© 2004 Copyright of Sally Hopkins - www.dog-games.co.uk - BOUNCE & HAND

BOUNCE & HAND - AIMS

This Dog-Game is a combination of Bounce (where the dog learnt to jump four 8 inch/20cm flyball jumps set 10ft/3m apart in a row) and Hand (where the dog learnt to be sent away to a black rubber mat 51ft/15.3m away to retrieve a "ball" and return it to its handler's hand for a reward - its motivator).

Dogs enjoy this game as they have the added bonus of jumping the low hurdles as well as retrieving things for their handler.

It is strongly recommended that Recall Aims and Recall Starters should be read and reread as the dog progresses through the Games to keep these fundamental lessons fresh in your memory. Pay particular attention to How Dogs Learn and Problems with Retrieve as well.

In addition to what the dog has already learnt in Bounce and in Hand, it also learns -

Through trail and error that if it goes over the jumps it will be instantly rewarded, but only if it is also holding the "ball" in its mouth and placing it in the handler's hand. If the dog either avoids a jump, or drops the "ball" before reaching the handler, it does not get the motivator and the exciting Game is stopped. Therefore, the dog learns that in order to continue the jump and retrieve Game and be rewarded with its motivator, it must drop the "ball" in the handler's hand. The " ball" in the hand is the end of the Game and when it is rewarded and praised.
To cope with the added excitement of jumping when retrieving, as this extra stimulus can make some dogs stressed.
To tightly turn on the mat so that it can change direction quickly as it picks up the "ball", and focus on the first jump on the return journey (which is only 15ft/4.5m from the mat). Many dogs (particularly long bodied dogs) find this difficult to do at first, as their turning curve is too wide and takes them past this first jump.
That even though jumps have been introduced to the retrieve game, the black rubber mat, with the helper standing directly behind it, is still where the retrieve articles are always placed.
That it does not have to veer round the last jump or poles in order to avoid the dog that is running towards it when it is doing Gold Level. It learns to trust the other dog being so close to it and it's handler.

The handler learns -

Never to walk past a jump. If a dog sees their handler walk around a jump it is quite justified in thinking it is allowed to too - after all it is the quickest and easiest option! The dog will also come to this conclusion if the handler (or helper) has the dog on a lead and walks it past a jump whilst returning to one end of the lane or the other. Remember - always take the dog in a deep wide curve so that the dog never finds itself walking near or past a jump. If curving is not an option due to lack of space - walk over the jumps with your dog.
The importance of standing in the correct position so that the dog's "sight line" to its handler is over the jumps, particularly when the dog is turning after retrieving the "ball" and has not focused on the first jump on its way back. The handler learns to take a sideways step, and/or move an arm to the side as well, to guide the dog back to the centre of the lane so that it does the jumps correctly. They must then immediately step back to the centre to keep the dog's attention on them and the motivator and only move to the right hand side of the runback area once the dog has crossed the finish line.
To monitor and carefully control their body movements (ie their hands, arms, shoulders, torso, head, legs, and feet) as the dog runs towards them.
To learn by trail and error whether to show the dog's motivator before the dog crosses the finish line in case the dog drops the "ball" in anticipation of having it in its mouth.
Never to play the Bounce & Hand Game without the aid of a helper, or throw the "ball" for the dog to retrieve in the runback area (it may be bowled along the ground if it is the dog's motivator for the Game and does not distract the other dogs).
To play a fun game at home with the dog, using only one jump, the mat, the "ball" and a helper.
As always, to finish each short training session (a maximum of 5 runs at a time) on a positive note - if the dog is unable to understand what you are trying to teach it, ask it to do something it is confident of doing instead (eg retrieve over fewer jumps, perhaps closer together). Then go away and think of how you can train the dog taking smaller steps in the training programme so that it can succeed in the next session.

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