Clean Run - November 2019 - 9

times they were just saying nondescript
things like "come on" and "let's go."
They were not trying to say the most
significant verbal cue available, and
they weren't staying consistent with the
delivery of it.
Consistency was sacrificed because
they determined the dog no longer
"needed" it. When their dogs asked
questions (made errors), the handlers
changed the cuing to "help" the dog
stay on course, instead of sticking with
the pre-determined cue and getting
the dog to respond correctly to it.
I used the serpentine as an example,
but there are other configurations that
I want fluency in. These are the configurations that make up courses. I do the
repetition work on them set up in their
"classic" configurations using jumps and
tunnels to make a loop.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Straight lines
180s
270s
Boxes
Pinwheels
Threadles
Serpentines
Circles
Backsides

* Figure 8s
You will learn to recognize these configurations in courses. I look at handling
them the same way each time as my
job. I do not guess if the dog "needs" me
to do my job on that day or not; it's my
job, I do it.

When to Modify Your Cues
My goal is not to modify my cues; the
trouble is that judges are very clever
people, and they design courses that

are different all the time. Sometimes it
is difficult even to see the configurations, but the more consistent your
handling becomes, the easier it will be
to see the configurations and visa versa!
All of these configurations will have
variations from time to time that might
require some modification to your cue. I
only make a modification if I must do so
and then I am careful to base the modification in a cue that the dog already
understands. Meaning I "employ" another cue that the dog understands in
conjunction with the originally desired
cue. I can do this because I have a clear
understanding of what all my verbal
and physical cues mean to my dog.
It can be confusing to know when to
expect a dog to understand original cueing, when to modify the cue, and if you
need a new cue. Maybe this will help:
Remember when you first taught "sit"?
Even when your pup struggled with
it or seemed to forget it the next day,
you stuck with the cue "sit." You did not
try a different cue every time your pup
struggled. I think many agility handlers
change cues too often when their dog
asks questions, instead of just sticking
with the perfectly good original cue and
helping the dog understand it or making a small modification or adding additional cues the dog knows to help. The
advice of "just find what works" seems innocent enough, but it can backfire when
handlers keep changing cues every time
their dogs get slightly confused.

"WAIT! My Dog Hates Drilling"
If you or your dog hate drilling, it is for
good reasons! I do not expect every
dog to be able to do the same number
of repetitions. Even the same dog will
be different on different days, able to
get benefit from only the appropriate
number of repetitions. Here are some
of the differences between drilling and
repetition training:

* Drilling is boring. Repetition work is
fun-very fun, with lots of cookies
and toys and smiling.

* Drilling means the training went past
enjoyment. Repetition trainers know
when to stop; always before the fun
does, even if it is just a few reps for
some dogs or on some days.

* Drilling is sometimes done in the

initial training phase, which is never
a good idea.

* Repetition training is used to polish,
not create behavior.

* Drilling is dog skill driven. Repetition

training benefits both dog and handler,
maybe even handler more than dog.

* Drilling can have disappointment attached to it. Repetition does not; it is
meant to build consistency through
fun by being super easy.

* Drilling can result in fatigue, the root
of much evil for both dog and handler. Repetition work stops while the
team is still fresh.

* Drilling bores the handler; it is a

chore. Repetition gives the handler
more to do, not less.

This training should be enjoyable and
produce wonderful results. When I
made a commitment to cue as consistently as I possibly could my agility
game improved exponentially. By using
a simple loop and letting the dog pattern to it, I have a chance to focus on
each part of my body and what exactly
is coming out of my mouth. It is the best
way I know to better your timing skills.
I think it is fair to warn you that the dog
has the easier time of it with this work.
I think you will find yourself as challenged as I was to replicate your handling loop after loop. Doing this in class
is very fun. D

I think it is fair to warn you that the dog has the easier time of it with this work. I think you will find yourself
as challenged as I was to replicate your handling loop after loop. Doing this in class is very fun.

November 19 | clean Run

Clean Run - November 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - November 2019