I rarely manage to get footage of Koro's good runs, usually I only capture the bad ones - but here is a lovely run from Wessex this weekend, and one of our wins towards Grade 4, we just need one more, now!
Play skills are perhaps *the* most important part of agility training.
This is Monty, a mini American Shepherd (basically a 'mini' Koro, though he is actually about the same size), and I've been growing his Retrieve - it's very different from a gun dog or obedience retrieve, and should be a dynamic part of continuous play with the dog. Ideally, I want him bouncing right back to me for more play as soon as he wins the toy.
Allowing him to win the toy is really important to keeping him enthusiastic, but without a retrieve, so much time and energy is leaked trying to get it back again each time you reward.
The falling over part is not recommended.
Had the best time last weekend at Old Royal Naval College Greenwich Dog Show, running free tasters and an 'agility demo' with some brave dogs and humans with little to no experience
Kristy Hickman & Foxy rocked the big stage
See-saw training in your living room... Reinforcing Koro's '2 on 2 off' position.
Teaching your dog to walk over uneven platforms and surfaces is also great for their body confidence and 'proprioception' (body awareness)!
A glorious Moxie-eye view of the blue tunnel - our other dog today had to be introduced to the tunnel slowly, by bunching it up to make it shorter, as she was a little worried by it at full-length. You get a better idea of why the tunnel intimidates some dogs initially when you see it from their level!
And another mini-size newbie today, Moxie the mini Schnauzer
Introducing newbie, Winnie the cockapoo, she has some serious sproing in her step
I had the privilege of being able to borrow Silver for a week. We worked towards her being able to 'drive ahead' with me running parallel to the jumps - she's learned not to come straight to me for her reward, but to seek out obstacles ahead of her.
But actually, the more impressive achievement here is probably Koro......
I've asked her to stay on a place-marker (I use a tea towel!) whilst I work with another dog. It's taken much much training to get her to the point where
1. She CAN resist the temptation of jumping into the fray with other fast-moving dogs and toys.
2. She WANTS to stay on the place-marker, because I've shown her it's the better deal when I send her there.
3. I've been able to FADE OUT reward for being there so I have the time to work with another dog at the same time.
4. She can DISTINGUISH between commands meant for the other dog, and commands meant for her. (e.g. she used to release from her place if I gave my release cue to the other dog. Now she will pick up on my eye contact to understand when I'm talking to her.)
With all of that in place, I now have the flexibility to bring her along and work with multiple dogs at once without her feeling frustrated!
I often think the biggest training achievements are the ones that nobody notices because it just looks like you have an 'easy' dog - but it takes a lot of work to get there.
Superstar Silver - first proper handling skills with Tatiana Dzudzova
Tanya to thank for the editing skills also...
