Dizzy 12 Weeks Perch Work

Another little training session for Miss Dizzy's tea today - this is the second go at front feet on the ice cream tub (ooops - I mean perch). She picks up on things dead quick as long as the reward rate is really high. You see in this she gets a little stressed - what I need to remember is that a little stress is okay and aids learning.

As well as doing agility related stuff we are working on puppy class homework - sits / downs / waits. All building the value of the release cue with big games and fun.



Dizzy Basics

Well, I attended Dizzy's first week of puppy class with Hamble Hounds on Tuesday and she did not disgrace me!! Lots of really nice sit / wait / down type stuff which was fun and was good seeing the other puppies too.

With my release cues I believe the best way forward (with agility in mind) is to have one word which means 'it's okay to get up and move now' and another which means ' Run like hell until I tell you to stop'. Mine are 'okay' and 'GO' respectively.

Yesterday evening's training for tea was Wobble board practice again and tonight was session one of putting a a verbal cue on a down. So far it had been a very visual curved hand on the floor. This progressed to a finger pointing down and subsequently the verbal cue. We will revisit this tomorrow and add in some stimulus control.

Jake was joining in too which was fun!

New groupos start tomorrow and are really booked up so hope everyone comes and has a good time - look forward to seeing you there.

Emma

Dizzy Wobble Board Session 3

See our you tube page for Videos of Dizzy on the Wobble board

Dizzy Dora - In the Box Session 1

Okay, time to start introducing new things for Dizzy to interact with. Over, under, through, wobbly things, you name it we are going to practice it.

Let's start with inside -

I like puppies!!!

Rear Cross Part 1 - Clicker Agility Training

This is a lovely rear cross exercise with only 1 jump. Thanks to Pam for posting.

Great Looking Tug Toys

This is a link to an external site - www.bungeedogs.com

They supply tuggies with elasticated handles which take a lot of strain off when playing with your dog.




Home

Building a Release Cue - The very beginning

Big Bang Theory - Positive Reinforcement

This is a link to a short clip on you-tube where they are attemptong to use Positive reinforcement (and a bit of negative reinforcement too) to train a human. Very funny!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA96Fba-WHk

Lee Gibson Training: A Fun Course Plan

A good exercise with any course plan is to look at it on paper and see how you think you would run it in real life.

This course is certainly not for beginner dogs, but the theories we practice remain the same. Where would you put a rear cross, or a front cross and why? Do you use a false turn to avoide the wrong end of the tunnel or run like blooming henry and put in a front cross?

All things to think about before even attempting to run even a section of the course.

If you are confident with the plan you will feed this on to your dog, remember set an exercise up to succeed. This will boost the confidence of you and your dog.






Lee Gibson Training: A Fun Course Plan: "This is a plan of the course I was using this week for my lessons. Some key tests/points: Send on to the tyre Wrong end tunnel Discriminat..."

Getting Un-Stuck While Shaping | Susan Garrett's Dog Training Blog

This is a link to Susan Garrett's Blog. This article is interesting - what to do when it goes wrong......

What is important to take away from this article is that preparation and planning are keys to success and when things go wrong it is not the Dog's fault.

To relate to agility -

Your dog enters the ring and consistantly goes straight to the A-Frame- Annoying eh?

Think back to your training - how many times have you rewarded the A-frame in comparison to Jumping? I'll bet you've worked lots on those contacts and maybe taken the jumping slightly for granted.

The next terms training should serve to redress the balance.

There are lots of other good articles too.




Getting Un-Stuck While Shaping Susan Garrett's Dog Training Blog

Dizzy Dora - 2nd Shaping to a Mat Session

Just a short clip of Dizzy doing some mat training to earn her lunch!

In a class situation this type of training is great for getting some focus while others are working.

She is a smart cookie!

More Reasons that Pre-Agility is a good Idea.....

There is an interesting article on Agilitynet by Hannah Banks, about pre-agility and balance .
All further reasons why pre-agility training is a great idea.

Great Reading List from Canine Coaching

Follow this link to an extensive list of really good recommended reading on all aspects of living with Dogs.

Living with Dogs - Canine Coaching

The First 2 Days.......

So far so good!! Dizzy Dora is settling in well. Spending the daytimes in her crate and exercise area with several play and toilet breaks. Last night she cried a lot though so I was on the sofa with her in her crate next to me. I'm pretty sure I was not this tired when the girls were tiny babies!

Today toilet training is going well. Training little bits is fun too - she can do lured positions for sit, down and stand and I started shaping her to a mat this evening in an attemo to mentally tire her out so we get some sleep tonight!!!

Video is below - the way she bounces on to the mat at the end is excellent!

Looking forward to Hamble Hounds and Quob this week. All going really well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMYdEUusaR8

Emma x