Clean Run - March 2012 - 63

Competition Nerves
We aren’t just talking about the handler here! Small dogs in particular can take quite a while to become confident enough to run fast in the competition ring. Dogs on the outside of the ring can have a big impact on a small dog, particularly if they are barking or staring at your dog or the weaves are near the edge of the ring.

competition ring than in training and this worries the dog. If you are getting stressed about the dog going clean then you are going to shout louder and more urgently in the competition ring than in training. If you want your dog to go fast for you then he must trust that you are never going to shout at him suddenly. You must let nothing go wrong for your dog in that ring and that includes your reaction to him. So an offcourse must get no reaction from you. For example, if your dog offers you an incorrect weave entry and you shout “NO!” and bring him back to restart the weaves, then next time he may well think twice before attempting the weaves on his own again; he may hang back and wait for you before entering. In other words you have stopped your dog from trying independent weave entries in the future because of your negative reaction on that occasion. I never say “no” in training or the competition ring since all this does is slow my dog for the future. So a part of your motivation program for your dog should be that he trusts you to always be positive with him, The handler reacting badly creates worry in his dog. whatever happens.

The competition ring can be a scary place.

In the agility ring the equipment is all different from what the dog is used to. For example, a dark tunnel is totally different for a dog to drive into compared to a lighter one. Seesaws often tip in different places because they aren’t all weighted the same. So much varies, but one thing you must never do, is vary for your dog. Handlers often act differently in the

In Conclusion
Just handing a dog a treat after finishing an agility sequence is highly unlikely to produce a dog that will go fast and drive at obstacles. Throwing a toy ahead with food inside as described above means that your dog will see a point in driving ahead. A chase aspect will also be involved. Teaching your dog to play anytime and anywhere when you initially get your dog is the best thing you will ever do. If you have this tool in your box, then you can overcome all manner of problems—from nervousness to lack of attention in class and much, much more. But the most important thing of all is to have fun teaching your dog to play! D

Dawn Weaver has been an agility trainer for over 25 years. She is a 7-time FCI World Team member, and a 3-time IFCS World Team member. She has won many gold medals with several dogs and has won the coveted 2011 Crufts in the large category with her dog Ag Ch It’s Easy with a Beezy (a Beardie-Border Collie cross). Dawn has won every major British final in recent years. Her Poodle Ag Ch Piquant Painted Sunshine has the most championship tickets of any dog in Britain, currently having 15. She is also the only dog to have won Olympia four years running and all the major Crufts finals. Ag Ch Tonring Just a Puzzle is the only Papillon in Britain ever to have become an agility champion and is the 2011 Crufts Singles winner. Dawn is the author of the training manual in the U.K., Knowledge Equals Speed! She also offers online handling and contacts video tuition via www.dawnweaveragility.com. To contact Dawn directly, send email to info@dawnweaveragility.com.

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Clean Run - March 2012

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