Clean Run - December 2011 - 46

Start-line Training
By Laura Derrett, photos by Samantha Dillard except where noted
© VICKI KING

Do you struggle to lead out from your dog on a course, worrying that as you step away from him, he is likely to bolt away any minute? Are you guilty of “Wait, wait, wait, wait...?” Oops! Off he goes, and there you are chasing behind. Do you admire the handlers who quickly set up their dog at the start line in exactly the direction they want their dog to go? Do you envy the handlers who can immediately set up their dog and step away from and walk (or even run) to the perfect lead-out position, two, three, four, perhaps even five jumps away? And all the while the dog is focused on the handler, staring intently, looking eager to start, yet not moving from the position the handler left him in? Reinforcing and rewarding behaviors that we want to establish or increase is the best way for humans to train to get the best out of our canine partners and have rock-solid behaviors. Many other stay or wait training methods use punishment, usually a combination of negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment, which can lead to

confused and stressed dogs that often display displacement behaviors, reiterating their confusion and stress. We have seen the dog that constantly moves on the start line, scooting his rear on the ground, stepping forward, and so on until he is just inches from the jump. It’s a wonder the dog makes it over the first jump without tripping, and half the time the dog self-releases as the handler is still walking out to the desired lead-out spot. Because these dogs never receive a reward directly from their handlers, the dogs may view the equipment or just running as their reward. Unfortunately many handlers consider this as motivation instead of seeing this to be what it really is, confusion. Oftentimes the dog that does not view the equipment as rewarding and is taught using punishment will show displacement behaviors such as licking his lips, yawning, sniffing, or looking everywhere but forward; and he sometimes just saunters off in the opposite direction while the handler is walking onto the course to lead out. If your dog

is giving you this information, be aware of it and realize it is very important so you can increase your reinforcement for correct behavior.

© VICKI KING

© CLEAN RUN

© CLEAN RUN

Stressed dogs often show displacement behaviors, such as sniffing, lip-licking, yawning, and leaving the course.

If you see any of these behaviors at the start line, it’s important that you increase your reinforcement for correct behavior.
Clean Run | December 11

46



Clean Run - December 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - December 2011

Clean Run - December 2011
Contents
Editorializing: It’s All About the Teamwork
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility
Backyard Dogs
The Science of Strategic Reinforcement: When, Where, and How to Reward
Challenges at CR Central
New Options in the Management of Elbow Arthritis
Fit to Be Tricked: Left- and Right-Foot Targeting
Combining Front Crosses
Agility Bloopers
How to Train Smart When You Can't Train a Lot
Teaching FOCUS and Impulse-control Classes: Week 8
Start-line Training
Ready, Set, Trial! A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Finish Line
Challenges for Rising Stars: Interval Training Revisited
Get Connected... and Stay Connected
Clean Run - December 2011 - Clean Run - December 2011
Clean Run - December 2011 - 2
Clean Run - December 2011 - Contents
Clean Run - December 2011 - 4
Clean Run - December 2011 - Editorializing: It’s All About the Teamwork
Clean Run - December 2011 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run - December 2011 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility
Clean Run - December 2011 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run - December 2011 - 9
Clean Run - December 2011 - The Science of Strategic Reinforcement: When, Where, and How to Reward
Clean Run - December 2011 - 11
Clean Run - December 2011 - 12
Clean Run - December 2011 - 13
Clean Run - December 2011 - 14
Clean Run - December 2011 - Challenges at CR Central
Clean Run - December 2011 - 16
Clean Run - December 2011 - 17
Clean Run - December 2011 - 18
Clean Run - December 2011 - 19
Clean Run - December 2011 - New Options in the Management of Elbow Arthritis
Clean Run - December 2011 - 21
Clean Run - December 2011 - 22
Clean Run - December 2011 - 23
Clean Run - December 2011 - Fit to Be Tricked: Left- and Right-Foot Targeting
Clean Run - December 2011 - 25
Clean Run - December 2011 - 26
Clean Run - December 2011 - 27
Clean Run - December 2011 - 28
Clean Run - December 2011 - Combining Front Crosses
Clean Run - December 2011 - 30
Clean Run - December 2011 - 31
Clean Run - December 2011 - 32
Clean Run - December 2011 - 33
Clean Run - December 2011 - 34
Clean Run - December 2011 - 35
Clean Run - December 2011 - 36
Clean Run - December 2011 - Agility Bloopers
Clean Run - December 2011 - How to Train Smart When You Can't Train a Lot
Clean Run - December 2011 - 39
Clean Run - December 2011 - 40
Clean Run - December 2011 - 41
Clean Run - December 2011 - Teaching FOCUS and Impulse-control Classes: Week 8
Clean Run - December 2011 - 43
Clean Run - December 2011 - 44
Clean Run - December 2011 - 45
Clean Run - December 2011 - Start-line Training
Clean Run - December 2011 - 47
Clean Run - December 2011 - 48
Clean Run - December 2011 - 49
Clean Run - December 2011 - 50
Clean Run - December 2011 - Ready, Set, Trial! A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Finish Line
Clean Run - December 2011 - 52
Clean Run - December 2011 - 53
Clean Run - December 2011 - 54
Clean Run - December 2011 - 55
Clean Run - December 2011 - Challenges for Rising Stars: Interval Training Revisited
Clean Run - December 2011 - 57
Clean Run - December 2011 - 58
Clean Run - December 2011 - 59
Clean Run - December 2011 - 60
Clean Run - December 2011 - 61
Clean Run - December 2011 - Get Connected... and Stay Connected
Clean Run - December 2011 - 63
Clean Run - December 2011 - 64
Clean Run - December 2011 - 65
Clean Run - December 2011 - 66
Clean Run - December 2011 - 67
Clean Run - December 2011 - 68
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0920
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0820
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0720
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0620
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0520
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0420
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0320
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0919
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0819
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0719
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0619
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0519
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0419
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0319
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0918
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0818
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0718
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0618
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0518
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0418
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0318
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/comp-demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0106
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com