How to teach weave poles using 2 x 2 method - part 2

This is part 2 of 3 showing how my border collie Jai is learning to weave using the 2 x 2 method with food rewards. The video is only edited for brevity and shows how we worked through errors and helping him understand this complex agility task.
Please pay attention to how I switch sides: always at the reward and never before the weaves. This keeps the flow going and allows for quick repetitions.
Here's the link for part 1: • Weave pole training wi...
Part 3 is added on September 21: • How to teach weave pol...
More training videos are on my website: pawsome-connection.com/

[@alisonnicholsons9807]

Love these videos! Seeing all the stages really helps.

[@k9dancer]

thanks, I appreciate the feedback and glad to know that my videos are useful! :)

[@jennybursey3141]

When you say a distance apart like 17 inches apart does that mean the width of the channel or the distance length wise that the poles are set from each other ? Just starting weave poles with my pup and trying to figure this all out ... love your videos super helpful

[@k9dancer]

Hi Jenny, the 17 inches would be the width of the channel. If you imagine the weaves in a straight row, they would be 24 inches apart. With the open channel, the poles are at 48" on each side with the right row being offset (when you're standing in front of them, looking down the rows). With my stick-in-the-ground poles, I leave one side in and move the other side closer, thus closing the gap of the channel. Does that make sense? Glad you're enjoying the videos .... I've started a FB group with puppy training as well, free to join: Concept Training Through Games

[@karin7765]

I also finished your first 7 sessions in part 1. Kiki her entry leading her from my left side is better then the entries from my right side approach to the weave poles.. I wanted to add some jumps or tunnel as well but I hesitate because when i take Kiki on my left side, she slips out or the middle pole a lot .. What do you think..I can better wait adding obstacles like jump until she understands 'better? Thanks a lot for sharing this ..I really appreciate your upload sessions alot!!

[@k9dancer]

I'm glad you're liking the video! Many dogs do better on one side as the entry is very different from dog on right vs. dog on left. I would continue working the 'weaker side' before adding obstacles. Start your session with the weaker side and end with the better side. For the popping out: you could widen the middle poles or place a reward right in the weaves to help. When the dogs enter from your left side, they have to bend quite a bit to make the gap between the 2nd and 3rd pole, depending on the entry angle, so making the angle less may help. It's also o.k. to take a step back and widen the whole channel until Kiki is more successful. It doesn't matter how long it takes in the end! I hope this helps!

[@karin7765]

@@k9dancer thanx a lot for the advice!! . I'll do that!

[@girlnpointer2741]

What is the purpose of going back to two sets of poles and then training again with 3? Is it just to change the exercise up a bit because of the repetition involved in the training sessions?

[@k9dancer]

I did it because he was struggling with the 3 sets. Anytime that happens I'll take a step back until we have success and confidence and then go forward again. You always have to adapt to your dog and what he needs to progress! thanks for asking your question!

[@kristinmacdougall6410]

It’s hard to tell are the poles staggered a bit ?

[@k9dancer]

yes they are. make sure that the first pole is always on the dog's left shoulder; it doesn't matter from which side they enter. When I use stick in the ground poles (in my outdoors sessions), I lay out all the poles at 24" spacing, put in every other one and then measure the distance I'm working at to off-set the 2nd, 4th and 6th pole. This creates a channel type setup where I gradually bring in the second row to decrease the channel width. A little tip with this setup: measure out a piece of wood or something at 24" and mark every inch on it with a pen. This makes the measuring much easier than using a tape measure....

[@traciwaugh4316]

What do you use as a food reward?

[@k9dancer]

I have likely used some kibble. ...whatever your dog likes best!

[@traciwaugh4316]

​@@k9dancer Thanks for the help. I started out with PVC pipe and am now switching to this method.

[@k9dancer]

@@traciwaugh4316 have fun with the training and use the rewards that your dogs love best! I switched Jai to toys later on because I didn't like his speed.

[@traciwaugh4316]

Gisela Griesser, I just started Session 1 and am going to continue following your sessions steps. Thanks for all of the helpful hints!

[@kensithedog2053]

I thought The dog was always supposed to enter from the right, with the poles on his left? It doesn't matter?

[@k9dancer]

we want to train our dogs to find the entry from anywhere, so basically we train entries from both sides at different angles right from the start. They always enter so that the first pole is on their left shoulder. It's not as obvious here as the channel is wide open but the poles are off-set. I hope this makes sense?

[@kensithedog2053]

@@k9dancer Ok thanks. That's helpful for training my dog :)

[@kellycorl8319]

@@k9dancer I am really liking your videos as I start my weave pole training. Like the previous comment, I was always taught that the dog enters the poles so the first pole is on the dog’s left shoulder. Maybe I can’t see the entry well from the one side?

[@k9dancer]

@@kellycorl8319 that is correct, the first pole is always on the dog's left. it may not be very visible from the camera perspective.... I'm glad you're finding my videos useful! :)