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Hi! Hope you had a great time with the guests and a fun Thanksgiving!
Great job getting her engaged with the toy here – she looked very focused for the whole video! Stays are looking great and she is driving to the wing really well!
>I had a few broken stays (edited out) but just laughed at her and told her that was funny. >
To help her hold the stay, you can move away with a more relaxed movement, and a slightly faster pace. If you move away with a bit of a crouch or slowly, it might make her more tempted to break the stay đ because it almost looks like your body is saying readdyyyyyy settttttt GO! LOL!! So walking away a little faster can actually help her hold the stay better.
The next step on this game is to lead out further so you are parallel to the wing (on the same plane as it) so you are not sending her past you to it. Then we can get you further and further away, laterally.
>Iâm really challenged by how willful she is. Iâve never had a pup like this â and with the bitey behavior she can get pretty unmanageable. My approach has been to always have treats so that she is willing to do what Iâm asking, but there are times, like when Iâm putting on a rain or fleece jacket that she is a real monster. Any suggestions for how to handle that would be appreciated. >
It sounds like she is not willful, necessarily, but communicating that she is uncomfortable with certain things (like getting coats on, for example). A lot of dogs have the same sensitivities about collars going over their heads, for example.
The best thing to do is shape her to do the things you want her to do, rather than argue with her about it. For example, the rain jacket: shape her to put her head into it and then reward her for standing still while you put the rest of it on. It is kind of like holding the head hole open so she shoves her head into it đ You can totally start with a lure for this, then let her start offering. That will feel a lot more sane and you wonât feel like you are wrestling with a beast trying to get it on. And for when you donât have the time to shape her to put it on? She can be naked on the street LOL đđ and not wear a coat.
And with anything where you and she are fighting with each other, we a tackle it with a shaping approach. You will both be happier! Let me know what she else she struggles with so we can break it down.
Nice work here!
Tracy
Hi!
Nice play at the beginning, leading to lots of engagement and a lovely stay!The ‘Find it’ with the treat in the grass was hard – he didnât exactly find it LOL! So that was distracting. You can show him the treat right before you toss it – that might help him find it so he doesn’t spend extra time looking for the treat in the grass đ
For the lateral lead out release to the barrel: He drove to the barrel better when you let him see you do the big step to it. So you can connect before the release then release the stay – then step to the barrel. The step to the barrel was generally coming before the release here, so you can try flipping it and releasing then stepping to the barrel. That is what you did at 4:51, for example (release then step) then he did it. As you do that, keep your hand nice and low so he can still see the connection – that will help him drive to the barrel too!
Great job here!
Tracy
Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving!
>Got back from FL early this morning and Beat insisted on having some fun this afternoon.>
I donât blame her, it was a boring week for the dogs that didnât compete đ
She did really well with remote reinforcement! I think âworkâ (playing and doing stuff with you without food/toys) has a lot of value on its own that she was happy to mov away from the reward station.
Yes, the toy being involved definitely made it even more fun for her. She might have been wondering why it was a food-only game (which is why she was potentially looking for it), and using the toy was both more fun and more like what she will see at a trial.
The game is a little mentally hard, so you can cue her to take the toy on victory lap before she starts taking them on her own like at 3:00.
>she wouldnât kill herself grabbing the toy off the chair so put it on the ground. Didnât see any issues with that with her and honestly with UKI allowing the toy to be placed with the leash this is probably more realistic. >
Totally agree – I donât think I have ever put my stuff on a chair in the ring for UKI.
>I used her âyou can grab the toyâ cue since it was accessible to her. I did practice step 1 with this with it up on the dog walk and used the âprizeâ cue. Since she clearly has a preference, should I use separate toy and food cues for this if the toy is up out of reach?>
You can use a separate cue for food versus toys⌠but I think that the end of the run, the marker should indicate more of a âyouâre done, letâs go get your rewardâ because it is more context-specific and wonât muddy any of the other markers. It is entirely possible that you might use some food leading up to her run, then the toy heading into the ring and as the reward at the end. She will let you know which she prefers as she starts to trial, of course, but it looks like that might end up being what works best for you both.
Since this went well, you can add more:
– have her come into the session on leash and build up to moving away from the reward station on leash, doing some tricks, taking the leash off, lining up, etc.
– if that goes well, add an obstacle or two!Tunnel threadles –
>And then we worked the tunnel threadle sequence and added in doing it âempty handedâ. >
She seemed perfectly happy to do this with empty hands! Super!
>I had to move forwards more than I thought I would to get her to take the tunnel once it was in sequence, but we got it eventually.>
Yes – ideally, you can turn and face the new tunnel entry and drive to it directly more instead of rotating towards her and then trying to flip her back out. When you were rotating towards her and pulling her towards you, she thought you were cueing a throwback/countermotion on the jump. Good girl!
At 1:06 and 1:33 you moved more directly to the correct tunnel entry and she found it really well!!
You can also work on sending her miles away to the pinwheel jump and doing the blind cross between the jump and tunnel đ
>In case you didnât guess, Pick did go to his new home in Savannah GA on Saturday afternoon. >
I had no idea! What a crazy emotional roller coaster. I wish him all the best doing nosework and living his best life. You always worked to do what was best for him!
>Thereâs all of ONE Speedstakes course, which is all Beat is eligible for. >
Hmmmm she isnât even 18 months yet, right? Maybe the club will allow mulligans on the Speedstakes course so you can play twice?
>Try running the course with empty hands? Can always pull out the toy and run with it if her brain is exploding. >
Yes – since empty hands at home was soooo easy for her, definitely try the first part with empty hands.
I personally have found that the sighthounds and sighthound mixes actually did better with the empty hands – they were better able to focus on the line. This was only for dogs who were already confident in the environment (they didnât need the support of the context cue of the toy) and she seems super confident, so I think empty hands will be easy đ
>Sheâs doing 14â at home mostly now, but Iâll stay at 12â for this trial again. >
Perfect!
>There was NO WAY I was running her in the practice ring at the Open as her eyeballs flew out of her head seeing and hearing dogs in tunnels. >
Ha! Yes! I was parked right in front of the practice rings. My young dogs who knew what agility was were VERY interested in running over there. My puppy, who doesnât know a tunnel yet, had no idea what they were so intrigued by hahaha
>We tried to work on some things ringside, but my brain was a bit distracted with the Pick scenario and was way too tired to lug the tripod along to the ring to video any of it. It didnât really seem to go all that well, but again, I was tired and distracted.>
100% understandable. The US Open is an exhausting event even without the emotional load of the Pick scenario. And there was a LOT of chaos in those practice rings anyway: people doing 100 reps, yelling at their dogs, fun times! So it is perfectly fine to have skipped working her in their or near the other rings.
Great job here! Keep me posted and happy Thanksgiving!
Tracy
Hi!
This went really well!! She had no trouble finding the backside when you cued it and took the front side when you cued it.After the backside, the RC to the tunnel worked really well. The FC after the backside put you a little in her way because she is so fast (bar down at :46 & :57). The FC will be easier to finish on time if you start it sooner – you were starting it just as she arrived at the entry wing, but you can do it one stride sooner: when she is definitely heading to the backside wing but still a stride away from it, you can do the FC so you are finished and off her line.
Or, you can do a blind cross there đ Before she arrives at the entry wing, yo can turn your back on her and do the blind to the tunnel. That will be easier and faster for you to clear her line – just be sure to make a big connection back to her when you finish the blind so she knows where to be.
One other suggestion: You can look at her more directly on the tunnel exit to cue the wing – she curls in a bit then goes back out (:04, :14) when you are not really look at her. Her line was a lot better when you looked at her more (like at :54) so the big connection does help set the line.
Great job here!!
Tracy
Well, a 20 year old vehicle can whatever she wants. And yes, travel can throw a pup off their food, plus all of the other ups-and-downs of early adolescence. I am sure he will bounce back with a bit of rest đ
T
Good morning!
>Would it also be appropriate to have him chase the treat ball when he catches up to me? He is really liking the treat ball now.>
Absolutely! The treat ball attached to a long toy is indeed a toy! One other thought (as the coffee starts to kick in): you can introduce toy-reward games away from the arena as much as possible while the weather is still good. Then when he doesnât have to think as much about the skill, you can move his favorite games into the arena and ee how he feels about the toy in a context here he doesnât have to concentrate hard on the skill itself. Then, do a one-and-done: one rep with the highest value toy, then move on to something else so he doesnât give up on the toy.
>When I throw toys for him when working outside, his preference is definitely to keep and run away with the toy for a bit. Normally he takes it while I praise and clap, he runs around and chews it for a few seconds, then will lie down with it somewhere and is totally fine at that point with me taking hold of the toy, but he definitely does not offer to bring it and if I call him he just leaves the toy where it is for me to collect. >
It is good that he has made this preference clear and we can definitely use that!
>Iâm totally OK with this system for right now but would eventually like him to bring the toy back with him as he does sometimes run quite far off the working area. >
Two thoughts for you:
– in a training scenario, you can attach the toy to a long line and when you throw it, he can have some of the freedom for his victory laps, and you can then stay directly engaged by reeling in the toy a bit and wiggling it around.>When we do the retrieve separately from other work, he consistently understands to bring the toy when I present a second toy, just does not always choose to actually switch toys, he might keep tugging on the first. >
Since the retrieve as a standalone game is going well, you can insert a behavior into the game so the retrieve gets added more to training. For example: using a short-ish straight tunnel, maybe the auntie can hold him on one end, facing you. You then set up a reverse retrieve but he goes through the tunnel on the way to you and the toy. Or you can use a wing wrap, etc – anything added as you cue the retrieve that he does before he gets to the toy.
>Is this fine to keep practicing with the second toy even though heâs not actually switching to it? I>
Absolutely! It is possible that the second toy is part of a context cue for the retrieve, so you can use it both in the standalone retrieve games and when using a thrown toy in training. So for example, using the tunnel as part of the reverse retrieve: he goes through the tunnel, you drop the toy and are running the other way, and presenting the second toy to help him retrieve. This sounds like it will work better than the cookie trade. And him coming to you and wanting to continue play with the first toy is great – we will be able to fade the context cue of the 2nd toy when he has more experience retrieving during training games.
Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Good morning!
>He struggles with change more related to his training space like all my dogs have so now I have a train with chase class where I invite 2 students I really like and feel zero pressure and they get to train and give Chase the distraction he needs and Bella has been able to come too! Itâs been amazing!!>
This is wonderful!!! This will all make everything easier as he learns to do agility in different places.
>Sometimes he needs a few sessions simply to catch on so I could send out first one and by the next time heâs got it!>
Latent learning is magic! The first session is an intro, then he sleeps on it and knows all the steps đ
>Our biggest challenge is food. He likes it but doesnât like it when training. Me learning to use a toy for some set ups has been a learning curve!!>
Yes, using a toy is a good thing to have in your toolbox for him! But also you can build value for food as a reward in work. I do it by making âeatingâ the behavior we are training, sandwiched between something fun that he loves and tugging. For example: does he love tunnels? If so, play tug, give him a cookie to eat (make sure he swallows it LOL) then when he eats it: tunnel tunnel tunnel! Then tug, then cookie, then tunnel. So it is a fun sandwiched with eating being the behavior we are building. It works GREAT! Start with high value food and as far from the tunnel as needed to get him to eat it.
Tunnel video: This game is great for inserting eating into. He definitely seemed to enjoy the tunnel!
The first rep started on an awkward angle so he was looking at the other end of it, but then things clicked into place nicely! He did a great job finding the threadle entry – he was a bit wide on the exit of the 1st tunnel as part of the double whammy, but I think that was a product of you throwing the toy as the reward on the first couple of reps. No worries, though – you can call him sooner (when he is still 6 feet before the entry) but I prefer pups come out a little straight from the tunnel so it gets easier to put them on a big line after it.Minny Pinny: To really attach the verbals, hold him by the collar, say the verbal 3 or 4 times⌠then let him go so he moves independently and you donât use physical cues to get the behavior. That is the general mode for attaching all the verbals (new cue of the verbal before the old cue of letting him go) so be sure he is wearing a collar LOL
After adding the verbal without also moving, you can add in the bumps for him to go over as he zips around the minny pinny.
He was interested in the toy so was barking a bit and jumping up a little – keep the toy a bit lower in a more natural hand position. When it is up high near your shoulder, he is going to be more drawn up to it than he would be if you had it in your hand down at your side (also great impulse control practice to be able to hold it naturally).
Serps and threadles:
He is doing well with the toy on the ground, the stay, and with coming to the serp or threadle cue. Very nice!!
Be sure you keep the threadle position different than the serp position: at 2:41, your body was entirely between the uprights and your hand had maybe 2 fingers in threadle position đ so he serped. It was a little better at 2:53 but your threadle position should have most of your body outside the line of the wing so it is very different from the serp position (where you are between the uprights).
You can move to the game where you are slowly adding motion to the serps.
He did well when George came in! Keep the toy moving because they is most engaging. When you put the toy down in front of him and it was stationary, it was not as engaging as it was when you doing it away from him.
>This last one was real life using pattens to help when George came in. Heâs still pretty shy of people!!>
He did really well with the patterns – George was venting đ and dogs read that – he was a very good boy and ignored him. He doesnât have to be a love bug and snuggle with all the different people, but the patterns and other fun games will help him ignore them and be comfy working around them.
Great job here! Have a happy Thanksgiving!!!
Tracy
Hi! Sorry for the delay! I replied in my mind but clearly never put it in writing – I blame US Open brain fry đ
This went really well:
Jump to tunnel looked great! The line up was important when starting on the jump – when she was facing the jump, it was no problem at all. On the 2nd & 3rd reps at the beginning, it looked like she was on t he line to the threadle so she read it as a threadle. I think putting it into context with the sequences is what will make that question go away.
Tunnel to jump took a moment to solidify when you were working it fro the tunnel exit: letting her see and hear the cue before entering the tunnel was key, along with your motion to the tunnel so she could commit to the tunnel. When you were working it from the tunnel entry (like at 2:06), the switch away was a little more like a RC on the entry but it still worked beautifully! Being able to get the switch away from either end of the tunnel is a great skill so you donât always have to be miles ahead of her.
Great job here! Onwards to the mini sequences!
TracyHi! I am excited to see her work in MaxPup 2! I am biased towards these hounds!
> I think a bit unsure of things that she doesnât want treats. After a while she might take some. I have gotten her to play some and tug in stores though and she loves to meet people.>
You can use toys in the pattern games! With one of my lurchers, I used a frisbee in each hand that he would tug on because early on, he would not eat. The pattern was something line: tug the toy, let go of the toy. Re-engage with me, then tug on the next toy. You will need to have decent markers for getting the toy back and for telling her to grab the toy, but the toys can be very effective in pattern games. I have video of this somewhere, I will try to find it.
Then I was able to incorporate food by getting him to eat a treat then rewarding eating with tugging on a toy đ The eating was just a behavior at first in a hard environment, not a reward. But then he relaxed and the eating did become a nice reward and now he is intensely food motivated too.
> I think Iâm going to bring one of my older dogs with us to some stores to help her feel comfortable, etc. >
Yes! Social learning works BRILLIANTLY and do it with all of my dogs. They go out to places with one of my confident, relaxed adults.
Keep me posted on how she does!
Tracy
Hi!
>
First, there have been a few bumps along the way with my knee replacement surgery (Nov 14) and recovery, so unfortunately I wonât be able to attend Fridayâs workshop at LevelUp. My recovery isnât going nearly as well as PoweRâs mom. But I hope to take one of your workshops in the near future.>Oh no! I will miss seeing you!! But I know you will be able to join us in the future đ
>The other thingâŚ.something you mentioned in the live classroom last night about repeating this class or the variation of it. I wanted to get your thoughts on what would be most appropriate for Carly and me. Carly just turned 6 months old, and between her health scare a few weeks ago, my unexpected hospital stay, and now the knee replacement weâre about 4 weeks behind in this class. >
Yes! Some of the pups started really young, so they are between 4.5 and 6 months old right now. Because they are young (and because of other life happenings) a few want to do a repeaters track where we basically have a discounted, extended enrollment for anyone who wants to get feedback on more games/advanced levels of the games. It will entail a coupon code, which I will post here and email to everyone. I will probably get it done on Saturday, it looks like the tech folks got the next MaxPup classes posted today.
> On the other hand, she is a quick learner, and Iâm fairly confident that once I can get back to training (hoping for next week in limited capacity), we could catch up before MaxPup 2 starts. Thoughts / Recommendations?>
That is also a good option: see how the next few weeks go then decide. This class ends on December 16th so you have plenty of time here! Then the MaxPup 2 class (and new MaxPup 1 classes) begin in January, so you can make the decision as we get closer to the classes beginning. You won’t get locked out of a spot so you can take your time and decide đ
Keep me posted! Happy Thanksgiving!
Tracy
Hi! These games are looking strong!
Perch work:
Good job taping the PVC to the floor so it doesnât roll!He was able to move his hind end when you were stepping towards him, but I am glad that you tried the cookie toss version of the game after you got a bit of moving with the body pressure.
Based on how he pivoted back to center after the 1st tug break, I think he might prefer the cookie toss to the side and pivot back to center version of this game – he was offering it really well! So keep trying the cookie toss version and let him offer the pivoting because that was working really nicely.Strike a pose:
Fantastic job with the rewards and with getting into the position then releasing him separately from the stay. The release happened separately from any movement and that is very effective. He was easily able to do his serp and your position next to the jump was nice and close.When you added movement, you did have to release while moving but it was still a nice clean release and a lovely serp.
>he did break once but I confused him by touching the stanchion to space myself correctly.>
Yes, I think he was just anticipating the rhythm of the release there – nice job just resetting him. I donât think it was because you touched the wing (you did a rep of basically the same thing on the other side with no questions from him) so that little bit of anticipation was probably what caused it.
You can mix in having the toy on the ground instead of a food body (it ramps up the self-control!) and you can accelerate your motion a tiny bit too!
Great job!
Tracy
Hi!
His waits are going really well!! And he was great abut getting the toy that you placed and then really great tugging on the other toy. He was SO CUTE on the 2nd one, where he pounced and had a small victory lap. What a good boy đ This was a fun easy game to help him come back from his busy weekend!Great job :)â¨â¨
TracyHi!
>I was away judging at the weekend. (My WAO-inspired senior course had many people talking lol)>
Fun! I want to see it – I requested access because the link would not let me in.
He had a big weekend – very fun! And I am glad he did well and doubly glad he is getting to see a physio. We really need these pups to enjoy the bodywork, so well done to you for getting him in nice and early in life đ
That is totally relatable – Tuesday might have been too soon to train, you both needed a longer recovery. It is Wednesday here and I still have not recovered from weekend travel LOL!
The barrel wraps are going well! He was a little less engaged than usual there but I think there were a couple of factors in play:
The wind does provide a big distraction but then the sister barking was a BIG distraction! The food brought him back int the game but the other thing you might have been seeing was the after-effect of the weekend. He had a LOT happening and did great but it also can take a week for his body to return to baseline from the stress of the travel. So give him one more day off, perhaps, then I think you will see him bounce back to normal đNice work!
Tracy
