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Different Ways To Train '

Training should always be fun. Every training session gives you more
experience and improves di!erent type of skills needed in game of agility
for the dog and handler.

Versatile exercises
I have been involved in agility for 21 years and still counting. Along the way many have asked
don’t I ever get bored to train or teach agility and repeat the same things over and over again.
Amazingly I feel I love agility more as time goes by. I think this is mostly because I learn and
understand more about agility and dogs which allows me to play around with various types of
excercises.

Both of us have been fortunate to teach and work with many of the top handlers in the world.
We have noticed one common feature for many of them which enables them to stay at the
top: the ability to be able to have fun and not get too serious and result
orientated when doing agility
agility. Atmosphere we have among us at OneMind Dogs enables
and supports us to find new ways to challenge each other, have fun with versatile excercises
and at the same time keep learning more and develop our own and our dogs´ skills further. We
hope to never loose our enthusiasm towards the sport and maintain positive attitude for next
decades to come.

Obstacle skills
Naturally most of the handlers start agility training by teaching individual obstacles for the
dog. It would be too easy if we would not have to maintain these skills every now and then
throughout the dogs´ career. Imagine yourself learning a new skill, for example a foreign
language, new dance or how to play an instrument. If you don´t practice your new skill for a
while, you don´t forget the skill entirely, but probably you don´t master the skill as fluently as
you if would have been enhancing and maintaining your skill frequently. We believe the
dogs also need the foundation obstacle training and proofing periodically
throughout their entire life.

Obstacle proofing can be done by making exercises which are more demanding you are
likely to ever face in competitions or by training the dog to be able to withstand various
distractions while performing obstacles. By a demanding “over training” exercise we mean for
example training sends to weaves from di!erent angles from the distance exceeding 75 feet
or making the send to certain obstacle surrounded by other obstacles from the distance of 45
feet. You can train distractions on all obstacles. Check out examples about distractions on
weaves and jumps. Weave your arms, shout or turn your body suddenly when your dog is on
the jump. Spin around or make a pushup while your dog is weaving. Run laterally away from
the contact obstacle or towards you dog when they are performing it. Only your imagination
is the limit when proofing your dog´s obstacle performance. Check out Next Level parts 1-10
for obstacle proofing tips.

Technique training
When you have learnt all the di!erent handling techniques there is no need to train them
all the time to keep them in mind. Only if some technique seems not to work perfectly every
time there is need to proof and enhance the skills related to that particular technique.

One excellent way to check the skill leves related to one individual handling technique is to
execute the technique multiple times in a row. You may be able to execute a certain
technique once or twice, even if there still is room for improvement in your performance, but
third or fourth time might be too much. We keep five repetitions in a row as our threshold. For
example most can do one Pull Through with ease, but being able to execute five of them in a
row doesn´t succeed if there is even slightest problem in execution or understanding of the
handling cue. This is something everybody can try with all the di!erent techniques: five
Forced Front Crosses, five German Turns, five Reverse Wraps with blinds etc.

Challenge yourself to improve your performance and train in sections to achieve as many
repetitions in a row as you can, until you reach the five in a row mark. Then you know you
master the skill really well. Always remember to execute all the drills in both directions. For
most of us either side tends to be better than the other. Executing the drills both sides evens
out our or our dog´s possible di!erences in using the body.

Handling technique applications

When you feel comfortable executing various techniques it is time to start timing and
comparing di!erent solutions
solutions. When taking time it is no point to be comparing bad Front
Cross to good Rear Cross, so bringing in the clock in training session should happen only
when you master all the techniques so well you can execute them comparably to each other.
When applying di!erent techniques in practice we take from three to five obstacles sequence
which we do and time the same sequence executed with di!erent handling techniques. As a
result we get information if some ways or strategies of handling are better for the certain dog
and handler. It is good to repeat some timing exercises from time to time, because your dog
and you get better and progress over time and your co-operation is smoother which may alter
the time di!erences between di!erent handling techniques as both of you get more and
more comfortable executing them. Sometimes the handling choice or route which feels the
fastest may not actually be that, so it is always worth to time the exercise every now and
then.

Handling technique application training is a great way to get to know your own dog
inside out
out. Di!erent solutions are faster depending on the dog and handler and how they
are working together. Some dogs don´t turn as tight as others, which in some situations
makes slicing the jump more beneficial compared to wrapping it. Some dogs have tendency
to slow down considerably when handler faces them, making the German Turn more likely to
be a faster handling option for them compared to a Forced Front Cross. Some dogs react
strongly to handler´s rhythm change and slow down a lot before a jump when handler is
starting to execute a Whisky Cross. This will make Forced Front Cross or Twist better choice
for this type of dogs. See an example of the timing sequence, picture 1.

Picture 1.
This sequence were some years ago in
Finnish Team qualifications. Most of the
people didn’t choose the fastest way for
them to do the sequence. Time the
sequence with di!erent routes and
di!erent handling techniques and find out
what is the best solution for you and your
dog. Sometimes the clock can surprise
you!

See some examples from di!erent routes and possible handling techniques for
the sequence:

Pictures 2 - 4.

Di!erent options for the sequence in picture

1.

Course training
Sometimes you can get a pretty good idea of how long sequences or courses handlers are
training just based on watching their performance in competitions. If you are mostly training
shorter, 10 to 15 obstacle sequences in training you are likely to be able to do more or less the
same amount of obstacles successfully in competitions. If you can´t make a clear 20 obstacle
course with a first try in training session you are not likely to be able to do it clear in
competitions either. After a solid foundation training it is time to train the course workwork. It is
important to train running whole courses. When you start running longer sequences the dogs
tend to speed up, which has a huge impact to the handler´s timing of cues and maintaining
good handling position throughout the entire run.

Our threshold in course work is to be able to do in three consecutive training sessions

without faults on the first try. Once you achieve this we think you can go back to training
shorter sequences or increase training motivation by varying the contents of the training
sessions. In our experience training “overlong” courses is an excellent way to
improve handler concentration and overall course working skills skills. Many top
handlers in Finland train and can successfully neqotiate overlong, from 30 up to 40+
obstacles, training courses. This type of training makes normal competition courses of 20 to
22 obstacles feel relatively short and therefore also easier.

This type of training is mostly meant for developing handlers´ skills. It might not
suit all dogs. Everyone should always first evaluate is their dog motivated enough to do so
many obstacles in a row without losing motivation and speed.

Clear round training

When Janita for the first time in 2004, was determined to make it in Finnish FCI World Team,
she started to exercise her ability to stay fully focused and concentrated throughout the
entire run. She started to do clear round training
training. “I started out with courses consisting of
20 obstacles. If I made any kind of mistake, even if my dog just made a turn in wrong direction
I stopped, rewarded the dog and started the run from the beginning. At first I could not even
make the course clear during the entire training session before my dog was so tired I needed
to stop. In these cases I came back in a day or two and continued trying with the same setup.”

“After a while we were already really consistently making clear rounds with the first try, so I
decided to make it more challenging and try to make it clear two times in a row. Soon it got
boring to run the same course many times so to get some variation I started to add more
obstacles and soon we were making clear rounds in courses consisting of 30, 40 and
eventually even up to 55 obstacles. Even if my dog dropped a bar at jump number 33, I always
started over from the start. I feel this training method has had a huge impact in our clear
round percentage, which I have been able to get in competitions with four di!erent dogs up
to the 90%.

How well you know your dog

When the pair can consistently do clear rounds, it is time to check how well the handler
actually knows her dog in agility. This exercise is best to do first on jumping course in order to
eliminate the e!ect of the speed of contact obstacle performance and possible 2on2o!
releases. It is best to do the exercise on a relatively easy course consisting of a normal
amount of obstacles. After the course walking the handler runs the entire course with a
virtual dog and they are timed. The handler tries to do the course exactly as with her actual
dog. The timer is started from the handler’s command when she pictures her dog performing
the first obstacle and it is stopped when handler gives a verbal cue at the time her virtual dog
executes the last obstacle. Next the run with the actual dog is timed and the times
are compared to each other. Timing of the handling according our threshold is ok if the
time di!erence is less than a second.

Sometimes this exercise reveals the timing to be o! by several seconds. This can explain for
some handlers why they have hard time of making clear rounds. It is extremely hard to
make an executable handling plan for your actual dog if you can´t see your
virtual dog accurately and make a plan for him first. The handling plan includes
evaluating if you are going to make it in time to places you would like to be on an agility
course in relation to your dog and choosing the most suitable handling manoeuvres.

Handling strategy
You are learning how to plan the handling strategy just by actually doing it. There are di!erent
types of exercises for improving the skill. In Finland we do not have games at all, but we think
they are a good way to master the skill of planning and executing a good handling strategy.
One nice exercise is “Make it as fast as you can” –drill. Obstacles have been set up
beforehand and start obstacle is predetermined, all obstacles are bi-directional. Handler´s job
is to make a course plan where all the obstacles must be done at least once and the total
amount of obstacles is predetermined and should be around 20. If the original set up consist
of 15 obstacles, some of the obstacles have to be performed more than once. In Finland we
don´t normally train to do one obstacle twice in a row, neither back and forth nor twice from
the same direction, but in this exercise I think you could do that if it is skill you need.
Everybody should be able to stick with their original plan they write down in course map in
advance. The first try counts and it is timed. Fastest clear round wins the competition.

Mental training
Competing is another skill we can and should train. The more you compete the easier it
gets. One way of training competing is to try to get more pressure for handlers in training
sessions by for example setting a bet of some kind. Everybody attending the training session
can bet a small amount of money and best result in first try wins all. Use your imagination
when setting a bet: two handlers with worst results need to do ten push ups etc, whatever
your group is comfortable with. You can play several rounds and the point is to try to make
everybody try their best in every round and perform under little bit more pressure than in
normal training session.

Disregarding distractions
We are coaching all levels of handlers and dogs and our main goal is to help everybody to
make progress from their current level and reach their full potential. Anything can happen in
competitions and handlers and dogs might have to face unexpected situations. We try to
prepare them to be ready for everything
everything. We call this distraction training
training. When
handler is prepared and used to face unexpected incidents she can stay calm and not to get
too emotional and distracted when something unforeseen happens in competitions.

We use several di!erent scenarios as distractions, for example just stop the handler after few
obstacles and say that timing did not start, course was not ready yet for them or give some
other excuse for interruption. We can put one bar on the ground beforehand, turn the
entrance or exit of the tunnel to point in di!erent direction, stand like the judge or ringworker
in handler´s running line at contacts, stand in the dog´s line before the jump “setting the bar
up” when dog is entering the same jump, throw a squeaky toy around beside the ringside etc.

From this link you can find one of our students run from o"cial competitions. Both, the
handler Riina Koskelma and her malinois Saga, can perfectly stay focused and make a clear
round despite slight distraction on their way as trained to do.

Missing the walkthrough

Sometimes handlers may miss the walkthrough. You can prepare yourself also for this
scenario. Over the years we have missed quite many walkthroughs and needed to run the
course just by going through the course from the sidelines. Jaakko has done a clear round
and placed on top almost in every competition he has missed the coursewalk. This is because
he is extra careful in his handling when he does not know exactly where all the obstacles are
situated. We call this training “Run without the walk”
walk”. The handlers are allowed to go
through the course only from either all four or two predetermined sides without entering the
ring.

Training memory

Picture 5. Steve Croxford’s memory game for agility.

Some handlers find it di"cult to memorize long or complex course profile (European style).
Steve Croxford from England introduced to us a memorizing exercise we have applied
since. You form a circle for example from five jumps and a tunnel (see picture 2). Obstacles
are numbered. In the start handler is facing away from the obstacles and he is given from 5 to
10 obstacle numbers in random order, for example 3, 7, 4, 1, 6. Handler pictures in his mind the
course and how he will execute it in given order. Obstacles are all bi-directional. The start
jump can be predetermined always to be the jump number one or you can also start from
random obstacle if you like. When given permission to start handler has few (from three to
five) seconds to turn around, leave the dog and start the run (see the pictureserie 2).

Pictures 6 - 8.
Some choices you might plan for memory
training if you get numbers 3,7,4,1,6

Lift the spirit

One fun way of getting the dogs and handlers emotions and excitement up is to train team
competition European Open team final style. In single obstacle setup consist of three to
four di!erent courses partially overlapping each other. Every handler starts their run from
di!erent corners of the course (see picture 9). When the first dog finishes their run by
performing the last obstacle the next dog is allowed to start their run. Handlers can go inside
the ring and lead out while the previous pair is still running the course in order to minimize
the time used in exchanges. Total time is calculated for the team.

Picture 9. Example course for EO Team training. Course is planned by Mikko Aaltonen.

Other way of running relay is done with everybody running the same course as a baton relay.
Second in order is waiting in the start holding the baton and when the first leg handler
finishes the run he takes the baton from the second leg handler allowing her to start their
run. The baton is given for the third leg handler and it is taken from her by the second leg
runner when she finishes her leg. In this training you should pay attention how the exchange
area is safely organized to avoid collisions between the handlers and the dogs. All these
trainings can lift the spirit when team members and other teams are rooting for each other.

Boomerang challenge
Enhancing the dog´s skills can and should be fun. Face the challenge your friends set for you.
This is especially good way of training for ambitious handlers who love to overcome
challenges. It is kind of the version of the game “Follow the leader”
leader”. One person makes up
and executes the sequence or certain handling maneuver. All pairs able to follow the leader
get the point. Then the next pair boomerangs the challenge, by making up a challenge herself
for others to try. You can always do your own challenge based on your and your dog´s
strengths (see the picture 10). The goal is to get other people to train skills they do not yet
master by showing the benefits of being able to execute various di!erent sequences by
several di!erent ways. Competitetive persons are sure to get a huge motivation boost from
wanting to be able to match the skills of others.

Picture 10. Example for challenge training. The handler has to stay all the time on the
di!erent side of the weaves than the jumps are. If you want the challenge little easier, you
can change jump number 3 from the other side of the jump

The challenge can also include guidelines such as being able to handle the sequence without
using arms or from the pre-determined distance. You can set an obstacle challenge, for
example make a send to the weaves from the distance of 60 feet or taking lateral distance of
30 feet to the teeter while dog is performing it. Challenge can include distractions such as
other handlers trying to get the dog to get distracted during the weaves by introducing toys
or treats for the dog while in the weaves or when performing 2on2o! in contact. In handling
challenge handlers need to execute certain sequence with pre-determined handling
techniques. As additional guidelines you can determine that handlers are not allowed to use
any verbals or arm signals during the sequence.

Add one
One version of a fun game is a form of competition we learnt from Russia. The course is set
up without numbers. First handler starts and performs with her dog one single obstacle.
Second handler makes the same obstacle from the same side and adds one optional obstacle
to the course without any restrictions. Then the third handler adds one and so on. If the dog
makes any type of mistake in previous obstacles or is not able to add one extra obstacle
without making an error you get eliminated from the competition. Competition goes on as
long as there is only one pair left. If you like, people who have been eliminated can also
participate by doing the course without the right to add new obstacles to the sequence.

There are no restrictions concerning how the obstacles should be done. You can add the
closest obstacle or choose the next obstacle to be in the far corner of the course. You can do
the same obstacle twice in a row either from the same direction or perform it back and forth.
In your training session you can add restrictions if you like, we for example made a restriction
in our training session that weaves were only allowed to be performed twice. The goal is to
play with your strengths and add obstacles you feel might be di"cult for others. This way
others also need to come out of their comfort zone and do and practice things that might feel
uncomfortable to begin with. One thing adding the challenge is that handlers are not allowed
to do course walking at any point inside the ring. All planning and strategies has to be done
outside of the ring or at the point when you leave your dog at the start.

Enjoy yourself
Here we have listed di!erent type of training sessions we have done ourselves and held for
others. Every training session gives you more experience and improves di!erent type of skills
needed in game of agility for the dog and handler. Training should always be fun. Don’t
get stuck with your old ways, there are always new ways worth of exploring and trying. The
more supportive and positive group you have around you where everybody feels comfortable
to train in, the more support it gives for everybody to learn new skills and improve their overall
performance. You will also have a lot of fun doing it. Remember to enjoy yourself in training!

Written by Janita Leinonen & Jaakko Suoknuuti

This article originally appeared in the 10/2014—October 2014 issue of Clean Run, the
magazine for dog agility enthusiasts.

Read more...

Overview Of the OneMind Dogs Methodology

Basic Elements Of The OneMind Dogs Methodology
Basic Training in OneMind Dogs
Key Points In OneMind Dogs Training
Handle Lines Not Obstacles
Why More Than Three Handling Techniques?
Handling Techniques
Foundation Of OneMind Dogs Methodology: C-C-C
Agility from dog’s point of view

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