BOUNCE & TOUCH - EQUIPMENT NEEDED
In addition to the equipment used in Touch you will need -
- At least two 8" high flyball jumps. The
dimensions and templates for making
your own can be downloaded from this website. It is possible to
teach a dog the principles of Bounce & Touch using only two
jumps. One jump can be placed on or near the jump 4 marker (which
is 15ft from the target box) while the
other one can gradually be moved further down the lane, as the dog
progresses, until it is on jump 1 marker. This jump can then be
used as the first jump as the dog is sent to the target box, and
also the last jump on its return.
Some Dog-Games handlers buy either one or a pair of jumps and then get together with other local Dog-Games handlers to make a set of four as the training progresses. By looking at We do Dog-Games, handlers can find other Dog-Games participants in their area. They can then contact us to find out whether they can get in touch with these people and train together. However, it is Dog-Games Policy that no one's personal details are given without their written permission on each and every occasion, as privacy is a very important aspect of how Dog-Games is run.
VERY RARELY USED -
- Very occasionally wings may be used to make the flyball jumps seem wider on either side, and to stop those dogs that persistently run round the jumps rather than over them. These can either be agility training or competition wings, or home made screens - even people standing with their back to the dog and their legs slightly apart can be used if nothing else is readily available! However, we strongly recommend that you do not use wings or other physical barriers as it is all too easy for handlers, trainers and dogs to become too dependent on these very visual training aids and the dog never learns to choose to jump. Remember, these aids will not be there to help your dog when you do a Dog-Games stage. Therefore, it is far better to teach the dog slowly and thoroughly each part of Bounce & Touch, without resorting to the use of wings, so that the dog really understands that it has to jump in order to get its motivator.
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