Each handler needs to develop a pre-run warm up for the dog before heading into the ring. If one is only performing the same sport with the
same dog, this can be easily set and long enduring. Problems develop when the team is performing multiple sports that demand a different set
of spectator visual behaviors, as in the difference between a fast moving sport and one that is determined as ‘refined’.
Walking into the Agility ring, there is no set rule to how the team appears other then the dog must be on lead. If the dog is heeled
in, pulls the handler, or mills around to the Start Line no one really notices. To have anything other then a perfect heel position
ring entry in Obedience, Rally or Breed indicates to those watching the Handler has not read “the rules”.
To use one sport to refine another is the best method, but can pose serious problems if one is easily persuaded to ditch it because of
ridicule. With Crumpet, I never worried about transferring from one sport ring behavior to the next, as by time I had entered for
competition, we were set in well mannered behaviors. Being a small dog, Crumpet also did not outwardly show enthusiasm like Niven who
is much larger and has more of a silhouette.
One behavior I had adopted with Crumpet was forged from his higher drive and to “bleed out” the excitement he demonstrated via barking.
This was a simple trick of weaving in and out of my legs followed by an in-place set of “sit-down-stand” commands. The idea was to not
take up space, have movement and maintain focus while dealing with whatever he could not tell me. Since each run often resulted in cleaner
performance my theory held and over time became staple. Obviously, when entered in Breed or Obedience this was frowned on, the “obedience”
behaviors were stressed more and I tried to substitute movement with a longer “out of the crate” time before it was our turn.
Niven has posed an interesting challenge for a number of reasons. Her excitability level is very high accented by a lack of manners
training not done during her younger years. Bouncing around is often a result, she really not knowing any better. Up until now, I
have not held her accountable for proper ring entry because I felt it would peak that excitement with too much control up front. This
often will show itself in class and I wanted cleaner runs resulting from ‘comfort’ instead of frying her out pre-run to learn that behavior.
With experience behind us, it is time to let the performance continue to develop while the ring entry behavior is focused on. This definitely
needs to be shaped steaming from the results from last week’s Rally experience.
Agility
Currently, the pre-run routine is to separate “walk” from “being pulled out of the crate for a run”. I try to spend time walking around
the show grounds an hour before the run to allow Niven whatever she needs. There is nothing asked of her except if we need to meander through
a crowd, as this is designated as her time. Once back in the crate, I try to stay close or if I do leave, it is to check the running order
and come back as quickly as I can.
About five dogs to go, I get Niven out of the crate and head to the ring entry. I take treats to help keep her focused and not ping-ponging
into other people’s spaces. I have toyed around with where to keep the treats and have resorted to keeping them in my pocket only because she
tends to remember where I leave a bag, bin or pile of treats. Just as we are about to go in, the last treat is given and we get to the start
line in any fashion that gets us there. Normally Niven will survey the landscape, but normally she eyes the people outside or whatever grabs
her attention. At this point, I have her sit and we go.
Obedience or Rally Obedience
Rally-O is new to me, as I have only gone through one run with Niven. For the one experience I stood outside of the ring with her, trying to
play the obedience type of games that would help keep her focused. The location was packed and could be called a worst case situation for testing
any dog so this was going to be interesting.
Heading into the ring was similar to the Agility ring behavior which is not acceptable for the more refined sport of Obedience.
After seeing how Niven would handle this new situation, I have been able to come up with a few different ideas for training. Despite us
not attending any obedience class due to the overall weekly training schedule, I can begin to ‘demand’ more control coming into the building
and going ‘to the line’. Having the instructor on course will also be a benefit to act as the distraction that needs to be ignored.
The only way to know how this works is to push behaviors by entering different trials. One can train for everything with perfect scores, but
never realize the dog has been conditioned to those particular stressors.
As is always, it will be interesting to see what works and what gets modified as the year rolls on.
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Last Updated on February 6, 2010
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