MeiLi & Devyn’s Training

Course Approximation Today was a tough day as my sister called just before leaving for class with some tragic news about one of her dogs. I was not sure how focused I could be running MeiLi and ended up late leaving so I would have no time to settle her in. I also had to take Devyn along so she could go to the vet right after class to have her lone stitch from her spaying removed. I almost decided to bag class and just stay home. But Kristen helped me get things ready quickly and we headed up to class. I did not bring my Go Pro along as I was not sure I would even run MeiLi in the ring. When I arrived a few minutes late I went in without MeiLi to see where all the dogs were set up and claim our spot. They were almost done walking the course which was fine by me. I just wanted to be around other dog folks. I really enjoy the people in this class, they have made me feel very welcome. I went out to get MeiLi and bring her in. She was super focused on me coming in. Did not even notice the other dogs as we worked our way to the area where I had left our things. She remained focused as we warmed up with some of our recaller games while I watched our classmates run. She was super calm and not reactive to the other dogs running at all. My plan was to try to work the first 6 obstacles of the course, rewarding often, provided I could get a start line with her which became an issue last week. Going into the ring she was again very focused on me. She gave me a good sit at the start which I re-enforced several times. She let me lead out and waited for her release. We had a nice 1-2 front cross and treat. A good send to tunnel #4 with a treat after 5. We struggled with getting the wrap at 6 as our timing was very off. But then had a nice run to the frame. We have done very little training on the frame or dogwalk and she gave it a good effort to hold her contact but came off and then fixed it. I had decided we would not go further as the weaves had the gates on them and she has never seen that. We repeated the same course, and she was awesome the second time around as well, again just struggling with the wrap but remain focused and engaged with me. It felt so good having her working with me. Darn she is FAST! We continued to work our games outside the ring. I expected she would be more aware of the ring after having run, but she just continued to play with me. She was pretty good at offering me the correct behavior using just verbal cues, something I think is going to be very important to our success. Our second turn she again gave me a great start line and lead out. We ran the first portion of the course again without stopping. The wrap remained a challenge but was not too bad. Once at the frame I decided to try to continue and add the second part of the course. I should have known better than to try the weaves set up with the gates. She did not understand that at all and became frustrated and distracted. But she came back when called and we went on. She gave me an awesome stop on the teeter. Allowing me to cross in front of her and reward her. She continued the sequence working with me ending on the dogwalk. Again, she came off the end but then fixed herself showing at least an understanding of what is expected. This was the most focused she has ever been at a class, and it felt good to be working with my girl. So very happy we went. All the dogs in class are making improvements and it is a fun group to watch.

Course approximation I was exciting to have class today. I physically felt better than I have in almost a year. My head also seemed to be a lot clearly without the stress of pain. I had high hopes of being a better partner for my pup. I brought the GoPro but never used it so no video. I need to do a better job with that. I did remember a toy and water which was an improvement over Week 1. MeiLi was very excited when we got there and eager to go inside. She had no issues going past the tack room and heading to the arena. She was calm going in and seemed focused on me. We took up our spot and did a little tugging while everyone got there. Then I put her in a crate to walk the course. She did not do so well with that and was barking while we walked. I think it put her mentally over the top. I need to be sure to at least have a cover for her crate. I want her to get used to it so she can crate inside at trials. But by the time we finished walking she was pretty unfocused. I thought I got her back and focused again before we tried our first run. I loved the courses that were set up. A nice test of skills without being overwhelming for our dogs. Maybe I can work on parts of these in the coming weeks in the yard. There will not be much time this week as I leave for Texas on Thursday. We were the last team to go as the other dogs are using gates on the weaves and MeiLi has never seen that. I was pretty confident that she would do well once she saw she was going to get to do her weaves. That was not to be as she struggled with setting up near the tall ring fencing near the hallway. She reacted to someone going out the hallway. She could not focus on her job and never managed to do the weaves. I became frustrated and let my handling skills go down and made the discission to end our turn. Betsi offered to let us come back in after the next dog, but I decided it was best for both MeiLi and I to just hang out for a bit. Our next turn I decided to try the same course and to warm up with some weaves. MeiLi was still distracted but did manage to do the weaves. We tried the course again and she was distracted but we continue to the course. She did finish the weaves once I got her in them and did a nice wrap from the tunnel to the dog walk. Then proceeded to fall off the dog walk. We re-did the tunnel wrap, and she did a nice job. I tried a front course between 6-7 and MeiLi skipped the # 7 jump. It took a couple tries to get her over that then she went wide and Ass Crossed me into the tunnel. At that point I decided it was time to stop. It is so frustrating to have a dog that has the skills to run and simple lacks self-control and focus to succeed. We hung out working on our focus the rest of the class. Everyone else took a third turn. I did not want to press my luck and take away the positives outside the ring as win. She was able to stay focused on me even with other dogs barking. It was nice to be able to just sit there with her. By the time I got home I was hurting some but much better than I have been since last March. Looking forward to next week.

Not sure this is exactly correct. Today we had our first agility class of 2023 and the first in some time. We have started a new session on Tuesday afternoons at Skyline Agility club with Betsi Hartman. It is a smaller class with several other reactive dogs. I was super concerned going into it today. I was also not very focused as Devyn was being spayed and I simple was not prepared for class. I forgot water and a toy for MeiLi. First let me say I really enjoyed this class. Betsi had a nice set-up to help us deal with our individual dog issues. The class was organized. There were several options for how to do your dog’s run based on where each team was at in their training. We walked the different courses with Betsi giving us various handling options. We would get to either run the entire course or do half of it twice for each of our turns. I did bring my Go Pro to video but failed to turn it on the first turn and on the second turn it missed the beginning of the course, which of course is where we had our biggest issue. I was super pleased with MeiLi’s behavior outside the ring while waiting for her turns. She was mostly quiet, and we were able to work on her verbal positioning cues. She was able to watch the other dogs running in the ring without losing her mind. That is a huge improvement from the last couple trials. I had really expected her to be very distracted by a new setting. Clearly the Recallers work is helping. Our first turn, I had really planned on just working on our start line routine. Figuring that would be a good chance to see where her focus was with this new environment. I was pleasantly surprised as she did her peak, stayed, and even followed direction to do a “pretty” before being released. We did a couple short leads out playing with this new routine. Then we attempted to run the first part of the course. With my running limitations and her speed, the agility part was pretty ugly. She was not listening to her verbal commands but did remain focused on me. I count that as a big fat win. We stopped after tunnel #6 on that turn. The second trip around our part of the course she did improve to the point that I added a few obstacles. We tried to go all the way back to the #9 jump. She skipped the tire and took the tunnel instead of the frame. Again, I was late with commands and so very far behind her. We let the tire go and just to the frame to finish up. Our second turn the start line fell apart as one of the handlers came into the arena room from the hall as we were setting up and MeiLi totally lost focus. She ran over to that side barking. I did manage to call her back to me, she made a quick bark at Betsi as she returned. So, while we are making progress, she still has a lot of work to do. I ended up giving up on the lead out for the first run this time. Hoping to see if we moved away from the start area if she would re-connect with me. The plan worked and we were able to get a decent run in. These are the two runs I did get on video. Kind of disappointed a missed the first turn and that the camera really was set up poorly and missed the start area. Overall, I was pleased with our performance. I have things to work on including cleaning up our start routine, working on my mechanics with releasing her. Getting her better committed to her dig and zips with only verbal cues. We are going to need both the lead out and the verbal communication as she is way too fast for me to keep up with. I look forward to next week and to see where this class takes us.

Trying to get her to follow verbal cues without any signals. This is a major work in progress! Last week while doing a Recaller game, The Wow Game, with MeiLi it became apparent that she was not responding to verbal cues given to her but only responding to hand motions. That is a major issue in agility so that is our current focus. We have not gotten to do too much because of the holiday, my judging schedule, and my health. But today we did a little testing of what she has learned so far. I am very pleased with the progress she is making. She has gotten to the point that she can handle switching from sits to downs, and then back to a sit. She is also getting better with the sit pretty which she is starting to hold for a longer amount of time. The turning cues still need work. She also needs to get stronger at doing this at a distance. Hopefully I will be able to get some additional work in with her over the next week We start in a new agility class in a week. I think it is going to be good for her to have a MeiLi only training class. Not sure how much running I can do but just having time to work on the basics around others will be very good for her.

Need more room to move but this was a good start to the game. Working on a new game. The Game of Deke. Basically, the dog learning to treat you a prey and chase you to stay in the re-enforcement zone. I really needed to be able to move more to really make this game fun and a better learning experience. But I think she had fun and started to figure out the game a bit. If not, we certainly had a nice game of tug!

Today we started the 1-2-3-Break Game. This game is designed to build excitement with self-control at the start line.  We are hopeful that soon this game will transfer for Devyn to the agility ring.  This would allow us to take her off leash and practice a lead out before playing tug. MeiLi has always enjoyed tugging. She will tug with the other dogs or with us. You can see she really wants to play. She is just learning this game and her stay was a bit weak at this point. We will continue to play this one to build up more self-control at the start. I would really like to have a solid start line with her.  Devyn has always tugged with her sister but has just recently started getting into it with us.  We think this is going to be a big break through toward gaining more focus in the ring. As you can see, she is very into the game. This is clearly building some self-control while waiting for the release and a ton of drive to come to us. 

A fun mixed of Quick tricks moving from various positions around the handler.  MeiLi really enjoys this kind of work. Devyn playing with mom. So much fun!

MeiLi doing some basic RZ zone work Kristen. Devyn doing some RZ work with Kristen

Here is a short clip of Devyn working with her toy at the start of the course at the trial today. While it may not seem like much getting her to focus on toy and engage at a trial is huge for us.

Today was another rough day for doing videos as Kristen spent the day at a CPE Agility trial and I am judging an AKC trial. Devyn had a good day at agility doing some more tugging as training in the ring.   MeiLi is on the road hanging out with Dad while he judges followed by the drive home. But Kristen did take a few minutes to work some crate games when we got home. MeiLi struggled with doing her sit in the crate. She is never good at this and after a long weekend in the van it was even worse! Devyn did a great job paying attention to Kristen and not going after the treats. 

Today was a rough day for doing videos as Kristen spent the day at a CPE Agility trial and I am judging an AKC trial. Devyn had a good day at agility doing some tug training in the ring.  She was able to tug with her toy in the ring. MeiLi is on the road hanging out with Dad while he judges. MeiLi doing some basic RZ zone work in our hotel room.  Devyn doing some RZ work at the outside warm up area at the trial today.  More of Devyn working at the trial site.

Today was a rough day for doing videos as we spent the day at a CPE SpeedWay trial. Devyn had a good day there training in the ring.  She was able to tug with her toy in the ring and got to have some fun with that. MeiLi was good outside the ring…….inside not so much.  MeiLi and I are away at a hotel, so we did some start line work and fun stuff in our very small space.  Just some quick Start line work, with a bit of putting on and off the harness. Devyn tends to lose focus during this process at the trials.

MeiLi was very excited to do some equipment. This is one of the first times I have done either dog at 16″. I need to remember she is a baby dog and has a bigger stride. I need to reward her turns even when they seem obvious to me.   Devyn did very well with this. She was having some issues with doing the tunnel earlier in the day, so I made the choice to do something different with her for the “extra” sequence. It was actually a bit tougher than the sequence that MeiLi did. 

Today’s TrickAgility exercise are both new exercises for the pups. We will be doing Cookie in the corner Recalls and Moving RZ 360 Spin Reward. Cookie in The Corner Recalls works several skills. Sends to “get it” followed by a recall to the RZ.  The Moving RZ 360 Spin Reward focusing on teaching the dog to find the RZ while you are moving and to offer a sit in the new position, then remain in the sit until released. This exercise requires a lot of mechanics on the handler’s part I am clearly struggling with it. Overall, I thought MeiLi did very well with it. She was excited to go to the corner and her recall was solid. I need to hold the release to the cookie a bit to build the drive.  MeiLi really likes working the RZ stuff. I think she could be solid Rally/Obedience dog if we put the time in. Her sire is a great Rally dog having won at ASCA Finals. This was our first time doing this exercise, but we felt she did well.  Devyn was a little unsure on this exercise. She is a bit afraid of the vent on the floor and I think that bothered her. But she worked through it and did her job. We will continue to work to get her happier doing this one.  While as a formal exercise this one is new, I have been doing things like this with Devyn in our Out and About training. She did a good job. My hand work needs to improve with both dogs, and I need to reward int he proper location when the dogs sit crooked. 

Today’s TrickAgility exercise is the Hand Touch. we use this for so much in dog sports and daily live. It is such a useful tool. In addition, MeiLi had a 3-mile walk today. On that walk she got to play a bit in an empty dog park and hike on the local trail. We are learning so new mechanics for the hand touch game. Tonight, Kristen worked both dogs, we did do some of this during the day. I use it often to help MeiLi either find the RZ or as a marker on some lead out work. This is a wonderful exercise for a dog like Devyn. It gives her a quick and easy game to focus on when we need her to work with us and not “panic” over something else going on.  I use it all the time in our training at the dog park.