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Sally, Eileen & Sean ran Dog Games training sessions for over 10 years but decided to retire in 2012 due to family and business commitments
EIGHT different NON-COMPETITIVE Games
that Sally invented, which dog owners can play with their pets using very little specialized equipment and at very little cost. No special tester is needed to witness dogs doing these Games and so THEY CAN BE DONE ANYWHERE. These Games can be played by individuals and their friends at home or in nearby parks or fields, or they can be played at local dog clubs and fundraising events (eg pet, agility, obedience, flyball, ringcraft, puppy classes, village fetes, rescue centers etc).
Each training step is explained using kind positive training methods that help the dog to learn how to do the Games successfully. Dog Games encourages owners to use toys, treats and other motivators to reward their dogs for learning the Games, and it rewards the owners with rosettes and trophies as their dog achieves the different Stages. They have been designed so that the dog and handler can progress in their own time and to their own ability, can choose whichever Game suits their dog best, and go as far in the Stages as the dog is comfortable and able to cope with.
STARTERS (learning)
First the dog learns the Game by progressing through a series of lessons on the website (see above Game links). The handler learns how to motivate the dog so that it wants to do the Game.
(Starters rosettes always have a white inner ribbon - this is Recall Starters)
BRONZE (consistency)
After Starters the dog shows that it understands the Game by consistently doing it correctly on three separate occasions.
(Bronze rosettes always have a metallic bronze inner ribbon - this is Bounce Bronze)
SILVER (distractions)
Once the dog has achieved Bronze it may progress further by being trained to do the Game correctly while there is the distraction of other dogs running in a nearby netted lane.
(Silver rosettes always have a metallic silver inner ribbon - this is Bounce & Hand Silver)
GOLD (changeovers)
The dog is trained to do the Game correctly whilst another dog is in the same lane with it - going either just before, or just after it has been. This Stage is not done in the Games of Recall or
Bounce
(Gold rosettes always have a metallic gold inner ribbon - this is Round Gold)
PLATINUM (generalising)
The dog learns to do the Game in three different locations - not at its usual training ground. This helps the dog understand that it can do the game anywhere..
(Platinum rosettes always have four tiers of ribbons, alternating the game colour with yellow - this is Bounce & Touch Platinum)
Dog Games also awards the handler and dog a silver plated salver - this is the Bounce & Touch trophy (photo size not to scale with rosette)
Each time a dog successfully completes part of a Stage, the handler or trainer completes an Entry Form and fee. The relevant certificate, rosette, or trophy are presented/sent to the handler and the dog’s name could be entered on a Roll of Honour.
Leaflets & Forms provide a variety of different publicity leaflets (including 1 page summaries of each of the Games) which will give quick explanations of what this training has to offer.
See Layout of training area for a diagram showing the dimensions of the training area and the lanes that we used, based on flyball layout and dimensions. However, where there are limitations on the size of a training area, the overall dimensions are not compulsory. Work with what you have.
A training session or a test for a Stage consists of a maximum of five attempts in a row, with both the handler and the trainer making sure that the dog does not become too tired or over excited. To pass a Starters stage, the dog must do 3 correct runs out of a maximum of 5 attempts. Meanwhile, the rest of the stages require the dog to do all 5 attempts correctly to pass.
TRAINING
PASS
FAIL
The main consideration for training Dog-Games is that it there should be no visual or noisy distractions around that may break a dog's concentration and interest while they are being trained (eg. passing traffic, pedestrians, loose dogs that may come over to "say hello" at an awkward moment, members of its family suddenly appearing, dogs/humans standing too close to the training area etc.) See Where and When to Train Dog Games
This web site has been written by Sally Hopkins (unless the author of the web page is stated otherwise).
Dog-Games Copyright 2004 - 2015 All Rights Reserved