Training Your Performance Dog Agility, Obedience, Tracking by Carolyn Fuhrer
Agility For All Agility, if introduced and taught
correctly, can be a wonderful experience for almost any dog. Agility can help build confidence by exposing dogs to different surfaces, textures, and shapes dictated by the nature of the equipment. It can also help build coordination and body awareness as well as increase strength. Agility is a wonderful way to engage the mind by presenting different problems for the dog to solve. Besides all these benefits for the dog, agility provides a great opportunity for the handler and dog to form a wonderful working
relationship. The handler must be able to communicate to the dog while the dog and handler are both moving and to direct the dog in a certain path throughout the course. Dogs need to have some basic obedience – “wait” and “come” and “with me” will help things go
smoother, and because dogs will learn to focus on instructions to gain rewards (usually food or toys), these basic obedience skills are easy to teach because the dogs want to do the work. They want to play agility because it is fun, and they can earn rewards. Agility can teach a handler a lot about how to motivate and focus his dog and how not to pressure him and to help him learn at his own pace. A safe, progressive introduction to agility equipment is extremely important. Dogs should be taught, so they want to do the work, not lured onto obstacles with trepidation. Correct introduction builds confidence and helps to ensure safe performance. A good instructor can modify a course for all skill levels for both dogs and handlers. Handlers learn to understand and work with their dogs. Many handlers are surprised how much focus it takes from the handler to keep the dog engaged. Without clear communication from the handler, the dog is really on his own and the results may not be what you want. Handlers must take on the responsibility of communication and be willing
to present information at a pace and in a format the dog can understand. Agility provides a medium for dogs to work on self-control skills such as start line stays, table performance, and contacts. Dogs also learn to work in the company of other dogs and still be able to focus on their handlers and the “job of agility”. Dogs learn self control by watching and having to wait for their turns while the other dogs run the course. If you are interested in agility, it is important that you find a place to introduce your dog to this wonderful sport safely and correctly. Because a friend of yours may do agility with his dog does not necessarily mean that friend can teach you and your dog to do agility. Agility is NOT a free- for-all where dogs just run around jumping and climbing on things. If you push him too far, too fast, and he becomes worried about certain experiences, your dog can have great setbacks in learning. There is no substitute for quality instruction from someone who not only knows how to play agility but also knows how to teach it properly.
Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 100 AKC titles with her Golden Retrievers, including 2 Champion Tracker titles. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 25 years. You can contact her with questions, suggestions and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolyn@dogsatnorthstar.com.
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Brambell’s Five Freedoms and how they provide a valuable reference point for assessing a dog’s quality of life. I discussed the first of the freedoms: Freedom from Hunger and Thirst. This month we will examine Freedom from Discomfort.
by Don Hanson ACCBC, BFRAP, CDBC, CPDT-KA
Discomfort: 1. an inconvenience, distress, or mild pain 2. something that disturbs or deprives of ease 3. to make uncomfortable or uneasy – Collins English Dictionary Many things in our dog’s life may cause pain or anxiety. This may vary in individual dogs depending on their genetics, temperament, anatomy, size, age, and other variables. • Are you familiar with how your dog expresses discomfort so that you recognize when your dog is anxious and afraid? – Dogs often indicate stress by various changes in their body language, often called calming or displacement signals. Signs such as looking away, yawning, and tongue flicks will typically occur before signals such as growling or snapping. If you wish to keep your dog comfortable, you first need to know how they indicate their discomfort. Just because a dog is not reacting does not mean they are comfortable. Most people have not been taught how dogs communicate, yet it is one of the most important things they need
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to know. ( FMI – http://bit.ly/ DogsSignsofFear ) • Is your dog’s environment free from things that may cause anxiety, stress, and pain? This will vary with the individual dog. Common causes of anxiety can include children, adults, other animals, objects, loud noises, having their picture taken, having their nails trimmed, being hugged, wearing a costume, and many more. One of the easiest ways to avoid these issues is to spend time thoughtfully socializing and habituating your puppy to novel stimuli during
• Does your dog have shelter from the elements, especially extremes of temperature, wind, and precipitation? This one seems straightforward, yet every year dogs are left out in dangerous weather and freeze to death. • Does your dog have a quiet, comfortable place where it can rest undisturbed and where it will feel safe? Dogs, like people, need downtime and a place where they will feel secure and safe so that they can get adequate rest. People and especially kids need to respect the adage, “Let sleeping dogs lie.” • If you have multiple pets, does each pet have adequate resources? Many people have multiple pets. Do the pets get along and enjoy each other, or is there frequent conflict? Are there sufficient resources (food, space, and attention) for all of the pets? If your dog feels it does not have what it needs to survive, or if it feels threatened or intimidated by another pet in your home, it is not free of discomfort. • Do you maintain your dog's physical condition, so it does not experience discomfort? – Fifty percent of the dogs in the US are clinically obese. Just as with people, obesity often causes pain and discomfort. Many dogs with long coats require weekly grooming by us to prevent their coats from becoming tangled and matted and uncomfortable. Next month we will examine the Freedom from Pain, Injury, or Disease To read previous articles in this series visit the Downeast Dog News website at https:// downeastdognews.villagesoup. com/ or visit Don’s blog at https:// www.words-woofs-meows.com
GROOMING from page 8 simple while others might be more looking for something more specific to their breed. Do a little research on the different styles and just be very clear with your description. Make sure you choose a cut you are willing to maintain and that fits both your needs and those of your dog. Before your appointment, be sure that your dog is up-to-date on his vaccines. Share any necessary information in regards to your dog’s health and temperament.
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its critical socialization period which occurs between 8 and 16 weeks of age. (FMI – http://bit. ly/SocializationPuppy ) If your dog was older than 16 weeks of age when it joined your family, it is very likely that it was not adequately or appropriately socialized. Remedial socialization is possible with an older dog, but it is even more essential that you plan such sessions carefully and that you proceed slowly. In this case, consulting with a professional fear-free, forcefree, pain-free trainer is highly recommended. ( FMI – http://bit. ly/HowToChooseADogTrainer ) • Have you trained your dog? When a dog joins a family, many expect it to automatically fit in even though dogs and humans are two very different species with different cultural norms. We must teach our dogs how to live in our world, and that can best be accomplished through reward-based training. Failing to train our dog is almost sure to cause discomfort for both the dog and us. ( FMI – http://bit.ly/ WhatIsDogTraining ) • Are you committed to NEVER using aversives to manage or train your dog? If you are using an aversive (shock collar, choke collar, prong collar, leash corrections, or anything where the intent is to physically or emotionally punish) to train or manage your dog, you are making your dog uncomfortable. The very definition of an aversive is to cause discomfort, possibly up to the point of causing physical or emotional pain. Dogs that are trained in this manner are unlikely to be happy and have a much greater probability of becoming aggressive. ( FMI – http://bit.ly/ RewardVSAversive )
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BRAMBELL’S FIVE FREEDOMS – PART 2 FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORT
Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel.com) in Bangor. He is a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Associate Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (ACCBC) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). He produces and co- hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show heard on The Pulse AM620 WZON and streamed at http://www.wzonradio.com/ every Saturday at 9 AM. A list of upcoming shows and podcasts of past shows can be found at www.woofmeowshow.com. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com. He is committed to pet care and pet training that is free of pain, force, and fear. The opinions in this column are those of Don Hanson.
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Dog grooming is physical work. The groomer is working
with an animal that wiggles, barks, licks, etc. Accidents do happen. The groomer is working with sharp tools and a moving animal. There is nothing worse than nicking a dog; it is heartbreaking and trust me very upsetting to the groomer. If your groomer says he/she will call you when done, please wait for the call. Sometimes things don’t go as planned which might cause the appointment to run longer. Please do not expect a haircut in under an hour. Let the groomer know if your dog has any new medical
conditions, so he/she does not move your dog in a way that may be painful to it. Let the groomer know if your dog is aggressive or could become so during grooming. It does happen that this information does not get passed on at the drop off thus resulting in injuries to the groomer. Please plan your appointments ahead of time. Most groomers are booking 2-4 weeks in advance, and March tends to be the busiest month. The groomer may refer you to a different groomer if another one
specializes in your pet’s needs or have more knowledge of your breed. Groomers can tell if you have been brushing. They are like the dentist and know it didn’t happen on the way in. Please let the groomer know when your dog has passed away. The groomer grows close to your pet and would like to know. As is the case with anyone you hire to care for your pet, please do your research and ask questions. Everyone will have her own set of rules and ways of doing things. Find one that best suits you and your dog.
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Downeast Dog News
February 2018
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