| What Is Foundation Work? |
What is Foundation (Work)?
Foundation might be described as the groundwork upon which more
advanced training is built. We develop the sets of signals that we will
consistently use throughout our performance career. If we look at our
signals as a sort of language, then we can think of foundation work as
teaching our dogs this language, beginning with simple “words and
phrases”. These “words” will consistently have the same meaning, which our
dog learns to understand. From here, and only from here, can it be possible
for us to expect our dogs to comprehend when we put these “words” in
different contexts and linked together to build the complex chains of
behavior needed for the sport. Further, we develop an understanding of
how to break things down into the components that comprise it, allowing
our dogs to always be successful.
This is also the time for us, as handlers, to begin to become proficient in
reading our dog’s language. There is a tendency for us to interpret our
dog’s signals from our human perspective, and it is invaluable to learn signs
of their stress, connection to us, inability to comprehend a task, etc. Just as
we hope our dog will listen to us, so must we “listen” closely to them. So
much is gained by cultivating this conversation between dog and handler.
Each dog has different training needs, and through this dialogue, along with
instruction on different training methods, we hope you can apply the most
practical theories for your team to experience the most success possible,
ultimately, getting the most enjoyment possible out of working with your
best friend.
In more concrete terms, foundation consists of introducing the skills
necessary to navigate an agility course before adding obstacles to our path.
Handlers must be able to direct their dog’s movement at a walk and a run,
off leash, with changes of direction, around distractions, all while staying
totally connected to each other. Some often underappreciated challenges,
such as stays at the start line and fast downs on the table, must be
introduced early on, asking for focus during these exercises before asking
for such control during the excitement of running courses. Obstacles are
introduced individually, and an amount of independence in execution is
attained before putting them in a sequence with more obstacles. Positional
cues are taught and practiced, an important facet to how handlers
communicate information to their dogs on course.
All of this training is absolutely critical to the performance of your team. This
is a thorough approach that requires a commitment from you to take your
time and practice these exercises. Certainly there are plenty of people
pursuing this sport without working on these important details. One could
just “go at a course” and execute it to completion much quicker than we
allow our students to. We believe, though, that this work is so imperative,
that if you fail to start here, problems crop up in the future that will bring
you back to this material. Truly, beginning with foundation work is the only
way to be fair to your dog in the expectations such an involved sport
demands. If you are ready to give as much as you hope your dog will give to
you, we’d love to help you with this awesome journey.
Foundation might be described as the groundwork upon which more
advanced training is built. We develop the sets of signals that we will
consistently use throughout our performance career. If we look at our
signals as a sort of language, then we can think of foundation work as
teaching our dogs this language, beginning with simple “words and
phrases”. These “words” will consistently have the same meaning, which our
dog learns to understand. From here, and only from here, can it be possible
for us to expect our dogs to comprehend when we put these “words” in
different contexts and linked together to build the complex chains of
behavior needed for the sport. Further, we develop an understanding of
how to break things down into the components that comprise it, allowing
our dogs to always be successful.
This is also the time for us, as handlers, to begin to become proficient in
reading our dog’s language. There is a tendency for us to interpret our
dog’s signals from our human perspective, and it is invaluable to learn signs
of their stress, connection to us, inability to comprehend a task, etc. Just as
we hope our dog will listen to us, so must we “listen” closely to them. So
much is gained by cultivating this conversation between dog and handler.
Each dog has different training needs, and through this dialogue, along with
instruction on different training methods, we hope you can apply the most
practical theories for your team to experience the most success possible,
ultimately, getting the most enjoyment possible out of working with your
best friend.
In more concrete terms, foundation consists of introducing the skills
necessary to navigate an agility course before adding obstacles to our path.
Handlers must be able to direct their dog’s movement at a walk and a run,
off leash, with changes of direction, around distractions, all while staying
totally connected to each other. Some often underappreciated challenges,
such as stays at the start line and fast downs on the table, must be
introduced early on, asking for focus during these exercises before asking
for such control during the excitement of running courses. Obstacles are
introduced individually, and an amount of independence in execution is
attained before putting them in a sequence with more obstacles. Positional
cues are taught and practiced, an important facet to how handlers
communicate information to their dogs on course.
All of this training is absolutely critical to the performance of your team. This
is a thorough approach that requires a commitment from you to take your
time and practice these exercises. Certainly there are plenty of people
pursuing this sport without working on these important details. One could
just “go at a course” and execute it to completion much quicker than we
allow our students to. We believe, though, that this work is so imperative,
that if you fail to start here, problems crop up in the future that will bring
you back to this material. Truly, beginning with foundation work is the only
way to be fair to your dog in the expectations such an involved sport
demands. If you are ready to give as much as you hope your dog will give to
you, we’d love to help you with this awesome journey.
| © 2007 injoydogtraining |
