Agility for Enrichment and Fun - Dog Training

[@justagirlandherdogs615]

I’m a balanced trainer but adore kiko it’s like she’s one of the few with actual skill and needs to be more famous then zak George

[@Karen-to8jr]

Agree with you that Emily should be more famous. Zak is a nice guy but Emily, by far, is a better trainer.

[@justagirlandherdogs615]

@@Karen-to8jr Exsactly! he’s a nice guy and means well but 1. His Two year old dog that he’s been training to walk on a loose leash Since eight weeks old still pulls like a madman 2. He’s horrible at marking. Either he marks to early or too late. A prime example is his new video when the pitbull disengaged multiple times off of the ducks by itself and not once did he mark that behavior/decision 3. He only got famous because he was a trick trainer on animal planet as a teen 4. his dog has behavioral issues sense puppyhood 5. I have yet to see real results other than frisbee training and a few tricks

[@carrie9716]

Zip tieing the pool noodles to grass is genius.

[@tedjack9184]

This is how agility started. We should always bear this in mind: The joy we had back then. Thanks for remindng us.

[@zsofiaszabo5383]

English isn't my native language, but you speak very clearly! I love your videos! So helpful!

[@kikopup]

Thanks I will also add the automatically generated translations tomorrow

[@Peekboo1973]

The bloopers are superadorable and heartwarming ☺🥰

[@7thCobweb]

love to hear that you have sponsors! get that bag sis you're doing god's work providing content for free

[@roscotrigatoni655]

Great ideas. My pup "Star" created her own course through the woods where we walk every day. It consists of 11 different sized boulders, from 5 ft. high to flat on the ground. Some have names...standing rock, resting rock, rock star, pointed rock, big rock, etc. She's two now and still loves her course, as well as jumps, weaves, tunnels and planks in the yard. Total cost...$0.

[@kikopup]

Hehe that's so cool!

[@stonecoldcougar]

Such great fun for all of us, not just those with a ton of equipment and athleticism! Thank you for the great video!

[@cjp5259]

After watching this I drove to Dollar Tree and bought the baskets and noodles and spent $11. My dog loved it and caught on immediately. This setup is easy for house as well as outside which is important in my hot summer temps which he doesn’t like, so little play outside. Thank you for sharing.

[@heathermanion3259]

I have a 4-year-old Alaskan malamutes that I rescued at 5 months and I have a 12-year-old Shih Tzu that was rescued at 3 years old and I wanted them to do agility but it's very expensive even if you get a trainer usually so I decided to just do the pool noodles in the backyard and they both loved it but I can see that I can do more stuff for agility ideas so that's great 😊🐺

[@kikopup]

Oh awesome! Hehe!

[@sussyc]

Love this, great ideas and love the bloopers

[@YA-qo7xq]

LOVE the bloopers 😃❤️. Thats how real life is 😍😉

[@kikopup]

glad you liked them :)

[@janhankins911]

I'm going to try some of these! One of my little guys is going in for surgery (goes in on Monday for consultation with the surgeon) for an FHO (10 months old, diagnosed with Legg-Calve Perthes). They want us to start physical therapy with him and we'll be running some of these ideas by the surgeon to see if they'd be good for our little Riley to do. So this video was certainly timely for us! And I LOVED to bloopers! Please include those in more videos!

[@LLewis-vu9qf]

Oh, this video was definitely fun!! I'm a great proponent for doing fun agility with your dog. I trained my previous pomeranian to do agility; he really seemed to enjoy it. We never competed and our practice sessions were in my backyard using completely non regulation obstacles, just as in the video. I do admit I never thought of using pool noodles. 🤦 My first tunnel was a long box from an upright vacuum. I did eventually graduate to a child's tunnel. I used plungers as weave poles which had the advantage of being able to use them indoors as well as outside. It's always possible that training fun agility could lead to wanting to try learning actual competitive agility. So I would recommend that even 'for fun' agility follow the rules as much as possible so as not to instill bad habits, for example, having your pup always enter the weaves with the first pole at the dog's left shoulder. Teaching a dog to go around an object has practical applications too. While out walking your leashed dog it could wrap the leash around a pole, tree or something. Giving your cue will allow the dog to unwrap himself.

[@kikopup]

Oh the plungers inside great! And good idea about the weaves, I should have mentioned it, I made sure to have the dog with the left shoulder in the video but didnt mention it.

[@midlifemom5829]

Such a lovely large yard! Love the bloopers

[@peggyhaines7394]

Great video. I’m sending it to my friend she has a pomski? He would be happy to try this. Thank you for sharing

[@Jenily111]

Agility is so awesome. It's really helped build confidence in one of our rescue dogs. She loves it so much!

[@PanickingPat]

Holy smokes!!! I LOVE THIS. Basic things that you can use at home to train your dog. Thank you so much for this video. This is GOLD!

[@carolrudd6776]

I just took pics of each of the enrichment games you have on your video and I will be shopping and going to the dollar store tomorrow to get all this wonderful stuff. I think my Jack Russel terrier would love the obstacle course. Thank you for this really inspiring video!

[@nonamegivenatbirth]

Thank you for this video! I just love your channel and find it so helpful. I've seen you at a number of Clicker Expos and just joined as a sponsor. I can't tell you how much I recommend your channel as the best training resource. So glad to help spread the word!

[@kikopup]

Awe thanks so much! :) I loved talking at clicker expo but I decided I wanted to focus my time on creating free educational content.

[@lpthomp1956]

Such sweet dogs! Great fun for them!

[@saravanroosbroeck5414]

Aww yes. This was an awesome and adorable video to watch. Not too long either Full of inspirational ideas and it motivated me to start with my plan to offer my three floofs some more enrichment. It's been busy combining school and work, so I only had energy for the daily walks (and lots and lots of love), but now I'm getting started again. My first one is my little circus dog and loves doing tricks. Picks up new ones quickly too! My second one has some experience as well, but my third rescue has just been here for a little over half a year and we only focused on adjusting to life indoors, growing a bond and walking in a way that's comfortable for both parties on that leash. She taught herself how to sit for a treat by copying the other dogs, though! Not that she had to. Feeling safe and connected to a family comes first, training can wait. If I'm tired, it's easier to get frustrated, to put pressure on her/myself or to forget that it's all about having fun together, but now seems like a good time to start something simple. Perfect timing for this video! Thank you! I gotta dig out that clicker somewhere and find out if I can keep it up this time. 😁

[@kikopup]

That's cool how they copy each other! I do find videos motivate me! So when Im feeling uninspired I look at my favorite trainers stuff.

[@saravanroosbroeck5414]

@@kikopup Yes, it's really cool! I occasionally foster dogs as well, and it's amazing to see how quickly they become part of the pack and take over our routines. I ask my dogs to wait a little before eating so it's clear which bowl belongs to which dog and there's no pushing each other out of the way. The foster dogs all follow this within a week, with barely any encouragement! It's such a feat, especially considering the feeding situation shelter in Serbia where they're from; with 750 dogs, more or less, roaming freely over the (rather small, but sufficient) terrain, the carers have to just throw the food around for the dogs to .. well.. forage. Which I think is actually a quite natural way for dogs to feed, no? It must be an enormous adaptation coming from there to here in a regular home in Belgium. And they usually do amazingly well. Dogs are awesome. 😎 I'm very grateful for you to take the time to make these videos and share your knowledge about interacting with dogs in a positive and kind manner. The more people realize it works and learn how to do it themselves, the better everyone - dogs and humans - will be for it!

[@kat200214]

So glad to see another video from you!! Can't wait to watch it! If you are taking suggestions for future videos, could you possibly do one on working with non-biddable breeds and/or dogs that are lower in drive and energy than border collies (as example)? Thank you!

[@jneher2992]

Absolutely wonderful video.ideas so very helpful for everyone. Thank you.

[@possum2407]

I can't wait to try these with my Old Man! It's also excellent to see how accessible and fun these activities are... I might even teach my mum how to do this with her dog! Thank you so much for these videos. Extremely informant!! :)

[@lanosp1]

love the bloopers - this is a great video for me to do indoors when it is too hot outside!

[@xhogun8578]

Loved your bloopers! Thank you for sharing.

[@baybluehorse]

So awesome! Love how creative you are at finding affordable fun items to use with the dogs.

[@nmkhdm]

the bloopers were the best part! thank you so much for this video!

[@bisousandfood]

Thank you for the video, can't wait to train with my dog with your technique. :) just started to learn agility training and it is fun and great bonding with my dog :)

[@kikopup]

Oh yay! I am glad it was motivating

[@karensabolcik2511]

This is giving me so much hope w bonding better with my puppy. I’m loving the park and nature ideas and homemade stuff. Ty so so so much. I think this will also help my child to bond w the puppy.

[@Evie-vv8bk]

Love this - I've been trying to find new ways to keep my little rescue (labrador but small) having fun. We're both getting older - she's around 9 now but very active and agile. Thanks for a great video - love your pups x

[@conorohagan9947]

Exactly what I was looking for, I'm not trying to compete! Lol. Thank you for sharing!

[@pamelawilson854]

some great ideas there .... thank you . looking for an old ironing board now ! :-)

[@louisamae8897]

Cutest pups and great content. Thank you!

[@jeffgreene1712]

This is so valuable for trainers dealing with fearful dogs!

[@silence0366]

Great ideas for fun and games, thank you! Oh, and I loved the little train at 7:00!

[@PattyFromPorto]

I've been wanting to get my dog into agility and all equipment is for gardens and super expensive, this is pretty cool

[@joannaycwang2706]

Great ideas! Looks like everyone was having a lot of fun 💕

[@amyblackwood2414]

Such a great video! Loved the bloopers

[@tulsisevadasi]

Another blooper fan here!

[@kikopup]

Oh good! Hehe

[@nicoledangoor8096]

LOVED the bloopers!

[@iShoppd]

Those bloopers made my day

[@PanosLa]

So many great ideas! We are suffering through a heatwave here, so exercise is not something we can do at the moment, but can't wait to try them out. Also, I loved the bloopers!

[@saravanroosbroeck5414]

You don't have to go outside if it's uncomfortable there. Someone in the comments mentioned using plumbers as weaving poles and everything else in the video can just be brought inside. Have fun!

[@bretyoung1869]

Great ideas and inexpensive for a fun time !! Really enjoyed, thanks !! ❤️

[@nicolealers7523]

Love all these diy ideas!!

[@kikopup]

Yay! Thank you!

[@NeaeraNeaeraNeaera]

I love this! I've been thinking about the videos you posted of Lumos(?) and his litter mates and all the enrichment they were offered as puppies. I would love to see more videos on helping raise young puppies from a management and enrichment angle (your videos on puppy training are fantastic)

[@vhmacmd]

Thanks! Love the creativity with everyday things! Will work on these too and post up for you!

[@lillyguerra2549]

awesome tips thank you for sharing!

[@medow_glitch3964]

Thank you so much! This was so helpful because the agility courses are so expensive to buy and you gave me lots of ideas to build my own at home

[@AngelaKaySams]

Thank you Emily for another FUN video!

[@uwt4bren]

Who's the little love bug at 6:42 that just stole my heart?

[@uwt4bren]

OMG, it's Kiko!! (I just watched the whole video.) What a lil lovey!

[@lindysstudio2133]

This is the perfect video for me and my Tami! Thank you so much! Looking forward to enriching BOTH our lives! 🐾💗🐾

[@MauricioSchell89]

So many great ideas. Thanks

[@janc2461]

Love the bloopers.

[@janetkelley3351]

Wonderful ideas!

[@mindyr7302]

Brilliant ideas!

[@aphyngodiva2551]

Thank you SO MUCH for doing this video! When I first started doing agility at home just for fun I found it to be REALLY difficult because I could only find bits and pieces of the training online and a lot of it had corrections or force like using a leash to force your dog over an obstacle and control their movements which I didn't like, so it was mostly trying to mimic what they were doing without the forceful bits and even then, I felt super unprepared and confused when I did finally start, because none of them had any real tutorials on solely shaping, so I was often going too fast with my luring (moving to the next weave pole before my dog had fully finished the one they were on, for example), and they didn't cover training that would work for multiple obstacles, it was often JUST weave poles and jump, and that's it. Your video goes over not only multiple obstacles but you also get a really good idea of how to approach new novel obstacles!

[@kikopup]

I suggest www.lolabuland.com/ Silvia Trkmans online courses :)

[@aphyngodiva2551]

@@kikopup ~$300 is a bit steep for me right now with just pets, but I absolutely will take these with my next pup who I would like to actually do sports with, thank you for the recommendation! Her DVD's are also an affordable option, about ~$50! You just won't have the direct feedback from her which is important in competition!

[@VictorArc]

always creative!

[@ollerpops]

You make it look so easy Sarah.

[@Virus-vy7kp]

So inspiring... thank you so much

[@kikopup]

Thanks for watching!

[@jensonly]

This is so great! Also love the bloopers at the end

[@leegarde1808]

such great ideas! thank you!!

[@gracieandrex]

thank you so much just got 2 dogs rescued

[@juliepay3639]

this was very helpful…thank you

[@sarahdyar277]

Kiko forever💓

[@giantdog]

Good👍

[@pzuppardo1]

This is such a great video. Thanks for making it :)

[@Elentarien]

Thank you for this. I really need to get my dog working a bit. We're struggling with her weight despite managed diet, despite daily walks (weather permitting, of course) and we just can't seem to get it under control. (Granted, we are in a SUPER stressful situation, and I think she's responding to the stress as well. Plus we have a dementia patient at home here who likes to sneak her food thats. . .less than healthy. So that may also play a factor. :P) I'd love to work in something like this to her routine, but she's *NOT* an agility type dog - at all. But the idea of using just doing it slow is wonderful. Using pool noodles and other light items is brilliant. Even if she knocks into them (or knocks them over) no harm done. I think I may raid the dollar store next week. :D

[@aphyngodiva2551]

Just a heads up: don't do contact obstacles or anything that will be hard on the joints because when a dog is overweight all of that weight is hitting the joints whenever they jump or otherwise hit the floor, weaves, tunnels, and "around" are great! Just keep all 4 paws on the ground or only do activities where they are stepping over something, not jumping (so very low jumps for example!) Diet also helps more than exercise with weight loss, though I totally understand this being difficult with the family member with dementia, but you might try a diet dog food if you are just using regular dog food and trying to portion control, it has helped my senior pup loads, she has severe arthritis in her hips and while we do take long walks every morning, when she was on regular dog food she couldn't lose a pound! I use Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Healthy Weight Formula, if you have the budget for it you might ask your vet for a prescription option that might work better as well! They just tend to be much pricier than over the counter foods (for example, my pup with GI problems is on Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein, 23.5 lbs is $110).

[@Elentarien]

@@aphyngodiva2551 Thanks. Yeah. I was planning on keeping the jumps - for her - to more of a cavaletti or 'high step' jumps. Like make her pick up her feet a little. Even at a healthier weight, she's NOT built for jumping (though she can jump a little and pops herself over fallen logs when we encounter them. But I wouldn't ask it of her.). Right now, she's healthy. We just had a vet-check and while the vet wants her to loose weight, obviously, after explaining the situation to her, she told me to not stress over it - because that would transfer to the dog and make things worse on us both. That said I HAVE made some dietary changes for her and it helps. . .sort of. We see results if I can get the sick person to cooperate. Then he slips and starts feeding her and it goes right back up. grrr. (Frustrating because we have NEVER had a problem with overweight pets before.) We did have a bit of an experiment - when he went into the hospital for a month, and I cleaned up her diet, she started losing very nicely. Like we could see her actual shape again, and she was feeling pretty good. Then he came back and within two weeks she was up again. -sigh- Our conclusion is that it's a combination of the food he's slipping her (I try to watch it, but he does things when we're not looking and literally sneaks her stuff. Grr. Today I caught him multiple times - then he gave her his salad bowl with all the left-over dressing. Ugh!) and the incredibly stressful atmosphere that's going on in here right now. It's effecting the rest of us too, and I am fairly sure she feels it. So all I can do is my best until something changes and hope that I can help her (and myself) get better when things are a bit more normal. The vet said that meanwhile, she's bringing him comfort - and doing her job as a dog. So it's not a terrible thing.

[@aphyngodiva2551]

@@Elentarien Sounds like you've got everything figured out then! I just wanted to mention the food change thing because I saw it touted as the number one thing on the internet to just feed less and less, I seriously decreased my dog's food to 1/4 cup a day, she was miserable, and STILL not losing any weight, it was awful! It was only when I switched her food that she finally started making progress, and it still upsets me that I never see this mentioned anywhere. :( I totally understand with not having the family member on board and that probably being the primary cause, my husband had the same problem with his family and his dog, unfortunately people aren't as easy to train as dogs :P Especially when they have dementia or Alzheimer's! His grandma started with dementia then went into Alzheimers, honestly a lot of her feeding the dog wasn't even her fault, she had severe motor issues/shaked a whole bunch and would often shake her food off her fork and to the ground for the dog, and they couldn't afford to hire a care taker to feed her. It's definitely a case where you just do the best you can and that's good enough for what your living situation can provide! Big hugs! And I'm sure she appreciates all that you're doing for her!

[@HunterandElla]

Thank you for your video!

[@kristykuhlenbeck9439]

Cute pups😍

[@letsmakeamesstoday]

Very cute!!!!

[@CHURRO69able]

Great stuff for beginners. I will try it this weekend. Thank you 🙏

[@Anisky123]

This is great! Thanks!

[@viperalebetina8078]

marvelous!!!

[@AvaWilson-l8d]

When doing agility with your dog, it’s important to give them a supplement as their joint mobility is really being tested. Antinol is just amazing and is proven scientifically to support our dogs, so that’s the one we went for and we even cut a couple of seconds!

[@Tangoandmackenna007]

I personally love to use negative reinforcement With food rewards

[@tokoloshgolem]

Border terriers are awesome

[@latosa18]

My dog is doing agility

[@risquecat]

Before anything else, the dog must have basic training like sit, stay, etc, and a dog that is not distracted by other dogs/people.

[@niklas5336]

"Because of her and other Kikopup sponsors, I'm able to create these free, educational videos on how to train dogs without the use of physical or psychological intimidation." I want to see a universe in which you use physical or psychological intimidation to fund these videos.

[@ColinBates-w1i]

love to hear that you have sponsors! get that bag sis you're doing god's work providing content for free

[@ColinBates-w1i]

Thank you so much! This was so helpful because the agility courses are so expensive to buy and you gave me lots of ideas to build my own at home

[@HongRohwer]

Another blooper fan here!

[@kikopup]

hehe