| The article is explaining and describing how to | | | | Sit-stay or Down-stays on the table. Develop |
| teach directional commands for the beginning | | | | your distance away from him slowly. Release |
| agility student. The directional commands | | | | your dog to you with Come. |
| discussed are Come, Go, and Back. | | | | Place your dog in a Sit-Stay about 3' from the |
| Playing, training or working your dog is incredibly | | | | table, facing it. Leave your dog in a sit, walk to |
| rewarding. Dogs are generally friendly, responsive, | | | | the other side of the table, call your dog, "Come |
| and quick-to-learn. Agility training is a healthy sport | | | | Table". When he gets on the table step toward |
| for both canine and owner, as it gets you outside | | | | him and praise him. This will help prevent him from |
| and active building your bond in the fresh air. We | | | | jumping off the table to come to you. Build your |
| see dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds (including | | | | dog's distance from the table, move him away |
| mixed breeds) come into their own when | | | | from the table in increments, 4', 6', 8', and so on. |
| presented with a bit of agility training. This really is | | | | As your dog is comfortable coming to you and |
| a great way to keep you and your dog fit, | | | | sitting on the table, the next step is for you to |
| physically and mentally. The experience of being | | | | build your distance from the table as you call him |
| out of doors, working with "Prince," "Rover," or | | | | to the table. Build your distance also in increments. |
| "Rex" is stimulating, and lets you experience the | | | | Have your dog sitting 10' from the table, you walk |
| immense capacity that dogs have for fun and | | | | to the other side of the table about 6' away from |
| challenge. | | | | the table, call your dog, "Come Table". Build your |
| Agility is a fun team sport that you and your dog | | | | distance slowly so that your dog can succeed at |
| can enjoy together. Agility is a combination of | | | | staying on the table. |
| Advanced off-leash obedience, Directional | | | | Starting from about 3' from the table, with your |
| commands, and Obstacle familiarization. In order | | | | dog on leash, you are both facing the table, send |
| for your dog to have off-leash control to run | | | | your dog to the table by saying, "Go Table". You |
| around a 100' x 100' ring, you first want to | | | | may need to extend your arm, point or step to |
| develop that control on leash. Control behaviors | | | | toward the table. Practice this until your dog is |
| that are beneficial for your dog to have are | | | | able to go to the table without you having to |
| "Come", "Sit", "Down", and "Stay". Your dog does | | | | place him on the table. Practice with the dog on |
| not have to be perfect at these commands, but | | | | both your left and right side. When the dog is on |
| the better he is the more you can accomplish | | | | your left side use your left arm to point to the |
| with the actual running and playing of agility. The | | | | table, and when the dog is on your right side point |
| formal obedience "Heel" on the left side is not | | | | with your right arm. Develop your distance so |
| necessary for agility because you will be working | | | | that you can send your dog easily from 30'. Now, |
| with your dog on both your left and right sides. | | | | its time to teach the next Directional Command, |
| You can develop these behaviors from your own | | | | "Back". Have your dog on leash again, and start |
| training or taking classes. There are a multitude of | | | | from 3' away from the table, but this time your |
| books on the market on obedience training. | | | | dog is sitting on the ground facing you with the |
| The main Directional Commands we teach are | | | | table behind him. From your dog sitting tell him, |
| "Come", "Go" and "Back". Come means | | | | "Back Table". Extend your arm pointing to the |
| approaching and moving to you. Go means you | | | | table and guide him with the leash if necessary |
| and the dog are facing and moving in the same | | | | until he understands the new word. Practice |
| direction and the dog moves out ahead of you | | | | sending your dog to the table several times using |
| and keeps going until other wise directed. Back | | | | your Left arm, "Back Table", extending your left |
| means the dog turns away from you. This can | | | | arm. Then practice with your Right arm pointing |
| occur when he is facing you and turns away or | | | | to the table, "Back Table". When your dog is |
| when he is at either your left or right side, and | | | | turning to go to the table then start building your |
| turns away from you. We teach Directional | | | | distance from the table. These are three very |
| Commands using a table. For training we use 12" | | | | versatile commands that you can use and |
| high agility tables for all dog sizes. First the dog | | | | develop on all obstacles and throughout an agility |
| must be comfortable jumping up on the table. | | | | run. |
| Once he is comfortable on the table, use his | | | | |