Non-competitive training challenge

[Joy]

Does anyone fancy having a go at this?

Stoneleigh Rally

www.stoneleighrally.co.uk

It's basically a 'bingo card' with a different (simple) exercise in each square, and you record them individually (so a bit like the Fenzi TEAM challenges but much easier because you don't have to link them together). You complete a line down, across or the whole thing. It's not competitive and there's no closing date.

Might be fun to see how many squares we can do even if you don't want to record yourself.

 

[Selina27]

I've just had a look --I struggled to understand, now I've re read your interpretation it feels a bit clearer!

Cassie doesn't know "stand" so would I just start then by just teaching her that?

 

[kateincornwall]

I`ll have a go ! Reuben doesnt understand stand either , I usually just tell him to stay !

 

[Joy]

@Selina27 If you picked one that starts with a stand you wouldn't need to teach it as a cue. e.g. Square 1 you just leave your dog in a stand, step away and then back to them. Or, even easier, Square 3 means the dog starts standing at your side and then you move forward together.
@kateincornwall You can use the word 'stay', that's fine.

I think the easiest thing is to look at the squares with exercises you can already do and make a path from top to bottom using those.
For instance I think I'm going to do:
4 - Pick up placed article
11 - Sit to down
19 - Catch a treat (Lol!)
26 - Stand, send around, stand
32 - Give article to hand

If you join the facebook page (Stoneleigh Rally Challenge Awards) there are files with video examples of each exercise so you can see what the judges want.

 

[Joy]

I recorded and sent these off and have passed the purple level! We could already do these exercises so it was straight-forward but I wanted to make sure I'd understood the rules. I'm going to look at some of the signs we need to work at next.

So go on record yourself doing one or two and post them here (even if you don't want to actually enter the Stoneleigh Challenge).

 

[Selina27]

I'm looking at this trying to work out what we can do

 

[Joy]

I'm looking at this trying to work out what we can do

The one we are going to find difficult is the pivot 360 left. Molly now does a decent 90 degree pivot left and an ok-ish 180 but then she stops unless I repeat my cue. I'm not sure what to do to improve this.

 

[Joy]

@Selina27 If you want one to train, then stand, send around, stand is one we found easy. I only needed to lure Molly round a few times before she picked it up and did it on a hand signal. I suppose if you have a default sit at heel it might be trickier but Molly remains in a stand unless cued to sit.

 

[Joy]

Has anyone taught their dog to twist in both directions? These are 2 of the squares on the Stoneleigh Challenge chart and although Molly has known twist to her left for a long time, I have never succeeded in teaching her to twist to her right.
So any suggestions?
Here she is doing it to the left. (Excuse my odd clothing - I only own dark trousers and needed to wear something so that Molly would show up!)

 

[Natalie]

Has anyone taught their dog to twist in both directions? These are 2 of the squares on the Stoneleigh Challenge chart and although Molly has known twist to her left for a long time, I have never succeeded in teaching her to twist to her right.
So any suggestions?
Here she is doing it to the left. (Excuse my odd clothing - I only own dark trousers and needed to wear something so that Molly would show up!)

Oh yes, this is one we can do, occasionally two dogs simultaneously! Our cues are spin and nips

I'll try and get a video tomorrow... Bear sometimes needs a lure...

 

[Selina27]

Has anyone taught their dog to twist in both directions?

I looked at the challenges a couple of days ago, I didn't know what a twist was, so now I do!

Do you use your right or left arm to do the right?

 

[Joy]

Do you use your right or left arm to do the right?

I think I use my left arm if I'm facing Molly but I'm not quite sure. But I can't seem to lure her in a right circle - she just sort of goes back and sideways. I'll have to video our unsuccessful attempts to show you what I mean. She will circle around an object in both directions so perhaps I could use that to train it.

, I didn't know what a twist was, so now I do!

If you join the Facebook page, in the Units section there are demonstration videos of every exercise so you can see what is required. The twist ones are a bit odd as they don't exist in Rally competitions.

 

[Joy]

I worked on the twist right yesterday. I started by getting her to go tightly round a pouffe, then replaced that with a can of soup. Then on our walk I found a large pebble and used that and finally she did it without a target. Molly actually got quite keen on it while we were out, nudging me for another chance to get a treat! No video but I'll try to take one later today.

I also managed to video our 'Green' level entry for the Stoneleigh Challenge so I've just sent that off.

 

[Joy]

Molly and I have passed the Green Level. Our video is here (it took me longer to edit the video sections together than to actually do the exercises!)

Next is Rainbow Level which is all the remaining exercises, but this will take longer as it includes a 360 turn to the left which is one we're not too hot at.

 

[Loraseal]

Well done Joy! Molly is such a sweetheart!
We do spin and nips. Nips took us a long time to learn and it still goes wrong!
I am working on eight at the moment when we are free lead in the woods! .He gets so excited though that it can turn into a W or 3!

 

[snowbunny]

We do spin (turning over left shoulder) and turn (turning over right shoulder). No visual cue (I faded the lure pretty quickly), I just use the verbal. They all have their favourite direction: Shadow and Squidge prefer the spin, Willow prefers the turn. I taught them both directions pretty much together, using a lure which I faded into a hand target, which I faded into a "flick", then introduced the verbals. I started with them only doing it facing me, but then extended it so they can do either when at my side, or if they're in middle, they'll wrap one of my legs depending on which cue I give.

 

[Joy]

The same group - Stoneleigh Rally - have introduced a new challenge, called 'On the Move'. A similar set-up with a grid of 35 exercises, from which you choose 5 linking vertically for the easiest (purple award), a line across and another line down for the green and complete the board for rainbow. You don't have to do the 'Train at Home' challenge first.
Molly and I haven't yet got our rainbow from the Train at Home challenge as we still struggle with going straight into a down without sitting first. However we have just gained our purple award in 'On the Move'.
Very straightforward 5 exercises but I like to have something we're aiming for.

 

[Selina27]

Molly's looking good Joy, despite her recent procedure. How is her weight loss going?

 

[Joy]

Molly's looking good Joy, despite her recent procedure. How is her weight loss going?

Thank you. She seems really well - more active than she's been for quite a while. As regards weight, I know she lost 2 kg between starting home-cooking in January and her op, but I haven't been able to have her weighed since then. I think she is still losing slowly as her harness is much looser than it was (I might have to tighten the straps actually). When the vets are back to normal at the end of June I'll take her in to be weighed again.

 

[Charlie]

That's a lovely video Joy, Molly is so focused on you. Brilliant. xx