Starting to get hot out...so we did short sessions at the field. You'll notice at 1:11 in the video we start doing the entire length of the dogwalk. Previously we had just been doing the down side.
Video
Stats:
Reps: 28
% Success: 93%
Thoughts:
1. Obstacle. I was SO pleased when we started taking him over the entire obstacle. He transitioned easily and did great. (Oh, and don't mind the attempt around 1 minute where he's choking on a treat!)
2. Analysis. Still struggling with jumps v. strides. As my husband says, "we'll know it when we see it". As the board goes higher, I think this will get easier.
3. Distance and Independence. I started working away from Bentley, and he did great. I think the high value he associates with the obstacle has helped him to drive towards the obstacle, whereas before he wouldn't go without me. I was able to send from about 15 feet out without him turning around to find me. I also stopped, and ran backwards a couple times and he didn't even notice.
4. Timeline. Our original goal was to be prepared to trial in August. However, we have a trial next weekend (we'll be skipping out on Standard), and then one in mid-July (we'll skip out on Standard and GP). Then we have nothing until December (we're missing an October trial for a wedding). I hope we can find an away-trial to go to before then, or we'll have 6 months with no trials.
Training Goals (obviously subject to change!):
-June 1: To be running a dogwalk at competition height, and to be adding it into short sequencing.
-July 15: To be running an A-Frame at competition height (this is a lofty goal!)
-August 1: To be working towards a cleaner, faster teeter.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Day 10
Day 10 was actually yesterday, and today is Day 11, but I'm only going to get to one post tonight (the videos take so long to edit!) We moved to the agility field today, and at first, it was bad. I'm not sure if it was the environment, or the board being too high (we did have it too high at first), but I was worried that nothing would translate. Unfortunately, the hand full of bad mistakes were prior to us setting up the camera, so you don't get to enjoy them. But after a few mistakes in a row, we lowered the dogwalk again, to about 20" (maybe a bit less since he gets on a little lower), and had much more success.
Also, we are going to begin working on independence (sending out, not going with him) a bit more at the suggestion of a friend. We didn't get to it this day because he seemed pretty confused with our new set up. (The set up being that we had the table at the down side of the dogwalk for him to jump on, then get on the dogwalk from there).
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 40
% Success: Somewhere around 85-90%
Thoughts:
1. Analysis. I spent a good deal of time tonight analyzing Bentley's strides vs. jumps. I think we incorrectly don't click some successes on this video. And my editing software is being weird, so I couldn't go back and honestly count the successes vs. mistakes.
Here are my tips on differentiating jumps from strides:
- Jumps begin with all four paws together, and end with two paws in the front together and two paws in the back together.
- Strides begin with legs slightly separated, and end with legs (especially back) slightly separated.
- The angle of the body on a stride is slightly sloped down towards the bottom of the board.
- The angle of the body on a jump is straight, going straight out.
2. Changes. I was extremely happy with the adapting that Bentley did in the short time we were at the field. I think the field added a good deal of excitement and working there is great practice for real applications.
Also, we are going to begin working on independence (sending out, not going with him) a bit more at the suggestion of a friend. We didn't get to it this day because he seemed pretty confused with our new set up. (The set up being that we had the table at the down side of the dogwalk for him to jump on, then get on the dogwalk from there).
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 40
% Success: Somewhere around 85-90%
Thoughts:
1. Analysis. I spent a good deal of time tonight analyzing Bentley's strides vs. jumps. I think we incorrectly don't click some successes on this video. And my editing software is being weird, so I couldn't go back and honestly count the successes vs. mistakes.
Here are my tips on differentiating jumps from strides:
- Jumps begin with all four paws together, and end with two paws in the front together and two paws in the back together.
- Strides begin with legs slightly separated, and end with legs (especially back) slightly separated.
- The angle of the body on a stride is slightly sloped down towards the bottom of the board.
- The angle of the body on a jump is straight, going straight out.
2. Changes. I was extremely happy with the adapting that Bentley did in the short time we were at the field. I think the field added a good deal of excitement and working there is great practice for real applications.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Day 9
I can't believe that we have only been doing this for 9 days. It feels like a lot longer than that! Today we worked at 16". And despite several (bad trainers!) days off, Bentley does well.
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 30
% Success: 100%
Thoughts:
1. Height. We honestly can't go any higher with this board in our backyard. We may try putting our mini A-Frame in the yard to see if we can use that.
2. Transitions. I think we need to move a bit faster as far as height goes. I know it's only been 9 days, but he is doing well. I think it will get harder as we get closer and closer to the regulation heights. I want to spend more time there, and then not only can we focus on strides, but also building speed.
3. Puppy. We took Lexi (7 months) out today to "play" on the board with it flat on the ground. I just took her out and treated any interaction with the board. With her smart sheltie brain she was running all the way across with just a few tries. Now it leaves me with the difficult question: What kind of contacts do we want with her? 2o2o for her? Or running?
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 30
% Success: 100%
Thoughts:
1. Height. We honestly can't go any higher with this board in our backyard. We may try putting our mini A-Frame in the yard to see if we can use that.
2. Transitions. I think we need to move a bit faster as far as height goes. I know it's only been 9 days, but he is doing well. I think it will get harder as we get closer and closer to the regulation heights. I want to spend more time there, and then not only can we focus on strides, but also building speed.
3. Puppy. We took Lexi (7 months) out today to "play" on the board with it flat on the ground. I just took her out and treated any interaction with the board. With her smart sheltie brain she was running all the way across with just a few tries. Now it leaves me with the difficult question: What kind of contacts do we want with her? 2o2o for her? Or running?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Day 8
Another day at 12". Short update--putting in a fence this weekend!
Video
Stats:
Reps: 26
% Success: 96%
Thoughts:
1. Analysis. Still having trouble identifying jumps/long strides.
Video
Stats:
Reps: 26
% Success: 96%
Thoughts:
1. Analysis. Still having trouble identifying jumps/long strides.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Day 7
Board is up to 12" off the ground.
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 34
% Success: 91%
Thoughts:
1. Analysis. We incorrectly identified 1 jump in this one (we click at 38 seconds, but it's a stride over the yellow). I think it becomes more and more difficult as his jumps become more and more like long strides.
2. Striding. It's as if he has learned not to jump, but not yet understanding that his goal is to stride to the end of the board. It is lucky because his strides take him to the end of the board around 90% of the time. I hope this will come with time.
3. Clicking. In combination with the above, we have to make sure that not only are we clicking for strides instead of jumps, but also ONLY strides through the yellow.
4. Transition. I think our goal is to get him up to full height on the dogwalk (48"). Then we will lower the A-frame and work on striding to the end of that. The teeter is a whole 'nother story!
Video:
Stats:
Reps: 34
% Success: 91%
Thoughts:
1. Analysis. We incorrectly identified 1 jump in this one (we click at 38 seconds, but it's a stride over the yellow). I think it becomes more and more difficult as his jumps become more and more like long strides.
2. Striding. It's as if he has learned not to jump, but not yet understanding that his goal is to stride to the end of the board. It is lucky because his strides take him to the end of the board around 90% of the time. I hope this will come with time.
3. Clicking. In combination with the above, we have to make sure that not only are we clicking for strides instead of jumps, but also ONLY strides through the yellow.
4. Transition. I think our goal is to get him up to full height on the dogwalk (48"). Then we will lower the A-frame and work on striding to the end of that. The teeter is a whole 'nother story!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Day 6
Double update today! Quick one though, as I'm working on an exam...
We raised the height about halfway through the video from 5" off the ground to 9".
Video
Stats:
Reps: 37
% Success: 97%
Thoughts:
1. Height. Bentley takes the height change in stride (quite literally)! And only really goofs on the second to last rep. Notice that my husband accidentally clicked it!
2. Increasing Height. We are progressing more quickly than I expected. I'm currently brainstorming the best way to make the board taller and taller. What we're using now (extra boards) will maybe get us a few more inches, but no more than that without sacrificing stability.
3. Traction. We painted the yellow portion with sand and paint and the traction is great. We'll need to take another time out soon and add sand to the middle section.
We raised the height about halfway through the video from 5" off the ground to 9".
Video
Stats:
Reps: 37
% Success: 97%
Thoughts:
1. Height. Bentley takes the height change in stride (quite literally)! And only really goofs on the second to last rep. Notice that my husband accidentally clicked it!
2. Increasing Height. We are progressing more quickly than I expected. I'm currently brainstorming the best way to make the board taller and taller. What we're using now (extra boards) will maybe get us a few more inches, but no more than that without sacrificing stability.
3. Traction. We painted the yellow portion with sand and paint and the traction is great. We'll need to take another time out soon and add sand to the middle section.
Day 5
We skipped a day on Friday to add traction to our board. Unfortunately, we picked the worst day to do it because it was so humid. The board didn't dry until today (Sunday). Saturday we had class at our agility training field so we did a quick practice out there. We didn't bother raising the board, and the result was a very successful 25 reps.
Video
Stats:
Reps: 25
% Success: 96%
Thoughts:
1. Speed. He's a lot faster now than before. But ONLY when we run with him. He isn't motivated by himself (story of his agility career!)
2. Weather. The heat has an impact, which is going to make this tougher and tougher. Notice how hot/tired he is by the end. And we only trained for 6 minutes. We may have to do 2 five minute sessions a day when it starts to get hot rather than one 10 minute session.
Hopefully more to come tonight...
Video
Stats:
Reps: 25
% Success: 96%
Thoughts:
1. Speed. He's a lot faster now than before. But ONLY when we run with him. He isn't motivated by himself (story of his agility career!)
2. Weather. The heat has an impact, which is going to make this tougher and tougher. Notice how hot/tired he is by the end. And we only trained for 6 minutes. We may have to do 2 five minute sessions a day when it starts to get hot rather than one 10 minute session.
Hopefully more to come tonight...
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