Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Teaching Obedience Behaviors On The Pause Table

By Cheng Bernhardt


While dogs adore running through agility courses, speeding through weaves, jumping through tires and navigating teeter totters and a-frames, the pause table is probably not the favorite part of the agility course for any dog. However, not only is this table a big part of competition, the pause table can be used to teach a variety of important obedience behaviors.

For those new to the sport of dog agility, the pause table is pretty much just what it sounds like. It is an elevated platform on an agility course where dogs must jump upon and then either sit or remain in a down position for a fixed amount of seconds. The height of these tables varies, but the goal is the same. The dog must obey the command of the trainer or owner and not leave the table to complete the course until they receive a specific signal.

One important side note is that all of the competing dogs run the course leash-free and receive no treats or incentives for doing the obstacles on the course. This means that the level of obedience with the dogs is extremely high. When you stop and think about it, who wouldn't want their dog to follow a variety of commands at any time even when not wearing a leash? Obedience training not only makes life easier for you, it also keeps your pet safe and secure in many situations.

In general, puppies should not use agility equipment, not only because they are simply too small, but also because they can hurt their developing bodies. However, you can use a pause box or a very low table to teach obedience skills with a puppy. Once a puppy is weaned, you can begin teaching basic obedience commands. The puppy will be easier to deal with and you will forge a stronger bond.

Once your dog can sit and stay on the table for four or five seconds without the use of treats or incentives, it is time to increase the level of difficulty. All you need to do is use the same commands or signals but from a couple of feet away. At first, your animal might seem a bit unsure, but soon they will obey. Then keep putting more distance between you and the dog and eventually you will be able to be quite far away.

Obviously, the pause table is a great tool for overall obedience, but on the course, it also provides a quick break in between obstacles. This actually helps keep a dog focused, and without a pause table, they tend to get over-excited and either not clear obstacles or skip an obstacle accidentally or perhaps move out of order. If you are look for a high quality pause table, check out an online store such as Carlson Agility. They sell every type of agility dog equipment you will need including dog agility jumps, agility dog walks, pause tables, weaves, dog tunnels and much more.




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