Today was a pivotal day for Hannah as it was my day to successfully work her until her AS (Auto Sit) was solid enough to pass the Week 2 EXAM: Tunnel of Love. Kim and Kara joined us which was excellent training for all.
We both did some LL warmup for around 11 minutes, then it was time to actually work ON the heeling and AS mechanics. As was discovered on Saturday, Hannah (and Kara's) nemesis is anything on the ground and pinecones are a favorite. So, I picked up a handful of pinecones, strew them about randomly and worked Hannah AGAINST those planted distractions deliberately. I needed Hannah to figure out that her head going towards a pinecone (or stick or leaf, etc.,) was going to cost her a collar correction.
Then it was Kim and Kara's turn.
Had to change the timing of Kim's verbal "Sit" as Kara is so fast, Kim is still learning these mechanics that she can't do them fast enough. Grateful that Richard and Kim did The Mannerly Puppy Course with me as the verbal "Sit" has been ingrained into Kara's mind and body.
I worked Kara for Kim so she could see how her Pace makes a huge difference to the learning and easily distracted dog. I move briskly, Kim is still learning so she's moves much more slowly which Kara takes advantage of
consistently.
We left Richfield City Park when 2 large dogs, off-leash with NO owners, were spotted running amuck. We went to the other small park at the end of town where it was quite quiet, just birds, pinecones, the American Flag flapping in the breeze and traffic on Main Street. Fortunately, there were NO other dogs, so I was able to set up tripod and get some good training videos.
First, the warmup
Then I did Hannah's Week 2 EXAM (yup she passed 100%)
Then it was time for Kim and Kara to practice
Kim needed a better visual of HOW to work a dog that is fixated on picking EVERYTHING UP FROM THE GROUND, so I did this video for her working Kara. Do notice my Pace is RAPID and every time Kara's head goes towards the ground, I pick up my pace so the leash 'catches' below my left knee (which is why the 'J' loop is SO IMPORTANT) and communicates to Kara - go FASTER PAST these pinecones. And I get some lovely AS's from Kara also. She likes to work AWAY from her handler as she rubber necks, but by the end of this video I require Kara's AS's to be in correct Tuck Sit position.
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