Clean Run Magazine - July 2008 - 39

even only incrementally, the trainer should reward that faster behavior. Only when the dog is consistently going into the down position at a faster pace should the bar be raised again. The trainer can ask for an even faster down and deliver the reward if the dog does indeed go down faster. A very important note here is to make sure the dog totally understands what is being asked of him before making it more difficult and asking for faster behavior. Otherwise, the trainer is not being fair to the dog and will actually frustrate him, rather than gain a faster performance. This same concept can be applied to contact behavior. When the dog is learning contacts, the effort should always be rewarded until the trainer knows that the dog understands exactly what is being asked of him and he is consistently moving into the twoon/two-off position on his own. At this point, the trainer needs to move from the learning to the performance stage. The dog is no longer rewarded just for trying—now the dog must perform the two-on/two-off behavior on his own, consistently, quickly, and independently. Only faster and independent contacts should be rewarded. No more rewards for creep… Go Touch… creep… Go Touch. If the dog offers this type of creeping behavior, the trainer should give low-key verbal praise, release the dog, and have him try again. For dogs that have been inadvertently trained using the “creep… go touch” method, the dog may at first be confused as to why he’s no longer being rewarded; after all, he always was in the past. But dogs do what works, so it shouldn’t take him long to figure out that he needs to try something different to get his reward. That “something different” is likely to be a faster drive into position or a drive into position with the handler farther away. July 08 | Clean Run It is critical that trainers keep in mind that any time they are interacting with their dogs they will get the behavior that is rewarded. Rewarding Incremental Improvements The trainer should not expect an immediate improvement in speed or independent performance, but should reward for incremental improvements in both. Once the dog consistently demonstrates faster speed and more independence, the trainer can raise expectations by asking the dog for a slightly faster performance. If the dog gives a lightning-fast performance that is exactly what the trainer is aiming for, the trainer needs to be sure to party, party, party, to let the dog know he did the best thing ever. It is important that the trainer rewards for incremental improvements. The trainer’s expectations of the dog’s performance should not immediately move from the learning stage to, “I know the dog knows it, so now I will only reward for perfection.” Instead, the trainer should progress by asking for a slightly faster performance, a little bit at a time. When that new speed has become consistent, then the trainer can ask for improved performance and begin to add distance to increase the independent performance of the two-on/two-off position. Once the dog shows consistency in this faster and more independent performance, lower levels of performance should no longer be rewarded with highvalue rewards. “That is a very nice contact. Let’s try again,” is an example of what the handler might say for a slow performance or one where the handler had to step in closer to the dog to get the correct position. Then the trainer should have the dog try again for the opportunity to increase his performance level and earn a high-value reward. Don’t Forget to Stop and Party Many trainers reward well when practicing an obstacle or skill in isolation. All too often, however, handlers do not reward behaviors they do want when they are running sequences. Think of running a sequence with weave poles in it. The dog misses 39

Clean Run Magazine - July 2008

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