Clean Run Magazine - September 2007 - 42

A handling seminar that will fit in your training bag. Board Work and Targeting Sending Sweep to the target with his Touch command, and stepping in to reward him after he has touched the target. This special collector’s edition of Clean Run is all about handling: Linda Mecklenburg describes her system for giving the dog early notice of direction changes, Susan Garrett details correct front-cross footwork, Jane Simmons-Moake shows how crossing behind a layer back can put you way ahead, Nancy Gyes looks at setting up efﬁcient lines, Jo Sermon explains how to reward turns at a distance, Deb Jones talks about the blind cross, Chris Zink shows how to train for lead changes, Tracy Sklenar explains the false turn, a photo glossary of handling maneuvers, and much more! 104 pages We have taught Sweep to jump up on a short training board that is elevated between two short plastic stools. We walk next to him and reward him for staying on the board. He can do sit, down, and stand while on the board as well as turning around or playing tug. If he jumps off we simply stop tugging and ask him to Hop On, our general command for getting on anything we want him to step onto. To practice targeting Sweep has progressed to being asked to nose touch while the board is slanted off one of the stools. We started first with the training board flat on the ground, then elevated one end to slant it like the end of the dogwalk. We give his target command Touch, and he drops his nose down to the electronic nose target and touches it firmly one time. We immediately reward him in position down by the target. We are careful that his feet are not moving and that he remains in position when we feed him. We may ask him to touch again in position, or he may be released after touching just one time. When we want to send Sweep to the target at the end of the board we position ourselves perpendicular to the board and Sweep at our side. We give the verbal cue Touch. We try not to use any body language to get Sweep to touch. We stand up straight, and do not move our arm or hand toward the target until Sweep has touched and then we quickly step in to reward him. This month our goal is to progress to sending Sweep a few feet down to his target. We will practice on both our right and left sides and make sure to continue to ask for good strong “noisy” nose touches. The zen cookie delivery game has helped him learn to wait for the treat to be brought to him. His understanding to stay on the elevated board has also helped in this exercise. Sweep also regularly practices holding two-on/two-off position on a stool while tugging. All these preliminary skills as well as the balance training have made it easy for him to stay on the board and touch his target then wait to be released to the tug toy. Jim and I are having a great time training Sweep. We hope you are having as much fun with your puppy. See you next month! D $18 plus shipping ® www.cleanrun.com Nancy Gyes and her husband Jim Basic run Power Paws Agility in San Jose, California. She is the AKC World Team Coach for 2006 and has been on the AKC World Team seven times, four years with Scud and three with Riot. Nancy and Riot finished 1st in 2002 and 2nd in 2001 in Individual Agility classes at Worlds. Nancy also won the USDAA Nationals four years in a row, 1998 to 2001, with three different dogs, Scud, Riot, and Wicked. In 2001 and 2002, Nancy and Riot were the 24" jump height AKC National Champions. Scud retired in 2001 after winning the USDAA Veterans Championship. Contact Nancy at www.powerpawsagility.com, where you can also view other articles and videos. Clean Run | September 07 42

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Clean Run Magazine - September 2007

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