Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 13

© elizabeth evans Part 1 The method described in this two-part article incorporates a two-on/two-off handling strategy, that is, the dog must run as fast as he can to the two-on/two-off position at the end of the contact zone and remain there until released with a release word, a directional command, such as Come, Out, Left, or Right, or the command for the next obstacle. Independent Contacts By Jane Simmons-Moake Photos by author except where noted Reliable performance on the contact obstacles is one of the biggest challenges in competitive agility, especially for handlers with very fast and/or enthusiastic dogs. My goal is to train fast, accurate, and independent contacts. The dog should perform the contact obstacles at his fastest possible speed while maintaining perfect accuracy, regardless of the handler’s position—even if the handler comes to a dead stop, handles wide, backs up, races ahead, pulls away, or runs in the opposite direction. This level of independence allows you take full advantage of your dog’s fastest speed while providing unlimited handling flexibility. One of my heartfelt mottos is, “You don’t have to be a slave to the contacts!” The method described in this two-part article incorporates a twoon/two-off handling strategy; that is, the dog must run as fast as he can to the two-on/two-off position at the end of the contact zone and remain there until released with a release word, a directional command, such as Come, Out, Left, or Right, or the command for the next obstacle. The dog may not release himself on praise or handler movement. Once the method is thoroughly trained and proofed, you may choose to occasionally use an early release to the next obstacle (before he has reached the two-on/two-off position) to achieve the speed benefits of a running contact. The two-on/two-off position is easy for the dog to understand, since the texture of the ground is different from that of the contact plank. Moreover, it is easy to reward your dog at the exact position you want to reinforce. I initially train the dog to run to the correct position using a high-value treat placed on a visible target positioned on the ground near the base of the contact zone. Using high-value treats encourages speed and independence, and the visible target makes it easy to find the correct position without slowing down or coming up short of the June 08 | Clean Run fast Train Only Good Habits Initial Setup correct position. Eventually the target and treats are weaned away, using progressively smaller and less visible targets. The reward is then transferred to a thrown object, such as a toy or treat container. Note: Only the dogwalk and A-frame are addressed here, since the training progression is substantially different for the seesaw. I believe very strongly that lessons learned first are the strongest and last the longest. Under stress or uncertainty, dogs tend to revert to their earliest habits; therefore, speed and independence with accuracy are important to encourage from the very start. If you allow or reinforce bad habits at the beginning of your contact training, it will be much more difficult to retrain your dog to perform with higher standards later on. For this reason, I don’t teach dogs to walk the ramps slowly and then later ask for more speed and enthusiasm. I don’t reward them for running off the end of the contact zone without permission and then later ask for a stop. Moreover, I don’t allow them to cut the upside of the entrance ramps and then later ask for a squared approach. Instead, I want to develop only good habits from the start. To encourage speed and confidence, it’s best to begin your training with a low dogwalk, if one is available. If not, remove your seesaw plank or a ramp from a full-height dogwalk and prop one end on a sturdy, low base (about 1'-2' high). Place contact channel boards against both sides of the down ramp. These boards make it possible for your dog to run as fast as possible, without having his rear swing to one side or the other. Position a visible target (such as a white plastic lid) on the ground about 6"-8" away from the end of the contact. 13

Clean Run Magazine - June 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - June 2008

Clean Run Magazine - June 2008
Contents
Editorializing: The Excuse
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
Fast, Independent Contacts, Part 1
Foundation Fundamentals: Using Your Legs as Jump Bumps
Handling Your Dog in Awesome Style, Part 3: Fundamental Skills
Trainer’s Forum
Starting as a Team, Part 3
Power Paws Patterns: Number Six
The Well-Equipped Agility Team
Teetering on the Edge: Dealing with Fear of an Obstacle
Skill of the Month
Canine Supplements: Do They Really Work?
When Pigs Fly: Play before Work
Shelter Champs: Sydney
Spy Kids: Trial Preparation, Start-line Stays, and Toy Work
Cece’s Gym Exercise of the Month: Plyometrics
Distance Challenge
Classes Gone Wild
Conquering Ring Nerves: Talking Yourself into the Next Level
Agility Organization Update
Letter to the Editor
Course Diagram Keys
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Clean Run Magazine - June 2008
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 2
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Contents
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 4
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Editorializing: The Excuse
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 9
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 10
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 11
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 12
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Fast, Independent Contacts, Part 1
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 14
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 15
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 16
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Foundation Fundamentals: Using Your Legs as Jump Bumps
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 18
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 19
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Handling Your Dog in Awesome Style, Part 3: Fundamental Skills
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 21
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 22
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 23
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Trainer’s Forum
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 25
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 26
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Starting as a Team, Part 3
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 28
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 29
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 30
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Power Paws Patterns: Number Six
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 32
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 33
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 34
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 35
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 36
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - The Well-Equipped Agility Team
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 38
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 39
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 40
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Teetering on the Edge: Dealing with Fear of an Obstacle
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 42
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 43
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 44
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 45
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Skill of the Month
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 47
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 48
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Canine Supplements: Do They Really Work?
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 50
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 51
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 52
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - When Pigs Fly: Play before Work
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 54
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 55
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 56
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 56a
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 56b
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Shelter Champs: Sydney
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 58
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 59
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 60
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Spy Kids: Trial Preparation, Start-line Stays, and Toy Work
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 62
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 63
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 64
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 65
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Cece’s Gym Exercise of the Month: Plyometrics
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 67
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 68
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Distance Challenge
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 70
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 71
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Classes Gone Wild
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 73
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Conquering Ring Nerves: Talking Yourself into the Next Level
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 75
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 76
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Agility Organization Update
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 78
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 79
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 80
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 81
Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - Course Diagram Keys
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