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Puppy October 6

And here comes your last list!

1. add duration and distractions to heeling – try it in different environments, reward a lot there, but apart from that, start adding more duration: reward every couple of steps with a small reward first, then do a really long distance and big jackpot for it – then a couple of steps for a small reward and a really long distance for a great reward again – vary it a lot for them to be able to see the pattern that the longer there is no reward, the better!

2. pick up the object to hug it – if the dog can already hold an object independently, put it on the floor and see if he can solve the problem and pick it up with a muzzle to get a hold of it with a paw

3. get a ball for kids, hold it with your feet so that it doesn’t move too much at first and click for front legs on – then release your feet a little bit so that it starts to move and the dog needs to balance on it. Now click for little steps on the ball, the final goal is the dog walking ahead with hind feet on the ground and front feet rolling the ball. Great for balance and coordination and for getting used to objects moving under the feet.

4. “sit up” to “stand up” and back and “down” to “sit up” and back – great for strength in the back, especially important for those who will be doing agility. Down to a sit up and back should go easy, use a hand signal together with your verbal cues. First, reward even if the dog goes into a sit for a second, but then try to get rid of it and go for direct transitions from one position to another. Sit up to a stand up is easy too, you can use a lure for that one. Going back to sit up (without falling in sit first) is hard, so offer your hand as a support so that the dog can lean on it and then click for any knee bending until actually going into sit up. This is conditioning exercise, so you can help some more with lures if necessary. As always, don’t do so many repetitions that the dog would be sore after, you need to build muscle and balance gradually.

5. another great warming up exercise to stretch the dog before the run: spins to left&right and figure 8 forward. I teach it with a nose touch, putting a hand for a nose touch on the right spot (somewhere at the dog’s hip) to get a spin, then getting more&more spins in the same direction in a row, fading the hand and putting it on verbal cue left &right – very useful to have those directionals also on a course! I also do figure 8 forward with a nose touch, putting a hand so that the dog comes between the legs, rewarding at the side and then again the other direction. Fade the hand then into a hand signal and then completely, using just a verbal cue. I simply use cik&cap as the dog is wrapping an object again - my leg.

And yes, sure, that nose targeting is almost as luring and if you wanted, you can also shape it instead. I will sometimes lure as sometimes, it is the easiest way to the goal. I never lure at the very beginning stages as I want a puppy to understand the concept of shaping first because many things simply can’t be taught by luring, so at one point, you need a dog who will offer behaviors. If you always help with easy tricks and then count on simply going to shaping when needed, you’ll get in trouble. But I don’t have a problem with going the other way around: first only shape, but later on do some luring or targeting when teaching something as easy as figure 8, spins or sit up to stand up.

6. limping: click for one paw in the air (front or rear, whatever you prefer), add a little bit duration and then start clicking for any movements or weight shift of other 3 legs. Shape towards a real step and slowly add more&more to get limping on front/rear foot.

You again have 2 weeks to work on those exercises and post videos to comment and suggestions for improvements. Then, I will open a new, "graduation page"  and this will be your very last assignment: making a video of everything you learned in this class – without training sessions as such, but finished version of tricks, some breakthrough moments, some playing, city walking and everything else you did with your dog for this class (using what you already taped or taping some more). Those videos will be your graduation work, you will get a “LoLaBuLand puppy class graduate” certificate and as a gift, a download link to a training video of your choice (see the training videos website to choose one). Auditors are more than welcome to post graduation videos too!

And then that's it for this class, but I hope to see many of you also in Foundations, starting 27th February! If you want to continue with tricks too, you're also welcome to join Advanced Tricks. Advanced Tricks have open registration, meaning that you can register and post whenever you want, no time limitations. It would be cool if a group from October Puppy Class joins too! And the third option you have is to join Running Contacts class that started today. Next RC class will probably only start in September - or MAYBE May.


166 Comments

  1. Diane Whitney January 9, 2012 at 00:16 Log in to Reply

    Thank you so much, Silvia--I wasn’t expecting a gift! And you knew just what I like! 🙂

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    • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 12:14 Log in to Reply

      🙂

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  2. Kathy January 9, 2012 at 00:46 Log in to Reply

    Whoa…I can’t believe this is our last lesson! 🙂 Are you going to do another Puppy Class in Feb/March? I’m thinking I’d like to repeat this class with Zephyr because there are so many tricks we haven’t gotten to yet & I would really like your advice when we do. I’d also like to do the Puppy Class with my Bernese as a second dog.
    Also will you be doing a Foundation Class later in the spring? I want to repeat this class with Elsa but it’s still winter here & all my agility equipment is in storage. Unfortunately, I don’t have an inside space to practice. 🙂
    Thanks.

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    • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 12:19 Log in to Reply

      Yes, next Puppy class starts 27th February, I’ll open the registration soon. For repeaters, it’s 50% off + I can give you another 50% off of that for the 2nd dog. There won’t be another Foundation class before September though. But I now made Foundations longer, so it’s easier to follow even if you can’t work all the time because of the weather. February class only ends mid-June, so I guess there will be enough nice days for agility in that time.

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  3. Louise Hoelscher January 9, 2012 at 01:50 Log in to Reply

    Wow, thank you for the gift but what if we already have all your DVDs? Do you have any more new DVDs coming out soon that we could apply it to? And is there a time limit to submit out graduation videos? I’m only just starting Lesson 5.

    I’m so glad I’m in Advanced Tricks too so the training can continue 🙂

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    • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 12:58 Log in to Reply

      No, no time limit for graduation videos! And yes, you can use a gift for the next DVD. Hopefully, it’s out in March and it’s called Tricks for balance, strength and coordination -- so most of the tricks are covered in Puppy and Advanced classes already…

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  4. juliana blanco January 9, 2012 at 02:45 Log in to Reply

    What a coincidence, I was just looking at your training videos and I was deciding which one to buy!!! Thank you so much!!!
    I´m a bit nervous about putting it all together, many information in this few months!!!
    I´m definitely taking the agility foundation course!!!

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    • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 13:05 Log in to Reply

      Great! See you in Foundations then! No worries about the graduation video, just throw in everything that comes to mind, to make a nice souvenir video.

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  5. sandrab January 9, 2012 at 03:11 Log in to Reply

    I will be taking the foundation course and would like to do the running contacts class but I don’t think I have time to do 2 at once! I hope you do end up doing another running contacts in May (please…)

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    • Louise Hoelscher January 9, 2012 at 03:39 Log in to Reply

      Yes, running contacts in May would be awesome. My agility equipment is out in the yard from beginning of May til end of October. In the winter I only have access to agility equipment once a week. I’m hoping for Foundation I can make do with once a week, until May.

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      • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 13:15 Log in to Reply

        What if you bring out two jumps, that would really allow you to do lots of work already, no more equipment needed to start with!

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        • Louise Hoelscher January 9, 2012 at 14:38 Log in to Reply

          Well, we haven’t had much snow this year so I probably could put 2 jumps out but it will be slippery. I am hoping we will start getting more snow though. It’s my favorite time of year to run the dogs in the woods on snowmobile trails. So far it hasn’t been a great year for that. Of course if we don’t get much snow, then I’ll probaby be able to get my equipment out in April. I could also put 2 jumps in my utility/training room but we can’t really do anything in there with any speed. I’ll do what I can til I can get my equipment out.

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          • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 19:48 Log in to Reply

            Yeap, you could do some inside and some outside when it’s not too slippery. Before I had agility roof, we worked outside all year around, also in snow when it was not icy.

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    • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 13:13 Log in to Reply

      Yeap, Foundations class has quite intense program too! 🙂 But yes, I think we can do another RC in May, many people are asking for it.

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  6. ana January 9, 2012 at 06:16 Log in to Reply

    Thank you so much 🙂 I’m a little behind for hollidays, I’m still on lesson 4 :(, is there a date limit to post the graduation video? I will take foundation class, I took with Acqua and helps me A LOT!!!

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    • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 14:02 Log in to Reply

      Nope, no time limit. See you in Foundations!

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  7. Bridget Telencio January 9, 2012 at 11:24 Log in to Reply

    wow last session and I am so far behind on videos! I have been working everything its just videoing that’s behind here is the last video i think from week 4 or 5 thanks i loved the class

    Lava trick video week 4

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    • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 17:12 Log in to Reply

      Great to see Lava again! You have 2 more weeks to video what you’re working on for comments -- and then put it all together for graduation video!

      Great backing up, nice distance and speed! For pivoting on your right, reward her from your right hand. I think she doesn’t pivot all the way because she is so busy staring at that hand! For left side, you can already try to fade the target. Getting there with pole hugging, time to select for the nicest hugs and go for a a paw all around the pole and eventually pulling it to you. One paw hugs are better for now, try to go for a firm independent hold with one paw first. For side legs, I would try a higher object next, it might make more sense to her actually once she needs to lift her feet higher up. Try to have her back up on a pillow or something and then next put her diagonally against the pillow so that she climbs it with one hind foot only -- and then it should be pretty easy to get the front paw up too. Keep up the good work, Lava sure seems to love her tricks!

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  8. Natalie Bayless January 9, 2012 at 17:12 Log in to Reply

    Before we dive back into training …. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone posting videos. You have given me so many good ideas -- especially about objects I can use! Someone posted their dog pivoting on a paint can. It turned out to be just the thing! Someone else was using a cook pot for 4-in. That helped too! I just watched Bridget’s video and got yet another idea for things Pippa could back up onto. It is just so very helpful to have a community full of ideas. Thank you!

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    • Louise Hoelscher January 9, 2012 at 17:15 Log in to Reply

      I also really enjoyed watching everyone’s videos. It gives it a nice class atmosphere and I’ve learned alot by watching others.

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  9. Giusy Nicoletti January 9, 2012 at 18:07 Log in to Reply

    Hi! my mom is out of town for now and she hasn’t her pc with her. She told me she’s working on the targets but she can’t upload the videos. She will do at the end of the week
    bye=)

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    • LoLaBu January 9, 2012 at 20:52 Log in to Reply

      No problem, the class is still running for 2 more weeks!

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  10. Heini Viitamäki January 10, 2012 at 07:18 Log in to Reply

    Wow, can’t believe it’s our 6th lesson already! :O I agree with everyone -- it’s great to watch other people’s videos and you can learn so much!

    I have a problem related to 4th lesson but I’ll just post it here… We’re still stuck with hugging the pole trick. I guess I just don’t know what to click so we’re not making any progress. If I wait to see if Papu offers anything more than paw touch, he’ll go down or pokes the pole with his nose… I don’t get any hugging movements around the pole. Any suggestions??

    hugging the pole

    We’re also facing some difficulties with heeling: I successfully faded the target already but suddenly Papu started to keep too much distance to my leg so he keeps drifting away as I move. So we’re back to higher target again. But I guess, the process will be faster this time…

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    • LoLaBu January 10, 2012 at 17:06 Log in to Reply

      I think his short legs are an extra challenge here: he would need to get REALLY close to the pole to be able to hug it! 0:31 try was the closest to what we’re looking for. You can try to help him some and as he raises the paw, move a pole closer to his chest -- that should give you more of a hug.

      In heeling, many small dogs drift away trying to looks at you with the head turned in. Try to get a really straight, vertical head already when pivoting -- good head position is especially important for small dogs. When you start walking again, keep stopping every step and then every two-three-four steps so that he keeps correcting his position -- until it becomes a habit.

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      • Heini Viitamäki January 11, 2012 at 07:23 Log in to Reply

        Thanks Silvia, I’ll try that!

        Just one more clarification needed: where should the dog look when he’s heeling? I guess eye contact is just not possible for small dogs. Should he look forward? Or my legs? So should he bent his neck or not? I’m not doing obedience so I guess it doesn’t really matter, but I’d like to get it right in case I’ll need “proper” heeling sometime in the future. And I’d like to get rid of that drifting too… 🙂

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        • LoLaBu January 11, 2012 at 16:59 Log in to Reply

          Ideally, he looks straight up in the air, with a vertical neck. So definitely try rewarding very high and always from upside down (not from the inside).

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sialaSilvia Trkman is known for bringing every dog, from her first dog on, to the very top of the sport. Her dogs are known for great speed, tight turns, running contacts and long and injury-free careers. Silvia is in agility since 1992 and is
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