Weaves and Serpentines

 Pearls:

• When telling your dog to turn with "Here!" be sure your physical cues and body are turning to direct the dog along her path-- think of using a laser pointer to show Jackie her line of travel
• CUE EARLIER
• When doing serpentines, the handler needs to get themselves turned faster, directing the dog's line of travel
• The lotus ball continues to be a great reinforcer to keep Jackie's focus forward with the weaves
• Independent weaves are great but also learn to get beside Jackie because when you're in a course you're going to need to tell her where to go on the other end of the weaves

Jackie playing serpentines and weaves:

Overcoming Common Training Challenges

Rewards and praise are the best way to train your dog.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's 2021 Position Statement on Humane Dog Training states, "Training methods are most effective when they focus on teaching the animal what to do, rather than punishing them for unwanted behaviors. Common training issues such as jumping barking, and housetraining can be managed by arranging the environment appropriately and reinforcing desirable responses."

Read the article I authored on the Breed Expert website: "Overcoming Common Training Challenges: Advice from the Experts."

Note that the Breed Expert website does not represent my opinions or beliefs. My own articles, and only those articles that I have personally authored there, are what I know to be honest and accurate information. The other authors and opinions on the Breed Expert website in no way reflect my own opinions and interpretations. 

My hope is that my writing for Breed Expert will continue to shift opinions to agree with science and common sense that reward-based scientific training is the best and only way to train our dogs.

I support the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position statement that only positive, humane, and fear-free methods should be used when educating a dog. Reward-based methods should be used for ALL training, including challenging behavior disorders such as aggression.