Weaves and Sequences

Jackie and I have been focusing on weaves, and she is doing a good job with six straight weaves. 

Today we played weaves again and short sequences including turns out of tunnels.

Pearls:

• When making a turn out of a tunnel, cue the turn "Here!" before the dog enters the tunnel
• At this point it is ok to go with Jackie to the obstacle a little until she is committed to taking the jump
• Using the treat and train robot is another good way to reinforce Jackie running straight ahead out of the weaves

Jackie playing weaves, sequences, and turns out of tunnels:

Six Weave Poles First Time

 Jackie and I have been playing weaves, and I am chuffed that she did six straight weaves for the first time today! At this point I still have to set her up and occasionally go with her a little, but she is understanding what to do and doing a great job.

Jackie's first time seeing six weave poles:

The Dog Aging Project 1,2,3 Treat Game

 Rosco is enrolled in the Dog Aging Project, an ongoing study conducted by the University of Washington and Texas A&M University, with the goal of understanding how genes, lifestyle, and environment influence aging. They want to use the information they gather to help pets and people increase healthspan, the period of life spent free from disease.  

As part of Rosco's enrollment in the Dog Again Project, today he participated in the 1,2,3 Treat Game. I followed the study protocol to construct three identical boxes and prepare the setup array by following the Dog Aging Project protocol. 

After warming up by allowing Rosco to watch me place a single treat into each cardboard box from all three array stations individually, we then proceeded to complete the nine study rounds of the 1,2,3 Treat Game. 

Each round, Rosco was on his leash on my left-hand side as we walked clockwise around the left-hand of the array. Rosco watched me place a treat into each box and was allowed to eat the treat from all except one box each round.

Rosco was given 20 seconds to search only one box each round. If he chose "right" he was allowed to eat the treat from the box. If he chose "wrong" he returned to me and we proceeded to the next round without letting him eat the treat.

Though there is really no "right" or "wrong," Rosco got five out of nine rounds "right" by choosing to search the box that he had watched us leave a treat inside as we walked around the array. Rosco thouth it was a fun game and we are to complete it annually, with no "practicing" in between years. 

Results: Out of nine rounds, Rosco got five "right."

Round 1: Treat in Box 1, Rosco chose Box 1 right

Round 2: Treat in Box 2, Rosco chose Box 2 right

Round 3: Treat in Box 3, Rosco chose Box 2 wrong

Round 4: Treat in Box 2, Rosco chose Box 2 right

Round 5: Treat in Box 3, Rosco chose Box 3 right

Round 6: Treat in Box 1, Rosco chose Box 1 right

Round 7: Treat in Box 3, Rosco chose Box 2 wrong

Round 8: Treat in Box 2, Rosco chose Box 1 wrong

Round 9: Treat in Box 1, Rosco chose Box 2 wrong

Rosco chose Box 1:  three out of 9 times (Box 1 was right 3 times in the study protocol, Rosco wrongly chose Box 1 one time, Rosco rightly chose Box 1 two times)

Rosco chose Box 2:  five out of 9 times (Box 2 was right 3 times in the study protocol, Rosco wrongly chose Box 2 three times, Rosco rightly chose Box 2 two times)

Rosco chose Box 3:  one out of 9 times (Box 3 was right 3 times in the study protocol, Rosco wrongly chose Box 3 zero times, Rosco rightly chose Box 3 one time)

At 15 years of age, Rosco is rocking it:

Rosco playing the 1,2,3 Treat Game:

Short courses, and a scary moment

 Pearls:

• Guide Jackie's path of travel as though you are drawing a line with a crayon; the path that the crayon line is drawn is where she will run
• Don't talk to your dog while she is running the dog walk so that she can focus on where she is going
• For serpentines, remember to turn more so that it is obvious to Jackie the path she is to run

Jackie recovered well from a scary moment while playing sequences today:

NADAC VT Agility Trial March 11, 2023

Pending judge's approval, five out of Jackie's six intro runs at Cowtown Dog Sports NADAC VT agility trial this weekend were Qs. We ran four intro traditional runs and two intro grounders runs.

Jackie playing NADAC agility at Cowtown Dog Sports VT agility trial:

Teeters, Weaves, and Short Sequences

 Pearls:

• Keep your arm down closer to your body when cueing for an obstacle that is closer to you
• When cueing an obstacle that is further away from you, raise your arm to point at the obstacle; however, avoid pointing up to the sky as the dog won't know where you're indicating to go. Rather, point out across to the obstacle you are cueing
• When teaching weaves, go with Jackie a little bit so she has confidence to continue through the weaves
• For teaching weaves, set up Jackie so she can have a moment to think about the approach to the weaves

Jackie playing teeters, weaves, and short sequences:

NADAC VT Agility Trial 2-25-2023

 Jackie played Chances and Jumpers this weekend at the Cowtown Dog Sports NADAC VT agility trial.

Pearls:

• In order for the run to count as a Q, once the handler leads out and the dog breaks past the startline, the handler cannot then go back across the startline.
• When cueing Jackie as she is coming out of a tunnel, keep my arm more down indicating the obstacle is closer to me, rather than having my hand and arm higher up which causes Jackie to search for an obstacle in farther away. If she needs to turn toward me out of a tunnel, be sure to verbally cue "Here!" as well before and as she is coming out of the tunnel.

Jackie playing chances and jumpers:

Short courses and distance practice

 Pearls:

• To begin distance work, remember to keep moving and directing the dog's line of travel, as though you were pointing out her path with a laser pointer
• The handler may have to move more slowly in distance work
• It's important for the handler to stay back away from the chances line in order to give yourself space to move
• Keep your arm and hand up pointing directly to the next obstacle
• Keep your arm and hand up even while your dog is in the tunnel, so as soon as she comes out of the tunnel you are already pointing where she should travel
• Always think about directing your dog's path of travel. For serpentines allow her enough space in front of the jump so she has enough room to take each successive jump

Jackie playing short courses and practicing distance:

Weaves!

Jackie weaving 2/15/23:

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