Clean Run - September 2011 - 38

Crate/Ex-pen Work This week we will focus on sending the dogs into the open crate/ex-pen from a distance. By now we have established that going into the crate is highly reinforcing. Now we will use the concept of backchaining to increase the distance of the send. Start with a few easy repetitions with the trainer close to the open crate door. Click as the dog enters and provide the reinforcer inside the crate/ex-pen. Then use a verbal release and take a step or two away from the open door with the dog. Turn to face the crate/ex-pen door and wait. Most dogs are very quick to ﬁgure out that they need to move away from the trainer and go back into the crate/ex-pen to get reinforced. Once your dog is in the crate/ ex-pen click and go back to give him his treat. Remember that food placement is very important! The trainer should take or toss the treat to the dog and should not let him come back out to get the treat. Trainers can continue to take a step or two away between each successful repetition. If the dog seems to get confused

or becomes unsure, take a step or two closer and reinforce at that level a few times before moving farther away again. Mat Work This week our mat work is focused on the same skill as our crate work (sending from more and more distance). Proceed in exactly the same manner as described above. If the dog seems to get stuck focusing on the trainer it’s ﬁne to take a step back toward the mat and give a release cue such as O.K. to give him permission to move away. Even puppies can learn FOCUS skills: nine-week-old Star leaves her trainer and heads to her bed

CLASS WRAP-UP
There is a carefully planned “method to our madness” in terms of our choices of training exercises for each class session. This week it is easy to see that the ﬁrst two exercises (offered focus and restrained recalls) are designed to increase the dog’s focus toward and responsiveness to the trainer. The last three exercises (two treats game, crate work, and mat work) focus on sending the dog away from the trainer. These two different types of exercises lay a foundation for handler focus and obstacle focus in later agility training. We want to balance these two types of exercises to help our dogs develop wellrounded skills. Focusing on the trainer and responding to direction is vitally important, but so is learning to move away from the trainer with conﬁdence and speed. These basic skills are important in other dog sports as well. For example, in ﬂyball, dogs must have an excellent fast send-away and a speedy recall. In the Open and Utility levels of competition obedience the dog must move away from the handler to perform certain exercises (retrieves, scent discrimination, directed jumping) and then return promptly. So even though these exercises don’t yet resemble the ﬁnished products, at this foundation level of training they are an important step in the right direction. D

Eddie conﬁdently leaves his trainer and drives into the open ex-pen

The big challenge in teaching offered focus is helping the trainers to truly understand that asking for or compelling focus (or attention, or eye contact) is not the same as allowing focus to be the dog’s decision.

Deborah Jones, PhD, has taught a wide variety of psychology classes at Kent State University at Stark (North Canton, Ohio) for 15 years. Her specialties are learning and social behavior. Deb enjoys participating in dog sports and has earned advanced titles in agility, obedience, and rally on sporting, toy, and herding dogs. She is co-author (along with Judy Keller) of the In FOCUS books and DVD series.

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Clean Run - September 2011

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