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Hi Bobbie,
Thank you so much for showing us all these teeter games and for all your insightful feedback. I didn’t want to rush Zoe so we will have to wait to play the last few games. While progress is slow, I definitely see some progress in Zoe.
One final question: many venues offer FEO classes. Do you think it’s a good idea to expose Zoe to different teeters in different trials by doing FEO runs? I am thinking specifically, once she is comfortable with the mountain climber game, to play that game with our FEO runs. Just have her run to the end, then either pick her up or slowly lower the teeter then run out the ring and throw a party. Thoughts?
Thank you!
Hi Bobbie,
I don’t want the class to end! 🙂 Can’t believe this will be our last week. I know we still have a long ways to go …You gave me an idea. I can’t motivate Zoe with toys, but she likes my praises and affections, so I think I can use that as her rewards as well.
Back to running across the plank. After a few days, I decided to raise the plank today. I don’t know whether I should make her start on the ground and have her jump on the plank herself or place her at the beginning of the plank? Also, does it look like she is a tad slower than when the plank was on the ground?
More end behavior, as you suggested, trying to build the duration between treats. When I was doing it, it felt like I waited for a long time, but watching the video, it doesn’t look like it was even 1 second between treats. LOL.
For the mountain climber game, can you explain why it’s important to let Zoe know I’m holding the teeter so it doesn’t move? Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately Zoe is not toy motivated. I can tease her in the house and play chase, or play tug with my socks, but once outside, she is only motivated by food. If you have suggestions on building values for toys outdoors, I will definitely give those a try. I can try cutting her treats to smaller pieces for jackpot 😀 One thing I can do is throw the lotus ball (empty), let her chase it, then pretend to load the ball and run back to the teeter, but would that make the lotus ball less effective? I mean if it’s sometimes empty and sometimes loaded, will that make her be less motivated to chase the ball?
Hi Bobbie,
So excited to hear your feedback. Feels like we are getting somewhere :). We will continue with the mini teeter based on your suggestion. Yesterday, Zoe jumped on the real teeter – it was setup for the bang game – and seemed unfazed when the board hit the ground. It made me think even though it feels like we barely make progress, I think she IS getting used to movement.
A couple of videos today. The first one is a retake of the end behavior game. As you suggested, no moving board, no moving handler (lol), and no labeling the behavior.
The second is the mountain climber game. I set the teeter to the second lowest setting. Did Zoe look nervous to you? I don’t know if I should treat her a lot at the top or release her immediately. If I understand your notes correctly, for dogs who are not fully comfortable, it may be better to release and reward off the teeter? The other question I have, did it look like she performed better when I ran next to her? Zoe is an overthinker and in general (to me) she seems to work better when I am running with her.
Finally, I am wondering if you could share how you train with these games. I mean, do you focus on one game at a time until the pup is comfortable, or do you do all the different games at the same time? Do you train daily with one game or many games, etc?
Thanks so much!
Hi Bobbie,
Thank you so much for the explanation. Understanding why helps me to remember. Never occurred to me that my moving was a distraction! 😀
I am excited about assignment 7. I often wonder how some dogs run across the teeter, and after watching assignment 7 video, this must be the missing gap in our training.OK, a few videos today 😀
First, the mini teeter game, with your latest input to reduce the movement by placing towels at both ends. Sorry about the video being off centered. I did once on each side, once in each direction. Thoughts?The second and third videos are of Zoe doing the plank game part 1 and 2. She surprised me by quickly getting comfortable with the plank on the ground, so decided to proceed to part 2. Of course, this is also a retrain for her, so maybe that’s a factor. I didn’t think she would stay and wait for the cue word, so I had a helper at first, but hubby suggested trying the stay command and she did wait. Do you recommend raising the plank? I have some cinder blocks and I am thinking of raising the plank 8″ off the ground after another one or two sessions with the plank on the ground.
We’ll redo the end behavior game with your recommended adjustment soon. Didn’t want to do too many things in any given day.
Looking forward to your input. Thanks!
https://youtu.be/iuFJkpnFz-c
https://youtu.be/XJB4sDnAuds
https://youtu.be/p2gyxqEuaOQAh! Interesting! Just watched Sparky’s video. Thank you for the review. I will try that.
Just a thought, if my movement maybe causing her to move forward, can my stopping then stop her as well? In other words, if I understand your comment correctly, she is dependent on my movement?
Hi Bobbie,
Thanks for the suggestions. That helps! Zoe gained 2oz since we started class, so I have to cut down on the treats which means less training or shorter training sessions 😀This is (I think) our third session with assignment #6. Still not solid, and not sure if she really understands the cue word or if she follows the treat, but she does immediately do the end behavior when I say the cue word. Thanks!
Hi Bobbie,
I hope all is safe where you are. Thank you for the suggestions. Posting videos of Zoe on the mini teeter and another, working the end behavior. I think this was our 3rd short session with tossing a treat for Zoe to chase right after she tipped the mini teeter. For the end behavior, I keep forgetting and holding the treats low instead of putting them on the board. In the sample video, you recommended putting the treats on the board. End behavior seems OK to me, but eager to get your input.
Of all the games you’ve shared so far, I have the impression that what bothers Zoe the most is the tipping. Like you said, patience is key, but let me know if there are other things I can do to help her become more comfortable with the tipping.https://youtu.be/X2khIDuI3D0
https://youtu.be/ArZm-UwpzDMThanks!
Yes, makes sense. Your comment also reminds me to train from both sides. I am right handed and I find many things easier when I use my right hand.
I think I have a light bulb moment this morning. I was feeling discouraged with Zoe’s progress (or really lack of progress) on the mini teeter. She was still showing a slight hesitation at the tipping point. I taped our session this morning to ask your input, but she did better than I thought. We did this right before our morning walk, so she was already excited, and I had some leftover steak as treats. So I think that was why she did better. I also walked around to add a little challenge. What do you suggest we do from here? I am thinking maybe this is something we’ll do ‘forever’ to get her used to movement until she is proficient on the teeter …
For the bang game and rebound game, I raised the teeter an inch higher. I switched side, and felt a little uncoordinated since I am not left handed. I will leave the height for another session or two, then raise another inch, unless you see something and suggest we keep it at this height for now.
https://youtu.be/ciJAw5oynWs
https://youtu.be/c6nxwJkJGpEThanks!
Hi Bobbie,
Chicken liver and turkey sausage today 🙂 Here is our first attempt of the rebound game. I was pleasantly surprised that other than a subtle flinch when we started, Zoe didn’t even seem to care I was bouncing the board up and down the whole session. I will move the board another inch or two off the ground on Thursday. Looking forward to your input. Thanks!
Hi Bobbie,
I hope all is well there in your neck of the woods.I really appreciate your feedback. Thank you!
I hope you won’t require a dramamine after reviewing our bang game video. 😀 There was some confusion as to how to get Zoe’s face. I think what we should have done was take it from the side, more toward the front, instead of walking around. LOL.
Maybe this is premature (?) but I felt a glimmer of hope seeing Zoe doing the bang game today. This was only our second session, and already she seemed more confident and eager to jump onto the teeter. Per your feedback, I didn’t let her climb up and she seemed to get the idea to turn around to get her treats. Of course, I wonder if the treats made the difference too! I used freshly made dehydrated chicken livers and some turkey bacon today 🙂 Eager to raise the teeter here, but will be patient and wait till you give the OK 😀Still not sure if I am doing the end behavior correctly. It did look like she was shifting her weight to her rear to me.
Trying to do only 2 things at a time, so no mini teeter game today.
Thank you!
Hi Bobbie,
I will separate working on the movement and the end behavior. 😀
We worked on the mini teeter and the bang game this morning. I am going with the assumption that it is OK to mix these games? I had tried the bang game a long time ago but gave up because I wasn’t sure I was doing it right and not knowing who to turn to for help at the time. Hoping that with your guidance, we will have success this time.
As you can see in the video, I have the teeter on the lowest setting, with the weighted end on a box such that the other end is about 3/4″ off the ground. Zoe seemed comfortable with the little movement, and the turf made the bang barely audible. What do you think? Should I keep it at this height for now, or raise it just a tad higher? Should I have the teeter at full height like you had in the video?
We practiced on the mini teeter about an hour late. Trying to do what you suggested, treat right after the tip and at the end and toss the treat away from the teeter more often. There seems to be some definite improvement after a week now, though still a subtle hesitation right before the tip. How is this?
And as usual, thank you …
Hi Bobbie,
We moved from a thick padded carpet to a thin rug (no padding) with the teeter slightly over the edge of the rug. So, there is a subtle increase in height, and louder when it hit the floor. I was hoping I could make Zoe do the end behavior as she walked back and forth from end to end. She kept getting off the board before I released her, is that OK? Thank you.
Hello Bobbie, yes, if you think what we are doing with the pin drop game is right, then I think I will stick with that. I also believe the simpler the better 🙂 Thanks.
