Are you FULLY ENGAGED every time you train or compete with your dog?
• Success in our sport requires focus and connection with our canine teammate.
• You need to build that emotional connection by staying engaged.
• Keep 100% of your attention on your dog as soon as work/play begins
Fully Engage with your dog. Wake ‘em up!! Arousal comes first.
Get them mentally and physically prepared to play/work.
AFTER you arouse your dog, you need tugging or silly tricks or a few moments of animated
ground running work to engage them momentarily before you train. Try different arousal
methods like scratch/rubbing your dog excitedly through their rib cage area to get their blood
flowing and hope the brain follows!
Keep the attention once you get it
Tugging
Retrieve- IF your dog will return the toy
Tricks- high five, figure-8 , rollover, position changes & reward
Hand targeting, circle between your legs, ready steady or 1,2,3 handler focus stay and release
games
Eye contact- Don’t start without it
TUGGING
YOU get to disengage and end the tugging, not the dog.
The goal for tugging is that YOU have to ask your dog to stop tugging and get the toy back from
them not vice-versa. Don’t end tugging when your dog is not solidly on the toy
Stress and Excitement
What is your dog feeling at the moment?
If he is “over the top excited”- Keep the games low key, possibly use more food less toys,
calming exercises, massage, simple obedience and ‘its yer choice’ games.
If he is at all worried about the environment or stressed about the upcoming work and play-
Make it fun, be happy, silly talk & songs to keep his attention & the moment light. Reduce
stationary work and leadouts. Don’t get them out of the crate too early. Keep moving, tease
them, let them chase you, tug if possible and keep motion and arousal while tugging. YOU are
the key! If you want the dog to stay engaged with YOU….YOU must be engaged with them.
Don’t disconnect!
Keep connection at the start line with praise, silly talk and eye contact.
Keep it during your run with light eye contact with the dog and the line the dog is on.
Re-engage with you dog at transition times between work and reward and if you have an error.
At the end of your run during practice.
Receiving coaching Information
• Don’t talk to us until you get re-connected with your dog.
• Call your dog to you immediately
• Give them a treat if appropriate to the situation
• Tug if it is appropriate and won’t disturb you participating in the conversation
Once you have the dog you could-
• Gently hold them by the collar.
• Kneel down next to them. Put your arms around them to gently confine.
• Ask them to sit or lie down then reward.
• Small dogs could be picked up; don’t grab at them, and try to keep your small dogs feet
on the ground whenever possible.
Re-Engaging your dog
Once you have had a break in the action-
Take all the steps you need to get your dog back into work mode with play and all the
engagement methods you used at the beginning of the session. Don’t restart until the dog is
aroused and engaged with you. Always take the time to get reset properly if you are repeating a
section of the course or drill.
After the exercise
Retrieve, tug, play.
• Have a party if you are using treats as a primary reward
• Focus on your dog until you are off the course
• Don’t get instruction until you have rewarded your dog and have them under physical or
voice control
At the end of every run in practice as well as competition- even if you are frustrated with
yourself or your dog- do your darndest to SHAKE IT OFF and put a smile on your face and have a
SINCERE and fun celebration with your dog.