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Hi!
I totally see what you are saying!
A couple of ideas for you!
I think with the added speed, he needs more connection… but with added speed, it is really hard to give perfect connection. So, we can shift the emphasis away from perfect handling and into training: the lazy game at a run! This is what you did on the very last rep and it looked great. One thing I would add to it is spreading out the reinforcement more, meaning: toss it in different spots each time to reward, especially to the landing side of the jump after the tunnel because that is where he seems to have the most trouble (especially to the left.And for the blinds – you were trying to target him on the new side after the blind with your arm, but the magic is in the connection. So this game will help you be able to connect better on the exit of blinds and getting your arms a bit more out of the way đ
Reward Across Body Explanation:
You can totally add the next game (straight lines 4 ways) because you will have plenty of time to work the same skills, but in a different context.
Nice work here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>> We are the high arm bandits đ€Łđ€Ł
It is a trend in both this class and the CAMP class. I am sensing games and prizes for everyone this summer to work on low arms đ
â you had a bit too much shoulder turn on the right and not enough connection (a high arm will block the connection) into the send at 1:09. â
Sorry for any confusion! On that send, if you watch it in slow motion: you were a little too far ahead and ending up rotating parallel to the middle jump. That broke connection because he could no longer see your face (your shoulders were âclosedâ). This points the shoulders and chest past the jump (the dogs read shoulders and chest)
On the send, a better use of shoulders would be to have your dog side arm back and your eyes on his eyes, stepping towards the takeoff spot and giving a low arm âswooshâ to point him to it – which in this case would point your shoulders and chest to the takeoff spot of the jump, and that is where he will go.Because the dogs read the line of your shoulders, we tend to use connection and a low arm to line up our shoulders correctly.
>> Do you mean that keeping my arm high at times blocks the connection between dogs eyes and my eyes?
Yes – it blocks the eye contact and turns your shoulder too far forward or away from the line, while a low arm keeps your shoulders âopenâ to the line meaning he can see your whole chest.
Let me know if that makes better sense!
TracyHi!
The first several layering reps looked great! The questions are really if we can reliably cue the difference between the tunnel and jump.
For the balance rep, I think it comes down to mainly the difference between the left and the jump or go verbals, or the jump versus tunnel verbals, rather than physical cues (because as you noted the physical cues are all very similar LOL! )
To start getting better response on verbals only, dial back the motion so you are walking and delivering the verbals – body language being identical for both, and the verbals making the difference. I think when you add more speed back, the brake arm will help her as it did here, but having stronger verbals will help even more.>> with. Iâm struggling with really knowing what helps her the most with the left/rights. Whether it is my body position further back, shoulders, decel/direction change, verbals, feet, or timing.>>
I donât think handling will be the answer, because with these discriminations and layering, the handling is all very similar looking (because you donât want to decel or rotate or spin or anything – the brake arm is good but the rest would leave you too far behind).
Have you tried the game where you just sit and work on the jump versus tunnel verbal? That will TOTALLY help her learn the difference between the two, and it might work out better for her to hear obstacle names rather than directionals?
Nice work here! We will keep experimenting with what will help her process the difference between the verbals :)âšTracy
Hi!
High arms are something we all battle. I think this summer we should have the class play a game that involves keeping arms low! I will come up with some prizes đ Stay tuned!
T
Hi!
>> Tracy, so better than I thought đ
Yes! đ
>> Letâs see what I can come up and feel comfortable with.
Trying running around outside without him, saying your verbals with the body cues that match (like acceleration or decel). The forward verbals like corre corre should be longer and louder, with the vowels emphasized: COOOOOORRE COOOOORRE and TUUUUUNNEL and GOOOOOOOOO and BAAAACK. The wrap verbals can be very quiet and choppy and emphasize the consonants: iziziziz The soft turns can more âconversationalâ and medium volume, medium length, also emphasizing vowels: Leeehft or riiiight.
>>Also, I wanted to discuss with you the turn commands, I have noticed that even when there is a soft turn he responds better when I give him a verbal, maybe I can âaddâ another verbal, for example I am thinking for a soft turn I can say left (or right) and for a harder turn say âleftyâ (or righty). Thoughts?>>
I think lefty and righty will be too similar to left and right for behaviors that are different – he will either have to wait to see more physical cues, or he will make a decision that might be wrong. We want the dogs to respond to the first part of the cue as soon as they hear the âleâ of left and if there are too possible behaviors, it could create questions.
So the first step is to define what behavior each turn should be. For example:Go = straight
Wrap = tight collection, a âuâ shape turn on the jumpSo now for your âsoftâ turns: are left/right the shape of the letter âLâ, a 90-degree turn?
So the other verbal is a somewhere between the straight GO and the 90 degree left? I just say jump for that because I donât want to add more verbals, I have 4 million already LOL!!Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>>but I tried to send to the tunnel without continuing to move, and Keiko decided to take the far end. I think my verbals were mostly on time,
Yes – verbals were good but her question was on the physical cue: you were using your right arm a lot to cue it but as you used your right arm and looked ahead, the rest of your body (shoulders and feet especially) turned to the other end of the tunnel (freeze the video at :12 and you can see it). On the 2nd run, you still had your right arm up but you moved forward more and converged towards the tunnel entry, so she took it.
>> checked for my visual cue, and took the correct one. Maybe Iâve done too much with odd tunnel approaches? Do you see something Iâm doing thatâs giving her the wrong cue, >>
Yes, she looked back to see if she was reading you correctly – and she was, so she carried on. Good girl!
So next time, try not to point forward with the dog side arm out ahead like that. Either keep moving, or, use a lower arm with more connection to her eyes because that will send her to the correct end of the tunnel.
That will allow you to get further up the next line, to start the deceleration for the wrap at 9 sooner – you can start it as she lands from 8 so you can rotate before takeoff.
Nice work! Let me know what you think!
TracyLordy, I am needing a lot more coffee today! Sorry! Here it is:
Good morning!
This is a super useful setup! Since it will still be setup when you go back, you can work on some big fast lines on this one with some harder stuff thrown in here and there.
On the video:You did a FC between 1 and 2and a BC 4-5:
Yo can see if he will line up on an angle at 1 so yo can serp it to 2. And trust him more on the BC: as soon as he lands from 3 and turns towards 4, do the blind and keep running đ I think you were waiting for him to commit to 4 so ended up doing the blind at takeoff of 4. I think you can trust him more and let him find it based on your motion as you do the blind.This setup has all sorts of good variations for a âthis or thatâ approach:
After the BC 4-5, you can drive him straight to the tunnel out in the corner, or turn to the weaves, or practice the âsoftâ right turn to the jump that you did here, or cue a wrap! That will challenge you to change your cues when before he takes off for 4 – so when he lands from 4, he knows what to do at 5 đYou can also put the blind cross between 3-4, and then when he is on your left for 4, drive him to the tunnel on the right side of the screen – then pick him up on your left to drive the line to the tunnel near the weaves. Wheee! This will get him used to bigger, fast lines like he will see in trials.
Nice work here! Let me know if my sequence ideas make sense :)âšTracy
Good morning!
>> Am I not giving her enuf connectionn on those starting wraps to get her into the tunnel?
Correct! Not enough connection there or moving away too quickly or both đ I think the errors here were because you were rushing, so the details of the cues were getting lost a you were trying to run fast. So for the wrap before the tunnel, give a strong step to it and then as she exits, a strong eye contact and a couple of steps to the tunnel to set the line. You will see her turn and start heading to this tunnel: that is when you can leave to run up the next line.
Something similar was happening on the wing after the jump – you were trying to be very quick, so connection was breaking (your arm and eyes were looking forward while she was behind you) or you were stopping and turning too quickly. So as she is approaching the jump after the tunnel, make a big connection (keeping your dog side arm back and low so she can see your eyes and you can see her eyes). Then, decelerate but donât turn yet – she needs to be past you and looking at the wing for now, before you can turn and run. In a nutshell – slow yourself down, you donât need to run as fast đ
>> On Clip # 5, Should I begin the cues for the wrap (sic sic sic) out of the tunnel before she goes over the #2 jump on the way to the #1 wrap jump?>>
No, I think if you begin a wrap verbal cue that early, she might think you want a wrap on the jump or tunnel exit. I think the timing of your verbals were fine here, it was the physical cues that were moving too quickly and pulling her off. So keep the same timing of the verbals and slow down the physical cues, so she can commit.
Nice work! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning! Are those Webb photos at the beginning? So cool!!!!! Definitely a Webb photo in the middle, right?
Lovely sessions here:
The timing & connection lines looked great – the timing of the left & right looked lovely and also Ronan set up great turns! Mike, you can drop your dog side arm lower and back to his nose more, so your arm is not high and parallel to your shoulders – that will unveil even more connection. I think you donât need a Go verbal after the tunnel exit to the jump before the left/right pinwheel jump – a general âjumpâ or over cue should be enough and it helps let him know that something is coming (the send to the left/right in this case). It doesnât make a big difference on low bars, but when he is jump 20â it will make a bigger difference because he has to make his decisions earlier.Karena – you had a bit too much shoulder turn on the right and not enough connection (a high arm will block the connection) into the send at 1:09. Super nice adjustment to a more connection send: MUCH clearer at 1:22 and the last rep of this sequence, your arm was lower too!
On the 2nd half:
Super nice sends Karena! Super nice sends, Mike! Both of you looked great (excellent stay proofing with the sneeze hahahaha) and very clear sending, no problem with him driving to the tunnel. So you can move to now using this big send and trying to get the BC to the other side of the tunnel. Yay!For all of these: You can also spread it all out and run more đ Partially to help get him ready for the bigger sequences/courses, and partially to work the timing. Just be sure to set him further back from jump 1, maybe another 6 or 8 feet back, so he has room to take a big stride and set the takeoff. And keep up the good work with all of the stay reinforcement. He seems to love the game so lots of payment for stays will help maintain it đ
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
>> Okay, message received on the feedback!
1) Stop talking unless I am giving useful information
2) More connection
3) Donât worry too much about it right now>>Yes – just the facts, maâam LOL! And also, no worries, he is an adolescent dog and learning is not linear.
The FCs looked really good on the left turns! He lost interest on the 3rd rep – so mix it up more so it is less repetitive. He might have been asking âwhy are we doing this againâ and it is fine to recognize that and immediately change what you are doing, rather than keep trying to get it
He was peppy again when you did the right turns – even if you did throw in a blind cross instead of a FC there LOL! So you can mix it up more: do one left turn, then regardless of how it went., do one right turn, then go back to left, and keep changing it up so there is not too much repetition.
Youâre going to hate me a bit… but rather than throw the toy with you standing still, take off running and have him chase you for it. That is a really engaging fun way to get him all jazzed up! You can do this on the tight blinds game too!
Blinds – I donât know what you gave him right before you started here, but he was all GAME ON LETâS GOOOOO! LOL!! Love it!
I liked the structure of this session a whole lot, it had the skills mixed up and not too much of the same thing in a row:
The first blind looked great, then adding the FC was strong too. Then you switched sides and the right turn blind looked great too, followed by the FC that was not quite connected enough (too much forward arm, not enough eye contact). Good job rewarding him and then fixing the connection on the next reps.Great job on these! Let me know what you think. Are you seeing more focus outdoors now?
Tracy
Good morning!
The teeter game looks good – She seems very confident to drive up the board! Early in the session, she was stopping a little short of the end, so yo can begin the net session with a little less tip of the boar, as a warm up… then you can add back a little more during the session.
>> I got smart alecky at the end and tried running by but she didnât understand to stay at the target. Wondering if there is a game to play on a wobble board or (?) that would help?
We will be playing a bit more with the end position next week but for now on this game: Put the reward in the target before you send her up the board so she doesnât watch you at all, then you can build up to running by đ something like a little dab of cream cheese is perfect because she will drive up, hit position, lick her reward – and you can do cartwheels or run past and she will happily stay in position đ I always use a placed reward for this game.
Countermotion – yeah, this is an awkward game because the rotation is soooooo early đ I think more transition will help make it feel less awkward: you were trying to go from running fast to rotated, which is really hard. So try decelerating then rotating: send to the wing, run fast for a couple of steps, decel, rotate and indicate the wing behind you.
The off course tunnel was legit, it was on her line LOL! Good girl!
On the last video – I agree, those left turns were AWESOME. Lovely commitment, you rotated nice and early, and her turns were great. The right turns were not as strong as you mentioned, but it could be that she didnât see enough connection on the tunnel exit because you were further behind. Try to get a little ahead of her on the right turn lines to connect before she exits the tunnel and then it will be easier to get the turn. You can also start with the right turns as well, to strengthen them, because it is easier to get ahead on the first wrap than it is on the 2nd wrap after the tunnel.
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>> Normally if I was going to use a toy in the ring I would use it before the run.
If the toy is exciting, you can consider using it before all the runs (not just toy training runs) to get him really excited to run and focused. Then in training, you can practice the remote reinforcement so he gets used to you leaving it outside the ring.
>>The Nadac trial is two rings in separate rooms so would you consider that two locations.
Maybe? If it is all pretty interconnected, he will probably perceive it as one location.
>>So NAdac July 15,16, 17 run with a toy in my pocket
Yes, and reward lots and lots in the ring đ
>>Nadac August 12-14, run with toy outside the ring short runs
Maybe, it depends on how the July trial goes. I would do the first run exactly the same as you did the last couple of runs in the July trial then decide if he is ready for more. And also practice this in training so he is not surprised by it or seeing it for the first time at a trial.
>>AKC August 27, run with toy outside the ring long runs
This also depends on how the previous 2 trials go. We donât want to rush the process!
So keep notes on how how the July trial goes, and then we can plan for August đ
TracyHi!
>> Yes, I have a set of 12 channel weavesâŠincluded them in the standard course closed, but perhaps I will add the wing and open them up as you suggest.>>
Yes, definitely open them so that he can learn to be independent in them, as he is learning to weave.
>>Have used a manners minder (have two of them) and he charges right to them. Best for me is to have a human at the end who rewards when the task is completed correctly. I will get the tripod out and ask Joe to not video but to reward only when Forrest weaves correctly.>>
You can totally do that, or if you are training on your own – use an empty food bowl and then toss the treat into it when he finishes weaving đ
>> We have not even trialed at the NOVICE level yet as he is too distracted by everyone else involved in a trialâŠso he needs to mature mentally. But thatâs OKâŠwe have lots of skills to learn a lot better ;}
I think you are doing the right thing by letting him mature and teaching him lots of skills! That will make for a better trial experience for both of you đ
Tracy
