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Hi!
These videos were helpful, it is definitely a connection issue!
>>Of course I thought right away I must not be making enough connection coming out of the tunnel, or when sending into the tunnel, but why only on one side of the set up?>>
She had questions on both sides, but on the side with more questions it is because that is her weaker sides (just like humans are lefties or righties, so are dogs) – and when asked to process unclear info AND on the harder side? She couldn’t do it, so hard more errors.
You were tending to run with your arms up and looking forward, and she is a young, small dog – so the high arms without eye contact/connection were changing the line of your shoulders, so she was not entirely sure if she should take the jump or not, even if it seems obvious (she had this question turning to her right and to her left, so it is definitely not just a side preference thing).
On the tunnel send questions – each time she didn’t go into the tunnel, it was because you were pointing with your arm out to the side and the rest of your body had turned (including connection). So it was a legit question from her, especially with 2 tunnel entries available: which one do you want when you turn. When your arm was back and you moved towards the tunnel entry, she got it nicely 🙂
For example, on the wrap video: at :09 and :27, she had questions – your arm was too high which changed the line of your shoulders, and she can’t see your eyes. When she was more successful like at :38 and 1:31 and 1:39, your arms were lower an there was more eye contact.
On the 2nd sequence (the fluffy blinds :)) same issue, sometimes on the jump, sometimes on the tunnel – all about connection 🙂 For example:
1:12 was great low arms and she committed nicely133 sequence low arms and she was GREAT – you had to hustle there and didn’t have time to get your arms up, so it was all about motion and connection, your arms were low and she was brilliant from about 1:30 til almost 2:00! Yay!
At 2:00 – as she exited the tunnel, your connection/arm/shoulder were all forward so she was not sure what you wanted. The same thing happened at 2:14 when she exited the tunnel, she could only see your back so didn’t know where to be. 2:28 was MUCH clearer there with connection! And then you turned forward at 2:32 and she didn’t take the jump.
So a couple of ideas for you:
Bearing in mind that she is only a year old and is still learning, make the connection as clear as possible – run with your arms low and look at her eyes the whole time, like you did at that 1:33 section on the 2nd video. No pointing allowed LOL! Keep your wings in!And if something goes wrong – resist the tendency to mark it or stop – that deflates her and only makes her more handler focus! If she runs past a jump, take it as a sign that you need more connection, so connect more, keep going, and reward. Then, when you try it again, connect more and be ready to reward in that spot (rather than run the whole sequence). For example, she had questions about the tunnel but didn’t get rewarded for it. So be ready to reward! And remember the 2-failure rule: if she fails twice in a session, change something to set her up for success so there are no more failures. In this case, it would be add more very direct connection as your run, and throw more rewards on the lines during the sequence.
Nice work! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
Levy is doing well with his weave training! This is totally a good time to introduce this game 🙂 2 ideas for you:Use a food bowl or manners minder or something as the reward target… he is watching you a lot because you have a giant bucket of treats and you are throwing them LOL! We don’t want him to watch you at all – so a reward target will get his eyes off you. No more treat throwing 🙂
As you add motion, add it gradually… you started slow walking, so the next step is ‘slightly less slow’ walking haha! You started moving faster and so did he, but he was not weaving, he was running. So build it up more gradually and it will be easier.
Watson did a GREAT job here!!! After the first rep, he nailed all the left sided reps and then after the first right sider rep, he figured it out and was great.
>>However, I noticed his head turn at the end when I did this, so I added some motion back end to try to prevent the head turn.>>
Sounds like Watson also needs a reward target, so he doesn’t look at you 🙂 On the demo video, I placed a toy for Hot Sauce because she was looking at me a bit as she exited.
>>Watson’s Behind the back starts: Lots of confusion as this cue looks like line up and the first time he ran into the back of my legs. LOL, I have had him do this mainly going to his right and have to teach him how to do it to the left. I am thinking I need a different body cue. What about a head tilt instead of the verbal and hand cue. Thoughts? >>
Yes, totally agree that if the cue looks the same as the line up, then you can use a different cue. Also, dogs are brilliant: if you keep your feet together here and add a different word, the hand cue can be similar (because feet together are a strong cue. Feet apart would be the line up cue. And I would definitely add a verbal (not just a head tilt) because you are going to need the verbal to help tell him when to start.
>>Also Levy has a great Behind the back going to his right. I use this in disc. Should I have another cue for doing the same thing to the left?
I use the same cue (a sound) and the direction is dictated by which hand I use: left hand means go around to the dog’s right, and right hand means go around to the dog’s left 🙂 Let me know if that makes sense 🙂
Great job here!
TracyHi!
Very nice openings on both runs!!
On the 6-7-8 line:
You might have to layer the white jump to get to the blind at 6-7 – it was late both times (he was already jumping, good boy for changing sides!). Or, you can decel at 6 and rear cross 7, that would be easy to get to.Tunnel 8 – the verbals were good on the first rep (you got very quiet on the 2nd rep :)) but he saw you decelerate and turn both times, so came out facing the wrong line. Either keep going (closer to what you did on the 2nd run), or reward him so he doesn’t get frustrated because he was correct in how he read the information.
To set the straight line, don’t peel away from the tunnel before he goes in because it turns him on the exit. Drive closer to the 8 tunnel and then turn and run a parallel line to 9 – no need to try to drive to 10 til you know he has 9, and you will still have plenty of time to get the blind.At :24 on the 2nd video, you decelerated and did a send, but that pulled the rail as you then accelerated away (the decel/send followed by acceleration is a bit of a conflicting cue, because the decel means turn but the acceleration means extension, thus the dropped bar). I think setting the parallel line from closer to the tunnel entry will propel him to 9 and then you never have to stop moving.
The info for 11-12 was really late, sounded like too much ‘here steady steady’ which made the backside cue late
On the 2nd run, keep your shoulders open (dog-side arm back) keep a BIG connection – so as he is jumping 11, you are cuing the backside and looking directly at him. Calling him and turning forward cued the front side.The rest looked lovely! On the first run, it looks like you cued the front side of 14. On the 2nd run, you did cue the threadle and he almost got it!
For the look look threadle at 14 – you can start it a little sooner and then walk through it, so he can process it with less motion. He was definitely sorting it out, but the running made it harder. You can isolate that threadle section and walk through it, moving the whole time, then gradually worked up to running.
>>So THEN, I pulled up the video of the zoom class and, boom, there it is: the exercise I need to work that back side proofing.
Yes, the live classes had a lot of backside work 🙂 We will work more threadley stuff later in the class.
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
Sorry to hear about the software issues – I hate updates because they mess everything up!Well done to you for making this fit while keeping the spacing and flow! Nice!!!
The opening looked good, I really liked the BC on the 4-5-6 line on both runs!! She had a little head check 6-7 but I think it is because it was a barrel not a tunnel, so no worries.
Excellent hustle to the blind to the next tunnel!!! YES!>> I did with and without a spin and think an earlier send and go without the spin is probably all she needs.>>
I agree with you here – the send is better both for you and for making sure you don’t cue a turn when you don’t want it. When sending her to the tunnel #8 at :37, the spin cues a turn on the tunnel exit. Her exit was hidden behind the tree 🙂 But we don’t want her to add any strides there on the way to 9, so you can send and then turn towards the next line rather than spin for fastest possible line,
Good job on the double blind handling on the 10-11 threadle! She was a little wide at 10 at :41 – that might be partially because the first BC was late (it happened as she was taking off when ideally you would start it after she lands from 9 and looks at 10. And that slight lateness made the 2nd blind late.
I typed this after the first run:
” I wonder if a FC to a BC would be better here: because you were decelerating into a send to 10, you can decel into a FC to get a great turn and it might be quicker/easier for you to then move into the blind.”And then on the 2nd run you did the FC to BC and it was GREAT! Great minds thinking alike hahaha
Wrap at 13 – decel sooner at :46, you were late so she was wide
You did a decelerated post turn at 2:05 and it looked tighter so I timed it from the landing of 11 to the entry of 14… and they were almost identical. Hmmm! I was surprised, but the wider turn had a whole lot of speed to it! If you want, try both an earlier spin so she collects and has a tighter turn and the decelerated post turn and we can time it again (For science, of course haha)The ‘tunnel’ discrimination with the barrel is hard!!!! It is more like a threadle wrap – showing it to her at 1:16 in isolation then again at 1:29 REALLY helped her understand the context. I LOVED the blind cross there at 2:11, but it made handling the ending line on your right side harder because of the position – adding the blinds on the last rep looked great! The other option there is to handle the 2 jumps after the barrel on your left, then a threadle-wrap on the 2nd to last jump!
The last rep had the best connection on the ending line, so it was very smooth. The first time through had a little bit of broken connection at :59 by looking forward during the send to the circle wrap which drew her attention, then she came off the line there (it is also possible that Min is not as used to working wings and barrels as Kaladin is :)) And then at 1:32 you were pointing forward too, so she briefly considered switching side. So whichever side you handle it on, keep your arms back and down like you did on the last rep, that was lovely 🙂
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
Do you mean he is getting the entry, then popping out? I think repeating the weave cue is fine 🙂 but he is too fast for you to need to stay and help him at the weaves with physical cues.
So, tell me more: how was he originally trained to weave? We can incorporate that into helping him weave independently. And drop me a video of what he is doing when he is popping out, so I can give you better ideas.>> I love the idea of sitting in a chair the shade and asking for behaviors…but Forrest being the heat sensitive dog he is seems to wants to pull one up beside me and ask TAYLOR (my other Weim) to demo
Yes, it has been so hot! You can move the jump and maybe the tunnel into the shade with your chair to get the game going 🙂 fingers crossed that we get a break in the heat!
Tracy
Hi! If you usually play with the toy outside the ring, totally do it in the training runs too – then stuff it in your pocket for the run, pulling it out after a sequence or the poles 🙂
T
Hi! This looks good! And you can throw the reward to the end of the poles even as you do the blind, so she moves straight through the poles even as you move away 🙂
T
Hi!
>> had a different problem on a few reps that I can’t figure out. He started running by the jumps on some of the reps. On one of them I did have some distance but still thought I was connected enough. Must not have been!
Yes, on the rep where he did the FC wrap then ran past the next jumps, you were running real fast (yay!) and praising and not connected enough and not near the jumps (not yay LOL!) so he just followed you. Good boy, good reward. So be sure to make eye contact, keep your dog side arm back, and don’t praise – then I am confident he will get on the line 🙂
>>One might have been due to the toy throw, but still I would think he’d take the jump.
Once that toy has been marked and thrown… he is fine to just go get his prize. So try to throw it more on the line to encourage him to take the jump. You can also leave the toy out on the line and race him too it, I bet he will like that 🙂
>>Do I need to reinforce staying on a jump line for awhile somehow?
You can add in throwing the toy when he is on the line, but also don’t worry about it too much – he has a good understanding and will find the lines more and more as he gets used to being outdoors (he looked good here!) and as you add more connection.
>>What do I do in this case when there’s a mistake? Still reward I assume but how do I help him understand he needs to take what’s available? >>
Yes, still reward him like he was perfect 🙂 Then on the next rep, add more connection or get closer to the jump, and don’t praise him because that draws his focus off the line.
Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
I think when we are running, our motion changes the sound of the verbals. It will be easier when the cues don’t need to be as rapid-fire and motion can match them.I think you’ll find most of the discussions of verbals and turning away in the live classes. I’ll see if I can find them.
TGood morning! Over 100 degrees…. ewwww!
>> Old habits are hard to break! I’m trying to get that turn back.
Totally agree – I had to walk around my house for weeks to practice the connection style, but it was game changing! Totally eliminated the frustration of the dog that was so mad at me 🙂 and all the dogs after him benefitted from it. So feel free to walk around your house or street, doing blinds with the toy across your body. LOL! That creates a more natural look back to the dog , without over-rotating your shoulders to connect to her.
On the video –
>> So, they have to pass you before you move out? I should be running to where the wing meets the bar, correct?>>
Yes, if you are ahead, you will want to decelerate at the wing (where it meets the bar) and let her get past you, then go forward again. When we put the handler in that spot, yo can be slightly rotated towards the next running line, so it will feel like your hip is next to the wing and not your stomach – that cues the turn better and makes it easier to move again after she passes you because you can move directly forward and not have to step back then move.
Your walk through at the beginning looked great! And the first run looked great! Great connection throughout, she had no questions. One detail – when you are sending her to the circle with your turn turn cue, your dog-side arm does not need to follow her. Your eyes can.. but the dog side arm can come back to your side as soon as she passes you – that way you won’t over-rotate your shoulders (which could show rear cross when the bar is there) and it is easier to run forward after she passes you.
2nd run looked good too! You are beginning to get past the wing a little on this one, I think it is because you are working the connection. To help for now, you can put a leash on the ground – running from the jump cups on a line perpendicular to the wing – to give yo us visual of your line. You will not want to go past that line on the ground as it will block the wing.
On the 3rd rep with the BC exit of the first circle wrap – at :34 you had your dog-side arm helping longer than needed, so it was too hard to get to the blind as fast as needed so she followed motion at :36,good girl. For the blind, as soon as she is past you – trust her commitment training and turn your hand forward and don’t let your arm swing across your body there.
You were much quicker and more connected on the next rep with the blinds, NICE!!!! Starting the blind even sooner will make it easier for you because you won’t have to be as quick. Also, bear in mind that there will be a bar there so you will have more time 🙂
The nex rep wasn’t quite as quick with the reconnection after the first circle, but the last one was and she was great!!!
Lovely work! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
From what I see on the giant European courses with the running dogs walks… if the course is set up where the handler can get way far ahead, then the handler will do it but only if there is a reason to be past the end of the dog walk – otherwise, they will send the dog across it and handle the exit with verbals. This course can allow you to meet her at the end of the dog walk, but because it comes back up the line to the tunnel, it doesn’t make sense to go down there and then sprint back, unless you have a motorcycle or something LOL!
T
Good morning!
Kim and Dr. Leslie are both wonderful. I am sure he is doing great!!Do you have video of the first jumpers course?
T
Good morning! I am glad there was less limping 🙂 And your connection looks lovely throughout the runs! Plus, you stayed in motion the whole time and that helps both of you.
1st course – yes, it was it was up close and personal LOL!!!! Great job on this run!
For the most part, he kept his head looking at the the line the whole time, which is great because we don’t want him to look up at you – the two spots he looked up a bit were on the threadle 10-11 and the exit of 14 to 15 (the 2nd time was better)
Tunnel pow pows looked great on both tunnels, I love that he does it on the verbal and doesn’t need rotation.
Speaking of rotation, you turned your feet to him on the10-11 threadle at :18, and it would be ideal if you didn’t rotate: better for staying ahead and easier for your knee.
I think the reason for the rotation was that he is not turning tightly on the left verbals, which brings in another suggestion: you can differentiate between left verbals perhaps, meaning save the ‘left’ for a jump that requires a good collection and don’t use it for jumps where he can work in moderate extension. You are using left for both types of turns, so I am not sure if he knows how much collection is needed when you want it. I save left or right for pretty tight collections (like the 10 jump) and use a ‘jump’ verbal for those moderate temperatures extensions like jump 9 here.REALLY nice collection on the 13 wrap! He was wide coming out of 14 the first time, so let him see and hear your turn verbal and FC at least 6 feet before he goes in, then keep calling him. He was great the 2nd time through there.
I couldn’t see him that that well on the ending line the first time but it looked like he was turning towards the backside over the jump before it. On this last one, you took a moment to praise him when he got the jump after the tunnel, but that made you late for the next cues – praising takes too long LOL!! So a short ‘yes’ or ‘good’ if you can fit it in, but remember to give him a turn cue before he approaches the turn jump to the backside. The backside wrap there looked good especially on the last rep!!
White circles: He also was able to look at his line the whole time here and had no questions. YAY!
Threadle opening: He was accurate on this opening but careful the first time, slowing himself down. He was more comfortable on the other reps but I would like to see him power through that opening more. He might power through running into a blind on the backside better, or even sending to 2 and doing a German turn. That way he is chasing your line. Facing him on the threadle might bee asking for too much collection. You can set up 1-2-3 at home and we can time the different ways to handle it 🙂 He has so many skills that we can choose the fastest one!
To get the layering – try setting it differently: don’t leave 2 as early, so when he arrives at 2 near the takeoff spot, you are on a good line to the layering. Then, start your go tunnel verbals and accelerate up the line on a parallel path to him, rather than pulling away.
You can also play with getting him to stay on the line to the tunnel while you pull away but keeping your shoulders open to him and facing the line, while feet turn away slightly. This is more of what you did at the end and he stayed on his line – excellent! Then you didn’t get connection on the blind so he took the straight line – note the difference on the very last rep where you made a BIG connection and he was perfect 🙂
The blind 6-7-8 was great! And you did a great job of NOT looking at him when running to the blind on the 9-10-11 line!
The middle section looked great, disconnecting to get the 10-11 blind put you miles ahead for the backside at 14 (I think he looked at the a-frame a bit :)) and then even when you are that far ahead: Stay a little closer to the line to the tunnel after the exit of the 14 backside to get a better turn to the tunnel. Try not to run laterally, as that makes the line wider.It was so funny that you could not stop watching him and ended up with the FC at the end LOL! He is very fun to watch, I understand LOL!!! We need to do more disconnection exercises – maybe put a backside on the last jump so that you don’t have time for the connection there 🙂
Fabulous job on all of these!!! Let me know what you think 🙂
TracyAh yes, I understand the heat! I was outside at 6:30am filming upcoming demos and it got hot really quickly!
>>Typically her dog walk contact is good, but it slips once in a while (arousal can bite us), so I appreciate your ideas. Running past is easier for her than behind or slowing done.
She probably has not had the proofing of “hit and hold your position even when momma is behind and reaching for the toy” – so you can add a target to help that. And, you can also have someone else reward that so you can just keep running 🙂
Stay cool!
Tracy
