Inger and Zelda, soon 3 years old field golden, Norway

Ok! So take the short tunnel and fix it well. Start with static toy right at the exit of the tunnel. If you are in a hurry and you don’t want to deal with “in between”, switching toys and stuff, you can also use a plate with food or T&T to avoid “wasting time”. So the reward is placed right at the exit – so the dog has to basically stop in the tunnel to get it. Send her from the side – from the middle of the tunnel so she has very sharp no speed entry. Do that a couple of times and than start moving the reward to the side slowly. Both sides randomly. Do it until the toy is “around the corner” at the side of the tunnel – I hope you know what I mean. Depending on how things go you can start adding some more speed at the entry – making the entry angle bigger. As soon as the reward is no longer in center, you can start using a clear verbal to indicate what is going to happen. Say it as soon as you send her in. She needs this information before going in so there is enough time to process.
Let me see how it goes. 🙂

Sorry this took super long aparently… I got really sick over the weekend. :/
Yes, you understood my instructions perfectly! You can see how first time she wasn’t really prepared to decelerate, so she threw herself over the ball, but than she figured it out and did nice decelerations with a turn. I am not sure about your commands, but I think “vienom?” Just means tunnel or? I would start introducing an additional cue that tells her that she has to collect and turn. You can have a combination of direction + tunnel cue or make up totally individual cue for it… up to you. But she needs to know in advance to start decelerating. So apart from that I would also slowly add more speed (first less angle, than more distance) and as a test of understanding, mix things up with straight exits.
In between – from what I could tell it looked good! She is not often in frame (normally) so I can’t really see the details of her reactions, but she seems to be responsive. 🙂 When you are actually training something and they have to use their brain it is typical for them to be less willing to come after they are already a bit tired. So it is important to stay patient and give them time when that happens.
Overall your dynamic looks good, but you can also start teaching the “play trick” so you can ultimatelly have an immediate retrieve when you need it. Although in my experiences if you do “in between” correctly over a period of time (months, it is not a quick fix) you barely ever have the need to actually “demand” a retrieve. 🙂

“ I fell off a bit filming and posting here, but I have to say I love the class and I will really make the most out of the rest during break and after! We competed last weekend and I love how our “new” set of playing feels so good in the warm up!”
Great! Happy to hear that. 🙂 How was she running?

I think she did absolutely great on this video! Yes, she does get playfull when it is no longer just a trick, BUT she did control herself and returned to you when you asked. Even when she had quite some fun on her own with the toy on the bungee. Squeaky toys are always the hardest to retrieve because they are really rewarding on its own… still she followed along and wanted to include you. Around 2.30 when you were running around and she was following, you were not using the tugging moments really well – you were really “dominant” and dismissed her quickly… it wasn’t really interactive… make sure there is an exchange of power in every tugging bit. Or if anything, you can just “drag” her around slowly… without frontal pressure. That too can be rewarding for the dog. You have to make the interaction pleasant, so she can see the benefit in bringing the toy back to you.
But I absolutely loved the last bit with you both on the ground and the green ball.

So no, I wouldn’t be running away and such even if she takes a moment. Don’t call her back immediately, but when she comes, jackpot it with a round of food throws, so she gets to exchange action for action… it will be easier for her mentaly.