Training and Using Motivational Collar pops in obedience training.

Training and using motivational pops in training - especially for heel and come. This is a technique I learned at a Linda Koutsky seminar in Phoenix in May 2009. I was excited to share this with my Tues AM Rally obedience class.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• obedience
• rally
• dogs
• training
• canine
• Australian Terrier
• Border Collie
• German Shepherd
• Italian Greyhound
• Husky

[allyc2007]

Any kind of leash pop or collar correction--no matter what label you put on it, is worthless as a primary training method. Why not excite the dog to catch up in a heel with a "hurry!" verbal cue? If I give an upbeat "hurry" cue it accomplishes the same thing, while reserving a collar correction as a last resort corrective technique. You're defeating the purpose of making a "correction" motivational. Make the training/cue motivational so you don't have to use the correction!

[RallyJudge]

@allyc2007 This is NOT a primary training method, merely one tool in the "tool bag" of a competition obedience trainer. The purpose is to teach the dog that grabbing their collar and giving a pop is not a bad thing - so when you use it to correct them (correct = help them get it right AFTER they know what is expected!!) they don't shut down and think they've done something terrible. It can become a game and a very useful tool.

[RallyJudge]

@allyc2007 By saying hurry or easy, you're taking responsibility. The collar pop puts the dog back in drive and puts the responsibility back on them. The dog has to be responsible - not responsive to our urgings.

Kind of like clapping your hands or patting your leg, you're begging the dog. If you want the dog to pay attention but constantly tell the dog "watch" YOU are the one responsible for the dog watching, the dog doesn't have to do anything. You get one command or signal in the ring.

[allyc2007]

@RallyJudge Now, that makes more sense. The video implies this is an immediate fallback to a lagging heel--something you may want to clarify. My own version of this corrective technique is a simple "ah-ah" marker that the dog is conditioned to take as a "you're doing something wrong, try again," indication. "Hurry" fixes a lagging heel and "easy" corrects a too-eager dog. Just as effective, IMO.

[VTECsqznN2O]

I love this concept. Thank you for posting this.

[jerseyviewerguy]

Sorry, what's the point here? Hurl your dog in the air for something?

[jerseyviewerguy]

What the heck is this supposed to accomplish?

[LindaLydig]

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how that is supposed to be motivational or the least bit useful.