Barrel, post turn, and wrap were the areas of focus today.
In a post turn around a barrel, the dog turns around the barrel while staying on the same side of the handler. For example, with the dog on the handler's right, the handler indicates to the dog by taking a lunge step forward with the right foot, pointing with the right arm and hand, and verbal cue "Check check check!" for the dog to run around the barrel and then the dog accepts a cookie reinforcement from the handler's right hand after the handler lunge steps back and pivots toward the dog after the dog has run around the barrel.
In a barrel wrap, the dog turns tightly around the barrel with the handler doing a front cross so the dog ends up on the opposite side of the handler. For example, with the dog on the handler's right, the handler indicates with feet, body direction, pointing arm and verbal cue "Check check check!" to run around the barrel, the handler front crosses with footwork to have the dog end up taking a cookie from the handler's left hand.
Pearls:
Generate excitement to increase speed while playing barrels
Continue to experiment to find a very high value reinforcer that Jackie loves
Gunner and I played the AKC Rally virtual novice course 2 with 12 signs. Highlights included prompt fronts and finishes, as well as enthusiasm on Gunner's part.
Pearls:
Homework will include reinforcing four-on-the-floor sit-stays, where Gunner keeps all four feet firmly planted as I walk around him while he is in sit-stay
I need to continue to reinforce brisk heel position, to ensure that Gunner's shoulder stays parallel to my pant seam while heeling forward at a brisk pace
In the sign "Call front, finish right, forward" as the dog comes around to finish right be sure to walk forward away from the dog so that he has to catch up with you in heel position, don't wait for the dog to return to heel position, rather go ahead and walk forward and have the dog catch up to you
When heeling in a circle, be sure to actually describe a circle with your footwork rather than just rotating around an axis, actually describe a small circle
Target Mark, where the dog goes to a low target 5 feet from the handler and waits in any position for five seconds until released.
Side-step perch work, with the front feet on a perch the dog circles the object with his front feet staying in place on the perch and the rear feet pivoting around the perch; the handler stands in front of the dog as the dog moves. The dog should pivot 360 degrees in either direction.
We briefly played with Hold Object in Mouth, where the dog holds any object in their mouth for 5 seconds.
We are learning Barrel racing in agility, which is where the dog leaves the handler and goes around a barrel at least two feet away from the handler.
Advanced tricks:
Head down/Chin rest: the dog places her chin down on the handler's palm and holds the position for at least 5 seconds.
Tap Light: the dog uses her paw to activate a tap button.
Wave: the dog raises her front paw in a wave.
Bow "Bravo!": the dog bows with elbows on the ground while the rear end stays in standing position. dog should hold the bow position for 4 seconds.
Pearls:
Start with the finished trick in mind, and piece together building block behaviors starting with the simplest form of the behavior and reinforcing for all and every correct effort
Trick training is an activity where using a clicker really shines
Jackie and I were introduced to barrels today. Foundations for running barrels include using both a body signal (wrapping your curled fist in a circular motion to indicate which way to run around the barrel) and a voice cue (neh neh neh neh neh neh neh neh-- like a motorcycle). Remember to wrap your fist like a gorilla beating its chest, in the same direction you want the dog to wrap the barrel. Have a treat in your other hand, the one not wrapping to indicate direction, and toss the treat on the floor in front of the dog in the direction you want her to keep going past the barrel.
Today we also played another mini-course and played the A frame contact again. Today was the third time Jackie has seen the A frame.
Pearls:
Remember to point your feet as well as body in the direction you want the dog to follow
After a successful stopped contact, you can release the dog with "Break!" or you can release the dog with a cue for the next directional cue "Here!" or obstacle cue "Go!" but be sure you are releasing them from the stopped 2o2o contact
Jackie playing a mini course; this is her third time playing the A frame:
Jackie is confidently offering high five and wave on cue. She has bow while still being lured, so we are working on putting her bow on cue, "Bravo!" Rollover is coming along nicely with a lure.
Tonight we learned peekaboo, where she walks through my legs and peeks up to look into my face while standing still between my legs. We also practiced on the wobble board, she is confident on in but still needs to get more fluent in handling it alone with her own body as I'm still helping her stabilize the board with my foot when she gets too shaky. Eventually she will need to show 3 seconds by herself on the wobble board (for a novice trick).
Pearls:
When teaching peekaboo, it is helpful to ask the dog to sit-stay, then position yourself in front and then cue the trick behavior
Following the DMWYD trick list is a helpful guide to inspire a progression of choosing which tricks to play next
Front crosses continue! Jackie and I practiced front crosses with the dog starting on my right and me crossing in front of Jackie to have her end up on my left. We practiced a series of obstacles incorporating a front cross: start line, bar jump, front cross to bar jump, hoop, and tunnel.
Pearls:
Stand up straight! Leaning over or stooping can push Jackie out away from me; instead, I need to stand tall and direct her path with clear arm and hand cues, supported by body position and voice cues as required
Turn toward your dog side hand when doing a front cross, and always reward with your dog side hand so the dog builds value for following your driving hand
Video clip showing front cross within a mini-course:
Gunner was recognized at the yearly Cowtown Dog Sports holiday party for the titles he earned this past year 2021, which were his AKC Trick Dog Novice, Trick Dog Intermediate, and Trick Dog Advanced titles. Robin also gifted me with a sheep of my very own, as she rightly pronounced that not only do I have Border collies, I am a Border collie. Yeah, accurate.
Pearls:
It is meaningful and affirming when people whose opinions matter mark your achievements
Our coach put much thought and effort into this yearly tradition, and it was inspiring to be among my peers as they were recognized for all of the impressive milestones they made with their dogs through this past year
I'm grateful to be among such a community, with the support of a coach that encourages both continued scholarship as well as building an even stronger relationship with our canine companions
Jackie and I added Tricks Class to our roster at Cowtown Dog Sports this week. Our coach Robin likes to use the Do More With Your Dog program for titling. Each team can join the Wags to Wishes Sparks Team moderated by Karen McClean who can approve your tricks via video posted to her facebook group to earn DMWYD titles.
As Robin pointed out, titles are a nice way to follow an outline of teaching tricks, and teaching tricks is great for building a strong relationship with your dog and increasing your dog's body awareness and fitness, and allows your bond with your dog to deepen. Plus, it's great big fun!
Jackie recently earned her Novice Trick Dog title through DMWYD, so our next step will be to earn her Intermediate Trick Dog title. The four trick dog title levels are Novice (15 novice tricks, 30 for Masters Novice), Intermediate (12 intermediate tricks, 20 for Masters Intermediate), Advanced (5 advanced tricks, 10 for Masters Advanced), and Expert (5 expert tricks, 10 for Masters Expert). Additionally you can earn Master's titles at each level, as well as several other titles like stunt dog titles and specialty titles.
The comprehensive DMWYD tricks list is a great resource complete with descriptions and videos from each title level, and is searchable. Our wishlist of intermediate tricks to learn next includes:
Shake hands
High five
Rollover
Selfie (where the dog poses with the handler for a photo)
2 on/2 off peanut
Balance on top of a ball or peanut
Barrel racing (go out and around a cone or object)
Baton jump (jump a handheld bar)
Directional casting (send to specifically 1 or several platforms)
Figure 8s through my legs
Hand signals (6 behaviors)
Jump through my circled arms
Jumping figure 8s (over bar jump)
Leg weave
Peekaboo (remain between my legs while I walk)
Platform jump with hoop between platforms
Sit pretty (the Lassie pose)
Soccer (push a ball)
Stay out of sight 20 seconds
Sustained nose touch (4 seconds)
Target mark (go to flat/low mark)
Emergency stop
Hoop jump over another dog's back
Jump wraps
Paw wrap around object
Tell me a secret
Advanced tricks we want to learn include:
Back up (5 feet)
Bow
Broad jump
Distance work (3 behaviors 10 feet away)
Double hoop circle (2 hoops at my sides, dog circles me)
Footsies (peekaboo, dog places paws on my feet)
Head down (chin rest)
Heel at left side, automatic sit
Hug (hug a pole with front arms)
Jump over my back
Play dead
Say your prayers
Side (swing to finish to sit at my left)
Sidestep drill (front feet on object, rotate around)
Spin a tight circle on a small pedestal
Tap light/desk bell/easy button
Teeter-totter
Wave bye
We haven't identified many expert tricks to gun for just yet, but on the list is "play chess." A Border collie should be able to do that, right?
Jackie earned her Novice Trick Dog title:
Pearls:
When teaching rollover, from a prone position, lure the dog all the way over to her other side, then have her stand up again then deliver the food treat
If you get "stuck" during teaching a particular trick, go back to something easy the dog already knows so she can get rewarded and stay motivated
When teaching bow, with the dog in standing position, stand directly in front of the dog and lure her with a cookie held upright in your hand and lure backward between her front legs; mark and treat even for just a dip of her elbows to begin
Jackie learned shake hands easily: by petting her and pausing, engaging her "puppy milk let down" instinct to press her paw forward to ask for more, then I simply capture that natural behavior and put it on the cue of offering my hand in handshake position; in my experience most dogs come with this trick even more pre-wired than sit or recall, and you can use shake to easily build into high five and wave
Jackie and I learned front crosses today, with much success. The handler's footwork matters, and it is a good idea to practice front crosses (as well as other footwork) without your dog so you can perfect it.
When teaching foundations for front crosses, the first few times reward them for coming to the "new" cueing hand. For example if the dog is starting on your left and you will front cross to have the dog on your right, have a cookie in your right hand and deliver the food reward as soon as the dog gets to your new driving hand, in this case your right hand.
We also practiced playing several obstacles in a series of turns. It is important to realize the handler is drawing the dog's path of travel with their hand and arm cues. You can think of it as using an imaginary laser pointer with your cues to show the dog its path of travel. Think of "don't spill your beer" in that before one driving hand goes down, in a front cross for example, the other driving hand comes up to take the "beer" so it doesn't spill, and the dog doesn't lose the correct path of travel.
Pearls:
A front cross is changing the handling side in front of your dog; front crosses are used in many situations in agility: the handler can use them on straight lines but also to cue tight directional turns, even turns as tight as 180 degrees
Footwork is important and it is helpful to practice without your dog to perfect your own footwork
The handler's cues are all just describing to the dog the path she is to take
Video clip of team Jackie's first front crosses, as well as slo-mo detailing front cross handler footwork and hand/arm movement:
Not quite a ballerina, but we're having fun anyway!
