Introducing Objects

Last night I wanted to train something new with Tibby, so I put different objects down on the floor and Tibby interacted with them.  Last night I used a green flower pot, a glass chicken and a big wooden chicken. 

  In Feb. I'm taking Tibby to get her pictures taken and I would like her to pose with different props.  My goal was to get Tibby to put both paws up on the green flower pot and then to have her bow.  In 3 sessions she got it.  I was surprised at how quickly Tibby can guess what I want. 

 Clicker training is amazing!

I made a video today of Tibby with the flower pot and also how she acts when I introduce a new object: a tea pot.  The tea pot was a challenge for her, because it made noise when she touched it.  I am trying to get her used to the idea of making noise. 

2nd Foundations Agility Class

Last weeks class was canceled because of snow, so this was our 2nd class.  It went by way too fast.
 First of all, we got lost on the way there- it was dark, snowy and my GPS obviously hates me.  We left at 4:45pm and got there at 6:32pm.  Class started at 6:30pm, but I was hoping to get there early so Tibby could calm down and get use to the space again.  Maybe at our next class.  
Everyone was practicing with their touch targets when we arrived.  Tibby is very good at this now.  I started treating her on the target last week.  She has started to paw and bow on the target.  She can find the target when it is more than 8 feet away and if the target is behind her.  One thing I wanted to ask in class and forgot to:  When you run with your dog toward the target and you are going to run past the target, but you want the dog to stop at the target, When do you say target?  When you start to run?  When you are close to the target?
Then we worked on having the dog go to the mat.  I started this a tiny bit with Tibby last week, so she did pretty good.  EVEN WITH ALL THE DISTRACTIONS!  Tibby gets distracted very easily.  My Mom says she has ADD.  She really likes people and dogs and oooo dirt and oooo lawn chairs and oooo more people and.....  Of course I get distracted easily too, so together well....there is a video this week that I'm not terribly excited to show off.
Then we worked on hand touches.  Tibby can do this, but she only wanted to do it for about 30 seconds.  So I had her do some of her tricks, take a bow, spin, high five.  Good proofing practice. 
Then we did the wobble board.  It was Tibby's first time on a wobble board, but she eats all of her meals on a rocker board, so the movement didn't scare her (too much). 
Then we did the Susan Garrett Ready 123 game.  Tibby was so happy - we got to RUN!  She did good with this game.  It only took her 2 or 3 times before she figured out: eye contact = run.  She wasn't interested in her toy or treats, so I rewarded with just running!
Then we did something which I didn't completely understand, because Bella's (the goldendoodle) Mom asked me if Tibby gets snow balls in her feet, while the instructor was explaining the game.  Argh!  I missed the instructions!  By the way, yes Tibby does get snowballs in her feet and I have started to spray a little Pam on her feet before we go on long hikes.  It seems to work.
The game was something about working the dog on both sides of your body and going through the uprights of a jump.

During the class, when the instructor was explaining something or another team was doing an exercise I worked with Tibby on eye contact, relaxing and doing her tricks.  It kept her occupied 78% of the time. I was very surprised with how much eye contact and concentration I got from her.  A bunch of times (for several minutes each time) she lay down at my feet with her back to the rest of the group.  And then she would stare at me.  Yay! 

I had fun and Tibby had fun.  She has a tummy full of hot dogs.  100% successful class!

Now the horrible video.  My Mom had the camera.  She couldn't tape when Tibby was doing her wobble board or when Tibby was concentrating on me - Nooooo she had to tape us with me zoned out and lost and Tibby wild and crazy.  I was trying to figure out what we were doing.  While also keeping Tibby moving and most importantly NOT letting her STOMP on the Papillons.  Why oh why couldn't she tape it when Tibby and I finally figured out what was going on and we went through the uprights!?!? 

Week One Progress
1st Foundations Agility Class

Week 1 Foundations Progress

These videos probably are only interesting to me, but here is our progress in the last 7 days since our first agility foundations class last Monday.
 The last video is REALLY funny.  If you don't watch any of the other ones you should watch the last one - it is CRAZY!  Ok I am the crazy one in the video.  It's Tibby's favorite game: Crazy Touch!

Anyway, our progress has been (I think) really good.  The videos helped me a lot.  I thought Tibby was only doing a nose touch on the contact, but in the video I could see that she is putting her paw on it.  Although, most of the time she thinks I'm an idiot.  You can even hear her sigh at one point, like, "Hey I just did that!  Why do I have to do it again?!?"  Even though you can't see it in the videos (I couldn't figure out the right angle) I'm trying to not give her any body signals. 

These are just some tricks.  I forgot to do back up or weave.

Crazy Touch!You can tell Tibby is getting tired, but she still plays with me.  Good puppy!