Jumping Obstacles

[WelshAndy]

My lab pup will be 12 months old soon and I think it's time he learned to jump over obstacles. He hasn't done any major jumping because I've been paranoid about his hips and joints! The most he's done is in and out of the car.

 

My question is how do guys teach the jump command and the process - then moving on to high obstacles like fences (without barbwire).

 

Cheers

 

Andy

[fuzzypigeon]

I let mine find out him self as there was a smallish wire fence 3ft tall on one my old permission so I used to drop the dummy over the other side and let him see then I would step over and collect I did that a few times then I threw the dummy over and left him to it the first time he just put his paws on top so I left the dummy n went back later with him and he jumped straight over.......

[chrispti]

I started with low obstacles, like a 4 brick high wall.

 

I sat the dog up at the wall, chucked a treat over, told the dog "over" and over she went.

 

Keep doing it and reduce the treats. As the dogs confidence grows, introduce higher obstacles.

[kent]

Most will do it for simple praise, just need to connect the action with a command in usual way. Don't stretch the dog with any stage that's too big a step up or they lose confidence that's hard to build back up. I don't let them jump wire till they don't springboard, don't tell a tired dog to jump a reasonable height as they soon loose the ability to clear the high nice and cleanly ones after a workout. When sending on a marked retrieve just send the dog on the hand and "get over" . Personally anything I want crossing River, wall or fence I give the same "get over" and it seems to work in the dogs mind. On dangerous fences, too high etc I approach and say Jump up and the dog jumps into my arms and I post it over, made the vet laugh anyway when I needed the pup up on the table- not good with clean clothes mind you

[WelshAndy]

Cheers guys