Learning my power

One thing I have learned about dog training, it isn't all about the dog!  As a trainer many times it is about the handler and their learning curve.  Once we figure out how to communicate with our dogs, the dogs are brilliant.

In the last couple of months I have been studying up on herding.  I have been trying to learn what I can at my novice stage without my dog.  Hoot is an amazing dog, great herding potential so I want to learn as much as I can so that our journey is as productive as I am capable of making it.  That is a nice way of saying, so I don't screw her up.  And I will, I already know that. But if I can minimize it I will.  But this is Hoot's and my journey and where ever that takes us is OK.



This is from our lesson yesterday.  It was toward the end so Hoot was settling down which was helpful.

This lesson was really fun for me since I really began to feel where I need my power to be to get Hoot where I need her to be.  Hoot has matured a bit since our last herding lesson and she didn't have any side preferences.  That seems to have gone away.  Her lie downs and control were awesome.  Proud of my little girl!

Hoot's Running Dog Walk Update

Again I am thinking, running contacts is such a manic-depressive experience!  I remember this when I was training Tangle and Split.

We have several sessions where Hoot was kind of leaping off, giving me three strides and generally not hitting the contact.  Induced depression in the trainer of the running contacts.

So, I posted to Silvia's site, she once again reminded me that I need to change the starting point.  Well, I had been changing it to find the new sweet spot, but I had a mental barrier apparently.  I didn't think to change it to the spot that had been her VERY WORSE starting point ever.  So, I played with her starting point and we are now at 12 feet (use to be 20).  Success!

The sweet spot changes because the dog gains physical strength and confidence.

This is the second session at the new starting point.  Also previously Hoot couldn't take much movement on my part, throwing the toy late, static toy, or really much change at all.  I secretly thought to myself, "I am doomed".  But perseverance is my middle name, I don't give up easily and sometimes not at all.

So, new starting point and something in the air and all of the sudden I can run with her, she can run to a static toy, she can run to no toy, run with a barrier at the end of the DW, what changed?  Confidence I suspect.  This made a light bulb come on and Hoot has made HUGE progress in just two sessions.


Ah, the manic part of the RDW experience and you are hooked again!

Early Christmas present for Hoot

Hoot and I went herding with Cappy on Christmas Eve. 

Each time I put Hoot on sheep at this point she changes dramatically.  This time her confidence was amazing, had just a bit of trouble lying her down, and more than a bit pulling her off the stock when it was time to rest.  Also, some snipping came out (wanting to bit the sheep).

Cappy and I worked mostly on Hoot keeping her distance from the sheep and preventing her building a bad habit of biting the sheep.  I was trying to learn how to keep her back, and recognize when she is going to come into the sheep.  Funny, with as much dog language as I am aware of, behavior and agility, I have something to learn with herding.  I probably have seen it all before, but I need to put it in this context.  Which is a great reason why I blog.  If I write it down, it helps me put it in context and remember it.

So, coming into the sheep...  Hoot would have direct eye contact with the sheep when she was going to dive in, similar to what you see before a dog attacks another dog.  Cappy was having me work to keep her eye contact indirect, keep the sheep calmer and she won't dive into the sheep.  Also, when she lies down, how to point the stick so that her first move is away from the sheep.

I really don't mind feeling like a complete novice again.  Basic things like what to do with my training stick.  The coordination of moving it from one hand to another as Hoot changes sides, how to reach over the sheep to slap the ground or throw dirt, discouraging Hoot from diving in and staying off the sheep.

Hoot is a smart girl, if I let her she will have me trained in no time.  Cappy was pointing out how that will happen if I am not smart.  Hoot would flank ahead of the sheep and wait, wanting me to bring the sheep to her.  I need to make sure I am diligent in instructing her to get back around.  Eventually this could lead to Hoot just heading off the sheep.

I have to say I am very quiet and calm with my dogs.  The thought of taking a stick and slapping the ground to communicate is not my nature.  But, herding brings out the prey drive in Hoot and if I am not serious with Hoot, she will walk all over me and the sheep.  This is the first time that I have really seen her be this strong and determined.  She is a pushy bitch on sheep.

There is so much to learn in the beginning, just like agility.  Trying to train a dog while you are training yourself.  I know I will make mistakes, but I am hoping that if I get good help in the beginning, we can prevent/minimize most of them!

What an awesome 9 month old--she is a worker

Hoot continues to amaze me in every way she can...

I taught a class this past weekend and used Hoot as the demo dog for several things.  While she was not working I just asked her to lie down, really thinking nothing off it.  After class I began to think about the accomplishment of my 9 month old.  She could lie down, no leash, stay put while other dogs/puppies were running on her agility field.  She didn't chase nor break. I am blown away by that.

Hoot In Action

When I did ask her to work in class she was spot on.  I didn't get any kind of over-stimulated behaviors, nor did I get any kind of stress behaviors.  She just got the job done and in brilliant style.

I can honestly say that none of my other dogs could have done all of that at 9 months.

No wonder I can hardly wait to get out to the agility field and work this little girl, she makes me smile.

On another front Hoot and I are still pursuing herding.  She has a lot of natural ability or so they say, I on the other hand know nothing but am trying to not ruin my dog while I learn.

In our last lesson we were working on a small round pen.  Things seems more chaotic and frenzied than normal.  I am really glad my husband taped the session.

I went back and watched the video.  As I was watching it occurred to me that the pen was too small.   Hoot normally keeps a bit more distance from the sheep and with the pen size she was forced to work close.  I think that her balance point was closer than she preferred.  It was stressing her and the sheep.

So we herd again this week and will try for the bigger pen and see if that removes the stress. 

Blown away by this girl

This puppy is fun! She is smart, quick, sweet, and always willing to play. Love her!

Hoot had some huge milestones as far as puppyhood goes. At the start of life with us Hoot had several self-control issues (not unlike almost every puppy).  But there are a few that I needed her to overcome before others. Ones that involve safety first and next, ones that involve being able to live in the pack well.

• Recall - This will always be reinforced, but I am proud to say that Hoot has earned my trust.  On our daily jogs she can/will now come to me.  She fights off the desire to herd Tangle successfully.   Her recall has been tested while camping, at Cynosport, jogging, in our front yard, and off of the agility field.  She has control of her demons and can come when called :)
• Stay -  She has had a beautiful stay for a while.  But within the last month she has been able to stay at the agility gate, the opening to all things fun, until I release her.  First it started that she would stay, but not without having a seizure.  Now she can actually sit fairly still and wait.
• Stay while the other dogs are running.  This is still a work-in-progress, but I expect it to be.  Right now Hoot can stay if I am doing semi-boring things with the other dogs.  One jump skills, just the tunnel, that kind of thing.  

Extension to collection work - we started off working this drill and it was kind of like the kids game "pick-up sticks".  Any place she had to collect coming out of extension the bar would go down and perhaps the wing too.  Just way too much for her.  So I got smart, broke down all the skills, practiced them one by one and within a week this was our progress.  Super proud of how quickly she figures it out.  I am still running rather conservatively, but the aggressive handling will come.  Notice that she complains when I ask her to collect after some extension.  Slow is not her preferred speed.

Today was a fun day training Hoot.  Sure we accomplished some things, but she revealed even more how she learns.  The incites are worth way more than what you actually  accomplish.

Hooty is a smart little girl.  She loves her motion.  If the learning is slow and methodical she is not going to be with you for too long.  She needs action! That is OK, it is fairly easy to sandwich the methodical with games of tug.

She reminds me also of my son and gifted children in some ways.  If there isn't value in the activity, she isn't doing it or won't really be in it with all her heart.  That is OK too, easy to build value with her.  Actually sometimes it is very relaxing to work on value building.

Here is a video of today's work.  Getting some distance on sends, nice wraps, learning to stay out of the tunnel until cued, getting some consecutive obstacles.  She is a "hoot" to run!

Holy cow does she love the game!

Been a while since I posted!  Probably because I am busy with a puppy and three other dogs.

As the title suggests, Hoot is CRAZY about agility.  She loves everything about it.

Today I was working with her on a running dogwalk.  We are at the stage where we are transitioning from running on carpet to learning how to run on a plank.  She does think that running on the plank is overrated since it makes her think, but she is still a very willing partner.




For the first time today, she decided that she would much rather line herself up to run the plank again then play with a toy.  She was too busy to play with that toy or be rewarded.  I won't let that behavior persist (because reward and play are too important), but I did find it interesting.

I do adore training this girl, but I am the one who has to have the self-control.  She could so easily suck me into very bad habits (not asking for self-control) because she is so fun, willing, and obsessed.

The other big item that we are working on is obstacle commitment.  No surprising she always wants to follow motion as she should.  But, if I cue it she needs to take it.  So we are doing a fair amount of rewarding at obstacles, some Linda Mecklenburg foundation work on the flat to get that obstacle commitment a bit more solid.

That being said, she will send to a tunnel from about 50 feet now (thank you running dogwalk training).