How to Teach a Dog to Use Contact Obstacles

Dog agility contact obstacles are the Dog Walk, the A-Frame and the Teeter-Totter. To complete the obstacle course elements the dog needs to touch the yellow contact zones and the beginning and end of the obstacle rather than jump over those areas. The approaches used for training this behavior are the Two On, Two Off method and the All Four-on-the-Board method.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Teach Two On, Two Off

1. Begin with a plank or the finishing end of a contact obstacle flat on the floor. Using a treat in one hand guide the dog onto the plank so that his hind feet are on the board and his front feet on the ground. Mark this behavior with whatever word or sound you use to tell the dog he is right and give the dog a treat. Repeat this several times until the dog knows what you are going to have him do.

2. Add a target. The target can be a plastic lid from something like a cottage cheese or yogurt container. Place it on the floor just beyond the end of the plank so that the dog can reach it easily when his hind feet are on the plank and his front feet on the floor. Place a piece of food on the target.

3. Guide the dog onto the plank and into the Two On, Two Off position. Say, "Target," and point at the target with the treat on it. Let the dog get the treat.

4. Begin starting the dog from further back along the plank. Continue to put a treat on the target and give the command, "Target" as the dog approaches it. Keep the target positioned so that the dog accesses it from the Two On, Two Off position.

5. Add height to the contact obstacle when the dog is stopping in the Two On, Two Off position consistently. Gradually fade the presence of the target, while continuing to say "Target" and rewarding the dog for stopping in the correct position at the end of the contact.

Teach All Four on the Board

6. Place a plank or the finishing end of a contact obstacle flat on the floor. Kneel down on the floor beside the end of the plank with a handful of treats.

7. Reward the dog for interacting with the plank by marking the behavior with a word or sound that means he is right, and give him a treat. The first rewards may come for simply sniffing the plank.

8. Give a bigger reward, such as 2 or 3 treats, the first time or two that the dog puts a foot on the plank. Thereafter only reward for a foot on the plank. Repeat this process as the dog places 2, 3 and then all 4 feet on the plank.

9. Feed treat rewards on the plank so that the dog must lower his head to get them. Encourage the dog to lie down on the plank, and when he does give him a "jackpot" or all of the treats left in your hand. Thereafter only give treats for lying down on the end of the plank, in addition to getting on with all 4 feet.

10. Gradually add height to the contact obstacle. Train the Dog Walk and the A-Frame first, because they have strips of wood across the plank. Place a treat on the shelf created by the strip of wood at the bottom of the plank. As your dog approaches the end of the obstacle give a command such as "Spot" or "Zone" and point to the treat on the plank. Repeat until the dog stops consistently in that spot when you say the command.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a lot of verbal praise in addition to the food rewards. Get excited when the dog gets it right.
• If the dog becomes confused and is not progressing onto the next stage, back up to a point where the dog was successful and work back up from there.
• Be sure to have a release word or phrase for your dog, such as "Free," "OK" or "Let's Go" and do not let the dog leave the end of the contact without a release from you.