Clean Run Magazine - September 2008 - 49

Benefits Speed, accuracy, comfort, and adaptability are among the benefits of my four-on-the-floor method and these attributes might make this contact performance the best of both worlds—end-behaviorbased contacts and running contacts—for you and your dog. As with the traditional two-on/two-off method, the four-on-thefloor contact is accurate and predictable. The dog comes to a stop just off the end of the board, ensuring a paw in the contact zone, allowing the handler the opportunity to catch up if behind, and providing a predictable location for the handler to plan how to handle the dog for the next obstacle. As with a running contact, the dog does not break stride on the obstacle and he does not slow significantly on the down ramp, so the performance is fast! My dog Trigger typically performs the dogwalk in 1.7 seconds and the down ramp of the A-frame in 0.25 seconds. Many dogs have difficulty shifting their weight back and coming to an abrupt halt on an incline in the two-on/two-off position, especially on the A-frame. With my four-on-the-floor method, the dog naturally transfers weight to his rear on the descent of the obstacle. This weight shift does not have to be taught separately, as is the case with a nose-touch contact behavior where it’s necessary to counter the dog’s tendency to put his weight on his front. The dog is taught to run the board while the end contact behavior is perfected on the flat. This allows the dog to build speed and confidence on the obstacle, with the gradual introduction of height and changing incline, prior to asking the dog to come to a stop and perform a behavior. It also seems to result in a dog that is comfortable performing the A-frame at any height. As I initially stated, the focus of this article is on modifications I have made to the training of the end contact behavior. Refer to my original article or the DVD for instructions on training the dog to run up and over the A-frame and dogwalk. The End Contact Behavior For the end contact behavior, the dog is taught to come to a stop in a down, bow, or crouch position just off the end of the down contact. This behavior is taught on the flat and then added to the obstacle after the dog has been taught to run up and over it with confidence and speed. Using a reward marker (the click from a clicker or a verbal “yes,” for example), you teach the dog to engage a piece of nonskid material (such as a mouse pad or a square of Griptex shelf and drawer liner) with his paw and lie down, bow, or crouch, until released. I now encourage my students to use a verbal marker rather than a clicker because I find many of them just don’t have enough hands to manage their dog, leash, props, and clicker. They always have their voices, which they can also take into the ring. The method outlined in the 2005 article teaches the dog to engage the pad with a paw and lie down while pulling on leash. A motivator is placed out in front of the dog as a target to ensure forward focus. This works well for the dog that is highly motivated by his target object and whose enthusiasm for the game is not hindered by the use of a leash; thus he will pull on the leash in his eagerness to get to the motivator. If you have this type of dog, refer to the original article or the DVD. Using that information, along with the new material in this article; you can devise a plan that will work best for your dog. My new technique for teaching the end contact behavior works for all dogs, but is especially suited for moderately motivated dogs or dogs hesitant to pull on their leashes. The motivator is not used in the early stages of training, but you will use it at a later stage. I have also made changes that help teach the dog to remain parallel to the handler throughout all stages of training and that help the dog maintain forward focus and proper contact performance once he starts sequencing to other obstacles. When handling to the next obstacle, maintaining the dog’s forward focus is an important aspect of any contact behavior and must be trained and reinforced throughout a dog’s career. It is often one of the first parts of a contact behavior to break down. Versatility While a full down, all four feet on the ground, performed just off the board is the end behavior and location that I choose for my dogs as well as most of the dogs that I teach, my method for teaching the end behavior is very versatile. It allows for the handler to choose a bow or crouch as the end behavior, which may be more suitable for the dog’s body type. Furthermore, my method allows the handler to change the location where the dog performs the end contact behavior. So, for example, the handler can choose to have the dog’s two rear feet remain in contact with the board as he performs the down, bow, or crouch. The latter gives you the option of teaching a two-on/two-off contact position that is foot-target based. The important thing is that you, the trainer, decide on your behavior and location criteria and then consistently reward that behavior and location. Training the End Contact Behavior These steps assume you have already done the following: ■ Trained a verbal cue (for example, “okay” or “break” or “free”) to release the dog from the performance of a stationary behavior such as a sit or down ■ Training Breakdown The training of my four-on-the-floor contact method is broken down into two primary parts, which are trained separately and then combined when the dog is ready to put it all together: ■ Training the dog to perform the contact behavior—the down, bow, or crouch—at the end of the obstacle, which is ended with a verbal release ■ Trained a reward marker such as a verbal “yes” or the click sound made by a clicker Trained your dog to be able to work with you, and not be distracted, while you are holding food ■ Training the dog to run up and over the obstacle without stopping, exiting under a hoop to a motivator placed beyond the obstacle | Clean Run You must be able to do these three things with your dog prior to starting the training I describe here. It is, however, fine if your dog needs to be on a leash. 49 September 08
Clean Run Magazine - September 2008

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