The teeter
The teeter remains the most difficult obstacle for Jasmine. Not only does it move on its own, but it makes this horrible noise when the plank hits the floor, which is waaayy too loud for Jasmine’s little ears. You can google it if you want for the exact details, but it isn’t any headline news that the dogs’ hearing is much more developed and keen than the very lacking humans’. It’s not surprising that the teeter still is a challenge for certain dogs like mine.
Our coach/instructor showed us the bang game. It’s very simple and yes, fun! We block the teeter so that the plank is only about 1 cm from the floor. In our case, we simply used a chair. We then ask the dog to climb on the end of the plank and her weight makes it drop to the ground.
I also want Jasmine to get rid of her fear of both the noise and the equipment. Every time the other dogs of the class would make the teeter go bang, I would shove a treat in Jasmine’s mouth. Let’s hope she learned something from that evening. Her first time on the teeter was good, but that’s it. She then tried every way she could to avoid the plank. Our only progress was getting her paw on the teeter and pushing the plank down. A doggy scientific experiment if you will. She probably thought she was verrry brave. We must work more on it.
Our success of the day was the stationary plank. A few months ago, she would speed walk it. Now? A full run! Now THAT is progress! Mmmmm. I wonder when she found this new self-confidence?
Nose targets
I decided to review our nose target technique and two days were long enough to convince me that yes, it can be corrected.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
We're back!
I’ve been terribly negligent of this blog this Summer. I feel as if I’ve been either on the road, training Jasmine on her weaves, in agility class, making videos, editing videos or uploading videos on facebook, and finally, trying to keep my house clean since June.
On my off time, I’ve been either working or popping in at work so that Jazz could fill her role as book club mascot. All, in all, a very busy Summer. Are there any achievements after all this? YES! Plenty!
Achievement 1 - Zoomies
Zoomies have been reduced to a minimum. When she zooms away, either I’m asking Jasmine to do something she doesn’t understand or there’s cat poop in the area.
Achievement 2 – Weaves
Jasmine is now a weaves maniac. If she sees me walking around with the weaves, she starts making that high pitch bark that all dog owners love to hear. The bark which means: I wanna work! I wanna work! She finds such high value in weaving; I have to hide the equipment when I’m setting things up for practice sessions. I have Susan Garrett’s 2 x 2 method to thank for that. Give Jazz any weird entry and she nails it. Now we’re practicing distractions.
Achievement 3 – Start-line stay
It’s rock solid. Need I say more? I can walk confidently away and Jazz stays put.
Achievement 4 – Swimming
Not exactly in our plans, but yes, Jasmine can nowswim. All it took was one visit to a local beach and voilà, Jasmine was paddling away. We also had the chance to discover Sand Banks and what a day.
Unfortunate consequence 1
All this weave training and overall fun made us forget certain very important agility moves. 180s. The champion of 180s has lost her medals. Bad, bad, Lyne. Back to work.
Unfortunate consequence 2
All this beach bumming has made Jasmine decide that paddling is a must before I lower her in her bath water. Pretty hilarious to see!
Unfortunate consequence 3
Not updating this blog...
On my off time, I’ve been either working or popping in at work so that Jazz could fill her role as book club mascot. All, in all, a very busy Summer. Are there any achievements after all this? YES! Plenty!
Achievement 1 - Zoomies
Zoomies have been reduced to a minimum. When she zooms away, either I’m asking Jasmine to do something she doesn’t understand or there’s cat poop in the area.
Achievement 2 – Weaves
Jasmine is now a weaves maniac. If she sees me walking around with the weaves, she starts making that high pitch bark that all dog owners love to hear. The bark which means: I wanna work! I wanna work! She finds such high value in weaving; I have to hide the equipment when I’m setting things up for practice sessions. I have Susan Garrett’s 2 x 2 method to thank for that. Give Jazz any weird entry and she nails it. Now we’re practicing distractions.
Achievement 3 – Start-line stay
It’s rock solid. Need I say more? I can walk confidently away and Jazz stays put.
Achievement 4 – Swimming
Not exactly in our plans, but yes, Jasmine can nowswim. All it took was one visit to a local beach and voilà, Jasmine was paddling away. We also had the chance to discover Sand Banks and what a day.
Unfortunate consequence 1
All this weave training and overall fun made us forget certain very important agility moves. 180s. The champion of 180s has lost her medals. Bad, bad, Lyne. Back to work.
Unfortunate consequence 2
All this beach bumming has made Jasmine decide that paddling is a must before I lower her in her bath water. Pretty hilarious to see!
Unfortunate consequence 3
Not updating this blog...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Contacts
This is one of the steps that need to be mastered for contact training. I prefer the 2o2o method.
I forgot the plexi so the hand will do.
I'm pretty happy with the results. Just for the heck of it, I included some recalls in the session. I love to see her barrelling to reach me. What a fast dog!
Next session: Need to practice the teeter. Since a "plank" is required, a training partner is essential.
Sigh.
I forgot the plexi so the hand will do.
I'm pretty happy with the results. Just for the heck of it, I included some recalls in the session. I love to see her barrelling to reach me. What a fast dog!
Next session: Need to practice the teeter. Since a "plank" is required, a training partner is essential.
Sigh.
2 x 2 Training
The number of posts on this blog is caused by the training I do with Jasmine. In other words, I don't have much time. The chosen method to teach Jasmine how to weave is the 2 x 2. She already knows how to weave, but she's too slow and we're starting all over again.
This video shows where we are right now.
Sessions June 30th 2009
Weather: 22 degrees celcius, raining off and on.
Time: Evening
Location: Backyard
To reward Jasmine, I use a toy which is currently a favorite of hers. I also put the poles closer together. For a reason or another, she doesn't "see" the second set of poles and off she goes to zoom. Is she too focused on the toy? I try to finish the session with some easy attempts. Is it normal that she doesn't understand?
Sessions July 1st 2009
Weather: 27 degrees celcius, windy, humid
Time: Mid-afternoon
Location: Agility field
I use the same toy but the poles are farther apart than yesterday.
The training goes very well.
I add distractions. Unfortunately, the human distraction isn't fast enough for Jasmine. I abandon this method for the toy. Toy is more reliable than the human. ; )
The mistakes at the end are caused by the fact that I'm not pointing her in the right direction. Bad, bad Lyne.
This video shows where we are right now.
Sessions June 30th 2009
Weather: 22 degrees celcius, raining off and on.
Time: Evening
Location: Backyard
To reward Jasmine, I use a toy which is currently a favorite of hers. I also put the poles closer together. For a reason or another, she doesn't "see" the second set of poles and off she goes to zoom. Is she too focused on the toy? I try to finish the session with some easy attempts. Is it normal that she doesn't understand?
Sessions July 1st 2009
Weather: 27 degrees celcius, windy, humid
Time: Mid-afternoon
Location: Agility field
I use the same toy but the poles are farther apart than yesterday.
The training goes very well.
I add distractions. Unfortunately, the human distraction isn't fast enough for Jasmine. I abandon this method for the toy. Toy is more reliable than the human. ; )
The mistakes at the end are caused by the fact that I'm not pointing her in the right direction. Bad, bad Lyne.
Oh miracle!
This is like the fisherman who cought the catch of his life. At least I have witnesses. I ran Tucker for the K9 Kup and while I was walking the Jumpers course, I made a spur of the moment decision to try it with Jasmine as well. The course is simple and all the FC are after tunnels so the risks of zoomies are minimal. At least I think so.
Play by play description
Although Jasmine self-released herself at the startline, I stuck to my guns and made her sit again. She complied, did the focus forward and only then did I release her. I'm the boss, right?
Tire, jump, tunnel, FC after the tunnel and pinwheel. She runs off after the second jump of the pinwheel and I call her back. OMG! She obeys and comes back. SHE COMES BACK! I admit my heart did a little somersault but what a day! After that, it's a breeze.
It's no coincidence that I chose a Jumpers course. Jasmine does zoomies after transitions. Obstacle to a jump, etc. In this case, there is none and I didn't need to skip obtacles. I also chose a course I knew she would be confident about.
I'm still in la-la land.
To work on: Startline stays, pinwheels and I need to get fit. Jasmine runs so fast, she always ahead of me.
Play by play description
Although Jasmine self-released herself at the startline, I stuck to my guns and made her sit again. She complied, did the focus forward and only then did I release her. I'm the boss, right?
Tire, jump, tunnel, FC after the tunnel and pinwheel. She runs off after the second jump of the pinwheel and I call her back. OMG! She obeys and comes back. SHE COMES BACK! I admit my heart did a little somersault but what a day! After that, it's a breeze.
It's no coincidence that I chose a Jumpers course. Jasmine does zoomies after transitions. Obstacle to a jump, etc. In this case, there is none and I didn't need to skip obtacles. I also chose a course I knew she would be confident about.
I'm still in la-la land.
To work on: Startline stays, pinwheels and I need to get fit. Jasmine runs so fast, she always ahead of me.
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