Turning Directional Cues with the Multiple Loop Exercise

Today Jackie and I played the multiple loop exercise, allowing us to practice smooth turns and directional cues.

Pearls:

• When cueing a turn with "Here!" be sure to turn early with your body to visually cue Jackie that she is to turn.
• Turn with your body a little sooner when cueing "Here!"
• Run! When I move more, so does Jackie.

Jackie playing the multiple loop exercise:

Distance, "Back!" Directional Cue, and Weaves

 Pearls:

• When giving the "Back!" directional cue, point directly at the obstacle you want your dog to take.
• During the "Back!" cue, be sure to push out to the obstacle enough to get Jackie to commit to taking the obstacle.

"Back!"

Jackie playing "Back!" directional cues, weaves, and distance:

Teaching How to Love Nail Trims

 Pearls:

• Get the best quality grooming equipment possible. I have three pieces of grooming hardware that are all excellent quality: a classic slicker brush, a Chris Christensen oval brush, and a pair of guillotine nail clippers.
• Always start grooming sessions with a relaxed dog. Go for a brisk walk or run, or have a fun play session before teaching grooming skills. 
• First simply place Jackie on the grooming surface, give her a treat, then let her go on about her day. Do this for as many days of extremely short- a second or two at most- sessions per day until she is comfortable with the grooming surface.
• Repeat treating her each time while I touch her paw with my hand only (no trimmers yet) for less than a second. Give the treat while holding her paw. Build up as many repetitions until she is comfortable having her paw touched.
• The same way, gradually build up to touching her nails.
• Introduce the nail trimmers by showing Jackie the trimmers while giving her a treat. Then let her go on about her day. Repeat micro-sessions of showing the trimmers and giving a treat until she is fine with seeing the nail trimmer.
• Touch the trimmers to Jackie's paw for less than a second while at the same time giving her a treat.
• Gradually build up to Jackie allowing the nail trimmers to touch her paw while making the clipping sound.
• Eventually make the most gradual clip of her actual nail, then give a jackpot of treats at the same time and be done for the day.
• Gradually build up to clipping all Jackie's nails, being sure to keep a high frequency of reward while teaching. Eventually she loves having her nails trimmed and immediately gets into grooming position when I put her on the grooming table, eager to be groomed and have her nails trimmed.

Get the best quality equipment you possibly can. I've had this slicker brush and guillotine nail trimmers over 30 years!

How I teach Jackie to love having her nails trimmed:

Jackie Loves Watermelon

Video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/Gaf1qp30a7U?feature=share

"Out!" Directional Cue

 Jackie and I played the directional cue "out!" again today.

• "Out!" indicates a divergence of your dog's path away from you and in front of you.
• Point with your handling arm and that same side leg and maintain that position long enough so it is very clear to your dog where their path should be.
• Your handling arm and same side leg should both point in the direction you are cueing your dog to take.

Jackie playing the directional cue "out!"

Rally Intermediate Virtual Trial

Gunner and I had fun playing rally intermediate virtual course three tonight.

Pearls:

• When pivoting during a judged trial, if Gunner gets close to position it is better to allow him to be slightly crooked and take minus one point, versus re-positioning him and risking losing more points.
• A brisk pace is good, but be sure to go at a comfortable pace for Gunner.

Gunner playing rally intermediate course three:

Jackie Jumping: A Photographic Study

Jackie Jumping: Another Photographic Study