About Agile Paws Training

Agile Paws - K9s & Agility is run by me, Christin Fritzler (Swetnam). I am a small town farmer's wife in Northern Colorado who has been training dogs and competing in agility for 10 years. I currently have 5 dogs of my own, 4 of which are active agility dogs. Cody, Indie, Millie, Aleo, & Yahzi.

This blog was created to show people the process of my training methods, thoughts and ideas I have, and general doggie fun. It will show day by day videos and/or blogs about what we have done and our progress. Here is a little bit about why I chose this method and what this method is about.

I first decided to completely change my method of training when my oldest agility dog almost completely shut down. She seemed very depressed and was not excited to run in agility. She started to slow down and would pass by obstacles and blow me off. I could see it in her eyes and she was no longer enjoying herself. This is when I decided to change the way I trained. (This was about 7 years ago with my first competitive
agility dog - Skye).

While researching, my friend, Hannah, gave me a link to Silvia Trkman's website to learn how she gets her famous running contacts. I was so inspired by all she has achieved and the dedication she has to her dogs that I looked further into her training. I was so amazed by her success that I began looking up more World competitors. I also looked on Clean Run for some videos or books by famous handlers. I came across Susan Garrett's 2x2 weave training. I didn't know much about it, but it really caught my eye. In February 2009, I got her DVD and watched the whole thing. The way she trains her dogs made so much sense to me. If you punish a dog for something they don't understand, it only makes them not want to work for fear of failure. Teaching them that failing is okay is something we teach children, so why wouldn't we want to teach our dogs that!?

The method I am using is commonly known as positive reinforcement and shaping. For some tricks, I may have to shown the dog what I want, but for others it is something that they can figure out on their own. It works by introducing the dog slowly and encouraging any kind of behavior that may lead to the final trick you want to accomplish. You then begin challenging their minds by asking for more. This teaches the dog to think through each process and keep thinking about what I want and how to get that treat or toy.

Instead of corrections when the dog makes a mistake, a laugh or a "whoops!" or "oh no, try it again!" with a still happy, but not praising voice will teach the dog that failing isn't bad, but it isn't what is wanted either. They then try again and if they make the mistake, do the same thing. This will teach them that training and working is fun and failure is okay. They learn that if they do something wrong, it's okay, just try again and when it is right, they will get the toy or treat. When they catch on, they will continually repeat what is wanted with joy and pleasure because the behavior was reinforced, not corrected.

I have been training this way since I first learned about it and have had tremendous success! All my dogs LOVE training and love me and it's so fun for all of us. I can have all my dogs off leash together on the farm and they are all looking at me for something to do because they know how fun and rewarding working with me is. This is so much better than correcting a dog for every little mistake.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Interesting News

Well, some of you know I have been a part of Friends of Retired Greyhounds, a non-profit greyhound "rescue" out of northern Colorado. I have been a part of this group and on the board for 8 and a half years. After much deliberation, I've decided to resign from my position as Dog Care Coordinator. I'm honestly tired of the crap and how horrible it is being led and handled and how disrespectful the members are. I love the dogs, but it's hard to stay with a group like that.

This extra time will give me time to focus on my dogs, limit stress, and do my summer college classes. I can't wait to have all this extra time and less stress!

On the other hand, my dogs are all doing great. Swift and Skye are working a lot on the flat to improve tight turns and crosses. I will be starting cik&cap with Swifters soon and will be doing my major retraining with the other girls end of May.

I have a trial at Latigo the first weekend in May and then another the following weekend in Grand Junction. Those are the only two I am entered in. I've tried to retrain my dogs in between trials, but it really doesn't work because once the dog is introduced back onto a full course the week before a trial, they freak and are confused because they don't know what to do, the new way or the old?? So, I am going to completely retrain them and then go back to trialing. I will probably go to some local trials just to watch and socialize Swiftins but no actual trialing during the summer. I'm pretty excited to incorporate Silvia Trkman's ideas and methods as well as Linda Mecklenberg's. It should be exciting!

The balance ball is so amazing! Wow, I am so impressed at how strong it has made their core, back, and rear end. All of them have improved with their "pretties", "talls", and everything else. They are doing great. Swift has been kind of weird, I think it's because I've been so tired and haven't been very upbeat... Hopefully it doesn't affect her too bad, I know she can take some things personal lol.

Well thanks for reading, I'll keep ya posted!
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  1. MarcellaApril 24, 2009 at 10:50 PM

    I know how you feel about the volunteering...after Country Paws closed, I always wanted to find a new place...and I did to get some Animal Club volunteering hours...but these people have no idea what to do with the dogs...and just don't do that well of a job....and the dogs are just behaviorally screwed sadly..=/ I'm considering just not going anymore either..I've been so busy. Glad to hear everyone is doing well though. I love the picture of Swift at the top. She's turned into such a gorgeous young girl!!!

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