Clean Run - March 2014 - 32

Place treats on the target. Restrain the dog while you are both positioned parallel to
the board. The dog's nose should be about 6" from the end of the board. You want him
close enough that he is able to dive into his contact position. Get him excited about the
treats before releasing him. Move forward with the dog.

Prepare for your session carefully. Grab a
clicker and delicious treats that are easy for
you to dole out one at a time (cut-up hot
dogs, cheese cubes, meatballs, etc.) Choke
up on your dog's leash to make it very
short-6" for a short dog, less for a taller
dog-or restrain your dog by the collar.
Make a big deal about putting a few treats
on the target. Show your dog the cookies and get him excited about them. He
should be pulling on the leash or collar
and being a "bad dog." Don't use a Leave
it or Come command. Instead, keep your
dog revved up while restraining him and
pointing at those cookies, Hopefully,
you'll have to drag your excited dog away
from the target to start the exercise. Good!
To start, both of you are parallel to the
board with your dog between you and
the board, and his nose only about 6"
away from the end where the target is.
Restraining your dog at your side, keep
pointing at those cookies and talking excitedly to your dog, Who wants cookies?!
Want some cookies?! When he's pulling
and looking straight ahead, release your

Tuff n Up
Your Dog's Feet

While the dog is still eating, continue
delivering treats to the target. Keep your
position parallel to the board and drop
cookies with the hand closest to the dog.

dog to the cookies. Your dog should jump on the board and dive into position while
staying between the posts. He should have both front feet off the board and at least one
rear foot on the board when he stops to collect the cookies; if he chooses to have both
rear feet on the board, that's fine. If necessary, move the target a little farther away or
closer to the board to get optimal rear-foot positioning.
As you release your dog, move forward with him. If necessary, point the treats out to
him. While your dog still has his head down sniffing around from the previous cookie,
continue delivering treats to the target. Click and drop a treat onto the target several
times, as long as your dog is in position. Resist the temptation to face your dog while
putting food on the target. Keep your position parallel to the board and use the hand
closest to the dog to drop the treats. All the cookies should come from the target-not
your hand-to encourage the dog to stay straight and not stare at you.
Use your release word and toss a treat far enough away that your dog will come off the
board to go get it. If he stays put even when you toss a treat, take him gently by the collar and lead him off to get the treat. Always use your verbal release cue to have your dog
come off the plank, only use it once.
Here are some troubleshooting tips:

· If your dog loses rear-paw contact with the board, simply take him by the collar or

leash and set him up to try again. It's perfectly fine for your dog not to stay on the
contact at first. Right now you are aiming more to build excitement to get to the end
of the board and stop.

· Always have the dog get on the board while he's parallel to it. You want the dog to

understand to get in position not by backing up or getting on the board and turning
around, but by getting on parallel to the board and diving into position

Happy Howie's

Gourmet Meat Rolls
Preferred by trainers and their dogs

Day 1

Day 2

Protect your
dog's feet or
heal injured
pads quickly
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Clean Run | March 14

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Clean Run - March 2014

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