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Good morning!
>>During the walks I feel like I am getting better at figuring out where the dog is so I m feeling more confident when I run the dog.
This is great!!! And it is the goal of the training: using the walk throughs to feel a lot more confident during the runs 🙂
>>He was definitely less driven today (lower arousal?). I don’t know why. We are doing a series of stretches and conditioning exercises for about 10 minutes before we run. He likes the exercises but it is a different routine. >>
Depending on which stretches and conditioning work you are doing before the run, he might actually be tired! In general, before running agility, we want to do active stretches as a warm up but not conditioning work. Passive stretches (long, held stretches that he holds or we help hold) and conditioning are both very tiring, so it is possible he is tired before he runs, which can change his drive state. You might want to flip the order of festivities: do the warm up and active stretches, then the run, then the conditioning.
>>I am also a little worried about getting the sequence right which is tempering my enthusiasm. I am going to try to exude confidence and excitement tomorrow and see what that does.:-)>>
The main thing to get right is to keep rewarding him, which is what you are doing 🙂 So feel free to be super enthusiastic 🙂
The walk through is looking good! You were connected, strong motion lines, good pace and good plan! Only one spot jumped out to me on the walk through: I think the blind cross at 4-5 was late in the walk through (:07 and :28) because, based on where you were looking when you started it, Buccleigh was over the bar at 4. Ideally, you would start it after he landed from 3, so it is finished before 4.
Next step: add verbals to the walk through 🙂 I suggest this because verbals change what our body is doing, which is what happened at :43 on the first run: you gave a jump verbal and while doing that, you moved your shoulder forward so it looked like a blind cross. Compare that to the walk through at :24 – arm back, perfect connection… but no verbal. It was better there in the 2nd run because you kept your connection better (more like what you did in the walk through). So ideally you would practice the verbals nice and loud in the walk through, as if you are running the dog, so you can match the handling to the verbals you want.
The blinds were a little late at the 4-5 line, but your connection was good so he was happy to find the line. So start those a little sooner and keep the connection, then you will be able to nail them over and over 🙂
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
I am glad you are enjoying the walk through games! I find them to be SO HELPFUL to get me to be able to run my dogs clean and fast 🙂
>>I could almost hear her thinking (would have been nice to know about this turn earlier….).>>
Ha! That almost made me snort out some coffee LOL!
Looking at the video:
On the first send into the layering: Basically this section asks the dogs to power into a big layer with very little momentum, which is super hard! The trick to it is being really close to the jump before the layering (jump 1) so you can take a couple of steps to get her moving to 2 and also so you don’t get caught behind the tunnel and have to change your line of motion. The mre you can run parallel to the layered line, the better she will read it.
So at :13 on the first run, you were a little too far ahead and oast the tunnel – so she did take jump 2 but then read your line of motion (lateral rather than parallel) as you moved to the other side of the tunnel amd came off of 3. Note the difference in your position and line at :27 as she landed from the first jump – you were closer to 1 but also on a better side of the tunnel. So as you sent her into the layering, you were already on the correct side of the tunnel (:29) and presented the parallel line of motion (:31) to get her to take the line. Yay!
>>, the place I really flubbed up was when she was in the tunnel and I didn’t give her a verbal for turning toward me soon enough., the place I really flubbed up was when she was in the tunnel and I didn’t give her a verbal for turning toward me soon enough.>>
Yes, that was the only question she had on the 2nd run (exit of the tunnel) – the rest of the run looked great! So on your list of things to remember for the walk throughs is to always tell her how to exit the tunnel, especially on turns. That way it becomes muscle memory for you to use your verbals before she goes in and then you’ll get the turn you wanted.
The rest looked great! I am especially excited about how smooth and fast the threadle/wrap rear cross went at :34 – you both nailed it! Perfect connection and cues from you, and she sailed through it. NICE!!!
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyThis is an amazing update! Congrats!!!! It is SO FUN when it all starts to come together 🙂 You have been doing a fabulous job!!!
TracyGood morning!
>>Connection is challenging with her 😊. She puts a lot of pressure on me to be moving ahead and I break connection a little more with her than I did previous dogs! She also needs more connection right now than previous dogs😂😂! All good tips that show I don’t have to be as far ahead as I perceive to still be connected😊.>>
Yes, connection is challenging with a dog that is small, fast, and young! As she gets more experienced, it will all get much easier!
>>I started both the wingless at 4” and moved her to full height on center after 3 reps I think. I then moved the wingless jumps to end at 8” for the first and 10” at the end I believe. I started with walking and loud verbals. Then did a couple reps of running and quieter verbals and then added both together for end. She never knocked a bar! We did it to ready treat. I think I would next do this with a toy
Let me know if I am on the right track!!! Maybe I don’t have to do all this and just need one jump! But she seems to do it more on a line of jumps rather than just one.>>
This is all good! The ready treat target definitely helped her, and a toy would too. The GO line is aperfect thing for multiple jumps. The other stuff (disconnection, crosses over the bar, etc) can all be done on one jump like this:
Keep me posted on how she does with this!
TracyGood morning!
>>my enthusiasm is better, I think, when there is a real dog
Yes, this is so true for all of us! That is why I try to visualize my actual dog, so it is almost like having the real dog LOL!! The main reason is that the difference in volume of our verbals will change our body language, and we need to get the body language prepared before we run the dogs. You and I are both loud when we run the dogs (this is a good thing :)) so I practice the loud versus soft in my cues during the walk throughs.
I love the connection on the walk through! I thought it was really quiet… until I realized my sound was on mute hahaha
On this one, I felt the walk through and the run matched really well – you had your handling planned, including arms and motion and connection and verbals. So you just went out and nailed it. SUPER!!! She is not 100% sure of the threadle wrap move yet from 2-3, but she is getting more comfy with it. And the rest looked beautiful, especially the layering at the end where she had no trouble working on the other side of the DW 🙂
Great job! Onwards to sequence 2!!
TracyWow, that was impressive! From the a-frame to the end, you ran hard and with connection, and it looks amazing! The beginning looked lovely too! She is struggling with her weaves, yes, but that will get sorted out and then you can put together full runs with this level of connection & handling! She loved it and found her lines beautifully!!!
Great job 🙂
TracyGood morning!
Yes, the good news is that she really wanted to play! The not-as-good news is that she was wanting to break her stay sometimes. So yes, keep rewarding so she stays firmly in position 🙂 You can throw the reward back to her when you are in your position for the FFX, so she doesn’t think that you arriving in position is also the release cue. You were releasing her at the same time you put your hand into position, so it is possible she thought your hand was part of the release on these.
The FFXs looked strong! She did really knowing where to go. Yay! And the lead out push was lovely too. On those reps where you ran her to the tunnel on your left with the threadle cue (at :35 & :43 & :51): you can run more directly to the tunnel, she doesn’t need you to pull away as much. She was questioning if she should go into it because you were moving away from it.
She thought the throwback was weird! Probably too strong of a collection cue for a small dog who turns really well. So you can replace the throwback with the forced threadles, which should have less pessure in the physical cue. You can probably use throwbacks mid-course where there is a lot more motion, but that is a stronger cue than she needs on a lead out. This is good to know!
Great job 🙂 Let me know what you think!
TracyHi again!
He is doing a lot of grown up stuff on these! So fun!!!!
1st video: He is doing a good job reading these! You were doing a combo of lap turns and tandem turns (with the racetracks, which he nailed). The best reps were when you had the cue visible before he exited the tunnel, rather than moving forward then doing the cue when he was locking onto the wing. And you can add in calling him sooner too, to help him lock onto you.
:28 was a tandem turn and a good example of cuing as he exited the tunnel. And :45 was an earlier lap turn and it looked good! He seems to turn better to his left on theseLap turns on the first rep and 1:06 and 1:16 – remember to look at your magic cookie hand and step straight back to draw him back to the correct side of the wing when he is a few inches from your hand, rather than lean towards the wing. The leaning towards it before stepping straight back was pushing him to the other side of the wing.
Tunnel threadles – yes, he is short but they do see the arms, especially if you dip your shoulder down a little. It looks like he kind of thought these were weird LOL! He really seems to prefer straight entries to tunnels LOL! Maybe the pressure of turning away to get into the tunnel was challenging for him, so you can shorten and straighten the tunnel a bit so it is easier and work it again. The cues were good, but he was a bit ‘sticky’ turning away into the tunnel (like on the very last rep). To help him, you can put the reward inside the tunnel – a lotus ball or toy – and that way he gets immediate reward for going into the tunnel on the ‘weird’ angle 🙂 I felt your handling was good and he seemed to just not love the skill (not yet :)) He was offering some displacement behaviors, like at :50 when something on the ground smelled DELICIOUS lol! So, a shorter tunnel with the reward in it will hlp him love the tunnel threadles 🙂
Lead Outs:
I agree, he was great with his stays!!!
He read everything really well, these were all strong reps – I think the BCs were better than the FCs, because both of you could accelerate through them. The FCs asked for more collection, which he doesn’t really need on this type of opening.>> He did have two reps where he went around the first two jumps (but I only showed one of those on the video.
This was at :47 where he went around jump 1: I think you were too far up the line and standing still, he might need jumps 1 and 2 to be in a straighter line so you can be lateral like you wanted. He got it on rep 3 but you were on a clearer line across 2 there. Also, leading out less and running forward (releasing him while you are running) into the cross will help set the line as well.
>>And I’m not sure why he bypassed the jump at the end of one of the reps. Maybe too much looking forward and disconnection?
This was at 1:17: you were definitely looking forward and also drifting away from the jump (to your right) so he just chased you. He found the jump nicely on the other reps.
When you switched to the BCs in the opening, he was really flying (like at 1:32)! Yay!
The throwback at 1:55 worked well but it worked a LOT better at 2:28 when you moved a little more and faced him for the throwback a little later. Facing him too soon for the throwback got more collection than he needed.
Great job on these! It is fun to see him be able to respond to all the different cues 🙂
Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
Holy cow, you have had a crazy August!!!!!! I hope September is much smoother and with far less stress!
I am not a vet, but I do know that you can treat for Lyme with doxy, even if the bloodwork doesn’t confirm a diagnosis. Symptoms can also be diagnostic. We just treated my Contraband with a course of doxy because we found a bite of unknown origin and my vet felt it was wise to treat.>> but really right now I would like to know when is the end of getting your feedback on the class lessons so I can plan appropriately.
The forum is open for feedback til Sept 15. Onwards to videos!
Hi!
>>So here is how the walk thru should go:
– 1st walk thru: connection points, general handling options, some verbals, spot-check dog’s line
– 2nd walk thru: verbals, connection points
– 3rd walk thru: try to run around people with connection and verbals.>>Looks good!
>>What about visualization? Any advice on what to focus on?
For the visualization, try seeing it from inside yourself, and connecting to your dog 🙂 That might feel really different!
>>I like having lots of time to obsess on the visualization, so I am proving to myself the walk thru is more important, thoughts?>>
Visualization is a great tool, but it is like a file on the computer: you should be able to pull it up in your brain at any time, do it, then put it away (rather than obsess). That way it won’t matter if you are first or last! And a great walk through helps visualization, which is why it went well when you were first – the walk though was fresh in your mind.
The 3 runs looked great! You are running with connection and confidence, and he looks lovely! You were trusting your skills and also using the distance skills which helped you get where you needed to be in just about every moment. YAY!!! Have a fun vacation and I am looking forward to hopefully seeing you in person! I will keep you posted about the seminars 🙂
Great job this summer! It was great having you here and watching you run!
TracyHi! Lots of good work here!!
About that #3 jump in sequence 1…
The good news is that she is developing a really nice independent backside send! As you were driving up the line, your motion was showing a parallel path line to the backside and she got it. Yay! But also, boo! for this sequence that did not want a backside LOL! So turning much earlier will get it, so she sees no parallel path line to the backside.Yes, showing the dog the difference between the cues does help in dog training, as you asked at :57 🙂 But do it with physical cues and not just the verbals. To show her the difference on the line, turn sooner so that as she approaches 2, you are turned and facing 3.
And live by the 2 failure rule: if she fails twice, make it easier. In this case, you can tweak the position of the jump like you did later on, so the front side is easier to see and the backside is harder to see. Plus, call her name – you can be more insistent with her name to get the turn, then cue the wrap.When you had success at 3:00, you were nicely turned to the front side and nice and early. When you tried it again you were more forward on your running line to the backside so she took it. When you changed the angle, she was able to get it nicely. Yay!!! So keep turning your shoulders as you come up the line 🙂 as that will set the line to the front side.
video 2:
The opening of sequence 2 was easy for her, it is what she wanted all along LOL! 1-2-3-4 looked great! Yes, push more to the 5 backside but then after it, stay more connected: At :52 and later on at 1:42 when she barked at you, you were kinda looking at her but your arm was forward so she didn’t really see the connection. Keep your arm low and back, so she can see your eyes and shoulders.And definitely work the Go line – if you accelerate and drive the line, she should go go go 🙂
At 1:10 you got the RC instead of the spin because of your foot position facing the center of the bar which is more of a RC cue. You can decelerate and rotate your feet to help set up the spin. The blind cross worked really well to get her to slice to her right!! And yes, slicing to the right then doing the FC did get you down the line sooner but also work on her driving ahead after the spin by accelerating and staying connected to the back of her head, driving to the last jump so she doesn’t pull off and bark 🙂 And you can also throw a reward early to keep her driving ahead.
Seq 3: This one emphasizes the “out”, which you can do with more arm back/strong connection 2-3, and even and opposite arm. Being further up the line like at 3:08 really helps, but the big connection and outside arm will really help her get on the line. You were starting to do it here nd on the last sequence, so keep working it by keeping your arm up and pressuring to the jump until she goes to it .
Seq 4 starts with the out to 3, so the added outside arm and being further ahead really helped!
At jump 5 at 4:35, that is another place to keep your arm way back and give her lots of connection, to get her to commit to the jump. You arm came up high there, which blocked connection and turned you too much so she barked at you.About the long line at the end: at 4:48, drive hard on the go line at the end and connect like you did at 5:12, but also have a reward placed at the end – even with the great connection at 5:12, she did not want to drive ahead so the placed reward (or a super early throw) will help smooth that out.
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyAha! Captured on video!!!! I think it was more of an arousal error – hard to know if he was frustrated or what, but definitely aroused. And then leaning in and touching his face (or hands towards) triggered the jumping up a bit. I don’t see anything that was what we would see as a typical frustration, but definitely an arousal error. It could be the tugging while we talk shifts arousal, and he needs a moment to breath instead.
Because he is an adolescent, you can help him complete the stress cycle: tug as the reward for a job well done, then do a cookie scatter in the grass (or let him run around with the toy, then cookie scatter). Then either have him down in the shade, or do his engaged chill behavior while we talk. Then, when ready to work again, you can re-engage with his tricks and back into sequencing (and not bend over or do any physical hand play, because it might be too arousing for now. That way we can help him manage the arousal, and as he matures he will not want to jump up anymore.
Let me know if that makes sense! See ya tomorrow!
TracyHi! Sorry for the delay, I almost missed this!!! But it was worthwhile to watch, she is looking great!
>>– I set her a bit closer to the inside of the jump and she came in around it (she could see me outside the jump, couldn’t last session), will need to do some work on that but for tonight I just set her farther over.
I agree, she was a little too far over and made a baby dog mistake when she went around the jump at :14. Setting her up further over was perfect!
>>– She dropped a couple bars (2nd jump), on the blind and then on the LO throwback. I think I was on time on starting the blind? On the LO throwback when should I start doing that?
No worries about the bars – you can lock them in if you want. I agree that it is likely timing that you are still working out. You can try starting the blind as she is over 1, rather than landing from 1. On the throwback, you can drop your arm back when she lands from 1. The lead out push looked great!
>> the LO throwback was more of an issue for the turn this time as the wrap is to the side she doesn’t turn as well to. The look she gave me when she realized we weren’t going to the tunnel on the first one was priceless. And no attempt whatsoever to add a stride on the turn.>>
Ha! She was ON FIRE there LOL!!
>>on the LO throwback I am not at all positive what I whould be doing with my arm here. I am right beside the jump so no real throwback arm wise. It feels a bit awkward, did last time too.>>
For the throwbacks, I think things went best when you dropped your hand to the takeoff spot, looked at her eyes, and did a bit of countermotion by moving towards the tunnel entry. When you gave a little swoosh like at :50 or didn’t have countermotion like at 1:04, she was not quite as good with the collection and turn.
But overall, this went really well! For the blind cross lines, you can try laying a long line so you have something to guide your running line. That will help the bars too because the positional cue will give her early notice that the turn is coming up.
>>I’m jumping her at 10″ (about elbow height) for this stuff – I assume keep her there for now? I’ve had her to 16″ on the set point work but then her teres acted up and we had to stop that work until recently so back at 12″ right now for that as we work back up. I just wonder about her getting too used to jumping flatter at these heights.>>
You can try her at 12″. She is 13 months, yes? So no rush to get the bars up. 12″ on the easy ones, 10″ on the harder turns. Then you can add 14″ on the easy lines, and 12″ on the harder ones, and keep bringing the bars up gradually over time.
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyStay tuned! I am planning some shorter hybrid (online and live) classes to work on skills and sequences as we move into the fall and winter! I will post it all next week 🙂
T
Good morning!
>> Levy did do much better with jumps at 18 inches I shorten the seq. and rewarded with better connection. Funny how that connection thing works LOL He is getting it. I am glad it doesn’t look like he will be 24 that’s just too high I think.>
Super! Connection is magic LOL!! And yes, I would be SHOCKED if he measures into 24. And even if he does, you can jump him at 20 in a different division.
>>I am super excited about this last session with Watson. We did the seq. granted I missed the 1st blind and resorted to a kinda rear cross thing and watson fell on his head but he kept going… bless him and for giggles I tried the rear cross out of the tunnel and he nailed it. Progress is sweet!!!!>>
Totally agree, this session looked fabulous! he read the opening threadle and layering perfectly! You were in good position for the blind but probably not quite used to being that far ahead, so ended up with the RC which was a little late. Great job continuing on, the rest of it was lovely!
And holy cow those rear crosses at the end were AMAZING! You nailed the line and so he read them perfectly. Click/treat to you both!!!Great job!!!!
Tracy
