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I use a different Aframe verbal. I just say “up up up” and no turning verbals. But I think that you could do either just fine. I have had other students who want the same verbals and they have not had any issues. I think your motion on the Aframe makes it obvious which exit you want where as with the DW you are not always ahead to set the line/show motion.
It is not entirely intentional. I usually use the vet wrap then take the mat off but still have the vet wrap on the DW. I havent had any trouble with the dogs learning to hit the DW without the target. I will do some shaping sessions on rewarding them for the same style of hit and getting low in the DW.
For the most part I keep running and tell them what to do next. I keep an eye on the DW and note in my head if they did a nice hit. If they miss I stop and have them repeat the obstacle before and the DW again.
🙂
Lesson 5, The Low Dog Walk — There is definitely a large difference in Riskee’s performance between the 2 videos. How do you know when to add the wing instead of the MM or static toy? Do you wait for that drive to increase before adding the wing or was that because of the wing and toys being used? Did you do anything to increase speed and have her extend stride or did it just naturally happen with more practice and confidence? That is a tough one and varies from dog to dog. I will usually work through the MM around the clock and the dead toy around the clock, then the wing around the clock. I don’t really work on speed or drive at this stage unless they are trotting. They need to be at least in a run to be able to understand how to hit at speed. But other than that I don’t worry about speed. Usually as they get more confident and we add more exciting things after the DW they will start running faster without us pushing them. It just happens naturally with more confidence.
Adding Verbals & Motion — when you are rewarding are you always using a verbal marker? Do you use a clicker anymore at this point? When you are giving directional verbals on the top ramp, when do you give the obstacle verbal? Or do both verbals happen on the top of the DW? Yes, I will sometimes use a clicker but mostly I use a verbal marker. I will use a clicker if the dog needs more of a verbal to commit to the wing so you can mark as you are saying the wing verbal. I give the obstacle verbal before they have entered the DW, then at the top ramp I will give them a turn verbal or I will give the verbal for the next obstacle if it is straight or slight turns and obvious.
The Wing Game — do you always have the dog come to your direction for the slight turns? I didn’t notice you push away (i.e. if dog was on your right asking them to go to the far right wing). Is “turn” taught later where the dog flips away from you? Yes, I only work on them turning into me for this exercise. Later I will add some turn aways but it is a lot later in the process.
I notice you have Riskee lay down when she misses. My guy is very soft. Frankly, when we were working RDWs last Summer I could only do 4 or 5 reps and he would be done. Speed would decrease and he’d start to break stride throwing in trots periodically. I’m afraid to really mark if it’s a miss (I just withhold a reward) and ask him to “try again”. Should I be trying a different consequence for misses? Yes, I do ask her to lay down but only after I know she really understands her job. However, for a softer dog like him I wouldn’t ask ifor the down. Like you said they will often slow down and start over thinking so it is better to let them just try again. Later in the process (after I know they really know the job) I might pause after a miss before I ask again (without saying anything negative or anything like that – just pause for a few seconds). But that really depends on the dog and wether that even makes sense to do that at all.
I use vet wrap. I wrap it several times around the DW and the target holding the target to the DW. Then towards the end I will use only the vet wrap without the target at all.
This is looking great! This height can be so awkward for so many dogs so I don’t spend too much time here but I’m definitely glad that you’re spending a few sessions working on hits around-the-clock with the clock with the MM, dead toy and the wing. Yes I sometimes have that same issue with the manners Minder… I use Kibble in it as well. I really like the origin puppy kibble or the grain free fromm. The kibbles are a little bit smaller in both of those so they tend to filter through the MM better. But its all kind of a pain sometimes haha! Plus she is probably ready for the dead toy soon any ways.
This is looking great keep going! Move onto the dead toy when she’s ready! Than the wings:-)
good! She is a great dog for running contacts and I Bet you guys will get in no time!This is looking pretty good and definitely can be a very difficult step for lots of the dogs! One thing that will help a lot is to bring the wing A lot closer to the end of the Dog walk. I would put it About 5 feet off of the exit for right nowBecause that will help a lot with both the handler focus and It should help her slowdown and start thinking about what she’s doing a little bit more. AlsoA lot of times I willPut the inverted target on the plankTo helpThem start to understand the targeting behavior on the plank in the beginning. That helps a lot. Keep the wing pretty straight for right now so that she’s coming off of the bottom of the dog walk in a straight exit.That will help with her understanding on hitting the target while going to the wing. And in very small increments You’re going to move the wing from the left/right around the clock so that she starts to understand that she needs toHit the target and then go to the wing.That inverted target will also help with this.
Wow! Shes looking great!
SO the first thing that I am thinking is to completely ditch the collection exits with her. Instead with her I would work on building her understanding to hitting the target all the way until 90 degrees and maybe slightly past that and not worry about the super tight collection turns right now. SHe is getting such a great understanding in all the other spots and she is almost over thinking the collection exits and ultimately I think it would be better for her to learn how to run and drive forward. The collection exits will come later — and as a side note even if the collection exits never come together how much would it really matter for you/her? How often would she really see that in a trial? Not all that often. Mostly I just want you to know that it is okay if you just wanted to focus on building her drive forward (and yes turns to 90 degrees). And its completely fine if you table this, build up her confidence then come back to it.
She actually looks great on the half height DW. Really really good. So Even doing that once a week I think you will be able to make some good progress. Do that as often as you can. The trouble shooting that you were working on at the end was also fantastic!! I would start like that and add the wing wrap after the DW. I agree, I think that will be a great next step for her. Starting with the wing wrap on the DW and then sending to the wing after will be a perfect way to introduce the wing after. Then as she is understanding that you can start having her start at the top of the low DW.
With the plank that you have she is doing really well. I think it is a bit tricky because her striding is hard to figure out in the smaller space. Try a few where the plank is lower but you are adding a bit more speed and see how she does with that. I think that will help her more when going to the half height DW and adding more of the plank into it. Then you can go back and forth between adding a bit more height with the plank (but less speed) then adding more speed and less height.
Her speed on the low DW and the plank is looking really good. That speed will continue to get better and better with great understanding.
Last day of class is April 16th 🙂 Yes, I would love to continue to work together after class as well! There are lots of different options for that. I am not sure when I will be teaching this class again yet.
She is looking SO GREAT!!!!
Yes!! This is looking really good!! From here I would add a bit of height to the plank. I usually just prop the plank up with a couple of tunnel bags. Then repeat the same steps starting with the MM straight then around the clock. Everything else with this session is looking great!
This is looking great! I am excited to see it with the elevated target. You will be able to build in more precision with the elevated target just because it is higher off the ground and really teaches them to know where their feet are. With this try to toss your cookies farther away from the target so he is moving to and from the target a bit more. This is looking really good!!
This is looking great!! Turning into looks fantastic. She is really starting to understand that well. Make sure that you are standing still and not adding too much forward motion.
With turning away from you.. You can work on it on the flat a bit so that she understands the motion a bit more. Then when you do it on the DW again lead out around the edge of the DW so that she can see where the PT is then every rep after that just lead out on step less so she starts to be able to do with motion without you.
Yeah I am sure it is close enough 🙂 It doesn’t need to be exact. I would jump straight to the middle of the DW with her and if she is missing or working on a very difficult exit use the pole method. But she understands it so well that I dont think you will need to do that at all.
You are!!!! She is looking amazing!!!! I agree, it looks like when she misses she really understands how to fix it and what to do.
OMG HAPPY DANCE!!!!!
This is really looking amazing! That video was awesome! She was nearly perfect on every single one! Only a few misses here and there which she immediately fixed. So perfect.
I would get a bit more selective. There were a few high ones that I maybe wouldn’t have rewarded. But thats not too big of a deal. She is clearly understanding what you are looking for.
Yea, I think those words sound good. I think the most important word in this situation is to tell her the wing verbal. Because if she were doing the full DW you would be telling her right/left in the middle then the wing wrap/obstacle verbal about half way. At every new stage I will go back to one verbals to keep things easier then I would add in these other verbals as she is successful.
With the full DW try not to run too much. She handled your running really well but it is super important she learns to drive ahead of you with you running or not running. I usually want to add in my running a bit later as I am adding more speed onto the approach of the DW. This is also to keep the them thinking about their job and learning how to find those perfect hits. If we start running/pushing for speed then they don’t really get the muscle memory of the perfect hits or truly focus on what they are doing because they are too excited about chasing us. Not a big deal, she really did perfect, just something to keep in mind as you progress more 🙂
Yes! It is time for 3/4 height! She is looking fabulous! Yes, I would start the process over again (starting with the MM). It should go WAY faster. So likely it would be one session (or half a session) with the MM, then switch to the static toy )probably another half a session) then go to the wing. Pretty much do a test around the clock with the MM then the toy then the wing.
Okay that makes complete sense.
This is looking really very good. I would go back to only using one verbal again. Especially in the beginning of using the plank I want to make sure that they can be focused on their job and later we will add all the additional verbals that you will need. He did do a great job of fixing after he made mistakes, I love to see that because that is a good sign that they are really starting to understand what we are wanting them to do. Continue like this slowly working the MM around the clock as he is successful and hitting with a good success rate.
