THE GOAL:

Your dog takes the tunnel, turns tightly on the barrel and goes back through the tunnel.

We will start by adding the tunnel to the barrel. By adding the tunnel first, the dog will make less mistakes - harder to miss and dogs love going through it which will promote tighter turns on the barrel.

STEP 1:

  • Put your dog before the tunnel, facing the tunnel in a sit, stay or laying down position.

  • Put the toy or food behind the dog. This will encourage the dog to turn tight on the barrel and take the tunnel on their way back, even if there is a some distance on the between you and the obstacles.

  • Position yourself between the barrel and the tunnel. Closer you are to the barrel, more control your body has on the dog to take the barrel tight.

  • Release your dog, give the command to take the barrel tightly then the command for the tunnel and lastly the command they can take the toy or food.

  • Sincerely reward your dog with a little play and by telling them they did a good job.

STEP 2:

  • Every successful try, make the next try slightly harder by moving closer to the tunnel or more to the side.

STEP 3:

  • Start throwing the toy or the toy with food at the end, after the tunnel. Your dog will have to turn tightly on the barrel without a visual clue - the toy or food, at the end.

  • Throw the toy or the toy with the food when you see your dog has the intention to take the tunnel on their way back.

  • Throw the toy or the toy with food inside away form you, after the tunnel.

STEP 4:

  • Play with different spots where you stand. More towards the tunnel, more to the side, away from the tunnel and the barrel.

  • If your dog knows how to look forward after the tunnel to the next obstacle without looking at you, even if you are behind the tunnel, try standing on different spots behind the tunnel.

Common mistakes