Comments on: Using your dog’s name in agility training http://www.agilityfusion.com/2009/04/using-your-dogs-name-in-agility-training/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:35:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pamela http://www.agilityfusion.com/2009/04/using-your-dogs-name-in-agility-training/comment-page-1/#comment-339 Pamela Fri, 08 May 2009 15:46:51 +0000 http://www.agilityfusion.com/?p=502#comment-339 Suzette, I think every trainer can take a lesson from your example. I just read this quote today that says, "The best leaders...almost without exception and at every level, are master users of stories and symbols" (by Tom Peters, business writer). That's what you are employing, to drive home the importance of owners thinking like their dog thinks, concerning over-using their dog's names. Thanks for sharing this! Suzette,

I think every trainer can take a lesson from your example. I just read this quote today that says, “The best leaders…almost without exception and at every level, are master users of stories and symbols” (by Tom Peters, business writer). That’s what you are employing, to drive home the importance of owners thinking like their dog thinks, concerning over-using their dog’s names.

Thanks for sharing this!

]]> By: Suzette http://www.agilityfusion.com/2009/04/using-your-dogs-name-in-agility-training/comment-page-1/#comment-293 Suzette Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:32:54 +0000 http://www.agilityfusion.com/?p=502#comment-293 I teach agility part-time whenever I don't have to be at that other job (you know, the one that actually paid for all the equipment, shoes, traveling expenses,etc.). It has always been a challenge to get students to stop calling their dog's name. One thing that I do with people whose dog has grasped the concept already, is to have them run silently. Even if the dog starts to leave the desired course, students are charged with having to retrieve their dog's attention without talking to them. Another training tip that I have done is, on the first visit to the agility field, I take the student (minus the dog) out onto the field and we walk around talking about the dog, what treats he likes, what his home life is like etc., as we roam aimlessly around the field. I then explain to the student what I have been doing. They, believeing I know where I am going, followed me, turned when I turned, stopped when I stopped and looked at me when I said their name. I tell them that their dog will do this same thing, will follow them, will stop when they stop and will look at them when they say their name. Then I walk them up to the raised end of the see-saw and without saying anything motion for them to walk on the other side with a slight wave of my hand. "What might have happened if I had distracted you by saying your name just as you walked right up to that board?" Saying the dog's name distracts them from the course ahead. I teach agility part-time whenever I don’t have to be at that other job (you know, the one that actually paid for all the equipment, shoes, traveling expenses,etc.). It has always been a challenge to get students to stop calling their dog’s name. One thing that I do with people whose dog has grasped the concept already, is to have them run silently. Even if the dog starts to leave the desired course, students are charged with having to retrieve their dog’s attention without talking to them.
Another training tip that I have done is, on the first visit to the agility field, I take the student (minus the dog) out onto the field and we walk around talking about the dog, what treats he likes, what his home life is like etc., as we roam aimlessly around the field. I then explain to the student what I have been doing. They, believeing I know where I am going, followed me, turned when I turned, stopped when I stopped and looked at me when I said their name. I tell them that their dog will do this same thing, will follow them, will stop when they stop and will look at them when they say their name. Then I walk them up to the raised end of the see-saw and without saying anything motion for them to walk on the other side with a slight wave of my hand. “What might have happened if I had distracted you by saying your name just as you walked right up to that board?” Saying the dog’s name distracts them from the course ahead.

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