Flyball Training Breakthough

[LilBailey]

Rusty the ACD has been competing in flyball for about 18 months but has never been able to cross properly due to his snappy, chasing habits. Having to be released on the line after the dog coming out had already passed ment that the team could not run to it's full potental speed.

After a few training sessions with a new idea this is Rusty crossing from 30 ft. Please excuse the dodgey filming.

Rusty Crossing from 30 ft

Edited August 5, 2007 by LilBailey

[Sayreovi]

WOW!!!!

I am very impressed!

He is going to become an excellent (fast) flyball dog if he can continue to ran at the other dog not waiting will its passed.

Do you mind sharing how you guys managed that?

Edited August 6, 2007 by tollersowned

[LilBailey]

Was acctully the idea of the Handler.

We used a wooden packing pallet/ fence thing (some thing we found in the scouts roms) as a barrier so that when the dog came out she was on the other side to Rusty going in. Josh was holding the fence up and gave Rusty a good growling at when he looked at or barked at Jazz.

After a few goes he wasn't looking at her so we moved the barrier. Josh stood in the middle with a height board in one hand (To make him self longer not bash the dog) He had to growl at him a few times, and guide him the first time with the Height board but then he was fine.

Two lessons is all he has done like this so now we just have to work on teaching the handler to cross.

He may still have issues in Competition but it's a step forward that we thought would take longer to achive.

ETA: It was Hades in the first lesson not Jazz.

Edited August 7, 2007 by LilBailey

[Sayreovi]

Great work!

I was wondering why he came in at such an angle, now i know why

[LilBailey]

I didn't notice the angle A big angle is a bit of a personal preferance of Josh n I. A dog that comes in from a big angle is less intimidating than one that comes in straight. It is also handy for the box end if a ball goes way wood.

[Sayreovi]

Interesting, will have to watch your crosses at Geelong!

Our crosses tend to be straight at the other dog bar i think only one comes in from the side, though i might try this weekend with Darcy going in at an angle, he isnt as confident as Nova running at another dog!

[Guest Clover]

The improvement with Rusty the last couple of weeks has been amazing . I prefer sending in from an angle especially with Tinny so i can judge crosses better.

[LilBailey]

You sometimes have to take it slowly moving from the middle to the side or the dog doesn't quite get it and can miss jumps or over correct. By buggerd if I could get it right with Miss Polly on the weekend I kept stuffing it and moving to far out and she kept missing the jumps

From the side also means that you are out of the way of the other people coming in and going out.

If Darcy lacks that bit of confidence then it might be good for him to come like that. Also on the way out if the dog coming in on him so straight then he may come out faster or just with more confidence.

The Human Racing we did at our comp taught us a few things about intimidation and crossing. One thing was that Mick is dam scary running at you from 50 foot

[Sayreovi]

Will give it a go, he does already angle himself a bit already, he will sort of veer out of the way so loses the speed he has going in when he corrects himself, so i want to give him confidence running in.

Doesnt miss the jumps going in unless if ive totally stuffed the cross and sent him way too early but never tried it from the side.

Ahh yes the human races, it was just as scary being the box loader!!!

[Guest Clover]

Another good training session with Rusty on the weekend . He was doing good so we tried him crossing with Bear, and having Tinny going in on him.... he did great .

Natasha did you try the going in on an angle thing with Darcy?

[Sayreovi]

Oops sorry forgot about this section!

Gave it a go once and he ran down the outside

Decided to not continue then because of the comp on the weekend, didnt want to give him any ideas, but i will try it this weekend :D.

Not sure if you guys saw the way he ran in, ran straight saw another dog and thought oh crap a dog coming at me, swerved out and then back in so loses alot of speed doing this.

Edited August 21, 2007 by tollersowned

[Guest Clover]

Not sure if you guys saw the way he ran in, ran straight saw another dog and thought oh crap a dog coming at me, swerved out and then back in so loses alot of speed doing this.

Yep i watched and noticed Darcy doing that. Tinny used to aswell, especially running in on Jamaica. I dont think we actually did any training with her just waited for her confidence to build up & then she became obsessed and would go in on any angle anyway.

Maybe just take it slowly with Darcy and if you have access to something (like some lattice or bunting) to 'guide' him in, that may work in showing him where to go. It may take some time for his confidence to build up, but he should get there.

[Sayreovi]

Thanks Clover

Nice to know others have dogs that done that and it worked out

He is a good boy though and will always try and go over the jumps when crossing even when really close so its not like he runs down the outside so i am lucky there.