Goldentouch  Offline
lead trained
Joined: Jun 21, 2005
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Posts: 4683
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36500 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Leo, Meg
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Location: Scotland
Gender: 
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 Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Totally agree with Lizzie above.
| Quote: | | It really is just a case of breaking things down and then small steps, small steps, small steps to gradually build confidence. |
Couldn't agree more, and there is probably not much more I can add.
I have been competing for years and yet I still train with planks of wood on the grass in my garden from time to time! It's amazing what you can do with planks of wood lay flat on the grass! 
I'd never start a dog off on a full height Dog Walk or See-Saw. It's terrifying, especially a see-saw, which not only moves, but can make quite a crashing 'BANG' when it lands.
My advice would be steer well away from any full-sized contacts. Everything should be laid flat on the grass so she can wander over it. Let her stand on it. Chuck a ball onto it for her. Make nice things happen on this big hunk of wood!
From there, build it up slowly - few inches here and there. Nothing scary.
The dog should feel 100% confident with the hander. He/She should 100% trust everything you tell them to go and should obey and trust your command, no questions asked. If you build things up slowly with contact equipment aswell as having fun whilst doing it, then the dog will have heaps of trust and confidence in you. It's a win win situation 
Hope this helps a little xx
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Jill, Meg & Leo xx
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Maddie Offline
Mummy to the Girlie Gang
Joined: May 10, 2005
Age: -1964
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Posts: 6430
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37137 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 4
Lab Names: Coco, Bluebird, Milly and Carys
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| Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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I'm with Laura, Pam and Co. Surely your club doesn't expect dogs to start at full height contacts?  Both my clubs in the UK and France built these things up gradually - A-frame and dog walk flat of the floor, then raised on bricks, etc etc, see saw always held steady so there as no chance of unexpected movement.
If they won't, find another club!
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Nicola |
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