Clean Run Magazine - January 2007 - 60

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Awareness, Movement, and Balance Does the dog know where his rear end is?
Does he know how to control his rear feet? Can he navigate items in his
path to avoid hitting something? A number of fun “trick” behaviors you
can teach will help build rear-end awareness and help performance in the
competitive environment. Spend some time teaching your dog to: • Walk
through a ladder—first slowly and then with speed • Work cavaletti
jumps— i n increasingly difficult configurations • Back up—including
backing over a low bar jump or up stairs • Side step or the obedience
“finish” to heel position • Touch a target with hip or rear end
Wobble or Buja boards, and a new tool called a Bosu™ Balance Trainer or
Bosu ball, provide a great way to teach your dog how to use his body
correctly to balance.The wobble boards are square, with a hole in the
center to place a ball do an Internet search for Buja Board for more
information . When the dog steps on them they move unpredictably.The Bosu
is a partially inflated large rubber ball that has been cut in half and
has a flat platform on one end designed to test human balance skills and
available at sporting goods stores . While these behaviors will help
prepare your dog for tackling the teeter, they can also prove useful if
you have limited access to equipment or must restrict use due to the
dog’s age or a physical injury. Consult with a trainer if you need help
working on any of these exercises. Training Plan O n c e you’ve done the
pre-training, follow this plan to develop a solid teeter performance.
Contacts Decide with your instructor which contact behavior you’d
prefer: to ride the teeter down and stay on, a two-on/two-off position, or
some other behavior. For smaller dogs, riding the teeter down may be the
best behavior to teach since they risk getting bounced off otherwise.
Teach the actual contact performance using only the bottom half of the
teeter the end that rests on the ground or on a long board securely
propped on a cement block or step so that it is not moving while you teach
the concept of “contact.” Before you start working on the contact spot,
you’ll need to have a solid nose touch to a contact disk a small plastic
disk or butter container lid . If you need help teaching a nose touch, see
our book, Right on Target, or consult with an instructor. Once the dog will
run to touch the contact disk on the ground from a distance of 10’-15’,
begin to work on the teeter bottom or slanted board, incorporating: •
Multiple touches on the contact to keep the dog in position until released
• Moving quickly to the contact, independent of the handler’s movement
or location in relation to the contact that is, behind, ahead, or to one
side or the other of the dog • Releasing straight off the contact for
safety purposes—as the dog advances you can teach more complicated
entries and exits • Movement of the teeter while the dog remains on the
contact spot so the dog begins to get comfortable with the teeter bouncing
underneath. You can start by just gently bouncing the end of the teeter
while feeding the dog multiple treats for repeatedly touching the contact.
Gradually make the bouncing more severe until the dog really needs to work
to stay on the contact point. Reintroduce the element of noise Bang the
teeter on the ground with the dog nearby, clicking and treating after the
bang. Start with a gentle noise with the dog at a distance, and build up
to a more vigorous banging with the dog nearby. Does he startle when he
hears the bang, or look to you expectantly for a treat? When he
anticipates being fed when he hears the bang, you can begin training him
at the next step. Depending on the dog, this may take a few sessions or
several weeks. It’s an important piece, so don’t neglect it. Train all
your contact behaviors on the end of the board that rests on the ground. 60
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Clean Run Magazine - January 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - January 2007
