Clean Run - May 2013 - 36

Teaching Verbal
Directional Commands, Part 3
By Dawn Weaver

© WENDI PENCILLE/HORSEFEATHERS PHOTOGRAPHY

I start teaching a Go on command very early in my dog’s agility training. I am acutely literal
with my commands and I try never to “lie” to my dog. I think the Go on or Go command is
the one that handlers most commonly use incorrectly.With small dogs, in particular, handlers often use this command to motivate their dogs rather than for it to mean to drive
ahead of them in a straight line. Often the command is used to tell the dog to go out and
take a jump while the handler moves elsewhere on a course, but this is incorrect, too.
Look at Figure 1
for an example.
1
4

3

Go on

2

1

"Go on" should be used to tell the dog to drive ahead of you in a straight
line. It should NOT be used to tell the dog to go out and take a jump
while you move elsewhere on a course, as is being done here.

36

The handler sends
the dog out for the
corner while she
runs diagonally away
toward the seesaw.
The dog believes the
handler and drives
straight, only to
land hard and have
to turn after he has
landed long. Similarly, in Figure 2,
the handler wants
to get to jump #3
to perform a front
cross so she sends
the dog out on a
Go on command
while she runs the
other way.

These handling scenarios would be fine
if the handler was more accurate with
her verbal commands. In Figure 1 the
handler should give the Go on command
on the approach to the second jump.
Then on the approach to the third jump,
the handler should tell the dog Back
to turn left (or whatever the handler’s
turn left command is). This is shown in
Figure 3.
Dogs that are constantly told to Go on
inappropriately don’t believe their handlers for very long. They will soon start
to shorten stride and head-check when
the command is given since he is either
expecting the handler to move away
when the command is given, or it is just
a motivational word and has nothing
to do with actual directions. It is like
“crying wolf ” with your Go on command—the dog no longer associates it
with driving straight, so the handler has
lost her driving-ahead-of-her command
and the accuracy associated with it. See
Figure 4.
Before they enter a tunnel, I always
use verbal commands to inform my
dogs where they are going next on the
course. In Figure 4, particularly if this seClean Run | May 13



Clean Run - May 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - May 2013

Clean Run - May 2013
Contents
Reflections from a Novice Handler or What I Have Learned from My Dogs
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
So You’ve Got a Small Dog Now
Training to Your Strengths
The Judge’s Debriefing
Front Cross Footwork
Club Games to Light the Competitive Fires
The 10-Minute Trainer
Out Spot Out! Teaching Independent Obstacle Performance, Part 2
Knowledge Equals Speed! Teaching Verbal Directional Commands, Part 3
How to Choose Your Best Agility Instructor
4 Easy Steps to Getting More Accomplished When You Train
Carpal Hyperextension Injuries
Power Paws Drills: Timing Turns
Ultimate Instructors: Lesson Planning & Foundation, Part 2
Busting the Myths: Too Slow for Your Dog?
I Know That’s Not the Way You’re Supposed to Handle This, But…
Training with the Stars: Amanda Nelson
Clean Run - May 2013 - Clean Run - May 2013
Clean Run - May 2013 - 2
Clean Run - May 2013 - Contents
Clean Run - May 2013 - 4
Clean Run - May 2013 - Reflections from a Novice Handler or What I Have Learned from My Dogs
Clean Run - May 2013 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run - May 2013 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run - May 2013 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run - May 2013 - 9
Clean Run - May 2013 - 10
Clean Run - May 2013 - So You’ve Got a Small Dog Now
Clean Run - May 2013 - 12
Clean Run - May 2013 - 13
Clean Run - May 2013 - 14
Clean Run - May 2013 - 15
Clean Run - May 2013 - 16
Clean Run - May 2013 - 17
Clean Run - May 2013 - Training to Your Strengths
Clean Run - May 2013 - 19
Clean Run - May 2013 - The Judge’s Debriefing
Clean Run - May 2013 - 21
Clean Run - May 2013 - Front Cross Footwork
Clean Run - May 2013 - 23
Clean Run - May 2013 - 24
Clean Run - May 2013 - 25
Clean Run - May 2013 - Club Games to Light the Competitive Fires
Clean Run - May 2013 - 27
Clean Run - May 2013 - 28
Clean Run - May 2013 - The 10-Minute Trainer
Clean Run - May 2013 - 30
Clean Run - May 2013 - 31
Clean Run - May 2013 - 32
Clean Run - May 2013 - Out Spot Out! Teaching Independent Obstacle Performance, Part 2
Clean Run - May 2013 - 34
Clean Run - May 2013 - 35
Clean Run - May 2013 - Knowledge Equals Speed! Teaching Verbal Directional Commands, Part 3
Clean Run - May 2013 - 37
Clean Run - May 2013 - 38
Clean Run - May 2013 - 39
Clean Run - May 2013 - How to Choose Your Best Agility Instructor
Clean Run - May 2013 - 41
Clean Run - May 2013 - 4 Easy Steps to Getting More Accomplished When You Train
Clean Run - May 2013 - 43
Clean Run - May 2013 - 44
Clean Run - May 2013 - 45
Clean Run - May 2013 - Carpal Hyperextension Injuries
Clean Run - May 2013 - 47
Clean Run - May 2013 - 48
Clean Run - May 2013 - 49
Clean Run - May 2013 - 50
Clean Run - May 2013 - Power Paws Drills: Timing Turns
Clean Run - May 2013 - 52
Clean Run - May 2013 - 53
Clean Run - May 2013 - 54
Clean Run - May 2013 - 55
Clean Run - May 2013 - 56
Clean Run - May 2013 - Ultimate Instructors: Lesson Planning & Foundation, Part 2
Clean Run - May 2013 - 58
Clean Run - May 2013 - Busting the Myths: Too Slow for Your Dog?
Clean Run - May 2013 - 60
Clean Run - May 2013 - I Know That’s Not the Way You’re Supposed to Handle This, But…
Clean Run - May 2013 - 62
Clean Run - May 2013 - Training with the Stars: Amanda Nelson
Clean Run - May 2013 - 64
Clean Run - May 2013 - 65
Clean Run - May 2013 - 66
Clean Run - May 2013 - 67
Clean Run - May 2013 - 68
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