2x2 training day 2

I slept in this morning (hey, it's Saturday), so I only have time for one session. I again took my session outside, but put the poles in a different location than yesterday. My reward line was going in a different direction, but it was not going in the opposite direction as it was yesterday. I moved the poles to the 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. position, and I had a nice fir tree to mark my reward line. In three sessions, I have now been trained to make my reward line markers very big so I can see them from all the entry arc angles. 

Devon did amazing again! She was 100% on her entries and only started to keep the toy and roll over once after attempt #4. She immediately returned to me, though. She was also more drivey than yesterday and handled the restraint into the collar very well. I got some nice pull toward the weaves before I released her. I did a good job of letting her see the poles before I released her, versus just turning her and flinging her toward the poles.

Devon nailed some very tough entries. I went very low on the sides of the entry arc to challenge her. She did great and really sought out her entries, including the right side wrap of the first pole. I'm especially focusing on this entry since that's where I first started seeing her confusion when she began to enter with the first pole on the right. 

Because she was so successful with very tough entries from the right and left as well as in the low challenge entry area, I stopped after 8 attempts. I think it's time to add the second set of 2 poles. 

Tomorrow we're supposed to have thunderstorms and she has an appointment with Dr. Bonnie, so no weave training tomorrow. Now we're off to meet the Ripleys and Terrie to plot and run VST tracks. Hey Angela, these are the tracks for your seminar next week -- hope you enjoy them!

Human exercise program

I've been attending an exercise class three days a week for the past 2 weeks. The class is at the fitness center of my church. Since it's at 8:30 a.m., I expected that the average age of the participants would be a couple of decades older than me. I was right on the age range; but I was quickly humbled by their abilities! After the first class, a perky woman in her 70s came up to me and assured me I'd be right up with the rest of them in a couple of weeks. I know God was getting a chuckle!

This class is a combination of strength training, balance and flexibility. There is a different instructor each day, which helps with the variety of exercise. We use hand weights, bands and exercise balls. There is a mix of yoga as well. I'm supplementing this class with time on the treadmill several days a week, too.

I've wanted to increase my exercise level for a while; and since I have time off work now, I'm enjoying incorporating exercise into my routine. I'm posting this on the dog blog, because it's really helping me with my agility training. I'm "running with purpose" much better than before, and I know I'm faster. This can only help my dogs get faster, too!

2x2 training day 1

I think we had a very successful day! Our first session was this morning in the building. I set the poles up with my reward line before I brought Devon out. I had string cheese all prepared for her high value reward. As always, Devon raced to the building.

Devon is so stinking smart, and remember I started her weave entrances by clicking with 2 poles. So, she took one look at the poles and went, "Oh, I know this game!" and raced through them so fast I didn't have time to get the cheese out of the baggie for her reward! 

As Susan Y. warned me, I should have practiced throwing (I did practice with the toy!). Plus, string cheese rolls! Let's just say Susan Garrett would have been horrified at where my rewards landed, but Devon got the idea. 

I was also so frazzled that she got it so quickly, I forgot to count how many times we attempted the poles so I could calculate her accuracy. I do know she was successful 100% of the time, and she only came back through the poles once. I was able to get the entry arc in the low challenge area and dropping into the entire entry area to the sides.

After reviewing my notes from the DVD, I decided to move the poles outside for the afternoon session and use a toy.  We were ready for the "H" in the DASH principle. The DVD comments that you shouldn't stay too long on one area and use latent learning. Devon is a big latent learner, and the way she got right on the two poles told me we could move ahead.

I got her tugging with a brand new tug toy (which really sent her over the edge) before I asked for the poles. I used a lot of voice and started with the restrained release. I did all of the entry arc in 180 degrees. She nailed every one of her entries and never came back through them. On the third attempt (see I counted this time), she wanted to keep the tug toy and roll on her back. While this is very cute (which is why she does it), it stops the flow of training. I kept her moving and didn't allow her to stop the flow after a reward. 

In 12 attempts she was perfect every time and wanting more. We stopped. I did noticed two things as we trained. First, she wanted to turn to her right as she went through the poles, and once even wrapped her nose around the second pole. Because she's done weaves before and was clicker trained entries on 2 poles, that turn to the right and nose wrap told me she knows what we're setting up. I'm hoping this leads to greater understanding as we move to two sets of poles.

Second, she wasn't as drivey through the poles as the dogs on the DVD (of course they were border collies). However, I believe this was more of an individual dog thing. Devon is very thoughtful, and she's not one to get so high she doesn't think. For example, in field she'll never be one of these dogs who flings herself in a belly flop into the water after a bird. She trots with purpose into the water. That doesn't mean she's not intent or intense about her work. She's just sensible. 

I think combining those two observations (she wanted to go right to more "ghost" poles and she was thinking) is what caused her to be a little less "drivey," but I absolutely know she was learning.

More tomorrow!

Front door/back door photo meme

This is fun! Bloggers C-Lee and Gold'NPem did this, and I enjoyed the photos. The sunset tonight inspired me to take the photos. We're also having unseasonably warm weather, and you can tell spring is here (those of you out east, it's coming!!). I even opened my windows because it was stuffy inside!

Back door

Off the deck is the main dog yard, with the training yard beyond it. In a couple of weeks, agility equipment will sprout back there and stay until fall. It's nice having two separate yards so there's no poop to avoid as I'm training! The first shot shows my small training building. It's 36'x50', and I've installed a flooring so it's safe to jump the dogs inside. It's not heated or air conditioned, so it's unbearable about half the year. As you can see from the second shot, the back faces west, so I get to see the sun set every evening.

Front door

The grass is brown the trees are naked from the winter. You can imagine what this looks like in the spring and summer! We live on a rural country road; we have 5 acres. Usually there's corn in front and soybeans in the back or the reverse. At least I have variety! I face east, so I get to see the sunrise every morning -- the flat Midwest! No hills blocking my view!

Here are the rules: This is a photography meme

1. Step out your front door and take a picture.

2. Step out your back door and take a picture.

3. Put them on your blog along with the rules.

4. If there are things in the photo that you particularly like or dislike, you can point them out

or just explain what you are seeing.

5. Tag another person.

6. Do it again next month if you like.

Wherever you live you see something different than the rest of us.

I'm tagging Tails of Gold, AgileGold and Lysiane's Westie Report (see I'm making you blog!).

How to defeat green monsters

This has got to be one of the best photos of all time. This is Mr. Red from the Gaylan's Game Bird Litter. I saw this photo and just started cracking up! Apparently, Mr. Red has decided the way you defeat scary green monsters is you just snuggle under their chin, and they give up. Plus, they make great pillows for sleeping! 

Devon's new adventure

Here it is, the eve of 2x2 weave pole training. Thanks to Susan and Luna for letting us borrow 3 sets of 2x2 bases. I'm reviewing (literally) Susan Garrett's 2x2 Weave Pole Training DVD. On the first viewing I believe it could solve Devon's weave issues.

To review, Devon finds her entrances beautifully, but skips pole 2 and weaves 1, 3 then weaves out. Once she gets into pole 3, she has a really nice fast style. I clicked her entrances very early on with two poles. This formed lovely entrances, but the variety of methods we used didn't communicate to Devon what she was doing "wrong" or how to fix it. I went back and clicked again using 3 poles, then building out to 6 poles (I actually did this twice). This worked at homebut didn't translate to class or trialing. I also used wires and opened the channels back up. 

Finally, because she knew she was doing something not quite right, Devon started offering other behaviors -- the down side of clicker training. Unfortunately, what she started offering was "more wrong" than the skipping pole 2. She started offering to enter with the first pole on her right. This started a downward spiral in her confidence in the weaves until the middle of last month when she started hitting the first pole, then wandered away looking anywhere but the weave poles. I've seen this behavior before, from Connor! At Devon least graced me by not leaving the ring or running to the ring stewards asking to be saved.

In viewing the 2x2 method, it focuses on the first two sets (or first 4 poles) a little differently than all other methods. What I know about Devon is if she isn't "getting" something, it's because I'm not presenting it well. She's a thoughtful dog, and she tries her guts out for me. I feel confident this will work well for us.

I'll post more tomorrow!

Devon's latest "prize"

If you've ever met Devon, you know she usually has something in her mouth. She loves to carry and retrieve things. Life is usually better when Devon has something in her mouth. Her favorite thing is to steel my socks, hose or underwear. I'm very, very lucky that she only wants to carry these things and not eat them. If she ate what she got, I'm sure she would have had multiple surgeries by now!

One of the things we've struggled with around the house was Devon not coming in from the backyard. Finally this winter I have solved that problem by using her field "come" command. This is a "pressure" command (meaning she knows she'll get a correction if she doesn't follow it), and I had waited to use it because of the fear she'd blow it off. I followed up the command by giving her a treat when she does come. This has worked extremely well, and I now have a dog that comes when called at home.

The interesting part about this new development of coming when called, is that she often brings with her what she's been snacking on. It's now habit for me to check her mouth when she gets to the back door; and this winter I have had to shake many frozen "treats" from her mouth before she comes inside. I keep reminding myself at least she's coming when called, and I don't have walk outside to get her!

Last night Devon came racing in from the back corner of the yard near the training building. I glanced at her mouth on the way in and it was shut. I dropped a treat towards her, and it hit the floor and she stood there looking at it. I suddenly realized her mouth was closed tightly and she was contemplating the value of the treat ... versus the value of whatever it was in her mouth! 

I'm wise enough now that I wasn't sure I wanted to know what was in her mouth! We walked back out to the deck as Ian grabbed the treat, and I suspected what was in her mouth. I opened her mouth and shook out what was in it. Good thing it was dark outside. We went back in where I gave her a treat. Then Connor appeared at the door, and he hadn't even looked at what was laying on the deck next to the door ... now I was really sure I knew what was outside. Connor will grab an extra tasty treat laying around, and he didn't even glance in the direction of whatever it was on the deck.

Sure enough when I went back outside with several paper towels I confirmed with a quick glance Devon had found a dead mouse to bring me. YUCK!! I think this brings her dead mouse find up to four, plus one dead snake. It got flushed down the toilet. Then I had to put groceries away and start my dinner. Living with Devon is always an adventure. Good thing she's really cute and sweet!!