Elena & Indie, Miniature Schnauzer, 7 months old

Sorry it took so long. 🙂
So see-saw/FF target needs some more precision at this point. Have her stop on the target and stay there, until you tell her it is ok to go. Only feed her if she is standing on the plank, with her FF on the target. As long as she stays in this position you can keep throwing treats for her. If she jumps off, send her back in position and until she gets there, no new treats. When she gets it and stays in position nicely, you can start backchaining getting in position. Starting her on the plank, just a step or two away from the target and than gradually further and further back. Until finally she runs all the way up on a plank and stay there.
In separate sessions you can do the “jump on” game you can see in lesson 3.

Cik&cap – nice! Yes she was confused by the wing, I think because she was trying to get around the cone and the wing was stopping her. Perhaps she would figure it out quicker if you removed the cone and just tried to get her around the wing. At home try to find different objects to send her around. Thrash bin, tree, post lamp,… when she sees that she can go around different objects, wings will be no problem anymore. Also start asking for a bit more precision. Decide in which direction she needs to turn in advance. If you want her to turn towards you, use the arm closest to her. If you want her to come in and turn away from you change the handling to what you can see on this video and of course use appropriate verbal cues. 🙂

Target – nice. It was good that you stopped when she wasn’t focused anymore. Next time make less repetitions. If she is fine going into tunnels already, you can start with a tunnel, set up a tunnel about 6-7m away in a straight line from where she exits the tunnel and the bowl further ahead. Sometimes straight (or almost straight), sometimes to the left/right. If tunnels are still not her friends, you can gradually start with a wrap as well. Just like you can see on my target training video. But closer at first, if you can’t send her that much.

Good job! Big improvement with cik/cap! 🙂 For sure, it is a good idea to take wings home. It will speed up her understanding. Although I see that on the last video she was wrapping the wing very well already. Gradually you have to start asking for more and more precision – always wait to get her attention before you start and don’t let her choose witch side to take after a wrap randomly. You can sometimes just ask her for one wrap, run away, show her which hand you want her to follow and when she arrives, reward with the treat from that hand or throw one further ahead. With that same hand. Also try to avoid too many repetitions of the same pattern. So if one way works great, change something next time. Start with a turn away from you and finish with a turn towards you. Or same on both cones. Or just have several and run from one to another randomly. I find it very important that the pup understands to read the cues and listen and not just create a pattern.
You can also just keep increasing the distance, so she needs to find the cone alone. And now and than reward with toy, not just food.
Target – mostly very good but she doesn’t have enough focus for the bowl. If you have someone there to help you out, they can throw the treats in for you. You run with her, but don’t get too excited to not “steal” her attention. When you train alone, perhaps try throwing treats again instead of placing them in a bowl. You can also play a game where you just run from bowl to bowl without a target and always sneak in a treat behind your back when you both already turn towards the other bowl. So the treat is already there when she arrives.
Tunnels look good! Keep working on them until she is happy to go into a U shaped tunnel so you can start combining it with wraps.

See-saw – yes, do the jump on game and the run to the end of the plank game separately. Target on for run to the end of the plank, but not for jump on.

And you are right about the structure of the training. More thinking sessions first, fun and short stuff in the end.

Sorry, I am super slow these days, big life decisions in front of me (I am making an offer for a property) so I am running around from early morning to late at night trying to get everything ready. Now this class is officially over, but I will open registration for the other classes and private lessons in the next two days.

Nice progress in all the exercises. She is happy with the tunnel and much better on wraps. So now you can try to move a bit faster towards the wing. Not too fast at first, and don’t use your hands or voice too much (you can just give the verbal for a turn gently) because you don’t want to steal her attention. But start adding movement so in a few sessions you can start handling her normally and combine the wraps with tunnels.

See-saw – running to the end looks good, now just keep going like this and be VERY enthusiastic when she reaches the end. Now and than you can also run with her and even in front of her to get more speed, but never forget to practise staying behind as well. Jump up – yes the last session was not the best. Always do it when she is fresh and motivated, and you don’t have to do too many repetitions. Now reward only when she jumps on with all 4. Keep the session dynamic, you can run away from the see-saw and back to keep her moving and excited.

Target – better! Now also add running in front of her. You will have to look back to see what she did or use an assistant to tell you, but at this point it is important that she can focus and does the right thing no matter where you are. In front, behind, to the side,…