• 03Mar

  Getting it Right

  Dog Agility Training, Dog Training (General) 2 Comments

  Q. How should I correct my Labrador Retriever, Blaze? When he gets something right I give him a treat or throw his toy, but what do I do if he gets it wrong? If he breaks a wait, jumps off a contact or misses a weave entry, I don’t want to yell at him or hit him.

  A. I’m so glad to hear that! You should never use physical punishment. Mistakes are inevitable and an important part of the learning process. They’ll happen even though you try to make it easy for Blaze to get things right. Mistakes also occur because our performance criteria change in different environments. A paw-perfect dog in training will Continue reading »

  

  Tags: agility training, dog training

• 01Mar

  The Navy Blue Octopus

  Dog Agility Training No Comments

  An Excerpt from Bud Houstons’ Blog, which can be found here:

  I’ve been fascinated over the years studying the methods of dog trainers who will assert that the method they use to train a dog is the correct way, the one true way. It is hard to argue with the logic. Their method works for them, and so it must be the method.

  So, with that in mind… I’ve stumbled upon the one true way to teach a dog left-and-right directionals. For a couple weeks now I’ve been working with my boy Kory in teaching him to turn left and to turn right.

  The key to the methodology is clearly the navy blue octopus toy that I use to train him. It’s a soft toy with a squeaker. To be sure a couple of the legs have already been torn off because it is both a throw toy and a tug toy..

  The method started simply with a free-shaping exercise. I’d tell him “left” or “right” and if he offered even to look that direction he’d get an enthusiastic marker from me and I’d toss the toy for him (in that direction). The game evolved so that he would turn in a full circle in the direction I asked for. And, if he chose correctly on the first try I’d give him a game of tug with the navy blue octopus.

  We have evolved to a more complex game in which he actually has to turn 3 times in the directions that I ask. If he has to correct one of his guesses, he’ll get kind of a reward… I’ll toss the toy for him. But if he gets all three right the first time, then he gets the tug with the toy. And trust me he really wants the tug beyond all else. At the moment he’s about 80% on the exercise, which means that to a small extent he’s guessing.

  By next week the game will go to five turns. And I really want him at more than 90% accurate before I can say that he’s got it.

  The key to success, I hope you’ve noted, is the navy blue octopus.

  

  Tags: agility training

• 24Feb

  Large Dog Jump Training Tip

  Dog Agility Training No Comments

  If you have a large dog that jumps over 24″, here is a tip that will help teach your dog to jump at more of an “arc”.  You need a plastic barrel with both ends cut off (which you of course need for an official Closed Tunnel obstacle) and a standard bar jump.   Take your top jump bar and slip it through the barrel.   Your dog will then jump over the width of the barrel, but between the standards of the jump.  To the dog, it will look like a flat panel jump or wall, but he of course will have to leap and land at more of an “arc” shape, than a simple hop-over.  This is particularly useful for large dogs that sloppily ”hop” over jumps without a strong intention for clearing them.  A good take-off and landing is important to avoid disqualifications and keep you in the game.

  Note: The picture above is not an accurate illustration of this idea, as it doesn’t show a plastic barrel with the ends cut off and and slipped through a jump.  It is just a stock photo we currently have to simply show the longer stretch you get from a dog jumping a barrel.  I don’t recommend metal barrels that rust, and also, it is important that your dog be a high jumper that is in optimum shape for this exercise).

  

  Tags: agility training, dog safety & health

• 22Feb

  Agility Olympics

  Dog Agility Training 2 Comments

  Watching the olympics always gives me the urge to go and do something athletic and pretend I’m better at whatever that athletic thing is than I actually am… but then there’s agility! When I do agility I always feel awesome, because I get both the fun of running myself, and I can watch my dog shine.  It’s having my cake, and eating it, too!

  Create your own olympic event!

  You will need:

  • A course, no matter the size.  I’m suggesting a dogwalk, two or three jumps, a tunnel, and a tire or spread jump.
  • Friends with Dogs (preferably agility friends)
  • Video camera and person to film
  • Still-shot camera
  • Dog and people snacks

  Now you can have your own event!  While no titles will be earned, you can film each dogs’ run, and get great photos, too!  After all the runs, take the player inside and watch the runs together.  This is a great training exercise, because you can’t see yourself, and sometimes, you can’t see your dog! Filming can show you why your dog seems ‘pulled’ off of obstacles- because you’re turning away too soon!  Enjoy your runs and the company!

  Other ideas for olympics for you and your canine friends:

  • Set up a long row of jumps- offer a prize for the best time down the row.
  • Give a prize for the dog who knows the most tricks
  • Set up a ’speed course’, and blaze through it! Make the lines of your course smooth and flowing, and focus on keeping your dog flying!

  

  Tags: agility games/classes, agility training

• 19Feb

  Contact Splat!

  Dog Agility Training, Interesting and Funny 5 Comments

  We are going to end our week of contact discussion with a video of the worst contact UPSIDE I’ve ever seen. It’s both funny and sad.

  Why do YOU think this little dog did what he did? And what sorts of things can help in the future?

  By the way, this video is in Italian. “Salto” (which the girl keeps repeating) means ‘jump’.

  

  Tags: agility training, simply funny, videos

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