Clean Run - August 2010 - 38

Break from Trialing
deciding when To Take a
The Realities of Retraining
Our dogs’ agility careers are relatively short. Most handlers start trialing their dogs when they are about 18 months old and an average age to retire our dogs from competition is about 10. Many dogs compete beyond that age, but others do not make it that far. And most of us are not lucky enough to go through our dog’s career without time off because of an injury to either ourselves or our dog. This means that on average we might get to compete for about eight years, with the highest level of competitive ability reached during the ages of three to eight. And lots of dogs don’t really hit their prime till age five. Taking a long break for retraining can take too much away from the
38

To ReTRain
By Nancy Gyes

You might consider retraining to speed up or make a skill more reliable or to totally change to a different behavior, or you might retrain because one of your dog’s behaviors is completely broken. Retraining is always harder than training a skill the first time because you have two projects: one is to make the old behavior go away, and the second is to replace it with a different behavior. The behavior your dog learned first can really interfere with the new skill you are teaching. So making the decision to retrain an agility skill can be complicated and there are many aspects to consider: the age and training level of your dog, the complexity of the training, how often you compete, if you have a national or other important event on a near horizon, and how the break from agility competition may affect your team.

limited time I get to spend competing with my dog. But I’ll describe one of the two retraining periods I have taken over the years with my dogs. Both occurred in the last two years. My most recent break was to retrain my A-frame contact from two-on/ two-off to running with my Border Collie Ace. I took two months off in 2009 to attempt this retrain, but that turned out to be too short a time to complete the project. Because I had important trials I didn’t want to miss, I gave up the retraining project. So this year I planned to work on the retraining from mid-November till March 1—a time period I thought sufficient to train and proof the new A-frame behavior. On March 1, I gave up and admitted defeat. I was close, but I still did not have a 100% reliable running A-frame. Ace is six-and-a-half years old. He is running well and in the prime of his life. I decided that I don’t want to give up any more competition time with him so we are back to two-on/two-off on the A-frame. I gave up competing for over four months, and my goals were still not met. I am not telling you the story to discourage you from retraining, but to share the realities of the training project. Here is why I believe I failed. My travel schedule did not allow me to train on a daily basis, and when I was home to train, winter weather sometimes stopped me. Also, even though I believed I was committed to teaching the running A-frame, I had lingering doubts that Ace could switch reliably, and I was also worried about doing the hundreds of repetitions necessary to teach the behavClean Run | August 10



Clean Run - August 2010

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

Clean Run - August 2010
Contents
Editorializing: For the Love of My Dog
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
What’s My Plan?
Train to Maintain: The Table
Work That Line! Basic Training for Distance Classes
Competition Preparation: It’s All in the Mind, Part 2
Challenges at CR Central
Deciding When to Take a Break from Trialing to Retrain
Can You Handle It?
The Surrogate Agility Dog
Tips for NADAC Weavers and Weave Pole Training
Pup Psych 101: Reinforcement Revisited
A Practical Guide to Getting on the Ball
Skill of the Month
It’s Your Turn! Cue #5: The Push-through
Tricks for Agility: Figure Eight and Weaving Through Legs
Nested Courses for a Small Universe
Clean Run - August 2010 - Clean Run - August 2010
Clean Run - August 2010 - 2
Clean Run - August 2010 - Contents
Clean Run - August 2010 - 4
Clean Run - August 2010 - Editorializing: For the Love of My Dog
Clean Run - August 2010 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run - August 2010 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run - August 2010 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run - August 2010 - 9
Clean Run - August 2010 - What’s My Plan?
Clean Run - August 2010 - 11
Clean Run - August 2010 - 12
Clean Run - August 2010 - 13
Clean Run - August 2010 - 14
Clean Run - August 2010 - 15
Clean Run - August 2010 - 16
Clean Run - August 2010 - 17
Clean Run - August 2010 - 18
Clean Run - August 2010 - Train to Maintain: The Table
Clean Run - August 2010 - 20
Clean Run - August 2010 - 21
Clean Run - August 2010 - 22
Clean Run - August 2010 - 23
Clean Run - August 2010 - Work That Line! Basic Training for Distance Classes
Clean Run - August 2010 - 25
Clean Run - August 2010 - 26
Clean Run - August 2010 - 27
Clean Run - August 2010 - 28
Clean Run - August 2010 - 29
Clean Run - August 2010 - Competition Preparation: It’s All in the Mind, Part 2
Clean Run - August 2010 - 31
Clean Run - August 2010 - 32
Clean Run - August 2010 - 33
Clean Run - August 2010 - Challenges at CR Central
Clean Run - August 2010 - 35
Clean Run - August 2010 - 36
Clean Run - August 2010 - 37
Clean Run - August 2010 - Deciding When to Take a Break from Trialing to Retrain
Clean Run - August 2010 - 39
Clean Run - August 2010 - 40
Clean Run - August 2010 - 41
Clean Run - August 2010 - 42
Clean Run - August 2010 - 43
Clean Run - August 2010 - Can You Handle It?
Clean Run - August 2010 - 45
Clean Run - August 2010 - 46
Clean Run - August 2010 - The Surrogate Agility Dog
Clean Run - August 2010 - 48
Clean Run - August 2010 - 49
Clean Run - August 2010 - 50
Clean Run - August 2010 - Tips for NADAC Weavers and Weave Pole Training
Clean Run - August 2010 - 52
Clean Run - August 2010 - 53
Clean Run - August 2010 - 54
Clean Run - August 2010 - 55
Clean Run - August 2010 - Pup Psych 101: Reinforcement Revisited
Clean Run - August 2010 - 57
Clean Run - August 2010 - 58
Clean Run - August 2010 - 59
Clean Run - August 2010 - 60
Clean Run - August 2010 - 61
Clean Run - August 2010 - 62
Clean Run - August 2010 - A Practical Guide to Getting on the Ball
Clean Run - August 2010 - 64
Clean Run - August 2010 - 65
Clean Run - August 2010 - 66
Clean Run - August 2010 - Skill of the Month
Clean Run - August 2010 - 68
Clean Run - August 2010 - 69
Clean Run - August 2010 - It’s Your Turn! Cue #5: The Push-through
Clean Run - August 2010 - 71
Clean Run - August 2010 - 72
Clean Run - August 2010 - 73
Clean Run - August 2010 - 74
Clean Run - August 2010 - 75
Clean Run - August 2010 - Tricks for Agility: Figure Eight and Weaving Through Legs
Clean Run - August 2010 - 77
Clean Run - August 2010 - 78
Clean Run - August 2010 - 79
Clean Run - August 2010 - 80
Clean Run - August 2010 - Nested Courses for a Small Universe
Clean Run - August 2010 - 82
Clean Run - August 2010 - 83
Clean Run - August 2010 - 84
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0920
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0820
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0720
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0620
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0520
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0420
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0320
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0919
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0819
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0719
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0619
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0519
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0419
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0319
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0918
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0818
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0718
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0618
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0518
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0418
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0318
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/comp-demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0106
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com