I teach Cue Discrimination for a variety of reasons. I needed it in competition for Mondio Ring Sport (sit, down or stand under “adversity”), for TEAM3 (Two positions at 20 feet with the handler taking unusual positions) and now…AKC is proposing adding cue discrimination into the Open Class as well.
While that proposal is still under discussion, some handlers may wish to begin working on it now, so I’m sharing the August 2107 TEAM newsletter since the topic was…Cue Discimination at a distance!
If you’d like to get a jump on the proposed AKC exercise, take a look at the newsletter. Note that the emphasis should be on adding challenge before distance. If you take that to heart, I may well have saved you and your dog a fair bit of grief. Remember, distance is simply another form of adversity.
Also by good luck, this particular TEAM newsletter discusses “backing up” – that skill will be quite valuable to you if you find that your dog likes to creep between cues. What you can do – give your position cue – ask the dog to back up – give another position cue, etc. If your dog learns to back after each cue, you may eliminate that creeping altogether.
If you find the TEAM training program intriguing – either because you can use it to teach all of your competition exercises for any organization or because you like the idea of a systematic training program that leads to the option of video competition, check out the TEAM1 Training class we’re offering this term. We start on Sunday the 1st of October – so get registered! At $65 for bronze, you can’t go too far wrong.
If you do decide to pursue TEAM as a standalone training or titling option, you’ll absolutely want to join the extremely supportive Facebook group where you can submit videos and get help from other Team Players.
The program is fun! We look forward to seeing some of you there!
Interesting. I am trialling both of my German Shepherds now in RallyO (Australia). Sallee is up to Masters but finds the distance changes of position threatening. (We failed both trials this last weekend because of three of these distance exercises in the course.) The silly thing is that I’ve now begun working on these exercises with Ironbark — who got his first qualification in the ring in Rally Advanced, and Mad Millie — who has no qualifications in anything, and BOTH of them find the exercises easy!
I am wondering about training Sallee with a fence between us — she does reasonably well in a ‘box’ and even better on a mat — but these are at home.
my little pup is 13 weeks old, and im sure she ignores me. when i call her name if she is in a different room she will come but if i do it whilst she is in the room with me she ignores me iv tried giving her treats when she does come to me but she just doesnt seem bothered, also i no that pups do like to bite alot especially whilst playing but i am trying to stop her by yelping as if she has hurt me but she just doesn’t seem to pay any attention is this normal because she hasnt learnt what i mean by yelping or is she stubborn any other training help that u think i might need then it would be greatly welcome thanx guys xx