Clean Run Magazine -May 2010 - 32

When you free shape your dog to automatically sit when you heel into the ring and stop in front of an obstacle, the entire context becomes the cue. Apparently, this is comforting for dogs. Many dogs find it very stressful to be told to Sit on the start line (and they really hate being physically manipulated), but they have

no problem at all with being free shaped to sit and wait for direction on the start line. Why? The difference is a mystery to me, but I guarantee you it’s true. Take a look at the same Rhodesian, after just 5 minutes of free shaping him to offer a sit on the start line:

It’s hardly the same dog, is it? Can you see how quickly free shaping an automatic behavior that is offered by the dog and not asked for by the handler works to build a connection? Comparing the two sequences of the IRhodesian, do you think he is going to have a better run after being set up the first way or the second way? It only takes a few minutes to completely change the picture.

A couple of things to note: First, the handler of the Rhodesian Ridgeback (who is setting him up in the first sequence) is a phenomenal trainer whose dogs qualify regularly in multiple dog sports. She’s put more obedience titles on dogs than I will ever dream of doing. So, it’s not as though if you lead your dog to the start line and push on his rear to get him to sit, you won’t ever qualify. But that doesn’t mean that you couldn’t get more out of your dog if he is freely offering behaviors instead being compelled/commanded to perform. This is why it is so exquisitely hard for people to see how important an eager and relaxed start-line performance is, because you can still qualify, even with a reluctant and stressful start-line performance. Be that as it may, you always do better with a beautiful start line. As I mentioned in an earlier article, don’t be fooled by the rules. “Qualifying” should not be your criterion (although that is your ultimate goal). Define the behavior in terms of a freely offered, relaxed, and connected performance, and then shape for that.
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Notes from the Start Line

Second, let’s say you already have trained a lovely start-line setup. What do you do if you get to a trial and everything falls apart? Your dog doesn’t connect with you, won’t heel into the ring on a loose leash, won’t make eye contact, or won’t offer to set up in front of the first obstacle. This happens to all of us and how you handle it is just as important as how you train the start line in the first place. Most importantly, don’t panic. If your otherwise welltrained dog is not offering a start-line setup, look at it as information. Accept the fact that there is some emotional interference/stress/learning deficiency surfacing, and you might not have such a great run. Start thinking in terms of training opportunities. I will still run the dog, unless I think it’s so bad that the dog won’t work for me at all. But I lower my expectations and focus on getting perfect execution of one behavior or trying one handling maneuver that I might have otherwise have felt too risky to try. You can still get a lot of pleasure and benefit out of your run this way, and it takes the pressure off you and your dog.
Clean Run | May 10

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Clean Run Magazine -May 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine -May 2010