Bob starts agility!

The baby boy is growing up!

The little man is almost 9 mos old now, and this week we have started actual agility training. Up to now we've played with the clicker, working on some simple behaviors (sit, down, and interacting with a box). The only thing slightly approaching "agility" has been the start of RTO (Rear Toe On) behavior on a short plank.

Earlier this week we began jump training. To avoid wasted time while he searches for cookies in the grass we've worked on the deck. Thank goodness for small dog. : )

Jump progress
Day 1 (for those interested, pretty much steps 1-4 from Foundation Jumping)
Session 1 - . Learned to offer jump over 4" bar. Lured only about 2 or 3 times for him to "get it." After several happy, successful jumps, went to 6".
Session 2 - He went from 6"-12" (2" increments) with no problem. Once dropped bar at 12", but I had dropped the treat when he started takeoff so that's my bad, not his. Aside from that, never even ticked the bar.
Session 3 - progressed to me standing, and tossing treat to different spots, instead of just base of jump. Never touched the bar, and still happily offering.

Day 2 (rainy, cold, windy and awful! So only one time outside to train)
Session 1 - I began to vary my position, so he is always going away from me to take jump (Found. Jumping step 5)

Day 3 (cold and damp again, numb fingers making treat dropping difficult!)
Session 1 - I moved the jump so he is jumping away form me, TOWARDS a solid barrier.

The two "Bobs"

"Big" Bob (Sergei Bobrvosky)

Small" Bob