ResqTails

The part of the distance drills that we worked on today is adding a second obstacle into the picture. You start out with a second obstacle, they don’t have to be identical, but that was easiest for me today because I had the pvc jumps out of the lawn already.

I didn’t do the greatest job of filming today but my options for setting up the tripod and not having it blow over in the aweful wind were a bit limited. Because of this, it may be a bit difficult to see, but the second obstacle is set up closer to you, but beyond the original obstacle. Like several feet out in front of the other obstacle to start with. If the dog is successful at still going “out” to the correct obstacle, you move the other jump closer. If you’re still successful, you can continue to move it until it is line with the original one. Once you can successfully send the dog to the further obstacle, it’s time to test whether they are just getting patterned to take the original obstacle or if they are really following your direction.

To test it, you set the dog up the same as you did on the previous attempt, but instead of giving an “out” command, you
ask them to come in to you and take the closer obstacle. It’s amazing how the dogs get patterned to taking the other jump or obstacle so quickly. I remember Jim saying at the seminar that it was having to “break the spell”. Anyway, once you get the dog to come in to the closer obstacle then you try sending them out again.

I hope the video is helpful, I just gave a quick overview of the drill. Layla had done this before we got the camera out, and because of the wind I didn’t want to mess around much. Sorry. At the end of the video you’ll see the wind catch the jackpot bag when I toss it and throw it back to the take off side of the jump. I decided that was enough. LOL

I’m really pleased with how well Layla’s doing though. If she keeps this up, I might need to start looking for gifts for her. Just like with the first drill, I need to do this with other obstacles. I also need to start increasing the distance laterally away from the “out” for the dog and then for where I am. Anyway, here’s today’s video.

After Zoe managed to complete her Elite Gamblers title this last weekend I got to thinking…maybe improving her distance skills wouldn’t be impossible after all. I keep putting it off with her because she’s older and I just know that teaching her new skills turns into such a fight sometimes. Especially since she’s an opinionated girl that thinks that she knows how everything is done already. LOL But the way she’s running, she’s not ready for the retirement home, checker boards, ping pong tables and a hammock just yet. So, maybe I should just give some distance training a try with her. What do you think?

I thought I’d set up the first drill today from the beginner’s day of that Jim Basic distance seminar that we audited last year. For sure I’ll work it with Layla, and I might even see what Zoe thinks of it too. We’ll see how it goes. I have every intention of my younger dogs having better distance training than Zoe got in the beginning. I’ll try to set up the camera and post something later on this evening.