Puppies:
-tug is good, but don't forget running
-put running on cue
-Whenever your puppy is playing with other dogs, try to put yourself in the picture, run around with them.
Restrained recalls, do them two different ways
-Go, take off running and throw toy ahead of you as puppy catches up
- Also keep puppy close to you and reward at your side when they catch up. Also work on front crosses and reward at your side.
spend the most time on whichever one is the weakest.
If the puppy gets distracted first try running away from them, if needed have *someone else* go and get the puppy, you shouldn't ever be the bad guy.
Running contacts
#1 Make your dog run fast on the ground to something, whatever the dog loves. Food, toy even an obstacle like a tunnel. You can start by throwing the toy, but progress to the dog really running to a stationary toy/food.
#2 Take a picture of dog really running- that is how the dog should look on the dogwalk; head in a neutral position, legs split.....think of the way your dog looks chasing a squirrel!
#3 Run over a plank (should be wide and flat on the ground, so the dog doesn't have to worry about falling off) click when your dog looks like that picture of them really running.
In the beginning, don't be too picky about coming all the way down, the dog running is the most important thing, jack pot the low hits.
Gradually raise the plank up, just inches at a time
Don't reward jumping or trotting across the plank, in the beginning it is okay to reward the dog striding over the contact when running, but not okay to reward jumping and making the contact.
You very gradually start to reward specific low hits and/or foot placement.
a dog that has done a lot of clicker work, for tricks using front feet is more likely to understand they are being clicked for the way their front feet are hitting the plank.
Tricks
Silvia teaches a ton of tricks, mainly free shaped using a clicker. She teaches a "puppy class" that all dogs, regardless of age must take before starting agility and doing many of these tricks is a requirement to take agility.
Sit up/sit pretty. this progresses to the dog moving their front paws while sitting up, as well as moving their back feet while sitting up (like a penguin)
2 on 2 off Free shape the dog to put their back feet on an object, this progresses to moving backwards to step up on the object. Gradually move to higher and higher objects until the dog is doing a handstand
Circle an object with front feet, this is how Silvia teaches heeling
Jump in lap
Jump over leg
hold front/rear foot in the air...hold right/left side legs up.....hold left/right diagonal legs up
sit up to a stand and back to sit up position
backwards figure 8 around your legs
walk with a limp (front and rear foot)
put all 4 feet in a bowl, move to a smaller and smaller bowl
All of these tricks teach body awareness, how to think, offer behaviors. After all this agility should seem easy!
1 comment:
Thanks. Your notes are quite helpful.
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