Clean Run Magazine - October 2006 - 61

Review: Review: Right on Target! A Book by Mandy Book and Cheryl S. Smith
By Martha Faulk Agility handlers have long known the value nose touch.
They also have suggestions for of target training. But did you know that
training yourself to mark more quickly and much of our knowledge about the
technique to improve your timing, such as tossing a has come from
large-animal handlers? In tennis ball in the air and clicking when the
aquariums, trainers have traditionally used ball reaches the highest point
of the toss. targeting to teach dolphins to leap for the O t h e r helpful
training tidbits include disc on the end of a pole held high above
suggestions for increasing the speed the water. Zookeepers use targets to
instruct to a target, the appropriate rate of elephants where to put their
foreheads so reinforcement, and the number of times it is safe to work
around them. Handlers you ask for repetitions of behaviors before also use
targets to teach other wild animals changing your criteria. Perhaps most to
extend an arm or a leg, or lie down so importantly, each targeting behavior
that veterinarians can perform necessary comes with guidelines for how and
procedures. when to phase out or fade the target. In Right on Target!
Mandy Book and Cheryl Smith have written a comprehensive guide Whether you
want a well-behaved dog in your home, a dancing partner for canine
freestyle, a movie for dog owners and trainers. Whether you or commercial
star, or the best agility dog you can train, this book will help you
achieve your goal. want a well-behaved dog in your home, a With the help
of photos and diagrams, away from you in preparation for front and dancing
partner for canine freestyle, a movie the authors demonstrate some
targeting rear crosses. The authors define targets or commercial star, or
the best agility dog behaviors that you might not have thought to include
toys or balls that may be used you can train, this book will help you
achieve of. In the Good Behavior Touches chapter, to teach your dog a
variety of skills such as your goal. tugging with you, and chasing you
skills they describe and illustrate how to use your Book and Smith explain
that using a clicker essential to the action of agility. They also leash as
a target to get your dog to heel nicely or a marker is essential for
training the include instructions for teaching your dog on leash in the
proper position. This method target behavior that you want your dog to to
go to a table, go out away from you, and may be just the ticket for
training the dog perform. The marker, whether it's a clicker or touch the
contact zone on the A-frame, that constantly forges ahead of you while a
word, helps you to break the training down dogwalk, and teeter. pulling on
the leash. into small steps, which is called shaping the Photographs and
diagrams as well as step- The Social Targets chapter shows you how desired
behavior. To help readers accomplish by-step instructions help even the
beginning to get your dog to deliver a very gentle kiss, the steps
necessary to shape the targeting agility handler to understand these
moves. which works well in environments such behavior, the authors have
provided two as pet visitations and therapy work. The approaches for
learning each described skill. Take a look at the cover of Right on
Target! Targets for Freestyle chapter details how The first set of
instructions, which they call shown above, and you'll notice a Boxer to
get the dog to spin in tight circles all the Go, is in streamlined form
for readers who skateboarding along with a great deal of way around your
body by using a target stick. are already familiar with clicker training.
delight. In the Foot Touches chapter, Targeting for Show Business
demonstrates the authors provide a Bonus Behavior A more comprehensive set
of instructions, many of the behaviors you'll need for movie S k a te b o a
rd i n g ! section for those of us called Go the Details, provides further
and commercial work, such as getting the who have always wanted to teach
our dogs explanations. I particularly like the dog to hold a position at
some distance this particular skill. But even if having a Troubleshooting
sections accompanying from you, hug you from behind, crawling,
skateboarding dog is not your objective, each described skill because,
after all, limping, and bowing. Even if you don't want this book provides
a well-explained plan training doesn't always go perfectly. For to be in
show business, these behaviors make for teaching behaviors to your dog
that will example, the authors tell you what to do if impressive party
tricks. make you proud and will make your dog your dog is pawing or biting
at the disc target look like a genius. D Targets for Agility explains how
to build instead of touching it with his nose. They on the nose-touch to
your hand to teach suggest that your mark is probably delivered Right on
Target! Taking Dog Training to a New Level your dog how to both turn into
you and too late and recommend marking before the is available for $19.95
at www.cleanrun.com. Martha Faulk is a lawyer and author who lives in Fort
Collins, Colorado. She is Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the
Larimer Humane Society and teaches agility there. Martha trains an
Australian Cattle Dog and an Australian Shepherd that she adopted from the
shelter and also runs a Border Terrier in agility. Martha may be reached at
marthfaulk@msn.com. | October 06 Clean Run 61
http://www.cleanrun.com
Clean Run Magazine - October 2006

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - October 2006
