Ok, here it is, I finally did it, so you all better show up now! :rofl1:
I'll start! I've got Mackenzy, 7 yrs old. She has her CD and RA, and one leg of her CDX. We're holding off on further trialing to get some foundation issues straightened out.
And then there's the Keeva, she's a baby with no titles, and we're going make sure we're very, very ready before we go in the ring because I'd like to pull high scores ideally.
So, what I'd love thoughts on are two issues Mackenzy is having:
1.) Slow down on recall. She always does it, and she always does it well enough to Q but it's slower than I'd like. Keeva has a "dig front nails in and slam down" down in motion, Macky creeps. I've done a lot of fast "chase me and then DOWN!" games, and lots of DIM (down in motion, from here on out) while heeling practice.
I always imprint a recall by tossing a ball or food between my legs so they get used to running thru me. after a lot of that it makes for some interesting fronts when I don't toss one thru but if I time it right in the beginning I can save my family jewels some hardship with a hard sit and some hand help. This of course slows them down again a bit because the game has changed a bit, but once the realize that sometimes the ball is getting tossed thru at the last second, sometimes it's sit and it gets tossed thru or any other number of good things that can happen there, the speed is there and consistent thru to the front position. At least it always has been for me.
2.) Some dumbbell issues... She will often wait for a second cue to take her dumbbell, or want me to "help" her with my body. I would LOVE any suggestions for this one, as well as some ideas on increasing her enthusiasm in general. Her enthusiasm isn't bad (moves at a brisk trot) but I'd love it to be better!
Stop helping her Stepping towards and pointing is help as i'm sure you know, fade it. Just small points or steps, then just give the object a hard stare, then a glance and give her some time to figure it out. Patience is good here.
for making it more enthusiastic, make it a game. I always train fronts, "take it", holds, etc seperately. My dogs are easily in drive, i pretty much just have to breath, but I use toys at first, toss one, tell them to "take it" or "get it" and as soon as they do I mark and toss a different one. Increases speed and enthusiasm for the toy. After my hold and dumbell is good, I'll use that. Toss it, take it, when they do, immediately mark and reward with food or ball.
and where ever they drop it is fine, after they get reward from me, I tell them to "take it" again and at first they're a bit confused, but soon the immediately race back to the dumbell, I mark when they pick it up and reward again.
moving on, they have to do more, grab and start running back, grab and come to front. At this point I might toss it, tell them to take it, mark when they're almost to a front and reward, and then do a short heeling away and tell them to take it again, then mark/reward as soon as they touch it, then do some tug play and pull them away from the DB and them tell them to get it again and come to front before I mark/play. But I only toss it once, the rest of the time they're dropping it and i'm moving them away with play or heeling and they have to go back and get it when I say.
this can cause them to drop it early and things, but you have to balance that later and don't let them get away with dropping it before you mark and reward. if they anticipate the reward, i just give a verbal "ah" and "get it" and back to the game. It's fun, it's fast, and then it's done. Easier to demonstrate than type. Does it make sense?
Now, with Keeva, and again, I'd kill for your thoughts, things are going really well aside from her distractible baby brain, but, she's uncomfortable with the "fast" portion of heeling - totally thinks I'm going to step on her, and swings really wide so she can watch me. Again, halps?
Alright, now it's your turn with suggestions and your own issues/triumphs. Like I said, you'd better show up!
I should have some video up later today.