WEAVE LATERALLY FROM A DISTANCE
(reprinted from Clean Run September 2003 Tip of the Month - By Jim Basic)
When asking your dog to weave laterally from a distance, it is important
that you first give the necessary directional command (such as "Out")
to focus your dog on the weave poles, since the dog's tendency is to look
towards the handler when working at a distance. Also, make sure you are
focusing entirely on the dog's performance throughout the whole set of
weave poles. Blowouts usually occur when the handler removes his commitment
to the poles before the dog has completed them. It is often helpful if
the handler stays slightly turned into the dog, with a hand pointing to
the dog, while the team is weaving. This lets the dog know that you are
staying committed to its performance and helps prevent you from pulling
away too early.
TEETER PIVOT POINT
(reprinted from Clean Run December 2003 Tip of the Month - By Debbie Hunt)
Here is an inexpensive and quick way to change the pivot point of a seesaw
with little handler effort. Find an inexpensive fanny pack with a waist
strap that is fairly long. Place the fanny pack on the upside part of
the teeter by wrapping the waist strap around the board so that it fits
snugly. Now, you can add or remove rocks to the fanny pack and you can
also slide the waist strap up and down the upside part of the board to
quickly change the pivot point. I have found that dogs do not even notice
the strap wrapped around the board on the upside contact, yet, they do
notice if you place it on the downside.
THINGS TO START BEFORE YOU COME TO AGILITY CLASS:
(suggestions by Excellence In Motion Instructors)
Find an old auto tire and place on end on the ground and have dog jump
through tire while on the ground.
Take old blankets, sheets, towels and have dog push its way through cloth
or fabric.
Take old large box, like a refrigerator box, and have dog run through
it.
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