Excellence In Weaving

[Kavik]

Thanks for the explanation

[bordacollies4me]

No Worries i hope it has helped understand the 2x2 a little better...

this is a snipet of what Susan calls the 2x2 difference

Quoting Susan GArrett

From Pavlov we learn about classical conditioning and how if a neutral stimulus

(such as weave poles) is continually paired with something desirable (toy or food),

we will get a conditioned response to that stimulus. In the initial stages of other

methods of weave pole training, a toy or cookie is put at the end of an open

channel or an angled row of poles for the dog to drive towards. The dog is

conditioned in this way to see-poles-run-fast. This is a key reason why many dogs

go through their entire agility career without ever gaining consistency with weaving.

The “see-poles-run-fast” trigger is

so strong it is sometimes next to

impossible for this dog ever to

become thoughtful enough to

collect his stride to hit a weave

entry. By way of contrast, the sight

of weave poles for the 2x2 trained

dog triggers a conditioned

response that has him

SEE-POLES,-COLLECT-HIS

-STRIDE,-FIND-HIS-ENTRY,

and then RUN-FAST!

Edited December 4, 2008 by bordacollies4me

[Kavik]

I guess I'm trying to work out how you can get speed with this method. The entries bit makes sense (as I've discovered I really need to work on these now I've got new poles it seems Kaos did not understand this as much as I thought he did).

[bordacollies4me]

I guess I'm trying to work out how you can get speed with this method. The entries bit makes sense (as I've discovered I really need to work on these now I've got new poles it seems Kaos did not understand this as much as I thought he did).

this method is all about speed... and accuracy

when starting the first 2 poles are say at 2 and 8 oclock, you work you entries, initially shaping your dog to go through with food.. a toy driven dog is much better, when rewarding the dog, you always reward on what susan calls the reward line... which is basically the line that the 12 poles would follow... when you add the next 2 poles they are also at 2 and 8 oclock... but about 4 feet from the first set forming a channel... once the dog is driving through these (1 or 2 sessions) you then start turning the poles to say 1 and 7 oclock.. work the ark add distractions, maintaining speed and drive... then turn to 6 and 12 forming a straight line... i had my last dog doing 4 straight poles with speed in 5 sessions...

[leopuppy04]

Kavik - I have found that with confidence the 2x2 gives you fabulous speed and excellent entries. The dogs totally understand what is being asked of them, and because the distance between the poles is reduced slowly, the dogs are able to maintain speed. One thing I have always done is if the dog slows - I open the poles a bit to encourage the speed. They also maintain the speed for the reward at the end.

But isn't it great that we backchain - rather than say - here weave 12 poles, get the entry right, run fast and don't miss any... we can now say - here are 2 poles, enter them right and BAM - goodies. soon those 2 become 4 , so on and so forth. In the end, the dogs are roaring through just to get to the end to get their goodie .

[BittyMooPeeb]

What makes the 2 x 2 method better than say the channel method?

IMO, in the 2x2 method the dogs understand what is needed of them more quickly, they run the weavers at speed, and entries are taught early on so stick really well. Having a dog that offers behaviour is necessary for this method though, so you need to teach this first (there are great clicker training books on how to do this)

[Kavik]

I gave this a go with Zoe (9 years old, never had a fast weave, no way I can stuff her up ) must admit very painful, she wanted to target the poles instead of go through them She understands the clicker and will offer some behaviours, I guess targetting was the most obvious thing for her

I have been doing a 3 pole entry with the clicker with Kaos, so far this is working well.