Clean Run Magazine - January 2008 - 40

Caution! Dogs can progress through these stages fairly quickly. Many dogs are able to get from Step 1 to Step 3 in a 3-5 minute training session. Still, it is important not to rush your dog. If at any point during these exercises your dog is able to “steal” a treat, he wins. He will just learn to be quicker the next time to get the treat before you do. Keep your reflexes fast! When you get to Step 3 (treats on the floor), you need to be able to get your hand or foot out quickly to cover the treat if your dog tries to steal it. It is imperative that you do not let your dog get to the treat before you do! Step 4 Kneel or sit on the floor with your dog in front of you. You can start to mix up your rewards. Put the treat on the ground. When your dog ignores the treat, instead of saying Get It, give a verbal reward marker (such as Good or Yes) and give your dog a treat presented from your hand. He should still ignore the treat on the ground. If at any time he attempts to take the treat on the ground, cover it with your hand. Start mixing up permission for your dog to take the treat on the ground (using a Get It cue) with permission to take a reward from your hand (using a verbal reward marker). When your dog is reliable at this stage, move to Step 5. Step 5 Kneel or sit on the floor with your dog in front of you. Start by putting a treat on the ground in front of your dog. When he ignores it, give him a reward from your hand. Put another treat on the ground. Your dog is now ignoring two treats. Reward your dog from your hand again. Then point to one of the treats on the ground and say Get It. Allow your dog to take the treat you pointed to. If he tries to take the other treat either before or after taking the first treat, cover it. Reward him for ignoring the other treat by rewarding from your hand or allowing him to take the one on the ground with a Get It cue; mix up these rewards. Build up to where you can have many treats on the ground around your dog. Next, work toward dropping the treats instead of just putting them on the ground. Also work toward being able to stand up next to your dog (you can use your foot to cover the treat if needed). The dog is ignoring many pieces of food on the ground. I reward the dog by pointing to one of the pieces of food on the ground, saying Get It, and allowing her to have that piece. Mary Ellen has been involved in agility for 13 years and has achieved the USDAA ADCH with her Border Collies, 13-year-old Zoe and 7-year-old Fizz. Mary Ellen and Fizz represented the U.S. at the 2006 IFCS World Championships in the Netherlands where they earned six placements including three gold medals and will again represent the U.S. in May 2008, in Belgium. Both Fizz and Zoe have earned many placements at national events and have been Grand Prix and Steeplechase finalists. She is currently training her young Border Collie, E-Z, and her new Fizz puppy, Maizy. Mary Ellen has been an instructor at Say Yes Dog Training, as well as Clean Run and Power Paws Camps. She lives in Norristown, Pennsylvania, with her husband George, and offers private lessons and agility seminars. Contact her via mebarry@kineticdog.com. It’s the complete Clean Run magazine you love – delivered digitally, to your desktop. Check out the free sample issue at https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ cleanrun/sampleissue/index.php Getting a Clean Run has never been easier! 40 Clean Run | January 08

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Clean Run Magazine - January 2008

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