I was given a great idea...

 I haven't...but I'll make sure Lani sees this.  I know she uses different, distinct-feeling collars with Logan for certain classes/jobs...I can't remember which one she uses for which class though....but obviously she'll know lol.

Logan has several jobs and in each they are VERY different, obviously.  For showing, he needs to stand, and not right next to me, and when gaiting it's ideal for them to pull ahead of you and look straight ahead, unlike when doing rally when he needs to be RIGHT on my left leg, and keep eye contact.  

So to make this easier for him, I use different leads/collars for his different jobs, cause sometimes i just wanna go for a walk and not practice any of it, too. And to make confo more fun, I allow him to get away with stuff there I don't in regular life or rally (or later on agility.)

So, when i'm practicing stacking, even for 5 min. I put on his show lead. Every. Single. Time.  When I practice rally, I leave his flat collar on but I have a lead I use, that's different. I have a collar i'll be using for rally specifically, it should be here any time.  That will go on every single time that we practice, too.

I'd recommend a collar, and make a big deal about putting it on and give the clue "Wanna go play?!" or whatever. Then make a big deal of taking it off, when done and changing back to the regular flat collar (or whatever you use.) and that it's over with.  It takes them a bit to get it.  But for Logan, one day he just GOT IT.  I put on his show lead and went into a stand... and moved out front while gaiting.  He realized.  But, when i put on our flat lead, he was ready to heel.  I say it took about 4-6 weeks for him to show me that he understood.  But, to give him some credit, he was also learning the jobs at the very same time.  I started training him using the different lead/collar technique. So your dogs may get it faster, since they already understand that they have a job.  I think it really does work.  I think the key is switching collars/leads.  Make sure they see it and are tuned in.  And make sure you don't slip, at least in the beginning, if you are gonna practice change out collar.

I think you'll be pleased at how well the get this!  Good luck :)

(thanks Kate :) 

I have used this type of training technique.  My kids all know Work and Play for collars.  When a Work Collar goes on they can be happy, up and fun BUT they must stack and stand, they must exhibit excellent manners.  When a Play collar goes on the rules are eased up a tad. Goofy is okay, no one must stand still or allow anyone else to handle them.  I do not treat the same so the collars are enjoyed that much more. Play is for the most part it's own reward.  But the treats are lavish and pleanty when working.  I also realized I dress differently. I wear dressier clothes when showing.  You can think ahead about how you will dress when both training and working your disk babies. Incorporate Bandanas or something simular. If you have it on play escalates.  You can speed up the training by keeping your bandanas and the frisbees together, letting the smells mingle. same for the play collar. Keep a carton of liver treats in the bag with them...just for the smell effect.

I would guess Disk Dogs are more visual, but you can still influence them right?  How about Music?? Encourage bouncing and playing when music is on. By setting up a real and very discernable process it is easy to discourage unwanted behavior.  IT is okay pup, while Momma has one her bandana or it's stuck in your pocket .. and You have on your Work Collar we will train to music and bounce everywhere. Once the music goes off the disk goes up, remove the collar, and put everything up.  Short intervals, high energy and consistancy will make the training fly by.

Good Luck !!

Bonita of Bwana

I think repetition will be the most helpful. 

 My brindlewonderkid has a therapy martingale/leash, agility martingale/leash (of course he runs nekkid), and a regular walkabout martingale/leash.  None of those include his regular collar with tags.  I think there are also a couple of coursing leads when we did that.  And a different collar/leash for conformation.  (He's retired from that and gladly handed that leash over to Zpuppy.)  So that's six different collars by my count. 

 it will work if you give it time. Gunnar knows his hunting collar from his just fun collar and Hektor has already figured out that the harness means PULL and the collar means Don't PULL so they can tell what "job" they are going to be doing by the equipment that you use.

I haven't done it, but I have seen it done - a friend once handed me his Viszla, asked me to hold the dog for a few minutes. I was on my knees digging into the ground to hang on to this dog who was pulling with everything he had at the end of the leash. The owner glanced back and saw the difficulty I was having and came over. I thought he was going to take the dog. He pulled a choke collar out of his pocket and slipped it over the dog's head. Immediately the dog came and stood quietly at my side. The collar he had originally left on the dog was his free-play collar. The dog also had a hunting collar and a conformation collar. The key is a lot of consistentcy. I would think you can also use a cue word with each - put a collar on the dog and tell him "frisbee" or something and then with a different collar, tell him "manners" or "obedience". Another thing though, is that I have always allowed my dogs to jump on me. I have never allowed them to jump on other people. It works. They know me from *everyone else*.

You learn something new everyday!  I had never thought about this, and love the idea.  I'm really excited to try it with Honor when we begin agility.  I think she already picks up on certain leashes/collars, because whenever she dons the Easy Walk/Long Lead combo (set-up used for long walks in parks), she gets REALLY pumped up, and just runs ecstatically around the apartment.

I've done this too, but not really knowing it...  I always put a certain collar on him when I do protection training with him.  I usually wait to put it on until we get there, because as soon as it goes on he starts pulling and looking for the "bad guy."  I let him pull because its good for him to show that eagerness, and you want to keep as much negativity out of the work as you possibly can.  I think its a great idea to switch out collars for different things.  Its funny that I've been doing this all this time and never really noticed...lol!