How to train a dog to jump through a hoop.
You need a solid hoop that will not fall or tip when the dog hits it by accident. If it falls on them you may be doomed, as your pooch may be afraid of it after that. You can make one, buy one or use a hoola-hoop on a stand of some sort. Your dog needs to be off leash and hungary. If you use a clicker it is easier, as the response is quick and sharp. But if you don't have one a simple "yes" will do. Get some really good treats, like tiny peices of chicken, cheese or liver, or whatever your dog loves. Set up the hoop so it is standing upright but resting on the ground, and block both sides off so the dog cannot go around it easily. First you need to get your dog to like the hoop. Let your dog know that you have some really good treats. You call your dog through the hoop and just as he goes through you mark it with a click or "yes" and give him the treat once he has gone through. Don't say another word. If you have to lure him with the treat the first few times that is fine, but make it a bit harder each time. First "yes" and treat when he is near it, then "yes" and treat when he touches it, then "yes" and treat when he walks through it...etc. etc. It is very important NOT to correct him verbally or physiacally. It is all encouragement, and treats for him being brave. If he is corrected when he doesn't even know what to do he will not want to play the game. If he runs around the hoop you stand up, hold the treat close to your body, turn around and then try again, luring him through it. You need to make it very easy for him to work up to running through it for a treat. Once he is going through it with no problem you can name it. Say "hoop" or whatever you want to call it, and wave towards the hoop right before he goes through. Do this over and over until he understands that "hoop" and the hand signal mean to go through the hoop. Once he is doing it quickly and happily you can remove one side that is blocking it off, and make him go through it again, then the other side. Then you raise it gradually so he is eventually jumping through it. I'm am not sure of the age, but puppies should not be doing any type of jumping. Agility trainers don't start to jump their dogs any higher than a couple of inches before they are over a year old. Good luck and have fun!  |
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| Great advice! |
I think Dancer would enjoy something like that... I keep meaning to look into agility or something for her... but never quite get around to it.  |
| Where do you get the stand for the hoop? |
| I was lucky as someone was selling a bunch of agility equipment a couple of years ago for next to nothing. I got weave poles, jumps, the hoop, and a tunnel for $70.
I lent the jumps to someone who it is like pulling teeth getting them back from. 
Many people make the stuff from PCV pipes. I think that is what the stand is made from. |
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