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Post by masha on Dec 6, 2005 12:14:26 GMT -5
I just started trying to teach my Ana to distinguish right from left. I would like to be able to tell her go LEFT and she takes the jump/ tunnel entrance /whatever on the left, or just generally focuses to the left.
What tricks are there for this? I am just putting down two objects, saying LEFT or RIGHT and clicking if she touches the right one? Any tips on this?
Also generally, tips for getting her to work away from me, Go On and so on?
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Post by Aussienot on Dec 9, 2005 18:04:41 GMT -5
The Greg Derrett video " Agility Foundation Basics" shows a game to teach left and right. Use two toys or food to circle the dog left and right in small circles using the directional command for that direction. Remember it's the dog's left and right - not yours. Have the in front of you, facing away from you. Derrett uses 'near' and 'close' rather than left and right, because in the heat of a run, it's hard to translate the dog's left and right from the direction you are facing. At least for us spazes it is.
I taught Finn to run out left or right by throwing a food reward toy in the direction and giving the command. But over time what I discovered I had actually taught was to run in the direction of the toy, or in the direction my hand was pointing when I was about to throw the toy. So I used that rather than traditional directional training. I use "Out" and a hand signal point to send away directionally, and "To Me" and a hand signal to bring close directionally.
Using a hand signal for a directional requires the dog to be handler focused rather than obstacle focused. But usually when you want the dog to avoid a trap or change direction, you need have handler focus anyway. So I don't see that as a drawback.
And for me as a handler, a hand signal pointing to where I want him to go works much easier. I can always point in the direction he should go without having to work out if it's right or left.
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Post by Brooke on Dec 10, 2005 21:20:56 GMT -5
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Post by beardiegirl on Jul 22, 2006 12:49:43 GMT -5
Just a question about "left and right"... is it absolutely necessary? Can my dog just look at me the whole time and I give him hand signals, like pointing? Brooke... I agree, how do those dogs remember?? They don't have their little "tricks" to distinguish left from right...
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Post by Aussienot on Jul 22, 2006 18:21:52 GMT -5
OOOOOH I can answer this one! Coincidently I was working with Sailor on this just last night cuz I was bored. I had just read the article in July Clean Run about teaching left and right (hint, hint) and wanted to see if I could do it their way with my non agility dog.
We humans know left and right are directionals, but I don't think dogs grasp the concept of spacial geography. For Sailor, it's clearly two different tricks. Just like she can differentiate between 'roll over 'and 'play dead' which both involve lying down. Or just like Finn can differentiate between 'Lassie' and 'Wave' which both involve holding the paw in the air.
Left and Right are similar but require different body movements to execute. 'Left' means lead out with your left foot turn your head toward it and lean in that direction. 'Right' means lead out with your other foot turn your head and lean your weight to your inside foot.
And is it absolutely necessary? No.But it's certainly nice to have, particularly in advanced agility and games like gamblers. It's also kind of a fun thing to teach and it impresses people that your dog seems to know left from right. If I were a better handler with a slower dog I'd probably teach it.
I'm with Brooke on being a spaz at working out which is the dog's left and right when I am running under pressure. If Finn had a better handler I'd probably use them. (It's like Greg Derrett says, Great dog, shame about the handler). For me, 'Out', 'To Me' and 'Zoom' are the most useful directionals. But I fully admit I'm compensating for me!
In obedience you tell the dog want to do and when, where and how to do it. You need handler focus all the time. In agility, the dog can't be looking at you all the time. In agility, you tell the dog what to do, and he has to work out when, where and how to do it.
Agility requires working away and being able to switch from handler focus to obstacle focus. Most of the time you want the dog working in obstacle focus, not looking at you.
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Post by kaos on Aug 10, 2006 19:30:12 GMT -5
I'm with Brooke on this one - have to stick to pointing when giving directions to my husband in the car otherwise I wonder why he hasn't turned as we sail past the desired road 'ah, other left' he sighs sarcastically
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Post by masha on Aug 30, 2006 9:42:54 GMT -5
Yes - I've figured this out by now too. I have enough to do remembering the course, remembering what command to shout for which obstacle ("tunnel-I-mean-walk-I-mean-wiggle-I-mean-SEE SAW!"), not running into any obstacle myself, having the correct body language, and not tripping over my dog to start thinking about left and right. Thanks for the advice!
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