Wow, it's your 5th lesson already! Here is your new list. As we were discussing, I'm underlining the assignments you should focus on in case you're somewhat behind and don't have time to focus on all those new tricks. But you sure want to try them all at one point!
1. heeling: make the "glued to the leg" exercise more like heeling: still do different kind of turns, but also some normal forward walking in different speeds (slow, normal, fast) to teach them to adjust and keep the right position in every situation
2. figure 8 backward: tell the dog to go into heel position and start spinning as we were doing on the target, then very suddenly stop and step back with the other leg (if the dog is at left side - with right leg), you can also make a gesture with left hand to try to get them to keep circling below the heeling position, eventually all the way around you leg, so that they come backwards between your legs back into front position. If the dog insists on staying in heel position, you can help with the hand a little bit, lure his head out (left for 90 degrees if the dog is on left side) and say back to have them back up in your direction. Step back with the other leg enough to have them back up between your legs. Reward and tell them to heel on the other side (right) and repeat the process. As soon as you get some smoothness with that, stop rewarding for coming in between, always first tell them to come to the other leg and reward at your side in order to avoid having them back up too far - they need to stay very close to your legs all the time.
3. skateboarding: try to find a skateboard (kids department) and reward for making it move with front feet. Don't reward 4on, but 2 or 3, the criteria is they make a skateboard move.
4. cik&cap: find a table leg, dog-food container, traffic cone or similar and shape the dog to go around it - first just a step, then two or three circles, both directions (you can reward both right from the start if you are getting it - if not, start with just one, but then on one session, don't reward that direction anymore but wait for the other)
5. fade the object for side legs: if the dog is already heaving both legs up at the same time, click&reward that before he even touches the object, so that he understands the idea is picking them up, not touching something. At the same time, try changing objects as much as possible. Going to vertical objects shouldn't be too difficult, then go to "empty" objects like a chair that looks like an object, but doesn't really offer much support, so at this point, the dog is already free-standing, the object is just there for mental support. Next step in table leg and then you don't need an object anymore. For free handstand, you go through the same process, only that it takes longer as it's physically more demanding - you can start working on it, but do not rush it, especially not with young puppies!
6. don't forget on recalls and playing, stays with distractions (you can combine it all in a really fun game), try the hug on a plastic bottle or something similar that is light enough for the dog to hold it and have them hold it independently, add more steps to backing up from you, tape the 4in the bowl trick again so that I can see to what size you managed to get: the smaller the better!
And most importantly: have fun!
Hi Silvia!
Please need a hint for 4! Is the end point that she just offer 2-3 circles (walking/running) around the object? Should I add a cue? Where do I stand in relation to the object? Thanks! 🙂
Yes, you want her circling around the object, as close as possible. You can stand close to it, but of course far enough that she can pass you when circling an object. You add a cue as soon as she is circling it fluently.
Silvia--what cue do you use for a full circle to the left? And to the right? I’m confused as to the meaning of “cik” & “cap”… 🙂 Are these cues for full circles or tight turns?
Thanks.
I use cik&cap for tight turns to left&right. To get the tightness, I first do many multi-wraps as I call those to be able to select for tightness, click for bending the back around it and teach them the importance of tightness. If you go directly to sends, most dogs will choose to circle it wide as they don’t need to put an effort into collecting then. That’s why I first do full circles and only then introduce more sends and speed. I name full circles already so that I have a verbal that I can use to send once I get there.
Just wondering if we are doing the cik/cap right? I would hate to practice it wrong all week 😛
Yeap, that’s a good start! You can help with placement of the reward to keep her circling in the same direction, just as you’re doing. Don’t forget to mark the really good ones (when she does a good % of a circle) with an excited voice and more treats!!!
Oh good!
Yes I get so into watching every tiny movement that Tibby is making that I forget everything else -- like talking to her.
Thank you for that explination. It makes so much sense. I finally get it! 🙂
wouah, it will be so much fun !
Have to go to work for now and have to wait for this evening to try :_)
Celine
OMG! Lesson 5 already! Harley can do parts of #1 to #5 but lacks fluency. I feel like we have a long way to go………..
Re: #5 -- should I name the side legs target on an object before I fade the object?
Also, I was wondering how often and how long should we be training? I have been doing 5 to 10 mins once or twice a day but am always conscious of overtrainng!
I think once or twice a day per 5 to 10min should be o.k. With puppies, I usually start off with very short sessions 4 times a day, but then slowly go for less&less, but longer sessions, so with adults, I normally do about 15min long sessions, but just one per day. You can name side legs as soon as you have them lift simultaneously, but probably, for now, an object will be their cue. By the time you fade it, it would be good to have it on verbal though. I actually use a hand signal, I point with left or right finger to their right or left shoulder. Not enough names for everything 🙂
Thanks Silvia! I tried this morning what you suggested about changing location and naming it and not sure whether or not it was wishful thinking but I think he picked up the verbal cue. It was so exciting to see the light bulb moment!!
This is from the last lession but this is Cubby at the fun match- he had great fun and I think my judge may now sign up for your next class. I am very happy with his progression and need to work on staying tight to my leg- he goes wide off and on but has the concept- by the way he did spider for several little kids and got big smiles! I am aiming for longer progressions before treats- should I go back to rewarding little sequences of heeling? The right side heeling is coming back- thank goodness.
One important ? I am having trouble with cubby either pulling on loose leash walking or thinking he should be heeling- Its getting better but expert advise needed please!
Awww I love his little legs when he is heeling! He brings them up so high -- cute!
Wow, that was great, what a focus! You both did GREAT! Until you’re perfectly happy with the position, reward often. We’ll work on duration too, but the position comes first.
I have the same problem with loose leash walking: if I reward for walking nicely along, they immediately switch to heeling. So I usually don’t reward it differently as saying “good dog”, but do try to stop to remind them if they start pulling.
Hi Sylvia,
I just posted videos from lesson 4 homework under lesson 4. Do you still check the previous lesson once we have moved on to the next lesson?
Sure, I do, it’s no problem if you post it with some delay!
Thanks so much for the underlining. That helps especially as I haven’t been doing as much as I would like. We did make some progress last week. Spur will now train with a toy as a reward which is huge and her heeling is getting better. We are having some trouble fading the target as she doesn’t seem to get the verbal commands yet, but we are working on it.
Backing up is also still an issue, so that is hampering us. Spur has a wonderful default down. I may have to resort to luring her back.
Two on/two off is finally clicking although she won’t run into position yet.
Lots to work on.
Mary
Wow, that’s sure great that you got her that interested in playing! Take your time to fade the target, work on a really small flat one and try to circle away here and there and jackpot if she follows. Could advise more if you sent the video. Does she ever backs up in normal life? When she needs to move out of your way when you’re in a limited space? You could also try the same trick as somebody from this class did: make a narrow corridor, throw a treat at the very end and then click and reward for backing up to get out of the corridor. If not, you can of course lure it, it’s an easy one to lure (if the dog is not dropping in down 🙂 ). Happy training!
Tomorrow is Cubby’s surgery. So I am having trouble going on sleep! This video was done today He has been working wraping an upright with no height. I started him today on a low jump. This is his first jumping experience.
Do I need to make him tighter?
P
He has been working the skateboard since I got him so I added in the train and the shopping cart. He and I loved the shopping cart. I use it for rehab of knee injuries for small and medium dogs. I think he will be able to push and pull it both. Just can’t wait to go to petsmart with him pushing that-actually I’m not that crazy!
Heeling on the right is coming back-I was astonished how fast it went away.
The hugging of the toy was amazing. He got the idea immediately. he has never sat up before do that was a light bulb moment. I figure next week we will work on stays and feet crossing:)
Great job with the hugs and pushing things! Very cute! But yes, the warps should be tighter, I think that was too much hight too fast for this size of a dog. Can you make it lower? It’s actually pretty good to the left, he only goes too wide on your side -- you wait too long to turn him back to the jump. Other than that, to the left looked good, especially those around 0:15. To the right is not so good, he jumps too much in the middle of the bar. It usually helps if you stand not in front of jump but at it’s side, at a stantion.
Hallo everybody!
I would like to show our exercises from lesson 5. I decided to attach those right now because we have started some part of them already. And we would like to know how we can improve 🙂
1.Heeling – it’s better. Outside is much worse than at home. So I do very short sessions outside. If I practice this too long Azja gets bored. I think this is the most difficult part to us.
2.8 figure backward – We have started this yesterday! I have really smiled when I saw that this is our next task! 🙂
3.2on2off side version – This is the favorite Azja’s task. When I come to the wall, chair or something she starts doing this task! She loves this very much and I think she does it well 🙂 Fade an object going well, but now without object she is always turning right and looking for some targets. We have a problem with left side 🙁 Azja picks up her rear leg but not front. This is our task for next week! 🙂
4.Cik&cap – We have done this task couple of weeks ago. Now we run around the trees. I attached this part because I would like to show other participants how fun it is later, when dog knows cik&cap very well. This is our training from yesterday. We do very short sessions. This is my favorite trick, because this is almost like agility.
Wow, GREAT side legs!!! And amazing figure 8 backwards! And you only started it now?!? Cik&cap looks great too! Heeling is getting better&better too, but she is still somewhat too much forward. Also, for better focus, I would try to use a toy more.
Oh, thanks for posting this. I hadn’t tried the Figure 8 yet but seeing how you did it helped a lot! It went great with my BC. I couldn’t stop laughing with Da Vinci though…this is going to be a bit more technical with a big dog ;)!!! He did well, but it was amusing!
Kristin
Yeap, it requires some more precision from a big dog! 🙂
…and the handler with one knee still mending ;)! I’ll try to post video since I think we might need some extra tips. He loves to go between my legs since I use that for a start line position so I’m sure he will love the figure 8 once we figure out how to do it.
Thank you so much for having posted your video Agata.
Thanks to your comment I tried this evening. And it has already worked (of course it’s not smooth yet)!
… My worry now is: how will I be able to keep on building tricks in the future without our classmate and professor’s help??!
Hope Silvia, you’ll create some new long distance classes!
See you this week-end with a video.
Céline
🙂 Sure, I’ll do my best to keep an eye on you all! 🙂
Thank you Celine. This is so much rewarding when I can help somebody! I am also waiting for next class for graduates 🙂 For now we are taking agility foundation class. I hope I will meet your all there!!!
Agata, thank you so much for posting your video -- it is very helpful to see! And, I love reading your comments and instructions for all of us, Silvia. I will miss this class and our classmates very much -- and glad to be in the Foundations class next. I hope you keep doing online classes, Silvia, forever!
Diane and Bean
Thank you Silvia. Yes, I have started 8 figure backwards on Sunday. I am also surprised that she learned this so quickly. I just say to her: “noga (polish leg), back, side” and she done this 🙂 This is wonderful. Every next trick goes much quicker!
Yes, figure 8 backward is sure easier as it looks like! And I even understand most of the things you’re saying to her, we have many similar words 🙂 Noga is leg for us too and it’s even spelled the same 🙂
Silvia, any way you could post a video of Figure 8? I can’t figure this one out by the written instructions alone.
See Agata’s video 🙂