CREATING A CONFIDENCE COURSE FOR DOGS
Author: Charlene Dunlap
www.caninehorizons.com
Over 25 years ago, my husband Glenn and I lived in a suburban
environment where there were few options to exercise our four large
dogs on a daily basis; therefore, I began looking for ways to
develop our dogs’ skills in using their physical abilities. We soon
moved to a somewhat rural area where we commenced designing and
building obstacles for the dogs. More moves and more obstacle
courses culminated in our current extensive course which required a
great deal of time and effort to construct. See:
http://www.caninehorizons.com/Playground.html
Then, as now, I believe that learning to navigate obstacles helps a
dog develop confidence and judgment, teaches him to solve problems,
and imbues him with the joy of personal achievement.
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All of our dogs learn to
walk across these stacks of cement squares. When
confronted with a similar looking obstacle, my three
late Standard Poodles Stoney, April, and Keila had the
confidence and judgment to use these stepping stones
over a pond. |
When I first began obstacle training our dogs, I knew of few people
who did this – mostly those who trained dogs for search and rescue
or police work. However, teaching dogs to navigate a series of
obstacles must have been an idea whose time had come because not
long afterwards, we began hearing about the sport of dog agility . .
. which went on to become a highly popular competitive sport.
Many dog owners (me included) are not interested in the competitive
aspect of agility but do enjoy engaging and challenging our dogs.
Those who don’t have the time, space, or desire to construct large
permanent obstacles (such as we have) can nevertheless create a
clever and effective obstacle course by using a variety of objects
that are pre-made or ones that are not difficult to construct. Also,
they can look for “obstacles” when on outings.
Some of our away-from-home “obstacles”:
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Hay bales in the farmer’s
field... |
pier walk at a park... |
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Willow maze at the museum... |
Fallen trees in the woods. |
Unlike the sport of dog agility where speed in negotiating each
obstacle is of the essence, confidence course training is performed
at the dog’s own pace where safety, enjoyment, and building self
assurance are the main goals.
When designing either an individual obstacle or a whole course, the
dog’s safety should be of prime importance. There should be no sharp
objects or protrusions anywhere on the obstacle that could injure
the dog. The surface where the obstacle is placed should be
carefully chosen – jump obstacles should have safe take-off and
landing areas.
Listed below are different categories of obstacles with ideas for
each.
• Slides: straight (as opposed to curved) plastic kid’s slides are
best • Ramps: boards or logs to make ramps
• A-frames: half-buried old tractor tires (see Front Page picture)
for going over and through, lumber in “A” shape
• Broad jumps: made from lumber and/or PVC pipe, ditches
• High jumps: hula hoops, old window doors (for large Poodles), PVC
pipe makes great jumps, barrels, broom handle laid on two boxes
• Dog Walks: cinder blocks with an 8’ x 1’ x 2” board laid on top,
horizontal ladder walk, flip/flop board (like a tiny seesaw),
packing crates
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Sydney going over horizontal ladder. |
Jyah going over flip/flop board |
• Tunnel: old tires, 50 lb drums with ends cut out and rolled (drape
sheet off one end for collapsed tunnel), cardboard boxes with holes
cut in two sides
• Mazes: barrier plastic stapled to stakes, three (or more)
cardboard boxes with holes cut in sides – duct taped together to
make maze tunnel
• Patterns: weave poles, cones, patterns outlined by flags, stakes,
and ropes made in zigzag, figure eight, and 90-degree-angle shapes
• Spaced platform jumps: 16” x 4” blocks stacked three high and 16”
apart, tree stumps on end
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Stoney, Keila, April, and Bleu on tree stumps |
• Surfaces: stones, sand, plastic, water obstacle such as a kiddies’
wading pool, etc.
If you have a number of obstacles, you can arrange them in a course
where the dog must navigate each article from beginning to end.
When teaching the dog to navigate an obstacle, proceed slowly
allowing the dog’s body to become conditioned – muscle memory and
balance can only be attained slowly by repetition. Gradually
increase the length and difficulty of workouts. If the dog is not
obedience trained, you can begin by hooking a leash on his collar
and guiding, NOT forcing, him over the obstacle . . . and NEVER EVER
yell at the dog. With the dog on lead, walk him through the
obstacle. It’s only a matter of practice before he will traverse the
obstacle by himself. If he doesn’t, then you will have to build his
confidence slowly by shaping – which means rewarding (usually with
food) incremental approximations of the desired behavior.
Food rewards are very helpful in the beginning to show the dog he is
doing the correct thing. The key is to reward what the dog is doing
well and ignore his mistakes. Build the dog’s trust with patience
and kindness, never forcing or getting angry, and he will be willing
to try whatever you ask of him.
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Jyah and Sydney using a picnic table as an A-frame |
However, don’t think you have to have a whole obstacle course or
spend hours training your dog. Obstacle training for confidence
building works just as well when incorporated into walks or
playtime: picnic tables make good A-frames; drape a sheet over three
sides of a card table and teach your dog to go in and out (put a bit
of food inside in the beginning); teach him to go away from you
around a chair (or outside, around a tree) and back to you for a
treat (lure him around the object with a treat in the beginning
before giving it to him); teach him to crawl under a coffee table
(again, lure with food in the beginning until the dog understands
what you want). You don’t have to spend a dime to help your dog gain
confidence . . . just use your imagination and have fun with your
Poodle.
For those interested in agility style equipment, there are books
that show how to make equipment. You can find ideas at:
http://www.dogplay.com/Activities/Agility/agility.html
If you would rather purchase the equipment, there are many websites.
One is: http://www.affordableagility.com/fun.htm
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