Hi

Does anyone know how to train directions 'left' and 'right' for agility? I'm currently using 'here' and 'back' but my dog is getting too fast and working ahead a lot more.

Thanks

We used a box of jumps (four jumps to make a square) and just used the chosen command word as the dog moved.  Eventually they learn.....

I don't know if agility requires special commands :D but we have taught Spice left and right by throwing her ball left or right and shouting LEFT or RIGHT as we throw it!
Now on walks when she is on or off lead,we say left and right when we are going to change direction and if we come to a x-roads she looks at us expectantly and sometimes we just say 'walk on' so she walks straight on.
It has worked for us and her, she is 99% accurate on direction now.If she is at a distance where there may be the chance she could not hear us (highly unlikely I know with a dogs hearing lol) we use our arms to show left or right or DOWN and this has also worked well.

I think she has the idea she is training us,she is a border collie after all,but it is working well as a team effort :D
Jacqueline.

I started with a tunnel in a straight line and as the dog came out gave the command and threw a ball in that direction (left right or straight ahead) From that I went on to practising with low jumps so the dog could concentrate on the commands and put 3 jumps in a star shape if you see what I mean.

Once he understood the command I would throw a ball straight and send him after it but sometimes gave a left or right command and threw another ball that way. This actually became one of his favourite games and you can put in stop commands and allsorts also you don't need equipment to practise it.

Anne

Just a thought I had,

When your teaching left and right presumably the dog would be facing you so yours and the dogs left and right would be reversed, so do you just teach it as your left and right? even though its actually the other way round for the dog. Or do you reverse left and right, so its right when the dog is running in the same direction as you.

I was thinking of when you've taught the commands, the dog would be facing the same way as you when running round the course.

Reading it back, it seems as clear as mud to me, hope you can decipher what I mean :)

Just out of interest why do agility peeps use 'here' and 'back' or 'and 'back' rather than left or right? I'm a novice at all of this, so i just chose to use left and right, because i am finding it hard enough to work out which direction it is!

This is why shepherds teach 'come by' for 'go left' and 'away to me' for 'go right ..

We do agility and I am in the middle of teaching left and rights using 3 food bowls (one front, one left, one right) all with little bits of food in.

I use left for mine (and the dogs left) and right for the right.  I assume that the dog and I will be heading in the same direction ( I hope) so left will be left for both of us etc.  I make sure that Os sits / stands in front of me, facing forward and then do the directionals.

What type of dog do you have?