Clean Run - December 2017 - 16

up in their classes. Still, it is important
that foundation classes prepare dogs
and handlers for the agility trial environment, not just the courses they'll
run. Unwanted social interactions will
occur, crowding will be encountered,
and general chaos will need to be tolerated. Crucial to the foundation curriculum of tomorrow will be what dogs
can do to earn reinforcement in the
face of all of the tough environmental things they'll have to face. Rather
than allowing dogs to sniff each other
and visit during foundation classes,
turn these moments into lessons by
instructing handlers to reinforce their
dogs for checking back in with them in
the face of social enticement.
Designing your classes to mimic trials as much as possible will also help;
dogs are never tied up ringside or al-

lowed to roam during course walking;
so they should not be during class!
Setting up similar crating, similar run
orders, and the same leash rules that
handlers will face during trials will help
everyone to prepare. If you allow aggressive or reactive dogs in classes, all
the more reason to create realistic scenarios for your students to navigate!

proved" to reinforce hard-working
students whose dogs might be more
difficult than others.
A Revolution Is Here
Yes, a foundation revolution is here.
Our sport has never been bigger, more
competitive, or more demanding.
The missing link for so many handlers
lies in the unseen skills successful
competitors already understand, but
that are left out of foundation classes.
Instructors can improve their classes
by incorporating some of these lessons, and competitors can take it upon
themselves to fill in the gaps for their
own dogs. We all know better foundation leads to better performance; it's
time we talked about what a better
foundation really is. D

Sample Lesson: Mock trial scenarios
will be set up and students need to
navigate them! An "obstacle course"
of trial challenges will be set up with
the overly friendly human, an overly
friendly or assertive dog (stuffed false
dogs used for reactivity can be used
with success here!), and tight spaces
lined with chairs as the obstacles.
Prizes can be involved here, and this
can be a fun graduation night game.
Be sure there is a prize for "most im-

Sarah Stremming is a dog trainer, a dog agility and obedience competitor, and a dog behavior consultant. Her credentials include a BS in psychology from Colorado
State University, and more than a decade in the field of dog training and behavior. Her special interest area is problem solving for performance dogs. She is a blogger
and podcaster, she coaches teams online via her business The Cognitive Canine, travels to teach internationally, and is a faculty member at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.
She resides in Seattle with her partner, four Border Collies, and two Australian Shepherds. You can find her at www.thecognitivecanine.com.

Go Tapeless
No more peeling tape!
This Breakaway Tire is made out of
COLOR drainage pipe; the only tape
on it is the white divider areas.

· 7 colors available
· Conforms to AKC and USDAA specs
· Available in 20 or 24 diameter
· Includes mounting hardware
||

www.cleanrun.com
16

Clean Run | December 17

http://www.thecognitivecanine.com http://www.cleanrun.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - December 2017