The process began with times when we were leaving for VERY short trips (15 minutes or less). Then we increased the lengths of time after several successful outings.  We’re now up to 6 hours of alone and free in the house time.

I can not stress enough how important it was for us and Wrigley that we set him up for success. He is always left with some fun treat. Sometimes it’s a KONG Classic Kong Dog Toy filled with peanut butter; or a nice meaty bone. We also have a puzzle toy (Food Cube Large Size) we fill with dry kibble. As he manipulates it, he is rewarded with food!  We are very pleased with the progress he is making and enjoy the fact that he does not have to spend time in his crate when we leave the house.

Gayle

Sitting with my doggles on my head

You see in my dog brain, I do not always make the leap from sit at the door to sit in the park (or anywhere else). My parents sometimes think this is because I have selective hearing, but the reality is I equate my action with the place. It takes a while for my dog brain to catch on that an action is just that an action and not related to a place.

This is why I get to go many different places to practice my training. The more places I go and train the more likely I will remember what I am supposed to do when the time comes. We dog are like some people, we can be easily distracted and we have short attention spans. We can be working along and then sudde….oh, look a squirrel

When you are working with your best pal, remember short training sessions and in as many places as possible….and remember, there is no obstacle you can’t get around if you’re willing to run, jump, tunnel or weave!

Wrigley
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Target Practice

As we discussed in my podcast, I spent a lot of time last week targeting. It is a fun and simple game. Basically, it’s a paper plate, or Tupperware lid with a treat on it. It started by having the target always in my sight, but we have now progressed to around corners or down the hall. We use the word scram as the command to send me away. We use it for many occasions, like sending me up or down the steps in front, or telling me to hop in the truck, actually, anytime I am working out in front. As always, you should choose the command word that works for you. Careful though, using ‘go’ as your away word may confuse your dog (it sounds a whole lot like ‘no’).

The idea is to have me (the dog) learn to go away from my handler. What we will do is make the place (target) smaller and smaller until eventually I learn to go on command without the benefit of a target. We are making sure to work in different area of the house, or yard so that, I do not become accustomed to the place but rather to the target. The idea is to have me understand the concept of scram rather than the place of scram. It’s a fun game for everyone (people and dogs) that can be played anywhere. Try it!

This week in addition to practicing the scram game, and snaking my plungers, I am working on the balance beam (AKA dog walk). We have taken two cinderblocks and an eight foot, 10 inch wide board and made a plank for me to walk –ARG, Matey J It is an easy way to give me practice keeping my balance on the narrow walkway. The weatherman says rain, so we’ll be moving it into our sunport (AKA screened in porch) for practice in a dry environment.

And remember, there is no obstacle you can’t get around if you’re willing to run, jump, tunnel or weave.

Wrigley

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.

Our New Weave Poles

We have invested in our first agility equipment. We went to the Dollar Store and invested $5.00 +tax in ‘weave poles’! OK, to most people they may look like plungers (or Plummer’s friends) but for us, they are an easy beginner’s way to practice the weave poles.

 Our new ‘weave poles’ were placed 24 inches apart. The rules say they should be 20″-24″ with 22″ being optimal. We decided that as beginners 24″ gave us the most ‘learning’ room.

We all had great fun practicing our weaving techniques in the living room. The important thing for us to remember is that although we are all very excited to train, we do not want to train so long at each session that it is no longer fun. We are limiting our training to 15 to 20-minute sessions a couple of times per day. We still want more at the end of each session and therefore are anxious for the next time we can train.

And remember, there is no obstacle you can’t get around if you’re willing to run, jump, tunnel or weave.

Wrigley

 Class was great fun, I completed all the obstacles as well as anyone else in my class (I may have been better than some, but I don’t want to brag). So far, my favorite parts (aside from all of it) are the tunnel and the tire. I think it might be because, no one holds my leash when I run through them.

Wrigley, Snaking the Weave Poles w/ Gayle

I hear that we might be making some weave poles here at home to practice. My teacher said the weave poles were the hardest part for a pup to learn, because it is not something we would ever do in the wild. I am sure someone will write more on the technical issues later this week.

[podcast]http://www.agilityspot.com/podcasts/VA020_016KBPS_091102_200655.MP3[/podcast]

Enjoy my podcast. 

And remember, there is no obstacle you can’t get around if you’re willing to run, jump, tunnel or weave.

Wrigley