OneMind Dogs agility handlers practice handling a lot without the dog, so as to really learn the technique by themselves first and save their dogs from confusion. “Human dog” is a great companion to take with you to the training field when you’re practicing.
Australian OneMind Dogs enthusiasts in Northern NSW, Australia, recently attended a seminar with OneMind Dogs Coach Niki Drage. Before allowing handlers to run their dogs on course and in training sequences, Niki insisted that they should pair up with a “human dog” and run the sequences as if it was their own dog. Not only was this game a lot of fun, it also allowed the “human dogs” to really see things from their dog’s perspective. “Human dogs” commented that they noticed angles, approach lines and handling elements that they would otherwise not have noticed.
Taking turns running as a handler or “human dog” also helped the handlers remember the course more easily and be more decisive and precise when it came to them running their real dogs. Working on new techniques without your dog can help you learn the mechanics of the technique without confusing or frustrating your dog. Most handlers noticed that where they made mistakes or got stuck when running with their “human dogs”, they also made mistakes with their real dogs. So for the rest of the seminar the handlers fixed any issues they were having with their “human dogs” and as a result, they had less issues with their actual dogs.
Training with a “human dog” can help you see things from your dog’s perspective and also allows you to iron out any issues before bringing a real dog into the picture. It is also lot of FUN!
Take a look at this video to see human dog training from OneMind Dogs CAMP 2015!
Have you tried practicing with a human dog? Share a video on our discussion forum!
Photos by Susanne Bark
