Bumping a good thread!

Yesterday started out like I expected, it had been cold, windy and pouring rain. Logan was in his kennel for the duration. Got him out once it was down to a mist and he was very good, sat for his leash and all, peed where I told him too....then just to let me know what he thought of being ignored, lept up and snapped his teeth shut inches from my face.

I went to a field lined for soccer. I used the corners next to the goal to practice right turns. Logan really gets the right turns now....he did 2 in a row PERFECTLY, his shoulder was right with me, perfect attention locked on and front paws prancing, tail up and wagging. We did several, all a success!!! I played tug with a rope as a reward. Its like all the sudden, things are clicking lately. He's learning a lot of stuff.

The difference is, I am being more mindful of two things, timing and staying calm myself...basically mindfulness.

He's getting that I want him to stand under me....soon I will have to pick a word...sorry Duanne, I'm not using "crotch" LMAO. I think I'll just say "under".

Check the thread; someone suggested a french word that sounded good ("sous", pronounced sue)

Tresa;
You and I parallel each other quite a bit (in some regards). I had taught quite a few behaviors inside but hadn't taken these particular ones to the field or done any proofing. Yesterday, I took it outside to a new field, and it went very well. It also occurred to me that I needed to work on timing and mindfulness!

We love tracking so much that we are now doing a short track every morning before I go to work. I hope that is not too much, but Sadie hasn't regressed any, or refused, so it feels right(Experienced trackers please weigh in, if nec.). She now knows what is about to happen, so I've quit trenching and started lengthening my stride a little, about 6 inches toe to heel, but I'm still baiting each step.

Now that she knows what's up, even though I've eliminated the reward at the end, she is pulling and skipping baits. I've been reversing and letting her retrack, since there is still bait, and she is a little calmer and more thorough the second time. Because of this, our head trainer suggested that I use his tactic of laying an incentive trail, but I have two concerns; will that form a behavior that can't be transferred for trialing, and, she is SOOO motivated for the new bait that I'm using that I'm afraid it won't slow her down at all. I'm thinking about decreasing the amount of bait on the track, but we're beginners and I don't want to screw up. Should I change to a lower value treat before I progress anymore?

I like the word 'sous'. Great idea.

I have been refraining from posting on this thread for 2 days, but I just can't take it anymore. At the risk of being rude and possibly offending someone, here goes: (please forgive me)

Kitchen
Kitty
Oven
Maxi
Scrub
Hummer
Vibes
Handbag
Satchel
Car-wash
Shower
Umbrella (brella for short?)
Sandwich
Hotdog
Tripod
Ohhh


and my personal favorite:

Taco

Sorry

Hmmm, FAMILY SITE!!!

For what it's worth, I call the between the feet position "legs" for Toni. It's not very imaginative, nor is it colorful, but it works for us... one of our flyball team members thought Toni's name was Legs for a while

Today we worked on calm behavior. IE, Mara is finishing up the school semester and is kinda busy.

They did get a couple frisbee sessions and a mile hike - which really helps with the whole calm behavior the rest of the time thing...

It's already been established that David loves his tacos!! (Sorry, Kelly)

today cody and I worked on him: heeling off lead in the house, running between his mat and mark( a round saucer). heeling on saucer, i move around the saucer and he moves his back feet and keeps in step with me. Sit, down from a heel position. Crawling, close it (closing cupboard doors and closet doors), pick it up (picks up all the dishes after he and his sisters eats, now trying to train him to "pick it up" the keys. Touch on hands,
wait command.
With Bindi- healing, sitting, down, stand in heal position. Heal sit down some distance from me. Come when called, leave pile of cut up turker (leave it command), sit front, finish, heal. Come running all the way to me. Touch-trying to get her to put the keys in mouth. During the day we are focusing on perfecting her position as she heels and stands, sits, and downs. (hope to one day compete in rally obedience.) Working of foundation skills. Working on novice signs 1-13.
sharon