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Motivating the Golden for Agility Agility Goldens come in all sizes, shapes, colors and levels of enthusiasm for the game. But one thing you can always count on is that they will do it just because they want to please us. Sometimes they do it with less enthusiasm than we would like so we need to help them enjoy it more. It’s trial and error with our lovely Goldens so I’ll list a few “motivating” methods that might work for you. First there is the “play/work/play” method. Start by doing something with your dog that he really loves. Tugging, playing fetch, rolling on the ground with you, whatever it is that really gets him excited and use lots of verbal praise and happy voice. Continue this play for 3 – 4 minutes then discontinue the play, ask the dog to sit, pat him on the shoulder to signify that play is over and proceed to agility practice. Practice shouldn’t last longer than 15 minutes and if the dog shows signs of slowing down time can be limited to 10 minutes or less. During the practice session be sure to use lots of verbal praise and happy voice. As soon as the practice session is over begin the play again, letting the dog know that work is over and play has begun. Play for 3 – 4 minutes then ask the dog to sit, pat him on the shoulder to let him know that play is now over. These sessions can be done 2 – 3 times a day or less but it’s important to let the dog know that play will always be there both before and after work and it’s important to give the pat on the shoulder to indicate that play is done. Use this same routine at the trial. For the play/work/play method you might have to experiment with what really excites your dog. Once you find the perfect motivator use it just for agility, it needs to be a special toy that he really enjoys playing with and one that he can’t have freely when home. It only comes out for agility practice and trials. This way when you take the toy out the excitement begins right away and builds until you get to your training area. I have had Goldens that loved toys from the beginning and others that I had to train to play with toys, either way I find toys the best tool for bringing enthusiasm to the ring. I had to train my dogs to tug but once I did they were hooked on play. Toys that I’ve found very effective are stretchy, soft fabric leashes they can tug on (my obedience instructor hates me) and a soft training bumper (my hunt test instructor hates me) that we play catch with. (A tennis ball works too but I find they get away from me and I don’t want a loose ball making it’s way into the ring when I’m warming up on the side lines) The second method is the “big payoff” method. Since our beloved Goldens love food of all sorts this one is one of their favorites but can grow old quickly if used for long periods of time. Find a doggy delicious treat, I’ve used chicken cooked with garlic, and put it in a small sealed container. Whatever you use for treats should be reserved ONLY for agility so that it’s something special to look forward to in training and competing. Before agility practice begins show Goldie the container, slowly open it as if teasing him, remove a piece of the delicacy and ask Goldie to do a simple task like sit, speak, down, etc. Reward with the treat and lots of verbal praise and happy voice. Tease again with the container and proceed with your agility training exercise of 1 or 2 obstacles but not an entire course. Once the exercise is successfully completed give Goldie the treat and praise. Repeat this during the entire training session making a big deal of opening the container and taking out the treat. At the end of the training session open the container and offer ALL of it to Goldie. This is the big payoff. Over the period of the next few sessions make the treat rewards less often until finally the reward only comes when the entire course is finished. As the treats are fading make sure to continue with the praise and happy voice. When you get to the trial make a big deal about the sealed container, what’s in it and where it’s going to be when you are through. Once your run is complete race back to the containers location and reward by opening it and letting Goldie have his big payoff. One word of caution, do not leave the container near the end of the course or you might have a dog running out of the ring before you have them under control. The big pay off method works if you use their dinner too. Just put Goldies dinner in a sealed container, show him where it is, let him smell it, tease him and then do your practice session or trial run. When it’s all over race to the dinner container and let him have it all. Experiment with other methods, when you see your dog get excited over something in every day life find a way to put it to use in agility training sessions. If more than one method works mix them up to avoid boredom. Whatever method you use there is one important ingredient that goes with every training session and that’s praise. Our Goldens will do anything to please us so it’s our job to let them know when they’ve succeeded. Sometimes the little successes go un-rewarded yet those are the most important because they add up to 20 obstacles free of errors. The happy voice is especially important for those Goldens who are on the softer side. Sometimes we forget that they are always listening and when we get down because we make mistakes they often mistake it as their fault. Remember, it’s usually our fault we fail, not theirs. Happy Runs to everyone….Shar |
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