Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 28

Key to Success Try to avoid standing still and filling the dog full of cookies. An underaroused dog is more likely to become distracted by other dogs or people. The ideal situation would be for this dog to tug on a toy. This is a great way to increase the dog’s arousal. However, it is more often the case that the underaroused dog will not tug on a toy, especially away from home; therefore, your job becomes more difficult. For these dogs, focus on motion. All games you will play are designed to increase arousal by increasing the dog’s heart rate; therefore, try to stay active while reinforcing. No ringside game on its own is capable of turning a disengaged dog into a focused superstar. However, with a more disciplined lifestyle at home, combined with games that gott © FaNNy focus on reinforcement from you, the less-aroused dog will soon be showing confidence and drive as he has never done before. Building Triggers Done properly, your dog will love your games. To transfer this drive from the game to agility, you need to build in triggers for this excitement. The obvious triggers come in the form of key phrase. Here are a few I use with my own dogs: • I’m gonna smoke ya • Do you wanna • Are you r-e-a-d-y? • Oh no! • One…two…three • Where is it? times I will almost yell them—mixing it up is part of the mystery. But don’t stop with only words to trigger excitement. Almost more fun than your key phrases are the unspoken triggers, such as the way I will suck in air very quickly or blow it out slowly and loudly. I strongly recommend you build a deep full inhalation of breath into your trigger. This will be a great last action from you before leaving your dog at the start line. Not only can it trigger excitement from your dog, but getting your lungs full of air is a great way to relax your body before your run. Sometimes I may even blow directly into my dog’s face before running away for a game of chase. It could be the challenging way I glance over my shoulder to look at my dog before I sprint away or even not sprint but rather walk, almost stalk, away. First you must establish that your dog does in fact love the game you play. Play with your body language, breathing, and various glances, but add them to the game only after you have established that the game does in fact arouse your dog. These triggers will act as a cue to your dog that he is about to have fun! Use one or two of your triggers before starting your game. Done properly, these cues alone will trigger arousal in a dog and then can be used just as you enter the ring. Sometimes I will whisper these phrases to my dog before I sprint away to play, sometimes I will draw them out, other Let the Games Begin Shadow Handling Shadow handling encompasses a number of different games you do with your dog, without equipment. From running circles with your dog at your side to sprinting away and stopping suddenly while your dog drives into position at your side. All of these games are ideal to incorporate as part of your ringside warm-up since they do not require any equipment. To pump up the dog I recommend the Quick (Direction) Change games as well as the Push Back & Jam. © sUsa N Quick (Direction) Change To play this game you must have first built value for your dog running in circles at your side. Once there is value in that, the dog will work hard to get into that position, which is not only a benefit in agility, but also can work as a motivational game. As you run in a circle with your dog at your side, change sides by executing a front cross. Immediately after the front cross stop and feed your dog with the hand closest to him. This will now build value for your dog driving to you after every front cross, which in turn will help his turns to be tighter. With value for coming to you on a change of direction you can progress to standing in front of a jump; pretend to step toward the jump but then change direction to move away from the jump. As soon as your dog follows your body in that direction, step toward the jump again. Moving back and forth one step in either direction will get your dog bouncing in front of you. To further build value for your dog you can throw a cookie on the ground as the dog bounces back to you. When the dog eats the cookie you once again step in the other direction. Your goal is to get the dog really bouncing. When you can catch your dog in midbounce going away from the jump, take off running. Once the dog goes over the jump and catches up to you, deliver a high-value reward at your side. 28 Clean Run | June 08 garret t gott © FaNNy

Clean Run Magazine - June 2008

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