Clean Run Magazine - October 2007 - 47

Extend to 12 Poles Once your dog is consistently working 6 straight poles, it is time to work up to 12 poles. This phase usually takes two weeks, assuming you are training every day. To ensure success, reopen the channel to 3". Generally, this sets the weaves to the smallest open distance that offers the dog a visible line down the middle. For this phase of training, you must mark only the exit. By this point, your dog should know the straight-on entry. Remember to work the left and right side of the poles for each step. Put the dog in a stay about 15' from the first pole. Lead out to pole #6 and face the direction the dog is going as shown in Figure 8. 1 2 Release the dog and move forward with the dog, staying one pole ahead of the dog. 8 9 Yes! Toy The handler sends the dog ahead to find the entry. Using a channel of 12 poles spread 3" apart, put the dog in a stay 15' from the first pole while you lead out to pole #5, facing the direction the dog is going. Release the dog and move forward, staying one pole ahead of the dog. Mark the exit with a verbal Yes! and throw a toy ahead to reward the dog. The dog enters the poles independently. 6 Your final step is to do a send into 12 straight poles. Your dog should move ahead of you to hit the poles independently as seen in Figure 9. You can catch up with the dog at around pole #4 or #5. Then try to stay one pole ahead of the dog as you drive to the exit. Mark the dog’s exit with a verbal Yes and throw your reward forward. The handler catches up with the dog at pole #4 or #5 and then tries to stay one pole ahead of the dog. Troubleshooting Mark the exit at pole #12 with a verbal Yes and reward the dog by throwing a toy ahead of him. Keep the reward low to the ground to keep the dog’s head down. 3 • It is important to work in a quiet area. Do not add distractions. Toy • Do not progress to the next backchaining stage until your dog is consistently (meaning 100%) driving past pole #12. Anticipation can be a problem with 12 poles. Many dogs weave to pole #10 and then pop out, skipping the last two poles. Making your dog successful at 12 poles during his early training can prevent popping. Yes! The handler marks the dog’s exit with a verbal Yes and throws the reward forward. Over multiple training sessions, backchain one pole at a time from pole #6 to pole #1. As before, your last two backchaining positions are halfway between your dog and the poles and then starting even with your dog. Your dog should remain in the poles and should continue to drive to the end of the poles. Be sure to do each backchaining stage with the dog on the left and the right. Troubleshooting: If your dog skips a pole, remain neutral and try again. If he misses again, open the poles slightly and repeat the drill from the last successful starting position. 4 COURTESY OF JOE CANOVA • Do not get into the habit of reaching for your toy or food while the dog is still weaving. Dogs see this and start to pop out. Either wait until your dog is completely finished weaving to reach for your reward, or keep it well-hidden in the hand that is opposite the dog. At the advanced levels, we will be trying to pull the dogs out of the weaves with these distractions, but this is an advanced skill and not appropriate for this level. Notice I am only reaching for the toy after the dog is out of pole #12. • It is also important to mark only one behavior per training session. Be very clear in your mind what you are training. Entry? Exit? Drive? For that session, mark and reward a specific behavior. Do not reward other behaviors, such as waiting before the poles. Rewarding different behaviors dilutes the conditioning. When you have successfully worked through each backchaining position with the dog on your left and your right, you are ready to close up the poles more and repeat steps 1 through 5. As you continue repeating the backchain, you will reduce the spacing of the channel from 3" to 2", then 1 1/2", 1", 1/2", closed. 5 • When you are training completion of 12 poles the entries should remain easy so that you can isolate the finishing behavior. But if your dog starts missing the entry, isolate the behavior—go back a step or two—and mark and reward for several repetitions. Part 2 of this article will focus on dogs that already can weave 12 upright poles from a straight-on entry and describes the advanced weave mastery system. D Joe Canova, and his wife Ali Roukas-Canova are the owners of Mountain Freaks Agility in New Jersey. He is the author of the DVD, World Class Weaves. Joe is also a chiropractic physician. October 07 | Clean Run 47

Clean Run Magazine - October 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - October 2007