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Teaching dog agility weaves with a weave chute
There are many methods to teach dogs how to weave. Having
attended a variety of agility camps and agility seminars, I've
seen quite a few of the top handlers present their preferred
method of weave training. Their training techniques vary,but the
one thing they do have in common, the end result, their dogs all
weave fast and efficiently.
The Weave Chute is one method of training weaves. The Weave
Chute is a structure where the weave poles pull apart and the
dog runs down the middle channel. The weave poles are setup on a
base either PVC or metal, the even number poles pull back to the
same side and the odd numbered poles pull apart to the same
side. The poles are brought closer together, training a chain of
sessions, until the weave poles are in a straight line.
To start, the weave poles are about 3 feet apart. Set your dog
on a Stay (Sit, Down, or Stand). Leave your dog and go to the
other end of the chute or channel. Call your dog, allow them to
run as fast as they can through the chute, when they get near
you through a toy straight ahead or between your legs. You want
them to keep moving past you and not slow up as they get near
you.
Move the weaves closer together, try 2 feet for a few sessions,
then 1 foot apart for a few sessions. When the weaves are about
1 foot apart your dog will begin to actually begin the weaving
behavior, depending on the size of your dog of course. This is
the stage to add guide wires. The guide wires help the dog stay
on path through the weaves. Your dogs speed will most likely
slow a little in this stage. This is all right, he is thinking
more and feeling the weaves against him for the first time.
You are still using your Stay at one end of the weaves, leaving
your dog and going to the other end of the weaves and calling
him through. Make sure your dog is successfully coming to you
through the weave path, not jumping over the guide wires and
running to you. If this happens replace him. If it happens
again, go back and open the weave chute a little more. Practice
until he can come to you down the weave chute with 70% to 80%
accuracy, not many of us are 100% right in everything we try.
Begin moving the weave poles closer together in inches now. Most
dogs do well even if the weaves are off set by one inch , but
somehow when they are setup in a line, they must look different
and training sessions may seem stalled for awhile. Be patient,
practice with your weaves offset by one inch then in a straight
line, if you encounter problems, go back to the one inch offset.
Your dog will soon realize he can weave when the poles are in a
straight line.
The next transition is taking off the guide wires. With 12
poles, you use 10 guide wires. The first guide wires I remove
are from the middle. The last ones to be removed are the entry
and exit guide wires. Weaving is mentally challenging to you and
your dog, so be patient with your dog and yourself. Be prepared
to put in a few long months of training to get those fast and
efficient weaves.
About the author:
Brad Carlson is a dog trainer at Agility by Carlson. For more
training details, visit our website at
http://www.carlson-agility.com/
Written by: Brad Carlson
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