And here comes your last list! If you have question on it, please post till 11th June, we'll then take a break from 11th June to 25th June as I'm away and I think many could use a "catch-up-break" anyway 🙂 Then I'll be advising on your videos for one more week and in July, you're hopefully all graduating (see below)!
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 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 sit up and back should go easy, use a hand signal together with your verbal cues. First, reward even if the dog goes into 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 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, but as always – don’t do it so much 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 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 hand signal and then completely, using just a verbal cue. I simply use cik&cap.
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 with a puppy because I want them 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 like 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 give suggestions for improvements - but with 2 weeks break in between, when I'm away. After that, your very last assignment before graduating puppy class is to make 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). If you allow, I will then publish your videos on my website. 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 DVD of your choice (see the training videos website to choose one).
For everybody asking for “advanced puppy class” – I will try to think of a good program as it was so cool to work with you that I would sure love to see some more of your dogs in the future 
But I think that won’t be doable before autumn, so the plan is to hopefully open advanced tricks class in October. But there is Agility Foundation class starting end of June – I hope to see you there!
Hi Sylvia, not sure this is the proper place to post this, but since we are just auditing and so you have not got to know my dogs I wanted you to know the impact your class had on my doggies. I took this class mainly for my new agility wanna be dog Cricket-a BC, and I also did it with my 5 yr old BC Lizzie and my 4 yr old BC Breeze. Right before the class Breeze had been through a rehab program, and the vet had said she thought Breezes needed to be retired from agility. I was worried about her quality of life and keeping her happy because she loves to work. ANYWAY I was not sure Breeze could do a lot of the exercises but we took them slow and they seemed just a little higher level then what we had worked with in rehab, and suprisingly Breeze did the handstands, two side legs, four legs in a tiny bowl (the balancing was really hard for her), she actually did most of the exercises the best of all the dogs. Breeze was back at the vets last week and the vet could not believe how much improvement Breeze had, she was shocked. Now she says that with that much improvement which she had not thought possible she would not discount Breeze recovering enough to do some agility, which would be nice, but I think I feel much better about what her quality of life will be now which is the most important thing. My young agility wanna be dog Cricket is doing GREAT and we are all so glad we will get to keep working with you during the next Foundations class. I just had to say thanks so much—Kathy with Breeze/Liz/Cricket (auditors)
Wow, SOOO happy to hear about Breeze! I hope she surprises her vet some more and is back to agility soon too! 🙂 Very glad the tricks helped -- I really believe they’re very important part of keeping the dogs fit and injuries free and can definitely help with rehab, I actually stole some ideas from rehab programs 🙂 Thanks for posting your experience!
Callie and I second that!!!!!! 😀 The tricks have been a fabulous extension of her rehab and a great team building activity for us during her recovery.
We entered in a trial at the end of June…our first since November 2010! Jumpers only for now, but I’m fine with that!
Kristin
Will Auditors get a certificate and a download link too? Finja and me had a great time in this class and I wish so much there will be somthing to remind.
Sure, just do the graduation video! All auditors are welcome to post the videos at this time to graduate too!
Wow! That’s exciting, to be able to post a video as an auditor! Hope we won’t disappoint you.
Wow. That´s great. 🙂
Awesome! I’m auditing too and have done so much with my little pupster. I’ll love putting together a video.
Great! Looking forward to see it, will be nice to get to know the auditors better too!!!
How cool! We’ll have to get to work on a video. We definitely don’t have all the tricks finished, but Dare and I are having a great time anyway! Thanks for including the auditors in the graduation fun. 🙂
Looking forward to meet Dare too! There is no need to have all the tricks down perfectly, no pressure -- that’s the beauty of tricks 🙂
Hi Silvia,
Wow…Lesson 6 already! I’m sad this is our last lesson but glad we have an extra 2 weeks to do homework. 🙂 I wish this class could go on forever--it’s the BEST!!! And you are an amazing teacher! Thank you!
I have a question on the forward fig. 8 & spins. I previously taught Elsa to do a forward fig. 8 & she does this really fast without me saying anything. She has learned to cue on my slight weight shift from leg to leg. She will continue doing a fig. 8 over & over until I give a release. Do you think I should introduce the cues cik&cap at this point or will that confuse her?
I also taught her spins but my cues are “spin”= right spin; “twist”= left spin. Can I add right&left as new cues? And do I do this by first saying “right spin” & “left twist”, then slowly fade the “spin” & “twist”?
Thanks.
I know, it went by SO fast! I’m sure glad to see many of you in Foundations, it has been so much fun working with you all, you are really GREAT students!
Figure 8, you could still name it -- but it’s sometimes hard to say the right cue fast enough with fast weavers 🙂 So you can as well leave it as it is and work on cik&cap on other objects. For the spins, you could keep the verbals you have, afterall it doesn’t matter how you call left&right! The only problem is remembering the right words when the dog is running full speed… It’s probably still easier with left&right… -- On you to decide. If you decide to rename it, what you suggest is a very good way to do it yes.
Hi Silvia, this is a video of where we are on lesson 5 and the beginning of lesson 6. We are getting crossed legs with the pole but not yet in the down stay . Our other weak exercise is the retrieve-now that he has no retained teeth-I really think they were bothering ,I will work that more .
On the video I show some problems. When he is tight on his wraps he knocks over the jump standard. When he is very tight on his figure 8 he gets under my legs and almost knocks me over-it’s on the tape!
Just tried 2 different balls -one is too big, one is too heavy. Should I get a lighter one the soccer ball size or should I get about basketball size? We have a bunch at my school so I can try those too.
This is so much fun. I showed at an obedience trial this weekend with Wrigley-now a CD -and Turbo-still not a UD-but close and they all thought we were nuts till he did his pole dancing-they they turned into Cubby fans! they
salivated over his use of his rear end. So expect some new students from ky and Ohio soon. -love the class!
WOW, I’m in love with that heeling
Love the heeling! Nice cik&cap! Try to get a heavier object though so that he is not knocking it over… I use a stick in the ground pole. Getting there with stand up to sit up! For pole hugs, try to lure less, he can think more about his paws then. I think the second ball would actually be o.k., he just needs some more practice. You could try a lighter one, but I’m sure he could roll that one with some more practice too. Great to see Cubby back!
Wow, this class has been so great. My work takes me out of town a great deal so I haven’t worked on as much as we should, but Spur is so happy doing everything, that I feel good about the progress we have made. Our big challenge continues to be backing up, so we really have no hand stand, but I love the progress she has made in heeling and her 2o/2o is looking great. She also is SO paw motivated that he will happily “tap” just about anything. We are going to continue to work on all the exercises this summer. Hearing how well Breeze did in building up her muscles, I’m also going to work on these exercises with my dog, Scout, who had CCL surgery last year and needs to build up his muscles.
Foundations class will be an audit for us, but I’m really looking forward to that as well. Thanks Silvia for making every lesson such a delight.
Yeah, it’s a pretty intense class 🙂 Of course, you can all pick the tricks you would like to work on, focus on those and leave the others for later on, I know it’s pretty hard to keep up with everything. But it’s definitely a great way to spend the time with your dog!
What a wonderful mission you are giving us!
I have been planning to work and improve all tricks during summer time but your idea of making a global video with all tricks is just so challenging! I love the idea. We’ll play (before your class I would have used the verb “work”) on it do for next 4 weeks (since Karmen is on “vacations” this week as I’m abroad) and we’ll be posting our 1st video by the 25th of june (and the 2nd one by the 2nd of july), won’t we?
Thank you so much, your class’ rhythm is just optimized and if you remember, it was my main objective ! I’m so happy. Hopefully you’ll be keeping on following us in the foundations class.
Céline
Yeah, graduation videos are sure a great souvenir! You can of course still work on the tricks some more later on, it’s of course no need the tricks are completely finished -- just show whatever you will have by then. Have a nice trip, see you when I get back 🙂
Have a nice trip you too and if you are going on a competition: good luck !
#3, #4 and frog. Going to film the rest too but I hae been ery busy. Luckily it is summer acacion now 🙂 and with the catch-up-break I hae no more excuses not to film 🙂
have, very, vacacion, have… This stupid computer does not like the letter v
Great job, as always! Loved the ball rolling and sit up to down and back! He has really great balance, I think he will get stand up to sit up soon too. After few more sessions, try without your hand to lean on, but with a treat close enough to the nose that he can lean with the nose a little bit. It’s then a very easy step to no support anymore. Enjoy the vacation time! Oh, is your Sheltie really big or your Kooiker really small?
My sheltie is REALLY big :). he is almost 20 kg. so he is more than doubbe, almost triple as big as he should be! He is in the large group in agility too…
Oh, that’s sure a very big Sheltie!!! By BCs are 14kg 🙂
Great job! I’m glad you posted because I was not sure on how the sit-up to down was to look -- now I know 🙂 and now I can start teaching it to Maia.
I have a question about #3. Can I use a larger exercise ball? Maia has learned to play soccer with smaller balls and just keeps nosing the balls around and around all over the place to play soccer.
Thank you 🙂
Sure, you can start with the big ball. Once she can do it on a big one, I would still try a smaller one too, though, their balance is challenged the most when on small ball.
Silvia I have a problem, I started with the exercises this week with Obelix … and the # 4, can not get Obelix sit up to stand up, to be so great if I do not understand or just do not have enough strength to lift the body, as it could??
Thank you
Did you try helping him? Putting your hand so that he can lean against it and help him lift up? -- Like Lotta does in her video? I think he could do it with the help of your hand, but it’s likely he can’t do it on his own, this exercise is much harder with bigger as with smaller dogs.
Hi silvia, while working with Obelix I leave work with my other dog ….. Boleta with # 4 …. EXERCISES
I’m trying to work with my support and Obelix and stand up, but costs will continue to work to sit up back …. : D
Very cool! For Obelix, those will be harder, so don’t overdo it, you don’t want him to be sore after -- just do it a couple of times every day and I’m sure he will eventually be able to do it. But don’t rush it, it’s a difficult exercise for big dogs!
Thank you for posting this video! I wasn’t sure what the right positions were for #4 — now I get it. 🙂
My side leg balance & handstand doesn’t have a name because she can’t hold them yet without a prop. When I change sides on my rt front rt rear balance to left, WOW that is when I get the best balance(no prop), but I do not reward because I have asked for the other side, by putting her other side towards the chair. So when I do to do handstands she is still doing 1/2 of the first trick and 1/2 of a handstand, she popped up her 2 side legs so fast she flipped herself onto her side.
#1. Am I correct not to name it until she can balance without a prop?
#2. Am I correct when I change sides or tricks just ignore the behavior even though it is her best ever? (that is hard)
#3. For limping is still totally going to be confused? Do you name that? I remember you don’t name the legs, you just say the other one. Right?
#3. Heeling, now that I am outside, when she is distracted and looking at a bird,so I make a noise to get her attention or wait it out. I do only 1 step reward when she is distracted. She still is lagging behind me so I haven’t’ increase the duration from my last video.
#4. Having problems with backward figure 8. I will watch other videos.
Have to work all day Thursday. I will find someone to video on friday.
1. I do name side legs and handstand before they can do it without a prop -- I name it as soon as the technique is right (both legs go up at the same time) as already then, I’m trying to click before they actually touch the object -- and because having a name for it makes fading the object easier.
2. I also reward something I didn’t ask for if it’s REALLY good. For something I like a lot, I will definitely click&reward. As it’s too hard for me not to, I will also often give “cookie for cuteness” -- I won’t click it, but will reward something cute and innovative, even if I we’re not working on that. It might be against the theory, but as I’m not taking the tricks too seriously, I just follow the common sense and reward 🙂
3. For limping, I usually simply shape picking up a foot and holding it there. I don’t ask them for a paw as they think it’s heaving it up very high in the air and you don’t want that for limping, so I just shape from a weight shift to a paw in the air and then click for movements of hind legs and once I have several steps, I simply name it “limp”.
4. If the dog gets distracted when heeling, I immediately do something that refocuses them again: if walking, I stop or do a sharp turn, if standing still, I move away. I don’t like waiting out the dog when distracted -- too boring for me 🙂 and teaching them that they can take their time and cooperate when they feel like it. So I try to refocus them immediately and if unsuccessful -- end the session. That way, they learn it’s now or never -- so they choose now 🙂
Wow, very valuable information! Should of asked earlier. Don’t have time to watch everybody’s videos, but I true try to read your comments, but I get way behind. #2. WOW glad to hear it.
It was driving me crazy I was trying to be such a good consistent trainer, it was killing me not to click for a perfect balance on 2 when I was doing tight wraps, she stopped right in the middle of the turn and picked up both legs and held it without touching the table leg. Wish I had the camera. My whole rehab approach is common sense rules. LOVE IT! Don’t take tricks too seriously!
#4. Birds(crows) are her outside distraction, can I say her name or just make a funny noise to get her attention back? My body movement doesn’t get her back when she is looking at a talking crow.
Yeah, I gave up on me ever becoming a good consistent trainer long time ago… 🙂 So I just take it easy, follow the common sense and somehow get around even with my inconsistency 🙂
You can give her one chance yes and say her name: if she reacts, you continue, if not, the game stops.