Today I attended as a spectator an all breed agility trial sanctioned by the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA). So many great dogs, and interesting to see the differences between ASCA agility and that of the American Kennel CLub (AKC) and North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC). It was inspiring to see some excellent dog and handler teams.
Jackie’s training is continuing too; we’re currently working on proofing her sit stay, down stay, and recall by taking it outside to add a layer of distractions. At every opportunity that presents itself, I reinforce Jackie for coming to me at a high rate of reinforcement. I’ve only just started putting the “sit” cue on a variable reinforcement rate, but for now, especially while Jackie is still learning everything new, I’m keeping cues to a high rate of reward, and of course new skills in process of being learned are reinforced at 100% rate, with occasional jackpots for novel behavior, extra challenge, or extra effort or speed offered. Eventually we will go to intermittent reinforcement, but for now the cues she knows are still being rewarded at a high rate to keep Jackie’s motivation high, and new learning is reinforced at 100% for the same reason and to ensure clarity.
Gunner is working on handstand. He already knows the cue “feet” to put his hind feet up on a platform or step since this is how you teach contacts for agility. We have progressed to walking backwards up stairs and putting his back feet up on a pillow stack and then onto the sofa. The plan is for this to progress to backing up a platform, and then to straight up a wall until it is a full handstand along a wall with no platform or pillows. Aside from being a hilarious parlor trick, this is building front end strength and hind end dexterity as well.
- Inspiration was abundant today at the ASCA all breed agility trial
- Jackie is beginning to proof sit stay, down stay, and recall with minor distractions
- Gunner continues to add to his already impressive tricks repertoire
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