Clean Run Magazine - May 2007 - 57

Adding to Duration Continue to work on your dog’s duration on the table and practice leading out to another obstacle—this skill will give you 5 whole seconds to get into position for the next sequence. A lead-out can help eliminate or soften some very challenging sequences where handlers get stuck because they cannot leave their dogs on the table. For slower handlers, that often results in offcourses or refusals. With all of your training skills honed for the table, on-course handling will be a breeze. Work all the different obstacles just as you did with the speed exercises. as well as the dog’s starting position while working on speed and duration with obstacles. More Proofing You need to repeat the proofing exercises now that you’re training with obstacles before and after the table. Varying Position Be sure to continue varying your position Table Games and Exercises Your table training is never done. Implement some of these fun exercises for continued proofing and maintenance. 360s This exercise is a great way to sharpen your dog’s skills for 360s and provides continued rewards on the table. Set up a jump and the table, side by side with about 4' between them. Start with the dog in a down on the table. Release the dog to the jump and call him onto the table. Reward with treats or a game of tug, then release and immediately start another repetition. Work in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, and keep the game moving quickly. Tire-Table 360s This exercise is a variant of the 360s exercise. It not only encourages a fast table performance but also lets you work on the dog performing the tire at different angles. Set up a jump and the tire, side by side with about 4' between them. Start with the dog in a down on the table. Release the dog to the tire and call him onto the table. Reward with treats or a game of tug, then release and immediately start another repetition. Work in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, and keep the game moving quickly. Tunnel-Table 360s This exercise allows you to work on your table performance while at the same time giving you an opportunity to proof your dog with an off-course possibility. Set up the table in the middle of a curved pipe tunnel. Start with the dog in a down on the table. Release the dog into one end of the tunnel and then call him onto the table as he exits. Will your dog do the table or continue into the tunnel again? Reward with treats or a game of tug, then release and immediately start another repetition. Work in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, and keep the game moving quickly. Handler Run-bys This is a fun proofing game. Run with your dog to the table, shorten your stride as you approach the table, and then continue moving forward while your dog stays on the table. Tugging to End Training Play, play, play with your dog on the table. End your training sessions with a fun game of tug on the table, and tug him right off the table with his wanting more. Make It Fun! As you can see, there are a lot of fun exercises you can do with the table. Although we, as handlers, might look at the table as being boring, it can (and should) be tons of fun for our dogs. Take the time to train the table and give this obstacle the attention it deserves. D Mary Champagne, who has been involved in agility since 1995 and teaching agility for the past eight years, has trained several dogs successfully in agility and competes locally and nationally with her two Border Collies, a Pomeranian, and her new Australian Cattle Dog. By day, Mary works as a canine rehabilitator at River Meadow Farm in Windsor, Connecticut (www.rivermeadowfarm.com). She is also co-owner of Criterion Agility located in the Hartford, Connecticut area. Contact her at mary@criterionagility. com, pawpower6@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.criterionagility.com. May 07 | Clean Run 57

http://www.rivermeadowfarm.com http://www.criterionagility.com

Clean Run Magazine - May 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - May 2007