If this isn't a problem...

...I'd like to elaborate on a couple of Bob's answers.


"Q - In Mondio there are exercises where the dog must attack through an object. Like a water hose turned on or a stack of platic bottles or a decoy holding a palm branch in his hand. How does one train up to this and do dogs who have been extremely impressive in training suddently fall apart?"

"A - We start article training from puppy up. The article is always part of training the puppy or dog considers it normal. It's only when you introduce it suddenly and too hard where the dog becomes surprised and has problems. All training including articles are introduced in small increments, therefore when they are put together a Ring III routine is accomplished."

You have to understand what our field looks like.

There are blinds all around including 3 in the trees. 8 large plastic drums that can be moved into any position sit willy-nilly and a few picnic tables and chairs for the club stand nearby as as we all sit on the field while training. By the drums, lean 4 or 5 hula hoops with plastic streamers attached - 2 of the hoops have beans inside that rattle, and a number of leg sleeves, tugs of various sizes and 3 or 4 full suits are on the tables. A duffel bag with noise making toy store gizmos, 5 rattle sticks and a gun also are in easy reach. In the middle of the field is a large contraption that has 6 hula hoops taped together top form a cube. Beside lays a 2 x 2 metre pvc frame that has 50 plastic water bottles strung on bungy cords in the centre and at various points a few other nasty rubber and plastic contraptions that fit the decoy's hand are scattered about.

All of this is at the decoy and trainer's disposal and all of it is used every session. It is an extremely dirty field by most standards.

The dogs - from puppy up - are worked through, on top of and under all this gear. They are oblivious.

If a dog exhibits an issue with something, he is worked through it until the issue disappears. Dogs that are possesive with certain tugs are worked over those tugs until they realize that the fight is with the decoy. It is the decoy's job to get them off and refocused.

One of the things Bob likes to repeat is, "Attack the problem."

We do that every session.

David