Agility Sport issue - Need some suggestions - Page 2

My point was I would not go around using picnic tables and random objects trying to deal with this before a trial. Either you are confident in the dog's ability to do it or not, and if not then wait it out. I would wait for the chance to train it on the training equipment with the help of the instructor or whoever else she is training under/with.  If the dog is deemed not ready for trial, then don't push it. It's supposed to be fun and not a cause of stress for the handler or dog.  In doing agility with multiple dogs, I have found that all of the problems, refusals, etc have been errors on my part, not the dog (outside of a physical injury to the dog, which luckily I have not experienced). 

I am trying to address her confidence in herself, her training, and her dog, that is why I told the story.  Most times dogs can do a hell of a lot more than we think they can and if we're entering a trial then we owe it to the dog to have that confidence in our team.  That may be an issue more than having the dog try the obstacle repeatedly using all sorts of makeshift equipment. I may very well "fix itself" if it is an issue of confidence and handling, not the dog being capable of performing the obstacle, but like I said I would address it in the context of however and wherever she normally trains, not throw in new things based on the internet. I couldn't begin to guess what caused the issue without the entire context.

I wouldn't give a thumbs up to planks and cinder blocks because I just don't think they are safe and the last thing the dog needs is an injury or scary experience.  You don't want anything that is unsteady and you want to promote the dog driving hard and fast, so a GSD is going to need some really well put together stuff to train on.  I make a lot of agility stuff for home but don't bother with contact obstacles.

To answer a question I missed, yes there WILL be an issue with the picnic table thing b/c you are training the dog to blow both contacts and that's an NQ.  The obstacle can't be trained or done correctly without the contacts.

Fawn;  take no offense please but you are putting too much pressure on yourself and your dog if she is not ready by entering her now unless you just want to go and see what she will give you on Sunday?  Are you talking about this Sunday??  Way too soon in my opinion especially if she has a fear issue.  Nan

Take what you will, hopefully something will help, and remember every dog (and person) is different. ;)  I think the more variety of obstacles, make-shift, whatever, as long as it is SAFE, just helps with the dog's confidence.  Your dog either knows the contacts when it comes to agility equipment or it doesn't... jumping off a seat isn't going to equate to jumping off the dogwalk/teeter, at least in my experience.  Athough the 3 planks (with 2 ramps) and lower is probably more ideal, IF it is very secure.

Now for the match and trial... you can always go with the idea that you are going to skip the dogwalk and work on other issues as then you won't have pressure to Q anyway... it MAY even be more fun for you and your dog then.  Work on start-line, or just work on a great, fun attitude... no dogwalk.  No mention on venue or level, but I assume you will have other courses without the dogwalk?

Learning comes and goes, so do fears sometimes... especially if the dog is young.  Pushing too much can make a tiny fear bigger, which is partly why it might be best to take walking on planks away from the actual dogwalk anyway.  With this you may discover if it's a balance issue, height issue, etc.  How is the teeter??

Edited to add (instead of adding another post):  I just got in from testing something on my picnic table... if your German Shepherd sized dog has a 2o2o contact it CAN do it on the picnic table bench!  Thought it would be too high, or it would be too hard for the dog to stop, but it's not... at least not for mine.  2o2o isn't necessary for everyone, but IF you are having contact issues too, then I would suggest it... however I wouldn't add it until the current issues have been addressed and worked through.  You can start training it away from equipment though... like at the bottom of stairs.  Not relevant to your questions above, but goes along with the concern about losing contacts and the use of everyday "equipment."

Geez here we go again on stupid stuff. The contacts are an area on the ramps. There is no way on God's green earth that putting ramps on cinder blocks and then picnic benches is going to teach blowing the contacts.you train it just like you would as a low A frame and train the contacts as you go.  

Back to justifying a stupid post on the first place. Confidence doesn't appear by magic.it occurs by conquering your fear through repetitions on different surfaces at different locations.

Running past an obstacle and avoiding it only reinforces the problem and teaches a bad habit.  Only run if you believe the problem is fixed. Otherwise you create more problems.

I would not attempt to 'fix' this before the trial, and would do as others have said...leave out the dog walk entirely and just do the trial as an 'exercise'.  If you put too much pressure on her you could set up an aversion to the dog walk, and that will be much harder to fix. Likewise if you jury rig something to practice with, and a plank moves or falls.  My OH did agility with our boy for years, and there was never, ever a rush to learn something or fix a problem. Infinite patience, at the dogs own pace more patience, and as you say - back to basics.

Thank you everyone.

Talked to my vet.  She does not think it is a dizziness issue, but more of a sore issue.  The digestive issue did cause Cirberus to be tender in the colan area.

I think the picnic table is good idea.   Not to train the dog walk, but to keep the confidence up on something off the ground and narrow is ok and safe to walk on.

If it is a confidence issue, anything that has a movement will only make things worse if something goes wrong.  So, for now, a make shift ramp and plank is out. 

We will work on the picnic table this week and use the match tomorrow to get better at everything else.  I do not think leaving the dog walk out tomorrow will cause any long term issues.   Like any other obstical, if there is no command to use it, there is no refusal habit.   If we can, we will train on the dog walk outside of the match.

Either we'll be ready for trail or not.  I have been given many ideas to work through the issue.  Now it is just a matter of how long.   Getting a NQ is no big deal.  We are in it for fun, ribbons are just paper. 

As for the teeter, whole different issue and why we only are at Enthusast level. CPE venue

thank you again all.  Any other suggestions are always welcome

Have fun and good luck;  let us know how you do...Nan

Good luck!  CPE is awesome, love that venue.

Thanks all.  Didn't do so well today.  I had a headache so we just went through the motions.

oh well.  We'll have fun this upcoming weekend.   Found a great place to camp, so lots of water swim time before and after runs.

Fawndallas,

Are you training with a club/instructor?  If so, they could help you with the issue.  

Ed Scharringhausen (http://runasoneagility.com) is down in your area.  He trains at the south Dallas metroplex.  It'll give you the opportunity to proof your dog on a rubber padded A frame.  If she has a sensitivity issue, you don't want her slamming into something that doesn't have any give.

I agree with VKGSDs.  Be careful how you try to resolve the issue.

Sonia