Post by Aussienot on May 30, 2004 23:31:43 GMT -5
JUMP THROUGH ARMS HELD IN HOOP
Uses
Good party trick. Good inside the house energy burner. Creates an interesting story behind your shoulder separation if performed badly.
Equipment Needed
One Dog that is 12 months or over, and is in a good physical condition to jump. Dog must be able to fit through your encircled arms with a little room to spare. (Otherwise, see shoulder separate above or Variation, below) Treats or a toy. A clicker if you use one.
METHOD
Step 1. A hallway works well for this. Go down in a crouch , with arm nearest the dog held straight out, very low to the ground. You want the arm low enough that the dog is always successful. Other hand holds food treats or toy Encourage dog step/hop to the other side of your arm. Use the food as a lure to encourage the motion, or throw the toy over your arm.
Reward 5 to 10 times for hopping/ steping over single low level arm, always jumping in the same direction. Don’t change the direction of the jump until you’re well advanced with the command.
Step 2. Now start putting a command on the action – I use ‘Thru’. When Dog is jumping reasonably on the command alone, fade the lure or treat. You'll need to keep a few treats at the ready on the floor beside you or in your pocket
Step 3. Start putting your now ‘free’ arm parallel to your jump arm. Don’t attempt to circle your arms yet – keep your two arms far apart but aim to get your dog used to having your arm above the jump space. Do this 5 to 10 times.
Step 4. Repeat step 3 at slowly incremented heights off the ground. Taking it SLOWLY and go back to lower heights if your dog is has trouble. Stay at each height for at least 5 rewards. Ensure your dog has enough room to rev up before the jump and enough room to land on the other side.
Step 5. When your dog is reliably jumping between your parallel arms at the desired height, drop the height back down by half, and gradually bring your hands together.
Go slowly with bringing your arms together and plan to do it over several training sessions. It’s generally clearest for your dog if you keep the bottom arm reasonably straight and encircle with the upper arm.
In this step, it might be helpful to have a helper bring back the food treat to lure the dog through a couple of times. The helper should center the treat right in the middle of your "hoop". This makes it really clear that the dog is to jump through. Remember, for the dog it’s jumping for both height and accuracy, so go slowly.
ADVANCED
Introduce dog to jumping from the other direction - make it easier by reducing height for a while before getting up to the optimum height.
Teach the dog to jump through one direction, turn and jump back through.
VARIATION
Jump through a hoop. Use essentially the same method to teach with a hoop. Use a hoop if your dog is too big for your arm span, or if you can't get low enough to give your small dog a sporting chance.
Uses
Good party trick. Good inside the house energy burner. Creates an interesting story behind your shoulder separation if performed badly.
Equipment Needed
One Dog that is 12 months or over, and is in a good physical condition to jump. Dog must be able to fit through your encircled arms with a little room to spare. (Otherwise, see shoulder separate above or Variation, below) Treats or a toy. A clicker if you use one.
METHOD
Step 1. A hallway works well for this. Go down in a crouch , with arm nearest the dog held straight out, very low to the ground. You want the arm low enough that the dog is always successful. Other hand holds food treats or toy Encourage dog step/hop to the other side of your arm. Use the food as a lure to encourage the motion, or throw the toy over your arm.
Reward 5 to 10 times for hopping/ steping over single low level arm, always jumping in the same direction. Don’t change the direction of the jump until you’re well advanced with the command.
Step 2. Now start putting a command on the action – I use ‘Thru’. When Dog is jumping reasonably on the command alone, fade the lure or treat. You'll need to keep a few treats at the ready on the floor beside you or in your pocket
Step 3. Start putting your now ‘free’ arm parallel to your jump arm. Don’t attempt to circle your arms yet – keep your two arms far apart but aim to get your dog used to having your arm above the jump space. Do this 5 to 10 times.
Step 4. Repeat step 3 at slowly incremented heights off the ground. Taking it SLOWLY and go back to lower heights if your dog is has trouble. Stay at each height for at least 5 rewards. Ensure your dog has enough room to rev up before the jump and enough room to land on the other side.
Step 5. When your dog is reliably jumping between your parallel arms at the desired height, drop the height back down by half, and gradually bring your hands together.
Go slowly with bringing your arms together and plan to do it over several training sessions. It’s generally clearest for your dog if you keep the bottom arm reasonably straight and encircle with the upper arm.
In this step, it might be helpful to have a helper bring back the food treat to lure the dog through a couple of times. The helper should center the treat right in the middle of your "hoop". This makes it really clear that the dog is to jump through. Remember, for the dog it’s jumping for both height and accuracy, so go slowly.
ADVANCED
Introduce dog to jumping from the other direction - make it easier by reducing height for a while before getting up to the optimum height.
Teach the dog to jump through one direction, turn and jump back through.
VARIATION
Jump through a hoop. Use essentially the same method to teach with a hoop. Use a hoop if your dog is too big for your arm span, or if you can't get low enough to give your small dog a sporting chance.