Gunner and I performed our first mini Rally course tonight! It was two signs, "Halt" and "Halt, walk around dog." "Halt" is where the dog sits in heel position next to the handler as the handler stops and stands still for three seconds. "Halt, walk around dog" is where the handler stops and the dog sits in heel position, the handler pauses, then the handler gives the "stay" cue and walks around the dog while the dog remains in a stationary sit stay and the handler arrives back in heel position.
Seems easy right? And it is, but we learned how close to get to each station cone, which is fairly close and at a catty-corner angle to the cone, and how to be sure to give your dog plenty of space as you walk around him, which gives him confidence to stay in position since he is not worried about being stepped on or you being out of his visual line, and how the handler and dog have to stay on their side of the plane of the cone for the exercise to be counted for any points.
Our biggest homework assignment is reinforcing Gunner keeping his hindquarters tucked in toward me in a tight heel position. Perch work as the handler moves around an overturned rubber feed pan and the dog moves his hindquarters toward the handler as the handler pivots will help teach keeping the hindquarters tucked neatly in toward the handler. Also cueing with and delivering cookies with my left hand will help keep Gunner in good heel position. Our homework also includes continuing to reinforce sit-down-sit in heel position, and sit-stand in heel position.
I am learning to give the visual cue with my left hand and Gunner is learning to stay in close heel position as he takes the visual and verbal cues. This seems simple but when you break all those behaviors apart, that is a lot of individual tasks being learned by each of us both separately and together. Gunner and I are accomplished at working with distance between us as in agility and distance tricks, and it seems Gunner uses his vision best when he is about three or four feet away from me, versus directly at my side almost touching each other in heel position. And I am a committed right-hander so using my left hand for both cueing and delivering treats is taking some real effort on my part.
But never mind, if the last 20 years showing dressage has taught me anything, it's how to follow silly and finicky (or not) rules about costumes, seconds counted, steps counted, geometry in an arena counted; so we're well equipped to adapt to the necessary rules of the game. (Yes, the FEI does have a rule concerning boot color based on the rider's coat color, and we had to learn and abide by these rules. So we're ready for you, Rally regulations!)
Gunner and I are learning the slightly more sedate sport of Rally, versus running around like a chicken!
- Gunner's first mini Rally course taught us a lot, including positioning in the ring and in relation to each cone sign
- Homework includes continuing to reinforce tight heel position, sit-down-sit and sit-stand, as well as front tuck sits
- Adapting to the minutia of federation rules is a speciality of mine, tho it always takes effort!
- Today marks Gunner's fifth anniversary of Gotcha day!
