Clean Run Magazine - February 2008 - 30

Step 3 Put a treat on the ground in front of your dog. Present an open hand for the dog to touch. Reward the dog for nose-touching your hand. Mix up your rewards by sometimes rewarding with a cookie from the ground and other times rewarding with a cookie from your person. Build up to a few cookies and then eventually many cookies on the ground. Step 4 Repeat Steps 2 and 3, with a toy in your hand and a toy on the ground. Sit-stay with Distraction Step 1 Put treats or a toy in your hand and let the dog know that you have it. Ask the dog to sit and reward him for doing so. If he paws at your hand or tries to steal the toy just ignore him and reward him when he sits. Work on this exercise until the dog sits immediately when asked and does not attempt to steal the reward. Step 2 After the dog sits, move toward him with the toy or food as if you are going to offer it to him. If he moves any part of his body (head, feet, back end) to try to get up to take the reward, remove it. Keep moving the item in toward him until he settles and does not try to take it. Say Get It and allow him to have the reward. Step 3 Put the reward (treats or a toy) on the ground in front of your dog. Any time he moves any part of his body toward the reward, remove or cover the item. When your dog settles, say Get It and allow him to have the reward. Build up to several rewards on the ground and start to mix up the rewards: Sometimes say Get It and allow the dog to have the food or toy on the ground, and sometimes pick up a cookie or toy from the ground (or from your person) and deliver it to your dog while he is still in position. Tugging with Distraction Step 1 Put treats in your hand and close your fist. Present your dog with a tug toy from the other hand and ask your dog to tug. Reward your dog with the food for tugging. Build up the duration of your tug. Step 2 Put treats in your hand and present an open palm with the treat in it to your dog. Present your dog with a tug toy from the other hand and ask your dog to tug. Reward your dog with the food for tugging. Build up the duration of your tugging. Step 3 Put a treat on the ground in front of your dog. Present your dog with a tug toy from the other hand and ask your dog to tug. Reward your dog with the food for tugging. Build up the duration of your tugging. Build up to a few and then eventually many cookies on the ground. Step 4 Add other toys to Steps 2 and 3. At first use a COURTESY OF MARY ELLEN BARRY Mary Ellen has been involved in agility for 13 years and has achieved the USDAA ADCH with her Border Collies, 12-year-old Zoe and 7-year-old Fizz. Mary Ellen and Fizz represented the U.S. at the 2006 IFCS World Championships in the Netherlands where they earned six placements including three Gold Medals. Both Fizz and Zoe have earned many placements at national events and have been Grand Prix and Steeplechase finalists, respectively. She is currently training her young Border Collie, E-Z. She has been an instructor at Say Yes Dog Training, as well as Clean Run and Power Paws Camps. She lives in Norristown, Pennsylvania, with her husband George, and offers private lessons and agility seminars. Contact her via mebarry@kineticdog.com. 30 lower value toy than the one the dog is tugging with. Build up to the point where the dog will tug with a low-value toy while higher value toys are in your other hand and/or on the ground. Clean Run | February 08

Clean Run Magazine - February 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - February 2008