BOUNCE & TOUCH - AIMS © 2004 Copyright of Sally Hopkins

BOUNCE & TOUCH - AIMS

This Dog-Game is a combination of Bounce (where the dog learnt to jump four 8 inch/20cm jumps set 10ft/3m apart in a row) and Touch (where the dog learnt to be sent away to touch a target box 51ft/15.3m away and then return it to its handler for a reward - its motivator).

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 as well.

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

Through trail and error that if it goes over the jumps, touches the target box and goes back over the jumps it will be instantly rewarded. If the dog either avoids a jump, or does not touch the box (or its marker if it is being used), it does not get the motivator and the exciting Game is stopped. Therefore, the dog learns that in order to continue this sendaway Game over the jumps and be rewarded with its motivator, it must do the whole chain or behaviours correctly.
To cope with the added excitement of jumping when doing sendaways to the target box, as this extra stimulus can make some dogs stressed.
To tightly turn after touching the target box and then focus on the first jump on the return journey (which is only 15ft/4.5m from the cone). Many dogs (particularly long bodied dogs with big gaits) 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 sendaway game, the target box is consistently placed in the same positions as the dog learnt Touch in.
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 as well - after all it is the quickest and easiest option! The dog will also come to this conclusion if the handler (or the Trainer/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. This is particularly true when the dog is turning off the target box 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 center of the lane so that it does the jumps correctly. The handler must then immediately step back to the center to keep the dog's attention on the handler and the motivator, and only move to the right hand side of the runback area once the dog has crossed the finish line.
Whether the dog's "comfort zone" (ie the distance that the dog is prepared to run away from its handler in a sendaway) has changed with the introduction of the jumps as well, and how to overcome this problem.
To monitor and carefully control their body movements (ie their hands, arms, shoulders, torso, head, legs, and feet) as the dog runs towards them.
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 the dog to do something it is confident of doing instead (eg touch the target box or the marker on it at a shorter distance, run 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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