The Up Contact

[Bejilia]

Hi there,

I don't have much experience in training dogs to touch the up contact, because I always had (and have) shelties, who touch it automatically. Now there is a doberman in one of my classes and for him it's easier to jump up. I would be glad, if we could ignore that, 'cause it's really better for him, but we have a lot of judges here, who give a mistake for the up contact. Of course I have ideas, how to train it, but I want to collect as much ways as I can, so we can find the best for this dog. (Yes, I know, you all work with shelties, but...) Do you know methods?

So far I know:
- laying a bar in front
- train with touch
(- tunnel bow (hoop?) in front, but this is too small for him...)

I just don't want to destroy his good down contacts...


Thank you for ideas

R. m. Q.

[corbinam]

That is a tough question. You're right that most (all?) sheltie owners don't have to worry about this.

I think I would be inclined to add a low jump (or bar) to change his stride as he gets on, but I think you mentioned that. Hope someone else can chime in with a different answer!

[Silaria]

You know what, I'm not sure what else to suggest you try. My first thought was a hoop but you said that's too small for him. Could using a NRM on an upside help?

I realize why your friend needs to train this since you don't want to NQ because a judge calls a fault on an up contact. I'm curious about how changing his striding on the up side is going to impact his contacts on the down side. You may end up with a little retraining there as well simply because the striding is different regardless of the process used.

[HopeShelties]

build your own PVC hoop. That way it can be the correct size for him.

[ortegah]

How about laying just a board down flat and training him first to walk over the whole thing? Or perhaps back chaining in a different way and treat him every time he touches the beginning of the contact?

[Bejilia]

Originally Posted by Silaria

You know what, I'm not sure what else to suggest you try. My first thought was a hoop but you said that's too small for him. Could using a NRM on an upside help?

What's NRM?

[corbinam]

Originally Posted by Bejilia

What's NRM?

I think the easiest definition is that it's a marker (non-reinforcement marker) to let your dog know that what they've done isn't quite right. It's not a negative marker (like NO or WRONG), but it's not one for which they would be rewarded.

I would say that the most common place to use one is at the weaves. Let's say your dog makes an attempt at a difficult entry, but misses. You might use an NRM to essentially say "Almost, but not quite". A lot of people use "oops".

Here are a few comments from Susan Garrett: http://susangarrettdogagility.com/20...ning-of-a-nrm/

[Bejilia]

oh, thanks - we have it too, but no name for it

Sadly that doesn't work, because he still needs a laud for standing the down contact and that's why I think, clicking a touch on the up contact wouldn't work too.

Now I found something else... It doesn't seem to be known in Germany: What do you think about stride regulators? I think, they are for running contacts, but in this way the up contact is a running contact, isn't it?


R. m. Q.

[Phebe*DD]

Here's a link to an article about up contacts that may be helpful. It's from Nancy Gyes web site. She's USA World Team coach.

http://www.powerpawsagility.com/arti...tTraining.html

[Bejilia]

Thanks for the article
Sadly there's nothing new in it, but good explained in detail. I think, we'll try the bar method...


R. m. Q.