Clean Run - November 2013 - 44

erly. Let's look at the same training project where the handler took her time and
shaped a wonderful hold (The better you get at shaping behaviors the faster they go,
I promise.) The dog already has learned some of the middle section. He has learned
to reach his neck forward and open his mouth by his choice. He is much further
along and enjoys the work. But now the handler wants to pick up the pace and take
a shortcut in the middle: she tosses an object for the dog to retrieve. She thinks the
dog should be able to hold the object while running back to her because she took
the time to teach the beginning parts so well. If the dog doesn't make the learning
leap, he will start dropping the object before
he should. If the dog ends up being told he is
wrong more than he is right, he will begin to
not like the game anymore. This dog will have
a half-baked retrieve when he was well on his
way to a solid one. This dog's trainer will have
to go back and teach the dog that the hold
work is done in all positions (sit, down, stand)
as well as while walking, trotting, running, and
jumping up onto objects. In other words, she
will have to teach the middle of the project
that she tried to take a shortcut around. All
can end well, as long as the dog did not get
too turned off.

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Some dogs will have a light bulb go on and make the leap to understanding the hold as
a concept and not need to have the middle bits taught as thoroughly as another dog
(breed will play heavily into this). That is the case when shortcuts work in the middle,
when the dog is learning at an accelerated rate and/or has natural instincts (think retriever). It is up to the handler to judge her dog's comprehension in order to decide if
a shortcut could work or not.
The End
If a dog has been trained incredibly well, or if the behavior was part of his natural instinct, you may be able to get away with shortcuts at the end of the training
process-I mean the dog has the behavior ingrained in him and he loves to do it.
But, even in this case, a shortcut might not work. This end work is often known as
"prooﬁng" the trained behavior. Taking shortcuts at this stage of the project is common. The dog knows the behavior but he hasn't been given the chance to practice
and perfect the skill in enough scenarios to have complete comprehension. He
hasn't been "tested" with enough distractions or environmental changes to be able
to perform the behavior anywhere anytime. He won't be able to do the behavior
whenever he is asked to and his performance will become situational, often based
on location (the ole "but he does it so well at home or school" bit).

The Moral...
The moral of this story is that you need to start your training trip with a map (your
detailed plan) and take shortcuts at your own risk. If your dog is struggling more than
20% of the training time, chances are you are in the middle of a shortcut gone wrong.
You don't have to worry too much if your shortcut is a good idea or not, your dog
will let you know loud and clear. Take the responsibility at the end of the day, if you are
not getting a correct response from your dog-whether it is at the park, on the start
line, or during execution of an obstacle-chances are you cut the wrong corner at the
wrong time. Don't be like your Dad, look at the map or ask for directions! D

®

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44

Sandy Rogers founded ACE Dog Sports in San Francisco, California, in 1999. She has been competing nationally
and teaching obedience and agility since 1991. She has made the US team selected to compete at the World
Agility Open in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Jack Russell Terrier Quill brought home the individual gold and silver
medals in 2012. Her dogs have competed in all the USDAA and AKC National Championship finals multiple
times. She placed 2nd in the AKC Championships in 2012. Sandy also placed 3rd twice in the USDAA Grand Prix
(12" Quill and 22" Brink) and won 16" Speed Jumping in 2007 and 2008 and Performance National Standard
in 2007 with Brink. Sandy has two DVDs available Training the Extreme Dogs and One Jump Two Jump.
Clean Run | November 13
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Clean Run - November 2013

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