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Hi!
>She will be 6 months in Jan. 4 1/2 months now. >
It is easy to forget how young she is!
>Also, whatever side I start with seems to be her best side. She gets tired or bored. Should I just do one side per session? I know, I know. Less reps per session. Baby brain.>
Yes – fewer reps, one side per session on anything new, set a timer. Baby brain indeed!
She did well with the barrel here, the concept seems to have transferred well! The cleaner your transitions from tugging into the send, the better she did. If you were too quick to send, she had questions: for example, if you got the toy back and sent but she was still looking at the toy, she would remain focused on the toy. But when you got the toy back, took a moment to connect, then sent – she was highly successful! You can also give treats as part of the transition to help get the toy back and set up the next rep.
At 1:20ish you said you were taking a break but then did a pattern game. Bear in mind that the pattern game is still work – it is just different work. A break would be getting to run around with the toy or chewing a bone or a snuffle mat or any extended period of not working š And because she worked through the break, we can see some changes in state and mechanics when you went back to it – not as easily sending to the new side, jumping up more, etc.
So for now, do one side for a minute or 90 seconds, take a break where you leave the game entirely for several minutes so she can have a mental break – and come back to the other side eventually. That won’t be as necessary as she matures but for now, it will help her a lot!
>If you think we are ready for Max Pup 2 Iāll sign up. Dot seems a bit young still. Iād definitely repeat max pup one if youāll then have 2 after the Jan class. >
We will definitely have a MaxPup 2 after a January MaxPup 1. I am also thinking of doing a ‘repeaters’ module of MaxPup 1 for any of the really young pups who want to keep working on the advanced level games, etc, before carrying into MaxPup 2. I hope to hash that out either this weekend of next week.
Nice work here!
Tracy
Hi! This went really well. Flipping the setup to work the harder side was smart!
Tunnel sends and layering the jump looked great! The only thing to add here is to use the same exact handler path but get the push to the backside of the jump instead of the tunnel.
On the BC to the backside – this was also really good! You can reconnect sooner so he can adjust his line sooner – he was moving straight for an extra stride or two until you made connection on the new side.
The FC was better in terms of getting the new line sooner (lower body rotation and not having to break connection were the key) but you will get further ahead on a big course with the blind.
>Again with the tunnel exit I didnāt cue it well and even on our second attempt I called it close to the tunnel entrance, but at least he came out looking toward me that time.>
You definitely cued the turn before he entered on the 2nd attempt (last rep) and he exited really well! Keep working on cueing the tunnel exits super early, so it is 2nd nature for you both.
Great job here!
Tracy
Hi! This is going really well!!
Most of the session was super accurate (and fast, as usual LOL!). She did really well with the verbal-only section!!! And the handling challenge went great too. A few spots of note:
She had one blooper, and it was at :32 – she started moving before he really āheardā or was processing the verbal and just took off. Oops! You held he longer on the next rep and she got it.
During the handling: you were late on the jump verbal at 1:08 (you said it when she landed but you can be saying it as she is taking off for the previous jump) but she adjusted like a superstar!
Nice job with the timing of the turn cues on the tunnel to set up the threadle slice. It looked pretty tight but you can also call her urgently to see if she can drive back even faster.
Another really good thing: the verbals are sounding really different which is going to help with processing as you add more motion!
Speaking of motion: you can start to ramp up your motion with the handling to challenge her to process the verbals even as you are going faster and faster.
Great job!
Tracy
Hi!
This went really well and ignoring that toy on the ground was HARD! Good boy!! I agree – he was very happy and engaged even though it was a hard game!
He did well with his stay and you did well giving feedback on what the release was (and when he self-released š He did REALLY well ignoring the toy to come to the hand for the serp and threadle!!
>I realize that I should have sent him to a dead toy instead of throwing one.>
The thrown toy was FUN, though š so I canāt complain about him having a great time during a game where you had to be completely stationary! The dead toy adds a significant challenge of ignoring it then going to it then bringing it back, so the reps with the thrown toy were a nice break from the impulse control challenge.
He did really well with the toy on the ground: you can use your toy marker even sooner now, cueing him to go to it even before he touches your hand. We are going to fade out the actual hand touch and get the in-the-out, because that will then allow you to start moving.
The more he works this with the toy marker, the more he will recognize the setup and start sending himself to it – so even if he kind of side-swipes your hand, you can still send him to the toy.
And I must admit that he is THE CUTEST DOG EVER when he brings it back. He prances it back to you and engages brilliantly. Adorable and excellent!
Great job!
Tracy
Hi!
>When I submitted my last Minny pinny video I was using verbals and you told me it was too soon. I actually listen sometimes! :). So, you are correct I did not use them this time.>
Ah yes! She was not quite zipping around it last time and the verbals seemed more distracting than helpful. But she is zipping around the setup really well now, so it is time to add the verbals.
> Should I add the jump bumps too? If so, all three or just the center one?>
Add the center one without the verbals for a rep or two. If she zips around it, add the verbals. And if she zips around the setup, you can add the other bumps in the next session.
>Iām hoping to try rocking horse tomorrow or Friday outdoors with the portable laundry baskets. But, itās supposed to rain again so it depends how soggy my grass is.>
Since the weather is not fully cooperating, you can play with revisiting the laundry basket inside, just playing with one and build up the value for it.
>Yes, sheās definitely more engaged. Yay! Some progress.>
It is fun to see!
>Are you running Max Pup one again in Jan? I thought I saw a FB post about that. I feel like Iāve left out a ton of material. But, otherwise weāll just move on to Max Pup 2.>
Yes, probably mid- to late-January in a slightly different format. But also, MaxPup 2 works great for pups who have done the baby level of all the various handling games. Anything in the advanced level gets built in really nicely in MaxPup 2. How old will she be in January?
T
Hi!
>Iām going to use your word ākiss kissā for tunnel. I have not done this one before. I use āpull pullā for threadles in general.>
I used to have one word for any type of threadleā¦. But then the judges got even wiser and put jumps right next to tunnels, so the dogs needed separate verbals to know if they should threadle the jump or the tunnel. Darned smart judges LOL!
She did great in the session here! I thought she was going to start without you as you were getting ready at the beginning LOL!
She seemed perfectly happy to turn away on cue in both directions (after almost clonking her head the first time turning to the left). She has a little ore trouble turning to the left when you were fading your arm help a bit towards the end, s for now keep that little bit of hand āswooshā to help her turn away to the left.
You can extend the length of the tunnel and add the double whammy game – I think she is ready for it!
Threadle wraps – she is definitely beginning to get he concept here! One thing that I think will make them even smoother: You can lower your hands for now, to help her turn away. Try giving the hand cues don by your hips (closer to her nose level).
Having your hands up at chest level was causing her to look up a bit which made it harder to turn away. When your hands were just a little lower at the beginning of the 2nd side (left turns) she got the turns better! When you brought the hand cue high again, she had some questions. And when you are running and using this cue on course, the hand cues will probably be lower, so working that in these early stages will be good for you both!Great job here :)āØāØ
TracyHi! She did great with the minny pinny and also with the staying engaged even in the in-between moments! I love that she was standing there looking at you as you were getting ready for the next rep.
Any movement away from you was actually her trying to start the minny pinny LOL! She also had one question when you pointed then dropped your arm backā¦ but she caught herself and continued around the wings. That is great!
And you made it a little harder on the last 2 reps by doing the FC when she got to the middle wing – she was perfect. Then you ended the sessionā¦ click/treat for everyone! Super!I donāt think you were saying the left/roht verbals here, so you can totally add those. And you can start the FC even sooner: just before she arrives at the middle wing. Then if that goes well, start it just after she arrives at the first wing.
Great job!
TracyHi!
>I especially enjoyed when he reversed in order to tell me it was time to go the other direction. We hadnāt even tried that direction yet, he just knew!>
Right! That was hilarious!!! He was like ākeep up if you can, humanā LOL!!!
He also had a moment in the video below where he was like ālook at me, leading with my head into the turnā at :54-ish when he started without you. Too funny! And the whole session went really well. The bumps were easy to add, so the next step is to add the verbal (holding him, say it 3 or 4 times, then let him go). And after a few reps, if he is still fine with it all – add in the FC and run (turn-and-burn style) because that will make it even more fun!
Backside circle wraps are going well! His commitment looks really good! When he was ahead of yo, he was nice and tight into the turn because he could lock onto the barrel (like at 1:07). When you wee ahead, he had to go wide to get around you – so you can tuck in to the inside of the barrel til he ias past you, so the turn can remain tight to the barrel.
You can add his backside wrap verbal here, and then add more motion in the form of you moving faster.
I agree, the threadle wraps are going well! The left side seemed easier but I also think you were closer to the barrel and decelerating a bit which totally helped – he he got the right turns nicely when you stayed closer and decelerated
You can move to the next level of the one where we add a barrel wrap before the threadle wrap – that will add a bit more motion too, so it is another place to decelerate and be near the barrel until he turns his head away and starts the wrap.
Great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
The morning session looked great – he turned really nicely on the tunnel exit when you cued him – great timing with the left verbal and the decel! He also drove straight nicely too – didnāt curl into you or consider the other jump that was off his line. Super! My only suggestion is that for the straight line exits, you can give a straight line verbal cue before he enters the tunnel (like āGo!ā And keep saying it to support the line to the jump after it.
In the afternoon session, you had more physical cues on the left turn tunnel exit (brake arms and also a spin on the tunnel entry, along with decel) and that also helped get a nice turn! Just be careful to *not* use the spin (like at 1:51) when you want the straight line, because we donāt want to dilute it as a turn cue.
The first real question he had was when you were serping while also staying in motion at 2:11 (the previous serp rep worked but you stopped moving up the line). The motion was correct, so we need to figure out which cues help him (and also expose him to the possibility that yes, we might alternate between straight line and serping in this context).
I think this is where cues before the tunnel (go versus a strong name call or turn cue) will help a lot! Using your GO verbal and a post turn go the best results later in the session. Compare that to 2:37, for example – you did a spin on the tunnel entry and you were saying āoverā I believe – but the spin cues a turn and over could be either jump so he took the serp jump instead of the straight line.
The GO helped on the rep where he accidentally took you out! You can throw the toy on the go lines, for self-protection š And it helped on the reps after that too š
When you want the turn and you are moving on the parallel line – that first rep is the hardest if he had just gone straight. The motion looks basically the same (he had an easier time serping if you decelerated or pulled away, but you will want to be able to keep moving forward and serping) so the upper body and verbals are what need to be different. I think a STRONG name call/turn cue (even brake arms!) before he enters the tunnel will help. You can spin but I am not sure you will be able to get far enough up the line for the serp. But the strong cue will help a lot – you were using his name quietly towards the end of the session, but that was after he had already figured out that going straight was not the right answer š So to get it on the first rep, try a really strong name call/brake arms – and keep calling him as you serp the jump.
The blind worked great here! You were prioritizing the side change/new connection and that got it done every time (even the one rep that was a little close :)) He was able to really see the side change even with all the motion.
Great job here!!
Tracy
Yay! Those are big steps forward! I like that they are beginning to coexist peacefully š Bringing a puppy into the house can certainly be challenging but it is super fun when everyone settles in š
T
Hi! This was a great session to help us figure out how to help him regulate his arousal. Arousal is unavoidable in dog sports and it is actually helpfulā¦ so we need to work it out at this stage.
>ust so you know, I have been doing the toy game you gave me A LOT. It has helped, but as today shows, it has not yet resolved the issue . . . >
That game is super structured and ask a very specific question without a ton of arousal. The volume dial game is all about āmessyā arousal and we got some good answers here!
But OUCH about the chomp first aid!!!! You can always leave profanity in, I would not be offended and I might have dropped an F bomb when it happened on the video.
>but I still love him, lol.>
Of course! The arousal is what is going to make him an absolutely fantastic sport dog!! And he is very lovable. And we will get a handle on the arousal for sure.
A couple of ideas for you:
– since this game is all about teaching his body to self-regulate arousal, you can definitely add in food whenever the toy is in use. A little bit of tugging then food rewards, especially when you ask for him to give the tug back. It can be something like 75% food, 25% tug for now.
– you an incorporate decompression right into this game: arousal with the toy/food volume dial game, then a snuffle mat, then arousal with toy/food, t hen a snuffle mat. It really helps balance the physiology. Here is my āchompiestā dog doing it (only a toy here but I also use a ton of food with him):
About the toy: when you are working with the toy, I think he needs to know where it is so he actually thinks about it *less*. When you had it behind your back, he was thinking about it a lot! Looking there a bit, not ale to process cues as well, etc. So you can put the toy someplace where knows where it is and can see it. Normally I would say something like just keep it in your hand in front of you or stick it in an armpitā¦ but I worry that he might chomp for it so for now, just put it on up a table nearby. He can see it and if he feels the need to grab it, your flesh is not in danger.
And when you do present it to him to grab, deliver it lower so it is more at your knee level and less up by your chest, or you can dangle it out to the side. That will require a little more impulse control for him to let you get it there before you tell him to have it (but that is a good thing!) – but it will also reduce the grabbing in areas where it really hurts if he misses the toy and gets you instead.
Let me know how he does with the food being the bulk of the reward and the toy just being a small part of it.
Nice work here!
Tracy
Hi!
>So, Iāll have to do more in and out. Unfortunately, she canāt really be loose in the kitchen as she constantly steals items off the table or jumps up onto the counter tops, chews the cabinets or chairs etc>
Yes, more in and out but also supervised hanging out in the house goes a long way. The snuffle mat for a few minutes is good, and then she can be hooked to you or hanging out on a mat while you move around and do stuff in the room for a few more minutes. That will also help her settle in to being loose in the house.
> She hasnāt earned many free privileges yet.>
I don’t think puppies earn it š I think it is a whole lot of supervision and cookies for being in chill on a mat š or playing with a toy.
>We tried rocking horse 2 in the house due to rain and wet grass outdoors. The good news is sheās better able to function in the living room. Yay! Iām still struggling with getting her to send. So, the BC is too late as Iām literally in top of the cone to get her to commit.>
Her commitment skills have really blossomed! So cool!!!! For the sends, the less you use your arm to point forward, the better she sends. When you were pointing ahead to try to send her, she always stopped and looked up. So try to keep your arm back and look at her more as you step to the cone, rather than swing your arm forward. That will keep the connection even more visible!
The other thing which will make it easier to get the blind is using a bigger object to go around. The cone is small so once she starts to wrap, she is basically finished with the wrap in a heartbeat. Yo can revisit a bigger barrel for her to go around, which will give you more time to get the BC in more comfortably.
Nice work here!
Tracy
Hi!
>The bar was locked into the jump cup- yikes!>
She is a powerful girlie!!!
Thanks for the threadle wrap link!! She is doing really well when you started next to the barrel: once she has turned away, she is fantastic about finishing the wrap. Yay! I think what was happening with the motion when you were both moving forward was that there was too much countermotion: if you were moving steadily past the barrel and wanting her to turn away, there was a cue conflict so she was not sure where to be (especially when she needed to turn right and you were still moving). But when you decelerated a bit by the barrel: she nailed it (like at :10, and also at :58).
So you can be moving up the line – but when you get next to the barrel, decel and hold your position: then when she begins to wrap away, you can move forward again. Decel is actually a big part of the cue even at the highest levels so it is fine to use it here š
Great job!
Tracy
Hi!
I am a firm believer in the 2 mistake rule, but it appears that i cannot count. >>
Ha! Same here. And it is always easier to see these things by watching the video than it is to feel/see them in the moment.
>I was having a very negative nancy day because it had been a hard week, and I had a bad nightās sleep due to all the adult beverages, and other things too numerous to enumerate.>
Oh no! Hoping you got some good sleep now!
>(I had braces, I would never wish those on a dog)>
SAME!!! But people here do it, so I am glad to hear Barry will not need it š
>I hope UKI is going/went ok. Iām always available to help course build/ring crewā¦. just the minor matter of distance, and Iām not sure Iād be allowed through your border as an official Union delegate.>
Just a small distance! We begin tomorrow morning at 5:30am. Sigh. And I am not sure you would want to come to this crazy country when you live in beautiful New Zealand!!
>I apologise, put your sunnies on before viewingā¦ the legs are out again.>
Mine are even worse LOL!
This session went great! Lots of movement, lots of reward, and lots of success even with weird distractions (like the rando guy behind the camera). I think that was playing into why he went *next* to the tunnel a couple of times rather than through it – nice adjustment to change sides and then he was successful.
āØ>We managed to move the skill on too, even with all the distractions, we managed to reduce the lure.>Yes, that was great! It was so funny when the toy was on top of the tunnel – he was like WHERE DID IT GO haha
You can play with more of the threadles/double whammy and even start to curve the tunnel a bit.
Great job!
Tracy
