Agility 2 Week 5 supplemental

It's happened again, another perfectly good Border collie has ended up on the agility circuit...

Jackie playing serpentines and speed rounds:

Agility 2 Week 5

Serpentines over jumps were the focus of today's lesson. There are a few ways to run a serpentine, including using a front cross or rear cross. It depends on where the dog's line should go, as well as if there is another obstacle such as a tunnel that the dog will need to discriminate. 

Pearls:

• Be confident and assured when cueing that Jackie will follow directions; my own self-confidence in turn allows Jackie to masterfully run the course with confidence 
• Really turn tightly with your entire body when cueing a turn "Here! here! here!" by really whipping around, fluidly but tightly, to cue Jackie to turn toward me
• The dog will travel in the direction that the handler's body is traveling, so be sure to keep moving forward (not laterally) to indicate to the dog her line of travel

Jackie's first time learning serpentines:

Agility 2 Week 4

Cue discrimination in agility is used to clearly indicate to the dog which obstacle to run when there is more than one obstacle in their line of travel. Today we played a mini-course with a series of obstacle discriminations. 

It is important when directing the dog to turn off her forward path toward the handler to use "Here!" very clearly and obviously, even a repetition of the verbal cue "Here! Here! Here!" if needed to make it obvious to the dog where you mean, as well as directing their line with where your body, feet, eyes, and locked-elbow arm are pointing. 

Pearls:

• Think of using a laser pointer out in front of the dog's path of travel to indicate the dog's line
• Keep your elbow locked and arm up while directing the dog's line of travel; use your entire body to support where you are pointing your dog to travel
• Indicate early where I want Jackie to travel, as in "Go tunnel! tunnel!"
• Exciting engaging exercises at the start of a run help Jackie stay enthusiastic and energetic
• Repeat "Here!" only once for the first turn, not at every obstacle around a curved line of travel; Jackie will use physical cues to continue along the curved line 

Obstacle discrimination and speed circles:

Agility 2 Week 3

We used "Out!" as a directional cue for the first time today. "Out!" on an agility course means "work away from me at a distance" used to send your dog out and away from you to work obstacles at a distance. It is a different cue from "Go!" which means to keep running straight ahead. 

Pearls:

• When directing turns, and especially in sharp turns for the dog, be sure to turn your body definitively so it is obvious to Jackie which way she should travel
• "Out!" is a directional cue that allows you to send your dog out and away from you to play obstacles at a distance
• Be decisive and obvious when giving cues and directions; point your feet, shoulders, and body in the direction the dog is to travel

Jackie playing a mini course, and using "Out!" for the first time:

Agility 2 Week 2

A high rate of reward is helpful to keep Jackie engaged, and allows Jackie to gain confidence for running courses so she can incrementally build to running the full course while she is still learning.

Pearls:

• Rewarding Jackie more frequently for individual obstacles gives her confidence 
• Believing in Jackie and running with her keeps it fun and engaging for her

Agility 2 Week 1- New Beginnings

Continuing our agility learning odyssey, Jackie and I have started agility level 2 classes, as well as beginning a supplemental semi-private lesson bi-weekly at Cowtown Dog Sports. The supplemental lessons allow us to submerge in the theory of learning, practicing what we've learned and drilling down on skills and proofing behaviors such as start lines, jumping, or increasing enthusiasm for speed.  

Pearls:

• The more enthusiastic and playful I am, the more excited Jackie is to run
• Timing is important while cueing your dog's line-- eventually each team gets into their own special rhythm 
• Video recording training sessions is helpful as we learn timing together
• When the dog pauses to look back at you, it means they are asking a question, and need clearer direction where their line is to follow 
• Keep your arm up indicating where you want your dog to go, keeping your arm up keeps the dog moving forward, if you drop your arm or slow down your dog might pause to look at you or slow down; keep your arm up and keep running past the last jump
• Keep moving forward at the same speed indicating Jackie’s line to her
• Maintain forward momentum and believe Jackie will run, and she will

Rear crosses, building enthusiasm, practicing cue timing, and rewarding following the directed line:

Agility 1 Week 15

Graduation day! We played rear crosses today, this time with the dog starting on the handler's right and rear crossing to end up on the handler's left. 

Pearls:

• A rear cross is when the handler switches from one side of the dog to the other by passing behind the dog.
• Jackie is progressing onward to Agility Level 2! 

Jackie learning rear crosses:

Agility 1 Week 14

Rear crosses, where you drive the dog ahead of the handler and the handler crosses from one side of the dog to the other side while behind the dog, were today's focus. Our coach set the dogs' line with a hoop, hoop, tunnel sequence. 

Starting with Jackie on my left hand, you release the dog "Break!" and keep your left hand up pointing at the hoop.  Allow the dog to get in front of you, and when she is committed to entering the second hoop bring your right hand up (in the don't spill your beer maneuver) and describe her line into the tunnel with your right hand, as well as pointing your feet and body along the line of travel from the hoop into the tunnel.

Like this:

Pearls:

• Keep your left hand up, pointing along the line, then bring your right hand up smoothly to meet it as you cross to driving the dog with your right hand
• "Here!" means turn toward me while "Back!" indicates turn away from me
• Be patient to let the dog get out in front of you before turning the dog or changing sides
• Keep your starting arm up, then as the dog passes you bring up your opposite arm to turn the dog away from you "Back!"

Rally 1 Week 6

Gunner and I played an abbreviated intermediate course tonight without food reinforcements.   Gunner did a great job, we are now working on polishing the details with an emphasis on reinforcing tight heel position in walking heel work and sits especially. I’m very proud of Gunner, and for sure he meets the criterion of enthusiasm over sheer military precision. 

Gunner is already registered with the AKC in the Canine Partners Program, which means he is considered an “All American Dog.” Looking forward to video recording our first courses, I’ve been reading and reviewing the AKC Virtual Rally handbook:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn-origin-etr.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/29154722/AKC-Rally-Virtual-Program-Guidebook-12-2021.pdf

Pearls:

• Homework includes continuing to reinforce enthusiastic, brisk heel work, and reinforcing tight heel position especially for sits
• Take off sooner as I ask Gunner to finish left and walk forward for “Call Front Finish Left Forward” sign, so Gunner has to catch up to me
• Enthusiasm is high, and I’m grateful for the gift in my life that is GUNNER

Tricks Class Week 5

Tonight we practiced backing up onto a platform, where you begin with reinforcing the dog in 2o2o position along the long side of a 2" platform, then lure the dog forward until the hind feet are just off the platform and then lean only very slightly forward with your lure so that the dog steps back onto the long side of the platform in 2o2o position and mark and reward. Eventually this will progress into Back up 5 feet which is an advanced trick.

We also played front feet on paw pods. Jackie loves this trick since she loves putting her feet up on many items.  She also successfully placed both front feet on the paw pods with both hind feet on a platform. 

Jackie has earned both her Novice Trick Dog Title her Intermediate Trick Dog Title and we've recorded three of the five required tricks toward her Advanced Trick Dog Title ("Bravo!" [Bow], "Guilty!" [Head Down], and Wave). We need two additional advanced tricks to complete her advanced title. Back up and Tap a Button are both advanced tricks we are polishing.

Pearls:

• Homework this week will be to reinforce backing onto a platform, and front feet on paw pods with hind feet on a platform
• Play paw pods for only a couple minutes at a time, unless you have already gradually built up to your dog being very fit; this is a strenuous activity and it takes much effort on the dog's part to perform
• This set of six balance pods hedgehogs will arrive tomorrow; Jackie played with both the smooth and nubby pods last night and seemed to like them both; I got the nubby ones to get started