Tunnel Problems.....

[AgilityPup]

when we had just started agility lessons, Zoey LOVED the tunnel, But not now... She has started jumping up on it, going around it, or just not moving at all.... As sonn as we started The Dog Walk and The A-frame, SHE LOVED THOSE, She is still doing GREAT on those, but will not go into the tunnel.. She has even started getting really fusssy about getting into her crate, I am just wondering if I gave her A LOT of treats, Like i am talknig JACK POT!! Would that be an ok idea, I know there are some VERY great handlers on here, and i was just wondering if any of you guys ever had this problem!?!


Thanks in advance!!

 

[lakotasong]

How old is Zoey, and have you ever had her eyes checked by a canine opthamologist? One of my Siberians, Haluna, always hesitates slightly going into her crate because she has corneal dystrophy and the change from light to dark bothers her. That's something to think about, especially since Zoey is giving you issues with the crate, IMO. She could be having vision issues.

Are you doing a fully extended tunnel, with curves? If so, try straightening it. If it's already straight, try shortening it.

Are you telling her to enter the tunnel and standing there? If so, try doing it while you're moving. Me constantly moving is one thing that keeps Arthur focused on me and what I'm asking him to do when we do agility.

My two cents!

 

[Muggie'sMum]

She is probably 14 or 16 months (can't remember off the top of my head!), but that's a good idea!

My primary thought on the tunnel itself (especially) is that we just haven't been as prudent with practicing tunnels as we used to be - Sunday we've got an open session as only our assistant will be around vs our instructor so hopefully we can get some serious tunnel work in, right AP?

 

[RD]

Ripley was skittish around the tunnel at first, too. He'd jump on it and walk across that way.

I shortened the tunnel when working with him on it, and put a really great, smelly treat at the end. When I called him through, I pointed out the treat at the bottom. After a few tries, he knew there would be a treat at the end and began speeding up. Then I switched the treat over to a toy, which I threw out a few feet in front of the tunnel. I only did this to avoid the possibility of him stopping at the end of the tunnel during trials in order to look for his treat. Now he comes flying out of the tunnel because he's in the habit of chasing the toy.

Once he was moving FAST, I lengthened the tunnel. A dog that's running fast usually doesn't care how far they're going. The curve is a little difficult, and that's why I started putting treats at the end again, but quickly fading them into a toy reward after he got it the first few times. As long as the dog knows that the goal is to reach the end, he'll go through any shape tunnel.

 

[Muggie'sMum]

I can't wait til we start trying to get the younger dane into the tunnel, lmao.

 

[AgilityPup]

LOL MuggiesMum, She will never do it.... and if she does it wont be fast


Thanks for all the great tips, Ill have to rember those while we have our free pratice sunday thnaks again everybody!!!

 

[lakotasong]

LOL, I've seen Danes do tunnels. So cute!

 

[AgilityPup]

LOL, She is gonig to have to get down and crawl if she ever does it!

 

[skyhigh]

I'd say shortening the tunnel, so she can see out the other side.
Then, gradually build it up to a straight tunnel. Then start curving it.

 

[Muggie'sMum]

Pleased to announce that when we went out to the field today, Zoey was ZOOMING through the tunnels like nothing else, didn't even need to be "loaded", and neither did Muggie - headed for the tunnel, pointed and said "tunnel" and off they went like a shot!