Comments on: How to get more speed and drive in your agility dog http://www.agilityfusion.com/2009/03/how-to-encourage-speed-and-drive-in-your-agility-dog/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:35:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dog agility equipment fan http://www.agilityfusion.com/2009/03/how-to-encourage-speed-and-drive-in-your-agility-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-2836 Dog agility equipment fan Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:00:05 +0000 http://www.agilityfusion.com/?p=101#comment-2836 Oh have I had this problem or what!! My dog isn't motivated for anything unless you count meal times. I definitely agree with Sheila that it's better if I can get my dog on some agility equipment by herself where she won't be distracted. Oh have I had this problem or what!! My dog isn’t motivated for anything unless you count meal times. I definitely agree with Sheila that it’s better if I can get my dog on some agility equipment by herself where she won’t be distracted.

]]> By: Sheila http://www.agilityfusion.com/2009/03/how-to-encourage-speed-and-drive-in-your-agility-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-327 Sheila Thu, 07 May 2009 02:45:28 +0000 http://www.agilityfusion.com/?p=101#comment-327 The whole secret is to keep your dog's focus on you and off the other dogs and the one running in particular. My boy was all eyes for every passing dog when we started. He is a breed champion, so I started making him stack and bait. Great for focus. Then I added sits and downs and mixed it all up, with great treats for rewards. Once we hit the start line he is all business and the problem disappears. The whole secret is to keep your dog’s focus on you and off the other dogs and the one running in particular. My boy was all eyes for every passing dog when we started. He is a breed champion, so I started making him stack and bait. Great for focus. Then I added sits and downs and mixed it all up, with great treats for rewards. Once we hit the start line he is all business and the problem disappears.

]]> By: Suzette http://www.agilityfusion.com/2009/03/how-to-encourage-speed-and-drive-in-your-agility-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Suzette Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:53:34 +0000 http://www.agilityfusion.com/?p=101#comment-120 Ten years ago when I was first getting started, I used to stand in line starting about '2 jump heights' before our turn. This made a very nervous dog,as all I did was watch and count, "How many until us?" Now, I find that dog that will go in about 2-3 before me, then I just stand back and pay attention to my dog, playing games, stretching, etc. I play a game where I hide the toy or treat on myself, under my shirt , in the back of my waistband, up a pant leg,wherever, then the dog finds it, or does a trick to get it (but the secret seems to be that 'they don't get it everytime', sometimes they have to do two tricks or three stretches). This game continues all the way to the gate, minus the toy of course. Ten years ago when I was first getting started, I used to stand in line starting about ’2 jump heights’ before our turn. This made a very nervous dog,as all I did was watch and count, “How many until us?” Now, I find that dog that will go in about 2-3 before me, then I just stand back and pay attention to my dog, playing games, stretching, etc. I play a game where I hide the toy or treat on myself, under my shirt , in the back of my waistband, up a pant leg,wherever, then the dog finds it, or does a trick to get it (but the secret seems to be that ‘they don’t get it everytime’, sometimes they have to do two tricks or three stretches). This game continues all the way to the gate, minus the toy of course.

]]> By: Pamela Spock http://www.agilityfusion.com/2009/03/how-to-encourage-speed-and-drive-in-your-agility-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Pamela Spock Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:56:23 +0000 http://www.agilityfusion.com/?p=101#comment-76 Hello "havahav", You asked a great question! While your dog could be very dependant on his toy for motivation, do you think its possible that even if you DID have the toy, he might still be nervous in line? Dogs are remarkably sensitive to us, and they can tell things are different. Here's one idea I can think of. When you practice at home, set up a sequence of obstacles. Do it in a circular pattern, so you end up back where you started. Somewhere near this place hide your dog's toy. Do not let him see what you are up to, or where the toy is. Then proceed to run through your mini-course. When you return back to the "start" line, reward him with his toy. In other words, you are not carrying this toy on you. This way, you are breaking your dog's dependance on you having to be the holder of the toy. Instead, the goal is to make his toy more unpredictable. Hmmm... it may show up here, or it may show up there. He is left guessing! I hope this might give you one idea, anyway. Everyone else out there... any other ideas? This is YOUR community, and you are welcome to join in! ~Pam Hello “havahav”,

You asked a great question! While your dog could be very dependant on his toy for motivation, do you think its possible that even if you DID have the toy, he might still be nervous in line? Dogs are remarkably sensitive to us, and they can tell things are different. Here’s one idea I can think of. When you practice at home, set up a sequence of obstacles. Do it in a circular pattern, so you end up back where you started. Somewhere near this place hide your dog’s toy. Do not let him see what you are up to, or where the toy is. Then proceed to run through your mini-course. When you return back to the “start” line, reward him with his toy. In other words, you are not carrying this toy on you. This way, you are breaking your dog’s dependance on you having to be the holder of the toy. Instead, the goal is to make his toy more unpredictable. Hmmm… it may show up here, or it may show up there. He is left guessing!

I hope this might give you one idea, anyway.
Everyone else out there… any other ideas?
This is YOUR community, and you are welcome to join in!

~Pam

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