A Frame Problem - Page 1

My dog is very confident going over and back the A Frame, but always jumps outwards from the top instead of running down it.  I started with the A Frame low and gradually raised it, but as soon as it gets to a more acute angle, he just jumps off the top.  I've tried keeping him on a lead, but he still jumps and I'm neither strong or quick enough to stop him.  Suggestions welcome please.

Margaret N-J

Have you tried a small amount of food (titbit) on the bottom of the frame? When he knows there is food there, they go over the top and walk down the other side to get the food and then onto another excercise. Then add food every now and then so he always looks for the food until its a habbit to check just in case.
Mark
 

Thanks Mark

I haven't tried this yet, will have a go on my small A frame at home.  He's very keen to go over and back so not sure he would focus on the food, but worth a try.

Margaret N-J

I don't like my dogs flying off the top so I train it like I do for agility.  One of my dogs does a 2-on-2-off contact for agility so he never flies off the top of the A-frame.  The other dog hasn't started agility yet so I'm using a toy or food at the bottom so the dog targets DOWN not out and also keep a line on the dog so I have control.  I start by putting food or toy right at the bottom (no more than two feet away from the bottom edge of the a-frame), show the dog it's there, then go around and help the dog over.  When I start adding the dumbbell for the retrieve, I toss it where the dog can't see it.  I actually do the same for the jump because my dogs have so much drive for retrieving that if they see the dumbbell they jump flat (super common problem in agility).  I toss the dumbell so it's *just* on the other side of the jump or a-frame so the dog targets DOWN.  Then as we near trial I adjust my tosses so that it's equal distance from where I'm standing, like the judges want.

Lies, how does the two on two off translate to the steep incline of the schutzhund a frame? I have thesame issue as the OP. I am attempting to teach my dog to touch the bottom cleat with his front feet by using a marker (clicker). Better this week than last week, but just starting so not sure it will work. Mary

Mary, he doesn't really do the contact but it seems like he's thinking about it and looking for that target (we trained using a plastic "target" lid with treats at the bottom of the a-frame).  He's never once jumped off the top of the a-frame in agility or Schutzhund, and his first exposure to it was in agility so I just assumed that helped but maybe not.  At Schutzhund we don't always train with the steepest angle but work up to that so the dogs don't do the steep angle until they've proven they can safely retrieve at a wider angle.  We have one dog that always struggles with doing this safely and often goes back to working a wide angle.

I started with the target several paces out. I think I will work my next dog with the target at the base as you describe and see if that avoids the problem. Ari does as the OP describes.... Fine when it is open, but when the a frame is set up all of the way, he takes one leap from the top and lands in perfect "front" position.

I was talking to someone else (can't remember who?) about some sort of conraption like a hula-hoop near the bottom so the dog has to go down and through.  But there again, once you take it off....

You can fabricate a training aid for this. Two (2) pieces I_I shaped like this, only invert. (Sorry,I don't know how to draw on here). These are made with 1/2"PVC and elbows and are about 2 1/2' high by the width of the A frame. One is positioned perpendicular to the A frame below the bottom cleat. And,the other is placed approximately three feet above the bottom angled slightly toward the bottom. I hope this helps........Richard

I used a ball placed at the bottom of the A frame. That worked well. :-) Theresa