k9kreationz
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I was told over and over again by many different trainers that dogs have a hard time understanding a 4-on (stop 4 paws on the DW). Why? Because there is no true criteria for stopping. Versus being able to feel the ground under their paws.
You may see white and red, but what does the dog see? Do they really see the different colors?
I'm not sure if that's typically taught where you live, so I won't say it's not doable, but IMHO and experience, I think you're going to have a heck of a time with it and a lot of creeping.
I'll be honest, I was being stubborn when I wanted to keep Koji's 4-on (he was supposed to stop, all 4 paws on the board, at the very end of the DW). I saw so many dogs SLAM into the end, I was afraid he'd hurt himself. What I learned the hard way was that dogs can't tell where to stop in a 4-on. Even if I was very specific about wanting him to stop 2-inches from the end, he was never sure. Hence, the creeping.
When I started retraining the 2o2o (2 feet on the ground, 2 on the dw), it was like a lightbulb went off in his head. He now understood where he's supposed to stop. We haven't pefected the actual stopping, but now he knows what position he's supposed to be in. He's a strange dog, he almost slaps his two paws onto the ground, like he's about to jump, but doesn't. Very weird.
Oh, and if he creeps ever, you want to know what happened the time prior? I clicked too early or I did something that somehow rewarded him stopping early...in a 4-on. Once I fix it again, he's fine.
Just my two cents. If stopping on the contact like that is typical there, then keep working it. Be very specific about his zone and where you reward him. Does he need to have equal distance in both zones? 2-inches into the contact?
And if that doesn't work, let me know. I can send you my training plan for when I had to retrain his 2o2o. LOL. Although, I hope it won't happen.
Good luck with whatever you choose. Merlin is doing wonderfully, so keep up the good/hard work!
You may see white and red, but what does the dog see? Do they really see the different colors?
I'm not sure if that's typically taught where you live, so I won't say it's not doable, but IMHO and experience, I think you're going to have a heck of a time with it and a lot of creeping.
I'll be honest, I was being stubborn when I wanted to keep Koji's 4-on (he was supposed to stop, all 4 paws on the board, at the very end of the DW). I saw so many dogs SLAM into the end, I was afraid he'd hurt himself. What I learned the hard way was that dogs can't tell where to stop in a 4-on. Even if I was very specific about wanting him to stop 2-inches from the end, he was never sure. Hence, the creeping.
When I started retraining the 2o2o (2 feet on the ground, 2 on the dw), it was like a lightbulb went off in his head. He now understood where he's supposed to stop. We haven't pefected the actual stopping, but now he knows what position he's supposed to be in. He's a strange dog, he almost slaps his two paws onto the ground, like he's about to jump, but doesn't. Very weird.
Oh, and if he creeps ever, you want to know what happened the time prior? I clicked too early or I did something that somehow rewarded him stopping early...in a 4-on. Once I fix it again, he's fine.
Just my two cents. If stopping on the contact like that is typical there, then keep working it. Be very specific about his zone and where you reward him. Does he need to have equal distance in both zones? 2-inches into the contact?
And if that doesn't work, let me know. I can send you my training plan for when I had to retrain his 2o2o. LOL. Although, I hope it won't happen.
Good luck with whatever you choose. Merlin is doing wonderfully, so keep up the good/hard work!
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