Clean Run - December 2012 - 39

In CU we work on creating a conditioned emotional response to the mat—the dog should feel safe and relaxed while on the mat. We can then use the mat to elicit the emotions associated with it in locations that would otherwise bother or excite the dog

Look at That Game

While the dog is still on his mat we can play the Look at That game, where the dog is rewarded for “pointing out” a trigger such as another dog to his person. The dog glances briefly toward the other dog and then back to his handler for a treat. The dog learns that when dogs approach him, or run past him, or play tug near him, or whatever, as long as he is on his mat he can remain in a relaxed state. He can notice the other dog but then focus on the handler while taking deep breaths. We can also teach the behavior sequence of “see the dog, quickly turn back to me” while the dog is walking with us or sitting next to us, not just on his mat obviously.

see it and then she gave his Go to Place cue. Although Scoop could see my dog Easy sitting in the ring in front of a jump, he was still able to go to his mat and lie down. He would not have been able to lie down if Easy had already been moving. When working on this type of training, you have to know the dog and break things down into small pieces so that he can succeed without frustration. If the dog goes over the top at any point, it’s information that you need to lower your criteria—in other words, make the job a little easier and then work your way in baby steps back to what you were doing before. I kept moving the mat farther into the entryway, and closer to the start line in the ring, so that every time Pam walked backward she went a step or two farther before giving her mat cue. It didn’t take long for Scoop to be able to go all the way through the entryway and then lie calmly on his mat, noticing Easy in the ring and quickly looking back at Pam expectantly for a treat. So I placed the mat closer to the start-line jump and worked on Scoop being able to go all the way to the start line and lie on his mat, with Easy still in the ring (facing the last jump). Since Scoop did so well with this, I started having Pam walk next to Scoop, giving the mat cue as they went so that he was focused on getting to his mat. For this step, I put the mat back where we started, a few steps before the entryway. Soon Scoop was able to walk calmly next to Pam and ignore Easy, even with the mat placed at the start line.

Reframing Going to the Start Line

I set up a mock agility ring using gates, and I created an entryway into the ring with gates—the way rings are often set up at our local trials—for Scoop and his owner Pam to walk through in order to go to the start line. I had my own dog waiting inside the ring (facing the last jump closest to the exit on the other side of the course) to do an exit sequence. I put Scoop’s mat near the beginning of the entryway. Rather than trying to get Scoop to heel into the ring, which Pam had not been successful at, I had Pam step in front of Scoop, facing him, and take baby steps backward toward the entryway (and the mat), treating Scoop as he followed her. When she reached the mat, Pam turned to the side so that Scoop could

BLIND CROSSES
Y

What foundation training should be in place before you begin training blind crosses. Training a strong blind cross cue. The importance of timing when using a blind cross. Applications of where you might use a blind cross. Explanations of why I would prefer a blind cross in certain sequences. Actual trial footage of my use of blind crosses with slow motion clips and explanations... And more!

HANDLING SYSTEM B D

Training Running Contacts with Stride Regulators
Available at www.cleanrun.com and www.strideaheadagility.com 39

Also available from Barb Davis

December 12

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Clean Run - December 2012

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