Start lines, jumps, and tunnels

For startlines, we need Jackie to understand "Break!" means to start the run. Once I get Jackie in a sit stay and I lead out and establish eye contact with her, I say "Break!" and then move while pointing to the line and verbally cueing for the next obstacle. Today we practiced a mini course of startline, jump, tunnel, and another jump. I need to keep moving forward and draw Jackie's path of travel with my dog-side pointing finger while maintaining my own forward movement.

Our homework this week will be to continue to practice perfect startlines, as well as building value for jumping by reinforcing going over jumps "Go hup!" so Jackie learns that there is huge value in jumping any standard in her line of travel. We'll also continue to reinforce two-on-two-off contact behavior "Feet!" with the plank and nose target in anticipation of starting the baby dog walk. 

Jackie and I signed up today for an upcoming Cowtown Dog Sports Contact Workshop to be held at the building on December 11, so we're looking forward to continuing to learn contact behavior!

Pearls:

• Startlines establish the flavor of your entire run and are worth perfecting
• I must keep moving forward at the same pace while drawing a path by pointing to Jackie's continued line
• Feed reinforcements with the dog-side hand in order to build value for the cue hand
• Homework includes reinforcing "Feet!" and continuing to practice startlines and reinforce jumping

Jackie is good at jumping and seems to love it!