How to Train Dog Agility Running A-Frame

[@patrickvankemenade3481]

If you are lucky that you have a dog that already touches the yellow part naturally then of course don't change anything and keep going. But most of the time when the dog is on speed it jumps over it. Mine does 90% of the time skip it when it has some speed so training is needed to correct it. I know very little people at my agility class having the luck that the dog does do it without any training if you are the exception consider yourself lucky.

[@BaebeasDogTrainingPortland]

Most dogs’ natural stride at speed will hit the yellow. The dogs usually hesitate just above the yellow when the handler attempts to manage the contact but doesn’t follow through. It is usually at that hesitation point that the dog jumps off. I have studied thousands of dogs when I judge. I easily observe a thousand a-frame performances during one weekend of judging. 99% of the time, I see the handler attempt to manage the contact zone, causing the dog to hesitate just above the contact zone. But, the handler doesn’t follow through in a trial and the dog jumps off where it hesitated. Every single dog in my class that we quit managing successfully hit the contact zone. I’ve judged national competitions. Dogs left alone to figure it out usually settle down and easily touch the contact zone.

[@patrickvankemenade3481]

@@BaebeasDogTrainingPortland do you know if there is a difference between US and EU A-framesI have a feeling yours is a bit less high and longer. Since it is just a 5-10 cm difference of not hitting it when running with speed (and no I'm not always trying to control it since indeed trying to control it does not work very well either, unless using cookies you then get everything done but this does not help in matches). In the beginning the dog was afraid of it A-Frame and bridge but after she got over it the jumping over the yellow frame started. But A frame fails 90% and bridge 50% of the time while the rest goes very well but its keeping me from advancing or winning games.

[@BaebeasDogTrainingPortland]

@@patrickvankemenade3481 I compete and judge mostly in AKC. a-frame board is 9’, contact zone is 42”. USDAA a-frame is 9’, contact zone is 36”.

[@Loriw909]

But my bc wants to miss that last stride...

[@BaebeasDogTrainingPortland]

Most of the time it’s because of something the handler does. So I would have to see a video of the performance to comment.

[@RachelWestwell]

That's now "how to train an A Frame contact" , your dog just naturally strides into it so therefore you don't have to train it 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

[@BaebeasDogTrainingPortland]

Correct!!! My whole point is that most people over manage. They train something that doesn’t need training. If you notice the thumbnail, it says “Don’t Train.”