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Good morning!
Sorry for any confusion!
>> So, are you suggesting I say go and toss the toy forward but not keep moving? I don’t want to override my motion. Gemma struggles to turn from a tunnel and I did a lot of telling her to go while I slowed down or stopped. So, I don’t think she sees lack of motion as a turning cue and I don’t want to make the same mistake.>>
Definitely keep moving and as you say Go, you should be showing acceleration (which she definitely liked :)) I agree, we don’t want to dilute deceleration as a turning cue. You were having to try to outrun her to be at th tunnel exit for handling the Go, but we can have you run and throw the reward Instead of trying for the wing, so that she will go straight based on the verbal and not because you are ahead of her.
>>I actually did have ties on the ground in front of the tunnel at both ends, but they are black so you might not be able to see them.
Ah! I didn’t see them. Try to anticipate her arrival to them, then – rather than see her arrive there and then say the verbal (which makes the verbal late), anticipate her arrival so you can time the cue with the arrival on the line.
>>I’ll try releasing commands. But, then does that become the cue where everything needs to be released multiple times?>>
I think you mean repeating (not releasing) – and yes – I am a BIG fan of repeating verbals. Saying the verbal once makes it really hard to be salient as compared to everything else that is going on in that moment. Also, saying it once requires spot on perfect timing which is really hard to do consistently. Repeating it means we can be early, on time, and even a little late to help seal the deal 🙂
Saying it a few times not only helps it break through all of the other things happening, but the repetition also allows us to make the verbals sound different. For example:
Go and Right can sound very much the same if said once while running. But if repeated, we can get:
GO GO GO GO GO versus riiiiight riiiiiiightTotally different and MUCH easier for Sprite to process in the moment because she is getting so much more info to help understand the cue rather than just the word.
In order to breathe while running, we don’t need to talk to the dog the entire time 🙂 If my motion is clear, I can say something like “a-frame” once or even be quiet in the moment, saying the oxygen for the directionals.
Hope that makes sense 🙂
TracyHello! Great seeing you in class!!! Safe travels to NAC, we can see if anything will work in a hotel room LOL!
Tracy
Hi!
Looking at the 2 videos – yes, we can isolate the threadle and help her out 🙂 Also, when you worked the turns on the wing in the 2nd video, it made a big difference and the threadles were starting to develop!The serps looked great, so you can add more speed to them. Fast jog, then slow run… then REAL run LOL!
For the threadles – for now, keep them separate from serps so she doesn’t have to multitask. You can always go back to the balance sessions when the threadles are super strong. To start, review the MaxPup threadles with motion:
And then when she remembers, you can go back to what you did on the 2nd video – be moving and cuing the tight turn on the wing, then the threadle. Just be super sure that you are not stepping back at all – your lower body should be basically identical to the serps, staying forward and closer to the jump so we don’t have any rotation of the feet as part of the threadle cue. You were already getting success on this win the 2nd video, so I think it will work nicely!
She is very close to having it pretty solid! The review then going back to the game should help. Let me know what you think!
TracyHi! Nothing to be embarrassed about! It is always good to post these sessions. I think more connection will help as you exit the wraps, really strong eye contact. And on the smiley faces, use food for now. For bringing the toy into the picture, work the rocking horse game with 2 wings or 2 barrels in the bigger space. That will focus on teaching her how to find the wings, ignore the toy, and let you do wraps and race tracks (which will also work the left and right).
I think it is really important to add a toy-in-hand marker because it is not clear when she can have it – there is a lot of praise as the marker, but there is also a lot of praise when you don’t want her to take it (also with cookies!)
For example: yes at :30 meant take the cookie. Yes at :44 did NOT mean come take the cookie and she was confused and frustrated by that. So – no more yes, only use cues/markers (I know that people try to make an argument for yes as a marker but I am telling ya… it is a bad idea :))
Clarity on the markers will be VERY helpful for her, and then all the pieces will come together nicely!T
I am bugging everyone about engaged chill because so far there has been a grand total of one video posted with it LOL!!!!
Hi!
>> One quick note on sniffing. He really likes to sniff some particular spots in the barn. Where everyone comes in, especially. He also will get fixated on a spot if a dog has peed there. It can be hard to tell if that is really displacement sniffing or just “I love this smell and it’s more fun than anything else” type of sniffing. He really loves to sniff on walks and, basically, everywhere!>>
Sniffing can serve about a zillion purposes :)so much of their brains is devoted to it 🙂 it is possible that in a moment where he disengages to sniff/avoidance it is both stress and “ooh that smells good!” Generally when arousal drops too low, things in the environment get more obvious like good smells 🙂
>> I work with all manner of things that are distracting when we train at home and he can deal with that much better.
When adding distractions at home, keep track of his rate of reinforcement so he is working at 90% or better.
>> He may bark at men or very large women during these classes, if they are very close, when he first comes in, or if they stare at him. >>
Arousal state is lowered, which causes an underlying anxiety to come up. Pattern games will both help deal with the anxiety and get a positive CER, and raise the arousal state too!
>>However, once he is searching, he doesn’t seem >>bothered and can ignore them.>>
Arousal state is increased by searching, so distractions fade into the background. Yay!
>>The grass grabbing can be when I want to start, like when I say “ready” (so I stopped saying that), and he will also do it on the run. >>
Grass grabbing is similar to sniffing – could serve a variety of functions! From what I’ve seen, it is an arousal behavior with a frustration/stress component. And it could be simply that he feels aroused but not sure what to do with that feeling.
Keep me posted on the games, this will be fun!
TracyOops, I missed it, sorry!!
For the food as toy, I meant moving the food hand around for him to chase more rather than handing it to him or tossing it on the ground. You were doing it with the “woosh” moments later in the video and that seemed to work well!! You can also add in running a few steps as you have him chase the food hand.
However, I love how much he likes the food toy and will tug on it!!! How does he do with it in other environments? This could be very useful!
Interesting experiment with the FOMO! He was definitely in a different arousal state – and I agree with both of your observations:
Yes, this is potentially useful too! And also yes – before he leash comes off, get him engaged. Rather than just tugging, I suggest the volume dial game 🙂
Start the volume dial game in a more chill environment first so you both get the feel of it, then you can try it with FOMO 🙂
Also, add in some engaged chill so you can both have a moment to breathe 🙂
Great job! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
PS CB says thank you!Please send me the running clip! This one looked good but we need to get you running 🙂
I don’t mind the barking – she was working nicely and not barking AT you. So when she was jumping, what was happening? Disconnect? Toy distraction? Let me see 🙂 you can also use food as you add more motion to see if that helps.
Try to add a toy marker for when the toy is now available for grabbing, instead of praise. That will help when she is really excited. 🙂
Nice work!
TracyHi!
She is so fun! And she is smoking you, so yes: run more 🙂 You can spread this out but even in a smaller setup, you can run more through the whole thing – stay closer to the lines and obstacles if you feel like you’re going to run out of room.Her only questions were about connection here: be sure to make very direct connection on the exit of the tunnel each time. You were looking forward a bit so she zig zapped, not entirely sure where to be. And on tunnel sends, maintain connection and don’t point ahead of her: that breaks connection and looks like a blind, which is why she went behind you at :17 (good girl! You were correct to reward her). You were a lot more connected at :42 and she found the tunnel nicely!
Great job with your verbals!
She has strong commitment, so I think running more and spreading it out is a definite next step:)About toys- will she chase a thrown toy, separately from a training session? You can see if she will engage with toys there in more of a relaxed approach.
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
The jump grids are looking good! I think the sweet spot for the line up position is at :19 and after that – close enough that he cold just lift off. A little further away caused him to eb a litle disorganized on the first couple of reps. The good line up spots help make good reps!
How tall was that bar? I think it can go up another 2 inches. As he grows up, things will change as he develops the adult body and power – he is off to a good start!!! For now, lead out more and keep the toy dragging at a walk – when you run too soon, he leans forward (like at :35) which we don’t want because it shifts him off his hind end for jumping. So, keep things dull for a while longer and just walk the dragged toy along the ground.I am liking how he ignores the toy in your hand til the graaaaab or get it or tugtugtug. The hardest part is going to be remembering all the words but you are both doing a great job! Since you also use food rewards, I *highly* recommend a food-in-hand markers so he knows if he should come in hot (for the toy) or gentle like a spring breeze (for the food) to protect your flesh 🙂
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi! This is going well – one thing I have found in my own experience is that each time I start handling with a new young dog, I forget things that are easy with the adult dogs LOL!!!
>>Someday, I’m going to get it. >>
Yes, you totally will! That is why we reward the dog, have a laugh, try again 🙂
On the video: Good news and bad news is that he was smoking you on the Go lines but also turning nice and tight. Woohoo! Great job rewarding the correct moments and also keeping the rewards flowing after the errors.
On the Go exit for the tunnel – every dog has a natural preference. His is to turn towards you, and that is great! So to build more GO, for now, get ahead (you might have to shorten the tunnel and/or send from a more advantageous position halfway up the tunnel :)) and mix in making a BIG connection on the exit with throwing the reward forward to reward the Go (like at :04, :15)
Part of it is that he needs to realize that he can look ahead for a wing or jump after the tunnel. You helped him and he got it at :43! and again at 1:43! Nice! You can also move the wing closer to the tunnel exit, so he sees it more clearly as you build understanding of staying on the line.Excellent timing on the left and right cues! And the turns looked great. Yay! He only had one question:
On the wing sends, keep moving to the wing til he passes you, especially in terms of the dog side leg. On the left send at :55, you kept moving and took a little step with the right leg, so he committed nicely. When you send at 1:05 and 1:18, for example, your dog side leg stayed back so he didn’t think he should pass you. So take the extra step to help commitment him – think of it as decelerating but rotating later (after he has passed you).Great job here! See you later in class!
Tracy
Wow, sounds like you had CRAZY weather! Glad it has calmed down.
You and Sprite looked good here!!! She did have a couple of questions, but not that many. I think it is mainly about sorting out what baby dogs need 🙂
A couple of ideas for you:
On the Go reps, you can mix in a lot of thrown reps at the exit of the tunnel. That way you won’t have to run as fast and she will still go long on the exits towards the wing 🙂 When you were hustling to get ahead, try to make a bigger connection. On the earlier reps, you were pointing forward so she was not as sure. But then at 1:26-1:28 on the tunnel – the go was good and your connection was lovely! Same at 1:35!!The other thing that I think will help her is to stay closer to the line for the left/right turns. When you were stationary, she had questions and it was harder to connect. If you run closer to the wings, the added motion will help support her and I think it will also be easier to connect to her. Keep your dog side arm back to show the connection. There were too spots where you closed your shoulder forward (rather than leaving it open to her) and she came off the line: at :29 before the tunnel and then at 1:09 after the tunnel there. Both were rewardable moments because it was a handling oopsie not a dog oopsie 🙂
Two other things that I think will help her:
The verbals before the tunnel can still be sooner 🙂 Try putting a leash on the ground about 5 fet from the tunnel entry and when her front feet hit the leash, you should be saying the left/right/go verbal. She LOVES the energy of the GO and she is turning left/right, but it is a little late so she is a little unsure.
And, to help her be more sure… repeat the verbals 🙂 She is VERY sure of her wraps verbals, those commitments looked great! And you repeated them. So you can do the same with the Go and left/right: GO GO GO GO and lehhhffft lehhhffft lehffffft and riiiiight riiiiiight. That way she doesn’t have to rely on hearing it once, she can keep going fast and process it because it will come frequently 🙂
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning and welcome! It will be fun to try to sort Riot out 🙂
Thanks for the big history. It is GREAT that he does not have an extensive trial history because that means the trial environment is pretty much a blank slate. And I agree with your sentiment that you don’t want to trial til you’ve got things more sorted out. A lot of what he is doing is stress behavior, so it is not like he is missing out on big fun at the moment by skipping trials.
>> At the AKC trial, I tried to do some tricks near the gate, but he could not focus on me, even with really good food.
Distance is your friend 🙂 Looking at thresholds: how far from the gate could he eat cookies and/or do tricks? That will tell us our starting point. And were other dogs running, or not?
Speaking of food – you mention a ball: tennis ball? Lotus ball? Both? LOL! The lotus ball with a treat it in, attached to a line and swung around can help add value that the food and the flirt pole bring.
I also really like the CU games so definitely work the pattern game in week 1, as well as the other games. Take an “all of the above” approach for now – do bits of all of them 🙂
Another question: does he bark on cue? That is a great one for engagement based on what he does!
>> Reinforcing with allowing him to sniff does not help.
Probably because sniffing and grass eating is not about reinforcement, it is about stress. So he doesn’t really want to sniff, he is alleviating stress. When he eats grass or sniffs in the ring or training, what happens right before it? Let’s look for patterns and see what happens so we can change that. Generally we see that when there has been an error and the handler stops. Even the tiniest stop can be perceived as a stressful moment. So never ever stop, he is always correct, then reward. And if you need to fix something, fix it without him before trying it with him (most young dogs have no tolerance for the starts and stops of agility handler training hahaha!)
Looking forward to seeing his games! Have fun 🙂
Tracy
