both my babies wont go thru the tunnel!

[coolowensma]

Help! I am in an introductory agility class & my boys are having a lot of fun but both of them will NOT go thru the tunnel? We use GOOD rewards (eg real chicken etc) & we never feed the dogs before we go but they just stand there looking at me calling them (from the other side) - I have ordered a tunnel from e bay to practise at home so if anyone had any trouble with their babies pls let me know as my dogs & I LOVE agility & want to progress further.

 

[Jan]

Make the tunnel as short as possible. It should shrink up too a couple feet at most. You should be able to actually almost reach your dogs nose with the treat. Never try and force them, They will eventually go through with lots of encouragement. Most dogs love the tunnel when they get used to it. Markus used to love the dog walk. He would just prance accross and I could imagine his signing I'm the king on the castle.

 

[Stacy W.]

I had the same problem with my parents damatian when she took a basic agility class. We went out an baught a tunnel and put it in the living room. With continued work with her with good treats and eventually she learned to love the tunnel. Once she got use to doing it at home, where she felt comfortable, then we started workign with her in class. It really did not take that long and once she did is a couple times, she learned to love the tunnel.

 

[harleyboxer]

I just shoved my dog in. After that he went in every time.

 

[Stacy W.]

I just shoved my dog in. After that he went in every time.

The problem with this that if you have a dog that is honestly scared, you may make it much worse. In addition, if a dog is really scared to go in the tunnel and you try to push them too much, they may get frightened enough to nip. Taking it slow and enticing the dog to do it at thier own pace is much safer in my opinion.

 

[Konah's Mom]

jan's advice is really good. Konah was nervous for a long time. but we made the tunnel as short as can be, three feet and then mike would stand at the other end while i stodd with Konah and he'd call him with treats. I'd nudge gently and then he'd go thorugh and get PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE. then after about 5 times, we'd lengthen it a foot. When it curved he wouldn't go in. so we threw a tennis ball in. *L* he learned pretty quickly if he just ran around the tunnel he could still get the ball *L*.

So we shortened it, kept it curved and did the same as in the beginning. Now he runs through like a pro.

Hope this helps!
Erin

 

[coolowensma]

thanks guys - I WONT give up - Im sure I will have more luck once I receive my tunnel as then you can take your time & make it the length you want as adviced - I always feel a little rushed at training as I am holding eveyone up.... I feel very relieved that my babies are not the only ones that would not go thru at first - thank so much & I will keep you posted on how they go with their own tunnel

Donna, Cool & Owen

 

[Kysha]

My Owen is in agility - we started when he was about a year old. We started becuase he was a nervous dog - agility has built his confidence like you wouldn't believe!

Anyway - Owen had a HUGE fear of the tunnel too. Have you tried using a clicker (or any other marker)? I personally use a clicker and with Owen it has really worked wonderful.

Since Owen was a such a nervous dog I had to start from the BASICS. I would click and treat (CT) when he would just look at the tunnel. Then I would CT when he would get close to the tunnel, then closer, then sniff it, then put his nose in it, then his head, his paw,... you get the picture.

By taking your time and rewarding for ALL the small steps you are building condifence in your puppy and getting them to enjoy the tunnel.

Now Owen has NO problem with the tunnel at any length and in any shape.

DO NOT push or pull (force) your dog onto or into any equipment. Take your time and reward your dog for their successes - no matter how small they may seem.

Have Fun!

 

[coolowensma]

thanks Kysha, Cool & Owen are doing clicker training (its incorparated in the agility training) & you have come up with a GREAT idea about clicking when they go near it etc -thankyou so much - Im a bit cranky at myself for not thinking of this myself????? This is why I LOVE this website! Hurry up tunnel I want to try all of this!!!
Kissess to your babies (great name by the way)

 

[Kysha]

I hope that your tunnel arrives soon!

Basically you want ALL and ANY interaction with the tunnel to be positive and rewarding.

Glad to hear that you are using the clicker - I personally have had some great success with it and so long as it's used correctly I think it can be a very powerful tool.

Hope that you Owen (and Cool) learn to love agility like my Owen does!