Feedback wanted!

[kglacer]

Basically I've kind of been winging it here and taking advice as I can get it. My agility trainer told us to get a stool, yogurt lid and pylons for home practice so I did - but then our classes were cancelled and me being impatient decided to go ahead and do some stuff ANYWAYS! I got some pointers from a couple people and now I'd like some feedback!

I've already been given some feedback that I should try and stand beside him when he pivots on the stool kind of like heeling but around the stool. This was the first time he did it this way in the video, I think he was just super excited!!

In class my teacher was teaching "touch" on the palm of our hands which Finn already knew so she explained to me the end goal was so that when he's going down a board walk (or whatever you call it) he touches the end before jumping off. So I was told the yogurt lid would be for a target so I removed my hand and started getting Finn to touch the lid instead and placed it on the ground as to be the "zone" in which he has to touch before jumping off the equipment. No idea if this is correct or not!

I'm gonna start 2x2 with the pylons. He's still a little unsure of them and my living room doesn't have the most space so I might try it outside.

Anyways, any thoughts or comments - I will take all criticisms as a learning tool

I also just want to add that I really appreciate all the help and advice I get from you guys, you've made this experience the best it could be and helped me learn so much more than I would have if I was doing this by myself! specially you babwa!! hahahaha

[wolftexas]

Finn is a good boy! Super smart! He's so happy! He just wants to make you happy. Great boy you've got there!

[kglacer]

Thanks Stephanie!! He is definitely a good boy and he enjoys doing this stuff even though we don't really know what we're doing!! lol

[SpeckledBC]

I'm in love and impressed! Way to go Katrina and Finn !! Keep up the hard work!!

[bcmama]

Hehehe, I love talking to you about your training with Finny! Keeps me thinking about puppy training for whenever my next one comes along!

Im sure you already know what I am going to say since ive seen this before butt oh well!

You guys are doing awesome! When your pivoting your marking him at a good time - when he is still moving, so he knows what behavior it is that is being marked, go you! At about 18 seconds in to the video you ask for a touch and he didnt do it right away so you asked again (maybe another 2 times, but whos counting ) try and just ask once, if he doesnt do it right away just give him a chance to try and do it and then if he doesnt do it on his own try just to point to it instead of giving the command again.

I cant wait to see you guys start the 2x2!!

Ohhh!! and Nice pants bahaha, nice and baggy for this video!

[kglacer]

Aww thanks Mandy! Sure know how to make a girl and her pup feel good about themselves!! hahaha

Ally - I didn't even notice I asked that many times! WOOPS! - We did it this morning and I made sure NOT to ask more than once and sometimes I didn't even have to ask - thanks for pointing that out!

I tried to do the pivoting like your video and I actually did get him to go in the direction I was going BUT he wasn't directly by my side - his head was like by my leg but his body was still far away from me but I figured at least he's going in the direction he's supposed to which i was suprised but then he stopped all together and got frustrated - so I'm not sure how to get him by my side and following me cause the closer I get to him he moves in the opposite direction!

I'm gonna re-watch the videos on 2x2, I tried to do it a bit last night in the living room but I don't think I remember it good enough lol plus he knocks over the pylons too easily! I like the sticks in the ground idea better - might have to get Brian to go scavenging through the woods to find me some good sticks...and then wait for the ground to thaw..lol!

...I made a point to change my pants for this video

[bcmama]

I wouldnt reward him for doing the behavior without the command on it because you didnt ask him to do anything so if he offers it just hold off a sec and then give the command again and reward it for wen he does it then.

Enzo and I started the 2x2 but we slacked off when I got busy so I will likely start all over next time around, likely over the summer. Maybe we will learn that with you!

and im sure everyone appreciate the pant change!

[kglacer]

Ah see this is exactly why I make these posts!! I will also make sure to not treat when he does it without me asking!

What did you use for 2x2 when you were practicing?

[bcmama]

We used sticks from the woods lol! I just made sure there was no bark and no sharp edges for him to get caught up on

I BBMed you a video

[Toddsmom]

I've always taught the pivot from head on just like you are doing. The point is for him to be aware of his back end so I don't know that it matters whether it's head on or at your side. But if you choose to do it at your side, I would still do both and make sure to do it at both right and left sides, not just one or the other. You don't want him to get too dependent on being in a true heel position. Todd is horrible with wanting to always be at my left side. Too many years of hard core Rally training I think before starting agility. Not something I paid any attention to ahead of time. So walk him and teach him the right side as well. Give them different names such as heel and side or whatever you choose. Just so that they are different so he will know which one you are looking for.


He is looking good though! He's such a smart little guy! So proud of the two of you!

[kglacer]

(02-01-2012 08:36 AM)Toddsmom Wrote:  I've always taught the pivot from head on just like you are doing. The point is for him to be aware of his back end so I don't know that it matters whether it's head on or at your side. But if you choose to do it at your side, I would still do both and make sure to do it at both right and left sides, not just one or the other. You don't want him to get too dependent on being in a true heel position. Todd is horrible with wanting to always be at my left side. Too many years of hard core Rally training I think before starting agility. Not something I paid any attention to ahead of time. So walk him and teach him the right side as well. Give them different names such as heel and side or whatever you choose. Just so that they are different so he will know which one you are looking for.


He is looking good though! He's such a smart little guy! So proud of the two of you!

Omg I wish I had recorded the whole process - I can't believe how much more rear awareness he has after learning this! Except sometimes when I ask back up just regularly he will lift up his back leg (looking for the stool) but that's my fault for using back up onto the stool as my wording. I'm trying just to say stool now lol

Right now he does everything on my right side because I didn't know that "heel" was techinically on the left when I started to work on it. I try and get him to go both ways on the stool but as you can tell he's definitely more comfortable with the one direction. My plan was once I get him walking nicely on the leash and heeling (on my right) I will then get him on the left so he knows both (hopefully...I could be dreaming here) lol! We are still working on that though, it's proving to be a long process for us....

He is so smart and the way things just click after a while blow me away, when we first started I thought it would take forever but then he just learns so quickly and once he's got it, he's got it! He learns faster than me that's FOR SURE!!! lol the only thing he's not seeming to get quickly is the leash walking but I think it's more about him being stubborn then willing to learn because he's more than willing to learn when it comes to all of this new stuff!

Thanks for all your help and support!