Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Hi! The live working spot add-on form was live during enrollment, and closed when it filled. I am sure that spots will become available as the summer moves along, stay tuned!!
Tracy
Hi!
Border Collies are fun! But definitely not easy – that makes me chuckle every time someone says they got a Border Collie because it would be easy LOL!
>>Last time we got to this point in your lines course, you sent us off to work the Lazy Game… we did and I think it generally made her commitment better. >>
Yes, the lazy game is so important for her! If she is good with the lazy game with you walking, the next steps are to get you going faster without connecting or handling more. If she can still find the lines with you going faster, we can add lazy sends! It will be so helpful for her. Let me know if she can do it with you running!
Tracy
Hello and welcome!!! These sequences a look good!
Seq 1: you know it is going to be a great run when the entire video is only 10 seconds long LOL! Very nice! On this opening line, you can be cueing the tunnel with verbals and upper body, and see how early you can turn and leave before she enters the tunnel, to show acceleration and get even further up the line. You can see her lock onto the tunnel line no later than halfway between 2 and the tunnel entry, so you can get outta there sooner 🙂
On the 2nd run here – to help her drive forward out of tunnels and not head-check, one thing to consider is elongating the forward cues like tunnel and go – they are chattered here (“gogogogogo” for example) which might end up getting mistaken for wrap directionals which are also chattered and get handler focus. You can try for repeating them less and making them longer (and louder :)) such as GOOOOO GOOOOO GOOOO and TUUUUUNNEEELLLL
Those longer cues, plus acceleration before she enters and then thrown or placed rewards, will help get her driving forward without the head check.Seq 2: Her response to the left verbal was great! Yay! I don’t think you exactly trusted her, staying there to see what she does 🙂 You can say the left cue and turn and leave, trusting her to pick up the line.
Going back to the Go after it is smart training! She had a question about the tunnel exit there at 1:21 – you decelerated before she entered, then said go and took off again, so she looked at you after she exited (“which is it, human, turn or go?” LOL!) On the rep after it at 1:54, you cued the go with acceleration, and she didn’t have any questions there 🙂
Arram is adorable and so fun! He is waaaay young and all legs – so break all of this down for him to eliminate failure or frustration. I think the tunnel can stay in isolation for now, so he learns to drive to it from further and further away. He needed you to be all the way up there to cue it, so that is a good one to work separately so you don’t have to be ahead and super connected. Start just by holding his collar, saying the tunnel verbal a few times, then let go and drive to the tunnel with a thrown reward at the end of it (or placed at the end).Then get further and further away, and eventually add a wing wrap before it. I don’t suggest starting from a stay for now, because there are too many errors – broken stays, running past the tunnel, bar down, etc. So keeping the drive-to-tunnel skill in isolation will help, then I bet you can easily add it back to the sequences and build it up from there.
Keep throwing the toys on the go line or tunnel exits, so he doesn’t curl into you on those. He takes them for a bit of a lap, so you can call him back with another toy or treat to speed up that transition LOL! And for now, don’t ask for turns on the tunnel exit until he has a fully developed drive to the tunnel 🙂
Great job with both dogs! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>> It is tricky finding the right balance because she does like to chase me but I need to plan to not get too far ahead so that I have to stop or slow down. You are right that this means I have to run the long way a lot. >>
Yes, definitely tricky! And so I like to train so much mor cimmitment with small dogs, to the point that they go blasting away on a line like a big dog. Having throwable reinforcement really helps, like a lotus ball or treat hugger so food-motivated dogs.
>>Buccleigh is still having his moments when he isn’t feisty and stops.
One thing that has be super successful for motivating dogs is to simply never stop moving (the handler, that is). There is an error on course, for whatever reason? Keep running and cueing as if all is good. It is hard for the handler to do this – staying in motion with no reaction or hesitation at all. But it is sooooooo good for the dogs! Finish the run then figure out what happened afterwards, then try again.
>>He is more tolerant of my mistakes as long as I don’t make too many.
Don’t let him know that you have made *any* mistakes…. keep running, keep running. If something goes wrong? Connect more, cue a tunnel, something to act like all is perfect.
>>This is a lead up to a question about the course you have on-line (In the Zone-21 day mental prep masterclass). Since both of my dogs have a tendency to shut down at trials and I am the common denominator I am thinking that my stress might be a significant factor. From the description, I think this course might be really useful for me. Would you agree?>>
That course is useful, yes! But I think this one is better, for handler mental state:
[AU-034] Train Your Brain: Getting Into The Right ‘Head Space’ For Dog Sports
It has more updated specifics, and recorded zoom chats that also brought up good topics from participants 🙂
>>Last question. I need to modify the standard course to fit it in my yard. I made a short video to show the modifications.>>
Those all look good! Be sure to walk the course as it is set on the ground to make handling plans, feel free to disregard the printed map and hints 🙂 And if the DW approach will require apple-tree-layering, be sure that they see that before you ask for it at full speed on a big course run, so they don’t fall off the DW.
Have fun!
TracyHi! Both angles look good for video! Use whichever angle gets better wifi 🙂
About the tree – most of the work will be perfectly fine. There are a couple of moments where he might have to go out around the tree, or we can bring the 2 outer jump near the tree in closer (or angle them). If he doesn’t want to go around the treat, we will make those little tweaks and he will have plent of challenges 🙂
See you later! I have put in a request for the weather gods for good weather only!T
Hi!
>>This one is an angry elf and growls and bites
Don’t anger the elf! LOL! And that is more reason to take more steps to each line. Don’t try to be perfectly on time… try to just see her commitment right now, help support each line. Then you can work on getting the timing earlier and earlier.
>>We need to go back to practice our serpentines and then learn the threadles. I’ve not begun threadle wraps with her either. >>
To prioritize – yes, serps are at the top of the list, with threadle slices being a lower priority for now. And those threadle wraps that are so popular? Very low priority for now. We will work them specifically in the week 3 games package in a few weeks.
Have fun, stay cool!
TracyHi!
If you are concerned about her leaving, you can bring her in using pattern games and other acclimation games, before trying sequences. And reset cookies help too! Leaving 1 out of every 8 reps is significant enough that I would definitely add the pattern games to her routine before trying off leash sequences, especially sequences with stays that are harder for her.T
Hi!
Sorry about that, I accidentally pasted the seq 3 into the seq 4 box!For sequence 4: this went really well, and finding the sweet spot of the turn 4-5-6 is fun to play with! She is really fast, so our main goal is to use as little decel as possible to create the turns, in situations where you have to continue up the line. This will be different than using decel on tighter turns were you have a cross or you turn and go the other direction (see below).
So for 4-5-6:
The tunnel exit of 2 is a little offset so she is coming in over 3 on a left turn – connection to her eyes more directly, with your arm back will help push her back out to 4 at :21 and 1:17. The rep at 2:02 was the clearest connection there and her line was the nicest!
Her turn at 4 is looking good with the shoulder turn and left verbal! And your connection 4-5 looks lovely – so I think all you need to get a great turn at 5 and stay ahead of her is to just turn sooner (no decel) and maybe a brake arm, (an outside arm used low to help get collection as we stay in motion).
At :24, she took off and you were just starting to turn, so she was wide. If you tmie that shoulder turn earlier – see here land from 4, cue 5, stay connected by start to turn after she lands from 4 – I think that will be perfect.You added decel to 5 at 1:19 and 2:06, but that held you up a bit too long – you were facing 5 when you could be charging up the line to 6 🙂
The wraps do have a big decel component, partially to cue the very tight turn and partially to help us handlers change directions. Looking at the reps here – she is very responsive to decel, so starting it sooner will help her turn better (keeping the bar up too) and also get you turned and up the next line faster, which is always a good thing with a speedy dog.
Watching her timing here, I believe her WOO for starting the decel begins at liftoff to jump 8 (the jump after the tunnel) so as she is in the air, she sees you starting the turn cues for 9 (decel while moving forward). That will give her more time to process, and also allow you to rotate sooner (as she approaches the wrap jump but before she takes off for it). The decels were starting at or after landing here, which was a little too late for her. I am betting she will be perfect when you start it at liftoff for 8 🙂
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi! She is off to a great start!
The lazy game looked good here! No worries about the one jump she went around, she hadn’t fully figured out the game yet. She was quite prefect after that! You can now got to the games form the live session, where we add more speed and crosses!
>>We were working thru being outside for only the 2nd time. I could not remember to use or not use the verbal.>>
YAY for great focus working outside!!!! Good girl, Allie!!!
The one step sends also look good – make sure you don’t take that tunnel for granted and stay connected,because puppies do crazy things like look at the top of the tunnel. Ha!
She also picked this game up really quickly… so now you have to move faster LOL! Be sure you rnu to the tunnel exit so you can make connection and send. And you can job/run on the race track around the outside too – when she goes faster, you have to go faster 🙂 And yes – use your verbals on this one, you did at the beginning at that was great!
She looked very confident on her plank work too on both videos! Do you have something to elevate the plank with, like bricks or yoga blocks? Anything stable will work. She is ready for the added challenge of a higher board.
As you mentioned, she was looking at you a little bit, which is not a big concern at all – you can throw the treat sooner, or put an empty bowl at each end for her to target to (and toss the treat to it). You can also have her slow down and turn around, so she sorts out using each foot individually on the board for balance purposes 🙂
>>On the mountain climber – I am trying to come up with something to hold the teeter. Is there a plan for what you have holding it up? I was a little concerned to try it without that or what else have people used?>>
I use a “Teach It” from here:
https://nosetouch.com/teeter_teach_it.htmI also use it for other stuff, like dog walk training, etc – and I have a discount code for it if you want one (or maybe the code is for the target attachment). It is light, easy to use, I love it!
Great job!!
TracyHi!
I don’t have much feedback on this other than it looked GREAT! Not hysterical at all – it was energetic and fun! Wow, she looked great here on her wraps! You didn’t get the wrap verbal on the first one (or it was very quiet) but timing was great and you were great on all of the others. her commitment is lovely and you were able to commit her to the wrap and leave nice and early, before she took off for the wrap on most of them. YAY!!!! Adding more speed from you got more speed from her too – and your decel was VERY clear! And note how well she committed to the middle jump perfectly. YAY!!!Great job here! I think Maisy and Sassy should swap for a few of these exercises – Sassy is ready for some bigger lines, and Maisy can work her commitment skills!
Tracy
Hi!
Mali was a good girl on her sequences! Wow, she is so fast! FUN!!!
She is still learning about lines when she is going fast, so connection is the top priority. I think connection on the tunnel exits, really making eye contact as you keep running up the line, is the VERY top priority 🙂 That will help her find the lines after the tunnels here.
And, to help her drive ahead, you can place a reward out ahead of her on the lines past the last jump (like a Manners Minder or a tug toy, whatever she likes :)) Those were her two hardest things here! She found the line to the tunnel on the 1-2-3 opening really well on seq 2 when you took the slightly longer lead out at :44 and 1:07 – so nice!!!On sequence 1, that placed toy will help her drive straight because she is so fast that she will have to drive ahead of you and not look at you 🙂 And on sequence 2 – she turned really well on the tunnel exit (yay!) and needed a bit more eye contact from you at :52 (wih you arm back) to find the 4 jump. Then, the placed toy at the end will help get her on the line o the last jump, kind of like the toy races game when she was a wee pup 🙂
Lit’l Bit was her usual perfect self 🙂 Bummer that the other videos didn’t record but this one looked great! It is lovely to see how well she finds her lines and makes her turns now – all grown up!!!
Great connection and verbals! When she gets into the 7 tunnel, you hesitated for a moment, praising her – you can try to get out of there sooner, giving her a go cue, so you can get closer to the wrap jump and decel sooner – she was the tiniest bit wider than I know she can be there (it was a really great turn, I am nit picking :)) Her commitment was outstanding, very impressive for any size of dog and especially impressive for such a small dog! You can also play with layering that middle jump on the 4-5-6 line, I bet she has the skills to do that!Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
Nice work on this session, she looked really good – fast and happy! Great job rewarding all the things as you sorted out the cues she needed to see.The go lines looked great!!! Yay! No worries about the backside, you can try it next time!
When doing the wraps, you can start the transition into the decel and the wrap verbal sooner – run hard until you see that she has landed from the jump after the tunnel, then start the decel. You were close to that on the last rep, and she wrapped really nicely!
Be careful of using your Go verbal too much, not that she knows it and likes it 🙂 You said go go go at :39 and 1:09 then tried the wrap, but she had already committed to the go line. The same thing happened with the RC at :59 – you did a Go verbal so she thought you wanted her to go straight.
For the rear crosses, we can show it to her sooner by showing the rear cross diagonal sooner (running from the wing of the previous jump to the center of the bar of the RC jump). to do that, you can run in closer to the tunnel so you are not that far ahead. Then move forward to the next jump: she will be catching up to you as you both pass the jump after the tunnel, then you can run to the center of the bar of the last jump – that will cue the rear cross sooner and she will turn nicely 🙂
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
>> so she does the remote training like you have in the 1st max pup. Would that be something good to mix in? She puts his treats in a cooler they run to
yes, sometimes! But only on stuff she is relalt confident about doing. If she is not confident about doing something, and there are no rewards present in the moment because they are all outside the training area… we will not be able to build quickly. Young dogs should learn the concept and we use it when they are working on comfortable skills, not learning new skill.
>>I did get the lotus tug..Definitely very small and the treat hugger. The treat hugger is hard to get the treats out of BTW but my new lotus ball has a flap to attach something to so that’s nice. I’ve also got a zipper bumper that is bigger than I thought but I’m thinking I can use it as a self rewarding toy like we do with bunny bags after they run. She didn’t like the bunny bag since it’s deeper.>>
You an do some arts and crafts to make them into long toys for tugging and chasing, and they are also good for throwing!
>>My friend gave me the suggestion for getting toy play (Susan Garrett) was getting her to play with a toy before she can do something she really likes. Start with just a little engagement. The one thing she loves and gives me hope for a fast agility dog, is getting to go outside.>>
Well, yes and no… it can work if she actually engages and doesn’t feel it is pressure. If it is pressure, you might accidentally reduce the the value of the toy (which I have seen happen with this method). So try it, and it it stresses her out? Don’t do it because pressure won’t help. Something that can help with using the joy of going outside, is going outside to play with you! All of that excitement channeled into going out and chasing a ball or bumper or ayting she likes, with you (on leash at first if she needs to, if she might leave to go run around). So it is not so much a “play with the thing, then you can go outside” and it is more of a “OMG let’s go outside together and have a BLAST!”
On the wobble board – rather than click and feed her for staying on, you can click and toss the treat so she can get of (which reduces the pressure of having to be on something she doesn’t love yet). So then she can run and get her treat, then run back. The running also adds a LOT of excitement to the game, so she will lsoe herself in the excitement of it too, whcih is a good hting!
As she is learning about moving boards, make it move less by putting towels and stuff under it so it only moves a tiny bit. She does not like the big sounds yet either, so the towels stuffed under it will help too! Build it all very gradually with great rewards, and she will love her teeter 🙂
Nice job here!
TracyHi! Hope you had a good vacation!
>>Here’s the start of the Fluffy BC (I will do the FC separately):
No need to do the FC on this one, it won’t make sense with her speed 🙂 It would only be a good exercise in why the BC is a much better choice LOL!!!
On the BCs:
Looking good! The wraps to the outside were great to get her happy turning away from the course – no problem at all! Your timing here on the blinds was good at :21 and GREAT at :34. The most important part of the blinds will be the “wings in” element, meaning draw your arms in close to your sides, like a figure skater spinning fast, so you can be quick with your connection changes. With your arms fully extended, even when you start on time, she might not see it on time because there is so much arm movement and not enough connection (more on that below).After the blinds, my only other suggestion is to decel into the sends to the wraps, so she can be a tiny bit tighter. Otherwise, they were all really strong!
On the BCs to the tunnel – we can tweak your running line and timing to get the turns tighter. Try to send more to the pinwheel jump – go closer to the #2 tunnel so you can accelerate more to 3 and that makes the send to 4 easier too without you being too far ahead. Then, after the send, drive immediately back down the line, towards the center of the tunnel. You were rounding the line with her through the pinwheel, which resulted in the blinds being late because you were tending to start them as she was lifting off for the BC jump (plus by rounding the line, you were heading to the wrong end of the tunnel).
If you can send and leave, supporting the BC jump laterally is motion and verbals and connection, you can start the blind sooner: when she ands from the pinwheel jump and takes one step to the next jump, that is the latest to start it for now (it will be even earlier when she is more mature :)) And the send and leave will help her see the positional cue for the correct end of the tunnel, which will help the turn too!
And, for this one too – wings in! The long flowing arms delay the connection change 🙂
Your connection AFTER the blind was fabulous each time, which is why she ended up in the correct side of the tunnel 🙂
Nice work here! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
