A place to learn a new language, the Koehler Method of Dog Training, which is an entire language of communication between owner(s)/handlers and their dogs. Let the journey begin....
Anonymous July 11, 2022 at 12:30 PM Quite the warm morning in Burbank!
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Roxanne Lee July 11, 2022 at 8:02 PM Mary,
This is a pass and well done. The reason Molly works so far away from you is she doesn't trust your footwork. I will provide pointers and feedback tomorrow afternoon once Stephanie and Kathy have left. It has been a phenomenal visit, but incredibly busy so I am T.O.A.S.T and add in Wayne's care, I am D.O.N.E for today-:)
Good work girl!
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Anonymous July 11, 2022 at 8:32 PM I appreciate any pointers. Please get some rest. You’ve had a crazy week!
You are SO close!! And such improvement. Your footwork is nearly perfect and your leash work is good!
1) On the Right Turns, you are doing the 'planting of left foot at 45 degree angle to the right' correctly. However, your right foot is then coming back almost to touching your planted right foot. This is throwing off your balance and then you over compensate by taking the next left step as a BIG step. Instead, do this. Right Turn steps 1) 'Plant left foot at 45 degree angle to the right, PUSH for a nano second in the direction you were going BEFORE making a turn. This oh so slight nano second push/pause gives a learning dog time to 'read your feet' and understand, 'oh a direction change is coming'. 2) The second step then is a baby step (NOT coming back to touch or be close to your planted left foot) at a 90 degree right turn. *This timing gives a learning dog time to catch up to you as your body weight should then have shifted from your left to your right so your body is leaning now on the right foot.* 3) NOW, the next step is with your left foot and should be a 3/4 stride length. This is especially critical when working a wee wittle dog as your precision allows them MUCH needed extra cues to turn WITH you and to trust your footwork. Wee wittle dogs are easily wary of unskilled owners whose feet seem to step on them or move into their space. Smaller steps, made with precision, allow a wee wittle dog to 'read your feet', to make a direction change, and to trust your feet will not be in their space.
Left Training Turn steps 1) This is the same timing error both Jessi and Loni were making when we had your lesson under the pavillion. You need to SNUB FIRST 2) Then plant your right foot at a 45 degree angle to the left, do a slight push forward in the direction you were walking so your weight has shifted from left foot to planted right foot 3) NOW, turn your body 90 degrees to the left (snub in place), weight shifts from right foot to left foot doing a minimal 'sweep' and a small step 4) Then the snub is dropped, Walking Position happens again with the leash, and the right foot takes a 3/4 stride length step.
The smaller, tighter, more precise the steps are, in conjunction with correct leash mechanics (timing), the greater the opportunity for the learning dog to understand and succeed occurs. Again, a wee wittle dog needs wee wittle steps so they learn to trust their owner's footwork and learn to work WITH and close to their owner. It is harder for a learning student to learn with a wee wittle dog as their diminutive size requires MORE precision in smaller steps. A learning student with a wee wittle dog must also learn to have 'quiet' mechanics, that is everything done almost as if you were wearing hobbles and in a strait jacket. This helps a wee wittle dog trust you and your mechanics so they then will work close to you and work with you.
Right About Turn (RAT) 1) Again, and this is a repeat, Step 1 is exactly the same as for the Right Turn. 'Plant left foot at 45 degree angle to the right, PUSH for a nano second in the direction you were going BEFORE making a turn. This oh so slight nano second push/pause gives a learning dog time to 'read your feet' and understand, 'oh a direction change is coming'. 2) Now, instead of taking a step at a 90 degree angle, the right foot comes into almost a 2nd Position (ballet) as the owner shifts weight from left foot to BOTH planted feet. This nano second pause allows a learning dog much needed time to 'read your feet' and scootch around to make 1 180 degree turn without a collar correction. 3) Now, the weight shifts fully to the planted right foot, the left foot makes a baby step on the 180 degree turn (think of working on a straight line, then turning and working back on that same straight line) and IF the dog is not in correct Heel position, the 'J' loop will provide a collar correction as well as direction for the learning dog. 4) The right foot then makes a 3/4 stride length step forward. The leash must remain in Walking Position with a solid 'J' loop throughout this turn.
Anonymous July 11, 2022 at 12:30 PM
ReplyDeleteQuite the warm morning in Burbank!
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Roxanne Lee July 11, 2022 at 8:02 PM
Mary,
This is a pass and well done. The reason Molly works so far away from you is she doesn't trust your footwork. I will provide pointers and feedback tomorrow afternoon once Stephanie and Kathy have left. It has been a phenomenal visit, but incredibly busy so I am T.O.A.S.T and add in Wayne's care, I am D.O.N.E for today-:)
Good work girl!
===========================================
Anonymous July 11, 2022 at 8:32 PM
I appreciate any pointers. Please get some rest. You’ve had a crazy week!
Pointers:
ReplyDeleteYou are SO close!! And such improvement. Your footwork is nearly perfect and your leash work is good!
1) On the Right Turns, you are doing the 'planting of left foot at 45 degree angle to the right' correctly. However, your right foot is then coming back almost to touching your planted right foot. This is throwing off your balance and then you over compensate by taking the next left step as a BIG step.
Instead, do this.
Right Turn steps
1) 'Plant left foot at 45 degree angle to the right, PUSH for a nano second in the direction you were going BEFORE making a turn. This oh so slight nano second push/pause gives a learning dog time to 'read your feet' and understand, 'oh a direction change is coming'.
2) The second step then is a baby step (NOT coming back to touch or be close to your planted left foot) at a 90 degree right turn. *This timing gives a learning dog time to catch up to you as your body weight should then have shifted from your left to your right so your body is leaning now on the right foot.*
3) NOW, the next step is with your left foot and should be a 3/4 stride length. This is especially critical when working a wee wittle dog as your precision allows them MUCH needed extra cues to turn WITH you and to trust your footwork. Wee wittle dogs are easily wary of unskilled owners whose feet seem to step on them or move into their space. Smaller steps, made with precision, allow a wee wittle dog to 'read your feet', to make a direction change, and to trust your feet will not be in their space.
Does that make sense?
Pointer # 2
ReplyDeleteLeft Training Turn steps
1) This is the same timing error both Jessi and Loni were making when we had your lesson under the pavillion. You need to SNUB FIRST
2) Then plant your right foot at a 45 degree angle to the left, do a slight push forward in the direction you were walking so your weight has shifted from left foot to planted right foot
3) NOW, turn your body 90 degrees to the left (snub in place), weight shifts from right foot to left foot doing a minimal 'sweep' and a small step
4) Then the snub is dropped, Walking Position happens again with the leash, and the right foot takes a 3/4 stride length step.
The smaller, tighter, more precise the steps are, in conjunction with correct leash mechanics (timing), the greater the opportunity for the learning dog to understand and succeed occurs. Again, a wee wittle dog needs wee wittle steps so they learn to trust their owner's footwork and learn to work WITH and close to their owner. It is harder for a learning student to learn with a wee wittle dog as their diminutive size requires MORE precision in smaller steps. A learning student with a wee wittle dog must also learn to have 'quiet' mechanics, that is everything done almost as if you were wearing hobbles and in a strait jacket. This helps a wee wittle dog trust you and your mechanics so they then will work close to you and work with you.
Roxanne
Make sense?
Pointer # 3
ReplyDeleteRight About Turn (RAT)
1) Again, and this is a repeat, Step 1 is exactly the same as for the Right Turn. 'Plant left foot at 45 degree angle to the right, PUSH for a nano second in the direction you were going BEFORE making a turn. This oh so slight nano second push/pause gives a learning dog time to 'read your feet' and understand, 'oh a direction change is coming'.
2) Now, instead of taking a step at a 90 degree angle, the right foot comes into almost a 2nd Position (ballet) as the owner shifts weight from left foot to BOTH planted feet. This nano second pause allows a learning dog much needed time to 'read your feet' and scootch around to make 1 180 degree turn without a collar correction.
3) Now, the weight shifts fully to the planted right foot, the left foot makes a baby step on the 180 degree turn (think of working on a straight line, then turning and working back on that same straight line) and IF the dog is not in correct Heel position, the 'J' loop will provide a collar correction as well as direction for the learning dog.
4) The right foot then makes a 3/4 stride length step forward. The leash must remain in Walking Position with a solid 'J' loop throughout this turn.
Make sense?