Clean Run Magazine - June 2010 - 75

Developing Technical Skills
In the course of training handlers and dogs with different levels of experience and from an analysis of my own methodology it was apparent that the skills aspect of my own agility training was deficient, particularly in practicing specific technical skills. I set out to understand how I could be a better coach by looking at how these are taught in other sports. Generally I adopt a whole-part-whole approach to technique training. This applies as well to training the dog as it does the handler. The whole-part-whole technique suggests the first stage is to explain or demonstrate the (whole) technique to be practiced or taught. This is broken down into components (part) where each element is practiced sequentially and feedback given, after which the technique is practiced again (whole). This approach is repeated as often as is required until the technique has become fixed (Stage 5 in the learning acquisition chart). There is more to this type of training than simply breaking down the technique. As a result I have developed and adapted skills development guidelines the basics of which are outlined below. 1. Keep it short I generally try to break up technique training with rest periods for both the handler and dog. This is easier to do in a group situation than it is with one-on-one training because there is a natural tendency for individuals to have time to rest in a group situation. Keeping technique training short is essential for the handler and the dog to remain stimulated by the training environment. Another reason for keeping sessions short is to avoid fatigue: “Fatigue is the enemy of learning.” Watch any competitive sport to see how technique tends to break down when athletes get tired in competition. This applies equally to the training environment where both dogs and handlers get worse, not better, over a period of intense training, especially when it goes on for too long. 2. Training elements should be related The components of the technique being taught must be clear and be related; it is quite easy to confuse one technique with another. Before setting out to train a particular technique it is necessary to sketch out what you want to achieve and the sequence in which it will be taught, that is, demonstrate the technique, explain the components to be practiced, practice the parts sequentially, bring it all together and review the whole. Case Study 1............................................................................... I was watching an experienced instructor with a competent handler training a young rescue dog. There were four hurdles in a star shape with the jumps set at competition height. I could see the dog struggling to understand what he was being asked to achieve and the handler and instructor getting more and more frustrated about what was happening.

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June 10 | Clean Run 75

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Clean Run Magazine - June 2010

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