Bridget Carlsen Seminar

This weekend I attended a Bridget Carlsen dog training seminar put on by a local dog club. I had signed up for this seminar quite a while ago, and I remember how excited I had been at the time to get one of the limited working spots. But then during the long wait I attended the Denise Fenzi seminar which was just so good, I was seriously thinking of letting my working spot go to someone else. But I didn’t and I attended the seminar with Grace as my working dog. Ultimately, I am really glad that I attended.

I am really bad about taking notes at Seminars. I wish I were better. I find I spend all my time listening and watching for those small things I can take with me to use. I know that her style of training is not something that everyone would be comfortable with, but I found that there were so many points and aspects in her training that were brilliant. Her end result working style with her dogs is a bit more extreme than I care for. It's extremely flashy and showy though, and quite inspiring to see. Her dogs do appear to love working with her, in fact the only issue I saw the dogs have with her was having to leave her to go into a kennel, where none of them preferred to be.

I loved her version of jackpotting, which is a form of working for your meals, but the way she is doing it, it truly is a cue you can carry over to the show ring. The corgis and I are starting this tonight. I liked her sit, back sit, or down, back down, we are going to incorporate this too. I found a ton of merit in how she trains her young dogs at slow speed. I can see how it would help the dogs put the whole picture together. I AM going to teach gloves the demonstrated them last night, that just made so much sense to me. I think I may wind up switching to her method for Magic's scent articles, as it utilizes tied down articles and I am hoping it can help cure him of his need to bring back every dumbbell he sees regardless of the scent on them. (ever seen a corgi try to get a 4th metal article in his mouth). There is quite a bit more I am sure once I go through the notes I did take.

Bridget is not a purely positive trainer. Her dogs do get corrections. They are told when they are wrong, they have consequences. They are given a poke or a squeeze, or physically placed into a position. Yet they were very happy, very stable, adoring dogs just dying to get out and work with her.  I feel I am primarily a positive trainer, but I do find that I am not totally averse to using some corrections, and or body positioning-in some situations.  Many of you know that Grace tends to be very barky.  This weekend  I tried Bridget's correction, a verbal no and a muzzle grab, followed by praise when quiet which worked pretty well.  Now I am not talking about a painful grab or squeeze, just a hold, which seemed to help her understand the part I didn't like was the mouth, not the rest of what she was doing. 2 corrections like this while ringside and the barking stopped, and she waited patiently for quite a while. 
 
On the other hand, there were some times when I felt the correction was excessive and beyond my comfort level. I don't use a prong myself, I train in a wider flat buckle. I did feel uncomfortable with some of the usage, but that was student dogs. And in all honesty, these dogs did take very tough corrections and keep right on with no noticable changes to the attitude. I do know some people who do use prongs and I totally respect them. I will physically place my dogs into position if needed and I don't find it offensive. Maybe that comes from hand stacking a dog on the conformation table, but my dogs have never been bothered by that, or by me replacing a foot where I want it. I think like many things, how a person trains can vary widely and still be fine.   I want my dogs to want to work with me and be my partner.  I think they do. They all ask for work time. Trimming toenails, that would be another story, none of them ask for that.

Training Plan, adding in Flyball

This weekend I sat down and created a training plan.  I have a hard time going beyond generalities, so this is a stretch for me.  I am not sure how this will work as I tend to blow off schedules, but I am going to give it a try.
One change to the plan will be the addition of flyball practices on Sundays.  I met with the team today and I felt really comfortable with them.  They are a friendly group and it seems like their style will mesh well with mine.  I loved the fact that they are very diverse, all sorts of dogs playing and having fun.   Sort of the play with what you have mentality which I appreciate. There is quite the variety of dogs, some all americans, labs, a sheltie,  IG's and a pekenese. There are more who were not there today, but it seemed like a really fun bunch. They have dogs in all levels of training which is wonderful  So next weekend Magic and I will go to practice and see how that goes. Can't wait.

Training, training and more training

Spent the weekend working the dogs in thier various activities.  Friday night Magic and Grace and I went to the run and done.  Magic and I did lots of two step heeling and partying.  I am trying so hard to help him have fun with heeling but so far he still seems to hate it. Grace and I did some rally and ran a novice course.  Grace is so funny. When she remembers she is working she is so cute and happy, but we need to work on duration. So that is what we are trying to do- heel for longer periods without chatter. So far so good. I see some improvement.

Saturday morning the girls, Rinnie and Peace went and were CERFed, both good. Now I need to get the rest of Peaces testing done.  I want to make sure she passes her health clearances before I spay Grace and since Grace is getting older, I figure I better get them done. 

Today Grace and Rinnie went to weight pull practice.  Grace was a silly girl not really wanting to work. Rinnie did OK, but its not her favortie thing to do.  I also did some nosework with Rin in the warehouse.  She liked that much more.

All four dogs got nails and foot hair trimmed.  Magic got a brushing, he is going to an audition tomorrow, so I wanted him to look presentable.  I am a little nervous for that, but he seems OK with the idea.  He also did a little flyball practicing tonight as well.  Gosh he loves balls and retrieving.

A calm steady nice weekend.  I like those.

Nosework and agility

Last night at nosework class Siren was fabulous.  Her first find was about 1 second from release to find-she bulleted from the release to the box Her first unpaired find was also pretty darn quick.  Its so much fun to see how much all the dogs in class love this game.

Agility with Grace was a little less wonderful though.  First of all we started the class talking about the seminars that were at the club last weekend, and what Annelise wants to incorporate into our class of novice dogs.  During this whole time Grace was grumbling her "lets get going" complaints. When we did start working on some one jump wrap cues, she was really happy, until we did several in a row. Then she left and went off to play and sniff without me.  Then we ran a couple of short jump sequences. The first time through we were successful, but it wasnt as smooth as it should be. When I tried to do it again to fix my handling, she grumbled and complained. Do you see the pattern here?  When it was time to do weaves and we were working a u turn into weaves from parallel jumps-again, successful, but not smooth. But fast, Grace gave me a really good fast set of weaves last night. Loved that.  Of course our weaves still have guides, hopefully she is getting the muscle memory down. I do love that she is not worried about 12 poles though. 

Tonight we have a class to work on obstacle discrimnation. Wonder if I will have sassy girl or distracted girl tonight?

training updates

Wow with so many different levels of training going on  and 4 dogs, I think I need a schedule. Like a seriousl detailed schedule. Sadly I am not good at following schedules.

Last night we didnt have class but I did a short session with Magic on his flyball turn homework, a short recal session with Grace, and a short session of signals with Magic. Tonight we have flyball, so I will do another short recall session, and a little bit of stays with Grace, and a short nosework lesson with Siren. Peace just gets periodic rewards for sits and downs. Magic will get some heelwork while we wait for class.

Inspired

Between the successes last weekend, our private lesson and watching all the dogs at the trial this weekend, I am totally inspired to really get out and work my dogs. The problem with that is where?  We are in the middle of another snowfall expecting 6 inches or more, so its hard to find a space outside, and my house is just not spaced for indoor work. Nancy did give me some smaller space heeling work, so the corgis will get some training now everyday.

Remember that goal list I didn't make a the beginning of the year?  Well its starting to take shape in my head. It's pushing me to get off my butt and get going, so that is what I am going to do.

First off I want to train more tricks. I want to become better at shaping, so I am going to pick a trick to try to teach each month. Not sure what I am going to start with, but I hope to have a finished trick by the end of February.  I would like to teach each trick to all 4 dogs, but I am not sure I am up to that.  We shall see.

With the help of some really wonderful trainers, I am going to clean up my body language and try to help my dogs get a better picture for heeling and agility. Once they get a clear consistant picture, they should get a better understanding of what they need to do.  Truthfully, I don't think my handling alone caused Magic's lagging issues, but I do know it contributes. He falls behind I glance back at him, which clearly is a deceleration cue, so he gets slower. It makes sense, it's just really tough for me since I want to see my dogs. But if I can help Magic enjoy heeling as much as Grace seems to (usually) then perhaps we will have less issue. On the other hand I have trust issues with Grace so am always watching her too. Its a bad pattern on my part.   I am going to use more matches to try to improve with both of the dogs.

And, even though Magic still needs his AKC CDX, we are going to start working on utility. Directed jumping shouldn't be an issue, but the go out piortion definately is.  Retrieveing the glove is not a problem, but understanding how to mark the desired object is.  Articles, picking up and retriving metal, not a problem, but we need to learn scent discrimination.

Its a lot to do, but I am just going to take it in small pieces, one bite at a time. Can I skip work to get started?

Moved the book list, Dogs, goals, training

I moved the book list to the other blog. Robin asked if Audiobook count.  I think so, and am indicating those on my list as (AB) 

I have been fighting with my energy levels, or lack of energy and havent gotten much training done lately.  But last night I did try a little bit of signal work with Magic. He has a new avoidance technique of watching me until I give the signal, then looking away and staring off into space.  Now, I know he knows what the signals mean. If I am holding his toy, he can see my signals from anywhere, and he will do them. But no toy, no signals.

I need to figure out a way to make training fun in a way that can carry over to the show ring.  I really do want that UCDX.

Getting myself motivated

I admit, I am lazy.  I dont work my dogs everyday.  I should, but I dont.  I need to find a way to get motivated enough to get my dogs trained.  I am thinking that maybe if I show this weekend at the ASCA trial, I might be motivated enough (by embarrassment) to actually train my dogs? Think that would work?

2010 Goal Status

Here is  what I had in mind for the years goals as of last December.

Magic-Magic will hopefully do some more weight pulling. Met I would like to have him work toward his ARCH  MET and see if maybe we can earn his CDX.  We have done some work, but not nearly enough.


Grace-. I would like to get her back to agility classes, Met and actively working  Grace also earned her UWP

Peace-gets to take the year off.  Peace earned her UWP and has played a little in the breed ring, but primarily has had the year off. 

Siren-Siren will begin formal training. As in a training class. I am not disciplined enough to work my dogs as they should be, on my own, so I am going to commit to getting at least one title on Siren this year.
Well, she earned a couple of legs toward a weight pull title, but the actual training class she is in is Nosework. I am happy with this, but would also like to see us at least try to work toward some obedience work.
 
Overall so far I am relatively pleased, but I do need to get in gear with obedience. I feel all my dogs need to have obedeince titles of some sort, so this will need to be my focus the rest of the year.  Which will fall into place nicely with the end of year budget being primarily gone, we can do much of this work on our own, if I just commit to it. So blogger friends, if you dont hear of me working on this, kick me in the patootie, OK?

Michele Pouliot Seminar-long post sorry!

I had to take a couple of days to process all the information from the seminar Sunday.  First of all I really wish I had been able to do Saturday as well. Sunday was about getting a better performance, but primarily about attention and attitude.

The first thing we worked on was attention-which I admit, although Magic is fairly attentive, he does tend to lose focus so learning how to work toward keeping that attention was great. the first exercise we worked on was stationary focus.  I have always known that Magic can stare me in the face for quite some time as long, but what I realized is that although he is comfortable with this when I am sitting, he is not quite as focused when I am standing. Its not bad, but it can be better.  But, he really has a difficult time while in motion.  All I was asking him for was a moving front, and he could not maintain that focus well.  Well- that also shows in his distance work, so we are working on this.

The next session of work was relating to clicker training, and we worked on a trick with a prop of your choosing.  What the goal here was though is to not lure, or if you lure initially to break the lure very quickly.  Like within 3 attempts or so..  This was a bit harder and I realized that Magic is much less confident in his ability to think out the problem than I realized.  I think I have been too much of a helper.  I am working on that, but its going to be hard because I catch myself all the time.  Maybe I need to train with my mouth taped shut and my hands belted to my sides or something so I cant "help" hims so much.

The last session was really, really thought provoking for me.  This was about training attitude that can carry over to the performance.  The exercise we did was something no other trainer had ever suggested to me before, or if they have I missed it completely. (that wouldn't really surprise me!)  She explained that although her dogs are well trained and beyond the learning, she continues to reward very heavily.  In her video, working working with her awesomely trained performance dogs, she was still rewarding  variably, but frequent. Like 2-6 steps of heeling.   She said she rarely works an entire performance as one piece. Parts but not so much of the whole.  The exercise we did was practicing (for me developing) a ring entrance procedure. A consistent series of expectations right up to the judge starting the heeling pattern but then breaking it off at a single step into the pattern with a huge party.

The ring was set up just like a small obedience ring. Interestingly, even though we had been at the facility and had worked in a larger gated area all day, when Magic saw the new set up, and we walked up to to the entrance and heeled in and there was a judge, he seemed to think it might be a real trial. His tail went down, he listened and did what I asked -heel in, sit, take off leash, heel to the start line, his attitude was much less happy than it had been just an hour before.  We chatted with the judge, but he seemed less interested in me. When the judge asked us if we were ready, I asked him if he was ready, and he did begin to pay a bit more attention (ready is our attention word), but it was subdued. The first step of heel and he lagged as normal, but I still broke it off and we partied a minute or so and left the ring.  We immediately performed the whole series again, and the change was amazing. Both his head and tail came up and there was no lag off the start. The third time the pooper actually forged a tiny bit, which is SO not Magic.  While I am sure after the first time, he realized this was not the real thing, I can see how training this with consistent expectations would help him have a better start- and maybe an entire performance.  Granted it is going to take some work, and we will have to try to take in some matches, but I am hoping the combination of things will help our overall performances.

Now I understand that there was some training using raised platforms for learning positions on Saturday. I am hoping that I can get someone from Saturday to give me a quick lesson, because I certainly can use any help in training I can get.

All in all I really enjoyed the seminar. And watching the heelwork videos was simply inspiring. Beautiful.

FOCUS! and last nights class

Focus seems to be an issue in my training lately.  Not only am I having a hard time focusing on what to train, I am having a hard time getting my dogs to focus as well. I am sure that the 2 are related, but I really need a training kick in the pants lately.  So this week I took steps to work on this.

Sunday Magic and I are going to a Michele Pouliot seminar on improving performance for any performance sport.  I am really excited and hope I can get a lot of helpful hints from this one. When asked in the registration what I hoped to accomplish I said that I really wanted to work on attention, focus and attitude. With Magic this is primarily a heeling issue, but with the girls this is an ALL the time issue.  I am taking Magic as I think I will get more out of the seminar if I have a semi cooperative dog.

Then, I also signed Grace up for a 6 week class with Annelise on focus and attention. Now, I think this will be geared more toward agility, but hopefully it will carry over to the other things I would like to do with her.

I do want to say that last night at agility class Grace was much better than the week before. Even with a new dog in class she was much more willing to pay attention to me. AND, for the first time ever, we were able to be successful on everything we did in class the first time through (except 2o2o on the dogwalk which she hasnt learned yet).  We are starting to run a bit longer jump sequences and Annelise usually puts in a fairly tough cross in there.  And even though I almost ran into the jump, I got Grace through them all the first time-table at 16, no bars down, no off courses, even a little bit more distance.   And unlike last week, she had no issues with taking the dogwalk at all, and even starting a running A frame went well.  I was really pleased with my princess last night.

Do I or Dont I

Grace is a wonderful dog, but she is very different than Magic.  She can do all the required aspects for Novice, and at times she can do them beautifully, but other times you would think she had no clue at all. We are not consistant together.   So do I enter her for the experience, and enjoy the time together, or do I not? 

See here is the thing, I enjoy going out and playing with the dogs.  We always do our best, but I dont stress over the win or the q or any of that.  I truly like going out and having fun with my dogs.  Grace LOVES going. Grace gets very happy and very excited, and therefore less likely to be focused and listening. But, that is Grace and I love that about her, and dont know that I want her to lose that excitement even if it does make our times in the ring often interesting.  So do we enter and try and hope for the best, or not?

Some people say never enter before you are perfect.  I will never be perfect, how can I hold my dogs to that standard.  Is it wrong to go out and have fun even if we score 70? In some peoples opinions it is. And I don't hold anything against the people who want to earn perfect scores, but I also dont think that should be a requirement to play.  Someday I may be interested in that, but right now, honestly I am not.  I would prefer to Q but if I can go, have fun, see improvement, or at worst see what more we really need to work on, I don't think trying/playing is wrong. What do you think?

Tonight

He rocked it.  So did Grace. WOOHOO

Broad stomp, I mean jump

At our last attempt at open, when we got to the broad jump Magic looked at me like he had never seen one before in his life. So this weekend I broke down and built a couple of boards for a broad jump.  Now, the goober has seen these many times in classes but also on the agility field.  Today we stomped across the boards. STOMPED. Not walked. Looked like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum. 

I haven't painted the jumps yet. I am hoping that changing them to white will make a difference. LOL!

Oh did I mention, he is entered in open NEXT weekend.....

Weight pull practice

Today the 3 girls went to weight pull practice.  I wasnt allowed to train Siren, she is Davids and he had to work, but she went along to practice good dog behavior. She needs to work on waiting patiently in the crate.
Grace gave me 3 pulls today, and is starting to understand what we are trying to do. I was really happy with her work today.  Peace is a bit concerned about the cart and all the people, but she tried and I am sure she will get better.  This was her first time actually pulling anything, so with time will come comfort.  We have some things to work on, but it was still fun.

After the weight pull practice, we stopped at a local tennis court that noone was using.  Its one of the few fully fenced places to go and practice some off leash work. We did some recalls with all 3 girls and some heeling practice with Siren and Grace.  With Peace we are just starting with the choose to heel training and right now she hasnt quite figured out that mom and treats are more intersting than leaves, people, running etc, at least during the heeling portion.  But her recalls were super.  A youg gal was riding her bike around the course when Peace was working recalls, and she was totally able to ignore that. Grace also did a couple of  minimal distraction stays.  We are working on stays. But tonight she was able to stay with me jumping up and down and running in circles around her.  She only broke the stay once, and that was when I was returning to her. So next time we will practice lots more of me leaving and coming back.

Jade is still the same, Not real happy with me when I have to give her the meds, but otherwise doing well enough.

Last class last night

Last nights class was our last trick/acting class.  It was really fun to see all that the various dogs had learned.
We had a pug who pushed a baby stroller,  an all american who went out and got the paper and delivered it to a helper, a young, very energetic, doodle who performed a lovely relax and speak. We had some high fives, some rolling over and general fun.  Magic rode his skateboard and also sort of did his hot dog retreive.  He was a little concerned that the other dogs might steal his hotdog, so it came back with a few teeth marks, but he did give it to me whole (just a bit mangled) with only a little convincing from me.  Last night we also traded dogs with others in the class.  Most of the dogs were very willing to go with someone else, and several, Magic included were also willing to do some work for another handler.  It was nice to see that Magic is able and willing to work for others.

He got his mini photo shoot pics back too.  I hope to get them scanned in later today. 

This was such a fun class because we got to learn goofy stuff and really Magic seemed to think this was play. It also seemed to help his attitude in other more traditional training too, so I am really, really happy that we were finally able to take the class.  There is an open casting with a local animal agent coming up.  The class trainer told me last night that she thinks that the agent would really like Magic, so we may give it a try. Not sure yet about that, but I guess it couldnt hurt.

Trick Training

So Magics last trick/acting class is next Thursday and for "graduation" he needs to show off a trick that he has learned outside of the class.  The trainer also wants us to have the trick include more than one action if possible.  So Magic and I spent the weekend trying out several different things to see if we could come up with something to show.  Let me just mention that I SUCK as a trainer, so any failures are all my fault.

First I though maybe I could have him put a can in the recycle bin. That would be useful around the house too. Nope, the sound of cans dropping into the recycle bin sort of freaked him out.   He will pick up and carry a soda can crushing and puncturing it- think that could be his trick, the soda can crusher? No, I didnt think so either. And really our recycle can is a bit high for him to easily drop things in. (I know I can amend it for the trick, so maybe)

Then since I have a cold and was going through kleenex at an alarming rate, I thought maybe I could teach him to get me a kleenex. (selfish I know) Well that was fun, but many, many kleenex were harmed in the making of that trick. As in the 4 dogs managed to shred not 1 but 2 large boxes over the course of the weekend when I in my illness daze managed to leave them unattended.

So now, I have changed my focus and we are working on a couple of new ideas. Since it was so nice outside yesterday, we went outside and started to work on riding the skateboard.  Then inside I started working on a food retrieve. ( I planned on using a hotdog, but was out so used string cheese instead.) Magic will take and hold the cheese, but won't pick it up off the floor yet.  Not sure why, but we are working on that now.  I am going to get some hotdogs today and train with those tonight.

Oh yeah, and I also picked up an easter basket for Magic. He will pick it up and carry it, but often forgets to use the handle. We are working on that as well.

I know it sounds like we have been all over the place, but you can train a lot in short 3 minute bursts. Other than tossing in some obedience work, I havent been doing mutliple things in one session. So although Magic got about 6 short sessions yesterday, each one worked only one trick.

I sure hope he is having some fun with this, I know I am.

Lazy trainer, busy crafter, garden plans

OK, so it was a beautiful weekend, and other than one short walk with the dogs, I basically did nothing dog related.  The dogs spent the weekend working on venison leg bones and trying to break into them enough to get to the marrow. Diligent hard working dogs that I have, they were very successfull, and my livingroom floor is littered with split leg bones.

I on the other hand, spent large chunks of the weekend sewing.  I have a 9 month mystery quilt project that we are on month 6 in receiving the instructions.  I, on the other hand had not completed month one, prior to the weekend.  I am now almost done with month 3, have about half of month 4 done, and a bit of month 5.  The nice thing about being behind, you can combine some work on the cutting and piecing to what makes sense, rather than smaller portions at a time.  The bad part is that I have 27 blocks to complete. But my goal is to get them done this week. As of last night I had 3 blocks totally completed from month 4 I think.

I think with spring around the corner, more daylight and actual sun instead of clouds, spring is on the way.  I am getting some tomato seeds from a fellow blogger, Danni at On the Way to Critter Farm.   That, and a walk past the garden, has me thinking about garden planning, although here in Minnesota it will be a bit longer before I can get too much going.  But, I do plan this week to test the bean seeds I kept from last years garden, so see if they sprout for me.  I have always bought seeds so this was a first.  I will limit my beans this year though- they sort of took over the garden last year, and we wasted wquite a bit as we didnt get them all picked timely.  I dont have a pressure canner and have not had much luck with frozen green beans so we only ate them fresh. Well, except for the few I pickled.

Mat training

Its funny how life works sometimes.  I got the email about mat training Grace and got some help from all of you- (thanks by the way), and I did start working with Grace on the mat. Since Magic and I are trying to keep up in the trick class though, we were working on those this week. Failing, but still trying.  Magic just cannot understand that I just want the front end down, and that back end drops first every time- but I digress. So I am sure that we are going to be the only ones at class having trouble with this, yup we were. However, we probably had the most distance of the class on the go touch exercise.  At home I can get Magic to go almost the whole length of my house, kitchen to livingroom which is maybe 35 feet.  At class of course it isn't quite there but he would do 10 easily. 

But class progressed, and last night we worked on teaching your dog to pose, allowing you to move a foot or tail, and of course a bit on expressions. Then we worked a bit on spins. I need to decide what to call those.

Every night at the end of class the instructor gives us a 5 minute challenge.  You have 5 minutes to teach your dog to do whatever the challenge is.  Last nights challenge was to be able to send your dog to a mat from 5 feet away and get a sit.   Guess what, Magic was able to do it in about 3 and give me either a sit or a down.
What a good boy.

Our homework for the week- see if we can get the bow and head down to click.  Work on the distance touch/send with both the mat and the touch toy on the road.  Practice posing, put a name ot any cute expressions we want to maintain. For Magic I want to see if I can get ear movement. I already get up ears if I say ears I need to reward that now, its always been something he has just done, but I would like ti to be more solid. Also if I can get a airplane ears on command that might be fun too. Maybe a head tilt?

If I only had one or 2 dogs it would probably be easier to catch and click normal behaviors, but with 4 maybe not.  As soon as they hear a click they all come running and I get mobbed. I know I should have trained better manners when the girls were young-bad me, but we are working on staying and letting me work one at a time. Crystal had posted how she is starting to train 5 mini sessions a day. I have been doing 3 with Magic and one with each of the others, but maybe more short sessions with everyone would be a good plan.  Over the weekend we will test that.

Good training Everyone!

Help needed- how do you mat train?

Grace needs to learn to go to and stay on a mat for her new agility class. I have never trained this.  If anyone can direct me I would be very greatful.  Thanks!!!