Four Straight Weaves

 Jackie just did four straight weaves for the first time!

Pearls:

• Large, crunchy minnows are a favorite reinforcer for Jackie!
• Be sure to toss the lotus ball as early as possible and as low and straight as possible

More Barrels!

 Pearls:

• "Round round round!" tells the dog to collect her stride for a tight turn back toward me
• "Loop loop loop!" is similar to "Out!" but where the dog runs tightly around the obstacle turning away from the handler
• When running two barrels in a row, simply say "Here!" to indicate a turn toward the handler
• At home, practice going around barrels by playing post wraps (where the dog goes around two barrels in a loop like a horse track), as well as figure eights around two barrels

Jackie playing barrels 1/25/23:

Barrels!

 Pearls:

• Point your body (shoulders, frontal plane, and feet) in the direction you want your dog to go
• Reconnect with Jackie immediately as she comes out of the tunnel
• Keep your verbals straight: "Round round round!" directs the dog to collect her stride for a tight turn back toward the handler around the barrel while "Loop loop loop!" means to come in toward the handler first and then turn out away from the handler around the barrel

Jackie playing barrels:

Advanced Rally

 Gunner played Advanced Rally today at Cowtown Dog Sports. 

Pearls:

• Play with bucket rotations, where Gunner rotates both directions around the bucket. Go slowly! Keep my feet out in front away from the bucket.
• To strengthen Gunner’s hindquarters, do a few sit-stand-sits each day.
• For stand, wait for Gunner to stand completely still, then mark and reward.
• For behaviors such as stand, stay, handler walks around, release Gunner “Break!” and then reward after he’s been released. That way he will maintain the behavior until he hears the release word, rather than just wanting to take a break as soon as he gets the treat.
• For slow pace heeling, take longer steps, but very slowly. This allows Gunner to stay walking in heel position while still going very slowly.
• We’ve set our sights on recording Rally Advanced virtual courses 2 and 4, since we have already Qd with a 98% in Rally Advanced virtual course 5.

Gunner with his Rally Novice title ribbon

Jackie Playing January 17, 2023

 

Hoops and weaves

 Pearls:

• Keep moving to direct your dog's path of travel; stay quiet and use your body language rather than getting in the habit of repeating "Here!" for each new hoop; instead keep moving and guiding her path of travel
• For 2o2o stopped contacts, be sure to keep your hand down until the dog stops completely, then release again with "Break!"
• Play towards independent 2o2o contact stops at home, gradually increasing distance between dog and handler, so that 2o2o stopped contact behavior is strong, independent, and can be done reliably by the dog at a good distance away from the handler 
• Begin to challenge Jackie some with the weaves by making the 2 by 2 channel smaller so Jackie gets the idea to twist her body

Jackie doing the twist:

IAC Title

Jackie earned her very first agility title in intro, her IAC, at the Cowtown Dog Sports NADAC VT trial December 17, 2022. This was only her second trial, and I'm very happy with the progress we have made together.

Jackie's title-winning run:

Jackie with her new title ribbon:

Beginning the year playing weaves and short courses

 Pearls:

• For now, while Jackie is still learning weaves, be sure to line her up going to the weaves so she is prepared to go through pointing at her line. Later we will work on proofing around the clock weave entries but for now get Jackie lined up going into the weaves so she can have success.
• REMEMBER TO CUE EARLY!
• Keep moving to direct Jackie's path of travel. If the handler is stopping, you've gone too far; you need to plan ahead so that you can smoothly guide your dog along her path.

Jackie playing weaves and courses: