Training a controlled jump

[Phebe*DD]

We've only earned on leg toward our RN title, but have recently started in a Rally II class to learn Advanced and Excellent signs. I think in some ways Phebe is better off-lead. Perhaps because she isn't always trying to find where the end of the leash is.

I'm having a hard time getting a nice controlled jump from her. She sees the jump and wants to rush ahead to just take it, even when she's on lead. Any ideas on how to get my wild child to jump like a lady for Rally?

 

[Katherine]

Interesting question and challenge for dogs trained in agility. I'm only working at the novice level myself, so I hope those with more experience will weigh in.

I did look up the regs however for this exercise (34) Send over jump-Handler passes by: "While moving with the dog in heel position, the handler directs the dog to take the jump as the handler passes by the jump without any pause, hesitation or stopping. When the dog has completed the jump in the proper direction, it is called to heel position and the team continues to the next exercise".

It would be interesting to see how a judge scores for this --- and what the line is between losing some points for being out of heel position leading up the jump vs being "out of control".

 

[Calliesmom]

Interesting question and challenge for dogs trained in agility. I'm only working at the novice level myself, so I hope those with more experience will weigh in.

I did look up the regs however for this exercise (34) Send over jump-Handler passes by: "While moving with the dog in heel position, the handler directs the dog to take the jump as the handler passes by the jump without any pause, hesitation or stopping. When the dog has completed the jump in the proper direction, it is called to heel position and the team continues to the next exercise".

It would be interesting to see how a judge scores for this --- and what the line is between losing some points for being out of heel position leading up the jump vs being "out of control".

learned at the AKC Obedience/Rally seminar that is something that would be up to the judge. pretty much if the dog responds to the handler and returns to heel position when called, then it should not be judged as "out of control" but possibly out of position- and point deduction would be up to that judge.

 

[Calliesmom]

We've only earned on leg toward our RN title, but have recently started in a Rally II class to learn Advanced and Excellent signs. I think in some ways Phebe is better off-lead. Perhaps because she isn't always trying to find where the end of the leash is.

I'm having a hard time getting a nice controlled jump from her. She sees the jump and wants to rush ahead to just take it, even when she's on lead. Any ideas on how to get my wild child to jump like a lady for Rally?

It sounds like you need her to pay more attention to you- if she's watching you, then she's not looking at the jump. you'll get better scores too, the more attention that she pays to you and not other distractions.

 

[Justicemom]

I remind Diva to watch me and to heel going up to the jump. I keep my eyes locked on her and do not raise my head to look at the jump. I at least I try. Then I call heel as she is in the air. She does pretty good but still wants to take off at times.

At least the rules have changed that you no longer need to run. Used to say "handler must run". Justice never did a good jump in rally. He used to take off and I would call him back. 1 point off. Run and jump is agility. I think it screwed his agility up for sometime. With the rule change, Diva has never had a problem.

Also yep if the dog takes off and returns promptly on the handlers command they are not out of control. But you will get points off. Rachel's first Mal Jewel was heeling along off leash during Open obedience. Suddenly, she got a northern breed wild hair and spun in a circle and leaped up in the air and landed in a play bow in the middle of the ring. Rachel said "Jewel heel" as Jewel landed in the play bow. Never breaking stride Jewel bounced back into heel position and they finshed the exercise. She even qualified for her 2nd leg. The judge remark on her great verbal control but still took 2 points for out of position and 3 points for a second command to heel.

 

[Phebe*DD]

Thanks for the great suggestions. Yes, it's definitely an attention problem. Apparently, jumps are higher value to her than I am -- go figure!

We had a private agility lesson this week and I asked Kim about this, too. She recommended that I do much the same as has been suggested, and also that sometimes we walk by the jump and other times I direct Phebe to take the jump to reinforce that she has to keep watching me and not deciding on her own whether to take an obstacle. I'll keep you all posted on how we progress.

 

[corbinam]

Thanks for the great suggestions. Yes, it's definitely an attention problem. Apparently, jumps are higher value to her than I am -- go figure!

We had a private agility lesson this week and I asked Kim about this, too. She recommended that I do much the same as has been suggested, and also that sometimes we walk by the jump and other times I direct Phebe to take the jump to reinforce that she has to keep watching me and not deciding on her own whether to take an obstacle. I'll keep you all posted on how we progress.

I'm no rally expert, but just wanted to comment on that last part. It reminds me a lot of what Stuart told a lot of our club members to practice with their obstacle focused dogs. I commented on a thread by sheltieche about obstacle focused dogs and mentioned it.

It isn't up to the dog to decide what they're doing, because if they do, it perpetuates the careless cycle. They need to check in, and be reminded to check in, before being "released" to the obstacle/sequence, wherever obstacle focus is needed.