Clean Run Magazine - June 2007 - 63

6 As soon as the dog follows the stick a short distance, you can start to use the target stick to teach the dog to walk at your side. Use the intermediate bridge the whole time the dog is following the stick, and start with just a few steps. After the first time or two, add the cue Heel or Side. As you walk you can give the intermediate bridge while the dog is looking at and following the target, rather than actually touching it. As the dog becomes proficient, gradually make the target “disappear” up your sleeve until the dog is following along without the stick in evidence. Applying the Target Stick to Agility I have had great success using a target stick and intermediate bridge to teach young dogs the fundamentals of weaving. Whereas a dog following a lure through the poles can often become far too involved in the food and the hand holding the food to pay attention to the poles, a dog following a target stick is less invested in the handler being there, and more focused on the actual job at hand. I have also used the intermediate bridge through the weave poles without any targeting, using channel weaves, Weave-A-Matics (WAMs), or guide wires. Teaching a Front-foot Target What you need: Dog that is in the mood for treats A handful of tiny, easy-to-swallow treats A little platform Several sheets of heavyweight paper (the same size as the platform) The little platform should be no more than 6" high for a small dog, 12" for a large dog. It can be a phone book (if you live in an urban area with a big phone book), a cardboard box, a piece of wood, or anything else that the dog can comfortably place his front feet on while keeping his back feet on the ground. If the surface is slippery, cover it with something or wrap a couple of rubber bands around it so that it doesn’t slide across the floor when the dog steps on it. End result: A dog that will go to and touch a target with his front feet on cue. What to do: 1 Spend a minute or two running through all the things your dog already knows—finger touch, stick touch, walking with you, and so on. I do mean a minute or two, no longer. If you’re not good at estimating time, get yourself a little hour glass (some board games have them, so you can hijack one). platform from a slightly different angle (coming straight toward you, going toward your left, your right, facing the same direction as you, and taking a step forward away from you). 4 Move yourself so that you’re about half a body-length (your dog’s body, not yours) from the platform. Now your twofinger target will be more of a two-finger “point” toward the platform, although your dog will still be cueing in on the finger target. Practice Feet five times from five slightly different directions. Remember to Excellent as soon as his feet are on the platform! By now your dog is probably starting to get the idea and will step onto the platform without a finger target. 5 Place a sheet of heavyweight paper on the platform and send the dog to it a couple of times to familiarize him with the new surface. Use the intermediate bridge for approach and the terminal bridge when his feet are on it. If he’s comfortable with the new surface, move on. If he’s hesitant, work through all the steps you used to introduce him to the platform, but this time with the paper on it. 6 2 Place the little platform on the ground in front of you, just far enough away from you that the dog can step onto the platform while facing you without having his head smash into you. 3 Show the dog the platform, tell him Feet, then use a two-finger target to guide his nose so that he steps up onto the platform with his front feet. Keep your finger target ahead of his nose while guiding so that he does not make contact with it. Use the intermediate bridge while he’s following your fingers. The moment he steps onto the platform make your finger target go away by quickly putting your hand behind your back while saying Excellent and reward him. That will take his mind off the disappearing finger target, and the step up will draw his attention to his feet. Repeat this four more times, and each time have the dog approach the June 07 | Clean Run Remove the platform, leaving the heavyweight paper foot target where the platform was. Make sure that you put the platform out of sight so that you minimize confusion. With the dog and you quite close to the target, use a two-finger point and command Feet. Use Ex, Ex, Ex, Ex, Ex for the approach and Excellent the instant he steps on the target. Some dogs are not very conscious of what their feet are doing, and might be quite sloppy about foot position when there is no actual platform to step up on. If your dog is still sloppy after three or four sends, you might find it easier to wean the dog off the platform more gradually by simply placing lower platforms under the target, each time reducing the height, until the dog is comfortably placing his feet on the paper target directly on the ground. 63

Clean Run Magazine - June 2007

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