IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DESIRE Dogs are incredible athletes and jumping comes naturally to most of them. They jump to clear obstacles, they jump to express themselves, and YES, they jump off docks.. They jump when they’re happy, when they’re excited, and when they’re curious. Jumping builds a dogs confidence and gives them an overall feeling of strength and energy.
What makes a successful Big Air Dog? Why does a dog run full speed off a forty foot dock, execute a powerful 30+ degree push off the end, stretch the torso in mid flight, only to make a drastic explosive water entry that looks as though the dogs head is about to be stretched back over its tail? Is it the Retrieve? Is it the fact that they get to do it all over again once the retrieve is made? Is it the fact that they love the water? It has to be something more than that. It has to come down to one thing.
It comes down to DESIRE. Dogs with a strong, intense desire will have a much better chance to take it to the next level than those with a lesser desire. It not the ability to retrieve, it’s not the fact that they love to swim, and it’s not the fact that they have an over abundance of energy. It’s the fact that they want that object so bad, they will do almost anything to get it. It’s this desire that ultimately builds the speed and the lift which are the two most critical factors for big jumps. Not only must we build this desire, we must continuously strive to keep this desire at its peak.
Desire is something that every dog at one level or another. It’s up to the Trainer to be creative and find ways to build the desire and maintain a strong desire throughout the dogs career.
At SportMutt, we created some simple methods to build the desire. Let’s start with the interaction with the Trainer. A part of the dogs desire is the willingness to please or respond to the trainer. You must continuously strive to build a strong camaraderie between you and your dog. This is the foundation that allows your dog to learn quickly. Continuously build and improve a working relationship that structures your dogs thinking and willingness to learn. Learn to praise. Interaction through Praise strengthens your ability to interact with your dog. If that Foundation has been built, the interaction will be an invaluable tool in the future. Confidence and more Enthusiasm will be a result.
Next let’s work with the Object or Toy. Start out by letting your dog decide which toy is his favorite. Use a process of elimination, if you’re not sure. Start out with 5 toys and toss them out in the yard. See which one he brings back. Repeat this process a few times. You’ll know which one will be the one. Once you have your Big Air toy picked out, put it up on a shelf or somewhere where your dog can see it but can’t get at it. Let him look at it. Bring it down only when you’re going to play or train for Big Air. Never use it for Retriever training, obedience or other corrective training.
The idea behind building the desire for the object is to get your dog thinking he won’t get it, or it will get away from him. Start this by working it in your hand. Get him to charge after it and move it at the last second so he doesn’t get it. Make him work for it. Hide it. Make him search for it. His reward will be finding it. Tie it to a long string and drag it along the ground making him chase after it. Be creative and only allow him to get it every so often. When he does, praise him. When done training, put the object back on the shelf and let him look.
If the desire is built and is strong, 20 foot dogs will jump farther, 22 foot dogs will jump farther, and so on. Build the desire and maintain the desire throughout the career and you’ll have many days of “More Jumps, More Fun”.
Tom Dropik
SportMutt
http://www.sportmutt.com
(1) Add to Discussion