Tire Jump

Foundation Training

for your Dog

The Tire Jump seems like a relatively easy agility

obstacle, at least from a persons perspective, but in

the Novice Agility ring you see many dogs that

refuse to go through it, many go under it, while

others choose to go around it. How can you prepare

your beginning agility for success with the Tire

Jump?

Let's go back to foundation training. When

introducing any new obstacle, you want to keep the

difficulty low and emphasize the fun and ease that it

can be for your dog. If your dog has a sit stay, leave

him about 2 feet in front of the tire, facing it, walk to

the other side and call your dog, "Come Tire". If he

won't budge, put your hand with his treat or toy

through the tire to coax him to follow your hand and

jump through the tire. Practice this several times

until he willing is coming to you.

Keep him about 2 feet from the tire, you go to the

other side and then move back about 6 feet, "Come

Tire. When your dog is able to jump through the tire

when you are at different distances and angles from

the tire, then it is time to move him further away

from the tire. Start him back 6 feet, you go to the

other side about 6 feet away and call, "Come Tire".

Place your dog at different distances and angles

from the tire and call him to you. When your dog can

succeed 80% of the time, its time to progress to

make the challenge a bit harder.

Now that your dog is coming to you, it is time to

teach "Go Tire". Start close to the tire again, 3 feet

away, this time both you and your dog are facing the

tire. Tell him "Go Tire". If he jumps through, great,

step to the side and reward him. If you don't get any

movement from the dog, step forward and point to

the tire, "Go Jump". For some dogs this motion on

your part is enough to get them up and going

through the tire.

If your dog still won't move, take your treat

container or toy and throw through the tire, saying,

"Go Tire". Repeat this many times until your dog will

successfully go through the tire without you having

to step toward the tire or throw his toy through the

tire. If you are using a toy quickly try to get your dog

to go through the tire then reward with a throw of

the toy or treat container. Begin to back away from

the tire, 3 feet, 6 feet, 9 feet work toward sending

your dog from 30 feet away.

If you've started with a very young dog you should still have the tire height set low 8" or 12" for a good bit of your training. If your dog is older and large, now begin to move the tire height up. Go back and practice you "Come Tire" and "Go Tire" when you

change the heights. As you raise the height your dog may try to go under the tire. At first you may want to

setup some wire mesh or angled jump bars under the tire for your dog to realize he still needs to go

through and not under the tire. When you are getting ready for competition, raise the tire slightly higher than your dog would have in the agility ring. Preparation and practice are the best training tips

for succeeding in the competition ring.

To Learn More About Dog Training, go to

http://howtohousetraindog.com/go/dog-tr

aining

http://howtohousetraindog.com/go/theonl

inedogtrainer