Clean Run Magazine - March 2009 - 14

Begin by teaching the dog to jump over the regulator placed on the ground. Then, on a ground plank, teach the dog this same behavior. He should run across the plank while striding or jumping over the regulator. Finally, place the regulator on the low-height A-frame. Consider your earlier video analysis to determine the appropriate placement. You should be prepared for a bit of trial and error regarding the stride regulator’s placement. Make certain that you raise the A-frame height slowly and make necessary modifications to the stride regulator’s placement as you do. You can eventually fade using the regulator, but be sure the dog understands the up contact performance as well as he does the down contact. Whether you only need to go back and refresh what you previously trained, or you need to introduce a new skill, bringing attention and reinforcement to the up contact is easy to do. Take it slowly and pay attention to detail. Happy training! Kathy Lofthouse Athletic dogs measuring over 21" tall and capable of producing a ground-covering stride are most prone to missing their up contacts. For this reason when training a puppy that is expected to be long-striding at maturity, it is wise to teach him how to run onto the up contact for a reward. I use the dogwalk with young puppies because it’s easier if you don’t feel like lowering the A-frame but you can use a low A-frame as well. Engage a helper whom your puppy is comfortable with to hold him while you straddle the up contact of the dogwalk; sit beyond the end of the marked contact area and face down toward where the puppy is being restrained. When you call the puppy he should run full speed onto the up contact of the dogwalk to receive praise and rewards from the handler. If you use a clicker, click so that the pup hears it at the moment his front feet touch the up contact. Deliver the reward while the dog’s head is down low. You can introduce a command to use when the dog is re-introduced to the obstacle at maturity. A tendency to leap the up contact is common when large dogs are first learning the obstacle, but the problem often disappears when the dog learns how to traverse the obstacle with minimum exertion. Do not try to verbally or physically slow the dog down while he discovers the best way to get on the obstacle; this attention on the approach can exacerbate the problem. If it is clear that your dog is consistently missing the up contact, and being quiet and 14 Since 1988, Kathy has competed successfully in USDAA and AKC to tournament and championship levels. Kathy enjoys introducing a variety of dogs to agility in a positive way and is also available to help resolve problems. Contact Kathy at runjumpweave@prodigy.net. speeding up his approach does not help, some methods used to retrain up contacts are as follows. Hoop or similar device: Place it a measured distance from the A-frame so that the dog can run under the hoop and still comfortably climb the A-frame while engaging the upper third of the contact Touch pad: Place it on the top few inches of the up contact Target plate: Place it on the up contact of a lowered A-frame Jump pole: Place it at a measured distance from the base of the A-frame to produce a stride change that causes the dog to hit the contact Clicker: Shape the dog to offer a paw touch on the up contact without requiring him to traverse the entire obstacle One method may be better suited to your dog than another; however, no matter which method you use, it will take considerable time and patience for your dog to acquire a new habit. As a final step during retraining, it is important to introduce jumps, tunnels, and running at full speed into the equation. If props are used, take these to other training areas and gradually fade them before expecting the behavior to be solid in the heat of competition. Reward lavishly throughout the dog’s competition career because, as you mentioned, your goal is to preserve your dog’s speed and enthusiasm. Clean Run | March 09

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Clean Run Magazine - March 2009

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