Session #20 April 25th

So, I have been absent for a few sessions on the blog only because it has been extremely busy, and we spent quite a bit of time on Step #5. Gilley is doing really well with Step #6 & she has practiced at several different fields now, done the practice jump at a show, our backyard, the playroom at work, and the field at work. Now, we are going to start introducig the Broad Jump, Tire, Double, and Triple. Whew! Jumping just became a full time job! Lovin' it... and so is she. Here we are just having a bit of fun :)

Session #15 & #16 April 6th & 8th

Gilley cracked me up because she got so excited to start jumping this day! (Tuesday, April 6th) Listen to her barking!



So, I do see all that I am doing wrong here, but it was our first crack at Step 5 in DJS (yes, we're still on the foundation jumping skills!) The object is for Gilley to move away from me, over the jump, and circle around for the treat on the side I am closest to and get her treat on the TAKE-OFF side. But my problem then became, how do I set her up to take the jump at an angle most congruent to her circling around to my side, or is this a skill she should already know? RTH? She started doing a figure '8' and also taking the jump towards me - back-jumping in this case. Hmmmm, you can see I don't quite know what to do.



Then FINALLY I came up with an idea. Light dawns on marble head and I put the jump against the wall so I don't have to shape the right direction! Amen, hallelujah, glory be, I finally got it! Then, I just switched sides to work the other direction. I started pulling the jump a foot off the wall in this vid. More on the right track... she is not nearly as excited in the last video, a bit sluggish... so I held this session after a bath when she was rather frisky! Aaaaah, just one step at a time... I think I am finallly figuring this step out for myself, but needs work. For today, am satisfied :) Plus, I got to see my girl really happy retrieving today and running full blast after our session.... makes it all fun and worth it, for her most of all :)

Session #14 March 18th PM

I think this vid is much better - I am trying to toss the cookies a bit further away from the base of the jump than in Session #13. Doesn't seem to have a problem from various takeoff positions and creating proper balance to take off with confidence. Walks up and chooses on her own - no knocked bars last two sessions - no alternate behaviors either :) She is lifting vertically with a "rock back" and able to turn in the air adjusting to her landing position - quite agile. Seems aware of her legs & body in the space - developing this more and more. Seems to be using her rear to "power up" and jump with round form.

Hmmmmm, when are we ready for Step 4?

Session #13 March 18th AM

I corrected what I was doing on Step #3 by going back to kneeling and tossing the treat to vary her takeoff location. I have another vid that will show her next session and I do a bit better job of tossing a little furhter away so she didn't have to wrinkle her bod so much! Her willingness to continue jumping is much improved - it is definitely more of a game to her now ;)

Session #12

Okay, I am back at Step 3 just starting to vary the location of the treat BEFORE progressing to a stand :) Hindsight being 20/20, after getting advice from Renee / Forum, I am now going to be focusing on the following:

*Keeping my hands either down by my side or behind my back so Gilley can't focus on my hands (not really visible in this vid)
*Vary the location of the treat more by rolling or tossing it away from the jump a bit more OR, treat near the base of the jump first, then toss a 2nd treat to create a start to my location for take-off or approach to the jump
*Not freak out if Gilley goes under the bar, just simply let her extinguish this behavior by not treating
*Click on descent so I can make sure she's not touched the bar in any way

We are a work in progress, especially me!

Sessions #10 & 11 March 16th

So, we have had a few days off and just gotten back into the swing of things.... been playing lots, inventing new games, and trying to NOT concentrate everything on jumping. Gilley seemed more motivated :) I think things look good in this vid? No going under the bar, trying to delay my click a bit more, seems happy to jump for me, etc.

A bit later this afternoon, I decided to send her over a few jumps with me standing. I think I need to deliver the treat more quickly (I didn't do many reps on purpose - wanted to see what I need to do better before I practice things incorrectly).

Session #9 March 10th

Okay, so this video is LONG, but I wanted you guys to see I really am trying to get her more motivated! (Not necessary to watch after the few jumps we do - just playing after that and I didn't want to stop to shut off the vid!) We played before and after our session, even after the cameras turned off. I need to find a happy medium between getting her really razzed up and then composing her enough to keep focused. I felt much better about her attitude this session... if she were a Chinese restaurant her name would be "HAPPY NOODLE!" LOL!

BAD dog trainer for treating with the wrong hand (couldn't get coordinated quickly enough when I went to kneel down) and I'm sure my moving release to the tug will get a NO-NO!! reminder, which it should, and no, she has never had a strong retrieve so you'll see us horse around a bit fumbling for the toy, but that's not as important.

This morning, we played around a bit when we woke up, then raced downstairs to the living room where we did 4 quick jumps then played some more. She was *BEAMING* and thought that was BIG FUN with the mama! What a great start to the day! Feel like we are more "on our way..." Thanks for watching!

Session #8 March 8th

Okay, so I committed to sharing ALL of my sessions, warts and all, so here goes. This is one of those sessions where I wonder how I can prevent or extinguish the moving under the bar. It happens 3 times in this video - though I can't take responsibility for her doing that, I CAN take responsibility for all the things I COULD be doing that I AM NOT! I need to keep sessions SHORTER. Keep rewards HIGH VALUE. TALK to her and ENCOURAGE her. PLAY afterwards. BREATHE. Start to KNEEL upright - do not move to standing up yet. I need to think about what will create more of a desire for her to jump for me - all suggestions WELCOME!!!

Session #7 March 5th PM

I *should* have only done 1 or 2 sessions with her today, but I pushed it and did a 3rd... should've kept it very short - I think we took a step back here because of that. Also, I think I should've progressed to actually kneeling by now, but hindsight is always 20/20 - I'm learning!

One of the things becoming evident is that *I* am not making this fun enough for her - I can watch this and tell part of her getting distracted is because I am putting pressure on our sessions - I need to remember to BREATHE, encourage her, TALK to her, pat her and get her fired up more and motivate this baby dog to LIKE what we are doing. I have to make it a priority to watch ME and the energy I am putting off.

Session #6 March 5th Afternoon

Friday afternoon I worked another session with Gilley - about the same as the one earlier that day - very pleased with her! Am I rewarding correctly? I know some of my clicks are late, but just wanting to make sure I am careful about not C/T if she touches the bar. Do you guys see any weaknesses I need to address before moving on? I have a couple of other sessions to post - let me know what you think.

Session #5 March 5th

I gave Gilley a few days off and decided to practice Friday morning with her - I was pretty pleased with her jumping effort here. She got a little bit distracted when the garbage men picked up - that's what she is fixated on outside - but I was able to re-engage with her and she generally is quite happy to offer to jump! I still need to get better about clicking / treating so that I don't C/T when she hits the bar, and give her a bit more room to jump there on the carpet as Renee pointed out! At this stage, she is choosing her takeoff point and landing parallel to the bar for the most part. More to come - much shorter sessions are paying off :)

Session #4 March 2, Afternoon

This afternoon I did a short, 4 min. session with Gilley and wanted to tape so you could see what we are up to... first jumping at 20" then bumped up to 22" after a few reps. You can see the second rep after moving up to 22" that she goes a little "ass over teakettle" with her rear end. My girl is long, so it's going to take a bit for her to figure out how to slow up the caboose before it jumps the track. I'm confident she will figure it out. Very proud of her - today, she knew it ;)

Tomorrow she will get a rest - no jumping :) My decision to start her on her jumping skills now will be a gradual progression - short sessions, easy on the joints, always on a surface with "shock absorbers." The next session, I will be on my knees upright and taking it that next step further before standing up. Things are about to get interesting!

*****UPDATE****** We got guidance from THE EXPERT!!!! And that guidance is that this session is WAY too long. So, need to do shorter sessions if you are at this stage. Gilley will do 15 jumps a session for 3-4 sessions over the next few days. And was suggested that instead of standing up next, to start the tossing treat part next while still kneeling. Again, shorter sessions. That will allow for muscle build up. And of course, beware of clicking for bars touched/bars knocked. *****

Session #3 March 2nd Morning

I got up eagerly awaiting to play with my new toy again this morning, got out the treats & clicker, and Gilley was ready to go again. In fact, as soon as she heard my hand rattle the clicker, she ran to the jump in the living room and started jumping.... oh my!

We started at 18", then moved up to 21". She was very eager throughout the session, only skirting around the far side twice - an improvement. I am trying to keep her engaged, and this was a short session - only about 2 1/2 - 3 minutes. Her form was looking really nice, like the night before, and another few reps to tuck into her pocket of experience.

Her head / nose are down, I am trying to improve on my timing with clicking upon descent and treat hitting the ground before she does. Renee helped me with placement of reward last night, and that has helped along with the advice of needing to deliver it more quickly, so I worked on that too. We're up to 21", I can't believe it!

Session #2 March 1 Evening

So, I got an email from Martine about Session #1. :-) And I figured that I better be around for Session #2! Martine had mentioned her going under the bar, and being distracted during Session 1 (S1). She felt like she would not be able to raise the bar in the next couple of sessions. I knew that we could work through those issues easily but sometimes we as trainers become too emotional when things are "important" to us. So I wanted to help if I could!!!

Class was canceled on Monday evening, so we had dinner and then went to Martine's house to play with Chief (he was visiting) and work Gilley. Of course we talked for awhile and relaxed a bit with the pups before starting. Carpet, living room, jump. I love that combo! Gilley did really great. She was jumping the jump at 16" very well. Moved to 18". Still doing a great job. Every once in awhile, she would try to go around, or only go one way a few reps but Martine would help her not do that. She knocked 1-3 bars but did NOT try to under any bars .... Martine had said it was an issue in S1. At about this time, G started to exhibit some poorer form. So I had M change the reward placement to closer into the sanction. This helped for a bit.

Then it was clear that it was time to raise the bar. So, I had her take a break in the kitchen, and I raised the bar up to 19-20". When they came back, Gilley did GREAT. She did a few reps at 19" and then M raised it to 20". She thought about/looked under the bar 2 times and both times, paused and pulled head back up and took the jump. GOOD GIRL! After about 5 reps at 20", she was panting and getting tired. The dogs do need to build up endurance with this because jumping the jump that close is physical work. She tried to go around a few times and so M got a couple more good reps in and quit.

Overall, S2 was amazing! I mean, M didn't think G would do the 20"! So it was GREAT!!!!! I knew she could do it! I was super pleased to see them working together and to see the beautiful form that Gilley has over the jump. I knew she would have that form...but it was nice to see it!!!! I can't wait to see this team progress!

Session #1 March 1st

It's MARCH! And, that means, we get to start JUMPING!!!! Monday morning Gilley started her Foundation Training on a jump in our living room on carpet. With Developing Jumping Skills turned to page 9, we started at about 12" armed with a clicker and some tiny cubed bits of steak, and a handful of her kibble.

I had to lure her the first few times over the bar back and forth. She quickly caught on - seeing the clicker and treats were involved, and we had a new game going! She only once tried to "lift" ( Lifting her back rear leg is a game we played for some time with the clicker, so every time you get it out, she offers a leg lift... LOL). At first, she "bunny-hopped" a few, picking up all 4 feet off the ground at once and popped over. I moved the bar up a couple of inches, until she was creating more of an effort at 14", then inched our way up to 16" after about 8 repetitions. She got a little distracted and walked off a couple of times so it was a good reminder to find better ways to keep her in the game. I had to remember to encourage her and praise her more - after all, I was asking more of her, and this was supposed to be fun! She's going to like it if I make it a good experience for her, and she responded better when I remembered to praise her, tail wag and all :) Finally, Mom was catching on!

I am glad I read ALL of the exercise first before starting to know WHEN to click and WHERE to reward... and WHAT to look for from Gilley's execution. She busted through a couple of bars, trying to figure out a way to get to the other side for the treat, and she had some reps where her hiney hit the bar coming down where she didn't allow enough room to clear it, and she even went around the bar a few times. By the end of our 6 or 7 min. session, she was making a much better effort of raising her front end over the bar and lifting her rear over the bar. She had to "feel" it in 2 parts almost... there were reps where getting her front over the bar looked great but the back needed work, and vice-versa, but she quickly started to pull it together. I tried to make clearer to her what I wanted by tossing a piece of kibble for "ok" efforts, and saving the steak for "excellent!" efforts. I have to say, this speaks to my dog... she almost immediately corrected to repeating that which got her the greater reward. I think this is helpful to her in the infancy stages of "shaping" this new behavior.

I stopped with her expectantly awaiting more steak surprises, which gave me a chance to hop on e-mail to Granny and start asking away with a bunch of questions... this is important stuff, just wanted to get it right before moving on!!!

Later revelation: Watching her, you can see how important progressing to full jump height is to create the correct form - clicking such a complex behavior asks a lot of the dog to do this correctly on a low jump height. I ADMIT though, it looked so tall, that 16 inches for my 10 month old to be jumping... I thought she may have gotten "bored" and that's why she walked off - or became "discouraged." I didn't think we would be able to move up in height as quickly as the book states. Then Granny came over and set me straight...and proved me wrong. :)

Pesky Granny

Hi! I am Gilley Pup! Also known as Gilley Girl! Thanks for visiting my new blog. Really it is my Granny and Mom posting things on it. But hopefully it will be FUN for everyone to read my progress!

My Pesky Granny thought the blog would be a good idea. I think my Mom is a little scared about it....cuz Granny wants to include video too! But hopefully it will be fun and give everyone a chance to catch up on what we are doing.