Clean Run Magazine - November 2008 - 17

Sassie Joiris Of course there’s hope! The biggest challenge is allowing yourself to believe that he can do it. When you’ve got a dog that loves to use his nose, it might seem impossible to make yourself more fun and interesting than horse-farm smells, but you can do it. Change your perspective and treat agility training as a very special occasion you’re offering him, rather than something you’d like him to do for you. Bring an assortment of his favorite treats to class and only use those treats for training. Liverwurst, rotisserie chicken, sliced steak, and assorted cheeses are usually appreciated. When you’re not actively working (it’s someone else’s turn, the instructor is explaining, and so on), either crate the dog or tie him and let him think his own thoughts. When it’s his turn, show him the fabulous assortment of treats right away, before he Sassie trains animal actors for television and film as well as teaching agility. Her Norfolk Terrier, Ch. MACH Stamp RN JE, OAC, NJC, TN-N, aka Stamp, is the first Ch/ MACH in his breed. Her Whippet, Boing! NA, NAJ, is just starting to make her mark. Sassie teaches private students, classes, and the occasional seminar when she can get away from home. She can be reached at joiris@ix.netcom.com. gets distracted and starts to sniff, and start playing agility with him. Reward him often, as long as he’s in the game, and keep the session short—no more than a minute at first—ideally stopping before he wants to. End with a big cheer, a reward, and a promise that it will be his turn again really soon; then walk away from him until his next turn (wait at least a minute or two). Make sure that the entire time you’re working with him your attention is completely on him. If you need to discuss something with your instructor, reward him and put him back in his crate while you do it. Then take him out and try again. If he makes a mistake but he’s still focusing on you, assume that he just didn’t understand what you wanted and reward him anyhow. Right now, the most important detail is that he’s getting rewarded for working with you. Once he’s learned that paying attention to you is the most fun thing in the world, you’ll have plenty of time to fix any other problems. If, despite your best efforts and intentions, he does start to sniff, just walk over to him, clip his leash on, walk him to his crate, and give him a break. Take the attitude that if he doesn’t feel like playing, he doesn’t have to. But if he doesn’t feel like playing, he has to rest in his crate (or on his tie-out) until he’s ready to play again. Don’t try to bribe, cajole, beg, or force him to play; those tactics will only lead to his learning that sniffing gets rewarded. While he’s taking a break, don’t pay any attention to him; and if you can, make a big deal of how much fun you’re having without him. Soon he’ll want to join the party again, and in a short time he’ll understand that playing only happens when he follows your lead. D Brenna Fender is a freelance writer with an undergraduate degree in mass communications and a masters degree in elementary education. She lives with her husband, two young children, a Vizsla, a Whippet, and a cat. The dogs are collectively titled in agility, obedience, conformation, hunting, rally, and lure coursing. The cat, husband, and children are lacking in this regard. Contact Brenna at BrennaFender@gmail.com. Proudly made in the U.S.A November 08 | Clean Run 17

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Clean Run Magazine - November 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - November 2008