Confidence in motion
One of the challenges of training a dog to run agility is teaching her that having something move beneath her is fun (or at least fine). Since Lilly still won't do a full-height teeter, I'm certainly no expert. However, I thought these tips on training that motion is OK around the house might help.
Glider Rockers
I often sit on our glider bench with Lilly in my lap. I give her just enough help that she doesn't fall, and we rock together back and forth. I think it's a workable way for her to develop good "sea legs" as it were. She doesn't usually sit there alone ... hence the cautious face.
Rolling Office Chair
Lilly thinks it's very funny to climb in my lap while I work. It's great, if I need a break. Not so hot, if I'm on deadline. However, again, I give her enough support while I spin my chair from side to side.
Total Gym
We have one of those home gym things that slides on rails. We use it to practice two-on/two-off contacts, and I like it because when I clear her off it with a release word, she pushes off pretty hard so that it makes noise and moves away from her.
Skateboard
To address her skateboard phobia and to add more motion training, I'm teaching (or trying to teach) Lilly to ride a one. So far, she mostly pushes it around with her front feet, while walking behind or beside it. But sometimes I can get her up on it, and I slide it gently back and forth. Once in a while, she pushes off enough herself to glide a few feet, but she usually keeps at least one foot on the ground.
Lilly easily transfered this behavior from her ROLL IT trick, where she pushes an exercise ball around. Obviously, this photo was taken in the spring.
Clearly, buja boards (flat board with ball on the bottom), which wobble as the dog stands on it are also great. We borrowed one from our training field when Lilly was younger.
And, our make-shift teeter at home is simply a long board that balances on a box dolly turned flat. It's not high at all, but it makes a crazy noise when she bangs it.
A trainer also recommended putting her in carts at pet stores and letting her ride around. But, since Lilly is pretty freaked out by stores and by carts, I never tried that method.
So, if you have any other motion training ideas, please do share. If nothing else, it's funny to watch dogs learn to balance.
Glider Rockers
I often sit on our glider bench with Lilly in my lap. I give her just enough help that she doesn't fall, and we rock together back and forth. I think it's a workable way for her to develop good "sea legs" as it were. She doesn't usually sit there alone ... hence the cautious face.
Rolling Office Chair
Lilly thinks it's very funny to climb in my lap while I work. It's great, if I need a break. Not so hot, if I'm on deadline. However, again, I give her enough support while I spin my chair from side to side.
Total Gym
We have one of those home gym things that slides on rails. We use it to practice two-on/two-off contacts, and I like it because when I clear her off it with a release word, she pushes off pretty hard so that it makes noise and moves away from her.
Skateboard
To address her skateboard phobia and to add more motion training, I'm teaching (or trying to teach) Lilly to ride a one. So far, she mostly pushes it around with her front feet, while walking behind or beside it. But sometimes I can get her up on it, and I slide it gently back and forth. Once in a while, she pushes off enough herself to glide a few feet, but she usually keeps at least one foot on the ground.
Lilly easily transfered this behavior from her ROLL IT trick, where she pushes an exercise ball around. Obviously, this photo was taken in the spring.
Clearly, buja boards (flat board with ball on the bottom), which wobble as the dog stands on it are also great. We borrowed one from our training field when Lilly was younger.
And, our make-shift teeter at home is simply a long board that balances on a box dolly turned flat. It's not high at all, but it makes a crazy noise when she bangs it.
A trainer also recommended putting her in carts at pet stores and letting her ride around. But, since Lilly is pretty freaked out by stores and by carts, I never tried that method.
So, if you have any other motion training ideas, please do share. If nothing else, it's funny to watch dogs learn to balance.
Sometimes playgrounds have sway bridges or other types of moving equipment that are good for motion training.
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Good idea. We've done that too. I totally forgot about playgrounds. The other thing I've done there is get Lilly to jump over those springy horse things. She often pushes off of them as she clears, and they move around.
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Might just be the angle of the photo but isn't that skateboard too short for Lilly? I'm in the process of training Devon to ride one but his is *much* longer than hers. In fact, hers would be much better for him. Maybe we should trade
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Indeed, you're right. I'm so spatially challenged, and I think of Lilly as being *so* small that when I bought the skateboard I thought for sure it was fine. But, it's not. It's way too short for her, but I just couldn't bring myself to drive back to the store (during the holidays). So ... we started using it for basic shaping.
We certainly could trade, but I suspect the shipping costs would be silly. ;o)
P.S. For some reason, your comments don't get automatically approved. Hence the delay in posting. I'm trying to figure out why. I've been really brutal with banning some ISPs because I'm getting SO many SPAM trackbacks. I wonder if that's it. Hmmm
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