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AG400: Smooth Moves: Adding the Dog to Your Agility Handler Mechanics

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AG400: Smooth Moves: Adding the Dog to Your Agility Handler Mechanics

Course Details

This class introduces handling techniques to your dogs, then proofs them and progresses them into short sequences. We will begin with the key skills Megan believes dogs need before sequencing should begin: commitment, keeping commitment, and following the handling. We will also focus on the handler’s ability to see commitment and provide consistent, proactive cues. Next, teams will be introduced to each new technique either on the flat or with one wing and then on one jump. In order to develop balanced focus between the obstacle and handler, students will learn optimal reinforcement strategies to reward the dog for correctly following your handling. You will also learn about using reinforcers to proof these behaviors by using either-or training, Megan’s favorite, to solidify your team’s skills. Going from one jump to sequencing should feel easy and doable, without frustration. This class will show you how that can be done!

This class is perfect for those who have completed Agility Handler Mechanics and are looking to continue their agility training, but also is suitable for any agility team looking to start their sequencing in a systematic way or proof their agility skills. Those interested in Gold Spots: Please see the Prerequisites tab for more information. 

This class is a blueprint to how I work from traditional foundation skills and build to sequencing. Read more about it here! 

Teaching Approach

There will be concept lectures that can get pretty wordy with demonstration videos that contain voiceovers. The exercise lectures will be broken down into step by step pieces with written and voiceover instructions, normal speed and slow motion demonstrations. Lectures are released in one batch at the beginning of the week.

There is a natural progression to the skills and exercises that is consistent for every team, but everyone works at their own pace. Some modifications can be made for smaller spaces or less equipment, but minimum requirements are listed in prerequisites and supplies.


Feedback will either be typed with time-stamps or voice-over feedback so the student can see exactly what Megan sees when she gives her critique. If a student has a strong preference for one type of feedback (typed or video), Megan can accommodate!

I believe a solid understanding in how natural physica cues affect the dogs & some well-trained verbal cues sprinkled on top is really the perfect handling system. The well-trained verbals would be determined based on what each individual team needs. I add a verbal cue when my natural cues will not be enough on a consistent basis. I also choose the verbal cues based on the types of courses I plan to run. This class will focus most on the appropriate use of physical cues, but Megan is all about individualizing the coaching process, so you'll be able to discuss the use of verbal cueing as well! 

Megan FosterInstructor: Megan Foster

Megan (she/her) has been involved in the dog sport world nearly her entire life. Though her family did compete in obedience, agility was Megan’s passion right from the start. With over 20 years experience, she has competed with a variety of dogs...(Click here for full bio and to view Megan's upcoming courses)

Syllabus

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Concept: Virtual Dog Training & Walking the Dog's Path 
Concept: Adding the Dog & Reward Progressions 
Concept: Reality Lines 

Week 1

Handler Skill: The Timing Loop
Handler Skill: The Connection Loop
Dog Skill: Commitment Training 
Dog Skill: Keeping Commitment Exercsises 

Week 2

Following the Handling Exercises: On the Flat, On One Jump, & with a Tunnel & One Jump
Extension vs Collection Exercises: On the Flat, On Three Jumps, & with a Tunnel & Three Jumps

Week 3

Technique: Front Cross
Technique: False Turn
Either-Or Training

Week 4:

Technique: Rear Cross
Technique: Forward Send
Either-Or Training

Week 5:

Technique: Blind Cross
Technique: Handling Lead Changes
Either-Or Training

Week 6:

Technique Quizzes
Longer Sequences
Either-Or Training

 

Prerequisites & Supplies

View all Prerequisites & Supplies

AG365 Agility Handler Mechanics is a prerequisite course. It will be available for purchase during the October term registration period. 
https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/26489

Gold Students: I ask that you have completed AG365 Agility Handler Mechanics at any level (Gold, Silver, Bronze) during the August 2020 term. As needed, throughout this class, I can refer you back to lectures in AG365, and it will enhance your learning experience that much more! 
if you did not participate in AG365 during the August term and are interested in a Gold spot in Smooth Moves, please message me & we can discuss the suitability of this class for your team. I may request a video to assess prior to registration. 

Equipment: A 50x50 space, 1-tunnel, and 3-jumps is the most space and equipment you'll ever need during this class. Some exercises require much less space and equipment. Modifications for less space and/or less equipment can be made, but I'll say that modifying for less equipment is much easier than modifying for less space. You can live without a tunnel, but you do need enough space between the obstacles to make the sequences safe for you and your dog. 

Appropriate Age of Dog: The nature of a Gold spot means that you'll be training these skills several times a week, and maybe even daily! Your dog should be old enough to physically handle that amount of training. Each skill will begin with flatwork and does not require jumping, but progressions to jumping are included. Personally, my own dogs begin these skills when they are very young, but typically only do handling specific training once or twice a week. If you are unsure about your dog's suitability for this class, please contact me ahead of time. 
Skills your dog should have to make this class easy for them: desire for their reinforcers! Specific reinforcement strategies will be taught in class, but the more clarity and joy your dog has around their reinforcers, the better! A good stationing behavior or solid stay behavior is needed for many of the exercises. However, if you have a helper that can hold your dog for you, then that is acceptable as well! We will not go over teaching tunnel in this class, but the tunnel will be included in the sequences, so your dog needs to know the tunnel :) 

Sample Lecture

More

Timing of cues: The Timing Loop & The Connection Loop 

The secret to staying ahead is good timing :) I think of timing as a loop. There is connection between obstacles. There is commitment to the current obstacle. There is a proactive cue given for the current obstacle that puts the dog on the correct path to the next obstacle. It is consistency within this loop that builds confidence in our dogs and in return confidence in ourselves. When the dog learns that they can rely on this timely information, you can rely on their predictable responses to information, which makes planning your handling strategy so much easier. These obstacles are spaced really far apart so that I have space to adequately show what I’m about to explain.  

smooth moves graphic

Our goal is to give relevant information between the obstacles, not while the dog is trying to complete the behavior. Giving relevant information while the dog is trying to jump (or weave, or hit their contact) can cause dogs to slow down, knock bars, slip/fall, or ignore cues altogether. 

Think of every obstacle as a startline. You lead out to a position that gives clear information about the first and second obstacle. You are looking at the dog and you can see that your dog is going to take #1. As your dog lands #1, you are starting to give information about how they should take #2, because your leadout position already committed them to it. 

The whole course is like that from the dog’s perspective, so you have to think like that, too! If you think about your dog landing every obstacle in a sit stay - how would you choose to handle the next obstacle? What position would you choose to be in? Which handling technique would you decide to use? 

It’s ok if you can’t answer these questions yet, they are the questions I want you to hold onto as you learn more about handling techniques and sequencing. Back to timing. The first piece of the loop is connection: seeing your dog’s eyes as they land or exit an obstacle. As your dog lands/exits an obstacle, they are asking “what’s next”? Your proactive cue for the previous obstacle should answer that for them. Your connection to them, and many times your first step of your cue as they land confirms it, and the dog should immediately look to the correct obstacle*. Looking at the correct obstacle is the dog saying, “I’ve got it, I’m going to take it, but how do I take it?”, and that is your chance to give them the handling technique that tells them how to jump, that will put them on the correct line to the next one - and the loop continues. 

Dogs need that proactive cue at least one stride before take-off. Why so early? Because they are planning their next take-off the moment they land/exit the previous obstacle. If they get to their take-off point unaware of where the next one is, they will likely take-off in extension (unless they’ve learned out of self perseverance to automatically collect/prepare to turn no matter what), and at the very least turn wide after they land and get the information they are looking for. If they have all of the relevant information about where to go next before they reach their take-off point, they can (and in most cases will) adjust their speed, stride length, take-off point, and land looking in the correct direction of the next obstacle. 
*Dogs looking at the obstacle on their line vs their handler is a key skill that dogs must have before sequencing should begin, if you hope to practice good timing loops from the beginning. One thing about late timing is that it trains both the human and the dog to commit later and later, making it difficult to break the late-timing cycle. 

The timing loop on one obstacle:

 

Timing Loop within a full course: 

The connection loop happens within the timing loop. The connection loop is what I am talking about when I mention “dog’s eyes, dog’s line, dog’s landing”. 

Let’s insert the connection loop into the timing loop: Dog is landing, asking “what’s next” -  Handler is already looking at the dog’s eyes and taking a commitment step to confirm what the dog is asking. Dog is looking at the correct obstacle, now asking, “ok - got it, but how do I take it?”,  so the handler begins their proactive handling technique, while looking ahead of the dog, about 2-3 feet in front of the dog, following the line to the landing spot, where the dog will land shortly to restart the loop.

It’s all happening together, at the same time, in most situations - it isn’t a check-list, it is something you “know” is going to happen, so you plan for it. You rehearse it during your walkthrough, and you perform it with your dog. Do surprises happen sometimes? Of course! You’re a human and your dog is not a machine. But, I often remind my students that you should be surprised when you/your dog gets it wrong, not when you/your dog get it right.

Testimonials & Reviews

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New class for the October 2020 session.

Registration

Next session starts: June 1, 2021
Registration starts: May 22, 2021
Registration ends: June 15, 2021

Available as a prerequisite purchase (lectures only) for the February 2021 session to February 15.

AG400 Subscriptions


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