Running off course, why?

labgirl

labgirl

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Merlin has started to dabble in agility. In between Cadbury's rounds I take Merlin off to the beginners area and work on some of the basic equipment. We have only done two lessons so far, mostly tunnel and jumps.

Yesterday he was doing fantastic, went from a straight tunnel to a full u-turn tunnel no problems, then was doing tunnel - jump, and working ahead. I was so pleased and then, abruptly, he completed the jump and instead of coming back to me he ran off and stood by the fence where Cadbury was secured (Cadbury was on the opposite side). He stood there looking at me.

I called him and he didn't move. Now this is unusual for Merlin, I can count on one hand the number of times he has refused his recall. I couldn't believe it. I walked towards him a little and finally he came over, but very much with his ears down, looking worried and apologetic. He immediately jumped into my arms, which he only does when he is upset or afraid.

I gave him a cuddle and took him back to the course, he seemed really keen to go through the tunnel, but as soon as he was done the same thing happened, he ran off to Cadbury.

We took a break and then tried tyre-jump on lead. He seemed really happy again so after a few turns on lead I let him off. The first time was perfect and he came straight back to me. The second time he ran off yet again.

I'm just not sure WHY he is doing this?

Someone said hormones, because he is now 10 months and hitting the teenage phase, but it seemed more anxious than defiant.

I wondered if it was because I was holding his collar alot and he doesn't always like that, but then I'm not sure about that theory either.

Could he just have become overwhelmed and wanted to get away? Nothing bad happened, but maybe doing all this new stuff, in a new environment got too much for him?

Any insight into the sheltie mind on this one would be much appreciated!:wink2:
 
It's a sign of stress. I would take a step back, lower your criteria, and reward more frequently right now. Keep it fun, and remember he is a young, very inexperienced dog.
 
I agree, its an avoidance behaviour and if he isn't injured then there must be another reason he doens't want to run. I see this a lot with the dogs I train for flyball and the best thing to do is step back and have a fun play for a bit before trying again.
 
I agree it is asign of stress. Too much too soon for his little 10 month old sheltie brain to digest. Diva used to do the same in obedience. It was always I sign I push to far pass her comfort level.

Break it down alittle and reward more often.
 
I had the same experience with Pyper. Tried her in a beginning agility class at about 6 or 7 months. She was shutting down and leaving the area. So....we're doing rally for now. She seems to be fine with that, but not for long periods at a time.
 
Thank you all. I recall him doing exactly the same when we started heelwork to music (though he was a lot younger then). I'll take things a lot easier with him and take a toy and have a good play with him when he does good. No need to rush after all:wink2:

Thank you again.
 
When Sca did that kind of stuff in Flyball it was a sign that his was burned out. We would then lower the success criteria and call it a day. It is not just physical tired it is also mental that gets done. My guess is he was tired and frazzled so he ran to see his buddy Cadbury. Then he realized he messed up so was trying to suck up to Mom :lol:. I am not an agility expert (not even a bad novice :lol:) but I would have run him through the tunnel once and then stopped since he was tunneling well... hmmm might have to set up Sca's tunnel to play today...
 
good for you going back to just playing in the area :D
He is a baby dog, you know? LOL
I know he is such a good dog, it's probably easy to forget!
 
Yes, it is all too easy to forget that he is still a baby! Merlin has always been so adaptable and eager to please that it is all too tempting to push a little too far. I am going to be a chilled agility mum from now on and make it fun, fun, fun.

He is such a change from Cadbury! My trainer calls him a natural, again, another reason it is too tempting to do too much. After all, we didn't dare let Cadbury off lead on his second lesson! He would have run off instantly to the other dogs or just to do laps of the field- oh gosh, he was hard work!:lol: (still is, actually!)
 
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