Agility 1 Week 3

Jackie debuted the dog walk today! It was fun seeing all our foundation games to learn contact behavior come together to produce great results.  We were able to run back and forth over the dog walk, then add a tunnel before and after the dog walk.  Jackie is beginning to incrementally add speed and distance.

For dogs learning the baby dog walk, keep a high rate of reinforcement, with high value reinforcement every time she successfully displays correct contact behavior over the dog walk, and occasional jackpots for the first time and for adding speed or distance.  (Our high-value reinforcement cookies today were leftover holiday turkey and steak cut up into tiny bites.)  

To begin, I directed Jackie to hop up on the low side of the dog walk and get in two-on-two-off position and reinforced her for 2o2o then released her.  We repeated that a few times and Jackie organically started to explore across the entire dog walk, offering the behavior because we have done so much good foundation play. 

Our coach reminded us before we started that the dogs often get the lightbulb moment on the dog walk quickly because they have been playing 2o2o behavior on their foundation planks. Robin also reminded us to make every reasonable effort not to let the dog jump down off the dog walk, but Jackie was more interested in running across the dog walk properly right from the outset.

Reinforce when correct contact behavior is offered, and ignore mistakes.  For "baby" agility dogs it is fine if they run over the dog walk on their own or hop up onto the dog walk-- we want to encourage them to approach the dog walk and keep it fun and valuable for the dog.

Our coach reminded us today that keeping agility (and all behaviors really) a fun game, by being energetic and enthusiastic, helps the dog stay engaged and enjoy playing. 

Jackie enthusiastically understanding driving out ahead of the handler to run the dog walk

Pearls:

• Reinforce every time across the dog walk while teaching the agility initiate, and jackpot for new correct behaviors or behaviors that the dog gets correct after previously struggling
• Stay positive and enthusiastic with your voice and maintain a high level of reinforcement including cheerful praise
• Homework this week includes continuing to reinforce contact behavior, and continuing to create value for jumps and startlines 

Video highlight clips of Jackie's first time on the baby dog walk: