Trainer’s Notes:

Started with leashing Hops up and waiting for calm. It took approximately 45 seconds to obtain calm. He’s losing the classically conditioned over threshold response to the leash.

Then worked the door real quick with unsolicited eye contact with an focus on calm. A couple reps and Hops was released outside and immediately reoriented.

We waited for calm again before moving on. It took about 20 seconds.

We loose leashed walked to the field, focusing on calm and cool. Hops easily made the walk to the field maintaining calm.

We shifted gears once we hit the field to heeling. A cookie on nearly every step kept Hops in solid position.

The leash was released and Hops stayed engaged. Upon dismissal he went for the discs on the ground.

Trainer’s Notes:

Hops ROCKED in his heelwork to the pasture. Very sensible with the loose lead. He was scalloping a bit on the way out to the pasture, but not pulling.

Jam session ROCKED! 10 yards is too much. seemed to get the best performance – HUGE hops – at about 5-6 yards.  He was catching it on the way up as it was flying. Sweet!

Worked a bit of directional feeding, as best we could with the conditioned drop at my feet. Tried to free it up a bit with back and forth rollers and throws – did free up a bit, but not much.

Finished with a few flips and a dog catch… good dog.

Perfect, attentive heel back to the studio.

Great session.

Apryl does some bitework with Pan to try to build some drive and bring her out of her shell. My new little buddy, Hops with a little evaluation bitework session that has an unexpected twist and LaVerne muscles in on the dogs working in the studio.

[bliptv]gbI_gbLMAgA[/bliptv]