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Hi!
I think he enjoyed his toy races!! Yes, he was happy with you holding his collar and he seemed to have no questions about you adding your running plus more distance to the toy.
He was also BIG MAD when you won on one rep. I mean, he was just sauntering along and seemed to assume he would win on that rep, so excellent job to you winning LOL! And that was the end of the winning for you: after that, we saw how much faster he could actually go. Good boy, Lew!!!!
One interesting thing on this session is that he turned to his right on every single rep. Why was it interesting? Well, normally the dogs turn towards us based on which side we are on for this game. The right turns were all away from you! So, maybe the is Lew-speak for “I am a righty”.
Keep this in mind when you start the Turn And Burn game which is now posted: start him on your left side, which cues a right turn, to help make it easier for him to learn the game.
Great job here! Onwards to the new games!!
Tracy
Hi!
>but struggles more going from toy to food still working on this. >
Try creating a fun loop that involves food: toy –> food –> work (like wrap a barrel or something he loves and is really good at) –> toy. So the *food eating* is the behavior and it is rewarded with work and the toy.
>Retrieve is a struggle can get him back almost most of the time- sometims get it back . value definitely with toys but not as obcessed as In Synch.>
For now, keep the toy on a line and keep making it fun for him to bring it back, without allowing opportunities for him to run off with it.
T
Oops forgot to answer this part:
>So far I have: Get It- thrown food or toy, TRADE- drop whatever is in your mouth (good or bad) for a cookie GOOD- I hand deliver cookie YES- come to me for cookie. >
These are great!
>I would like to add STRIKE-toy reward in my hand to grab & tug with me. Do I just repeat the word when she does this action & that’s how she’ll learn what it means?>
Pretty much! Say “strike” before you move the toy. After you say it, present it to her to grab. Being consistent of saying it before you move the toy will help her learn the new marker.
> CATCH – how do I teach this? 😀 I throw cookies at Sunnie and she looks at the ground waiting for them to drop LOL!>
Well, true confessions – my dogs don’t actually catch the treat or toy either LOL but they do know that I am throwing it back to them. You say the word (without moving) then throw the reward back towards the dog – and the dog is allowed to move to get it.
> Do I need a marker word for a dead toy or dead lotus ball? >
I think it depends on where it is. Out ahead? Your ‘get it’ will work nicely for that!
>I never had more than 3 marker words with my previous dog. I only taught her what they meant during the past 2 years. I would just say all the words all the time SMH.
Having a handful of markers is very effective!! Don’t try to add a zillion because then it all does get harder to remember 🙂
T
Hi!
>Dot is still strugglimg to pay attention in enviroments.>
I think she is actually doing well for a puppy that just turned 7 months old and doesn’t have a lot of experience in different places.
She did GREAT with the 2 bowl game right next to people having a conversation! She was quickly re-engaging after getting the cookie (she might have lost one of the cookies, so that rep took longer to re-engage 🙂 ) The up-and-down with bowls is effective because the bowls are a great focal point.
For the back and forth pattern game was a little harder, possibly because it put her closer to the distractions of the people really close. You can play this game a bit further away. Also, for back and forth, you don’t need to feed her in front of you from your hand because it makes the pattern less predictable: toss the reward to the other side so she can keep moving back and forth.
In the harder environments, you can also go up in food value: whip out stuff that is really enticing! Use small bits and work short sessions so she doesn’t get an upset belly. But high value food like chicken or meatballs can go a long way to helping with engagement!
Nice work here!
Tracy
Hi!
Hi!>We sometimes struggle staying engaged.>
I see what you mean on two of the videos – the find the jump and the minny pinny. Definitely try to play with her on the way to the setup and before you send into the first rep. At the beginning of the find the jump game, you she was not really engaged and you started.
But, mainly the disengagement is stress sniffing when she doesn’t know what you want or you stop because she didn’t do what you intended… but the cue was not clear so she was actually correct. And when you indicated she was wrong: she got stressed.
A good example of that was in the find the jump video on the first rep: you turned away from the tunnel before she had really locked onto it, so she followed the turn of your shoulders – then you stopped so she sniffed.
So a new rule: no stopping! Reward her because it is more than possible that the error was yours not hers 🙂
When info was clear and she was correct – she was very engaged for the rest of the session. SUPER!!!
You can add more distance and running here! She found the jump really well so she is ready for more challenge 🙂
The zigzags went really well! You were blocking her line at :36, good job rewarding her because it was not her fault that she went to the other side of the wing 🙂
Her stay is looking strong here so you can lead out to the 3rd wing and see if she can zig zag with you out there!
Minny Pinny – this is also going well. Because she is still sorting out her footwork, you can use bumps instead of bars (she was hitting the bars).
One thing that will help to get more success: She did much better if you held her by the collar to let her hear the verbal 3 or 4 times before you let her start moving. If you were not holding her and you were moving and she started moving on the first word, she was not always sure of where to go and also was hitting bars. So be super consistent with holding her so she can process the verbal before she starts moving.
For the turn aways, if she has trouble turning away and you are holding her – you can place the reward between the bumps to help direct her focus.
Nice work here!
Tracy
Hi!
>I’m having issues with my Internet being slow or not even connecting so I’m not sure I’ll be able to get more video up today.>
Ugh, that is frustrating!!!! Fingers crossed for cooperative internet!!!
Good job angling the jump right from the start! That definitely helped her
On the first rep here, she was a bit distracted by something in the environment (motorcycle?) and you were going fast so she ran by.
But on the other reps, when you were not as fast and also really visible between the upright of the serp jump, she was great, finding the serp easily.You can leave the angle on the jump for now – she had nice reps on the other side too, but also sometimes ran past – so for now the angle of the jump so the line is easier will really help her.
The further away you could send her to the start wing, the better the serp jump went in terms of you being able to get to great serp position without having to run. When you had her at your side and you were looking directly at her as you started the send, the great connection helped support the send really well! Good example of that were at 1:11, 2:25 and 2:40.
>I think I might try using the colored hand target to see if that helps a little more too.
>You totally can! And you can shake the serp hand too – that motion might help her drive in on the serp too1
Great job!
Tracy
Hi!
> He won’t lure if he doesn’t think the activity is a good idea. >
That is good feedback from the dog. You can start the training by taking for his feedback on what he wants to do: which toy? Which treats? Let him pull you towards which obstacle he wants to play with. That bit of agency might be HUGE for his resilience during adolescence!
>He generally is good with sitting now but it took him a while to get onto the sit and he preferred either stand or down previously. >
You can also build up love of a platform (cato plank or something) if he doesn’t already love it, and mix in using that as a starting point.
>I needed to remind myself what I frequently tell others, every day is different with adolescents.>
True, so very true!
>I think he is definitely feeling frustrated with the reduction in outdoor running time.>
That frustration might be something he carries into other training. Are there things indoors he can do that can alleviate that? Shred things? Usually guided destruction is helpful LOL
>Happy to report he seems much more emotionally level today so far even though we are still in extreme cold and he couldn’t stay out long. Perhaps he also didn’t have good sleep the previous night as you suggested.>
In the training center, you can also start with crazy running like chasing a frisbee or something to let him get the joy of the endorphins and adrenaline, all before asking for training. I usually like to train first, but sometimes letting the pups blow off pent up energy is the best way to start.
Keep me posted. I can’t wait for the snow to melt and spring to come!
Tracy
Hi!
> She’s so smart she was doing what she knows, the hooman was on the wrong page >
Think of it as she is a good communicator. Whenever a puppy is insisting that something is supposed to be a certain way, the puppy is generally correct and we have to figure out what they need 🙂
>Honest opinion, should I not continue with that game since we will be using bowls with you? >
For MaxPup, we are almost done with the bowls as of tomorrow and if we do bring them back out, we can use your marker.
>Or is it too late, she “knows” that exercise/picture already. I don’t want to confuse her either.>
For the bowls, it is good for her to know that stillness is not the only application of getting the bowl… And the bowl being there does not mean she goes directly to it (only go to it after the marker). So, everything in balance 🙂 You can keep trying the stillness game but the bowls can be used in other ways too (like she did with the barrel here) so she understands that it is not something to stand still and stare at 🙂
>We went back to the barrel with moving the bowls behind me. She caught me a few (ok maybe many LOL) times moving the bowls which interrupted her flow. >
She did great! And yes, the challenges were because she saw you moving the bowls and wondered if she needed to pay attention to that LOL!! And that barrel was pretty far away – she did great! This game transforms into something lots more fun starting tomorrow – you’ll really get to see her run!
Great job here!
Tracy
Hi!
The toy races went really well!
On the first rep, having the toy already stationary and walking him away was unclear for him, he didn’t know what to focus on. But on the next reps: throwing it then doing a toy race? Perfectly clear. Yay! He did a great job driving forward to the toy and didn’t seem to mind your motion at all. Keep adding distance so he feels really comfy driving forward and ahead of you.The wobble bird session also went well! You made a helpful choice to put a finger on the board when it started to wobble too much (he was shaking because he is too young to have lot of course strength). Holding the board so it wobbled less really helped him get confident. Super! You can ask him to do sits and downs on it, and even turn around (a hand lure for this is helpful).
The self-control game is going well, he was able to ignore the toy even when he had to pass it to go to the wing. That is great! You can tie a line to the toy, so when he does get to it you can grab the line and hold it so he doesn’t take off with it 🙂
It was hard to see on this video: was he looking at the wing when you let go of him? If yes – great! If no – you can wait until he looks at the wing to let him go around it.
Nice work here! New games coming tomorrow!
Tracy
Hi! Good sessions here! She is interested in the wobble board but not yet fully in love with it in these sessions. She did a great job getting her front end on (loved your excitement when she did!)
I know Roma was a distraction but actually… Phire was pumped up and excited!
So three ideas for you to build the wobble board love and get her putting her hind end on:
– for now, reduce the tip by shoving a ton of towels or something under the wobble boards so the wobble board barely moves.
– Use crazy delicious high value food, stuff she almost never gets (small quantities so she doesn’t get an upset belly) and a short session
– maybe invite Roma The Wobble Board Enthusiast into your session! Social learning is powerful: if baby Phire sees Roma get on happily and get treats, maybe Phire will join her! It sure looked like Phire was just about to do that when Roma’s mom came and got her 🙂 Social learning is so useful!
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
Hi!
He is doing a great job with the pillowcase here! We can get him offering more so you don’t have to help as much: Try to be completely still while he is figuring out what to do – he was half thinking about the pillow case, half watching your motion 🙂
You can see him tracking your cookie hand and thinking that watching the hand might be part of it. So the next step is to stand up more and just casually have your hands in front of you, letting him make all the moves – then click and throw the cookie when he hits the pillow case. You can have the pillow case a little further away so he can’t be on it and watch your hand at the same time – he is very clever 🙂
Excellent tug breaks before and during the session! Yay!
Another fun shaping game to get him offering more behavior without you needing to move is to shape him to get into a box. The box should be low enough that it is easy to get into, and big enough that he easily fits 🙂 And then you can reward him for interacting with the box by dropping a treat into it!
He also did great with the drive to handler – it looks like he found it VERY easy 🙂 Super! He was nice and tight when you added the pivot too. Since this went so well, the next step is to try this in a bigger area – that way you can toss a treat and when he goes to get it, you can start jogging away. Then as he starts heading towards you, you can decelerate and cue him to come to your side then pivot. And you can use an empty cookie hand then tug as the reward 🙂
Great job here!
Tracy
Aha! Watching both of these, I see why she goes to the most direct route to the dish 🙂 The stillness game is all about focus on the dish – and when the dish gets to the other side of the cone, the context is almost entirely the same (including being held similarly) that she thinks it is the go-to-dish game.
So, we can’t use the bowl for both right now (maybe eventually but she’s too inexperienced and I don’t want to confuse her). You can use a toy for the cone game for now! I do use a bowl a lot but there is a ton of balance so in each session, we are showing when we want the bowl and when we don’t, so it doesn’t become all about going to the bowl when it is present 🙂 And stay tuned for some fun stay games coming up too!
Tracy
Good morning!
She definitely thought the tunnel game was fantastic! You can reward her for running back through it to you too (it was hard to see if she was getting a reward there or not on those) – the reward can be partially for doing the tunnel, and partially as a way to line her up again. There is a lot of pressure on the dogs when we are bent over and holding their collar, so adding cookies for the lineup will make it smoother and easier to line her up without moving her by the collar.
To continue strengthening the verbal, you can hold her til after she hears the tune verbal 3 or 4 times, then let go of her collar. That will also help as you add the harder angles and the threadle approach where she has to turn away from you.
>she decides to stare lovingly into my eyes instead of looking at the tunnel LOL>
Yes! And she doesn’t have to look forward yet, as long as she ends up going to the correct spot. Sometimes the pups look at us or away from us as a way of coping with the excitement and arousal of it all 🙂
The handling combos are going great!
>She is definitely the righty so the left took a bit of work but we got there.>
A side preference is totally normal at this stage. Maybe the video is reversed or I need more coffee, but it looks like the left turns were stronger here –
Her send to the barrel looks really strong on the left turns which is setting you to be able to get the decel easily. You can add a full 360 on. The pivoting then a go go go long the driveway away from the barrel – with a thrown toy or ball. I think she will love that 🙂
The right turn wraps are not as comfy for her yet – try to connect more and point towards it less. When you are pointing ahead, the big point actually turns your feet & shoulders away from the line to the barrel. If yo look directly at her eyes and support the line with a leg step to the side of the barrel you want and a low arm swoosh that follows her nose, you will see that you are facing the barrel more and she will go to it more easily on the harder side. You can see that 6:40 and 6:59, for example – you were looking at her more and pointing less, so she got it more easily.
> I’m using Wing for when she enters off the left side (so a right turn for her) and Wrap for when she enters off the right side (so a left turn for her). What do you think of these?>
The verbals are great! Wrap is perfect – you might need to run around without her yelling WING and ING and see if it sounds the same? We want them to be different sounding so she has no questions.
Great job!
Tracy
Good morning!
>I tired cheddar cheese bits and he ate them>
Yay for cheddar!!! Yum!
Looking at the SSC game:
He did great with the food bowl – I think there was even food in your pointing hand on some reps and he went right past it! One blooper where he tried to go directly to the bowl, but the might have had was a ‘aha!’ moment where he realized going around the cone was the gateway to the bowl 🙂 Yay! Only one suggestion here is to move your pointing hand further from the wing, so he sees you show the line but there is a little more room for him to choose to go directly to the bowl without your arm there (or go around the cone and get rewarded.
The first reps with the toy went great!
Toy play is more “expensive” for puppies (burns more fuel in the brain & body) so it is possible he only has a couple of reps in him of toy play as part of a thinking game (this is definitely a thinking game). So you can start with one or two toy reps, then take a tug break (and no cookies needed for the out, you can just let the toy get ‘dead’ til he lets go of it) – and come back to do the cookie reps for the rest of the session.And it is ok if you don’t do a lot of self-control with toys… we want him to be *wild* for toys so you can let him have almost no self-control when it comes to them LOL!
The barrel wrapping went great! Tons of success with you standing – he was looking at his line and not up at you for just about every step here. You might notice that after about 1 minute and 20 seconds, his responses got less ‘snappy’ and that is when he slid between you and the barrel. That probably means he needed a break in the session – that was a lot of reps in a row of the same thing! So you can do maybe 30 seconds then break it off and do other things (like run around with the toy).
We are now leaving this game, and tomorrow we add the next step which is a lot more exciting!
>We did another session of Plankrobatics with the treat tossed ahead. I think this helped to keep him looking forward & where he was going & not at me.>
Totally agree! The session looked strong! It was a lot more efficient for him to look ahead, so he decided he was totally on board with that plan 🙂 Yay! He is super confident on the plank so you can add in having him hop off in the middle of it – that way he knows how to balance if he needs to get off the plank, and that helps him understand it is perfectly fine to jump off if he needs to (better than falling off!)
He was definitely interested in gong to the prop without you – he was starting without you on some reps LOL! And his responses to the sideways and the backwards sending were super snappy even with distractions in the environment. This is perfect timing because we add the next levels of this tomorrow too! Yay!
Great job on these!!! Stay tuned for all the new stuff coming tomorrow!
Tracy
Good morning!
>not only do you share the how to but the why, the emotion & everything else. >
I love to nerd out about that stuff, and understanding what is going on in their puppy brain & body makes a big difference in how we train them 🙂
>I hope I get to train with you in real life someday!>
Yes please!! That would be so fun!
>I dragged out the wobble board on a laminate floor so it would make noise. We did some circles so it would really bang LOL no issues at all! Check that off the list>
Excellent!!! Revisit it here and there, maybe once a week, so she maintains her love of it all the way through adolescence.
>“Going well until it didn’t” basically sums up puppy training LOL! this was really funny & made me feel OK that things went sideways and will continue to go that way from time to time >
100% true! And remember this when she is a teenager:”Going well until it didn’t” basically describes training with adolescent dogs too LOL
Looking at her toy races video:
Yes, her toy drive is definitely NOT broken LOL! Great session! Even in a small space and with her short puppy legs, she was able to win the races. And spending more time on the play and less time on the ‘work’ is ideal!!! Love it!!! She is very aware of cookies coming out – when you reached for your pocket, she immediately watched the magic cookie hand and didn’t tug as much. At 1:43 it looked like your hand was maybe possibly moving to the pocket so she stopped tugging (starving puppy haha) So you can use your trade word before reaching for the cookie so she doesn’t end the tug game before you do – and keep the toy really active too!
Looking at the wing wrap video:
She loved playing with the squeaky toys at the start here! And retrieving them! She is definitely teething, trying to chew the cone LOL! It was good to end the session, and we will approach toy play with the wings a little differently.
For this stage of the wing wrap, where you are stationary – no need for toys at the moment because I think they will be too stationary for her. The next step which involves running is posted tomorrow, and we will use that game to get her hopped up on toys for wing wrapping too 🙂Great job here!!!
Tracy
