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Post by Laura on Jul 16, 2004 19:31:07 GMT -5
Ok, I'm a newb when it comes to agility, I think I'm learning with the dogs . My question is, are there specific commands for agility, or does one make up whatever works ? I just started working on the jumps, and I use the term "over", tunnels I use "through", etc. Also, I'm trying to keep from using food to lure them "over", "through", etc. ;D, but how do I get them to understand without it? Push them through bodily (kidding, Loki's 65 lbs. !)? But we mastered the jump this week!
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Post by Aussienot on Jul 16, 2004 20:59:14 GMT -5
Generally, you use one command for each obstacle or type of obstacle. You are free to use any command you want as long as you are consistent and the word comes naturally to you in the heat of a round.
Here are my personal choices.
I use 'Over' for all jumps - bar and spread.
I use 'Tire' for the tire jump just because it requires a different skill from the other jumping. The Weave poles are 'Weave', and the Table is 'Table' - hey I didn't say my choices were creative.
Tunnel and Chute are both 'Thru'. I also double up with 'Walk On' for the Dog Walk and the See -Saw, and 'Walk Up' for the A frame.
'Out' means push out to the far obstacle, and 'Side' means work on my right. The send away is 'Zoom'.
Here's the suggestion list my agility club provided.
Bar Jumps: Hup, Jump, Over Long Jump, Spread Jump: Hup, Jump, Over, Big One, Big Jump, exggerated O---V---E---R Tire: Tire, Hoop, Thru, Loop Weave Poles: Weave, Wiggle, Poles Open Tunnel: Thru, Get In, Tunnel, Zoom Chute: Chute, Tunnel, Thru, Swoosh Table: Table, Hup, Get On, Box, Place DogWalk: Climb, Walk On, Walk It, A Frame: Climb, Walk On, Ramp, Scramble, Frame See-Saw: Teeter, Walk On, Ramp, Work It Not sure about competition rules in the US. Here, in Obedience you have to use English commands, but in Agility you can use word or sound, and you can give the command repeatedly without penalty.
Great picture of the jumping. Loki's developing nice form.
To get the send ahead on multiple jumps, I used toys that I would throw over the obstacles ahead of Finn. You can also use treats inside a plastic film cannister. Not dog proof, but dog resistant.
Training the tunnel and the chute is easiest with two people. One holds the dog positioned at the opening to the tunnel at the enter side, the handler goes to the other side, bends down and makes eye contact through and encourages the dog through that way.
If you have a steady "wait" you can run a long line through the tunnel, leave the dog on one side, then guide in with the line.
With the chute, though much easier to get an assistant.
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Post by Laura on Jul 16, 2004 22:08:12 GMT -5
Thanks Linda! I'm having the most problem with the weave poles, the only way I can get them to go thru is to use a food lure, and after 2 weeks, it's still a project to get them to do it . I do use a clicker to mark every pole and try to treat only when the obstacle is completed, but it's like working with two village idiots , they seem to weave only when lured with food.
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Post by Aussienot on Jul 17, 2004 0:12:56 GMT -5
The weaves are the hardest element, and it often takes months to teach independent weaving. Dogs usually conquer the Dog Walk or the A frame in one session, but weaves are really work and a lot of practice.
It's the only element that is not somewhat natural. A dog will easily jump over something in its path and they like being up high on the contact obstaces (height = power). But a dog never sees a line of trees and thinks "Hey, it would be fun to zig zag between them".
There are three or four different style of teaching weaving, and different dogs learn better with some styles than others. I gotta stick up for your dogs on this one - I wouldn't necessarily class them in the 'idiot category' for another six or eight weeks.
Try only using three or four poles and use the food to lure until the weave-in/weave out motion is really cemented. What kind of poles are you using? The stick in the ground type, or the type of a base that can be leaned?
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Post by amyjo on Jul 17, 2004 9:12:34 GMT -5
In my agility class the weave poles were set up so the dog could run straight through and then gradually moved closer together...
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Post by Laura on Jul 17, 2004 14:01:03 GMT -5
Lin, you're right, I'm expecting way to much from them too soon, shame on me. As for the weave poles, I'm using the nice, cheap homemade ones out of PVC. I thought it would be better to make them to start off until they got the hang of it, then go and spring for the real ones. I do have them spaced pretty far apart at 23 inches, and I can swing them back on an angle for the learning curve. I'll just keep at it and give it a few months, not a few weeks.
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