Chute Training - A New Method?

From the beginning and still used today, the method for training the Chute has changed very little.  Like training the Tunnel, there is a need for two or three people, someone to hold the dog at the entrance and someone to hold the Chute tarp open, while the Handler calls the dog through.  The person holding the tarp has the job of lowering it so the dogs get used to having the feel on their heads and back as they run through.  Eventually they learn the overall obstacle is not scary and it normally becomes one of their favorites in no time.

Most of my dogs were trained in this method, but it was while I was training Torch that Bill Rawa introduced this new technique.  I cannot remember if he got this from someone else or if he came up with it, but for now he gets the credit.  This was absolutely brilliant and thank you, Bill!

1. Start by sending the dog through an untarped barrel to get them used to the plastic and sound.
2. Add tarp and roll it up on the barrel to add tarp noise
3. Drape tarp down a few inches and continue to lower it so it becomes a curtain over the barrel The dogs learn to push under the tarp and desensitize to having the cloth weight.
4. Add length of trap to push through to continue to train tarp weight and touch until finally reaching full competition length (10ft).

For the video, I started with the tarp already on the barrel, fully open.  Tarot has already had two previous weeks of steps one and two where the tarp was lowered to create the curtain and about a foot of droop.  I wanted to show all of the steps at once because I honestly think this is the best way to train this obstacle.  The dogs gain confidence fairly quickly, tarp length can immediately be adjusted, and the handler can train by herself.  Better still, if a dog develops problems later on, we can fall back to using this to retrain.

As is always the normal, we work an obstacle a few times and move on to something else.  Then we can come back and see what else can be accomplished.  Even a short break to jump or climb can add to the learning process and a dog like Tarot will keep pushing it a bit further.
My original intention was not to get to a finished performance in this session, but Tarot showed no signs of wanting to stop.  I am thrilled we were able to show you how well this method works since Tarot has only done about three feet of tarp length and she went straight through to ten feet.

Important to note here is that since a dog has performed a behavior like a full tarp on the Chute, this does not mean it is ingrained and trained.  What is shows is that Tarot is ok with what is being asked of her, not that she is ready for competition.  It is now important to keep her motivated while she continues to learn this obstacle because Tarps twist, get pulled sideways, and can be scary.  My job is to keep offering experience by adding in handling elements like crossing behind or getting ahead.

Again, thank you Bill Rawa at Tail Blazers Agility Club!

Video is almost three minutes if you feel like watching Chute training from start to finish.
Enjoy!
Joyce