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Starting over with Maze

Posted : 2/28/2009 1:36:08 PM

So I'm going back to the basics with Maze. For a couple reasons. One is to help her with her fear problem. And the other is to get her to switch sides and proof the basics.

I trained her to be on my right side before I even thought about entering in Rally O. Now that I want to, I've noticed that I've proofed my right side so much that she does not want to be on my left. Lol.

I'm baking some pork breakfast sausages that we won't eat and we're starting from scratch! So today I'm grabbing the bait bag, a leash (for safety, I won't be using it) and Maze and we're doing some focus outside.

This should be fun. Lol.

Infiniti

Posted : 2/28/2009 8:44:54 PM

How'd the training go? I bet the pork sausages were a big hit. Smile

For the retraining on the left side, I would probably focus on making your left side REALLY awesome, giving lots of treats and praise. The good thing about Rally is that novice is on-lead, and your hand signals should make it pretty obvious which side Maze is supposed to be on. I hope both of you enjoy training for Rally, I'm totally addicted!

oranges81

Posted : 3/1/2009 2:09:57 AM

Training went well even thou I forgot to cook the sausages! Lol. So I used ham.

Right now I'm working on her focus while in a sit on my left side and when she's off leash, giving her treats every time she's in position or even near my left side and completely ignoring when she's on my right.

Sandy's on her way to becoming a Rally champ. Lol. Gawd I am such a dork..

Infiniti

Posted : 3/1/2009 7:40:01 PM

oranges81
Sandy's on her way to becoming a Rally champ. Lol. Gawd I am such a dork..

If you're a dork, so am I, lol. I'm a Rally NERD, totally obsessed, I watch YouTube videos of other peoples' Rally trials all the time. Embarrassed

Honor and Eli's breeder is expecting Eli to do Agility...which he WILL be, I just happen to be training him in Rally...first. My excuse is that Rally will help him gain the focus and control needed to do well in agility. Lucky for Eli, he likes both so far. Smile

oranges81
Right now I'm working on her focus while in a sit on my left side and when she's off leash, giving her treats every time she's in position or even near my left side and completely ignoring when she's on my right.

It sounds like you're going about it right. Have you thought about putting each side of you on a cue word? That could help for agility when you switch.

oranges81

Posted : 3/1/2009 9:43:14 PM

I never thought about putting each side on a cue.. Which is not smart of me since I put almost everything on a cue. Lol.

Rally does help with focus. Just look at Sandy. Lol. I can send her through obstacles she's never been shown just because she's watching my cues.