Agility is a fantastic game we play with our dogs. We connect with our dogs in a way no other sport allows. We learn to talk together and understand each other to run around a course tackling all the obstacles and challenges along the way.
But there are times (and we've all been there, myself included) when agility isn't fun, when we loose that feeling and things can go wrong, new problems occur, old problems re-occur, maybe we haven't trained something as well as we thought, or maybe our expectations were just too high.
So how can we put the fun back into agility again?
TRAIN THE DOG IN FRONT OF YOU
If you've had other agility dogs in the past, it's inevitable we are going to compare dogs. Often we also look at the past through rose tinted glasses and forget the faults or struggles we may have had with our other dogs. Always remind yourself of your dogs strengths and work to those, and spend time developing any weaknesses.
Be realistic in the time you have to train, the equipment you have available and the ability of your dog. The majority of dogs aren't going to run at Crufts or maybe even get beyond grade 6 or 7. Aim high but don't be unrealistic either.
Always check your dog is physically able to do agility or any sport you are asking them to do. Regular physiotherapy, massage, or other therapies are a must to keep your dog healthy and make sure they are fit enough to train. If your dog is maybe a little overweight, then think of helping them to loose a little bit of weight beforehand, to reduce any stress on their joints and body.
If your dog is reactive, has poor recall or general training, then these areas need to be improved before you train agility or compete. A dog must want to stay in the ring with you at an agility show. This is something you need to work on and create that bond before you start classes or competition.
Also be realistic if your dog is going to be able to cope at competitions. Some dogs may never make it into an agility competition if they cannot cope with the noise, excitement and general hustle and bustle of a show. You are not a failure if your dog doesn't compete, but make sure you enjoy the training.
Always make sure your dog understands what you are asking them to do. You may have trained something a hundred times, but does your dog truly understand what you want? Have you trained the behaviour in different places, in different ways, without verbal or physical commands from you? There are many different ways I proof a dogs behaviour to ensure they truly understand what I'm asking them to do, and only then does it show me what I actually need to work on.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT REWARD
All dogs are different and all dogs work for different rewards and maybe even different rewards for different things. In agility I like to use toys for rewarding courses and drive lines, but when training contacts and weaves I will use food.
Toys are a great way to get your dog to chase after you and interact with you in a game of tug. But some dogs are not very toy motivated, some get over aroused. Choosing what toy and when you are going to use it, will help get more from your dog.
Food is fantastic for quick and frequent rewards, which is why I use it for weaves and contacts and trick training. I can give a high frequency of rewards to ensure I get duration of the behaviour and also for quick repetitions. Also look at the value of the food you use. For easier behaviours I use kibble, for more difficult training, such as a seesaw or weaves, I will use a higher value food such as chicken or hot dogs. Look at what floats your dogs boat, if they want the reward enough will find your training sessions are easier.
BREAK DOWN YOUR TRAINING
If you need to go back a few steps when training something, then do so. If your dog could do weaves before, but suddenly can't, then break them down again (providing they haven't got an injury). If your dog can do something at home, but struggles in a new place, then go back to how you trained it in a new place. Small, bite sized chunks will always get you there quicker. The more your dog gets something right, the more you will reward them, the more they will want to do that again, and the more fun both of you will have again.
THINK ABOUT HOW YOU ARE TRAINING YOUR DOGS
When I'm training my dogs, they give me 100% ever time. Why? Because I give them 100% every time also? If my energy is flat, theirs will be flat, if I'm exciting, they will be excited. If I'm training something boring and repetitive, then I do short, fun sessions and move onto something else and then come back to it. In short, I don't make it boring and repetitive for my dog.
I keep my training sessions short. When my dog is physically or mentally tired, then I won't get the best from them. I need to keep their attention on me and their job. Having multiple dogs, then I swap between them, if I was training one dog, then I would pop them away in their crate or let them have a 5 minute sniff walk before I did more.
I also never use the word NO in my training (only to handlers lol). If my dog hasn't understood what I want them to do, I have to look at myself. Am I stood wrong, am I cueing wrong, am I too late in cueing, am I too early, does my dog understand what I want them to do, the list goes on? Videoing yourself or getting a friend or trainer to watch you is invaluable when things aren't going right, so often we think we are doing something, or are pointing a certain way, but the video evidence often says something else lol.
Finally, remember what I said at the start. Agility is a fun game we play with our dogs. If that fun has disappeared, then look at what you could do to bring it back. Sometimes we can get bogged down in the training and loose sight at what agility truly is. Or we are chasing the wins and rosettes, instead of chasing enjoyment. If you need some new ideas, or are struggling to find that sparkle again, then have a look at my online agility training to see how I can help.
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