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Good morning!
>>Team Chill. Geez, Why can’t i remember that. Calm. Don’t be too exciting for stays!>>
Fake being calm 🙂 She is excited, so you don’t need to be. If she was NOT excited, then you would have to get really excited about it 🙂
(BTW, I did have pizza last night in your honor – but a really small frozen diet pizza hahaha)
On the retrieve video:
This is a good game to for you to be exciting! She did think it was a little weird to be close to tug and stand on you to tug on the first part – but being close is good, it helps make it fun to bring the toy back!
On the second session – great job setting it up so that she was ‘retrieving’ (also known as you having really fast hands as she tried to get past you on the first couple haha!!) But then things changed and I think she was legit bringing it to you!!!! YES! She was retrieving, good girl 🙂
You did a great job in this session of quickly throwing the toy again after you take it away from her and also being exciting in your play. Plus, letting her win a lot is great! I agree that she was interested when you hit the ground – it brought her back to you but without the toy at first haha! But that is fine, you handled it perfectly: you stayed playful, sent her back for the toy, and she got it. YAY!!
Does she like to run around with the toy? If so, you can put it on cue and let her have a runabout. I cue “go for a run” and the pup takes a victory lap 🙂
You can also reward her by tossing a second toy when she retrieves the first one, if you have a toy that is equal in value (the toy on the video was pretty amazing looking!)Great job here!
TracyGood morning!
Nice work on the videos here! On the discrimination game: I agree, this is really hard – the kennel and other ‘place’ behaviors have a ton of value because we started them earlier. Also, we started them without motion – and I think the tunnel cues have a lot of motion built into them. Changing to his cot was clever – high value but not quite as high as the crate. He did really well, and it was really fun to see him thinking about it and trying to figure out which was which.
The other thing that has been helping is a to raise the value of the option of the tunnel – but having the Manners Minder out past it. Many youngsters have found that to be life changing LOL!!!
So you can use the cot and have the MM out straight past the tunnel – suddenly, that tunnel option is looking REAL GOOD. Ha! And then you can move the MM to be more center, so it can be the reward for both the tunnel and the cot (this is a brain scrambler). The MM has enough value for most pups that I think it will also work well when the crate is there!Lap & Tandem turns:
>>These are essentially another way to call to a backside, right? So, for the dog, are these like a backside wrap, except you are setting yourself up for a different exit line?>
The lap turn is kind of a threadle/RC move so yes, it would be a backside from the dog’s perspective – but the threadle backside not hte push away backside. I am trying to think of a front side only option for the lap turn where it is not a threadley move, but I can’t think of one (might need more coffee haha) The tandem turn can be used to cue the backside but is also used a lot on the front sides, in the form of a rear cross on the flat. They are flexible tools.
Lap turns on the video – there is a pretty significant delay on the timing of the arm & leg cuing the jump – on the very first rep, you were too soon, he hadn’t committed to the ‘threadle’ element of coming between you and the wing, so you were a shade too early on the movement. You were pretty perfect on the rest of the lap turns, waiting til he was just about at your hand before starting the turn cues.
You did a great job on the tandems, he is reading those consistently well too! You were a shade early stepping into the line at :46, he was not past you yet so it pushed him to the other side.
The only other oopsie moment was at 1:40 – maybe he didn’t see the outside hand enough or you were leaning back in? You held the cue for a heartbeat longer on the last 2 reps and he was great.One thing he is doing here which is really good is that as soon as he sees that it is the lap or tandem, he is setting up the turn on his own. So the cue to come in to the side between you and the wing is the most important element – he doesn’t need a lot of help in the turning away element.
>>because he can really slide into a down like a baseball player when he wants >>
Yes! We want him to do the home plate slide as the teeter is moving to the ground LOL! Perfect visual!
Tracy
Hi!
This is great! Excellent use of pillows 🙂 Thanks Kevin for the video LOL! And having Spree! be all like GIMME THE COOKIE will actually raise his interest in doing it (jealousy in dogs is a real thing, he more likely to offer behavior because the jealousy/food competition causes him to forget any concern other than getting the food. You can also do this with the MM so he runs back and forth (running is arousing) and also do it with toys, like tossing balls as the reward.>>Maybe lower the teeter to the ground and do this outside as well>>
One of the things on my teeter training agenda is the teeter tables game. Do you have a low table or two tables or anything that can approximate 2 tables? You start by having the dog walk back and forth on the plank between 2 tables, then gradually add tip there too. The teeter can be lowered but the tip is minimized by the tables (and we change the height of the tables more than the height of the teeter).
Great job!
TracyHi!
>>I feel discouraged because I don’t feel like we have advanced at all.>>
I guess because I only see the videos here and there, I see a big advancement 🙂 He is driving up and moving the board. Sure, he is stopping a little short at the top with the movement but he will work it through in a couple of sessions. He was a good boy here! The other thing that might be causing a question is the visual of the set up – he might be waiting to see where the board ends, exactly, because the PVC holder is turned around and might be creating a visual that makes it harder to see exactly what the end of the board is? I am not sure if this is a thing or not for him., but worth it to see if there is a way to set up a little tip and make the visual same as it was when there was no tip.
The other thing I do is just let the dog walk up the board, no speed, no wing wrap, no running from me, I just let the dog choose the pace. When Contraband was all like “NO WAY THIS IS STUUUUUUPID” (even before he board moved at all!) I just walked up with him. Then when I added movement, I went back to letting him choose the pace. He figured it out and now runs up with movement. The more I asked him to do it, the less he wanted to do it. The more I was like, “whatever, do what you like” the more he started running up the board. Hmmmmm. Dogs. LOL!
So keep plugging away, it is moving along! He is still miles and miles ahead of where Export was at this age on the teeter, so I am know we will get him to love it 🙂 We will also be balancing with other games, so he learns the joys of all teeter things too.
T
Good morning!!
>>(how did I manage to get my fastest dog at this point?)>>
I *totally* feel this haha!! You got your fastest dog with a combination of choosing a great puppy and putting in a foundation that made it super fun to play agility: that equals a dog that is fast AND accurate. Yay!
I am not sure what possessed me to get a BorderWhippet but yet, here we are HA! Since I am not getting any faster, I am thankful that we are all much better at training independent commitment and verbals. So Keiko is really fast – but I don’t think it will be a problem because her understanding of verbals & commitment is already well ahead of what many adult dogs understand.On the video:
The first blind cross looked really good! There is a ‘hidden’ challenge on the blind cross 2-3 in the form of the tunnel out ahead. If we are really late, the dogs will pick up the tunnel but so far I think they were all perfect! Keiko thought the timing and line of the first BC was spot on.>>You’ll notice on the first sequence that in our second set, Keiko was faster and I was partly in her way for the blind cross jump. Since this is bound to happen in real life (how did I manage to get my fastest dog at this point?), especially if there is no lead out, do you have any suggestions about how to handle this type of situation?>>
I think the rep you are talking starts at :10 on the video – you didn’t lead out as far so the blind cross started a little late (she was lifting off) and you were just getting to position. So, she had to jockey in around you, and she did 🙂 I give LOTS of cookies to the dog for saving me in those moments! If this was a lead out, I just remind myself to lead all the way out. If this was in the middle of the course and I find myself a little behind, I use verbals to cue the #2 jump so I can try to start the BC as best as possible – even if it is a little late. And if I am REALLY behind in the middle of a course and I have a BC planned, I will switch gears to a rear cross.
I have found that the dogs are fine with us being a little late, and they prefer it to us freezing up – the dogs get frustrated when we freeze up. The more experienced dogs will see us beginning the blind and they will adjust sooner, so it looks like we are not late (my 7 year old dog makes me look good, despite my latenesses :)) But baby dogs need to see the full cue, so they adjust a little later. So I only switch to the rear cross in those moments where I am sure that I can’t even show a late BC, and where I can make the RC look like I planned it haha
She is reading the FC/throwback lines really well, both on the lead out and and running into it. Very nice collection! I soon as you see her committing to the jump, step away from it and head to the tunnel. You stayed there for a bit too long, so she had to slow down to go around you rather than chase your line to the tunnel entry.
The go lines look good! She picked up her line when you were way ahead. Perfect! You can also deliberately go very close to the tunnel so that she drives ahead of you to the last jump on the Go (simulating those wide open Novice courses!)
The RC is going well, you add a little deceleration as she is passing you, to tighten it up for when you add the turn to drive back down to the tunnel. And balancing it with the right was great! She seemed to have no questions.
>> My husband came out to watch the first left turn run. Keiko loves him, and he was a huge distraction when we first started working. She is much more ready to keep working when he watches, but we continue to work on using him as a distraction since I know they’ll happen when we finally get to attend an “in person” agility class. This little girl has only had online and home schooling for agility.>>
She ran the left turn line with the biggest distraction there? She did really well!!!! Perfect!!!!!
>>I know many folks are in the same situation.>>
So true! We are going to have to all take these youngsters on road trips as soon as it is safe to do so!
Great job on these!
TracyOMG now I think I need pizza for dinner and I am supposed to be in a diet LOL!!
>> Maybe I use it TOO much now.
I don’t think you use it too much… but I do think you are exciting! And she is excited. So to get her on Team Chill for the stays, you need to pretend to be very very calm 🙂 Don’t be too exciting LOL!
And I can’t remember if I stepped over the jump in the demo, but probably, because I am lazy LOL!!
Hi! She was a really good girl in a distracting new environment! Wow!!!! That focus is more important than anything else. Good girlie, Maple!!!!
On the serps – this is going really well! Two little suggestions on mechanics:
– put yourself closer to the jump, so close you can touch it with a bent arm. That way she can turn before she gets to the jump bump, which is what she will do on grown-up serps (turn before takeoff).
– when you strike a pose, turn your feet to the hand with the toy in it (your target hand was perfect!)She responded beautifully, so I assume she will be great too when you add these little suggestions.
On the parallel path – yeah, I see what you mean that she thought the ‘dead’ toy was dumb haha!! But that is fine 🙂 When you play this, don’t have anything out there as a target. Instead, as soon as you see her looking at the jump and moving to the jump, throw something (so she will continue through the uprights). It can be a thrown toy or a cookie – but that way she gets rewarded for going to the jump rather than lured. Remember to throw early, before she gets there, to reinforce the decision to move to it. She looked great here, so I am thinking it will be no problem at all for her.
Great job!!!
TracyHi! You definitely added challenge here with distance and moving away – Nice job turning around and starting to move away on this session! You gave the pizza cue – oh now I see what you mean: I thought it meant your were going to walk back and deliver the treat. She thinks it might be a release cue of some sort, she got up on it when you used it. So you can totally go back and hand the treat to her after you say it, then you will have a cue that means “stay there, delivery coming to you from me”.
She is twitching a bit in her stay, so you move away smoothly. When you stopped and then took a step then stopped and took a step… she got twitchy 🙂 So you can take a couple of steps and then release, without a stop between steps. That can help her understand that the momma is going to move away and the release is only on the verbal.Great job!
TracyHi!
>> “Pizza…….” it means the delivery is coming, you need to stay. I really didn’t want to mix the two things here. I wanted to stick with how you are doing it. What do you think? Should I mix in the “Pizza…..”? I also use the “good girl”. I don’t want to confuse her either.>>
OMG Pizza is the most brilliant thing I have heard in a long time. SO FUNNY! Yes, you can go back and deliver the pizza as long as she doesn’t move her feet. What does good girl mean – is it a general praise thing or is it something more specific?
I love Pizza, I might have to use it with my dogs.
And now I am hungry. Thanks. LOL!!!!!
On to the video:
Yes, stays totally take time! It is important to convince the pups that stays are FUN so it is worth it to do all of this foundation. She is doing well! I am liking where this is going! A few thoughts and ideas for you:
Good girl and good job here seemed to mean ‘nice job, keep doing it’. So as you use it, don’t be too exciting with your praise as you move away, that draws her out of the sit a little bit: be on Team Chill 🙂 Be quiet in your praise to help her stay settled 🙂
When she sits, you can move away sooner, so she doesn’t think you want something else. If you face her for too long, I think she was trying to figure out if you wanted her to offer something else. And as you move away, you can turn more as you lead out so you don’t have to back away, and you can also step over the jump for now to get you to the other side quicker. She is ready to see you on the other side.
I also think really short stay sessions then a bit of action then back to stays will help!
She finds the jump interesting but not too enticing, so she is doing well sitting in front of it. Great job! And yes, feel free to add in some Pizza delivery (extra cheese LOL!)Tracy
So cute! She was a happy little monkey on these!! I would do ankle jumps with her 🙂 And that can set up a nice little jump grid, over one ankle then bounce on the flat then over the next ankle. She was perfectly fine here with the knees but she is soooooo tiny that I vote for ankles for now (I am a little hyper-obsessed with being careful with baby dogs LOL!) It also will get her happy to be near your feet – many littles are uncomfortable being near our feet 🙂
Let me know what you think! Great job with her!
TracyHi!
>>Totally agree about Operation Swallow. This is driving *me* crazy. If she’s not really hungry, she’ll dash after a thrown treat and then bring it back to eat it slowly.>>>
Bwahahaha that cracks me up! I feel the pain. LOL!!
>> I’m not sure what part of her pedigree it is from. I had her aunt for a while, and it wasn’t an issue, so I assumed that it was from the pap side. >>
It might be an age thing – I have seen sooooooo many BCs that have no interest in food as a baby puppy. Treats and even meals are not interesting. Paps, on the other hand, are piggies.
>> I also agree with your assessment of the paw targeting issue. I think she doesn’t have a good basic understanding of the concept, so it falls apart. I tried doing it with just tug rewards to see if she was “higher” she’d be better about, but that only improved things slightly. I suspect she thinks the game is as much about hitting *me* as it is about the target in her mind. So away from me she’s not really sure what she’s doing. I will back it up a few steps and work really basic paw-to-target with reward on the target itself.>>
I was thinking about this and yes, you can totally do all of the value building with the paw target and changing the reward placement. You can also use balls because she seems wild for balls too 🙂 She is pretty amazeballs with her goat games, so you can totally use that: what is her favorite thing to goat around on? Something relatively easy to get on – and that can be moved near weird things and you can split the behavior into approximations. And then you can bring it to new places and weird places!
Keep me posted!
TracyOMG she is so tiny and cute!!! This was definitely a little more challenging for her, but not mind-blowing. Yay!!! She did a great job 🙂 It looks like it was flat on the ground here – do you have something you can elevate it a little bit on? Thick textbooks come to mind, because they will be stable and hopefully also just a couple of inches off the ground – that can add challenge to balance skills without risking a dismount from too high up.
Tracy
Hi! I think drive up the board was fine for the first 3 reps- but then on rep 3 you were moving the board under him, I think? He had some concerns about that – and then he took the toy and said ‘peace out’. He was willing on the next couple of reps but then when you got into the 6th rep or so, he was depleted and said no, thanks after that. So I don’t find it discouraging, just a reminder to proceed slowly and not lump 🙂 The game where the board moves under them is something I do when they have their front feet on the ground, so they can control the motion with weight shift, plus it comes a bit further down the road. So go back to that one or 2 rep big reinforcement bonanza. He will let you know if he wants to do more – if you see him ‘peace out’, then don’t ask for another rep. You can also revisit the moving wobble board and make sure his value is full on that one, so that he is a happy dude on movement without having to do to many reps on the actual teeter. Keep me posted on how he does with his raw food tonight!!!
T
Hi! That is convenient and it went really well!
>>We found the rear cross on jump#5 quite difficult b/c of the change in leads (I think) – we were only successful when I said her name to bring her in closer to me (maybe this was a place for a lap turn -haha!). Then I found I had to be careful not to get stuck behind jump#6 so that I could send her to the tunnel.>>
That is exactly what the challenge was: difficult rear cross and then really difficult line back to the tunnel LOL!! The challenges you worked through were exactly what the sequence was supposed to be 🙂
Some thoughts for you:
1st rep – she found 3 on the takeoff side nicely! Yay! On the rear cross, you can set up for decel sooner so you can move forward sooner. That decel can start when she lands from 3, so you are already moving again when she catches up to you at 4.2nd rep – she didn’t quite see the rotation on the tunnel entry so was a little wide on the exit, which put you ahead (too far ahead), which causes her to drive on the backside line because. The timing of the set up for the rear is the hardest part!
3rd rep – nice turn out of the tunnel and line on takeoff of 3! And great job setting up the rear cross here! And yes, one of the challenges on this one is that it is hard to get out of he RC and back down the line (that is why I used a ‘get out’ with Contraband to get the tunnel). I figured it would simulate the wild ride that we would experience on course with the youngsters so you can use the get out to push her back to the line if you get in too deep on the rear cross. Slightly evil course design 🙂
4th rep – nice job on the rotation on the tunnel entry, so she read the line to 3 with you on the landing side really nicely!! Yay! That handling move puts you really far up the line so you would need to decel and wait longer – and that is what you did on the next rep, setting up a really nice rear cross and line back to the tunnel! Yeah! Really nice!
Balancing with the push on the 6th rep looked good – but rep 7 did not have the same decel as rep 5 so she went to the backside. On these angled lines into the RC, the decel when she lands from 3 has turned into a critical piece. And you nailed it on that last rep, so she got it again really nicely!
So, saying her name plus that little bit of decel to straighten the line was great! And this is a not a lap turn moment because you don’t have time to rotate into it and out of it 🙂
>> I am wondering if this is our last week, and also if there is going to be a sequel after Max Pup 3 ends>>
Nope, there is more 🙂 It is 6 working weeks spread out over 9 weeks, so we go until February 12 (which includes 2 more working packages of games and a break week, but sadly no more live sessions for this class).
My plan for the upcoming months is a weaves & teeter class starting in mid February, then in March & April we will do some live seminars as well as start up the next level of MaxPup! Stay tuned for more!
Tracy
Hi!
As with the earlier video, she is reading those lap turns really well. She drives right in and turns away beautifully. That is a really strong skill! And she had no trouble transitioning from the wraps or racetracks into the lap turns. Yay!! My only suggestion is to call her so she exits the tunnel looking for you on those turns, rather than looking for the wing then turning when she sees you rotated.
Tandem turns are harder! She looks to be consistently coming to the correct side, but not turning tight on those reps as you mentioned. You can play with adding a little bit of deceleration so she reads more of a tight turn, a wrap cue, and also earlier turn aways with your hands. I think the decel might be the winning option (along with quiet wrap verbals), but she will let us know 🙂 If you are earlier without decelerating, she might read the motion as a cue to stay wider. You can try using both hands too, that might be a strong cue. She was tighter at 1:44, but she was also a little slower in that section to begin with. So try the decel and 2 hands with a quiet wrap verbal, and see what she does!
Great job, let me know what you think!
Tracy
