I just uploaded this new video where you get to see many of the elements of the Handling360 program in action. Yesterday I pushed away from the computer to run my dogs an an agility trial in Michigan USA, and I videoed my runs to share with you.
Since I have been focused so much on putting together all of the elements of Handling360, I haven’t had a lot of time for my dogs. To be truthful this one day of trialling was the first time my dogs and I have gone to an agility trial in over two months!
Cues
Using the video analysis tool (demonstrated in the ebook and video two of our series) you will see how the combination of my verbal, physical and positional cues really helped both of my dogs negotiate around the challenges on these courses. There are also three instances over the five runs where I was late with these cues and my dog’s turns where not as tidy.
Goals
My day started at 4 am as I had a 3 1/2 hour drive to the trial. While I drove, I thought about my goals for the day both for myself and my dogs. Potentially, this was an important trial for us as they were offering qualifiers for the USDAA Nationals, AND it was being judged by Peggy Hammond, one of the judges Feature and I will see at the WAO later this year in Italy. after soooo much time off I decided all I was going to focus on was confidence. I chose handling that was fast but minimized risk of confusion for my dogs in order to grow in our confidence. Swagger’s confidence in what I was asking, my confidence in knowing that he would perform as cued. And, I wanted to add to the great confidence and trust I have with Feature.
Take Home Points
As I wrote about in the free eBook, “A Guideline to Effective Video Review,” (which you can download when you watch our video series) I like to end my video review with key “Take Home” points for myself. (My overall impressions of what I was seeing.) Here were mine;
1. The combination of verbal and physical cues have two MAJOR impacts:
(1) It helps my dogs to drive with power EVERYWHERE! Believe it or not that has made each of them faster than ever before.
(2) It makes a huge difference when handling dogs whose ground speed is faster than yours! Especially with Swaggers running contacts as obvious from this video clip!
2. My last take away is that having more than 2 months between trials in the past would have shown up in my teamwork with my dogs. Less than perfect timing with excited dogs who haven’t trailed in a while would have resulted in many wider turns and dropped bars. Since my new method of handling timeliness has replace the element of critical “timing”, it is much easier to have great teamwork with my dogs regardless if the conditions are perfect.
Would love to hear what your feedback is after watching these videos. If you haven’t seen my latest Handling360 video series they will be available only until this Wednesday at midnight.
I guess I made a mistake when posting one of the course maps so here is the proper map of the Masters Challenge Standard class!
Today I can’t help but be grateful (did you see the sweatshirt I was wearing?) for my two dogs who amaze me more each time I run them!
Hi Susan, in the accompanying email to this link you mention “a typical NA course” and “a more European style course”. Could you please tell me what the differences are, me having seen only the latter in real life, being European. Thank you.
Any chance this might help a dog that so loves agility but has early take off? My girl loves agility so much and it breaks my heart not to show her.
It really depends upon the reason for the ETS. If it is a physical cause, like eyes than I can’t think of anything that can help it. However it is because of lack of understanding then jump work could help, however not the jump work that we will be covering in Handling360. It is heartbreaking when they love it so very much.
Susan,
Loving the videos and PP – just a quick question?
I have never done agility and there are limited options for it near me, but I feel my rescue BC (3 years old) needs a job to fulfil his potential, so am considering your course, despite a limited budget – (monthly payments would be very helpful!).
My question is -we did Recallers replay in PP but his recall, while exponentially better, is still very much a WIP- do you thing we could cope with this course or should we stick to full Recallers in April?
Hi Susan, Your customer support suggested that I ask this question here.
I see you are using blind crosses now. What do you feel are the pros and cons of using them now then before?
Thank You,
S
Hi. Have done Crate Games with my pup, jump grids, Greg Derret system & some work with Justine Davenport. My dog is 5 yrs. old now. She’s amazing. We’ve started Masters level in agility. I’m familiar with digs, get backs, wraps, threadles …. Have a small yard with limited equipment. Do not have a group of people at my level to work with. Would like to continue to build my skills & have a regular practice routine for us (dog,me). One of my goals is to go to Regionals in June. Wondering if Handling 360 will fit in with the level we are at now & assist us to continue building our skill set? Also our confidence. Love the videos. Your instructions are clear. Also like the way directions are broken down. Thanks.
Hi Vi, yes we have 4 classes which will be open all at the same time. People can decide to start at any or ALL of the four classes. You don’t have to choose as you will have access to it all once you sign up. Any other questions just shout!
Wow, this course looks amazing! It is phenomenal to see the teamwork you and your dogs share. I don’t currently do agility with my dogs, but these videos certainly make me want to try it. I enrolled in PP to get the Recallers portion. I am enjoying PP, but want a more structured training format. So, question – will the full recallers course still be offered this year? If not, is there any possibility of transferring the PP membership to H360?
Again, absolutely brilliant videos. Very inspiring. Thanks
Hi AJ yes Recallers will be open in early April so sit tight, won’t be long now!
Susan,
I have enjoyed watching the videos I have had time to watch from my husband’s computer. Unfortunately, my laptop crashed right after (I think) I downloaded your pamphlet.
Somewhere in one of the videos you were stressing the importance of confidence. That REALLY hit home with me ! While over the past several years I have seen an obvious increase in my dog’s confidence, I feel I could definitely use a boost in that department. Most trainers spend your class time pointing out mistakes 😉
Awesome runs Susan. You make it looks so effortless with your fast dogs. Watched the turns you did. You make me believe that we have a chance with my fast sheltie.
Susan, thank you for sharing these videos and for pointing out some of the aspects of your handling (verbal and physical cues) for us to notice. I attended your handling camp last August as an observer (wish I had my dog there, but still AWESOME) and came away with bits and pieces to work on with my dog. The early cues have been most helpful! I’m still working on timing for both verbal and physical cues, but I am so looking forward to Handling 360 to be able to get feedback. My yard space is very limited and I am worried about how much room I’ll need to incorporate the course material. It’s hard to get up any speed when there’s not much room to go anywhere. My goal, as I see it now, will be to make my cues so clear that my dog and I will have the confidence to run with speed out on the course.
I really appreciate all of the follow-up you and Lynda provide to your on-line students! And it is so fun to watch you run these challenging courses with Feature and Swagger. Well done!
Thanks Terri and you are in luck Terri! Handling360 is designed so that the first 16 weeks can be done in a VERY limited space . . . even your living room! Actually even when we get sequencing most of the skills are done with 2 tunnels and 3 jumps.
Susan, I am thinking about purchasing your Handling 360 series, however, I have one question. If I have a specific issue that needs addressing is there a way to get a personal response from you or one of your staff members during the year? Thank you.
Absolutely Joan. Myself and my staff read every question and one of us (often more than one of us) answers them. If it is my staff that answers, I always read their responses and if I have more to add … I contribute as well.
Hi Susan
After years of doing what I thought was training you have opened a new world to me through your online courses, videos and books. You get the concepts across in the clearest way ever.
Will unfortunately not be able to join Handling 360 as our currency in South Africa has lost more value lately.
Could you please add a monthly payment option? Might just be able to manage that.
You are the best!
Thanks for your feedback Ute, happy to have you as one of our online students!
In the first video second run , why is the right hand rised instead of the left hand given that the dog have go inside the left toonel mouth??? Later on in the second video the leader rise the correct hand.
Second mistake I see is that the dog open very much along the run instead of making tight turning.
By the way I liked the overview of the 1-4 videos you previously released
Hi Ima, the hand I raise depends upon what I believe the dog is seeing. It actually is not a “mistake.” If I believe the dog is focusing on the correct end of the tunnel (which Swagger does with his running dog walk) I will not change hands . . . but in Feature’s case with her stopped contact I needed the other arm to help create the turn away from the incorrect tunnel mouth.
Your next concern I believe was about tight turns. Over the five runs I saw perhaps 3 turns I would like to have tighter, I am thrilled with the rest. When a slower runner is handling such a fast dog sometimes your turns won’t be as tight as you like because you are so far behind or in one case (after the blind cross in the Steeplechase with Swagger) I didn’t give my verbal cue until he was committed to the jump (too late for such a fast dog!).
I would add though not to get too wrapped up in tight turns . . .some times a slightly wider turn allows the dog to keep momentum and it is actually a faster line!
I have loved all your videos and comments and would love to join your on line class, but it is not the right time for me. I now only have one dog having lost my Shappie last year and Bennie is retired (both have been agility dogs). I do intent to have a puppy, with the idea of doing agility, but not for another eighteen months. Is there any chance of you doing another course say in two/two and a half years time?
Yes Nadine, there is a very good chase we will repeat this opportunity at some point in the next 2 1/2 years.
Hi Susan,
I was so excited that I was going to get the 4 video’s. But all I got was for emails of video 3. Then I got your last video putting them all together which I could not follow since I only got Less Frustration, More Confident, More fun. Is there anyway I can still get the other video’s, (1,2 & 4) ?
Thanks, I loved #3 and the way you work with your dogs.
Yes they are all there on the same page … just click on the videos to the right.
It has been a joy watching the video’s,so much to learn ,my little Border Terrier Ruby and I really enjoy agility. Thank- you for inspiring us .
Hi Susan,
In January I signed up for puppy peaks for my 1 year old Doberman, Ruby.
She is full of energy. We are working on crate games at the moment.
I would like to eventually try her at agility as I think it would be fun for both if us.
Should I finish puppy peaks before doing handling 360?
I have never done agility before.
Penelope
Great questions Penelope. Puppy Peaks is a great resource to take a “peek” into all we do here at Say Yes dog training but classes like this one are a more focused structured education. We have lessons prepared for you to follow to create specific targeted results which leads to the next layer of learning. So my answer is no, it isn’t necessary to finish Puppy Peaks to get the full benefit of Handling360.
Hi Susan,
I did sign up for handling 360. I will do both. I’ll sure be very busy down under for the next year. Sydney Australia has a great climate to train all year round.
Penelope and Ruby
I’m not able to take your Handling360 course right now. I have too many irons in the fire as I am enrolled in the KPA Professional Dog Trainers course. When will Handling360 be offered again?
Also, I have seemed to miss all but one of the E-books your posted with the Handling360 videos. The only one I managed to download was the one on Video Review. Are links still available to access the other E-books posted with the Handling360 videos?
Thanks so much for your help and for making the intro videos for Handling360 available. Your training methods and agility handling methods/style are brilliant and amazing!
Thank you Joy so glad you enjoyed the videos! It is very likely we will offer Handling360 again some day future however I have no idea when. I like to invest my time with my students I want every student to see a “transformation” however there is only so many hours in a day for me 🙂 So I can’t tell you when that “some day” may be. In Feb of 2012 we offered our massively popular Contact training class (Say Yes to Contact Success) that was now 2 years ago and we still have not found the time to offer it again. As for the eBooks just click on the first video to get the eBook “Finding Your Handling Balance.” Here is the link to our series. http://www.handling360.com/3-secrets/
very nice j adooore
how is ,it possile for the short turns….never he do fall a ….barre i don t know the name ….
juste superrrrr
Thank you Sabine! That is the question we will be answering for our students who register for our year long course “Handling360.” Tight turns are something you need to work on & work through strategically. With some dogs (like my dog “Encore”) it comes very naturally with others (like Feature) we have to work at it!
Ever since I first heard of Susan and Say Yes programs, my knowledge and skills upgrading. Both in agility, where we, together with the English Kokerspanjel learned 2×2 slalom and numerous other agility stuff. Recallers program has helped us cope in addition to basic obedience also a lot of things to deal with hunting program. Videos and interpretation in addition have a wonderful way of learning for us that we are more alone in learning and work. So I look forward to each new legend.
Thank you Susan and her team.
Love Cecilija
Thank you Cecilija for your ongoing support. We love that people find the joy in joining us in Do-Land and trust us to help them with their dog training and now handling! xx
Love these videos. I am recently out of the hospital and try to watch them over and over when I can. I guess I missed video 2. 🙁
Thanks for the videos
Shelly we still have video two up for you. If you go to http://www.handling360.com/3-secrets/ you should be able to see all 4 videos along the side. Just click on the one you are looking for!
So exciting to see this new handling style. I am inspired again to work with my little rescue ratbag. I would be happy with half as much enthusiasm from my dog 🙂
I am so loving learning this new handling goodness – the prep school human mechanics module is just brilliant – it is so cool to see what the dog sees eg the difference between a heard turn v a more open shoulder, and hand-open and arm open (long) v hand closed and bent elbow (collection). the foundation games are a big capital F U N ! we just laugh and laugh – I even had my husband laughing with (at?) us last night doing verbal games in the kitchen! I am so looking forward to gaining confidence through embracing timeliness with motion.
Thanks Lisette, happy to hear not only you are doing your homework but that you are having F-U-N . . . bonus points for that! Great work and awesome that you got your husband laughing too!
Gorgeous runs! They run with so much joy and clarity with you!
I forgot to mention: I can really work with the consept of timeliness. I am looking forward to a great year of fun with my dogs.
I loved watching your videos. I have a deeper understanding of your handling system. Love it. I am practicing handling moves and Love the details for sending a dog far or asking for collection for a tight turn. I could see you doing these moves. I am so excited! I could see it – you had your doors open.
I watched some of your earlier videos about building drive and I started asking for a stand and my dog got so excited! We are on step 2 already and working on duration. I get a kick out of that!
I don’t remember the last time I played restrained recall games with my dog. It was probably in puppy class! She is now 5 years old. I am commited to building the drive in this dog. She is brilliant. Her drive is willy-nilly. She is capable of so much more. Thanks for putting Crate Games on the 360 sight. I must have loaned mine out hoping to get a comrade with the idea of Games with dogs. I plan to revisit the Grate games. We’ll have fun and I am not shy, I could ask someone in the park to hold my dog. What fun!
Great observations all around Marti! Awesome to see the impact of the early lesson of the course on our students already! This is going to be such a great year!
Susan, Handling 360 is going to be your best ever… seriously!
Hi Susan, Breathtaking runs! Thank you for sharing them. Though I now have three questions to get things straight in my mind in how you handled them…
1. In the Steeplechase with Swagger; weaves to tunnel looks like you are asking him to turn away from you. I can’t quite see in the video, did you simply open your shoulder like a serpentine at the end of the weaves before “bowling” him to the tunnel?
2. In the Masters Challenge Agility at the decision on which way to turn 6-7; did you choose the longer line as it gave a better/faster approach to the cloth tunnel or was that decision part of your goal of confidence-buiding for this comp?
3. In the Masters Challenge Jumping on the line 6-7, even though it isn’t a wrap back to the approach line, did you use a check-check cue so that Feature came back between the hurdles to the tunnel rather than take the back side of 8?
Thanks in advance! Looking forward to a year of skill-building 😀
Thanks TraceyHH to answer your questions. 1. it was a serp so yes I opened my shoulder to let the dog know he was about to be sent somewhere and 2. The line I chose was the longer line between 6 & 7 but the fastest line from 6-8. 3. Yes I was asking for a wrap. I wanted her to turn as tightly to the wrap as she could and then drive to the tunnel.
Thanks Susan! Appreciated.
Love your runs! My sheltie has a habit of dropping bars and too much handler focus that he misses the obstacles too. We took your Recallers and first PP. Given my current issues, can handling360 help us?
Well Yen unless there is something physically unwell with her then yes. That is one of the biggest things that my students handling their dogs this way notice . . .is that dogs who used to knock bars knock very few. So just the foundation of the handling will make a big difference and then starting Month two of we open up the Bonus Program “Jumping in Drive” which is a focus of exercises that I do with my own dogs to help them to understand and WANT to keep jumps up.
Thanks Susan!
You make it look so easy with such a fast dog. I need to watch these video’s again like someone else had said to watch you, then the dog. What was your cue off the running dogwalk to get the right side of the tunnel? Maybe I just missed something. I am not training running contacts except for A-frame. This dog I have is pretty novice right now. Learned my mistakes with my last dog. Thank you for sharing these video’s..
I am amazed at how you always seem to find a way to get in front of your dogs. I am always 2 or 3 obstacles behind calling out verbal cues of ha & gee with usually the name of the obstacle along with a come, here or wrap verbal cue. Hoping I can learn some maneuvers that get me in better positions so I don’t need as many verbal cues. With my young BC I have gone to a complete stop on the bottom of my contacts so I can get in front of her since she is so green. She needs the physical cues where I get away with a lot with the older BC using verbal cues.
I am taking PP now and trying to keep up. Can’t do two courses at once.
But I love watching these clips. I don’t mean this critically, but it is instructive for me to see, or try to see, the late cues that cause the wide turns. I have to stop the video sometimes to catch all the cues.
Nop Caroline that’s why I post the good with the not as good. It is helpful to everyone.
I take it all in! It is amazing! When are you visiting NWIndiana!lol……
LOVE the sprinkler too. And love the way the dogs just pick this handling up so quickly.
I was really impressed with the strength of your verbal cues. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone use then so effectively as you do. Fantastic and so fun to watch Thanks for sharing.
I took the first Recallers class. I’ll be signing up for 360. My first agility dog was older when he started and we earned his MX MXJ MXF. I started my next boy younger and he is 1/2 way to his MACH. We don’t trial often but I’m hoping to complete the title this year. My baby coming up is 9 months old and I don’t believe I’ve ever learned and taught proper foundation. I want to start him CORRECTLY! BTW, I might be your oldest student at 72 years young! 🙂
Good for you Sheila! 72 you rock!
susan I really enjoyed watching you and swagger, it feel like it was just a month ago he was a wee puppy. your communication and teamwork is outstanding. I learn so much from watching your videos, I focus on you more than swagger to see your cues your giving. thanks so much for posting. you have done amazing job with swagger.
cheers
Thanks Jodi!
AMAZING! Just love the confidence both dogs have in the handling and that they just keep driving as hard as they can.
Feature is FAST but OMG Swagger is crazy fast!
Were you going for a blind cross on the A frame in that first clip with Swagger? If so, I’m glad you pulled off LOL
It’s very exciting to see what you’ve been able to accomplish, Susan! Is your course suitable for someone who has never been in a trial and doesn’t really know what’s going on? Will the course teach to the perspective of someone who’s completely inexperienced or do we need to be at least a little experienced to take the course?
All levels Jan from complete novice to world champions.
Oh, thanks! So kind of you all to make this available for everybody, even if we don’t know anything yet except that agility looks so fun and bonding!
I just finished Recallers with my 8 month old (third agility partner)and am plowing through Puppy Peaks with over a year plus to go. After investing all that time & $$ not ready to abandon it but only have so much time. I used Gregs system and your videos and book etc with great success with my other 2 fur kids. The changes you are making,make a lot of sense as the coursed challenges have changed.
Any advice for those of us already invested in your other course?
Cheers,
Jean
Such a joy to watch! Beautiful like a pas de deux and where I would like to be. So definitely enrolling in Handling 360!
So I have snow outside & can only train in my living room for now. By the way I have no hallways or training help so that became an issue for me when I did an online course a few years ago.
Jo there is LOTS on the course to do in your living room while you are waiting for the snow to clear.
I haven’t trialed for 4 years since my Digby has some sort of soft tissue injury (5 vets cannot quite diagnose his problem) I have another terrier & I would have to use the words not connected. She sleeps under the covers every night & when we get up she greets me as if I have been gone for days. Despite every method suggested by many trainers she goes off into space when seeing another dog & I have to hold her head trying to get her to look at me & she averts her eyes until the dog gets far enough away. This has been going on for 3 years. She can do 12 weaves, jumps, etc but when she sees another dog I am non-existant. So, wondering if this course could be the answer. I may never trial again but I really confess I don’t like living with her the way she is & am thinking the cost of your course alone would be worth it if I can get her to connect with me. By the way, I am 75. Jo
I’m not able to take your Handling360 course right now. I have too many irons in the fire as I am enrolled in the KPA Professional Dog Trainers course. When will Handling360 be offered again?
Thanks so much for your help and for making the intro videos for Handling360 available. Your training methods and agility handling methods/style are brilliant and amazing!
Susan
You make the courses look effortless. Your dog is confident from start to finish and you easily make it around the course. I always enjoy watching you and your dogs. Having just had both knees replaced it is a relief that getting to a specific position is no longer the key to success.
Thanks
Katarina I have verbal threadle cue “h-e-r-e” . . . that is what I am using.
Thank you so much for sharing all of your videos. They are so much help. I am just starting with one of my Springer Spaniels and though we have been taking classes for 2 years, I have never entered a trial. THIS is the year for us I think. I am 64 years old (that sounds old when I read it) and have never done this before. My girl is doing great. Your videos have helped me so much to think about this differently, especially through my dog’s eyes and considering my body language so that she can predict the next direction. Sarah is so, so fast so is a challenge for me, but we have wonderful fun together. I am looking forward to implementing your tips on body language and direction to be more predictable for her. We are hoping to get out there sometime this spring! Thank you again and I look forward to any future advice from you.
Ann, we got our first agility title when I was 70. You just have to run smarter! (None of my younger colleagues could possibly keep up with my dog either, as it happens–a couple have tried.)
OMG….you and your dogs are so AWESOME. I love watching your runs. That weave pole entry in your fist video was amazing. Now the question is how can I get you here to South New Jersey to teach a workshop. I need to learn some of that good stuff. Wish you didn’t live so far away. I’d be at your facilities doorstep. If you are ever looking for a place to seminar, workshop my doors are open.
LOL Cindy you don’t need me in South New Jersey … you can have me in your living room with our new online class Handling360! But thanks for the invite!
Susan,
I did your Contacts course. What did you cue on second DW of the video ”Verbal fun with Running contacts”? Left?
Thanks!
I watched it about 10 times. First I watched the runs, then I watched the dog, and last I watched to see the cues given to the dog. I would like to try them. I like the course. I have never had a course this challenging.
It seem so easy when I look at you Susan…nice to watch and learn.
I,m very excited about Handling360
Just wait Karin after a few months in Handling360 it will be just as easy to you as it looks right now!
Love these videos. Really want to learn the cues needed to teach my dog the wraparound jump. They are not sporting those yet here in South Dakota but I have a sneaky feeling it’s going to happen this year. I’m talking about where they wrap around the jump first and then jump instead of jumping wraparound and then off to the next obstacle.
Wish I had the income to join your classes, just have to figure this out on my own because we are a very very limited income team but my dog is so amazing I want to do what I can with what we have.
Thank you for sharing these videos and what you have for people like myself who can possibly pick up some new pointers without all the expense.
Unfortunately I do believe there are some great dogs out there that are weaned out because they cannot afford the travel and all the training sessions. To get pointers from a pro is priceless.
Regards,
Kim J
Ooo,
I just saw a video where you’re helping a gal with wrap around jumps!!!
Yay! I will try to get my uncoordinated self to learn!!
Again, thanks for these videos!!!
I could not see what your sweatshirt read.
But, I loved watching. Thanks for sharing.
Sorry my sweatshirt had the word “GRATEFUL” on it!
Thank you for sharing those. It was wonderful to watch. Maybe someday I can come close. But, if possible, you should let us know where you are competing. I live in Michigan and would have loved to watch. If the weather was not tooo bad. That is if you tell people where you go. Thank you, that was nice to watch.