
Great job on these! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
I am so glad your work schedule has eased up!!! Now we need this heat to break, it is GROSS to be out there running!!!
You and Mazi did really well on this course!!
LOVELY opening line 1-7, very confident blind then serious hustle to get 8-9 with a fabulous blind. And you nailed it each time. Click treat to you!!!!
On that 10-11-12 line, with the threadle: you can add more of a collection cue on the 10 jump so she comes into the gap for the threadle even more. I couldnāt hear what you were saying there, but for a big dog like her you can use your wrap cue to get collection then go to your threadle cue, to make that line even smoother. She was turning really well there already, but a little extra can help so that you donāt have to pull her in quiet as much for the threadle. You pulled her in less at 1:37 and she was PERFECT on that slice line.
Things came off the rails at 13 on the first rep (just that moment of forgetting LOL!) and on the other reps, you went from 12 to 15 – yo can add back the wrap at 13 if you want a little extra challenge (I am sure you will find it pretty easy)
>>We just struggled with the jump after the last tunnel exit.
That is because that jump should have been a boring olā front side LOL! That why it was so hard and probably felt weird LOL!
Since you had it as a backside: you can bring her to the backside from the other side of the jump, closer to the tunnel exit – that can make for a smoother line to get it as a backside and also to set up the next line too! So you could meet her on the takeoff side as she exits the tunnel, kind of like a forced front cross on your right side, then do a throwback with your right arm indicating the landing spot while your feet move forward – that would set a great line!And well done getting that backside on the ending line each time too. SUPER!!!!
Well done here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHello and welcome! It is great to see you here!!!! She looks GREAT š
Holy wow she is FAST and her commitment looks lovely šSeq 1 looked really good! Good timing, good verbals, good hustle!! She is driving ahead of you nicely! It would be easier if you could lead out halfway between 1 and 2 (on all of the sequences) so she doesnāt do any zig-zagging on that opening line. How far will she let you lead out before she breaks? You can build it up by leading out gradually further and further, and throw lots of rewards back to her š
Seq 2: This is also looking really good! The ārightā verbal was a tiny bit late on the first rep, her head was in the tunnel. She turned pretty well but your second rep had great timing there and she was terrific on the turn and line. Great job staying in motion and staying connected!!
Seq 3 – this also had good connection! The timing of the verbals was a bit later here. She read the line really well, so you can try to say things early and also send to that 5 jump (middle jump of the pinwheel) and lead sooner – it would be fun to see if you can get ahead laterally and she finds 6 and 7 on her own, based on your verbals and motion!
Seq 4: How did things go on the first rep before the storm blew your camera over? On the 2nd rep – She exited the #2 tunnel a bit wide at 1:46 – it might be how the tunnel was set up there. You did call her before the tunnel but she had a little trouble finding 4 because she was coming in over 3 on an angle. You can try a āget outā cue in that situation to shift her away to find 4, since it is not quite a straight line for her. Good job staying in motion!
And she definitely had a question about the tunnel exit on the 7-8-9 line! I thought you were connected and looking at her but you were too quiet, you can add a jump verbal. But does she sometimes get frustrated and come off a line to bark at you like that? I think that was a frustration behavior at 2:01. So, you can work the line from the tunnel to the jump and throw lots of rewards for taking the jump, even if you donāt say jump and if she is coming in to it on an angle. Maybe she storm was distracting to her? I could hear the thunder in the background.
I thought you made a GREAT choice there to recognize her question and then just continue to the end š You can try to smooth it out next time with more connection, verbal, and lots of reward for the jump.
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
On both videos, he is reading you very well šOn the warm up – try to just walk through it and show the line, rather than go fast. Walking through it creates the accuracy we need: motion obscures it for you and for him. On the line to the backside, try to move to where the wing meets the bar, and have your dog side arm back and a bit more eye contact. You were driving forward, leaning forward, and pushing past the wing, which is why he had questions except when you turned too much and then he (correctly) took the front. Dialing back the motion will really help you show clear info as you set the lines – you can also lay a leash on the line you should run, so you donāt find yourself accidentally pushing past the wing of the backside jump.
On the 2nd video, I watched it without sound to see if I could see a difference in the physical cues without the bias of the verbals. Your running line on all the reps looked pretty much the same (forward to the edge of the wing, so I donāt think he could see the wing) and your shoulder pointing forward. On a couple of reps you pulled your shoulder and deckledā¦ and yes, he responded to that especially if it was a right after a rep he thought was a tunnel and he was wrong. So try the different lines and shoulder positions:
That forward line to the edge of the backside wing, blocking it a little, with your shoulder pointing forward, can totally be your tunnel cue. And for the backside, be moving no closer to the wing than the line to where the wing meets the bar so he can see the full wing (eventually you will be even further over, moving towards the center of the bar) – and keep your dog-side arm back, making more eye contact (but no decel – just use a slower steady motion for now and we will add back speed soon).I think that will make a big difference for him! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>>Agree, challenges are good but not at every obstacle! š³ A friend of mine and I were looking at the maps yesterday and talking about handling options, her favorite option became āand a miracle happens hereā >>
Yep! I was looking at a different map this morning and it looked just like something I would never want to run LOL!!! I prefer to save my miracles for other things LOL!!!!
On the weave video – He did really well here, you were able to add plenty motion to it!!!
This is a hard skill and the placed reward definitely helped.You can have a placed reward target out there the whole time, even when you call him to the tunnel: the placed target should have a “you can have it now” cue, and if you call him that means ‘you cannot have it now’ LOL!! The placed reward target can be something like a MM so he focuses on it but cannot grab it if you haven’t cued it.
Also, try not to say “yes” or “good boy” because it brings him out of the poles. You can be quiet or keep cuing the weavesWhen he flicked away to the tunnel at :36, there was a tiny bit of pressure from you as you moved into the weaves which he read as the tunnel cue.
Great job here! You can add this into the courses, using the placed reward to help him through as you add crazy handling š
Tracy
Hi!
>>I find itās a great option in many AKC premier courses.
yes! That line is popping up everywhere!! More on it coming next week too š
>>I was super excited about course 2 and getting it done (not perfect but it felt really good). It was hot and she was getting tired so I didnāt want to repeat any of it.
It looked great! Home run!!!!!
T
Hi! This was fun to watch, he is reading everything really well!
Seq 1: this went well! I think for the āgoā line at the end of a sequence (on all of them, not just seq 1), you can have a placed reward to keep him digging in rather than slowing down. He continued forward there but was floating to the last jump more than driving to it. A placed toy can simulate puppy toy races: you can race him to it and if you get there first (not likely, but ya never know haha) – it is your prize to party with š
Seq 2: The 2nd rep was definitely better! He was not 100% sure about the layering on the first rep but then was great on the 2nd rep! It would be good to see if you can turn and leave the tunnel soon to head up that big line, getting miles ahead, rather than wait a bit for him. It would be a good challenge to ask him to find that line with the layer when you are ahead.
Sq 3: He had a bar down at 5 on the first rep at 1:28 – I think it was that you were too far forward ( sending to 4 from too far away which put you up near 6 as he was taking 4-5) and didnāt quite get your shoulders turned on time so he was trying to adjust in the air. You were earlier getting your shoulder turned there at 1:44 and 1:59 and he did really well!! I think in this scenario, it would work better to get closer to 4 – you can be more lateral on the lead out to do this while still cuing the right turn on the tunnel exit – then you can be near the wing of 4, send to 5 from between 4 and 5 -then be laterally away from 6-7 to show that line. That can hep you get shoulders turned sooner and also keep your further ahead for the end (you can try to get a BC between the tunnel and the last jump too!)
Seq 4: This opening went well! Yes, maybe a little too much āgo onā for 1-2-3 but you switched nicely into his left and he turned well at 2:16. You were alter with the left cues by about a stride (verbal and physical cues) so he dropped the bar at 2:39. Also, you didnāt layer at 2:39 – I think the layering helped him because you had to decel to do it, which helped set up the turn.
>>I am using way too many āgo onsā here watching this back and not giving him the info he really needs.>>
Yes, too much go on at 8 (I see what you mean about saying go on too much š ) You can use a more generic ājumpā verbal in those situations and save the go on for the big go on lines.
>>Also feels like Iām coming in too hot to the wing wrap in sequence 4 and should be showing some decel and giving the verbal sooner instead of a go on for the jump after the tunnel.>>
At 2:22, you were beginning the decel cues with good timing but your connection turned forward to 9 and your decel moment was a bit too short – so he looked at you, barked, dropped the bar of 9. Same at 2:47, but the bar was already down (but his exit was wide because he didnāt see as much connection there. And I think he ticked a bar on that last rep (it was harder to hear the last rep, for some reason).
After watching the reps, I think what is happening is that you wee going from acceleration to the rotation – so he committed, but had a question about it and also it put you so far ahead he couldnāt see the exit line connection. (The question on the first rep was the disconnection but you were more connected on the other reps).
Your timing of starting it was good, so as you start the verbal – decel while moving forward or a couple of steps until you see him starting collect then rotate and call him and make a big connection (you were saying āgo onā on the wrap exit, but he is still turning there so you donāt quite need to go to a forward cue yet).
Grear job here! let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
A couple of ideas about session planning:
>>he video does not follow the rules because I returned to the start several time to try to get the first couple of jumps. I did use the cookie reset which kept him focused and working with me. So 0-1:22 is just the first 5 obstacles and it never worked very well. Then we went on and reset a couple of times for 8 and 9. >>
Yes, sometimes it happens that we have a good plan but for whatever reason it doesnāt work or the dog doesnāt understand the skills, or both – so if you find yourself working a section of it multiple times, that can add up to 20 jumps or more so count it as the first full run. Otherwise, we risk overworking or frustrating the dogs by working sections and then trying to run the big courses a couple of times. I probably would have ended the session at the 3:00 mark because he had done a lot already.
Also, remember that if something goes wrong: Carry on, donāt repeat, donāt fix – he doesnāt like the starts and stops, it seems frustrating to him. He much prefers that you carry on, like at the very end of the first full run.
One more idea: does he like a lotus ball or treat hugger? I know youāve told me but I am a little sleep deprived and canāt remember LOL!! You can use a treat-based toy like that to throw on the lines (and for backsides) to get even more independent commitment.
On the opening – I think more connection will help get the line – you were looking forward each time he went off course, so try to run with more eye contact. And if he goes off course? Carry on and fix later. 3 should be a backside (you are cuing it as a front) so that might be why the lines felt strange. The middle section went well! I liked the blind after the teeter!!!
He has some backside jump questions – he got to the backside nicely after the teeter, but didnāt take the jump. And he had trouble finding the backside at the end and keeping the bar up. Definitely check out the game in the Package 1 Live class (sequence 2) where we work this skill so you can reinforce him for taking the jump and you can move through.
The ending line went well when you were more connected and gave a clear backside cue – so your next focal point in handing can be staying connected all the way through – you had a great run in round 2 and then disconnected at the very end, so he missed a jump at the end.
>>I was getting it out to try it and Buccleigh grabbed it and wanted to play with it. This is the first time he has spontaneously showed an interest in any ātoyā.
That is hilarious and also terrific! A new toy! He was super stimulated so had trouble lying up with it present – if you are going to run with it, maybe cut it I half? It is pretty long and floppy LOL! It certainly does help keep your arms down but it will be easier to run with if it is smaller.
>>He did engage at the end of the run but not with the same enthusiasm. I think the heat was starting to get to him and he was more interested in food treats than playing. >>
He is also used to getting treats in that situation, so it makes sense that he was expecting that. He seemed to interact with it again when you tossed it!
>> did try the behind the back start which we have been practicing 5:33. I think that is going to work. He was willing to move through the first 6 obstacles pretty well.>>
Yes, that looked really good and put you ahead to show the line nicely!!
>>After that he was definitely finished which he indicated by skipping the teeter.
Your A #1 Top Goal from now on is to always end the sessions before he indicates he has had enough. We donāt want any āickyā feelings associated with agility, such as being tired or hot or frustrated. It might look like he is ready and able to do moreā¦. But stop the session anyway and be done. That icky feeling will leave more of a lasting impression on him that all the reinforcement will!
>> I used low value food treats throughout the session since my experience has been that toys and high quality food donāt usually work together.>>
>>I would like to build the toy drive if he continues to be interested in the noodle>>That might have contributed to why he was finished – the toy drive is not that high yet, and the food rewards were low value. I donāt think we can go to low value food rewards in the heat yet – so build the toy drive away from the course work or sequences – maybe play a little beforehand and then put the toy away (before he is finished with it) and go to high value food – and donāt go back to the toy at that point.
>> Playing with the toy seemed a good way to keep him aroused but not frustrated.>>
Yes, but I am not sure it can come out into the sequence yet. I think a better option as you build toy drive separately is to have a lotus ball tied to a line or a treat hugger tied to a line, so you can swing it around and he can chase it for the high value food.
>>Do you think it might be a good idea to focus on Keltie with the complete long courses and build the startline and do the courses in pieces for Buccleigh? I was very happy that he came out to the field today excited and with enthusiasm. It is definitely hotter today and he still wanted to engage with me but in the shade and not too much running after we worked the course.>>
You can try it and see how it goes! With Keltie, be very aware of the length of session because she has definite opinions about things if you do too much, particularly in the heat.
āØ>>As an aside, last evening we were playing in the yard with some cheese puffs and I sat each dog one at a time on the Cato board in front of and between the jump and tunnel. I was standing behind the board and I just said either jump or tunnel and watched. Keltie was 100% right and Buccleigh only missed once. It was a fun game!>>So fun!!! And I bet they were happy with the cheese puff rewards too!!
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
She is looking really good here!!First video, working through each rep:
Wish looked really good with her straight line! You can throw the reward sooner: as soon as you see her look forward to the last jump (and before she reaches it), throw it š Good timing on the wrap cues too on the first wrap! You can spread the jumps out a little more to have even more room but you started the wrap as she was lifting for the jump after the tunnel: perfect! For the RC at :37 – you can face the center of the bar on the RC sooner, to get an even tighter/earlier turn there: you faced forward then did the switch line, so she was turning on the center of the bar. Even if you are decelerated waiting for her to exit the tunnel, you can be facing the center of the bar on the RC jump rather than the wrap wing.
The push looked good – you were facing the push line before she even got to the jump after the tunnel and it was great! When you balance to the go line, she was great about looking ahead but looked back at you over the last jump, s definitely throw sooner so the toy lands before she takes off for the last jump.
She was surprised by the wrap at 1:08 because your timing was a little later: you started the decel when she landed from the jump after the tunnel, as compared to the earlier timing when the decel starting when she was lifting off for the jump after the tunnel on the 2nd rep of the video.
On the RC that was the last rep, you can see that since you were facing forward at 1:34, she is jumping towards you and then has to jump away for the RC – you can be a little more ahead and running to the center of the bar before she even takes off to set the RC. It is the same timing as the backside pushes, but a different running line: the RC is to the center of the bar, and the Backside push is to the backside wing.
Winging It is also looking really strong! Yes, use more words and be louder š But not that loud, because the wraps verbals should be quiet – just repeat them more.
She did best when your arm and leg moved together – if your leg moved first and she didnāt see it, she was not sure about the commitment. Also, be sure to show transition (you might have to spread the wings out more to do this): send to the wing, go fast as you exit it, the decel and rotate. That will help her commit when you are rotated. And, as you do those backwards sends. You can look behind you to help support commitment. When you look forward too quickly, she comes off the wing like at :57.
On the 3rd video, you had more motion in the transitions and she committed nicely!!! Try not to transfer the lotus ball from hand-to-hand because it draws her focus off the line (āCookie now, mom??ā LOL!). You can leave it in a pocket if you think you might be switching hands and not realizing it š And yes, the race tracks looked great! She is definitely not patterning, she is definitely following cues. YAY!
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
Use 1 million for the Cato plank here LOL!
He did well here with the targeting game, easy peasy. The opportunity to target is quite reinforcing! And also less sweaty than being outside š And he was great with the different positions – a good challenge because otherwise the game is just too easy.
Since he has really strong understanding here and it is almost too easy: you can try a ācookies from heavenā version of it, where you hold your cookie hand up above his head the whole time. When it is too easy, he can target into position AND look at your hands. But when the cookies are above his head? A totally different brain game because he has to choose to where to look: at target position, or at the momma/cookies.
And when he hits & holds that position, you can drop a cookie onto the target. If your arm is good and the cookies donāt bounce, he wonāt leave position. If your arm is bad and/or the cookies bounce, use a marker to let him leave position to get it – it is not intended as a proofing game.
The toy game was super easy for him too, even with the Swissy party on the other side of the gate š Do you have a tiny tunnel that can come in the house? I play this game with a tunnel right there in front of the plank too: it is just far enough away that the dog can get into target position. It provides an excellent game to help the dogs stop on the contacts and avoids the normal young dog mistake of self-releasing to a tunnel. If you donāt have a tunnel for indoor use you can try it outdoors, or you can use a wing which also has a ton of value. I have a photo somewhere of what the plank-tunnel game looks like, I will find it.
Great job here! Let me know if the suggestions make sense :)āØTracy
Good morning!
I am so glad that he is doing well with his sniffy walks and delicious treats! I think I can see the rabbit tracks you mentioned!
This session is looking good! The 360 circle wraps are hard – if something goes wrong, just keep running like it was 1000% correct so huge doesnāt take off like on the first rep. For now, you donāt have to move as fast to help his commitment, and also so that you donāt add extra handling to help him commit: As he is passing you to the wing and turning to look at it, you will want to move directly forward behind his tail. You were adding a step back to the other side of the wing then moving forward, which causes him to get extra info that wonāt be there when these going into full courses. You can see the extra step for example when he is heading to the wing on your right side: when he passes you, you take a big step to the other side of your wing (and use your hand a bit) with your left leg – then you move forward again. Try not to take that step or use the hand, try to keep your feet together, lean forward, and move forward as he is turning to the wing. That is what makes it so hard – so much countermotion! So do it very sloooowly, walking, so you donāt end up adding extra motion to it š
Nice work here!! Let me know how it goes without the extra steps š Have fun!
Tracy
