Clean Run - July 2010 - 68

Can You Find a Pattern in the Entry Problem? I recently worked with a client whose dog could complete the Weave Pole River, had done the entry work described in both Mary Ellen Barry’s and my articles, but still would not dig in and hit a weave pole entry in competition. I set up 12 poles and worked the entries from Mary Ellen Barry’s article. I found the dog made no attempt to enter correctly if the handler was standing still, ahead of the first pole, which replicated the missed weave pole entry that was occurring in competition. This dog could collect and enter correctly with two and four poles, but unable to do this with six and 12 poles. Using six poles and working entries with no handler motion became the starting point for his training.

the dog is on my right there will be an even number of poles ahead of where I put the dog in. I use different colored tape on poles #7 and #8 to help me quickly identify where to reload the dog. By reloading the dog in this way he can weave past the point where he popped out and continue to the end of the poles. Although I do not reward, when I redo the weaves, the dog rarely pops out at the same place and I can reward the dog for weaving the full set of weave poles.

The dog is on the handler's left and he pops out after pole #10. Reload between poles #7 and #8 (with an odd number of poles ahead). Reward for completing the full set of poles.

The dog is on the handler's right and he pops out after pole #9. Reload between poles #6 and #7 (with an even number of poles ahead). Reward for completing the full set of poles.

Have You Trained with Different Weave Pole Spacing? My young dog Gifted had some problems the first time he competed on 24"-spaced weave poles at an AKC trial. He had been used to training on 20" and 21" poles and left the poles at pole #10. Even in his short time weaving he was not used to the extra 44" length of the wider spaced weave poles. In addition to training on wider spaced poles, I placed a set of two poles beyond the set of 12. This encouraged him to look ahead for more poles. If you have not shaped your dog to go to a set of 2 poles, do this first before adding them to this exercise.
It was very apparent the dog was entering at the pole just ahead of the handler's position. This is caused by the handler always being behind both the plane of the poles and the dog, when the dog enters the weave poles.

A note on weave pole spacing: I compete in both USDAA and AKC and until USDAA changes their specifications for weave pole spacing I continue to train young dogs on 20"-21" poles until the dogs are sequencing 12 weave poles. I then mix up which sets of poles I use in a training session. Can Your Dog Stay in the Poles if You Increase Your Lateral Distance? Many dogs can find their entries but pop out of the poles if the handler gets too far away laterally from the weave poles, therefore limiting handling choices. To work on this skill, set up the poles and set up a line of cones at the beginning and end of the weave poles, spacing the cones every 3'-4'. You will use these cones as a guide for your handling path so that you maintain the same lateral distance from the poles. Start with the cones closest to the poles and gradually move your path farther from the poles with success. Remember to throw your toy or treat to the dog as he finishes the poles.You are rewarding your dog for staying away from you and remaining in the poles, not for leaving the poles and coming to you.

Popping Out Some dogs just seem to be in a big hurry to move on past the poles and pop out somewhere toward the end. Often when the handler puts the dog back into the poles, the dog repeatedly pops out and the handler is forced to alter her behavior somehow to keep the dog in the poles. Therefore, she is managing the problem not solving the problem. Here are some of the solutions I have been successful with. If the Dog Pops Out Before Completing the Poles If a dog pops out of the poles before completing the poles, I put the dog back into the poles just before where the error occurred. Often the dog will pop either before or after pole #10 depending on which side he is on. If the dog is on my left there will be an odd number of poles ahead of where I put the dog in. If
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Training lateral distance using cones to keep the handler parallel to the weave poles.
Clean Run | July 10

Clean Run - July 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - July 2010