Clean Run - December 2012 - 61

Look at “odd” things also: brooms, fly swatters, popping bubble wrap, chasing bubbles, poop scoops, used rodent bedding... yes, whatever works! Does your dog have access to all types of reinforcement all day? Until recently I have never had to restrict my dogs access to toys, other dogs, or exercise, but my youngest dog believes he has a “trust fund” lifestyle. He is also the first dog raised on a property with four acres and someone else to entertain him at will. Restrict your dogs activity before your training sessions. This advice isn’t just for the lower drive dogs, it helps with the high drive dogs also. Although exercising your high drive dog before training may help with focus initially, once you start competing your dog may not be able to get enough exercise at a show. At some point it is better to train the dog that you have at a show, not the exercised and tired out dog that you only have at home. Additionally exercise will increase fitness and stamina, meaning you may have to keep increasing the amount of exercise to get your dog to the same level of fatigue. Is your placement of reinforcement helping you reach your goal? Evaluate how and where you reward your dog. Dogs that need more speed often need “permission to pass” you. It is easy to outrun these types of dogs; therefore, they are constantly reinforced for being behind or alongside you. Change your placement of reinforcement and make sure that your dog is rewarded when he is driving forward and ahead of you. When trying to build drive in a dog do not to turn in toward the dog when rewarding him. Even if you are out ahead of the dog, keep running forward until the dog comes along side you and then back up/slow down and allow the dog to run past you. Either reward forward by throwing a toy or food or by allowing the dog to jump up at the front of you. For dogs that lack handler focus, running wide and often going off-course, the reinforcement at the end of an exercise or

course should not be to throw a toy out to where the dog is, but rather to encourage the dog to come back to you. These dogs will often run off toward their leash or toy if it’s left on the ground, but they should be encouraged to recall to you, who should then get the reward and give it to the dog.

General Behavior 24/7
Is there a day-to-day situation where you can see a version of your agility problem? Attempt to find a situation where you can see a similar behavior to the one you are trying to solve so you can work through the problem away from agility equipment. For example, one of my dogs didn’t like her body touching weave poles. I also noticed that she wouldn’t go into or out of her crate or ex-pen if the door was partially open and she had to push it open. I was able to work on the problem at home, desensitizing her to touching crate and ex-pen doors. Some other examples: often leap up stairs, · Dogs that miss the up contactthese dogs to run up missing the first few steps. Teach each that lack at the start · Dogstable oftenimpulse control many otherline, contacts, and cannot stay in exciting situstep.

ations. Place your dog in a stay and then see if he can maintain his stay while you: 1) prepare his food and walk to another room with the food bowl; 2) let another dog jump into a pool or chase the hose; and 3) sit in your chair while another dog is running.

For some dogs it may be the removal of the leash that creates the lack of control. Make sure you rehearse removing your dog’s leash and replacing it several times before you release your dog to something fun. For dogs that leave the you to visit with other dogs, ring crew, or investigate objects or smells, train your recall everywhere and recall your dog from everything. Immediately before entering the ring, practice calling your dog away from dis-

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Clean Run - December 2012

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