(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
It became clear today that Walter is really, really taking his time to sniff the ball before deciding if he'll pick it up or not. (treat ball = pick it up and carry it; regular ball = maybe pick it up, maybe not, and if he does he'll only hold it for a second before spitting it out) He puts his hands on the box, pauses to sniff the ball before he picks it up, then hops his feet onto the box to finish the turn. Seeing as this alternating between treat ball and regular ball isn't having the desired effect, we're going to only use the treat ball for several sessions. Only when he's got that part down will we gradually and slowly introduce a regular ball.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Saturday April 21st 2007 - U-Fli (Carp Curling Hall)
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Walter kept us company at Lucy's U-Fli tournament today, which was the first time both dogs were crated (as opposed to staying in the car) at an event and it actually went quite well. To prevent a day-long barkfest their tarps were placed so as to block their views of each other, and both dogs were quite quiet. Also, he settled nicely when brought inside the building a few times.
Walter kept us company at Lucy's U-Fli tournament today, which was the first time both dogs were crated (as opposed to staying in the car) at an event and it actually went quite well. To prevent a day-long barkfest their tarps were placed so as to block their views of each other, and both dogs were quite quiet. Also, he settled nicely when brought inside the building a few times.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Thursday April 18th 2007 - home practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Have had the box at home this week. Haven't had to use the treat ball at all; he's bringing a normal ball back from the ledge consistently. The problem is without much room to get up any speed, he often cheats the turn.
Have had the box at home this week. Haven't had to use the treat ball at all; he's bringing a normal ball back from the ledge consistently. The problem is without much room to get up any speed, he often cheats the turn.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Saturday April 14th 2007 - Team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Some more work with the treat ball and one jump. To prevent him from dropping the treat ball like a kong to make the treats fall out, I put one big piece of treat inside instead of a bunch of small ones and wouldn't give him a treat from my bait bag until the ball was in my hand so he'd still associate the ball with a treat as much as possible. A few times we snuck in a normal ball and he picked it up every time, but he dropped it sooner than he would drop the treat ball. Next practice, we'll put the treat ball in the unsprung hole.
Some more work with the treat ball and one jump. To prevent him from dropping the treat ball like a kong to make the treats fall out, I put one big piece of treat inside instead of a bunch of small ones and wouldn't give him a treat from my bait bag until the ball was in my hand so he'd still associate the ball with a treat as much as possible. A few times we snuck in a normal ball and he picked it up every time, but he dropped it sooner than he would drop the treat ball. Next practice, we'll put the treat ball in the unsprung hole.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Saturday March 31st 2007 - Team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
For various reasons Walter hasn't had a flyball practice in a month but he had a pretty good practice today in that when he went to fetch the treat ball from the ledge from behind one jump, he had good drive forward and didn't need me to run with him, which may just be a first. On his second set however his drive was fading, and sneaking in a regular ball didn't exactly fool him. Recalls running past Zara in the lineup area went fine.
For various reasons Walter hasn't had a flyball practice in a month but he had a pretty good practice today in that when he went to fetch the treat ball from the ledge from behind one jump, he had good drive forward and didn't need me to run with him, which may just be a first. On his second set however his drive was fading, and sneaking in a regular ball didn't exactly fool him. Recalls running past Zara in the lineup area went fine.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Saturday February 23rd 2007 - Team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
More good work with the treat ball. Warmed up with only one no-ball turn, then with the ball on the ledge and one jump. For one turn, we sprung the box just so that he'd get some exposure to the noise. And for one turn I tried not running with him quite as far, but he didn't get all four on so I didn't try it again. For passing, we did something new today which is Walter does a full recall and then another dog does a full recall in the opposite direction after we pass them. All the dogs handled this well.
More good work with the treat ball. Warmed up with only one no-ball turn, then with the ball on the ledge and one jump. For one turn, we sprung the box just so that he'd get some exposure to the noise. And for one turn I tried not running with him quite as far, but he didn't get all four on so I didn't try it again. For passing, we did something new today which is Walter does a full recall and then another dog does a full recall in the opposite direction after we pass them. All the dogs handled this well.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Saturday February 18th 2007 - Team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Last week's practice was cancelled because TTH was in use for an event. Another good practice. Some progress with the treat ball on the ledge: we added one jump and I run with him part way to the box. He's maintaining the turn even with a boxloader.
Last week's practice was cancelled because TTH was in use for an event. Another good practice. Some progress with the treat ball on the ledge: we added one jump and I run with him part way to the box. He's maintaining the turn even with a boxloader.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Saturday February 3rd 2007 - Team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
A good practice: Mr. Shy Guy took the treat ball from the ledge maintaining the turn while the boxloader was standing on the box with back turned. We jokingly pondered if a magic treat ball is legal at tournaments. We couldn't come up with the answer but it will be quite a while (if ever!) before Walter would be ready to race anyway!
A good practice: Mr. Shy Guy took the treat ball from the ledge maintaining the turn while the boxloader was standing on the box with back turned. We jokingly pondered if a magic treat ball is legal at tournaments. We couldn't come up with the answer but it will be quite a while (if ever!) before Walter would be ready to race anyway!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Saturday January 27th 2007 - Team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
I learned something new about Walter today. Well, it's more of a confirmation of something I had suspected, which is that he learns/performs much better when no one's standing too close and watching him (except me of course). We did the first few turns with a boxloader, and he took the treat ball from the ledge but very hesitantly and only put his hands on the box. But handlers were short today so we put the box against the wall so that the boxloader could go and help dogs at the other stations. What a difference: All of a sudden he was taking the treat ball from the ledge AND maintaining the turn! Wally is definitely not the type who likes to show off for other people! :-)
I learned something new about Walter today. Well, it's more of a confirmation of something I had suspected, which is that he learns/performs much better when no one's standing too close and watching him (except me of course). We did the first few turns with a boxloader, and he took the treat ball from the ledge but very hesitantly and only put his hands on the box. But handlers were short today so we put the box against the wall so that the boxloader could go and help dogs at the other stations. What a difference: All of a sudden he was taking the treat ball from the ledge AND maintaining the turn! Wally is definitely not the type who likes to show off for other people! :-)
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Saturday January 20th 2007 - Team practice
(Backfilled in October 2009 due to impending closure of Geocities)
Recalls: no problem. Boxwork: Tried once with the regular ball but it wasn't happening. Switching to the treat ball, he took it from the unsprung hole but didn't do the turn. For now though we'll take that. He really does not do his best work or learning at flyball practice; he seems stressed and pre-occupied and I'm sure it's even worse because he doesn't get any exercise beforehand. Oh well! Not everything in life or dogsports comes easy so we'll keep at it.
Recalls: no problem. Boxwork: Tried once with the regular ball but it wasn't happening. Switching to the treat ball, he took it from the unsprung hole but didn't do the turn. For now though we'll take that. He really does not do his best work or learning at flyball practice; he seems stressed and pre-occupied and I'm sure it's even worse because he doesn't get any exercise beforehand. Oh well! Not everything in life or dogsports comes easy so we'll keep at it.
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