MeiLi & Devyn’s Training

Today’s we start a new game designed to help with focus, quick sits, and some self-control at the start line. We are training the Tug-Sit-Run game. We will also continue that self-control focus with some Crate games This is our first day working this exercise as a formal exercise. But MeiLi loves to tug and has a great release of the toy. She gets a little confused offering the crate, but I was thrilled on the last one with me she came to the toy when she was clearly thinking about the crate. i have run agility for many years without a start line. I look forward to perhaps having one now.  As an extra Kristen worked both dogs on some crate games which also works the IYC concept for the dogs. This is another focus and self-control exercise.  Devyn has only been really tugging with us for a short time and is not as into the game as MeiLi. But we were very happy with how she did at this game. The first part of the video is our daily trip to the dog park area. She used to not be able to handle getting anywhere near the park. Now she is engaging with the toys with dogs very close by. Baby steps but progress. Both dogs did very good with this. It is something we train often and will continue to do so for some time. It is a great game that can have lots of benefits in sports training.

Today’s TrickAgility focus was working on building the Reinforcement Zone (RZ) by my side. The idea is that the pups will want to work by our side – either walking on leashes or when they do agility. Here’s quick clips of my working outside with each dog. I suspect this is something we will continue to work on. This is one of the most important skills for dog sports as the dog tends to be working off your side versus where we normally hand them treats which is in front of us. MeiLi is much more used to doing this with Dad.  Devyn very used to this exercise with both of us. Kristen has been working her on some version of it for a long time and I have been using it with Devyn in her dog park visits to help her deal with her fear issues.

Much of today was spent taking the pups on an adventure. We took a ride down to an AKC Agility trial at Dream Park in Swedesboro, Nj. We did not go in but spent some time walking around outside. Then we took a drive to the nearby dog park. It was empty with today’s rain so both pups got to go in and run around together. MeiLi training her start line from the crate. This is part of crate games and good foundation work for an agility start line! Kristen is using food with MeiLi on this one.  Devyn doing the same exercise but using a toy. She has done a lot of “chase the squirrel” work so the toy works for her. We are still working on Devyn’s toy drive so this is good.

MeiLi really loves to play with her weaves poles. It is still a work in progress building speed, offside and tougher entries. But she loves trying.  It’s your choice is a foundation game in Recallers.  We use it in lots of things. In this exercise we are working our set up for agility and a release for her to come to me. I have an open hand of treats that she chooses not to try to take, but wait for me to reward her. Kristen increased the IYC challenge by bringing the treat hand down to the pup’s level. Both pups did very well with this exercise.  Devyn is not as sure on the weaves as her sister. But she can do them when focused. We will continue to train them, and I am sure she will love them in the end.  It’s your choice game outside. Darryl and Devyn working on several skills. Set up, stay release and of course the open hand with treats that Devyn must choose not to steal. She enjoyed this game very much.  Kristen really kicked it up with Devyn. Not only holding the treats really low but also sending Devyn back to her mat! 

This will be our version of Trickvent for this year. We will be focusing on agility skills and Recallers games with the two pups. Some days we will post both an agility skill and a Recallers game. It will all depend on the amount of time we have, and weather permit it. Hoping we can pull this off on the trial weekends. Happy Holidays to everyone.  MeiLi is a little less excited about the teeter than her sister but she certainly is not going to be left out of the fun. Hoping to teach her a nice down at the end so when needed I could catch up with her.  MeiLi is getting better at this game. We changed it up a bit by having Kristen working her. It is important that both dogs be able to work with either of us.  Devyn has lots of fear issues, but the teeter is not one of them.  The first day we got the teeter up here she was right on it. Now we are working on getting her to learn a nice spot at the end. The Collar Grab game is an important foundation skill for both everyday life and Canine Sports. It is super important for a dog like Devyn. It is something we continue to work on everyday.

A quick update on MeiLi’s recent progress and setbacks.   She is becoming a fun family dog. She loves to cuddle, is a pretty good walker when alone. She does not react to bikes and people; however, dogs and other critters are still a bit of a challenge. She has done a couple of SpeedWay trials and actually did fairly well and earned her first official CPE title, her C-SWE! Then we tried to run at an actual agility trial. She was unfocused and overwhelmed with the setting. So that showed me she needs a lot more connection and focus on me for that environment. We were unable to Qualify on any of our runs. On the good side she did come back to me and was able to put together some sequences. MeiLi Hanging out at home!

A quick update on Devyn’s progress and setbacks. Devyn has gotten to do one SpeedWay trial and did pretty well. She is a few Q’s behind her sister because she was in season for the second SpeedWay trial. She has also gotten to do a couple of CPE Agility trials and has managed to get a couple “Q’s”. Many of her runs were following a very excited barking dog and she struggled to focus on mom. But on the good side she did come back a work. The distraction continued into the next trial and Devyn was too distracted to be successful in getting any “Q’s”. But she was able to put together some nice sequences when focused and came back to mom on every run. Devyn playing on her platform!

Well, the weather is not so nice, and I am a bit under the weather so not sure how much training I will get done. But here are the next planned sequences using the same basic set up. The goal is to let the pups open up a bit keeping up the rewards as needed to help teach the dog the front cross and collection when needed. Front crosses have long been the preferred cross for teams as they give the dog information early and allow you a fall back to a rear cross if you are unable to execute the front successfully.  If the first exercise is going well, we will start to add the blind cross. All of my recent dogs have really preferred the blind cross as it gives them early info and allows both the dog and handler to run as fast as they can. While the blind cross was considered Taboo for many years it is now a very popular handling move and if done correctly does not lead to all the evils that were predicted and taught in the old days.  Many top teams across the world use it very affectively as a main tool in handling today’s fast and challenging course.  Turns and Focus Adding the Blinds

Today I re-numbered the course so we can keep working on the same basic skills while keeping the course fresh for the pups. There will be lots of focus on the start line as both pups are having issues there. We will go back to rewarding each cross to begin the week. Working longer sequences between rewards as the pups gain focus and understanding of their jobs during the week. We will also be debuting our new Sonnoro 360 Smart Tracker to help use video our training sessions. While this course is set up and displayed using mostly front crosses, we will also train the same sequences using blinds and rear crosses.  The layout!

The Pups playing on the bucket! Well, we were very excited thinking we were getting an early Spring in March. I got the yard all set up with a nice “course” to start working the puppies on. Then came the bitter cold, wind and snow so things are delayed a bit.  But here is the course we plan to play with. It gives up lots of chances to work some baby dog focus skills, tight turns and crosses on some real-world challenges they will see later on. No pressure to be perfect here it is all about learning a developing a clear understanding of these moves.  We would be doing lots of rewarding and breaking this one down into simple single jump turns and slowly allowing the pups to sequence longer section of the course, as long as they cannot maintain focus and control. This set up will have variety of numbered “courses” we will play with adding additional skills and text. We will not change things up until the pups have made progress on the current sequences. I am very happy to say that the pups did some great work this past week and it is time to change things up.  The layout

She really loves to play the game. She just needs the confidence to do so in public. Devyn did very well with this training exercise. 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 pretty tricky sequence, and she handled it nicely.

Devyn and Kristen early training session working on their Stunt Dog Novice Title! Getting Close almost ready to take the show on the road!

This is our 14 year-old dog Allie earning her DMWYD Novice Trick Dog title. When an old dog wants to play and comes all the way upstairs to do so you let her play. 

This is MeiLi’s video that was submitted to earn her ITD title which she has now earned. 

This is Deven’s video that was submitted to earn her ITD title which she has now earned.