Tango does agility

This is Tango, doing one of the things he likes to do best - jump! These photos were taken a couple of years ago, way before Booker! We were in Louisville, Kentucky, at a huge four-day agility competition. You can see that the surface is dirt, which is great for traction and speed. What you can't see is the crowd and how absolutely intimidating the venue is. There were three rings, with enormous doors open on either end of the stadium. Crowds were walking in and out, and standing near the rings.

 

Unfortunately, Tango became very nervous and scared of the place sometime after this run. He shut down. Refused to come off the start line. And when he did come off the line, he stopped dead before jumps. I don't know why. And this transferred to other trials as well. We're finally at the point where he no longer stops dead before an obstacle in every run. He's not avoiding obstacles by visiting the ring crew. He's not qualifying consistently, or often, but he's better. Tango even gets faster during his runs!

How did we get to this point? Training. Constant, positive training with frequent reinforcement. Everywhere. On the street, in pet stores, in class, at fun matches and agility venues that have ring rentals. We'll continue training, of course. And Booker will come along so that he is accustomed to going to different places. And we'll keep entering trials.

A simple walk ...

Tango before a walk - alone with me and paying attention!

Is not so simple when one dog is a jerk, the other tries to kiss everyone. Collars, leashes, treat pouch and poop bag. Ready? OK - let's go! Booker wants to jump on the lady across the way and give her kisses, and Tango is twirling in circles and wants to run over to her for a totally different reason.

So - how do I do that differently? Get their attention before we start our walk! I'll say, "Tango, Booker, are you ready?" in a very upbeat voice, standing up straight with leashes the way they're supposed to be held - my right thumb through the handles and some of the excess looped in my left hand. When both are looking at me, they get a cookie. A yummy cookie, not boring kibble. Then I say, "Let's go!" also in a very excited manner, so that the dogs are looking forward to being with me. We set off at a brisk pace, and if I see that there's no one in the immediate vicinity, I'll let Booker sniff a bush and Tango sniff the air. I don't want them to "heel" in the obedience way, since this is just a walk, but I do want the dogs paying attention to me. And we continue in this fashion. Every once in a while, I'll give the boys a cookie just for being near me, and not at the end of their leash slack. And when I do see other people getting closer, I'll talk to the dogs even more, and step up the cookie volume!

Naturally, it's easier to walk one dog at a time, but sometimes it's just not practical. So I'm learning to walk two.

Training is life... life is training

You get out of both what you put into both. Approach each day in an upbeat, positive manner and good things will come. Or, you'll just feel better. It doesn't matter if you're just going to work, or doing the laundry, or going on vacation. Smile, and the world smiles back. Appreciate nature on your way to work, admire your snowy white unmentionables, or anticipate all the great stuff that you'll be doing on your days off. Everything will be brighter. By the same token, frown at the world and you'll be cranky all day.

I don't want to seem like a Pollyanna. Some days are just hard. There have been lots of days when absolutely nothing goes right. Cranky customers call, one after another. Loads of returned orders in the mail. I've come to the conclusion, though, that the day is better if you can focus on the positive, even if it's just that the sun is shining. Or that it's warmer today than yesterday (or cooler, depending on the time of year).

I'm also trying to apply this lesson in dog training. No matter that Tango is cranky and tries to lunge at another dog on our walk. When we walk, I'll be upbeat and watch for those other dogs. I'll talk to Tango in a very excited voice and have him focus on me. When he does, it's praise and reward! Yummy treats for looking at me and not the yappy Maltese thing. And before we know it, we're past that other dog and walking with purpose down the block! That's certainly better than trying to drag a lunging. shrieking Griff down the street.

Training Booker in a positive manner is somewhat easier since he's a more positive dog. It's still hard sometimes to sustain the energy. On days when I'm feeling lackadaisical, I just keep the sessions shorter!