Clean Run - March 2012 - 42

5

12 o'clock

Putting the Behaviors Together
When my plunger work is independent and my dog knows how to run onto the flat plank, I am ready to work my entrances onto the board from all angles.

I separate myself from my dog (for example, I am at 3 o’clock and my dog is at 6 o’clock). Finally, I move with the dog so that I can proof with the distraction of my motion.

9 o'clock

3 o'clock

6'

6 o'clock

6

12 o'clock

9 o'clock

3 o'clock

Getting Started Set the plunger 6' from the board so that it is lined up with the inside corner of the plank as shown in Figure 5. This allows my dog the maximum amount of room to get on the board. For my first attempt, I set up my dog so that he is at 6 o’clock and I am at the end of the board. I recall the dog past the plunger toward me. I reward him between the board and the plunger. I then walk forward toward the board and allow him to get on and I reward him again. This is where I connect both parts of the behavior. I then start to work all my entries as I would my weave poles. Each time, I reward between the board and plunger and then I move toward the board to allow my dog to load on. If at any point my dog cuts the corner by not going around the plunger or leaps onto the board with two front feet, I tell him “wrong,” call him back, and ask him to try again. Once he is proficient, I no longer reward him between the plunger and the board, but just praise and move toward the board. At this point I move the plunger so that it’s placed at the corner of the board as shown in Figure 6. I work all the possible entrances again starting with the dog at my side and then

Working the Board at an Incline When my dog is successful at the previous stage, I put one end of the board on a table (a 16" table works great) so that it’s at an angle. If I don’t have a sturdy enough board to place at an angle, I just use the teeter and rest the approach end on the table. I overlap the end of the board on the table so that I have room for the dog on the table. I now do the same work that I did when the board was flat:

· · ·

Entrances with the dog next to me Entrances with the dog and I separated at different positions on the clock Entrances with the distraction of my motion

6 o'clock

Increasing the Incline Increase the table height to a 24" table. Again, I work my dog from all angles both at my side and away from my side.

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Clean Run - March 2012

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