Over and Back - TUG!

Yep, it's flyball homework time. I have an ongoing problem with Spoiled One. He's 60lbs of klutz regarding jumps. He's a GSD/Aussie mix, so he bounds over the flyball hurdles like a bunny rabbit, but when doing homework involving over and back over a hurdle, he wiped out all my jumps. "Over" crunch! Ooopsie. I've tried various things. Styrofoam gets destroyed pretty quickly. He wipes out wood. Slippery plastic wrapped toilet paper rolls go flying every which way. My latest attempt involves plastic roof gutters. I have figured out a hacksaw doesn't work well to cut gutter. Those little wire nipper things rather suck at it as well. Oh, well, eventually a section about a yard long was separated from the rest, the longer remainder was slipped behind the couch (causing a very fluffy cat to emerge from the other side) and we set to work.

First was Weasel, to bolster my faith in the potential of this to work. Besides, once I finished with Spoiled One, I would be too frustrated and discouraged to work with her. My little suck up Weasel performed as expected, happily bouncing over and back like a ping pong ball, over the gutter. I quickly moved to the practice box and she did that spiffily as well. My courage thus fortified, I put her up and brought out Spoiled One.

Sigh.

How can one dog be so klutzy? That gutter went flying every which way. It's like he's not even aware of his own feet! I tried showing it too him, and he would slap a paw on it, or try to pick it up. Anytime I tried the over and back though, he landed right on top of it, feet going everywhere, eyes fixed on the tug. I think most of it is handler issues, though. I need to be clearer in my communication, and more patient. It probably would be good to chop up the remainder of the gutter, lay them out in a random pattern, and make him walk back and forth over it, like is done with horses to teach them awareness of their feet. Or, I could do the agility ladder thing. I do own a ladder now. . .

OooooooOOOooooo The LADDER. That's an idea!

Recall Training Techniques

One thing you find out is essential in flyball is a good, strong recall. Your dog needs to come running, sprinting, flying back to you as fast as he can, through a sea of other dogs, other handlers, flying tugs and rolling tennis balls. Most dogs that show up the first time at our team practice don't even come when called.

But, that kind of recall doesn't come drifting in on the summer breeze, it has to be taught. I'm certainly not an expert, but I have come across several different tips and techniques that I thought I would try to share. Take them for what they are worth.

Things most people do wrong:

Over and over, I see people standing there, calling "fluffy fluffy fluffy come here now bad dog come here bad dog fluffy fluffy BAD DOG fluffy." There are a couple of problems with this.

1. The dog's name isn't "fluffy fluffy fluffy come here now bad dog come here bad dog fluffy fluffy BAD DOG fluffy." However, if you call it like that, if it ever does learn to respond, it learns to respond to how you call it. If the dog's name is Fluffy, call "Fluffy" or "Fluffy, here!" Don't confuse the issue.

2. Don't practice failure. One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing, over and over and expecting different results. If Fluffy blew you off the first time, calling its name over and over and over just teaches it to dismiss that as irrelevant noise.

3. Don't call the dog to you to scold it. Think about it from the dog's perspective: She called, I came (eventually) she told me I was a Bad Dog. Next time I won't come. If you have to scold a dog or put it out when it doesn't want to or trim its claws or some other form of doggie torment, go GET the dog and bring it to you, do NOT call it to you.

Things to do:

1. Make sure your dog knows its name and respond positively to it. Say "fluffy," and toss a treat six thousand times. Fluffy will learn to perk up at his name. Do this in different environments to set the behaviour. I also unexpectedly pop around a corner say my dog's name and shake a tug toy or squeak a toy. Drop something while cooking? Say the dog's name. They'll get it.

2. Hide and seek. Once the dog perks up and looks at you consistantly when you say fluffy, hide, say fluffy and treat him when he finds you.

3. Play chase. Call your dog, show the toy and run away from him. Make the dog work to get to you. Make sure to play/treat when he finds you and keep it exciting.

4. Use your "happy voice" You know that annoying squeaky tone? Yeah, that one.

5. Always reward recall. Always. ALWAYS.

Issues that will come up:

1. You will be working with the dog. Fluffy will escape and start bounding around the field, bouncing like a kitten, circling around you and haveing a great time. Don't chase him. Don't watch him. Make everyone ignore him and if you can just go inside and abandon him safely, go for it.

2. Don't allow the dog the opportunity to blow you off until you are pretty absolutely sure of his recall. Yes, this means working with awkward long lines. Don't give him a chance to blow off the recall until he seems to have decided that playing with you is more fun than playing you.

3. At some point, doggie will escape and refuse to recall. You won't be able to just ignore him because you have to get him. DO NOT stand there calling his name over and over. It won't work. Find a toy and a treat. Call the dog's name and run away from the dog. Have everyone leave with you. He is about a zillion times more likely to come to you if he thinks you are leaving or if you are running away, triggering his chase drive.

THING TO ALWAYS REMEMBER:

The dog comes because he thinks it's in his interest. It doesn't have to do with love, or devotion, or loyalty. Ooodles of devoted dogs don't come when called. Give him a reason to recall to you, a toy, a treat, a "good dog." something. Never give him a reason not to come by calling him to a scolding or some form of doggie torture like a bath or being put outside when you go to work.