Wrigley, snaking the weave poles in the Living Room
We have been working with our ‘weave poles’ in the living room. To begin with, it is hard for us all to remember that I (the dog) must always enter the weave poles from the left. I am not very good at knowing left from right and require someone to remind me. Eventually, I will know how I should always enter, but I am just learning.
We have been using cookies as a lure to lead me through the pole, while someone holds my leash (lightly). Today, we attempted to lure without holding the leash and eventually without a leash. By the end of our session, I was so focused on the lure hand, it no longer needed to be holding the cookie, of course I got a ‘yes’ and a cookie when I completed the poles.
Another thing we have been practicing a whole lot is touch. Someone holds out a hand and says ‘touch’ and touching it with my nose get me a ‘yes’ and a cookie. This exercise is really helping me to be very focused on hands as lures. This will help me in the future when I will need to be able to follow hand directions. When we are competing, I will have to follow directions from my handler, with out the benefit of a leash, lures (cookies or toys), or being touched. My handler will not be able to even touch obstacles when on course.
Tomorrow, Monday, I get to go to my second class. I plan to show off all my weave pole practice…I think everyone will be impressed!
By the way, my podcast is now available on iTunes.
