I have just started to train Marvel, my Border Collie. He is a year old and works beautifully and I think he could be really good at agility. However, if there is another dog running on the course, he wants to herd it. I can’t keep his attention focused on me. If he is not on the lead, he will rush over and try to round it up. What can I do? Continue reading »
-
30Sep
Tags: agility training
-
28Sep
We just got in a beautiful new batch of cones; including the elusive purple ones! Use cones to train handling, or to mark your course.Tags: agility obstacles
-
26Sep
Wwgoodson asks “I started my second Boston Terrier puppy. He is 7 months old. He was doing all the baby obstacles with gusto the first few weeks. One night he accidently stepped on a motion board just as a bigger dog was getting on it and it threw him off. He has been terrified of motion ever since. He is now transferring his fear to the dog walk. Any advice?”Here are my ideas, and hopefully others will weigh in with ideas to help you! (Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you, first off! Things have been crazy busy this spring and summer at Affordable Agility!)
That’s a scary thing to happen to a little guy! I think there are a few things to maybe help a bit.
Use a buja board or rocker board, ‘dampened’ with towels – shove towels or something under the edges to make movement minimal. Shape interaction with the buja or rocker board and slowly increase the motion as he becomes more comfortable with the motion.
For the dogwalk, try working on just the end behavior for a bit – hopping onto the ramp, running to the end and getting rewarded. You can also try lowering the dogwalk so that it isn’t quite so scary. It’s tough to start over, but in the end, it’s worth it for your dog.
Another option is a contact trainer or Mini A-frame. Having a contact obstacle in a smaller, more manageable size may help your dog overcome their fear.
Tags: agility training
-
23Sep
As we head into the colder months, it gets a little harder to exercise our dogs throughout the north.Walking is an important conditioning exercise. Sometimes the weather is too hot or too cold to walk outside safely, and some owners have difficulty walking the distances their dogs need to walk. Doggie Treadmills make walking the dog much easier, and safer in inclement weather, and are a boon for apartment dwellers.
Treadmills are easy to train with lots of positive reinforcement, if you go slow and steady. They’re also wonderful for strengthening the hamstring/gluteal section of your dogs body (hind end
) if you use the incline properly. For an active agility dog, endurance exercises can be a godsend since it builds muscle tone and encourages deep-chested breathing. Make certain to warm-up and cool down your dog properly before and after their treadmill session, and to monitor them carefully.Treadmills are also very useful in after-injury care, since it controls the dog’s pace and allows them to build up muscle.
-
19Sep
Summer is a busy time for everyone.Fall can be even busier! Sometimes it’s so busy we don’t have much time to spend with our dogs, and then when we DO have the time, we feel so bad we didn’t spend time with them during the busy time we don’t want to, now.
The best thing about dogs, is they don’t care. They’re just so happy you are spending time with them NOW, they forget about the busy weeks when you were rushing here and there and everywhere. They don’t know they were SUPPOSED to have learned the contacts a few weeks back, and they don’t care, either. They’ll learn their contacts now, to make you happy. Don’t feel guilty for what you haven’t done. Do what you can, and know your dog doesn’t want you to feel guilty, either. They won’t have as much fun if you feel guilty!
Set up a quick yahoo or a new course for you and your dog today and take a few minutes to do it – no stress, no fuss, just fun!
Tags: Inspirational
Recent Comments