Agility help still needed?

Question

If you llok on page 15 or 16 my other question was called Agility Help. Go to it.

I put the poles in a stagered patter and I got her to run down the middle.

Then I put them in a straight line, but I only put four on the ground for now. I weaved my hand through the poles and she followed correctly. Then, I made her sit, stay and I went to the opposite side of the poles and called her, but she just went around them. I have been working on this with her since 11:00.

What do you suggest I do next to get her to weave through the poles on her own?

Well, i was told that I should sit her at one end and then call her.

She is a pomeranian/dashund mix. She a quick learner(usually). She was running through the staggered poles with no hesitation after about 2 tries.

I will cut down on the time I work with her. Is 15-20 mintues ok?

Answer 1

I agree with bassetnut, you are rushing things -- we often have the dogs going thru the staggered poles for a few days until they are running thru them without hesitating. Sometimes, depending on the dog, it can take weeks for them to go from going thru the staggered poles to a line of straight poles. Just work 10 or 15 minutes a couple of times a day.

Also -- you will really never sit your dog at one end of the poles and call her thru -- you will always be running besides them on one side or the other, so I would practice being on the right side or the left side of your dog and not worry about calling them her thru.

Sometimes we use a "target" at the other end -- put a treat or a toy on something like a box or a can so she can see it after she goes thru the weaves, send her thru with you beside her and let her get the treat or the toy.

Good luck

Answer 2

I suggest first of all that you don't spend hours training, you'll bore and frustrate your dog.

Secondly, whatever method you use to teach the weave it will take MANY, MANY repetitions before you should let the dog try it on her own. It's not gonna happen in one day, that's for sure.

Work on getting correct entry before worrying about the whole thing.

>>>Well, i was told that I should sit her at one end and then call her.<<<

Nope, that works for jumps and tunnels, but for the weaves you will be running alongside her. Having the dog do it by herself is a VERY advanced move. Even in trials you can help her with the weaves by verbally telling her in/out or left/right (or whatever) and by having her follow your hand (as long as you don't touch the poles, although it's likely to slow you down).

Answer 3

Train wiht Diane Bowman? thats the only one that I know enamored with calling dogs through weaves. As everyone said she'll not have to do that to trial- but if the trainer is a real tightwad about it and you need to do it to advoid class grief- start by calling through the staggered poles!

PS my excellent dog cannot be called through the weaves....

Answer 4

I think you have to associate a command with the action.. when you take her through and she follows your hand say "Weave" as you are doing it. She will associate that word with that action then you can simply tell her "weave" from the other end and she should know what it means an do what you want. . Keep in mind I am talking about doing quite a few repetitions... not every dog is as good as my boy who can learn in one repetition...lol

Answer 5

She doesn't understand what you want her to do, so you must show her. If she's food motivated, take a treat and use it to lure her around each and every pole, talking to her encouragingly as you go.
And, as the other poster said, keep the sessions short, or they will cease to be fun for her.

Answer 6

I don't know your dog's breed ...It would help if my Border Collie puppy saw another dog go through it on its own. He's learned other tricks quickly after seeing other dogs do what I want him to do. Unfortunately, watching on TV doesn't work for him (yet?)