Dog Training Psychology for Dog Agility

Home     Training     Handling     Health     Equipment     Books     All Pages   Contact Us

Jumps Dog Agiliy

How to Help Your Dog Clear Dog Agility Jumps

Don't Blame the Dog

Recently we heard a handler say, "My dog did everyting wrong. He dropped bars, refused to go into the tunnel, and jumped off the A-frame, without hitting the contact zone."

Actually, the dog did nothing wrong. Dogs depend on us to train and lead them well.   

Another well-known handler's wife consoled him when his dog dropped a bar in a major trail. Without that dropped bar, he and his furry friend would have won the day.. 

"It's a two team player sport, so don't blame yourself, she said, consoling him.  (To protect the guilty, I won't reveal who said that!)

Don't do this! Take the atittude that the dog is always right. Even if dog's do make mistakes (which we don't think they do) this attitude will serve you well because you will constantly look for a TFI (Target for Improvement in YOUR HANDLING). Harvard University professor, BF Skinner and his followers used to advocate this attitude -- for training humans as well as other animals  By the way, Professor Skinner discovered "Clicker Training" in the 1930's and published a detailed article in Scientific American in 1951.  You can learn more about Skinners approach for training animals here.

Run "Through" Final Agility Jump

Many handlers make the mistake of slowing down when approaching the final jump. Apparently it is such a relief that they relax and smile and almost stop, thinking that they have achieved a clear round.

But when the hander slow ups, the dog also slows up and loses momentum.  Many dogs in this situation will drop that final bar!  These same handlers, not knowing any better, will then tell all their friends, "we were so close, but Fido dropped the final bar!"

There are three mistakes here!  First, never talk about mistakes. What you talk about is what you bring about. Second don't blame the dog. Third, always look for a TFI (Target for Improvement) and a Solution that will enable you to hit that target.)  What's the solution here?

Imagine there is another jump in back of the final jump and run toward it and lead your dog over the imaginary jump. (It's ok if you dog drops the bar for the imaginary bar, because the judge won't see it!) But basically the solution is to run through the final jump.

I know, I know Judge Judy says, "no basically."

Run Through the F______ J____. (Fill in the blank!)

dog agility training

Scold the Bar!

Never scold the dog simply because he or she does not do what you want in dog agility. But you can scold the bar!


Turn your back on the dog and point your finger at the bar and say loudly, "BAD BAR!  Don't you come down like that!"


Your dog will get the idea that something is wrong and may feel sorry for the bar. But the dog's self-esteem will not be damaged.  Yes, dog's have self-esteem too.  After resetting the bar, invite your dog to do a simple trick like touching your hand. Then give a secondary reinforcer (such as a clicking sound or key praising word) followed by a primary reinforcer, like a delicious treat.  Next invite your dog to jump over the bar.. Then heap praise on your dog and give a treat valued as $10,000 (in your dog's eyes, anyway.)


When your dog feels sorry for the bar, s/he will go out of her way to leap high in the air so as not to knock it down.


Several top dog agiity handlers advocate this method. 

Secret Exercise. There is a secret exercise for teaching jumping, well maybe not so secret, but not well known. My first dog agility instructor had us do the exercise, but apparently, he had no idea why this was good for our dogs -- at least he didn't tell us why we doing it.  But as it turns out this exercise is extremely helpful to dogs; it helps them sail over jumps without dropping the bar! The technique was taught by the wife of a famous dog agility champion.


This little know technique is revealed in my premium course on Directionality. The bad news is that it will cost you a few bucks. The good news is that the course is fully guaranteed. So, if you take the course and finish all of the lessons, and you are not happy with the results you are getting, you can get a full refund.  Check out the course on Directionality here.

Share by: