Page 1 of 1
Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 12:29 am
by centrop67
I started a new game with Radar this week, and I am regretting it, because I am afraid for my fingers.
Basically, I ask him to stay at a distance, I hold out (to my side) his tug toy, and then I say get it. He comes running, jumps, and then grabs the tug (Hopefully, without my fingers). He seems to want to grab the tug as close to my hand as possible, and I have to be quick to keep from getting bit. No blood yet, but some close calls.
He was already way excited to play tug when I offer it to him. Now he gets over the top when I pull out the toy, so I would love to find a way to make this safer.
Suggestions?
Can I train him where to grab the tug? I've thought about salad tongs.
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 2:26 am
by TimL_168
I deal with the same thing with En. She does it with the flirt pole, a tug, rope-ball...everything. If it's just her tug, she'll start off gripping it farther down. As she gets more excited, she goes up closer to the hand. I think there are two considerations of the same factor ; flinching. Flinching is bad. No matter what you're doing. I've definitely caught myself moving my hand away as the dog comes in. Being dogs, with a quicker reaction time, they adjust. We're probably actually teaching them to go closer to the hand because the hand will be moving away.
To avoid this, I use a hand on each end of the tug very often now. She'll go right for the middle. With the rope-Kong, I'm doing "take it" drills. She only gets rewarded when she avoids the rope.
Alternatively, you can get a cheap set of boxing gloves. That was actually a fun thing to do with Aurora when we were younger.
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 3:42 am
by Wes Thomas
I agree with TimL_168... Hold the tug with both hands out in front of your body so the dog has to bite upwards and targets the center of the tug. Avoid holding the tug too low.. this seemed to work great with Karma when I first started working with her and this is also how I was shown by my first k9 trainer who has trained hundreds of working dogs all over the world.
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 12:19 pm
by centrop67
Wes Thomas wrote: ↑Thu Mar 08, 2018 3:42 am
I agree with TimL_168... Hold the tug with both hands out in front of your body so the dog has to bite upwards and targets the center of the tug.
This works great when I am standing right in front of Radar, but how do I not become a bowling pin for the distance game?
I guess a little rotation pivot at the right time would work but still sounds dangerous.
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 2:07 pm
by ICE
- received_10206790353332905.jpeg (48.13 KiB) Viewed 6290 times
Targeting is a very important skill for any dog that is toy driven. Start with something bigger, like a bite pillow.
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 2:41 pm
by centrop67
Bite pillow purchased! Should have it on Saturday.
Thanks for the tip.
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 5:51 pm
by TimL_168
ICE wrote: ↑Thu Mar 08, 2018 2:07 pm
received_10206790353332905.jpeg
Targeting is a very important skill for any dog that is toy driven. Start with something bigger, like a bite pillow.
I didn't think to mention that...En's main tug is a 12".
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 6:42 pm
by Dutchringgirl
oooooooooooooooooh I never taught mine to come and grab anything from my hand from a run. Sadie is so quick that she still will grab things from me when she is really hyped up, she has a very hard time keeping control, i have to be on my toes to keep my fingers.
If I play or reward them, the tug gets tossed at the last minute. I teach Fetch , Rapporte(aport) and
Go Out, En Avant(on-a-vahn).
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 12:08 pm
by centrop67
I got the bite pillow on Saturday. I got one with the handles inside.
Radar was like what the heck is that thing when I first showed it to him, but it didn't take him long to understand.
We played so hard last night when I got home from work, and I ended up with a blister on the back of my thumb from the new toy. So much for safety.
He absolutely LOVES it, however (Thanks Patty).
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 12:58 pm
by ICE
Great job Michael! He will learn targeting quick. Here is another toy I just bought that ICE and I really like..
http://www.almk9equipment.com/Mini-roun ... p100077271
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 1:27 pm
by Dutchringgirl
wow, thats fantastic!!! That pillow looks great!! Ill have to get one for Sadie !!
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 4:56 am
by Joxgirl
centrop67 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 08, 2018 12:29 am
I started a new game with Radar this week, and I am regretting it, because I am afraid for my fingers.
Basically, I ask him to stay at a distance, I hold out (to my side) his tug toy, and then I say get it. He comes running, jumps, and then grabs the tug (Hopefully, without my fingers). He seems to want to grab the tug as close to my hand as possible, and I have to be quick to keep from getting bit. No blood yet, but some close calls.
He was already way excited to play tug when I offer it to him. Now he gets over the top when I pull out the toy, so I would love to find a way to make this safer.
Suggestions?
Can I train him where to grab the tug? I've thought about salad tongs?
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 4:56 am
by Joxgirl
I’m going to follow you Michael on this. Please keep us updated.
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 4:59 am
by Joxgirl
[/quote]
This works great when I am standing right in front of Radar, but how do I not become a bowling pin for the distance game?
I guess a little rotation pivot at the right time would work but still sounds dangerous.
[/quote]
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 5:01 am
by Joxgirl
centrop67 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 08, 2018 2:41 pm
Bite pillow purchased! Should have it on Saturday.
Thanks for the tip.
Where did you get the pillow from? Please let us know what you think of it.
Re: Stay, Run, Jump, Tug
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 5:04 am
by Joxgirl
Thank you Patty for the bite pillow suggestion. I will have to find one to buy too.