Clean Run Magazine - January 2008 - 48

Speed and Position Work The Dogwalk: “Bounce into Position” Game The “Bounce into Position” game encourages the dog to drive into the two-on/two-off position with more speed. It is easier to motivate a dog if he is on the ground rather than waiting on the board for the cue to move into his contact position. To play this game, however, the dog must already understand how to drive into position from the board. I restrain my dog on the ground to the side of the dogwalk and give the cue Touch. The dog jumps onto the board and into the twoon/two-off position. I either immediately release the dog to a toy on the ground, or I play tug on the board while the dog remains in position and then release. In either case, I play with the dog after the release. When asking for the bounce into position, I make certain that I myself am not moving when I say Touch, thereby insuring that the dog’s response is on my verbal cue and not linked to my body motion. © CLEAN RUN The Bounce into Position game encourages the dog to drive into the two-on/two-off position with speed. Here the dog is rewarded by throwing the toy to her while she’s still on the board. © CLEAN RUN With success you can increase your distance from the dogwalk and send the dog to jump on the board from the side. The Teeter I use similar methods to build speed on the teeter. Time is lost on the teeter when the dog hesitates or stops when the board starts to move. I want my dogs to enjoy running across a moving board. I place two different height tables under the teeter, for example a 24" table at the start of the plank and a 20" table at the end. Initially I move with my dog, offering the toy as he is close to the end of the teeter board, and we have a game of tug on the lower table. When the dog becomes totally confident running on the board with me next to him, I leave the dog on the first table and lead out to the lower table, facing the direction that the dog is travelling. I call the dog to me while I offer the toy and then we play tug on the lower table. Note: Ensuring that your dog does not leap for the toy is important. If he starts to leap, offer the toy slightly sooner and pull the dog off the plank and onto the table to tug. As the dog becomes more confident, I gradually lower the height of both tables, increasing both the pitch of the teeter and the drop of the board to the table. I now run the dog over the teeter in both directions, encouraging the dog to drive through the pivot point and contact zone to the table without leaping off the board for the toy. I continue to allow the dog to leave the board to play tug on the table as long as I have the end table in position. As soon as I remove the end table I ask for the two-on/two-off position. Most dogs weighing over 12 pounds can safely perform two-on/two-off on the teeter if they transfer their weight into their rear end as the board lowers. COURTESY OF RACHEL SANDERS Starting on the higher table, move with the dog. Offer the toy as the dog reaches the end of the plank. Play tug on the lower table. 48 When the dog is confident running with you, lead out and recall the dog. When the dog is in the contact zone offer the toy and tug on the table. Clean Run | January 08
Clean Run Magazine - January 2008

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