Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Australian Terrier, Bonzer, is almost 2-years-old, and was doing really well with agility last fall, but now, since I've started up again with my own home built jumps, tunnel, and weaves, he seems to have lost interest! I have a hard time keeping him focused, and he only will do the obstacles for food, where as before he would do it purely for fun! I'm thinking his lack of attention may be due to the fact that there's only three different obstacles I have constructed so far, and our yard is mole infested, which certainly doesn't help with a terrier!!!

Any suggestions about how to get him interested and focused again? He showed so much potential last summer and fall, and I want him to continue that!

>>My Australian Terrier, Bonzer, is almost 2-years-old, and was doing really well with agility last fall, but now, since I've started up again with my own home built jumps, tunnel, and weaves, he seems to have lost interest! I have a hard time keeping him focused, and he only will do the obstacles for food, where as before he would do it purely for fun! I'm thinking his lack of attention may be due to the fact that there's only three different obstacles I have constructed so far, and our yard is mole infested, which certainly doesn't help with a terrier!!!
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>>Any suggestions about how to get him interested and focused again? He showed so much potential last summer and fall, and I want him to continue that!

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For some terriers the food couldn't compete with the moles for attention! Perhaps you can address the mole situation to make the yard less distracting. Or you might be able to up the interest of the food. Or use a leash part of the time so the dog gives up trying to get to the moles and you have more of his attention.

Make sure you're not overdoing the training, too. Dogs get bored and burned out just like humans. Always leave him wanting more!
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

I make sure not to overdo training sessions, and he's always (except when going through tunnels) kept on a leash because our yard isn't fenced in. We're trying to get rid of the moles, and have gotten a mole poison, but I swear, they're super moles or soemthing, because they wont die! Plus, we have to let Bonzer out elsewhere whenever we do try to get rid of the moles, and it's just a big mess.

Thanks for the advice though, I'm hoping that once we finally get rid of the moles, that he'll be more interested in agility again.

>>I make sure not to overdo training sessions, and he's always (except when going through tunnels) kept on a leash because our yard isn't fenced in. We're trying to get rid of the moles, and have gotten a mole poison, but I swear, they're super moles or soemthing, because they wont die! Plus, we have to let Bonzer out elsewhere whenever we do try to get rid of the moles, and it's just a big mess.
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>>Thanks for the advice though, I'm hoping that once we finally get rid of the moles, that he'll be more interested in agility again.

This is not an uncommon problem. He (like my own dog) associates "home-practice" with work. At a trial or other place where we practice or compete her energy level and interest is peaked! There is no reason to stop using food as an incentive, does he also have a fav toy? This often works well also. Tennis balls are my gal's favorites!

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Charlene

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Adopt the pace of Nature
Her secret is patience

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

yes, he actually does have lots of favorite toys, but when I tried using one, I think he got confused and just wanted to play with it, and wasn't focused at all on what I was asking him to do. lol, never thought loving I toy so much would be a bad thing!