Agility advice

[Pudding]

we have been doing agility for about 7 weeks now
and he is getting the hang of it very well (I am not that good )

But i am having trouble with him and my hands, every time i give a hand signal he try to get my hand
i don't use treats so it not that he trys to get the treats from me
any advice, i am up for trying anything.

[jla]

What sort of hand signal do you mean?  I don't mean that in a funny way but can you give an example?

[Karma]

Could you try doing some directional training - throwing (either a treat or a ball) in different directions (completely seperate to agility training) so he associates your hands moving with looking to something in that direction, rather than looking to your hand itself, if that makes sense....

Once he's got this sussed, you should be able to transfer it to agility... 

[Pudding]

What sort of hand signal do you mean?  I don't mean that in a funny way but can you give an example?

in agility you have to indicate to your dog with your hands, where you want them to go
and what you want them to do
and you have to indicate to the with your hands which way if its left or right as well as vocal

[Pudding]

Could you try doing some directional training - throwing (either a treat or a ball) in different directions (completely seperate to agility training) so he associates your hands moving with looking to something in that direction, rather than looking to your hand itself, if that makes sense....

Once he's got this sussed, you should be able to transfer it to agility... 

it just that he gets so excited i will have a go at your suggestion thank you

[Max X 2]

What height are your arms IFSWIM? 

Not that I know whether it would work or help but didn't know if you could try with your arms higher? 

[jla]

Personally (and from what I have seen other handlers do) I would stop dead still and put my hands behind / in front of me and cease all eye contact etc with the dog whenever he comes back to bite.

You have to be consistent and give them 0 interaction every time but I've seen this work.  It does take a while though.

[Pudding]

oh yer that sound like a good idea, i will give it a go thanks

[Becky and Wilson]

What height are your arms IFSWIM? 

Not that I know whether it would work or help but didn't know if you could try with your arms higher? 

I was going to suggest maybe your hands need to be higher too!

Maybe at home try doing abit in the garden (and at training) when you move your arm and he doesn't go to grab you, click and treat him.

Also what Karma said is good for teaching directional commands as well as getting him used to yours arms waving about!

[Pudding]

Thanks you every one i like the clicker one i will def give it a go
i will let you know if it works for us

[Rosie]

Also its trying not to waggle the hand around too much as that then distracts the dog from where it is going - I always say to my students - the easy bit is training the dog to do the equipment the hard bit is training the handler the body lanugage.

Do not worry too much it will come with confidence and practice from the two of you - relax and enjoy.