Overcoming the Teeter!

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BENNY

"I'm smarter- than you think."

Barked: Thu Nov 5, '09 7:55am PST


	Benny's having some teeter issues. Benny will be moving into Intermediate classes soon and we're having alittle bit of issues with the teeter. He is always happy and eager to go up the teeter but when he reaches the middle before it tips he compeletely stops and will not move and it takes some patience and loring with treats to get him to complete it. He is definitley not showing signs of fear as his tail and focus is up and happy. Not sure if he is just waiting for me to treat him at that spot or if he is really afraid, not sure what he is thinking?? One thing that did help him get alittle cofident about the teeter was we made it a fun game where my instuctor would hold the treat in the middle of the teeter and I would hold Benny back and get him all reved up saying "Are you ready" and he would run up the teeter with no hesitation. Maybe I should continue doing it that way? Any thoughts?

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MACH2 Aslan

MACH2, RAE, XF,- EAC, EJC, R2-CL,- etc.

Barked: Thu Nov 5, '09 11:27am PST


	I don't have time to write a long, helpful post, so this will be full of jargon that I won't explain. I hope you can understand it. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of instructors out there that teach treating the dog at the pivot of the teeter. This is incorrect teeter training. You never treat at the pivot. It teaches the dog to stop there and begin to fear the teeter/pivot tip. You always and only treat the end of the teeter. Here's how you can fix it. Teach your dog to run to the end of the teeter using the chair technique. Also start teaching some teeter jungle gym to your dog to get it happy slamming the teeter to the ground. You need to go back to the beginning and retrain.

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Bosley

Where are the- treats?

Barked: Thu Nov 5, '09 5:40pm PST


	Teeter games are the best way to create a confident teeter. Aslan already mentioned about not treating at the tip point of the teeter - this makes for a dog that is slow on the teeter and does not build confidence. All rewards should come at the end of the teeter only. In our classes, we teach the "bang game" where the dog learns that banging the end of the teeter on the ground is fun. This gets the dog used to the noise of the teeter and builds lots of confidence in the end behavior of the teeter. Here is an example of the "bang game". Teeter Bang Game. We then teach the dogs to "teeter surf". I couldn't find any good videos on youtube to demonstrate this, but basically you want to teach the dog to drive to the end of the teeter, without hesitating at the tip point. There are several methods to teach this, but we start our dogs by propping the teeter up with a jump standard so it doesn't move, then have the dog run to the end that is in the air and reward while their paws are at the edge of the board. (Someone is always standing at the end of the teeter to reward and make sure the teeter does not move). Once the dog is running up the teeter confidently, we start to add some movement when the dog is standing at the end. Gradually, more movement is added until you can move the teeter up and down and the dog will stay at the edge of the board, rocking it's body back to balance (teeter surfing). Eventually the dog will learn to run to the end of the teeter and drop the teeter to the ground and they will think this is the best game ever. Bosley was taught this way and the teeter is probably his favorite obstacle - he loves to make the "bang" and never hesitates at all at the tip point.

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♥ - Missy- ♥

Happy- Girly

Barked: Thu Nov 5, '09 5:50pm PST


	Some interesting and helpful advice there. Missy too has some fear issues with the teeter.

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Dennis FDCH

I love agility- and flyball!

Barked: Fri Nov 6, '09 5:29pm PST


	The bang game, and back chaining are what worked for Dennis.

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Pheobie

Come to the dark- side..We have- cookies!

Barked: Fri Nov 6, '09 7:10pm PST


	Pheobie also had teeter troubles. If you continue that game and it works maybe you could incorperate it slowly into a normal teeter command? Pheobie was terrified of the teeter when it moved. Until I held it and slowly brought it down. Each time I did this she got a little more confident and then the teeter turned into one of her favorite obstacles.

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♥- Claire- ♥

Moving forward,- one paw at a- time

Barked: Sat Nov 7, '09 2:41pm PST


	Teeter's do scare lots of dogs. I'd think, favorite squeaky toy, or treat will direct them. And SLOWLY lever down the teeter. Take it by your hand and lever it down slowly and direct the dog to the end. Should figure for now...Any more problems, please ask!

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