AGILITY RIGHT FROM THE START

Transcription

1 AGILITY RIGHT FROM THE START Exercises... vi Publisher s note... ix Foreword... xi Preface... xiii Part I: Training fundamentals... 1 Chapter 1: Introduction... 3 Our training program...4 Our goal: A happy and confident dog...4 Building blocks for agility You need to develop your theoretical understanding of dogs, training, and agility You and your dog need to learn foundation skills You need to put it all together...7 Chapter 2: Learning theory... 9 Behavior and learning...10 Behavior is what matters...10 Learning alters behavior...10 Classical conditioning...10 Unconditioned responses...10 Conditioned responses: learned expectations...11 Changing already learned expectations...11 What does this have to do with agility?...12 Sidebar: The Premack principle...12 Operant conditioning...12 Reinforcement, punishment, and extinction...12 Box: Positive and negative reinforcement and punishment, plus extinction...13 Operant conditioning in your agility training...14 Chapter 3: Clicker training science-based dog training The basics of clicker training...18 Training by clicker training principles...18 The marker signal...19 Rewarding without marking...20 Five keys to successful clicker training...21 Reinforcers...22 Treats and toys...22 Social interaction and play

2 Sidebar: What s fun?...23 Opportunity to perform desirable behaviors...23 Box: The tiered cake...24 Rewards as distractions and distractions as rewards...24 How to get behavior...25 Different ways to get behavior...26 Sidebar: Making the dog do something, or teaching him to do it...26 Sidebar: The lure of luring...28 When and how to advance...28 Fade your aids...29 Add variations and distractions...29 Add duration to the behavior...29 Add distance to the behavior...30 Vary the reward ratio...30 Name the behavior...30 Sidebar: Verbal cues in our agility training...30 Sidebar: Discrimination, cues, and stimulus control...31 Form a behavior chain...31 What to do when mistakes happen...31 Good management...32 Sidebar: The trouble with aversives...33 TAGteach: Clicker training for people...34 Sidebar: A TAGteach glossary...34 Chapter 4: Good Agility Practices The rules of Good Agility Practices Keep your focus on the exercise and your dog Why?...38 How? Work with high intensity when training...39 Why?...39 How? Remain true to your system of handling...40 Why?...40 How?...40 Chapter 5: Agility basics What agility is all about...44 List of priorities...44 Obstacle performance and handling: different areas of responsibility...44 The obstacle performance part...45 The obstacles as the rulebook sees them...45 The obstacles as we choose to train them...46 Box: The obstacles and our suggested training goals for the dog...46 Independent obstacle performance...47 The handling part

3 Handling systems...47 Sidebar: Independent obstacle performance vs. handler-dependent performance...47 Sidebar: Your dog s innate understanding of body language...48 Sidebar: Why is it important to have a well-thought-out system of handling?...48 The basics of our handing system...49 Sidebar: Greg Derrett s handling system...49 Always follow your handling system...50 Part II: Foundation skills for you and your dog Chapter 6: About Foundation Training What you ll learn in Part II, Foundation skills for you and your dog...56 Sidebar: The road ahead: putting it together...58 Dog training isn t strictly linear...59 The benefits of foundation work...60 Sidebar: The drawbacks of skipping foundation work...61 Teaching your dog foundation skills...59 Sidebar: Learning to offer behaviors voluntarily...61 Equipment...62 A word about verbal cues...62 Working equally on your left and right sides...62 A great training session...63 Checklist for great training sessions...64 Sidebar: Thinking, planning, and record keeping...64 Box: A great training session: thinking and planning...65 Box: A great training session: working with your dog...66 Box: A great training session: the review...66 Reader s guidelines...67 Sidebar: Employ TAGteach...67 Chapter 7. Training yourself Becoming a trainer and a handler...70 Get in the mindset...70 Coordination and body control...71 Exercise 1: The flight attendant drill...71 Timing...72 What should precise timing look like?...72 Improving your timing: Mark at the right moment...72 Exercise 2: Clicker practice...73 Exercise 3: Press Pause...73 Setting criteria: the basics of shaping...74 What should appropriate criteria look like?...74 Practicing setting criteria...74 Play the Training Game

4 Exercise 4: The training game...75 The training game, plush animal version...75 A few tips...76 Treat delivery...77 What should effective treat delivery look like?...77 Practicing treat delivery...77 Treats to plate...77 Exercise 5: Treats to plate, basic version...77 Sidebar: Where to keep the treats and toys...78 Exercise 6: Treats to plate, many treats in the delivery hand...78 Switching hands...79 Exercise 7: Switching hands...79 Precision throwing...79 What should precision throwing look like?...80 Practicing precision throwing...80 Exercise 8: Throw along a set line...80 Exercise 9: Throw a certain distance...81 Exercise 10: Improve your precision throwing...81 Remaining neutral...81 What should remaining neutral look like?...81 Why is it so important to remain neutral?...81 Practicing remaining neutral...82 Click first, then treat to plate...82 Exercise 11: Click, then treat to plate...83 Exercise 12: Treats to plate, one treat ready in the delivery hand...83 Exercise 13: Click, then treat to plate, many treats in the delivery hand...84 Giving a start cue while remaining neutral...84 Exercise 14: Say go, then throw the toy while standing still...85 Exercise 15: Say go, then throw the toy while moving...86 Varying your own behavior...86 Handling basics in the Oval...87 What should performing the Oval look like?...87 Why do you need it?...88 Practicing the Oval...88 Sidebar: Shoulders!...89 Chapter 8: Reward Procedures The role of rewards in your training...92 Reward requirements...92 Various rewards and reward procedures...94 Sidebar: So your dog is going crazy over his rewards? Perfect!...94 Sidebar: Vary the reward type, source, and delivery...94 Tasty treats...94 Thrilling toys...95 Treats disguised as toys

5 Introducing the clicker...96 What should click and treat look like?...96 What should it look like when you use your clicker to mark a behavior?...96 Teaching your dog the meaning of the clicker...97 Charging the clicker...97 Exercise 16: Charging the clicker...98 Developing a taste for treats...98 The treat magnet...99 What should the treat magnet look like?...99 Why do you need the treat magnet?...99 How can you train it?...99 Step 1: Get the treat magnet behavior Exercise 17: Teach the treat magnet Sidebar: A cue for the treat magnet behavior? Step 2: Build duration Step 3: Add distractions Developing a joy for toys Release the toy What should release the toy look like Why do you need it? How can you train it? Step 1: Release the toy Step 2: Add a thank you cue Step 3: Maintain the release Sidebar: Skip the thank you cue and just steal the toy! Tug What should the game of tug look like? Why do you need the tug part? Why do you need the release part? How can you train it? Step 1, version A: Shape tug using the game itself as a reward Step 1, version B: Shape tug using treat rewards Exercise 18: Get into that sock Sidebar: Tug release tug again! Step 2: Build duration Step 3: Add distractions Step 4: Add a get it cue Chase and come back What should chase and come back look like? Why do you need the chase part? Why do you need the come back part? How can you train it? Step 1: Push the toy into your hand Stage 1: Teach a hand target Exercise 19: Shape the hand touch Stage 2: Get the grab and hold

6 Sidebar: Introduce your release cue Stage 3: Push the toy into your hand Step 2: Come toward you with the toy Step 3: Pick up the toy Step 4: Chase the toy Informally encouraging your dog to chase and come back Chapter 9: Transports Staying in the training bubble Transport requirements Different means of transport Treat magnet and tug transports Sidebar: Using transports after a mistake Collar transports and lift-and-carry Using a recall Hand target transports Practice getting to a good starting point Exercise 20: Get to the starting point Chapter 10: Getting behavior: two favorite strategies Our favorite teaching strategies Sidebar: Practice without your dog first! Shaping Aim for it What should Aim for it look like? Why do you need Aim for it? Sidebar: Making use of Aim for it How can you train it? Sidebar: Place the reward ahead of your dog! Sidebar: Train your dog; don t hide the reward Shaping Aim for the mat Step 1: Nose pointing toward the mat for a millisecond Exercise 21: Begin shaping Aim for the mat, delivering many rewards on the way Exercise 22: Begin shaping Aim for the mat, delivering just one reward far ahead Box: Guidelines for shaping Aim for it Box: Guidelines for shaping Aim for it (continued) Step 2: Actively point the nose forward Step 3: Step forward, toward the mat Step 4: Dash all the way to the mat Troubleshooting Sidebar: What is troubleshooting? Treats, toy, clicker I have too many things and too few hands. Help! My dog never looks forward, he just stares at me! It feels as if I m just luring and clicking! I m getting the behavior but my dog moves very slowly!

7 Shaping Aim for it using the Bermuda Triangle What should Aim for it look like in the Bermuda Triangle? Why do you need the Bermuda Triangle? How can you train it? Sidebar: Another bonus of the Bermuda triangle A few Bermuda Triangle tips Race to reward What should Race to reward look like? Why do you need Race to reward? Sidebar: Making use of Race to reward How can you train it? Step 1: Get the behavior: Teach your dog to race to the reward Exercise 23: Teach your dog to race to his reward Sidebar: Three ways to switch sides Step 2: Reduce helper s actions; add variations and distractions Troubleshooting But it feels as if my dog is just trying to get away from me! What should I do if my dog is hesitant and asking for permission to go? What do I do if my dog is reluctant to run to the helper? Won t this exercise create rude and crazy dogs that run around wildly Sidebar: The spontaneous starts are important Chapter 11: Between, around, over, onto, under, and through Box: Foundation skills Box: Obstacles Working with various pieces of equipment Sidebar: Avoid luring The equipment Your handling while your dog is working Teaching the skills with both strategies Box: Teaching equipment-related skills using Aim for it and Race to reward Box: Teaching equipment-related skills (continued) Teaching between/around/over/onto/under/through using Aim for it What should it look like? Why do you need it? How can you train it? Sidebar: The difference between a thrilling, moving reward and a lure Step 1: Get the behavior Exercise 24: Go under a chair using Aim for it Step 2: Vary the angle (when applicable) Step 3: Add variations and distractions Step 4: Increase the distance Sidebar: To mark or not to mark when training aim for it? Teaching between/over/onto/under/through using Race to reward What should it look like? Why do you need it?

8 How can you train it? Sidebar: use Race to reward only when you want your dog to actually race! Step 1: Add equipment in Race to reward Sidebar: What if my dog hesitates? Exercise 25: Race to reward, equipment added Step 2: Add angles; require that your dog choose the right path Exercise 26: Go between at an angle Step 3: Vary the distance Sidebar: How to deal with mistakes Sidebar: To mark or not to mark when Racing to reward? Step 4: Increase the difficulty of the equipment Step 5: Add variations and distractions Chapter 12: Noise and movement Bombproofing your dog Making use of classical and operant conditioning Sidebar: A note on different kinds of dogs Teaching your dog to like, create, and demand noise What should it look like when your dog likes, creates, and demands noise? Why do you need it? How can you train it? Step 1: Teach your dog to like noise Exercise 27: Classically condition your dog to enjoy noise Step 2: Teach your dog to create noise (through you) Sidebar: No aversive noise! Exercise 28: Teach your dog to create noise through you-hand touch version.177 Step 3: Teach your dog to create noise (on his own) Exercise 29: Teach your dog to create noise on his own Step 4: Teach your dog to demand noise Teaching your dog to like, create, and demand movement What should it look like when your dog likes, creates, and demands movement? Why do you need it? How can you train it? Step 1: Preparation: Teach your dog to stand on the board Exercise 30: Teach your dog to mount a stable board Sidebar: Your dog is always free to choose Step 2: Teach your dog to like movement Exercise 31: Introduce your dog to movement on the board Step 3: Teach your dog to create movement (you move the board) Exercise 32: Teach your dog to trigger you to move the board Step 4: Teach your dog to create movement (your dog moves the board on his own) Exercise 33: Teach your dog to move the board himself Step 5: Teach your dog to demand movement

9 Noise and movement in your everyday life Sidebar: Social facilitation Chapter 13: Rear-end control Developing rear-end control Step by Step: forward, backward, and sideways What should step by step look like? Why do you need it? How can you train it? Walking forward Backing up Sidestepping Sidebar: Other rear-end and body control training Chapter 14: Starts and Stays Spontaneous or on cue? The spontaneous start The start on cue Use both spontaneous starts and start-line stays Sidebar: Set your rules and stick to them The secrets of a perfectly reliable start-line stay Teaching the start, teaching the stay Start on cue Sidebar: The start cue What should start on cue look like? Why do you need it? How can you train it? Teaching the start cue using Race to reward Exercise 34: Add the go cue Teach Go and throw Sidebar: Yes, this training procedure contradicts what we normally advocate..205 Exercise 35: Say go and throw: Say go just before the toy appears Exercise 36: Go and throw: Say go and throw the toy as your dog starts.206 Stay What should Stay and start look like? Why do you need the stay? Which position should I teach my dog? Sidebar: You can teach more than one start position if you wish How can you train it? Step 1: Use Race to reward to get the first hint of a stay Exercise 37: Get the first ounce of balance Step 2: Shape a longer stay Step 3: Introduce variations and distractions Exercise 38: Add variations and distractions while your dog stands still and starts on cue Step 4: Let go of your dog

10 Exercise 39: Start-line stay, hands off collar Sidebar: Broken criteria Sidebar: Helping doesn t help! Sidebar: Your position and your movement when practicing race to reward from a start-line stay Sidebar: Cue to look ahead? Sidebar: It s all about stimulus control Sidebar: Possibly add a ready, steady cue Contrast training: Varying between spontaneous starts and start-line stays Exercise 40: Contrasting between spontaneous starts and starts on cue Separately training the stay behavior To get the stand To keep your dog in a stand Sidebar: The stay continues after each reward Exercise 41: Nailing your dog in a stand Generalization, thy name is variation Vary your own behavior and position Use potential rewards as distractions Vary when and how you reward Vary the location and add other potential distractions Chapter 15: Follow me Teaching your dog to follow your shoulders Sidebar: Handling reminder Outside circles What should outside circles look like? Why do you need it? How can you train it? Step 1: Teach your dog to stay on your outside when moving in a circle Exercise 42: Walk the first circles with your dog on the outside Sidebar: Inside circles Step 2: Introduce more intermittent rewards, increase the speed, and vary the size of the circle Troubleshooting Race to me What should Race to me look like? Why do you need it? How can you train it? Step 1: Teach your dog to race straight to you Exercise 43: Race to me: Get the behavior, no cue Step 2. Add your start cue Sidebar: Teaching an attention/come to me cue Exercise 44: Race to me: Add the cue Step 3: Add variations and start-line stays to Race to me

11 Part III: Putting it all together Chapter 16: About handling and obstacle training What you ll learn in part III, Putting it all together Chapter 17: Handling maneuvers on the flat About handling The obstacles and rewards The direction of your shoulders Your moving ahead or stopping/standing still Sidebar: Defining ahead of you Sidebar: Dog-stride glossary Sidebar: Stopping Sidebar: Constants in your handling training Handling training Sidebar: Customize exercises to your handling training Sidebar: Using remote rewards/distractions to train reliable handling responses Straight ahead What should straight ahead look like? How can you train it? Sidebar: Your position and movement when practicing straight ahead to a remote reward Racing straight past you Exercise 45: Run straight past the handler to a remote reward Exercise 46: Run straight past the handler to a thrown toy (no remote reward) 245 Regular turn What should a regular turn look like How can you train it? Regular turn in the outside circle Exercise 47: Turn tight in the outside circle Race to me and turn Exercise 48: Race to me and turn, reward immediately Exercise 49: Race to me and turn, then Race to reward Contrast training: straight ahead or turning? Front cross What should the front cross look like? Front-cross footwork Step 1: Find your path in the Figure Eight Sidebar: Illustrating the front cross Exercise 50: Find your path in the Figure Eight Step 2: Practice the toes-in, toes-out footwork separately Exercise: Twirl to the right Step 3: Polish the perfect three-step front cross Exercise 52: Three-step footwork in the Figure Eight How can you teach your dog to respond to your front cross?

12 Front cross in the outside circle Exercise 53: Front cross in the outside circle Race to me and turn with a front cross Exercise 54: Race to me and front cross, reward immediately Contrasts: Straight ahead, regular turn, or front cross? Stopping/standing still What should stopping/standing still look like? Sidebar: Stopping/standing still, cueing a wrap Sidebar: Some cautions How can you train it? Race to me and stop with me Exercise 55: Stop with me Exercise 56: Come to me when I stand still Contrasts: stop or keep going straight ahead? Rear cross What should the rear cross look like? How can you train it? Rear cross exercise: Step behind your dog Exercise 57: Rear cross, step behind Chapter 18: Jumps and tunnels Teaching jumps and tunnels Teaching the obstacles in four steps Order of events Jump wings What should it look like when your dog performs the jump wings? Why do you need jump-wing training? How can you train it? Step 1: Get the behavior Box: Jump wings: get the behavior Always remember Step 2: Expand the understanding Box: Expand the understanding Sidebar: Your handling at severe angles Sidebar: Avoid rewarding away from your dog s path Step 3: Get the flow Box: Jump wings: get the flow Sidebar: This is my dance space, this is your dance space Sidebar: Using helpers to throw rewards Sidebar: Don t get stuck behind the wing! Tunnels What should it look like when your dog performs a tunnel? How can you train it? Step 1: Get the behavior Box: Tunnels: get the behavior Sidebar: Stay consistent

13 Step 2: Expand the understanding Box: Tunnels: expand the understanding Step 3: Get the flow Box: Tunnels: get the flow Different kinds of jumps What should it look like when your dog performs a jump? How can you train it? Sidebar: Jumping demands Sidebar: Glossary of jump types Step 1: Get the behavior Box: Jumps: get the behavior Step 2: Add new variations using Race to reward Box: Jumps: Expand the understanding and get the flow, using Race to reward Sidebar: Jump-training setups Step 3: Introducing Aim for it Box: Introduce Aim for it, expand the understanding, and get the flow Sidebar: Knocked bars Sidebar: Actually jumping is key The tire What should it look like when your dog performs the tire? How can you train it? Step 1: Get the behavior Box: Tire: Get the behavior Step 2: Expand the understanding Box: Tire: Expand the understanding Step 3: Get the flow Box: Tire: get the flow Chapter 19: Handling sequences Combining handling maneuvers and obstacle performance Sidebar: Right or wrong depends on your handling system! Teaching your dog to follow your handling in sequences Sidebar: Sequencing fuses Aim for it and Race to reward Always consider where to start and where to finish Sidebar: Imagine a videotape Employ back-chaining Contrasts Handling mistakes Walk the course Straight ahead and regular turns What should straight ahead and a regular turn look like? How can you train straight lines? Sidebar: Avoid layering Sidebar: Regular turn when taking an obstacle from behind Sidebar: Some frequent regular turn sequences: 90 o, 180 o, and 270 o turns

14 Contrast straight ahead and regular turns Sidebar: Going straight or turning Sidebar: Going straight or turning (continued) Front cross Sidebar: How do I know when I need to switch sides? What should the front cross look like? Sidebar: Three-step reminder How can you train front crosses? Sidebar: What if I can t make it to the front cross? Front crosses with distractions Front crosses in the start: lead-out pivot Front cross on the outside of a 270 o turn Rear cross What should the rear cross look like How can you train rear crosses? Step 1: Send to the jump and cross behind, using Race to reward Exercise 58: The first rear crosses (releasing your dog at takeoff and crossing right away) Exercise 59: Increase the distance to the jump (running the diagonal) Step 2: Send to the jump and cross behind, using Aim for it Step 3: Add obstacles after the rear cross, exiting in various directions Step 4: Add obstacles before the rear cross, approaching from various directions Sidebar: The finer details of where to point your shoulders Sidebar: Driving ahead is key The wrap What should a wrap look like Your dog has to adjust his stride Sidebar: Jump technique training How can you train wraps Jump and turn tight Exercise 60: The first wrap Sidebar: What if my dog hesitates to take the jump? Wraps on course Sidebar: What if I can t make it to the wing? The threadle Sidebar: An abbreviation of two front crosses What should the threadle look like Sidebar: Threadle footwork How can you train the threadle? Sidebar: Wait until you and your dog are ready Step 1: Come to you in threadle position Exercise 61: Use you threadle arm to pull your dog past the jump wing Step 2: The second arm change Exercise 62: Pull your dog between the jumps, then send him ahead over the second jump Step 3: The first arm change

15 Exercise 63: Send your dog over jump #1, then pull him between the jumps Sidebar: What if I can t make it to the wing? Step 4: Do the full threadle Exercise 64: Do a complete threadle Threadles in more open settings The serpentine Two full front crosses on either side of the middle obstacle What should the serpentine look like? How can you train the serpentine? Step 1: Come toward you over the serpentine jump Exercise 65: Use your serpentine arm to bring your dog toward you over the middle jump Step 2: The second arm change Exercise 66: Bring your dog toward you over the middle jump, switch arms, and reward Step 3: The first arm change Exercise 67: Send your dog over jump #1, switch arms, and bring him toward you over jump # Step 4: Do the full serpentine Further sequencing Tailor your sequences to your level of training Set goals for each sequence Minor adjustments, major progress Longer sequences Complex sequences Altering given sequences Chapter 20: The contact obstacles About contact training Sidebar: The contact zones Aspects to consider when choosing your contact behavior Sidebar: But doesn t stopping on the contact cost a lot of time? Two-on/two-off What should the finished two-on/two-off performance look like? Sidebar: Two-on/two-off with a nose touch How can you train the two-on/two-off behavior? Sidebar: Train your contacts meticulously, step by step Sidebar: Just for fun, or a competitive edge? Box: Away from the obstacles Box: On the A-frame and dogwalk Box: On the teeter Box: Prerequisites for training the contact obstacles Foot target Sidebar: Our actual criterion: at least one foot on the target What should the foot-target behavior look like? Equipment

16 Why do you need it? How can you train it? Sidebar: Don t add a target cue for your contact work! Step 1: Basic foot-target work Stage 1: Get the behavior: foot on target Sidebar: placement of reward Exercise 68: Get the foot-target behavior Sidebar: Tips to avoid curling Sidebar: Constantly vary your own behavior a little bit Stage 2: Make it fast and fluent Exercise 69: Teach your dog to Step on it Stage 3: Add variations and distractions Step 2: Hold the position at the target, start on cue Sidebar: Why is the start cue so important? Sidebar: Go and throw or Race to reward Method 1: Build duration using solely the start cue as reward Exercise 70: Teach your dog to hold his position on the target, rewarding solely with your start cue Method 2: Build duration using multiple rewards in position Sidebar: Click or no click? Exercise 71: Teach your dog to hold his position on the target, rewarding with multiple treats in position (and ending with the start cue) Sidebar: What if my dog doesn t hit the target? Sidebar: What if my dog doesn t respond to my start cue? Step 3: Add further variations and distractions Sidebar: Don t just proof your dog for holding position! Step 4: Increase the distance Exercise 72: Hit the target from a distance Sidebar: Using a cue to release your dog to the target Step 5: Step down to the target Exercise 73: Target over an edge Step 6: Fade the target Two-on/two-off What should the two-on/two-off behavior look like? Equipment Sidebar: Why does the first step of the two-on/two-off training differ from the first step of target training? Step 1: Step down, reward in position, and start on cue Stage 1: Get the behavior: step down Exercise 74: Shape your dog to step over the edge Sidebar: Tips for getting your dog to step down straight ahead Sidebar: One or two feet on the ground? Stage 2: Make it fast and fluent Stage 3: Add variations and distractions Step 2: Hold the position Step 3: Add further variations and distractions

17 Step 4: Find the edge from a distance A-frame and dogwalk What should the finished A-frame and dogwalk performance look like? The obstacles How can you train it? A-frame and dogwalk training in six steps Steps 1-3: Get the behavior, vary the duration, and add variations and distractions.379 Sidebar: What do I do if my dog doesn t put his feet where I want them? Step 4: Vary where you are going after the obstacle Step 5: Increase the distance Step 6: Vary where you come from before the obstacle Sidebar: What if my dog doesn t ascend the obstacle correctly? The teeter What should the finished teeter performance look like? Sidebar: Four on the contact on the teeter How can you train it? Sidebar: Teeter cautions Sidebar: Pressure-free teeter training Step 1: Learn what to do at the end of the teeter Stage 1: Teeter movement Exercise 75: Rock the boat (teeter movement equals treat) Exercise 76: C mon, make it move! (create teeter movement through you) Sidebar: To click or not to click Sidebar: What about the contact performance? Stage 2: Teeter impact Exercise: C mon, slam! Sidebar: It depends on your dog s size Sidebar: Teeter woes Stage 3: Rehearse the two-on/two-off + freeze + start cue Stage 4: Add movement + impact to the chain Exercise 78: Two-on/two-off after movement and impact Step 2: Run to the start button Sidebar: Why should the start button be so far out? Stage 1: Run all the way to the start button Stage 2: Hit the start button and make the teeter move Sidebar: Secure the target Exercise 79: Push the button, make the teeter move! Sidebar: Using a lower teeter Stage 3: Perform the whole obstacle competition style Sidebar: Just trying to get there Sidebar: The teeter cue Step 3: Vary where you are going after the teeter Step 4: Vary where you are coming from Maintaining brilliant performance on the contact obstacles Stick to your criteria Use your start cue as a reward

18 Go back to basics whenever you need to Vary, vary, vary Sidebar: Example of variations for contact performance Keep it fun and exciting Chapter 21: The table Teaching the table What should the table performance look like? Resemblances to contact training The process: table training in eight steps Step 1: lie down Sidebar: Teaching a sit, too Stage 1: Get the down Stage 2: Make it fast and fluent Stage 3: Add variations and distractions Step 2: Hold the position + start on cue Step 3: Get onto (+ down + hold the position + start on cue) Step 4: Add further variations and distractions Step 5: Vary where you re going after the table Step 6: Increase the distance Sidebar: Table cue? Step 7: Vary where you re coming from Step 8: Maintain the brilliant performance Chapter 22: The weave poles About training the weaves Weave pole entries around the clock Weave pole training strategies Sidebars: Guiding props How to succeed with your weave pole training Aim for the weaves One pair of poles What should the performance at one pair of poles look like? How can you train it? Step 1: Get the behavior at 6 o clock Stage 1: Get the behavior at slightly open poles Sidebar: This goes for all your weave pole training Exercies 80: Get the behavior of going between slightly open poles Stage 2: Get the behavrior on closed poles Step 2: Get the behavior around the clock Sidebar: How will my dog know which direction the weaves go? Sidebar: Using a set direction as a helping aid Step 3: Expand the understanding Stage 1: Add handler variations and other distractions Stage 2: Vary the distance Stage 3: Let your dog do several pairs of poles for one reward

19 Stage 4: Introduce Race to reward Further weave pole training Sidebar: The clicker and the weaves Sidebar: Continue to the end of the weaves even if your dog makes a mistake Step 1: Work up to four poles Strategy 1: Put two pairs of poles together Strategy 2: Shape three to four poles Strategy 3: Channels: advance from open to closed poles Sidebar: A couple of brand names Step 2: Get all angles at four poles Step 3: Expand the understanding (working through all variations) Sidebar: Distracting handling in the weave poles Step 4: Work up to a full set of poles Step 5: Vary where you are going after the poles Step 6: Vary where you come from Sidebar: Sending to the weaves from the wrong side Troubleshooting in your wevae pole training Mistakes and misunderstandings Chapter 23: Parting thoughts Happy training! Resources About the authors Acknowledgements Photography credits