Contacts #1 - Planks & Stairs

Contacts - huge subject these days, where to begin?
OK, then, the beginning it is... :-))

Tools of the 2o2o Trade (at least at Bungee's place)

Travel Plank:

Above - our "travel plank", going on it's 3rd dog with Bungee. It packs along easily. It's painted just like agility equipment, complete with sand for traction. I've used other sizes and for many reasons, these measurements are good. Double click any picture to expand.


Some ways you can use your travel plank:
(the important thing is that it does not slip side-to-side as the dog gets on & off)

A travel plank can also be used flat on the floor, we have done so zillions of times, forgot to click that pix, but that's why it has the legs.

Travel planks are a valuable aide for teaching 2o2o contacts.

(2o2o = "2 on 2 off" meaning: 2 paws on - 2 paws off)

I'm adding "w/nt" meaning: with nose touch.
Like this: 2o2ow/nt
Bungee is learning these.


Contact Training Stairs:

The most recent addition to our agility field, our beautiful set of Contact Training Stairs!! I am very excited about them! They were made for us compliments of our generous and skillful neighbor, who heard on a Thursday night that I needed them, and had them sitting in our back yard early on Saturday morning when we 1st took the dogs out! Amazing or what? We were in total disbelief! That's actually the day I said to myself, "I've got to start a blog for Bungee".

Yep, so overjoyed with my new stairs, it was contacts and the excitement of training them to Bungee that urged me to keep track of our work, with an audience in tow. OK might be crazy too, but come trial-time there are no secrets anyway, so better to share our pain honestly - just teasing!!!! :-)))
They'll be a blast!

OK - about the stairs, use them to train 2o2o contacts, ideally before graduating to equipment, or to help clean up contacts if you've had them fall a bit apart on you - and who hasn't been there. They'll get a LOT of use!

Once we mow & get the field set up again, there will be plenty of room at each end of the stairs for great on-going work.

Here are some more pictures taken last month, I haven't measured the stairs.


The neighbor used regular stair hangers, or risers as you would buy from the hardware store to attach the steps to, so the spacing is just as would be for standard stairs in your house. They need to be solid and not wobble. They need to be really sturdy, as you'll wind up sitting on them and putting stuff on them when you're out training, and you'll want them to last. I'm guessing mine are about 38-40 in. wide. I've seen them painted and unpainted. Mine will remain "natural".

But almost any stairs will do:

One set off the back side of our deck, lack of railing is intentional.

The Travel Plank also sits over little stairs like this nicely.

I don't prefer to use the stairs in our house. One set steps to a ceramic tile floor with a twisty spindle railing at the bottom- don't want to scratch the stairs any worse or ask for drivey releases over the tile, and the access for me to reward is poor. The basement stairs are a similar situation with stairs ending in a sort of closed in area with railings on each side. I'd use them if that's all I had. Later on when I'm working further away, she may be asked for contacts at the bottom of the stairs and maybe I'll put a no-slip mat at the bottom for awhile.

But, like I said, almost any stairs will do!
Here's Bungee practicing contacts off our RV stairs~