PUPPY PLAY - “Preparing Your Puppy for Agility” So you think you have a puppy that would be ideal for agility. Even though formal training may be months down the road, there are several things you can do to prepare your puppy.

1. Develop a prey drive for toys. You can either purchase toys from a pet shop or use the cardboard that’s left over after you’ve used a roll of paper towels or toilet paper. Old, smelly socks make a great tug-o-war toy. Use your imagination. Once your puppy is willing to play chase with the toy, toss it over a jump pole (1” Schedule 40 PVC) that’s laying on the ground. As the puppy steps over the pole, say “over” or “hup” or “jump” or whatever term you woul like to use. Later, you can cross two poles on a jump and have the puppy step over the middle. I put one end of the pole on the 8” bar cup and the other end on the ground and cross them. In that way, the puppy is stepping over 4”. You can also use a block of wood to place one end of the pole on while the other is on the ground. Whatever you do, you do not want your puppy jumping over something they can’t step over normally. The last thing you wish to do is traumatize the growth plates in their long, young bones so keep everything low.



2. Targeting. Now that you’ve developed that prey drive, it’s time to start targeting. With the toy in one hand, turn the back of your hand towards the pup and encourage your pup to chase your hand for the toy. If you can get the pup to touch the back of your hand with their nose, then turn it over and offer the toy. Let the pup win often at first and then make the chase a little more difficult.
   
   In a few weeks, you can change the toy for a piece of bait. Make it small, something they don’t have to chew on and easy to swallow. Show the bait to the pup and then place it in the middle of your palm using your thumb to hold it in place, or put it between your fingers. Now, play the same “chase my hand” game letting the pup win often. Make sure the pup is chasing the BACK of your hand. You can lead your pup over some of the poles that you have lying on the ground but remember to say “hup” or “over” or your choice of command as they begin to step over them.



3. Start looking for large, cardboard boxes and cut the ends off of them. These can be left in the back yard for the puppy to run through as they will simulate a tunnel. An old door with the hole for the door knob taped over or filled in OR a piece of plywood can simulate a teeter if you affix a PVC pipe to the under side. You don’t want the up end to be more than an inch off the ground. All you want is a slight movement as puppy walks over it.



4. Once your puppy has had all of its’ shots, it’s time to start working the “here” command. Buy a flexy lead and, with treats in a pouch, head for a park or safe place where the puppy will be distracted. After you have allowed the puppy time for sniffing, and getting acquainted with their surroundings, call the puppy by name and say “here” giving a slight correction. This is done by holding down the button and flicking your wrist in your direction. When the puppy comes in your direction, praise and give a treat. Then walk on. Each time you say “here,” it ought to be with the correction, and praise your puppy as they come in your direction. There is no formal place for the puppy to be. You are working on getting the puppy to look in your direction and come towards you.



5. Large puppies typically have problems with coordination when it comes to their rear end. In order to do agility, it’s imperative that they coordinate both ends. Take an extension ladder apart and lay the ladder end to end on the ground. Take your puppy for a walk down the ladder attempting to get “Fido” to step between each rung on the ladder. The front end will be able to do it in a very short time but the back end will take time and patience.