Tricks and Training

[Shai]

Anyway, things we're working on:

Kim -- speed and confidence and focus w/ regard to agility. We're MACH chasing now so training is mostly around that. Doing supported head stands, readstands, spins, etc for conditioning and fun brainwork.

Webby isn't competing at the moment but we're having fun training silly tricks - most recently the handstand and balancing on cue on his hind legs, which is darn cute. He and Kim know a lot of tricks so the struggle is coming up with new things sometimes.

Mira is working on a formal field retrieve, drop on recall, finessing agility maneuvers at speed. She's still new to agility but showing rather obscene levels of potential so it's hard for me to work on anything else with her since agility is so much fun... . She's also doing supported handstands, rearstands, etc.

[jenv101]

I just realized a few days ago that I've inadvertently taught Riley a "Backup" command simply through getting him to do it at the door when I'm trying to put Aura out and he's in my way. He is so smart and catches onto words/gestures so fast. I've been getting him to do it for a toy the past few days, and he growls at the same time as he backs up. It's pretty funny.

So I might try some back foot targeting since he already is doing the back up part! He will never be able to do a hand stand though He's wayyy to awkward.

[Linds]

Just in case anyone is curious: My dog is awesome and I absolutely adore him.

He just decided to walk up the wall with his back legs where the board ends and went until he ran out of wall (the board is under the bay window) and then continued to try and keep his feet in the air even though he couldn't because his front feet were too far in front of him (because of the board).

He tries his little heart out for me

[Panzerotti]

Originally Posted by Linds

Just in case anyone is curious: My dog is awesome and I absolutely adore him. .... He tries his little heart out for me

I think you make anyone who sees him work want a Koolie. Just from your Youtube vids I can tell he's an amazing dog.....smart and obviously super willing to work, work, work.

I may be a wee bit jealous.

[Panzerotti]

Originally Posted by jenv101

He will never be able to do a hand stand though He's wayyy to awkward.

Ha! That mental picture made me LOL.

I want to see the back up/growl though, that sounds cute.

How is Aura to train compared to Riley?

[Shai]

Originally Posted by Linds

Just in case anyone is curious: My dog is awesome and I absolutely adore him.

Never woulda guessed

[AllieMackie]

Right now we're going jump cross work, restrained recalls, paw targeting (he only knows nose targeting right now) and working on building a stronger tug drive, all primarily for flyball class.

[Linds]

Originally Posted by Panzerotti

I think you make anyone who sees him work want a Koolie. Just from your Youtube vids I can tell he's an amazing dog.....smart and obviously super willing to work, work, work.

I may be a wee bit jealous.

He really really is so amazing. From early on he just had that desire to work, to please and at the end of the day he loves his toys, he loves his food but he is working FOR me. And I love it.

Originally Posted by Shai

Never woulda guessed

....I thought I hide it pretty well!

Also, I want video's people!

[Shai]

I will attempt to remember to make one this weekend

[JacksonsMom]

I've actually been really slacking with Jackson's training lately. Booooo! But I am trying to get back into it. I kind of ran out of ideas for a while, he knows so many of those adorably fun tricks so I think I now may take the time to teach him proper heels, etc.

Oh about a month ago, we did work on his "moonwalk" (LOL which is what I call him basically in a bow position, crawling backwards) and he caught on within 15 minutes or so! So I'd like to refresh that and perfect it. Because I think it's going to be super cute.

I have been wanting to work on handstand for a looongg time and maybe now is the time. I think I'm going to try and do what you are doing with Trav and use the stairs first, going backwards. Seems like a good starting point! The backing up onto books method did not seem to work for him.