I think we're ready for the next list!
1. see in what situations your dog gets really crazy and exited or runs as mad and name it - my "magic" word is "ajde, ajde" and you can really see how much speed they add when hearing it - in agility or when running in the fields. I got it by saying anytime they would be playing the BC games, chasing each other in full speed or go crazy and run in circles on a wet grass.
2. make the front feet target lower&lower and then smaller&smaller and then fade it completely, still circling away from the dog and have him follow your leg. Then, add movements to the side, forward and backward and reward your dog for being glued to the leg.
3. side version of 2on2off: try to get side legs (the two left or the two right legs) on an object. The easiest is to choose an object that is angled (I put a pillow/plank/drawer under the angle against the sofa or a wall), so that the dog can't climb on it with all 4 feet. Because of 2on2off, they will probably try hind feet on, but position yourself next to an object so that the dog is parallel to it and will probably first try just one hind foot (it helps if you have a pee trick down already!): reward a couple of times so that he keeps it there as opposed to try to put the other hind leg on too and then see if you can get front foot on too. You can tell them to paw touch your hand that you keep close to an object and eventually fade the hand to have both feet on an object. Jackpot if the dog puts both feet on at the same time (vs. first hind, then front). Do it with both sides right from the start, you want to build muscle and balance on both sides.
4. one object into another: shape the dog to pick up an object, then to carry it around, then to carry it in the direction of another object, then to let it go close to it and eventually to actually put it in another object. I usually start directly with two bowls of the same size, but to make it easier, you can also use a toy and a box or something similar. Do try it with a bowl too, though, they require more precision.
5. hug the pole/umbrella trick, first clicking for any paw touch, then for sliding to the side and then for going more&more around the object, the final goal is a firm hug with one or both front feet around the object - see 
6. stays with distractions: tell the dog to sit or down and continue with proofing the stay until the release word as we were practicing in 2on2off position already in the last lesson: have them stay in a position with you running passed them, throwing toys and treats, making different hand gestures etc. - then say "go" (sometimes standing still, sometimes while moving) and reward, preferably with a toy as you want a fast start out of the position on "go"
Here is a quick video we did tonight on Stays with distractions:
Great stay! Loved how her head is going left&right, supervising the whole thing!
She does a good job holding her sit-stay as long as there is some excitement going on. But if she gets bored, or if she gets worried, she will lie down EVERYTIME. I have not been showing her in Open B because although her other exercises are brilliant she will flunk on the sit stay because she will lie down. Do you have any advice on how to make here more confident/responsible about the 3 min sit-stay? During a trial, I have to go out of sight during the exercise and that makes her worry even more. When she worries she lies down.
She was also having problems because she would slump during the sit stay because her butt would scooch backwards and she didn’t understand that she could readjust herself. So when I came back from out of sight, on the few occasions that she did remain sitting, she was all slumped down and demoralized and it made me sad 🙁
Teaching sit stays in a motivational way is a real challenge! But if anyone can come up with a creative way to make it fun it is you Silvia!
Huh, yes, long sit stays are hard! We have a long down stay, but not a long sit stay, that’s definitely a hard one! I think I would try to always reward it with the most exciting thing ever so the anticipation of it keeps her up. Try to vary when, where, how and what she gets it, to keep her on her toes… -- that would be the first thing that comes to mind, but I will keep thinking!
Here is the progress we have made on the handstand:
Cool, ready for the next height! This object is great though as it doesn’t allow climbing, so I think I would keep this object and put some books or something under its legs to make it higher.
Great idea! I couldn’t figure out what to use for a higher object, so will put this idea to use right away.
Our first “hug the pole” session:
Getting there! Slowly get more selective, don’t click for “frontal” touches anymore, but wait for a paw somewhat to the side.
Our first session at putting an object in the bowl:
Amazing for a first session!!! A little tip on how to speed up a process for those still struggling: try rewarding in the bowl. So click for bringing another object close to it and then toss a treat into a bowl. It brings their attention to a bowl and the anticipation of a treat there often makes them drop it into a bowl.
I took a different approach to the pivot work and decided to try using my obedience command for a left finish. Her left pivots look fantastic although this was not exactly what you had in mind I think. We can’t do this to the other leg at all. I’m not sure where I want to go with this. I’ll video a session of our shaping tries to rotate the other direction later this week.
Sure, you can just use this for the left side, as she knows it already! And then focus on shaping the other side.
Well, we’re still picking away at the tricks for lesson 4. 🙂 Here are 2 more…holding the bottle & side legs. Zephyr still can’t hold a “sit up” position so the “hug the pole” was more like a fireman sliding down the pole 🙂 He would jump up, hug the pole & slide down. So I thought I would try for a one leg hold first. I was really pleased with the first two sessions of side legs…he seemed to pick it up fairly quickly. Should I try for more duration before trying side legs on a more open object like a chair?
Thanks.
Wow, GREAT hugs!!! Sooo cute! And one leg hugs are even harder as two legs hugs, so those should be easy once you master the sit up too. Great side legs too, he keeps amazing me with his balance and coordination at this age! I would try a wall next and if that goes well, go for the chair. Very cool!
Kathy, you’re doing so good with Zephyr! He reminds me so much of my Hootie that I have to smile! And Hootie holds the bottle the same way… he has a good grip until it’s time to eat the treat. It’s as though he can’t hold the bottle and chew at the same time! Zephyr’s side legs are awesome. Hootie’s got it down on the right legs, but we’re struggling with the left ones. Maybe I should just have him watch the video of Zephyr!
Good job!!
Bobbi & Hootie
Thanks, Bobbi! I just realized that Hootie is the other red & white BC puppy in this class. 🙂 How old is Hootie? And are you having any luck with the “BC laser look” & “deaf ears” that both Hootie & Zephyr have perfected when outside with other fast moving dogs? 🙂 We’ve had a few successes but it’s definitely still a “work in progress”! 🙂 Looking forward to seeing videos of Hootie!
I have started to fade the object on Trumpet’s side legs. I’ve got him using the wall with a heat vent that sticks out about 1/2″, then I will try just a wall. He doesn’t hold his legs there though; should I be trying for more duration before moving on?
His 2 rear on is slowly moving up. I guess this one takes time? Should I being doing anything different to get more height?
I do like the balance tricks :-). We seem to make more progress with these than with the other tricks. Toy in Box and Hug the Pole are still at the baby stage.
I will need to video the heeling as I’m not sure how well that is going.
Great, side legs look good enough to me to try a wall next, you’ve got enough duration for this stage. 2 rear on is physically much harder for them, so it’s normal they need time for that one. I would try to go to the height where he can’t step on with one foot first anymore though to try to get some pushes up with both legs and then stay a little longer on that height, to build muscle for the push up. For a toy in a box, did you try rewarding in a box? That often makes them drop a toy in a box, in anticipation of a reward to appear there.
I have not tried rewarding in the box but I did read about that yesterday so I do plan on doing that next time we work on it. I can get him to pick up his dumbbell no problem but I can’t get him to pick anything else up! I’ve given up on the small plastic bowl for now and will try some different items. But in the meantime I will work him putting the dumbbell in a bowl. Wtih the heeling he gets too excited and moves around too much. That will be the next video.
And now for Tat, my “challenging” dog. She is taking much longer to master things. Here is her side 2on, 2 rear on, and hug the pole. I tried with a wrapped bottle to see if that would be better. Any words of wisdom? I feel like our progress is so slow.
I think it’s normal things take longer with puppies who are still learning the concept. It’s also harder for them to coordinate all those legs, balancing on side legs still seems hard for her. Maybe it would be better to use an angled cushion, so that she can lean on it more and you can really focus on getting both side legs on? For a hug, I would stay with the pole as you’re getting two feet with the bottle and it’s better to master one first. On a pole, you’re already getting many side approaches, now she would just need to get closer to be able to go around it even better, so try rewarding so close to the pole that she steps closer to it.
Will do! Thanks 🙂
Well, we’re a long way from stacking bowls but Zephyr finally put a shell into a bowl! 🙂 We had been working on this trick in the house with not much luck, then I noticed that Zephyr liked carrying muscle shells around on the beach so we went down to the beach with a bowl & video camera this morning. And he dropped the shell into the bowl a couple of times…probably more by accident 🙂 but it’s a start…finally!
Shells in a bowl count too! 🙂 Definitely a very good start, shouldn’t take too long now!
Two bowls sounded too difficult for Papu too, so I tried with a toy and a bowl. This is our third session and I think he’s starting to understand the idea. 🙂
Yeap, that sure looks great already! And very cute! I think you can stop helping him and then also try stacking other objects, maybe two plastic bowls would be easier as metal ones?