Clean Run - October 2011 - 65

what works for you and your dog as a team. Some dogs need toys to build drive and I am all for that, but I don’t believe it should be a “must” for every single dog. Using Treats for Training The most common thing I hear when I talk about using food treats for training is that it will teach my dog to stare at me. Some of the most amazing dogs I know are trained with 100% food; it is all in how you use it. When I am first starting to train a behavior the food will almost always come from me, depending on what I am asking the dog to do. As the behavior training progresses, I then start asking the dog to target. I use a clicker and a target in all of my training. With targets I do not put food down on the target plate. I teach my dogs to touch the target. Sometimes after touching the target they will come back to me, and sometimes they will go on to another target or to an obstacle. The Moving Wait and Treat Delivery My secret weapon in my training is the moving wait. (Video clips of a moving wait can be found on my website, www.ﬂuidmotionagility.com/videoclips.cfm.) A moving wait is where I ask the dog while he is running, either between obstacles or

targets, to stop or wait. I am not asking for a certain position, such as lying down or sitting. I am just asking the dog to stop. For example, let’s say I am working on a pinwheel and my dog just performed it beautifully. I want to reward him for it, so I tell the dog Wait and then I run out to him to treat him. After I have given him the treat, I then return to my original position and ask him to continue if there is more to the sequence or just finish over the last jump. This accomplishes many things at the same time: I can give the reward to the dog while he is out away from me, not having to always bring him to me for a treat, which can lead to his focusing on me. This is also the first step in building confidence for distance work. Most handlers ask their dogs to come into them for a reward, for tugs and treats both. Everything that is fun always happens right next to you. I want my dogs to know that if they do something great, I will run out to them to give them a treat; they don’t always have to come to me. This is an amazing confidence booster and the very first step to having a great distance dog. The moving wait also helps me with the delivery of the food treat, because the dog never views the moving wait as a negative. (The dog sees it as “Here she comes! I must be awesome!”) I can ask the dog to wait after he has done something I want to reward for, contacts, weaves, a great sequence, and so on.

Using Targets I also use a lot of targets in my training sessions. By using the clicker I teach my dogs to touch the target with either their nose or with their feet. I then do some basic target work by asking them to move farther away from me to touch the target. I then start bringing the moving wait into my targeting sessions. For example, if the target is 15' away from me, I send the dog to the target. Once he touches it I ask him to wait, and I then run out to him with his reward and give him his treat, Next, I go back to my original position and call him to me or send him to the next target. I want to create a thinking dog right from the very beginning of my training. By using the clicker and targets I am letting the dogs work problems out for themselves. What this will translate into is a dog that can make decisions on the course without needing my help, which in turn can create a very successful distance dog. Where and When to Feed Treats Another important key to training with food is not to always feed the dog in

Everlasting Bento Balls
• Keeps your dog happily occupied when you need a break • Helps keep your dog’s teeth clean • Made with a destruction-resistant material that’s stronger than rubber • Can be used with either the Everlasting Treats or the Interlocking Treats

It may only be half a ball but it’s twice the fun and super strong!

www.cleanrun.com

Combine two Bento Balls for really tough challenges!

October 11

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Clean Run - October 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - October 2011