Clean Run Magazine - October 2009 - 31

If your dog takes off-courses and shoots around the course with too much obstacle focus, do a few jumps with controlled recalls and rewards immediately following your dog’s quick response to his name or recall command. When You Can’t Do Your Warm-up Routine What happens when you can’t do your warm-up routine? Sometimes you need to cut your routine short or skip it entirely. While I would not encourage you to skip the physical part of preparing your dog for a run, you could experiment in a class situation or at an agility match with running from crating to the ring, without an extra moment to focus your dog on his job. Step to the line and get your dog and yourself ready in 10 seconds or less. Don’t let the short prep time throw off your own concentration. Get your dog used to going to work quickly without all the wake-up time. You may be surprised that your dog has more energy to spend in the ring working instead of worrying. Training Skills Generally my warm-up also consists of working specific skills for the upcoming class. Before the Standard agility class I find somewhere to practice my dog’s two-on/ two-off behavior, like a step or ramp that simulates the contact equipment. I tug with my dog in the two-on/two-off position and ask for nose touches that I can reward with treats. Before a Snooker class I do fast-paced heelwork in straight lines and circles, rewarding my dog for attention and for tight turns if the course calls for working closely at my side. Before distance challenges I reward sendouts on the practice jump with a tossed toy. The more control I need on the course, the more likely I am to do obedience, asking for calm responses to my commands and using food rewards. For a Gamblers class where I am happy to have a dog that is pumped so I can proof contacts and go for speed, I’m more likely to play with my dog in a more excited fashion and use my tug toys. If my dog looked like he was ready to bust the start line on our previous run, I proof my stays and releases before I walk in the ring for the current run. If a class calls for specific criteria on obstacles, I may ask for more specific criteria of my dog before the run. Experiment! Experiment with your routine and pay attention to the results of your effort. If you change the routine before every class, you likely will not see as much benefit as if you try a routine for a full day or weekend. Try to rethink what you are doing and why. Be critical of your techniques and have a good reason for doing what you do before your run. Each dog is different and needs a warm-up designed specifically for that dog. A few times a year take a critical look at your dog’s show record, what your habits are before your runs, and consider if you need to adjust: More exercise or less? More play or more stays? Is your dog continuing to improve in his performance or has he stagnated? Talk to your instructor about what your routine should include and keep an open mind about changing any repetitive or superstitious behaviors that have no real purpose. Have fun thinking about getting the most from your dog and yourself in the ring by using an improved warm-up routine. D Using Treats before a Run Count the number of treats you give to your dog before you go in the ring, for nothing more than hanging around at your side. Use food judiciously and for speedy and correct responses to your directions; don’t overfeed before a run. Use really great food for treats, not just the same old hot dogs or tiny packaged tidbits. Get creative with the steak and liver cookies. I find when I use higher level treats, I get better responses from my dogs. Nancy Gyes and her husband, Jim Basic, run Power Paws Agility in San Jose, California. Nancy has been the AKC World Team Coach since 2006, and has been on the AKC World Team seven times, four years with Scud and three with Riot. Nancy and Riot finished 1st in 2002 and 2nd in 2001 in Individual Agility classes at the FCI Agility World Championships. Nancy also won the USDAA Nationals four years in a row, 1998 to 2001, with three different dogs: Scud, Riot, and Wicked. In 2001 and 2002, Nancy and Riot were the 24" jump height AKC National Champions. Contact Nancy at www.powerpawsagility.com where you can also view other articles and videos. The Crunch ‘N’ Tug “Most dogs love to crunch on an empty water bottle, others love the feel of a fleecy exterior. This toy has both. I love it because once you remove the water bottle, it folds flat for easy packing. Plus the bungee makes tugging easy on my back (and I’m sure on my dog’s body as well!).” Susan Garrett,Twister, Buzz, Decaff & Encore Bunny Toys, Magic Pockets, Fleece, and More! Made to Last • www.dogdreamstoys.com October 09 | Clean Run 31
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Clean Run Magazine - October 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - October 2009
