THE WEAVES
When I first started agility, the popular method of training was the use of guide wires which formed a path for the dog to follow. This method, however, allowed the dog to either jump over or crawl under if they so desired. When you finally started to remove the wires, the dogs often exited where wires were missing. Channel weaves was also popular at that time and I worked with both. With channel weaves you started the odd numbered poles to the far left and the even numbered poles to the far right and focused the dog on running down the middle path which was pole free. Then, slowly, you moved the weave poles together until finally they were in a straight line. For several years I used these methods to train weaves. Then Cristi Tombari started coming over to run courses with her very young and small Sheltie named Desi and I was blown away by the speed and accuracy with which Desi took on the weaves. Curious as to how Cristi had accomplished such fantastic weaves, I asked about her training method and began training my own dogs, including Dewey who was already an AX and AXJ titled dog, using this method. I am convinced that this method, if not rushed, will produce fast, focused and accurate entry type weaves.
As with all of my training, I trained with my dogs when they were hungry and success meant getting a part or all of their dinner as a reward.
Take your time and do not rush your training. The longer you take in building your foundation, the firmer the foundation will be. It won’t be long before you will see a rhythm forming as your dog moves down the weaves. You want your dog to focus on the last pole and stay focused until they get to the end. This method will allow you to move into position for the next obstacle while your dog completes the weaves with confidence and determination. You will also be able to do off-side weaves quicker.
On 09/01/02, AKC added weaves to the Novice Standard class. Other venues for agility already use weaves at the Novice or Starters level. Weaves take longer to learn than other pieces of agility equipment so begin weaving early and practice them every day! Make it fun and avoid negative tones in your voice or the use of the word “no.”
MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE while doing the weaves which leads the dog to exit too soon are many but here are a couple of the most common.
As with all of my training, I trained with my dogs when they were hungry and success meant getting a part or all of their dinner as a reward.
- Start with 3 poles and your dog in heel position to the right of the weaves. Your toes ought to be slightly behind and parallel to the first pole. With a treat in your left hand, bring the hand down to the level of the dog’s nose and say, “Go weave.” Step forward on your left foot and angle your toes toward the 2nd pole. At the same time, bring your left hand forward toward the left side of the 2nd pole and then QUICKLY move your hand counter clockwise around the pole so that the bait is in the same position and draw the dog around the pole and towards you as you step forward towards the third pole. The dog’s head will follow the bait and stay tucked close to or focused around the 2nd pole. Offer the bait with a ton of verbal praise saying “Good weave!” Do not say, “Good boy” or anything like that, as you will not be reinforcing the command they must learn...WEAVE! When your dog begins to move out on the command, “Go weave,” you then begin to walk forward, in a straight line, to the third pole. If your dog goes on his own around the 2nd pole and keeps his head tucked to the pole, you’re ready for step two. Don’t rush to get to step two as you’re building a foundation and the thinner the foundation, the greater the chance of it breaking down under pressure. You are teaching “Fido” to know where the 1st pole is and how to enter it.
- Once your dog is able to move on its own by passing the 1st pole with their left shoulder and go around the 2nd pole ending in a position beside you, start from a position further back. After a period of time, with success from this position, move further back. Then start from a position to the right of the weaves or left of the weaves and if “Fido” continues to be successful in finding the 1st pole and weaving around the 2nd pole, you are ready to add a pole.
- With the 4th pole in place, go back to the starting position, next to the weaves. “Fido” may not recognize the 4th pole as an object he must go around so you will have to help by walking forward, beside your partner, and guide him as you did in the beginning with pole #2. Do not rush this step. It will not take long before “Fido” catches on to the game and begins to move around pole #4 on his own. Then as you did in step two, start moving backward, away from the poles, until you are positive “Fido” knows how to weave around 4 poles. Repeat this process as you add more poles (one at a time) to the weaves.
Take your time and do not rush your training. The longer you take in building your foundation, the firmer the foundation will be. It won’t be long before you will see a rhythm forming as your dog moves down the weaves. You want your dog to focus on the last pole and stay focused until they get to the end. This method will allow you to move into position for the next obstacle while your dog completes the weaves with confidence and determination. You will also be able to do off-side weaves quicker.
On 09/01/02, AKC added weaves to the Novice Standard class. Other venues for agility already use weaves at the Novice or Starters level. Weaves take longer to learn than other pieces of agility equipment so begin weaving early and practice them every day! Make it fun and avoid negative tones in your voice or the use of the word “no.”
MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE while doing the weaves which leads the dog to exit too soon are many but here are a couple of the most common.
- Celebrating, either with body movement or voice before the dog has completed the weaves. This can be fixed by the handler keeping quiet and focusing on a path one arm’s length from their partner. Keep your shoulders, hips and feet facing straight down the weaves and focus on a point beyond the weaves. Take one or two steps beyond the weaves before making a move to the next obstacle. This will ensure that the dog exits successfully and not prematurely. Also, keep your hands and arms from moving as this may give wrong cues to the dog and lead to a premature departure from the weaves.
- Clapping or using verbal cues to give the dog a rhythm to follow while doing the weaves. If you’re the type that uses verbal cues such as, “weave,weave, weave,weave”, repeated as you progress down the weaves, what happens when you have to take a breath? You’ve broken the rhythm and often the dog interprets the broken rhythm with the idea that you’re done and exits early. The same can be said of clapping. If you are slightly off rhythm, this gives the wrong cue and produces an early exit or a missed pole. Giving any verbal or body cues to a dog in the weaves means the dog is focused on you and not the last pole. This is an awesome responsibility placed on your shoulders and it’s hard to be perfect all the time! So take the responsibility off of yourself and train “Fido” to focus on the last pole.