WW237: May 23 - Balancing Act: Building Obstacle Focus and Commitment

Course Details

This workshop is for the dogs that tend to get more refusals on the agility course than off-courses. These dogs LOVE to follow their handlers, but they often pull off of a jump at the last minute, or commit to obstacles at the last possible moment. This presentation will break down why dogs lack obstacle focus and provide a blueprint for increasing obstacle focus and boosting your dog’s commitment to the obstacles as you, the handler, focus on providing timely information and leaving to get to your next position on time.

We will cover:

• Obstacle vs handler focus
• Commitment
• Keeping commitment
• The handler’s role vs the dog’s role
• Training for increased obstacle focus
• Maintaining a high enough obstacle focus
• & More!

Content is appropriate for teams looking to increase their dog’s obstacle focus OR teams looking to build an appropriate amount of obstacle focus. Exercises will include flat work as well as short, small sequences. 3 jumps & 1 tunnel is ideal, with a 40x40ish space, but the flatwork takes a lot less space!

Lecture Publish Date: Sunday May 23

Video Submissions Due Date:  Sunday May 30 @ 12pm noon PT

Feedback & Questions Video Publish Date: Wednesday June 2

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