I like this video for a couple of reasons – it starts out with the rules of the game, and… well, okay, I just love agility videos! they’re so much fun to watch. 
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12Jan
Tags: videos
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10Jan
Dogwalk planks are 12” across and require great foot dexterity to navigate safely. If you begin teaching puppies and young dogs on the flat how to keep their paws under control (and under their bodies!) you will have a step ahead on safely navigating dogwalks and A-frames.Lay the ladder flat on the ground and coax or shape your dog to walk it. When they trot along the length of the ladder confidently, flip it onto its legs and ask the dog to walk that way, raising each foot high, like a football player.
Ladders teach the dog not only to be aware of their feet, but also to walk along a long, narrow length. By training your dog on a ladder, you are helping them learn how to run over a dogwalk beam.
After your dog has mastered ladders, start them on a plank on the ground, then on cinderblocks. Soon you’ll have a brilliant dogwalker!
Tags: agility safety, agility training
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03Jan
I understand that as your dog becomes more confident as as we become better handlers, that the dog’s speed will often increase. But aside from that, or in addition to that, can speed and drive be trained/encouraged? Thanks for your help! An Agility StudentDear Agility Student,
Yes, speed and drive can be trained and encouraged! Reward the fastest performances highly, and give lesser rewards for not-so-quick but still-good work. Your dog will catch on, unless they are VERY ‘soft’. Another trick is to speed up yourself! If you’re running, suddenly agility is WAY more fun. Be careful not to outrun your dog too far when they’re not ready for it- I’ve done that with mine and it makes him bail off the side of an A-frame – SO dangerous.You can also try varying your rewards – maybe different kinds of snacks, or new toys mixed in sometimes will get your dog revved!
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30Dec
Happy New Year, soon! I thought I’d share a video as the last post of the year – this video has a lot of dogs of many sizes and speeds running a really awesome looking course! Hope you enjoy! And remember in the new year, agility is about fun and how you and your dog work together.
Tags: videos
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27Dec
Contact training is a necessary step in agility, both for your dogs’ safety and your sanity. Stopping on a contact can give you enough time to catch up, lead out, or find where you are on course! Training contact stops should be fun and rewarding for your dog, using a target to learn the behavior, and then fading the target. Pay attention to your dogs. Dogs may learn this behavior at different rates. It’s important not to bore them by drilling them in contacts, and it’s also important they feel that contacts are fun.REMEMBER: keep sessions very, very short, 1-2 minutes at most, since dogs burn out quickly on targets.
- Shape the dog to target with his nose or paw, whichever you prefer. Many handlers prefer the nose since it seems clearer to the dog that they MUST stop. Reward repetitive touches, or ‘holding’ the touch. Build value for touching enthusiastically!
- Practice targeting on stairs, and then fade the target itself, thus leaving your dog with a nose touch to ground behavior. Use any stairs you can, in different settings. Keep sessions short and highly rewarding.
- Begin practicing the targeting on contact behavior, again beginning with the target so your dog ‘gets it’, and then fading the target, leaving the dog with a nose touch to ground. Keep sessions short and highly rewarding! If at any time your dog’s behavior deteriorates, go back a bit in training, and work your way back up. Never take a good contact stop for granted.
- After the dogs are used to contact training, start them on proofing – so they know to stick it no matter WHAT you do!
If you prefer not to train a 2on2off for any reason, these contact zoners will help your dog learn not to ‘fly off’,
Tags: agility training
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