Hardly any
detailed exercise presents the IGP trainers with such problems as holding the
dumbbell calmly while at the same have dynamic and fast retrieves. Exactly this
rapid change (from the action to a frozen picture) is the challenge.
We are
convinced – the solution is a good plan.
On the one
hand there is the collecting game with a lot of drive and action. Here we
practice the fast-running routes and automate them.
On the
other hand, completely detached from this, we train the holding exercise in a
calm and relaxed mood - we will go into this aspect below.
As a rule,
we only begin the holding exercise when our dogs have already learned good
basic obedience and thus also waiting - i.e. at around 9 to 12 months. Only
much later, when both elements have become a matter of course, do we put them
together and go into the complete processes.
• Week 1:
Preliminary practice to create the perfect calm and controlled mood
• 2nd week:
Wood is placed in the muzzle for a brief moment, just behind the fangs.
https://dogsport-online.com/en/product/quiet-wood-keeping-the-beginning/
• 3rd week:
Bello is allowed to take the wood himself and we create understanding for the
command "firm"
• We
continue to increase the time frame until we have about 10 seconds of constant,
steady holding of the dumbbell. We may use a jute stick for easier
understanding.
https://dogsport-online.com/en/product/constant-calm-and-firm-holding/
• Now we
gradually take our hands off the dumbbell and Bello learns to hold it without
help.
https://dogsport-online.com/en/product/hand-dismantling-when-holding-wood/
• When we
have created perfect understanding of the firm command, we increase the drive,
e.g., with a ball, thereby reinforcing the learned behavior. So Bello uses the
calm and firm hold of the wood as the key to reaching the instinctual goal.
https://dogsport-online.com/en/produkt/halteuebung-in-hoher-trieblage/
• As a last
step, we learn to work Bello into the front sit with the dumbbell in the muzzle
- first from a side position, which we gradually let go into the front sit.
https://dogsport-online.com/en/produkt/mit-dem-holz-in-den-aktiven-Vorsitz/
Have fun training!