Flying Poodles

Training the contacts, part umpety-ump

Debbie mentioned in passing last week that I didn’t need to click right away for Dancer stopping on the contacts. After all, she was going to STOP, so I could make sure she stopped before I clicked.

This took a few days to sink in, but Monday I tried waiting for a count of three before I clicked, and immediately her contacts improved. Then today I didn’t count but instead waited to click until after I got into my release position (did my front cross, got into position at the next jump). Only once did I manage to lure her off the contact by my continued motion and you could see Dancer’s disappointment all over her face when she didn’t get a click or a piece of the steak I was training with. She nailed her contacts the rest of the session.