Daisy trained running-contacts with her dog Solar using the Trkman method. She has done a great job documenting the training process. Daisy has a lot of great information on her blog and a large selection of videos on her YouTube channel. Daisy has now tagged the older posts that hadn’t previously been tagged. This link should bring up all of the running contact posts on the blog. I’ve also linked to the relevant posts -- from the beginning through to completion.
There’s some great coverage of the process, including difficulties along the way. Many thanks to Daisy for a thorough look at the process of training running-contacts, and for allowing us to see the struggles and setbacks, just like real life!
This is Daisy’s YouTube Playlist for easy viewing but do check out her blog posts for lots of great insight into the training process.
Daisy’s Individual Blog Entries
January 3o, 2008 -- Deciding to train running-contacts.
January 31, 2008 -- Plank and low table.
February 1, 2008 -- Plank and low table.
February 4, 2008 -- Struggles in the beginning stages. Plank on the ground.
February 5, 2008 - Plank on Ground.
February 6, 2008 - Training your eyes to see.
February 8, 2008 -- Toys vs. food. Reward affects the behaviour. No Video.
February 10, 2008 -- Plank on ground, mechanical feeder.
February 15, 2008 -- Plank with a very low table. Watching foot patterns.
February 16, 2008 -- Clarifying criteria, no video
February 28, 2008 -- Longer plank with a very low table. Food and toys.
March 4, 2008 -- Slightly higher table. Food and toys.
March 5, 2008 -- A fall on the approach hurts Solar’s confidence.
March 10, 2008 -- First experiences over a very low dogwalk.
March 17, 2008 -- Low dogwalk.
March 22, 2008 -- Low dogwalk with tunnels before or after.
March 23, 2008 -- Getting out in front a bit more.
March 25, 2008 -- Low dogwalk tunnels before and after.
March 30, 2008 -- The downside of a running-contact for the dogwalk. No Video
April 2, 2008 -- Dogwalk height is 12″ from full height 1.3 to 1.5 seconds.
April 14, 2008 Working through a setback.
April 18, 2008 Continuing to build back confidence after the setback.
April 21, 2008 -- Low dogwalk, some front crosses.
April 23, 2008 -- Solar’s first full height dogwalk.
April 25, 2008 -- Full height dogwalk different location.
April 29, 2008 -- Paying attention to varying handler position.
May 8, 2008 -- Adding a front cross after the dogwalk.
May 12, 2008 -- A-frame first sessions.
May 14, 2008 -- Adding a tunnel under the dogwalk changes the picture.
June 3, 2008 -- First outdoor dogwalk.
June 3, 2008 -- Jumping after dogwalk for an inexperienced jumper.
June 16, 2008 -- One year old.
June 19, 2008 -- A-frame and dogwalk in sequence
July 3, 2008 -- Squencing the dogwalk -- turns after.
July 10, 2008 -- Recalls vs. sends over the dogwalk. Speed is affected.
August 3, 2008 -- Dog walk facing a ‘wall.’
August 12, 2008 -- First time in a class situation.
September 8, 2008 -- A-Frames.
September 15, 2008 -- Solar’s trial debut.
October 20, 2008 -- Second trial, much improved.
November 8, 2008 -- More trial experience.
January 22, 2009 -- Turning with after a dogwalk running-contacts.
May 29, 2009 - Great post with more thoughts on cuing turns after the dogwalk.
Tags: Blog, Running Contacts, Training, Trkman Method, Video