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Hi!
>> One quick note on sniffing. He really likes to sniff some particular spots in the barn. Where everyone comes in, especially. He also will get fixated on a spot if a dog has peed there. It can be hard to tell if that is really displacement sniffing or just “I love this smell and it’s more fun than anything else” type of sniffing. He really loves to sniff on walks and, basically, everywhere!>>
Sniffing can serve about a zillion purposes :)so much of their brains is devoted to it 🙂 it is possible that in a moment where he disengages to sniff/avoidance it is both stress and “ooh that smells good!” Generally when arousal drops too low, things in the environment get more obvious like good smells 🙂
>> I work with all manner of things that are distracting when we train at home and he can deal with that much better.
When adding distractions at home, keep track of his rate of reinforcement so he is working at 90% or better.
>> He may bark at men or very large women during these classes, if they are very close, when he first comes in, or if they stare at him. >>
Arousal state is lowered, which causes an underlying anxiety to come up. Pattern games will both help deal with the anxiety and get a positive CER, and raise the arousal state too!
>>However, once he is searching, he doesn’t seem >>bothered and can ignore them.>>
Arousal state is increased by searching, so distractions fade into the background. Yay!
>>The grass grabbing can be when I want to start, like when I say “ready” (so I stopped saying that), and he will also do it on the run. >>
Grass grabbing is similar to sniffing – could serve a variety of functions! From what I’ve seen, it is an arousal behavior with a frustration/stress component. And it could be simply that he feels aroused but not sure what to do with that feeling.
Keep me posted on the games, this will be fun!
TracyOops, I missed it, sorry!!
For the food as toy, I meant moving the food hand around for him to chase more rather than handing it to him or tossing it on the ground. You were doing it with the “woosh” moments later in the video and that seemed to work well!! You can also add in running a few steps as you have him chase the food hand.
However, I love how much he likes the food toy and will tug on it!!! How does he do with it in other environments? This could be very useful!
Interesting experiment with the FOMO! He was definitely in a different arousal state – and I agree with both of your observations:
Yes, this is potentially useful too! And also yes – before he leash comes off, get him engaged. Rather than just tugging, I suggest the volume dial game 🙂
Start the volume dial game in a more chill environment first so you both get the feel of it, then you can try it with FOMO 🙂
Also, add in some engaged chill so you can both have a moment to breathe 🙂
Great job! Let me know what you think!
Tracy
PS CB says thank you!Please send me the running clip! This one looked good but we need to get you running 🙂
I don’t mind the barking – she was working nicely and not barking AT you. So when she was jumping, what was happening? Disconnect? Toy distraction? Let me see 🙂 you can also use food as you add more motion to see if that helps.
Try to add a toy marker for when the toy is now available for grabbing, instead of praise. That will help when she is really excited. 🙂
Nice work!
TracyHi!
She is so fun! And she is smoking you, so yes: run more 🙂 You can spread this out but even in a smaller setup, you can run more through the whole thing – stay closer to the lines and obstacles if you feel like you’re going to run out of room.Her only questions were about connection here: be sure to make very direct connection on the exit of the tunnel each time. You were looking forward a bit so she zig zapped, not entirely sure where to be. And on tunnel sends, maintain connection and don’t point ahead of her: that breaks connection and looks like a blind, which is why she went behind you at :17 (good girl! You were correct to reward her). You were a lot more connected at :42 and she found the tunnel nicely!
Great job with your verbals!
She has strong commitment, so I think running more and spreading it out is a definite next step:)About toys- will she chase a thrown toy, separately from a training session? You can see if she will engage with toys there in more of a relaxed approach.
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi!
The jump grids are looking good! I think the sweet spot for the line up position is at :19 and after that – close enough that he cold just lift off. A little further away caused him to eb a litle disorganized on the first couple of reps. The good line up spots help make good reps!
How tall was that bar? I think it can go up another 2 inches. As he grows up, things will change as he develops the adult body and power – he is off to a good start!!! For now, lead out more and keep the toy dragging at a walk – when you run too soon, he leans forward (like at :35) which we don’t want because it shifts him off his hind end for jumping. So, keep things dull for a while longer and just walk the dragged toy along the ground.I am liking how he ignores the toy in your hand til the graaaaab or get it or tugtugtug. The hardest part is going to be remembering all the words but you are both doing a great job! Since you also use food rewards, I *highly* recommend a food-in-hand markers so he knows if he should come in hot (for the toy) or gentle like a spring breeze (for the food) to protect your flesh 🙂
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyHi! This is going well – one thing I have found in my own experience is that each time I start handling with a new young dog, I forget things that are easy with the adult dogs LOL!!!
>>Someday, I’m going to get it. >>
Yes, you totally will! That is why we reward the dog, have a laugh, try again 🙂
On the video: Good news and bad news is that he was smoking you on the Go lines but also turning nice and tight. Woohoo! Great job rewarding the correct moments and also keeping the rewards flowing after the errors.
On the Go exit for the tunnel – every dog has a natural preference. His is to turn towards you, and that is great! So to build more GO, for now, get ahead (you might have to shorten the tunnel and/or send from a more advantageous position halfway up the tunnel :)) and mix in making a BIG connection on the exit with throwing the reward forward to reward the Go (like at :04, :15)
Part of it is that he needs to realize that he can look ahead for a wing or jump after the tunnel. You helped him and he got it at :43! and again at 1:43! Nice! You can also move the wing closer to the tunnel exit, so he sees it more clearly as you build understanding of staying on the line.Excellent timing on the left and right cues! And the turns looked great. Yay! He only had one question:
On the wing sends, keep moving to the wing til he passes you, especially in terms of the dog side leg. On the left send at :55, you kept moving and took a little step with the right leg, so he committed nicely. When you send at 1:05 and 1:18, for example, your dog side leg stayed back so he didn’t think he should pass you. So take the extra step to help commitment him – think of it as decelerating but rotating later (after he has passed you).Great job here! See you later in class!
Tracy
Wow, sounds like you had CRAZY weather! Glad it has calmed down.
You and Sprite looked good here!!! She did have a couple of questions, but not that many. I think it is mainly about sorting out what baby dogs need 🙂
A couple of ideas for you:
On the Go reps, you can mix in a lot of thrown reps at the exit of the tunnel. That way you won’t have to run as fast and she will still go long on the exits towards the wing 🙂 When you were hustling to get ahead, try to make a bigger connection. On the earlier reps, you were pointing forward so she was not as sure. But then at 1:26-1:28 on the tunnel – the go was good and your connection was lovely! Same at 1:35!!The other thing that I think will help her is to stay closer to the line for the left/right turns. When you were stationary, she had questions and it was harder to connect. If you run closer to the wings, the added motion will help support her and I think it will also be easier to connect to her. Keep your dog side arm back to show the connection. There were too spots where you closed your shoulder forward (rather than leaving it open to her) and she came off the line: at :29 before the tunnel and then at 1:09 after the tunnel there. Both were rewardable moments because it was a handling oopsie not a dog oopsie 🙂
Two other things that I think will help her:
The verbals before the tunnel can still be sooner 🙂 Try putting a leash on the ground about 5 fet from the tunnel entry and when her front feet hit the leash, you should be saying the left/right/go verbal. She LOVES the energy of the GO and she is turning left/right, but it is a little late so she is a little unsure.
And, to help her be more sure… repeat the verbals 🙂 She is VERY sure of her wraps verbals, those commitments looked great! And you repeated them. So you can do the same with the Go and left/right: GO GO GO GO and lehhhffft lehhhffft lehffffft and riiiiight riiiiiight. That way she doesn’t have to rely on hearing it once, she can keep going fast and process it because it will come frequently 🙂
Great job here! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning and welcome! It will be fun to try to sort Riot out 🙂
Thanks for the big history. It is GREAT that he does not have an extensive trial history because that means the trial environment is pretty much a blank slate. And I agree with your sentiment that you don’t want to trial til you’ve got things more sorted out. A lot of what he is doing is stress behavior, so it is not like he is missing out on big fun at the moment by skipping trials.
>> At the AKC trial, I tried to do some tricks near the gate, but he could not focus on me, even with really good food.
Distance is your friend 🙂 Looking at thresholds: how far from the gate could he eat cookies and/or do tricks? That will tell us our starting point. And were other dogs running, or not?
Speaking of food – you mention a ball: tennis ball? Lotus ball? Both? LOL! The lotus ball with a treat it in, attached to a line and swung around can help add value that the food and the flirt pole bring.
I also really like the CU games so definitely work the pattern game in week 1, as well as the other games. Take an “all of the above” approach for now – do bits of all of them 🙂
Another question: does he bark on cue? That is a great one for engagement based on what he does!
>> Reinforcing with allowing him to sniff does not help.
Probably because sniffing and grass eating is not about reinforcement, it is about stress. So he doesn’t really want to sniff, he is alleviating stress. When he eats grass or sniffs in the ring or training, what happens right before it? Let’s look for patterns and see what happens so we can change that. Generally we see that when there has been an error and the handler stops. Even the tiniest stop can be perceived as a stressful moment. So never ever stop, he is always correct, then reward. And if you need to fix something, fix it without him before trying it with him (most young dogs have no tolerance for the starts and stops of agility handler training hahaha!)
Looking forward to seeing his games! Have fun 🙂
TracyHi! All good here!
I think a lot of the engagement/state of arousal you saw with the obedience, focus fist and tug toy were residuals of the state of arousal from the tricks you did first. Those first tricks were good!
The obedience and eye contact tricks are less likely to produce the stimulation we want but the only way to know for sure is to do distinctly separate sessions (separated by hours or a day) with just those and see how it goes. And when we move this game to distraction places, we will have more info about what is best too. For the obedience tricks – more space will totally help because you can move more during the trick, then explode out of it during the reward.
The tug toy is not yet a reward, it is still in the shaping process (tug for food, from what we see here, which is good) so having her already in the higher state helped – but I don’t think the tug toy will put her into a higher state yet, on its own.
Yes, as you noticed – do one trick then reward, rather than 2 in a row. Also, let’s get rid of the targets because they need to be faded anyway (you won’t have them at the start line in a trial) and this is a good game to do it! You can use the action tricks that do not involve any ‘props’.
About moving when you reward – for this game, you can use the cookies like a toy and move when you reward: either run a couple of steps, or have her follow the cookie hand to get it, or stand up on her back feet to get it. That all really helps increase engagement too!
Speaking of cookies… I suggest treats that don’t require chewing. In terms of latency… the chewing takes a long long time. In her food hierarchy, what soft, easily swallowed treats does she like? Soft treats are usually higher value too, and that is great!
Great job! This is the game to bring on the road, with super high value treats and 30 second sessions. Use it before any training and see how she does!
Tracy
Hi! These are really good videos for helping us figure out what he needs!
I know it is hard to remember the darned course when so much mental energy is spent engaging him, but it will get a lot easier 🙂
Based on what he told us: FOOD is the big winner at the moment 🙂 I think the toys will be useful again when he is more relaxed and engaged, but for now… food food food 🙂 Doing tricks for the cookies worked well and I liked how he was engaged off the start. You can also have different values of food: lower value of food for home training, and higher value of food for moving to the start line in class.
No need to toss the treats – all treats can be fed from your hands to avoid sniffing in the sand or icky sandy treats LOL!! The sniffing is most likely because he has not yet learned how to grab the treat and immediately return to focus in that scenario. No worries – for now, don’t throw treats. You can tie your clam to a line and swing it around for him to chase like a toy for the cookie, or you can throw it when you need to throw a reward.
The pattern games will accomplish 2 things that are helpful: helping him assess the environment and ignore distractions, and also grab the treat off the ground and immediately return to engagement. So definitely practice those at home then we can move them to class (do you have more than one class a week?)
At home, keep playing with tricks with treats and toys on the table or shelf. And, add in more emphasis now on remote reinforcement and volume dial and engaged chill.
Great job! Let me know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
She is getting the idea of this! It is different than what you are doing, and that is fine because it can reset the understanding of leaving the rewards to earn the rewards – while knowing where the rewards are the whole time 🙂 It is a bit harder because we are asking her to offer moving away with you, with minimal “help” from you. She did well!
A couple of ideas – you can make it more of an event so clarify that the process is starting and ending: hold the bowl, put it down, move away – when you go back to it, pick it up, give a treat or two, then put it back down. Placing the reward target down is also a cue for the game starting 🙂
You were using dish here as the verbal – that is fine if you will use it at the end of the run too. If you want to use something else, yo can add it here.
Remember to ping pong the distance of moving away – throw in some easy distances where you only take a step or two away, then a bunch of steps, then a couple of steps, and so on! Short sessions will keep her engaged – she was really starting to get it here, so you end the session after about a minute. Just when she wants more more more…. you can be done 🙂
The other thing about breaking it all the way down to this is that we can pump up the success level. When you did it on the course, she had to do a LOT and had a lot of failures. So let’s keep it easy for now so we can build it all the way up – the super high success rate will transfer into a more positive conditioned emotional response in the ring, which translates to a happier more relaxed dog!
Great job here! See ya tonight for puppy class!
TracyGood morning!
Thank you for the history!
The yellow jacket incident sounds bad and DAMMIT about the drone. UGH!!!! One repetition learning can totally happen in those situations.And the physiology – I am convinced that there are changes in the dog’s brain and body in those moments, and there are some studies that look at respiration rates, cortisol levels (specific to agility!) and fMRI work with dogs responding to signals. Really cool stuff! Some of it can be added to outside the ring really easily. Some of it is coming into the area between the gate and the start line – and I hope there are more studies coming soon 🙂 Anecdotally, hormones do play a role and I believe you see that too! I don’t think it has been studied in dog sports but there is info about hormones in behavior issues.
About the ring gates – that is great to know! One of my dogs struggles with the gates too, most likely going back to the noise and motion sensitivity she has shown in the past (like when training the teeter and the flyball box). And it cropped up in one of the games (coming next week). So we can keep isolating it and working through it – it sounds like that is pretty much the biggest piece of the puzzle right now, and the spot where you are most likely to see her lose engagement. You have a TON of other tools already in place, this might be the last piece!
Let m know what you think!
TracyGood morning!
>> Ok so I went and looked at engaged chill and realised we really don’t have anything close to that.
I am glad we are working on it! There is actually some science that supports the need to have the dogs relax outside the wing (has to do with respiration rates) and plus it gives you a moment to relax and remember the course 🙂
I think he is off to a good start here. You can bring a chair and you can also look around, think about other things. He is totally allowed to look around, assess what is happening around him, etc. At home, do more of that patting around his cheeks and chin rest (without cookies) to make it a nice interactive thing that is not associated with training or work.
Then, you can try it while he is on or near the mat.I have more ideas about engage chill coming next week, so this is a great start and we can keep adding it 🙂
Nice work!
TracyDoes she smash herself getting to the balls? I put tennis balls inside big hollee rollers so they are easier to grab. And I also use those giant Kong tennis ball type games, they are shaped like sticks or barbells. Those work well for dogs that love tennis balls!
You can also throw a long toy or place a toy on a line so it is easier to grab 🙂
T
Hi! Super nice session here!!! Practically perfect 🥰
His two errors were on the dig dig wraps. I love how you just did a quick reset cookies, then tried again. It gave him feedback of “try again” with no frustration 🙂 yay!!! Since dig dig left turns are harder, you can totally help with a bit of handling in the form of rotstion/front cross.
Everything else looked great so let’s add more action 🙂
You can do that by running more with the rewards (dragging a toy!) – that will raise the excitement level of the game in general which will challenge him to still processing the cues even though he is more aroused.And, you can add handling: send to the tunnel and run, meet him at the exit and handle either the wrap, or send to the tunnel again
He’s gotta listen AND run LOL! Should be fun for you both!!!Great job here 🙂 Let me know what you think!
Tracy
