Foot Work

At practice on Saturday I did some of what I learned at the Susan Salo Jumping Seminar with Juice. Linda held Juice behind the 2nd jump and released her. I put a tug (target) in front of the 1st jump after the box for juice to put in a 3rd stride and pick it up. Once she did she would then go over the jump. The second set of 5 I put the tug in front of the jump on 1 &2 and after the jump on number 3. She took 3 strides. On the 4th and 5th repetition I again put it in front to encourage the 3 strides. Susan said if you give them the space they need to use it.

At home this morning before work I put down her cardboard for her to put her front feet on. We have been shaping that behavior for weeks now. I put a flyball jump about 6-8 inches away from the cardboard and had her do feet (that is what I labeled it) and then when she did I had her jump over a 9 inch jump for her target. Sometimes she would not touch the cardboard because of her excitement so no reward until it was right. It was like the 2 by 2. When she failed a time or two she understood what not to do. I pray this new work will payoff because I do not have a clue of what else to do. If I can stay with this and hang in there I know we can get it back. I just need to be patient.