Rally Obedience question

[Ursa]

Now that Sadie and I have the basics down we're working on fine tuning our footwork - hers and mine. Any advice on training Sadie to move her back feet more during the 270 left and the 360 left? She isn't moving her back feet much during these exercises so we end up with her butt out of position and with a pretty wide circle. :uhoh2:

She's got good back end awareness so I know she'll be able to do this - if her handler gets it together! :icon_redface:

 

[wrknnwf]

One of the well know dog trainers here had us work on that using a long dowel rod.

Here's how we did it:

Start by facing the dog and GENTLY tap the dowel rod on the floor next to the dog's left back foot. All you're trying to do is get the dog to swing his butt to the right. If he doesn't move, GENTLY poke his foot until he moves it. Click and treat for any movement. The command is "Get in" but I wouldn't add that until the dog was actually making a step every time.

Then work on her taking a couple or three steps with her back feet.

When she has this down, move into heel position, holding the dowel in your left hand. Make a simple pivot turn to the left while GENTLY tapping the dowel on her left hip and saying "Get in". Click and treat if she moves her butt around.

If you can get the behavior on a pivot, you can apply this to finishes (if she swings her butt out), and any turn to the left.

So thats her method and people swear by it...here's the one I start puppies with...

Use your left arm as a steering mechanism. Wherever your left hand is positioned, that's where her nose should be. Working pivots, swing finishes, and left U turns, keep a treat closed in your left hand and as you turn left, swing your hand (not your arm) to the left while keeping it close to her nose. She should follow it, moving her whole body. Treat and praise as soon as you complete the turn. You can use the same command, "Get in" or make up another.


You could practice left U turns and swings (finish left) in a hallway. This sort of forces her to turn her whole body. But don't crowd her to the point that she hesitates to do the exercise or doesn't have room. These dogs are so big, they need space to work.

 

[CMDRTED]

One thing I found that works on some dogs is start with wider 270's and 360's and as they get into it slowly make the 270 or 260 smaller and smaller until you are where you want to be.

I like Jane's idea also.

Different things work on different dogs

 

[R Taft]

One of the well know dog trainers here had us work on that using a long dowel rod.

Here's how we did it:

Start by facing the dog and GENTLY tap the dowel rod on the floor next to the dog's left back foot. All you're trying to do is get the dog to swing his butt to the right. If he doesn't move, GENTLY poke his foot until he moves it. Click and treat for any movement. The command is "Get in" but I wouldn't add that until the dog was actually making a step every time.

Then work on her taking a couple or three steps with her back feet.

When she has this down, move into heel position, holding the dowel in your left hand. Make a simple pivot turn to the left while GENTLY tapping the dowel on her left hip and saying "Get in". Click and treat if she moves her butt around.

If you can get the behavior on a pivot, you can apply this to finishes (if she swings her butt out), and any turn to the left.

So thats her method and people swear by it...here's the one I start puppies with...

Use your left arm as a steering mechanism. Wherever your left hand is positioned, that's where her nose should be. Working pivots, swing finishes, and left U turns, keep a treat closed in your left hand and as you turn left, swing your hand (not your arm) to the left while keeping it close to her nose. She should follow it, moving her whole body. Treat and praise as soon as you complete the turn. You can use the same command, "Get in" or make up another.


You could practice left U turns and swings (finish left) in a hallway. This sort of forces her to turn her whole body. But don't crowd her to the point that she hesitates to do the exercise or doesn't have room. These dogs are so big, they need space to work.

Geez Jane, that is what we do with our horses............I always thought horse training and dog training were soooo different, until i started with Annabelle and learned things from you and the great Scott. I just love it.........

 

[janices]

One of the well know dog trainers here had us work on that using a long dowel rod.

Here's how we did it:

Start by facing the dog and GENTLY tap the dowel rod on the floor next to the dog's left back foot. All you're trying to do is get the dog to swing his butt to the right. If he doesn't move, GENTLY poke his foot until he moves it. Click and treat for any movement. The command is "Get in" but I wouldn't add that until the dog was actually making a step every time.

Then work on her taking a couple or three steps with her back feet.

When she has this down, move into heel position, holding the dowel in your left hand. Make a simple pivot turn to the left while GENTLY tapping the dowel on her left hip and saying "Get in". Click and treat if she moves her butt around.

If you can get the behavior on a pivot, you can apply this to finishes (if she swings her butt out), and any turn to the left.

So thats her method and people swear by it...here's the one I start puppies with...

Use your left arm as a steering mechanism. Wherever your left hand is positioned, that's where her nose should be. Working pivots, swing finishes, and left U turns, keep a treat closed in your left hand and as you turn left, swing your hand (not your arm) to the left while keeping it close to her nose. She should follow it, moving her whole body. Treat and praise as soon as you complete the turn. You can use the same command, "Get in" or make up another.

You could practice left U turns and swings (finish left) in a hallway. This sort of forces her to turn her whole body. But don't crowd her to the point that she hesitates to do the exercise or doesn't have room. These dogs are so big, they need space to work.

Same comments here. If you've got a target stick can use that instead of a dowel rod.