Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Good 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 don’t need a Go verbal after the tunnel exit to the jump before the left/right pinwheel jump – a general ‘jump’ 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 doesn’t make a big difference on low bars, but when he is jump 20” 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 🙂 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 🙂
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) Don’t worry too much about it right now>>Yes – just the facts, ma’am 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 “why are we doing this again” 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.
You’re 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 don’t know what you gave him right before you started here, but he was all GAME ON LET’S 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 didn’t 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 doesn’t watch you at all, then you can build up to running by 🙂 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 🙂 I always use a placed reward for this game.
Countermotion – yeah, this is an awkward game because the rotation is soooooo early 🙂 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 didn’t 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 🙂
>>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 don’t want to rush the process!
So keep notes on how how the July trial goes, and then we can plan for August 🙂
TracyHi!
>> Yes, I have a set of 12 channel weaves…included 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 🙂
>> We have not even trialed at the NOVICE level yet as he is too distracted by everyone else involved in a trial…so he needs to mature mentally. But that’s OK…we 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 🙂
TracyHi!
>> the fact that 360 backside wraps are not her strongest skill and
We will be working more on these in coming weeks, both the normal 360s and also the super popular threadle-wrap version!
T
Good morning!
Good girl Gemma! I think she watched calmly when you did puppy stuff in the house, so I am not surprised she was so good here 🙂
>> Sprite as she was not reliably coming through the gap.
It was a motion thing – you were stopping in between the first and 2nd wings, so there was no gap to come through.
Keep moving through the FC – you stopped and tha is why she went to the middle wing or the wrong side when you did the blind. If you are connected with the cross body connection, she will read the line as you keep moving.
>> Gemma nailed the double blind! But, I also trust her more and kept moving and was closer to the middle jump.
Yes! It is the line of motion that gets the info to the dog that is it not the middle jump.
Bearing in mind that this is more about teaching handling than teaching a dog skill – if you get it right, she gets it right 🙂 So, don’t place a toy… she is going to get rewarded either way and this is a handling game. By placing the toy, she figured out the line by slowing down on the FC rather than driving through it, without you having to keep moving. We went her to be a mirror of your handling, so if something goes wrong, keep moving and reward as if she was perfect (because she was :))
Nice work! Hope it cools off soon!!! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
You’ve mentioned mechanics a few times now… to improve your mechanics, run it several times without him and video tape that. Watch it, see it if makes sense… then run it with him. If you are trying to run him AND sort out the mechanics while running? Something will go wrong. Mechanics are rehearsed skills and definitely better to rehearse without the dog.
>> He seems to like it when I run and only use my arms occasionally.>>
Yes – try to keep your arms back and down, and make more connection (eye contact) as you run. That will help him find the lines and keep the bars up (at :31, for example, your arm was out to the side and there was not a lot of connection so he dropped the bar. Compare that to :36 when you were really connected, not using arms much at all, and he found the line to the tunnel perfectly).
Try to use more of a lead out 1-2 to line him up straight. Starting with him and on an angle creates a zigzag line to the tunnel. It looked much better on the 2nd run at :26 and :50
Wraps – decel and turn before takeoff – the wrap cues started after takeoff at :08 and :32 and :55 so he was wide. When he has landed from the jump before the wrap, start decelerating and using your verbal, then rotate into the FCas he is passing you and getting close to the jump.
Also note that the toy was in the dog side hand at :09 and he was fine to ignore it. Now, the toy can be in the pocket, that is fine, but he is also not distracted by it when the handling is clear. This is a really engaging toy, so keep using it! And if something goes wrong, it is probably a connection issue 🙂
Nice work! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
>> I cannot drive an hour, sometimes two, one way and spend the entire time getting him to tug when I rent time. He wanted nothing to do with tugging so I’m sorry but I had to try other things and tried to keep him engaged.
I think I am not explaining this all that well… sorting out this reward stuff is definitely not about just getting him to tug everywhere. It is about engagement with you and with the reward, and expanding the ‘toolbox’ of rewards you use so you can train more effectively and build up more skills while also getting him comfortable in a new environment. A limited toolbox of reinforcement means a limited skill set that can be trained. And when you mentioned not being engaging with the rewarding, it was because you were going to your comfort zone way of rewarding: dropping a lotus ball or dropping a treat then disengaging. You can start expanding the toolbox at home and then taking it on the road, but definitely bring engaging reinforcement on the road!
So no, don’t spend the whole time trying to get him to play tug – but DO spend time using a bigger variety of reinforcement and working on the mechanics of how to train more than working on the sequences or crosses. Working the mechanics now, in these early stages, will make a lifetime of difference. Sequences are easy! Mechanics are hard. Let’s focus on the skills that will make the future easier for you both.
On the rear cross videos –
He is doing well reading the rear crosses! You can mix in more driving up the line and flowing straight too, to keep the balance of speed on the line.
>> I had to quit putting the toy in my hand, he wanted to watch it..>>
Actually… it was a handling error. Don’t blame the toy LOL!
At 1:48- You turned forward when you said tunnel and disconnected… which is a rear cross cue. The toy happened to be in your left hand, but he did not cross behind you to get the toy – you cued him to do it with the disconnection. When that happens, keep going like he is correct and then play… because he is correct. He was not cutting behind you for the toy, and I am glad he played at the end.On the 2nd video, he was not watching the toy too much either. He was watching your cues, and reading them well! This seems to be an engaging toy, so definitely keep using it as you smooth out the handling. Try to drive in closer to the tunnel here so you don’t end up getting too far ahead or decelerating too soon.
Nice work here! Onwards to the FC!
TracyHi! Both of these are looking really great and I think there is one small tweak for each one that will make all the difference:
First videoL
I think one thing that will help here is to spread out the jumps more, so you have 18-20 feet in between (competition distance). They are pretty close together so that makes the timing hard! With a little more room, you will easily be able to get these crosses in 🙂The wraps look good – if you get ahead of him, stay on takeoff side of the jump (hanging out at the wing) and let him pass you rather than getting past the jump to the landing side, which widens the turn like at :07 and :44.
I think your timing was good at :23 of starting the blind – you can be further across and not as close to the jump after the tunnel, which will help you get in between the next 2 jumps sooner. But also, more distance between the jumps will help because he has more yardage to travel, which makes your timing much easier. You were a little later starting at 1:05, so definitely stick to the timing you had at :23.
The speed circles at the end looked great!
On the 2nd video:
>> Do you know how many years I’ve been focused on trying to get to a spot myself instead of starting the cue when the dog is at a certain spot?I can totally relate – all of our early agility handling was about “get to position, then do the turn” but that turned out to be super late for the dog LOL!!! So it takes some practice to unwind that and do the turn based on where the dog is, not where we are 🙂 You are totally getting it!
The blinds here are looking good! The one thing now to add is – wings in! When you arms are fully extended and you are doing quick blinds, it delays your turns and he can’t see the new connections as quickly. So keep your arms in tight to you (bent elbows, biceps to ribs) and work the blinds based on connection (eye contact) and not arms. The arms can get you in trouble, like at 1:14 where you never got connection so he didn’t change sides 🙂
The crosses on the middle wing are going well too! I think you can trust him more and leave to the tunnel sooner, so he wraps that wing even more independently.
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyWOW! These are runs to be proud of!!!!!!! I love that regional and it was great to see him doing so well there! Good boy! There was so much independence and understanding out there on course, and you were so connected! And you trusted him and drove the lines – NICE!!! Definitely running with intent to win and he loved it! My only suggestion might be to lead out less so he blasts off the line more? Otherwise these runs look fabulous!! Yo were smart to pull him from the Friday night run, he was just tired (and really, who runs agility on Friday nights? LOL!!)
Great job! Rest up and I am looking forward to the package 2 games!
TracyGood morning!
>> Soooo, I just realized that Grizzly has a verbal command for a treadle such as in the black circle course from 10-11. I say “hoap”. I am pretty sure that if I had used it I would have not needed to rotate as much as I did!!
Ah! Do you have a written list of all his verbals? You can review it before you start big courses to be sure you remember to use them 🙂
>>Oh well, I am just like my digestive system, very slow to process hahaha
Ha! Yes, I totally understand that feeling LOL!
>>Now about the “Live Class 1”. I am not sure if I set up the course too tight, I have more room in the backyard to make it bigger, so I am not sure what is better for me and Grizzly at this time. As I mentioned in my prior note, I do better with him in UKI than in AKC, I really don’t like the “close quarters” that we have to run in AKC, and that is why I refused to do Premier with Grizzly in AKC.>>
Yes, AKC Premier is really bad spacing for 24” dogs (most AKC is difficult spacing for 24” dogs!) I don’t think you set it up too tight, there were other things happening – see below 🙂
On the video:
Seq 1: the layering was hard because of connection issues – you had a big disconnect coming out of the 4 tunnel as your right arm came up and pointed forward – it looked like the beginning of a blind, so he thought it was a blind to the jump right there. (Also at :28). :32 was clearer because you had more connection. In those moments, just keep going rather than stop – the stopping worries him and he was reading the information correctly.On the 2nd rep – you decelerated over the 3 bar but told him to go forward, which was a conflicting cue so he dropped the bar. You had a lot more motion on the 3rd rep and he got it nicely 🙂 So be sure to accelerate with all of your Go cues.
Nice job on the backside and ending line! He reads that flip away to the tunnel really well, provided you do it before he is lifting off so he can adjust. You were late on the flip away at 1:00 – much better timing on the first rep and at 1:12, you were already flipping him away as he was lifting off. Then at 1:14 You praised and moved away but didn’t say tunnel… so he didn’t go in the tunnel, good boy! Don’t stop on that either, he was correct.
Seq 3 – This one started out really slow and accurate (see my thoughts on that below) and he got faster at the end. The run went well, but I want him to go faster.
>> Then I tried to combined #1 & #3 and I also failed (I thought it will be a good idea). So be patient, this one is not as fun to review ha!
When you combined them, lots of bars and he was slowing down – it might have been that there was too much collection and too much stopping, plus he was hot. So if you combine sequences, makes sure that you mix in a lot of speed lines so he can run in extension for parts of it.
2 general observations:
>> One good thing I am noticing, is that I am able to feel when I disconnect and cause a problem in course more that I used to. So progress
Yes! It is good to feel the disconnection! In those moments, though… keep going even if it is the wrong line. When you stop, he gets worried. Even if you stop and toss the toy – he gets worried and slows down to get more accurate. That, plus stopping for bars and other oopsie moments is why he was slower by the time you got to sequence 3 – he was being very careful. We don’t want him to run carefully, so if something goes wrong, just keep going and fix it on the next rep. He probably knew it was wrong when it happened, so no need to stop him to discuss it LOL especially if it was handler error like being late or disconnected.
One other thing to remember – try to keep your verbals sounding more different in terms of rhythm, pitch, length, etc. You tend to say the verbals twice and at the same pitch and rhythm: left left, corre corre, back back can alls sound the same that way. So plan your verbals to make them sound very different, and that will totally help!
Nice work here 🙂 Let me know what you think!
TracyHi! You have totally made progress with this! So much of it is smooth, fast, and connected. Nice!!!
>> I tried to send further from the jump which works but I think I need to practice moving more away from him. I think I am waiting until I see him take the jump before I move.
Opening – yes, I think you are waiting a bit too long to move which makes you late showing the line 3-4 – you don’t have to get as close to 3 or turn to line up to it – you can be more laterally on the line, and handle the line instead of each jump, to set up the turn to 4 sooner.
>> On the first run, I was late for the blind and I couldn’t find him. He was very patient and just stood there until I did connect and then we continued. This was different!>>
The BC 6-7 is definitely going to work! The errors there are not as much of a late thing as they were a connection thing: When you are finishing the blind, you need to look for him with your eyes (making eye contact) after a blind, not with your hand – that is why he didn’t know which side to go to on the first run, and on the 2nd run he cued off of your motion and went into the tunnel. You made much better connection on the blind 10-11 both times and they worked really well!
The middle section is looking good, and you worked out the 14 backside nicely on that last rep – the threadle to the slice will be the best solution there.
On the 15-16-17 line, get those verbals going sooner and repeat them – only saying them once risks the possibility that they will get lost in the action of everything happening (like you only said it once at 1:21 and he had a question and ended up in the wrong end of the tunnel). You can repeat them as many times as possible and maintain connection to help him find the line.
The ending is smoother too! You can have a placed toy or MM at the end for now, so he doesn’t look back on that last jump – he dropped it twice, looking back as you fell behind and got quiet (probably trying to breathe LOL!)
Great job! Let me know what you think! You can definitely leave this now and move into the other sequences or package 2.
Tracy
