Working on “front“ position. She already does it automatically on recall! I’m trying really hard to pause between my verbal marker and reaching for the treat pouch, but she still does a little hop whenever I say “yes” or reach for the pouch. Any tips?
This is super sloppy but we’re working on reinforcing heel position with sit without a barrier! I keep forgetting to put my hand behind my back instead of in front, but she responds to that a lot better. I think she’s slowly getting the hang of it though!
Just for fun “over” the agility jump!
Random tricks from class, touch, weave, and figure 8. Bonus tunnel action! Should I be using a different cue for figure 8 besides “weave”?
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for all the suggestions, we’ll keep working on it! (Narayan has so much fun taking the videos!)
I need to steal your director of photography. 😁
Look at you guys go! So fancy!
Front:
She should be a little bit closer to you. Rally judging is pretty lenient, but I still like my dogs to come all the way close so that I know that they're really doing "front," not just coming when called. (Part of that distinction is that I'm also expecting 100% attention for front position, but not necessarily just a sit-stay after a recall.)
Check out Lauren & Luna's front thread; she is working on the same thing. Your sit hand signal is actually blocking Bessie from getting closer to you/pushing her away slightly. I prefer to basically lure right up at my crotch (depending on the height of the dog). Raise the lure slightly, but close to your body, and the dog sits, but close to you. I turn my "front" hand signal into gesturing in that crotch/torso spot.
Spin your treat pouch behind your back when practicing front, and feed her in the center of your body. She's kind of fronting to the treat pouch here. 😂 You can alternate which hand feeds like when we do middle position.
Stationary heel:
Nice! I like how straight she lines up, and in the proper position.
When she gets up and swings out or steps forwards, I would just get her set back up in again, and don't reward until she's back in position. Teach her that that creeping is just a waste of time.
For heeling, spin your treat pouch to either behind your back or the right side of your body. I always like to have it on my right hip - easy for me to reach into, but out of the dog's line of sight.
That treat pouch placement should help with the "yes" jumpiness, too - because if she moves to go to the treat pouch, she will have to get way out of position, which will be a more obvious error.
For heel and front, if she moves when you say "yes," feed her wherever she was supposed to be (where her nose would be in perfect front or heel position). So, if she moves to the side from front, make her still move back to the middle of your body to get the food. Let's see how that helps.
Re figure 8 vs. weave:
I'm trying to figure that out myself currently! I think I'm going to give them different cues for Cupid, since the path of motion is slightly different. However, I think Oona and Molly use the same cue for both; it definitely can work.