Going through the Tunnel
So the course had us going over the dogwalk, over two jumps and after the second jump it leads right into the tunnel. Every time, Simon went into the tunnel backwards(wrong side). He ran right past the front and around it then through the wrong way. I had him go through the right way and we tried the course again and he did it again. I guess he was trying to tell me it was too easy and he was showing me the "right" way to do it. |
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I think most of my young dogs have started out this way. It never made sense to me, but I've learned to accept it as part of the learning curve and then one day miraculously they learn to take the path of least resistance 
Is Simon left or right pawed? Belle and Sybil I think also Mace are all right pawed, Mad is a south paw, Che is all paws (boy dog  )and Liz may be ambidexterous. Jury's still out.
Most likely Simon balked at the dog walk because he didn't know if it might be the teeter. It also takes a while for them to be confident they know the difference and the rules won't suddenly change on them. Sybil's big thing is the chute. I think she loves to feel the fabric as she pushes through. Belle was always the same way. Some days she'll come out the chute, decide it was so much fun she has to do it again and dart back in the wrong way before the fabric can close up. Now THAT is a serious directional deficiency. 
Kristine |
| Kristine, you ARE kidding me...Right???
Left or right pawed?? Hmmmmm Have to check on this.... |
Simon's Mom wrote: Kristine, you ARE kidding me...Right???
Left or right pawed?? Hmmmmm Have to check on this.... Actually, I'm not kidding at all. An easy way to check is if your dog is a natural retriever. Toss object, release dog, dog runs out to pick it up and bring it back to you, note which direction dog turns (to the left or right?) Most dogs will always turn a certain direction. Belle ALWAYS turns to the right. Why is this important? When you toss a dumbell over the high jump,. the dog has to run out, pick it up and bring it back returning directly over the jump. I throw right handed (but I'm bad at it ) The DB always lands left of center of the jump I threw it over, but that was always OK, because belle would pick it up, turn right and end up squarely lined up with the jump. Nice, eh?
In tunnels, Mad, who had an FCE 18 mos or so ago, prefers to enter so she is on her left lead (she's always been a south paw) Don't think that this is her stronger side. Nope. The path of least resistance directs that the dog wants to take an obstacle or make a turn on their most favorite side (given a choice). Sybil, being somewhat ADD, especially when worked in a field bordered by lovely smells, mandates that I bring Liz along to her private lesson. Why? Because when Sybil's attention starts to flag I crate Sybil and bring Liz out to play and annoy Sybil (jealous). (Privates are especially hard on ADD dogs because they don't otherwise get a break) I did that today midway through her lesson and sent Liz to the tunnel. She ran by the opening to the further side and turned left to enter it at the wrong end. Hm..... 
I shall test some more. She, too, is still very green. I've never been able to determine which side, if any, she favors, but we'll see. In practical terms on an agility course that means that whichever side your dog favors is the side he'll turn most easily on. (Makes sense) This tells you that you have to work on turns in the OPPOSITE direction of the favorite at least 150% as much, if not more. When stressed, dogs (like people) default to the path of least resistance...it's our job to equalize that for them. Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: Simon's Mom wrote: Kristine, you ARE kidding me...Right??? Left or right pawed?? Hmmmmm Have to check on this.... Actually, I'm not kidding at all. An easy way to check is if your dog is a natural retriever. Toss object, release dog, dog runs out to pick it up and bring it back to you, note which direction dog turns (to the left or right?) Most dogs will always turn a certain direction. Belle ALWAYS turns to the right. Why is this important? When you toss a dumbell over the high jump,. the dog has to run out, pick it up and bring it back returning directly over the jump. I throw right handed (but I'm bad at it ) The DB always lands left of center of the jump I threw it over, but that was always OK, because belle would pick it up, turn right and end up squarely lined up with the jump. Nice, eh?In tunnels, Mad, who had an FCE 18 mos or so ago, prefers to enter so she is on her left lead (she's always been a south paw) Don't think that this is her stronger side. Nope. The path of least resistance directs that the dog wants to take an obstacle or make a turn on their most favorite side (given a choice). Sybil, being somewhat ADD, especially when worked in a field bordered by lovely smells, mandates that I bring Liz along to her private lesson. Why? Because when Sybil's attention starts to flag I crate Sybil and bring Liz out to play and annoy Sybil (jealous). (Privates are especially hard on ADD dogs because they don't otherwise get a break) I did that today midway through her lesson and sent Liz to the tunnel. She ran by the opening to the further side and turned left to enter it at the wrong end. Hm..... I shall test some more. She, too, is still very green. I've never been able to determine which side, if any, she favors, but we'll see. In practical terms on an agility course that means that whichever side your dog favors is the side he'll turn most easily on. (Makes sense) This tells you that you have to work on turns in the OPPOSITE direction of the favorite at least 150% as much, if not more. When stressed, dogs (like people) default to the path of least resistance...it's our job to equalize that for them. Kristine OMG!!! I learn soooo much here!!! I am going to test Heart to see if she is left handed (like me!!) or right handed (like Dino!!).... BTW...Heart is beginning the foundation class in agility on Sunday!!!! YEA!!!!! I can't wait....I will be looking through old threads on this subject all weekend...... |
| Another thing to try is to see which side your dog is more flexible toward. I had a holistic vet/chiropractor use Simon as a demo dog a couple years ago at a presentation.
I stood in front of Simon, and the vet held onto him (basset on a picnic table ). I moved to the left, then to the right. She was visually measuring how far he could turn his neck and spine toward me on each side without his feet moving. Simon is well trained (humble owner  ) and didn't move his feet - which is what she wanted. There really was a big difference!
I hadn't noticed any troubles with him moving - he is real active, especially for a middle aged basset. She did a few adjustments, and then had me stand in front and move from side to side again. He moved more in both directions, and there was less of a difference, still but more in one than the other. She said this is normal - they all are more flexible in one direction than the other. This relates to the dominant side. I thought it was a great experience! I wish she lived near me..... |
| Since Jack has a strange throw on one front leg it was very easy to notice that he is a right side boy. Since then I've watched the other dogs, yes, they are different.
Such a smartie for figuring this out to help with the dumbell doss!! |
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